njc97

Strictly SE14 but close by, our son goes to the Stepping Stones nursery on Telegraph Hill http://www.steppingstones.webspace.virginmedia.com/index.htm We're more than happy with it there and he loves it.

Alternative to snowboarder's pizza recipe - use the blinis in sainsburys chiller cabinet for mini pizzas. Add a bit of tomato puree and/or slice of cheese and pop under the grill. Small so good for mini hands.

You can get the stairgate you screw into the wall on the one side (so doesn't need to attach on other side). Or put it somewhere slightly different (we've got one a yard onto the landing to it has two walls either side rather than banister). Or not have one and keep a close eye on little one (we don't have one at bottom of stairs)

Try holding it in your right hand.....

Moos, or more likely the have one leg rolled up to show they ARE wearing a tracker bracelet. More likely is the bike thing. Especially if they're riding fixed bikes - getting your trousers caught in the chain on a fixie doesn't mean dirty trousers, it means your legs gets pulled into the drive chain, blood everywhere and you end up on the floor.

1. We get so used to every restaurant having highchairs that it can be a shock when places don't. Depends on age of mini-boarders but rather than a chunky booster seat, we've got a fabric "high chair" that you tie on to proper chair and then tie baby to - has worked with mini njc since he was little up to current 19 months, and folds up into a small package and lives under the pram.

I'm not a patient at DMC but at my surgery the "charter" I had to sign before being taken on as a patient included agreeing to turn up 10 minutes before my appointment time to ensure I was there on time. And I'd consider turning up at 6.50 for a 6.50 appointment to be late - there's no way you'll be ready to be seen on time.

Nikki, there's a male childminder here on Telegraph hill: http://www.motheratwork.co.uk/childcare/?article=247 I think there's an article about him from grauniad as well, but couldn't find it with a quick google. When we looked to find somewhere for our son he was fully booked so there's clearly a market....

Brendan - you've got it the wrong way around. Most people in Manchester think Germany is an area in North Yorkshire. (And my tuppence - you can't compare Corrie to Neighbours or Eastenders. It's far too well written. Evil ex-teacher John drops bits of Chaucer into his dialogue, where do you get that in 'enders?)

Well put Easties EL. But I think Ripley put it better: "I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

Don't think you can get JSA (or equivalent) if you're off to University nowadays. You certainly couldn't when I was that age (10+ years ago), unlike when my parents were in the same situation. As my dad said to me when I was looking for a temporary job before going to uni - "Son, when are you going to grow up? I'd signed on twice by the time I was your age...."

Us - son went into his own room at about 6 months, and once we stopped night feed would then sleep through fine. Up until about 1 year, when thanks to a bad (from sleeping pov) holiday and teething he now wakes up around midnight every night and then sleeps between us. Now aged almost 20 months and not getting any better at staying in his bed, but we now sleep so well with 3 in the bed that we gave up worrying.

Or Tom Clancy maybe if he likes that sort of thing. Or Firefox by Craig Thomas (must. think. in. russian. etc) Although it's a small step from that sort of trash to Dan Brown, and we don't want to be encouraging that sort of thing....

Amelie - I'm not trying to play down this tragedy, but it's a bit ridiculous suggesting a 9 year old is criminally responsible.

I actually read it again last year and loved it. But from hazy memory, I may have not thought it as good as Tom Sawyer when I read it as a teenager. When you say painful, do you mean the language/accents? I think that sort of thing can be painful for a while but (reading to yourself) you soon get used to it. Might be a bit off, but how about comics graphic novels? When I was last in Chener books there was a boy of around 13 discussing them with the owner.

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, definitely. Treasure Island is superb, as is kidnapped by RL Stevenson. How about Biggles or Gimlett by WE Johns? Or 49 steps by John Buchan. I know it's magic, but Terry Pratchett maybe? What else does he like, maybe film/tv stuff - Dr Who, Star Wars etc? Horror stuff maybe (might just be a bit too young) - Stephen King, Shaun Hutson etc. Long but good - I read Gorky park when I was 13 (but it takes some going).

parkview, any reason why they didn't keep claiming the grant? Our son's nursery (also montessori) claims the grant so fees are slightly lower for children who qualify. But because they only accept full time places, and because the grant doesn't cover the full costs, you still have to pay fees.

DJKQ - people trying to get to LB could either change at Peckham Rye/Queens Road Peckham or change at Canada Water and go one stop on the Jubilee Line. Neither would add greatly onto the length of their journey. And depending on where they are going in the city, they could change to DLR at Shadwell or walk from Shoreditch High St. The ELL makes getting to the City easier and getting to Canary Wharf (where a lot of South Londoners work) a lot easier.

Saffron - my wife had a similar experience at the TH centre when our son was a similar age. She didn't even make it inside and stood outside in the rain and her friends left 2 minutes later to meet her. It took us until now (when son is 18months) to go back, and we still just stick to toys outside. 18wks is maybe a bit young, but once they're a bit bigger then definitely the baby gym run by lewisham council on Friday in Honor Oak is brilliant.

We had similar problems when our son was little. TBH nature ones were better than others, certainly better than pampers and sainsburys. Have you tried moving up a size? Otherwise bamboo are also good as are moltex.

Vince - have you watched Generation Kill? Same writers as Wire, but set in invasion in Iraq (based on book by a journalist who was based with a group of US soldiers as they went in). Short series, so doesn't have the depth of characters/plot of the Wire but still v good.

To quote a friend of mine recently "I know people who earn 400k who are barely getting by"

Huguenot, genetics can also help your body decide how many calories it needs to eat, and the hunger reflex can be very, very strong. There is good evidence that no amount of exercise regimes/calorie counting can change your body weight by more than about 10% for a sustained period. I don't think Chloe is especially overweight but nor do I think she's especially pretty. And MissM is right - she certainly doesn't look good in an ill-fitting bikini.

Ayers not bad, but not as good as Frog on the Green (either from the actual Deli in Nunhead or stall on NX road)

Are you flying back from Arlanda (sp?)? We did last summer and they make you check your buggy in with your suitcases. Instead they have ones you can borrow and dump at the gate.