minder

Wasn't a horrible day for me - my middle one was 15 today! 6/6/96 - D-day as my father-in-law always reminds me!

Anna - it might not be so difficult to get the quals needed to become a registered childminder, but it's even harden to sustain this. Ofsted registered doesn't just mean for parents "claiming back tax" it's a whole lot more than that. Some of us choose it as a career. Before having my 3 children, I worked for 12 years in various secretarial/government roles. I stayed at home for 5/6 years but decided then would never go back to that again, as didn't want to leave my children. Since then I've found a different kind of work, but something that I really enjoy.

There is a cricket club opposite the Harvesters in Lordship Lane (my son used to go there during half-terms) but not sure if they cater for 4 year olds.

But it's only nature! How do the foxes know you've got an electric fence!

ksh - hope your venture is a success. It's obviously something that a lot of people need on an ad-hoc basis. Just one thing to think about is the paperwork involved with each child. The EYFS is quite time-consuming. Also, think about the comings and goings with parents throughout the day. You may be confined to the house a lot or have children sleeping and this may wake them. Just a thought!

It's Dylways not Dlyways by the way. It actually comes under Camberwell, SE5 but isn't right in the middle of Camberwell as such. Full address is Dylways, SE5 8HP. Stagecoach, the performing arts company, hold classes there at the weekend. They always put the address as Bessemer Grange Primary School, Nairne Grove, off Sunray Avenue, Dulwich, SE5 8HP.

Mark - ?27,000 is a LOT of money so can understand your concern. Hope you get somewhere with your consultation, but to say tenants are free of any charges is wrong as they do pay rent! Your second paragraph "are we expected to pay for the social welfare...." is a bit uncalled for too.

If you're also worried about people being social and respectable in the new developments in Peckham, why are you looking to buy there? I don't think you can move anywhere in London, without being near a council estate! I grew up on one and still live just 5 minute walk from it but still feel totally "safe".

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Let's hope your family never need to avail itself of such a benefit in the future, Alex. Especially as "council housing" has always been in the background. To answer your question, I would think social housing has been around since the 1940s - who else but the local council had to manage them?

Agree completely with languagelounger (you've put it much better than I could have). As said before in a previous thread about this, a few council houses and flats within 5 minutes walk of me have been sold within the last couple of years, amd there's been lots more on the auction site. They've all been sold at auction, and then done up to be sold off at a high price. But before this has all been done Southwark could have passed them on to people on the waiting list. They were all in perfectly habitable condition - no double glazing though (not all council places have double glazing) or fancy kitchen/bathroom, but then that's what gives Southwark a reason to say they need too much done to them. It's only because Southwark have let their housing stock get in such a way that they seem to justify this now. Why would Southwark do up lots of flats on the Dog Kennel Hill estate (double glazing, etc) then sell them off? How did they find the money for that?

I know there's been threads about this before but in the South London Press today, right at the bottom of page 7, an inch-high report about Southwark Council selling off more council houses/flats. They've already sold 91 properties at auction since 2009! "A town hall with an 11,000 name housing waiting list plans to sell off a large number of its properties. Labour-run Southwark, which is the largest local authority landlord in London, proposes the sale of up to 140 properties a year for the next seven years. The cash would fund improvements to its other homes. It has around 2,000 empty council homes. In some cases the homes would require less than ?10,000 investment to bring them back into use. Next week, the council's cabinet will agree plans to sell more homes at auction. These will include voids with a value of at least ?300,000, bedsits, one and two bedroom flats on first and second floors. How can this be right?

100 years from now (that's the time all our information will be allowed to be seen) our families will be looking back at wondering why we didn't fill out a few simple questions. I've been tracing my family tree for 25 years and the 1911 census was a joy to see! Wonder what they'll make of the 2011?

I also used to top up my children's milk with water if they were ill, constipated and they didn't notice. I did used to worry about them not getting enough calcium. I've found out since though that semi-skimmed and full-fat milk contains the same amount of calcium. Not the same amount of fat though, but full fat milk is still a low-fat drink. I gave mine full-fat until 4-5.

I have loads of starlings in my back garden and I love watching them feeding the babies. The babies are as big as the mum and dad but a lot lighter in colour and just more babyish/fragile.

Dropping a nap at 2 years old is exceptional, even 3 years old, so I wouldn't worry. September is a long way off so I would let her have a nap until then. You won't have to wean her off as she will be older anyway. Have you spoken to your health visitor? They usually refer you if they think there's a medical problem.

Sure it was a lady called Clare that was on my workshop 12 years ago - I tried one last time to breasfeed (after 3 babies, premature birth, mastistis) but after falling ill with a pulmonary embollism 2 days after birth, wasn't really given any advice. Was just left to get on with it. My own three have been bottlefed formula since birth, albeit maybe tried to breastfeed for a few weeks. Need I say, I'm happy with their outcome. The Aptamil advert gets me a bit upset - "nothing compares to breastmilk".

Sorry to hear you've been victim of a bag snatch - I don't know where Cafe Noodle is but can you remember who was sitting around/near you? These people seem to know teenagers will carry the obligatory valuable stuff! If you're 14 and going to this cafe it must have CCTV? Did you let the staff know when it happened?

It seems like things have changed since had my three children (first 18 years ago). The HV seemed a natural and regular person to visit at the Health Clinic - I used to attend weigh-ins, etc. to reassure myself I was doing a good job in a way! I knew and expected when the HV was due to turn up, 8 months, 2 years, pre-school etc. I received letters as well saying when they were due to come along. I used to look forward to going to the clinic or for them to come to me - around 1999 they used to come to your home to make it better for baby/toddler/preschooler in own environment. Still have their red books with details!

Think you are expecting too much for a 3 week old! Sounds like he is doing great for sleeping night-time so if he needs a bit extra during the day I would go with it. Like bluesuperted it seemed like I was feeding (formula) my own three virtually every couple of hours at this age and this was through the night too.

Was out in garden this evening (still light) and spotted this moth at top of fence. Looked up some info and think it's a female Muslin moth - quite common all over England but I've never seen one before. It was pale cream with brown spots and about 3cms length.

Please don't blame cats, foxes yes, but that's only because they're hungry and see some unprotected rubbish as food.

Have pm'd you.

Welcome to the forum Superdolly!

Must be 5/6 years ago I used to see a little girl in the park with her nanny. The little girl was called Africa.