verds

Ooh, hadn't thought of making wraps on the picnic - nice! These are the spaghetti-dogs http://www.thekitchn.com/look-crazy-spaghetti-hot-dogs-87900 The secret is to insert the spaghetti raw...

My least favourite task in the motherhood is making picnics. Eurgh. Everyone seems to have a fancier one than us and with a toddler snapping at my heels in a tiny kitchen I always end up with cheese sarnies and Pom Bears. But with the horror of picnic season upon us I need to up my game. Recently, I've branched out into threading spaghetti through hotdogs to make, er, hotdogs with worms coming out of them. Would any of you mumgeniuses care to share the contents of your lunchbox? Thanks!

Just bumping this thread after today's amazing school fair - I was so impressed after seeing those GG kids get on stage and sing Little Mix and Cher Lloyd. Anyone else for a playdate before starting in Sept?

Yes, I work from home and juggle two small daughters with it. Sometimes I use the bribery of Peppa Pig while I do phone interviews. I really miss being in an office full of funny women chatting about celebrities though! Let me know if I can join a meet-up, especially if it's wine-based...

You lot are so helpful! I spied a Volo on the bus today and it looks good - tiny. I road tested a Maclaren a while ago, but got annoyed at not being able to push it with one hand, but I may need to sacrifice that luxury to get the two of them on the bus without annoying too many commuters. Will look at theBaby Jogger too, if it's not too pricey.

Hello buggy experts, I'm using a Micralite Fastfold for my 18 month old and I love it, but with a big sister starting school in Sept I'm going to need something narrow and easy to fold so we can hop on crowded buses quickly. What's the best stroller that you can push with one hand, fold easily, is comfortable enough for everyday use and doesn't make people tut on the bus? Is there such a thing? Or am I just going to have to practice harder with the Fastfold?

Aw, thanks lovely PTA - we look forward to picnic-ing with you (hopefully with some sun!), and hearing from anyone who fancies meeting up.

If you have children starting in reception at Goose Green in Sept who don't already go to the nursery, would you like a playdate? My little girl goes to another school nursery which she loves, so I'm trying to make the transition to a new 'big school' something exciting rather than scary for her. She has friends who go to Goose Green nursery who are also starting reception, but as they'll already know loads of classmates I was wondering if any other newcomers fancied meeting up over the summer...

Aw, may I say that just the fact that you're worrying about it makes you a very nice mum indeed.

I think someone should invent an end-of-row net! Just to add: I find Easyjet a great airline with children - they were so helpful on my last flight, when we had to run to the gate after an incident involving a hire car and two lots of car sickness. I ended up boarding without any milk for the baby and the cabin crew gave me some, as well as helping me with my bags when I was struggling. Enjoy your holiday!

We used to pay 60 a day, which I think is pricey. She was entitled to 5 weeks of paid holiday a year, plus bank hols and our holidays. I think that's standard, but I also think it's loads, so worth negotiating.

Can I ask if you were on the waiting list for DVI, or did they just call you randomly? I would deffo take the place and bear in mind the Hamlet catchment is bigger anyway. Good luck!

My little girl went there last year and we loved it. The staff are very kind, there's loads to keep them amused and I liked the fact that they all had a book that showed what they'd been up to each week. The only downside is you have to pay a bit of a fee on top of the free hours you get when at three years old, but it was worth it.

Yes, my four-year-old is really suffering at the moment - with a tickly cough as well as itchy eyes and a runny nose. Her symptoms started last year - and it was the end of May, so it must be some pollen that's around now. We went to the docs yesterday because I didn't want to give her Piriton because it makes her drowsy, so she prescribed a non-drowsy medicine which seems fine so far.

Ignore the haters - you're doing a great job. I thought they grew out of it, but my little one is four and threw a tantrum like a small toddler when I said it was time to go home from the adventure playground the other day, so it happens to everyone. Have you seen this? http://reasonsmysoniscrying.tumblr.com/

Aw, that's lovely. I have bags of stuff ready for them - anyone know if you can just drop it in, or whether you need to let them know beforehand?

Heber nursery is lovely - my little girl goes there. But if your little one is happy where she is I'd stick with it. Like Fuschia said, turning down the nursery place or getting her in there has no bearing on getting a school place. You have to live really close to the school! So if she doesn't get into the school you'd be moving her twice.

I have a pair of tried-on but unworn Carvela patent beige/nude courts with suede heels and a slight platform. I love them, but I got them as a present when I was pregnant and couldn't walk in them and unfortunately my feet didn't return to the same size afterwards! Originally ?100, but of course will take less than that so they can go to a good home.

My daughter goes to Heber nursery and loves it - we loved it from the moment we went for a tour. I chose it based on the niceness of the ladies! But I also had a look around Goodrich and that seemed nice, with more space to roam about. Not much help, eh? She does afternoons, and one thing I noticed when she started was how much it tired her out so if we did an activity in the morning, too, it was a bit much for her. So if did get afternoons, you can hang around the house and get things done in the morning, then have an early lunch and then time for yourself (siblings permitting). As there's no connection between nursery and school admissions, bear in mind how small the catchment areas are for Heber (about 250 metres) and Goodrich (about 450). I'm a bit sad that she didn't get into Heber, but I figure after six long weeks of summer holiday she'll be less attached to it and I can just make the fact that she's moving on to another school exciting. I'd be interested to know how anyone else dealt with this though, as they're still so young to settle in a new place at just over four...

Well I think it's a great idea. We could maybe swap them for a bottle of wine. Nothing over a fiver, to make it fair...

If nursery and school applications aren't linked, does that mean that the sibling criteria doesn't apply between schools and their nurseries? We've been offered a reception place for our daughter at a school that's not particularly near our house, so I'm wondering if I'll have problems getting her little sister into the nursery. Anyone know? Thanks...

Yeah, go to Treehouse - you can drop them.off for two hours and then get some time to yourself in Brixton Village and the fabulous Moreleys department store.

Well, I'm on Lordship Lane at the top of Crystal Palace Road and my little girl goes to Heber nursery. I saw that last year the furthest place was under 200 metres because of previous bulge classes, but I thought this year would be slightly easier. Yes, go on every school tour going - you may be pleasantly surprised!

Did anyone actually get into Heber or Goodrich? I live really near both, but didn't get in - and I haven't heard of many people who did. It seems to be even more difficult to get a place than last year. Maybe this end of the Lane is just so rampant we've had a baby boom.

No email yet, and I can't log on to the website. I'm off to buy some wine. Anyone want one?