minder

I don't know about ballet books but at the moment the new Lauren Childs book "Look into my eyes" is meant to be a bit hit with young teenagers. Story about a girl spy, can't remember the blurb but it's on sale in Sainsburys and WH Smith.

If the pop-up shop is there for only 3 months I wonder what it will be in 3 months time? Good on the current shopkeeper for his interest. Interesting, as my two teenage daughters (and myself) think the stuff is really nice. I've already bought them some Christmas presents and myself a vintage cardigan to wear on those cold nights!

I pass by Fairlawn now and again on the P4 bus. The one thing I notice is that the children are having a good time in the playground. The other thing I notice is that they don't have a school uniform. The children are all in their own clothes which isn't on a par with all the other primary schools around? I think a uniform is a good thing. Maybe others will disagree.

I grew up just around the corner from the Champion Hill estate and me, sisters and friends would have a good time in the area, roller skating down the Greendale, playing knock down ginger, two balls up the wall, rolling down the Wanley Road hills. I'm not that old (really) but the Oribu Spot pub used to be The Greendale. It's quite sad that's it's run down now as it was the place to be for the Champion Hill and Denmark Hill estates in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. My Dad was member of the darts team at The Greendale and had competitions against other pubs in the area and beyond. They won lots of trophies which I believe are still on display in the pub. The area outside the pub was kept immaculate for years. The Greendale was a very popular pub for me and friends in the late 80s/into the 90s. Discos, pub quizzes, karokes, shoulder to shoulder every Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday night. I've never found the Champion Hill/Denmark Hill Estates at all unfriendly but some people might have a different perspective in recent times. I still walk through and around them to visit friends/family during the evenings and don't feel worried but that's because I'm familiar with the area. Myself and husband went to Bessemer Grange and my three children.

My two girls walk together to secondary school in the morning (a 5 min walk) but not always on the way back. I've always told them about "stranger danger" but have seen this story about a white van for the past few weeks and it's a worry. The video fits are pretty clear so let's hope they catch this person quick!

Somerfield was something before that and before that and then before that was an 'International' as I remember taking my Mum shopping there in the 80s in my red Ford Escort! Binesters toy shop was around where the new St Christopher's charity shop is, as I shopped there from 1992 until it closed (shame) as it was like the Just William's at the Goose Green roundabout now. Agree with FredRicketts about the Dulwich Club, which used to be opposite Farmers. Spent many a good time there with my Mum and Dad, sisters, family, friends, up until around 11 years ago when it closed. I remember the ballroom and my Mum and Dad dancing and the Christmas times and New Years do's there. My Mum and Dad were members there from the late 1960s. Also, Reg, your comments (from 2009) about the Magdala are not very nice (3 people)? The Magdala was THE place to be when I was a teenager (I started going there from 1980) and was shoulder to shoulder packed. I went in there a few years ago and it's a totally different now. There used to be a square shaped arena for the DJ and the lighting was totally different. This is how I remember LL and I lived in Denmark Hill.

Hi anyjoy - if you already have a toddler and expecting another baby I can understand your decision! I left my 14 year office/secretarial career when my son was born in 1992. Three children later and I've now been childminding for 11 years. It's something I know I'm good at and enjoy! Fair bit of paperwork and physically hard work. I have no formal qualifications after leaving school at nearly 16 other than my 3 O Levels and 4 CSEs but I received an 'outstanding' from Ofsted at my last inspection in September. If you're going to Essex soon, I would contact their CIS (Childcare Info Service) but if not Southwark CIS. You have to complete an ICP course over a few weeks, first aid, CRB checks, and Safeguarding courses. This can take some months though including the registration process with Ofsted (up to 6 months). Once you're registered Southwark are very good at providing free courses (I've done lots) but with cutbacks looming it might change.

Hi Miranda - I would say 2, 3, 1! Good luck with your game!

Hi dondini - have pm'd you.

