Mellors

Not hugely local (although on the 363 bus) is TNG Youth Centre on Wells Park Rd in Sydenham. It has a climbing wall and great activities for age 8+ after school and during the holidays - all free.

Old gas hob is broken, new gas hob is here (the same size!). I need somebody to do the installation please, ideally today/tomorrow. Please PM with your availability and approximate cost, thanks very much Mel

Water is coming from under my shower tray and leaking through the downstairs kitchen ceiling. Please can you PM me if you are free to fix it? Thanks Melanie

Hi I need somebody to either repair my gas hob (ignition and one thermocouple) or replace it. Please can you PM if you;re free. Thanks Melanie

Hi I need somebody to replace a thermocouple and also fix the ignition button on my gas hob. Please can you PM me if you are free and let me know an approximate cost. Many thanks Mel

https://www.qualitysolicitors.com/amphlettlissimore/our-people/daniel-odoherty

Tooting Bec is probably better for younger children - lots more shade/grass/trees and a paddling pool for small children. I love Brockwell for swimming myself though.

Crystal Palace pool is 50m, and is fast (lots of lanes, not busy). 363 bus from ED. By far the best indoor training pool in the area IMO (although I still prefer Brockwell and Tooting Lidos when its warm enough).

The water play is open at Wells Park in Sydenham

Hi I have ben insuring au pairs on my car insurance for the last few years. Admiral are the only ones that have worked for us. They basically need to be 23+ or its astronomical - mine still went up by over ?1000 and my current au pair is an experienced driver.

Thanks Renata, much appreciated - my kids love it there!

Does anyone know the opening times over Easter please? Thanks

Can I be super nosy (or PM me) and ask what schools you are talking about/where you were offered? I'm in your position next year and wondering how the allocations are going this year.

Au pairs are normally recommended for children of school age as wraparound care, not for small children, and certainly not to be left unsupervised as they have little experience. You really need an experienced nanny/childminder with three kids of that age.

This beginners running course might be of interest: http://www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk/site/?page_id=8 It leads into sessions with the running club in the evenings, and they have a coach. Its genuinely suitable for all levels.

I agree on cycling route choice via the park in the daylight (although you still have to get to the park from wherever you are in ED), but going up/down College Rd every day is knackering for kids with bags, and the road section outside the College at the bottom from the tollgate to the lights is also a bit grim with all the non-looking 4 x 4 drivers. I'm still not sure I fancy mi kids on it without my supervision. Crossing the double roundabout at the top and the CP triangle isn't much fun either. If the kids are at CP Harris then they'll have Anerley Hill to finish them off good and proper at the other end!

On the cycling - until there is a safer way of travelling by bike (and possibly less hilly on the ED - CP run with a full bookbag) I'm not sure that a lot of parents will want their 11 years olds tackling the Lordship Lane - Sydenham Rise - Sydenham Hill carnage on bikes in rush hour. I do it regularly as an adult, and it can be pretty hairy, particularly in poor weather/darkness.

There is a textile recycling bin on Sydenham Hill at the Horniman end, about 200 metres before the entrance to Crescent Wood Rd on the left hand side (as you drive from ED).

I'd have thought that the Business Rate revaluation taking place on 1st April this year will have a massive impact on local independent retailers ability to continue operating, even without rent increases.

They do for primary school, but secondary school varies, and with the exception of a few schools its a lottery near here.

I agree, I've always wondered whey there isn't a better bus link between the two. The train station in CP isn't that near the shops/centre, nor is Gypsy Hill particularly. A bus would be far easier and more frequent (not least given the train issues at the moment). Lots of secondary school children go between the two - most schools aren't allocated on catchment area at that stage, so its very likely that a CP child could be at an ED school, or vice versa.

Seftons chemist in Crystal Palace do it (next to Iceland).

The last Dulwich Runners I went to was a 5k but in the summer? There is parkrun in all the parks round here - 5k every Saturday morning, and these guys run a lot of timed 10k races etc. round here - Brockwell, Clapham, Greenwich Battersea etc. Good value and a decent medal. http://www.runthrough.co.uk/ The Runners World race finder is also really useful: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/foundevents.asp?v=2&evntTitle=&evntDate=a%3afut&distance=10&county=101&area=&distanceFromHome=16&evntSurface=&evntGround=&evntWheelChairAccessible=

There are bins on the right hand side of Sydenham Hill as you drive towards Crystal Palace (near the Crescent Wood Avenue Entrance).

Hi Nixlo I'm a member of Dulwich Park Runners, for the same reasons you've stated above. We run on a Tuesday night - meet at 7.30pm at the Trevor Bailey Sports Centre near the riding stables on the South Circular. Its very inclusive and social (lots of mums like myself, not competitive blokes), with speeds from fast to about 12 minute miles with a no-drop policy. You'd be more than fine if you can do parkrun in 30 mins. You'd be welcome to come along and try it out, see if its for you. More info here, or feel free to send me a PM with any questions: http://www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk/site/ Mel