PeckhamNicola

Mornings better than afternoons in a skateboard park as teenagers not yet up and about, but good chance to start running off younger kids'energy. Advise to take your child's own helmet if you have one for better fit but all is provided, including skateboard for anyone who just wants to try it out. (I don't work for them ;) ) I advise getting a group at the same level, it's pretty hard with several kids that age to cater for different abilities.

Words & Pictures, Crystal Palace http://www.wp-printing.co.uk

http://www.skatesandladders.com/lessons/ they come to you. Cheaper if you can get a group together.

If you can get to Maida Vale this is a bit different: http://www.puppetbarge.com The Southbank centre often has activities for children, many of them free https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/visit/family-fun

Athenlay. Off Colyton road down the road with the gate to the edge of the girls' school. Pay as you go, ?5 per session. Danny and the other coaches are great with the kids.

https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/crystal-palace/crystal-palace-national-sports-centre/news/holiday-club-at-crystal-palace-national-sports-centre I just found this whilst looking for athletics lessons. No dates on website but there are contact details.

http://southwarkgymnastics.co.uk/extras/holiday-club/ Gym sessions 10-12 with morning activities from 8.30 and afternoon trips until 5pm. Athenlay football club is 10-3, it's brilliant! Not sure the ages it covers, my son is 7.

See also HT holiday clubs thread.

Southwark gymnastics offer holiday clubs with gym classes 10-12 and before/after activities. They are often available quite late though compared to other holiday clubs. And Athenlay Football Club offer football in holidays, either 10-3 or 11-3, I forget. If you have an active child this is brilliant as it really wears them out! ;)

Hi. I've searched and searched online but cannot find a climbing frame or monkey bars suitable for my 7 year old. They all seem to be made for people who have the space in their back gardens to put something up between the rose garden and the horses' paddock where it won't disrupt the view of the fountain. Suffice to say I have somewhat less space behind my terraced house, but still need a frame which stands more than 4 feet off the floor. My preference is monkey bars. Has anyone found any, or can recommend someone who has been able to build them? Thank you!

Athenlay football club 9:30-11 Saturday mornings. and as noted in recent separate thread, there's free women's keep fit there from 10.15-11. They also have tea and coffee, which according to one of our friends is the holy grail of children's football clubs!

Visiting a tea factory in a small town in southern India. I'm just coming to the end of my tour when a couple come in to start theirs. I don't pay much attention until I hear 'hey, Nicola' and it's a guy who sits just behind me at work.

Are you both Amy Warner (items for sale) and Katie Cook, or are you quoting?

The One O'clock club on Peckham Rye next to the caf? is available for hire. Operates as a children's centre so lots there for them to play with. And fenced in outdoor space. Small kitchen for the adults to make a cuppa.

We had just one door to our under stairs cupboard. As you say, made the low end virtually inaccessible. We had a small triangular door fitted at the low end which has done the trick for us. It's on a magnetic catch, press in to release, so no low level door handle which might otherwise have attacked our ankles. Doesn't answer the curtain question I'm afraid.

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/news/email-newsletters/Pages/default.aspx on Lewisham Life enewsletter. You can sign up for weekly highlights or just view the calendar. Does anyone know if Southwark has something similar online?.

Have a look at Morley College or the City Lit.

http://www.swimfortri.co.uk/ local-ish. Swim for Tri.

How would tax officials ever find out about gifts made in the last 7 years of the average person's life? Always been a bit curious about this. Well, on and off.

When I lived in LB of Barnet I was allowed a deed of variation which made me responsible for some aspects of maintenance my flat - is anything similar available in Southwark? Afraid my memory is hazy on what came over to me and what didn't. Mind you, it didn't stop them from trying to charge me ?500 for a one ninth share of double glazing four windows in the communal area (utterly pointlessly as they were always left open). They then repeatedly insisted that there was nothing fishy about 4 windows costing a total of ?4,500. Sorry, it was a long time ago but I'm not completely over it yet... Sadly my subsequent experience of a non-council freeholder was not a whole lot better. There's no room for logic or common sense in these people's lives. Rant over.

Done - thank you.

?5 per month (net) on a Halifax current account as long as you don't go overdrawn at all in the month. Can't remember conditions as regards how much needs to be paid in each month, or other small print, but might be worth a look.

Horniman Museum is a great place for kids. Welcome to the area.

Hi Cazz. I went in May, my second trip to Cuba. I echo comments above about staying in casas particulares. If you stay in a chain hotel in Varadero you might as well save some money and go to the Costa del Sol (probably...). If you stay in someone's home you can find out more about their lives and benefit them directly (they are taxed on renting out rooms but still earn hugely more than in the average job in Cuba - we stayed with one family where we paid the equivalent of $25 per night for an ensuite room. The owner earned $30 per month equivalent in his job as a security guard). All the homes I stayed in provided large and delicious breakfasts and dinners (optional). They were also extremely helpful with onward travel arrangements and local tours. For a first time visit I agree Havana and Trinidad are good options (south coast, UNESCO listed heritage site, excellent snorkeling, interesting local trips etc). Travel with Viazul coaches is fine - air con, barely any traffic on the roads, cheap as a foreigner. In fact in Havana we paid as much for a taxi to the Viazul station to buy our onward tickets as we did for the tickets for a roughly 100km trip! We booked a hotel for our first few nights in Havana and a taxi transfer from the airport via Trailfinders. Thereafter we stayed in casas and once you find one they can put you in touch with an owner in the next town, who will likely meet you off your bus. I'm not sure if Cuba is really a Latin American country or not, being in the Caribbean. But as a Spanish speaking country it's got a similar feel, but so much safer (I have travelled extensively in South America) - I wouldn't hesitate to take children for example. It's a wonderful place and I can't wait to go back!

I don't know if it would work out but you can get a 1 year two together rail card for ?30 which gives 2 people a third off the price as long as they travel together. It doesn't take many journeys to save ?30. And I concur with lswayne on the timing.