citizenED

Loads of interesting comments on here and I would like to say that as a father of two boys I am hoping that by being as hands-on as I possibly can be with a full time job I am hoping very much to educate mine in how to be the next generation of good dads. Saila's point is a good one. Must admit that when I was in college I thought a great deal more equality with regard household/childrearing would be with us in our generation, but then I was at college with a bunch of ardent feminists and liberal-minded blokes so, at that stage the future looked respectably gender balanced. But that was not taking into account of such worldly things as the nuts and bolts of having a job, the nuances of building a career and the reality shock of changing nappies and broken sleep. So I guess it takes more than a generation - and every time I hear of dad who doesn't change nappies or see so many mums (rather than dads) in the park with their kids at the weekend I feel we still have so much more to do.

Mine are in bed too, no fuss tonight; but the half-term has gone so quickly, with my mind lagging two tasks behind all week that I've just peeked into the fridge and there is no wine. Argh!

peeling them, Pickle?

*deja vu* *or I just had a mild epileptic incident*

*sigh* *sips*

Nice result for the Arsenal tonight. Whilst Utd grind it out in Europe we sneak up on the rails.

..of vodka, Brendan, of vodka.

Don't have to do all the SE22 pubs and so I'd cut it down, start at the Plough and then, Castle CPT Magnolia Franklins The Actress Palmerston Bishop EDT eight half-pints. A Wednesday night.

At the moment "Hustle". Love the cheeky bon homie.

If the Big Society is complementary and not competing with Big Govt, then why all the cuts? Why not just encourage people to be more community spirited? The Clarkson example, I an guessing, happened prior to cuts.

Here is a 7-year-old child who is "top reader in his year..", "exceptionally bright in all areas....", "...loves football...", has a "...passion for animals...." and whose "...language skills are advanced for his age...". Sorry, am I missing something. This is a perfectly engaged, fulfilled child. To be honest, (and grossly unfair to the hard-working teachers) the advice for him to learn to concentrate is because it would make it easier in class if he could. This boy is doing very well.

As I see it, there are two significant problems with the Big Society. Firstly I can't see why Big Society has to be seen as an alternative to Big Govt. Surely if it is a creditable policy, then it would work better alongside fully funded, thorough Welfare State. Volunteering is more laudable if it is done out of true good-heartedness rather than out of a sense of compulsion or necessity. Secondly, my issue is to do with the principle of fairness. I thought that recent European politics, with its focus on Human Rights had put fairness centre stage. To me this was a progressive development. The whole concept of the Big Society is retrograde in this respect as it relies on the ability and wherewithal of your neighbours; great if you live in an area like Chipping Camden but less good if you live in the many other less socially homogeonous areas.

Well I obviously qualify as a lesser social bunny. Been partying all afternoon so I;ve got a cup of cocoa on the go and I'm turning in soon. Have a good time on the 'strip'.

Like me, Jah's of the age where you still think all footie is on at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Just heard Erland and the Carnival perform "Nightingale" on the Late Review. Was brilliant. Anyone know anything about them?

But MrTwirly should not be going, on his own, to le cafe. He should be going to the Pub.

You can argue all you like about the believability of the patios or the various accusations of racism but what gets me about the porgramme is how blatently unrealistic it is; mice can't even talk.

Second goal was nearly as good as van Persie's second on Sat against Wolves, but then this one was against Barca...I'm still shaking! What a game, what a result!

Goose Green School came out of Special Measures recently which was great news for East Dulwich kids. Any comments on its progress now?

When I go to pick up my kids at Goodrich I really like the sense of community and the lovely atmosphere. I like my kids teachers as they seem to genuinely care about the children. I also loved the Christmas Fair and last year's KS1 Sports Day. My kids have made good friends there. These are some of the ways I judge the school. I would say to those who are applying this year just go ahead and put it down first choice if it is your nearest Community School - because that's what it is, a Community School in London with a mixed intake. You are securing a place for your kid for the next 7 years, not just for next year, so if you are a nice person with a happy, friendly kid with decent values then you will be helping to secure Goodrich's future. There are always some people who love to moan. Genuine issues should be discussed with the school through the proper channels not debated on an internet forum.

And weirdly, since he has some worrying views, I'd like to thank jimmyay for bringing this debate back to the fore. Without his ignorant and simplistic opinions ("Yes but it does seem to be pretty much all black teenagers who are stabbing and killing each other." my emphasis) we wouldn't have dully's, nubian's and Penguin's wiser comments.

The reason that a simple request for witnesses to an accident can't be left simply as that Marcus is because this is the Forum and the joy of the Forum is that its full of people with opinions and thus we go from the particular to the genral in but a few simple steps. Thus ever it was. For the particular case; hope you are not shaken up too badly DipDap and that you are back in the saddle already.

Hi j-mo, There's an independent midwife based in East Dulwich. Verona Hall Good luck

I like cookery books with pretty pictures in them. Nice to browse through when you are sitting on the sofa with a pre-dinner beer, contemplating what to make. Reading books in the kitchen though just doesn't equate so it looks like beans on toast again!

Drove over to Clapham to go and see Black Swan on Saturday, but there was a big police incident in the High Street causing us to miss the showing at the picturehouse. But I did catch the stunning Requiem for a Dream on Friday night on TV. A completely amazing, shocking, intense film. Thanks for that clip Mick Mac - poignant considering the Torres move this week. Thomas did that for us and was then a Liverpool player