Hi Renata - I know the one o'clock clubs are not a drop-off service for parents. I used one for years, both as a parent and a registered childminder, and sadly it closed summer just gone (Ruskin Park). What I was trying to say is that putting parents in charge of a club might not be a good idea. The workers are being paid to do a good job but parents volunteering their time is a different matter. They have their own children to look after etc. and who would do the teas/coffees/juices/biscuits and activities e.g. art/crafts/painting etc? It sounds like the one o'clock clubs are going to be incorporated into Childrens Centres. If this happens then it won't be the same really as the children's centres run their own schedules. A lot of their activities are not run on a regular basis and exclude a lot of people.

I would agree with Sillywoman and phone your own GP. Don't they have one attached to the surgery if she's in Crystal Palace? Wouldn't they have sorted this out before she went into hospital as CP is a long way from King's College Hospital. Also getting to a clinic (Townley) isn't always an option if you've just given birth in King's and been discharged next day. I hope your friend is coping ok over the weekend and can get some help from her doctor's surgery next week.

There's some going off now in North Dulwich!

Surely it is defeating the object to keep the club open if Southwark offer to pay for first aid courses and crb checks for parents? I don't think this would happen because Southwark are already making hidden cutbacks in childrens services. Paying for staff is the best option for one o'clock clubs as they are professionals. I don't think putting parents in this position (good intentions aside) would be a good idea.

Sounds like you're all talking about school catchment areas!

Yes certainly, just crush with the foot, shoes on preferably!

I've always crushed cans and cereal boxes, cat food boxes, tetra paks, e.g. fruit juice cartons, as wouldn't fit in my bin otherwise - even before the blue bin. I find it quite therapeutic and it doesn't take much force to crush a can or box!

Sadly the Ruskin Park one o'clock club closed down completely a few months ago.

Report about the one o'clock club in today's Southwark News.

In between the others mentioned, try some vaseline.

It doesn't affect you physically at all - in fact I feel rejuvenated! I used to nearly faint sometimes when having blood taken during my 3 pregnancies, but I think as you get older it's not so bad.

I think the 'agreed' day is the 31st October, even if it falls on a weekday. You might get a few knocking on your door at the weekend, but I doubt it, so be prepared on the Monday evening!

cmacnew - I clicked on the link but the classes are on a Tuesday (4pm-5pm) not Wednesday.

Hi Pickle - I'm not too far away in North Dulwich. Only a month ago one of the collection men knocked because I'd put some plastic milk cartons on top of the paper bag. I had to explain that my plastic box was overflowing and it was a one-off, but he wasn't very happy!

Minkey you are lucky that the council took away your 1 box every 2 weeks if it had everything in. Up until now we've had to have one blue box for glass, one blue box for plastic, one blue bag for paper and one bag for tins. If we mixed it they would knock on our door or have a moan. I was dreading having the blue bin but now it's good because I can just chuck everything in there (including juice cartons, aerosols. It's freed up a lot of space in my normal green bin which is even emptier because the food waste has to go in the small brown caddy bin. We are a family of 5 (3 adults and two teenagers) and I work from home so all the recycling bins are well used. In fact, I think I might need to keep the blue boxes as an overflow from the blue bin, as the blue bin is half full after just a week. This is just after reading that the blue bin is collected fortnightly.

Fidgetsmum - you won't be able to find out what the EYFS is and will struggle to find what it covers unless you've been on courses (and even then it's all down to child-led play) and contains a lot of duplicate stuff. The EYFS is centred around every child achieving the ECM (Every Child Matters) which are to be healthy, to stay safe, to enjoy and achieve, to make a positive contribution and to achieve economic well-being. This was because of the Victoria Climbie (spelling) case a few years ago. Up until they're 5 years old the EYFS is then also split into four themes - A Unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments and Learning and Development. This is where it gets even more complicated. Learning and Development (orange band) has another 6 themes coming from it: I will just give initials: PSED, CLL, PSRN, KUW, PD and CD. This is what childminders, nurseries, etc. have to link what we're doing to the EYFS. When they start reception, teachers have to do the EYFS profile (hopefully from info collected from prior care arrangements). I think there are 67 (can't think tonight) goals. In CLL (Communication, Language and Literacy there are 19 goals. These include writing their own names and using and holding a pencil to form early letters. Also using phonics to write simple words i.e. cat, pig. Hope that helps. Renata I don't think you've got it right.