Mellors

With No 1 I went to these people and it was the best thing we did: http://www.littledippers.co.uk/ With No 2 I had less time, so just went to Beckhenham Spa (which also has a nice warm baby pool, but seems to have more flexible times and no need to book in advance). I agree about the neoprene jacket thing, it does help with the cold when they are so tiny. JoJo Maman Bebe sell them I think.

I can't believe this has happened again. Its far too often, that junction is a death waiting to happen. I have to use it every day and I truly dread it. Poor people involved.

The lights coming down from Peckham Rye towards Peckham were out this morning at 8am - it was carnage - bikes/pedestrians/cars everywhere. What an almighty screw up!

Any news on Dulwich Van Hire (Barry Rd)? They are parked all over my street today and its driving me nuts. Thanks.

Horrendous, and I note they put them up just before Christmas, and have done b*gger all since. BAH!

As fas as I know its c. ?4.50/?5 per hour per family (i.e. ?9/10 per hour for the nanny), plus you should pay Tax & NI on top of that (although some sort out their own). A nanny working just for one family should charge slighty less,say, ?8 or ?9 an hour.

Just to say I also agree on waiting until they are ready rather than trying to force it. I tried with my boy at just over 2 (in a panic because all the other mums seemed to be getting on with it). After a day spent scrubbing the floors he went straight back in nappies! Tried again a couple of months later and we had it cracked within a couple of days (with the odd accident, but I was confident to take him out etc as he owuld nearly always tell me when he needed to go). I really believe they are all ready at different times, and there is no point persevering and making more work for yourself if it they arent ready yet. One thing I did do, on advice from other mums with grown up children, is just ditch the daytime nappies completely. It seems to dragh it out and confuse them if you have them out of nappies, then in nappies when they go out/for naps, then back out of nappies. We got rid of them together completely, and barring a wet bed on the first naptime, it seemed to work.

My friend went into labour last night and had to go to hospital in an ambulance up the hard shoulder of the M1 with the blue lights flashing (she is in Luton). Had planned a home birth but midwife couldn't get out for snow. Exciting way to make your entrance though, and both are fine (9lb 12oz, all natural and quick - ouch!). I think ambulance is the way forward if you are in doubt? Good luck! (sorry, can't help with rellies, have the same problems myself).

My first one was about 1 when he swapped to one nap at lunch. The second one was pushed it much earlier to fit in with the rest of us. Depends on the child I suppose, but I think about 1 or just over is about right.

James Thank you for your helpful thread. I am wondering what is going to happen re Dulwich Van Hire who are based at 38 Barry Rd. Planning permission was given some time ago to convert the business yard to residential premises. This is now well underway, but the company are still running their business from a portacabin on site. There is no longer any parking for the vans that they hire out, so these are now parked in the surrounding streets (Barry/Upland/Tyrell/Henslowe etc), adding to an already very difficult parking situation. I have spoken to the council, who state that they should no longer operate the van hire business as the planning permission changed the use of the site from commercial to residential. However, when I called the company they basically told me to get lost. That rather feels like having your cake and eating it and is very annoying for local residents. Is there anything we can do about this?

The bigger Christmas cards (which were special ones from grandparents etc) had been clearly opened in my post today. Thankfully they contained cheques rather than cash which were still inside. The smaller ones which were from friends etc (and clearly looked less juicy) hadn't been opened. It couldn't have been more obvious!

Another vote for GMs - my once recalcitrant boy now looks forward to the "snippy snippy ladies". ?7/10 I think?

Yes, up to 3 weeks overdue is fine in France, the thought of which kept my spirits up with both mine as I slipped into week one, then two.....

Never mind the nippers, what are you hoping Santa pops in your stocking? (NB: Link can be sent to other halfs, which might help)! Me: - a good night's sleep (priceless) - Edward from Twilight gift wrapped (would consider forgoing good night's sleep for this) - an enormous box of Turkish Delight from Hope and Greenwood - instant slimming pills for New Year (see above).

Re private midwives, I used these people and can't recommend them highly enough: http://birthcentre.com/ The head of the place (Caroline Flint) was my NCT teacher first time round, and I so wish I had had her then. They will either deliver you at home, in their birth centre (which is next to St Georges in Tooting) or accompany you to any hospital. I had a bit of a fight with Kings as I was VBAC (emergency c-section in Tommys first time) and 14 days over with No 2, and they wanted me to have another C-section. My lovely ladies argued against it, and I ended up with a marvellous, natural 6 hour birth in water at their Birth Centre. Having said that, the Lanes (the midwives at DMC who are my doctors) didn't exist then, but I believe they offer a similar service now (for free).

I also came across Leoni Penna during my second pregnancy and thought she was really excellent, so again, it seems different experiences for different people. I find it hard to form an opinion on this when there seems to be so much conflicting information.

Totally agree with the above - the calls drive you mad. I also agree that some people just take longer to brew 'em. Both my mother and hiis didnt have us or our siblings till 42 weeks or over, so there was no chance I was going to have mine on time I figured. I am so pleased that second time round I resisted the c-section they wanted to give me at 42 weeks and waited until she came on her own.

Herne Hill as well which is co-ed (but not sure about playing fields). The Villa in Camberwell (don't know much about this one).

Oddly I received a card through the door for a parcel today (on a Sunday?). If the mystery package doesn't now get lost at Sylvester Rd maybe my son will get his birthday presents before Christmas after all (but I'm not holding my breath)....

Tried the lot, both 14 days past their due date.

I still haven't got my son's birthday presents and card posted by Grandma 1st class on 23rd November :( On the upside, if they do finally arrive I can recycle them into extra Christmas presents....

Well, my ongoing trauma resolved itself today when I resigned! 3 months notice then I'm joining the SAHM. Scary.

Sorry, I realise thats not really very helpful. I think my overall view would be to go to the closest place - there's a good chance you might get sent home if you are not far enough along, and I just wouldn't want to do the drive to Tommy's again in full labour (I vividly remember the speed bumps on Black Prince Road!).

I wsa in Tommy's first time round and I'm afraid I didn't have a good experience. I was turned away by them twice whilst in labour - once when I had just started (I was booked in for an epidural so had had to go anyway) then second time they sent me home at 3.5cm dilated to "get on with it" (first baby, and this was after 36 hours of labour already). When I went back for the third time they tried to send me away again as they were too full, and it was only when I went completely mental that they examined me and found I was 9.5 cm dilated (on my own at home, terrified, with no midwife present). They did find space for me then, but because of the stress of it all (and believe me, driving to and from ED to Tommys whilst in labour in a Monday morning rush hour is hell personified) I ended up with an emergency c-section. It was unbelievably traumatic. I also didnt get visited afterwards (I think Kings midwives were meant to come, but hadn't been notified of the birth), and it was only when I pleaded with them in tears that they finally came and took my stitches out. I went privately second time and had an amazing, natural birth in 6 hours. No hospitals for me, ever again!

For some reason there never seems to be much on on a Monday (unless I am missing it all!). I would say mornings (say, 10am) work best, as afternoons tend to be naptime (can be anywhere between 12 - 3) and then it gets a bit late/dark/grumpy for trips out in winter.