Ann

A lovely local event and what a turnout! Well done again all those who organised it.

Definitely use a patch plus another form of nicotine replacement, these have statistically been shown to have the best results along side a specialist counselor. Your GP can arrange this. All nicotine replacements are available on prescription which should work out much cheaper than over the counter and much more than cigarettes themselves! Good luck.

Second wod's advice 100%. My son has become quite savvy re above. Never take a (worth having) mobile and use publicly in vulnerable areas, buses being one. Boys are much, much bigger target than girls.

Mrs TP, the answer is yes, she probably will be the only child without a mobile. However I can assure you that schools are pretty strict about their usage and they will confiscated promptly with inappropriate use. My son didn't really bother much until year 10 but I must admit my daughter has done since year 7. Boys are far more likely to be mugged for a phone than girls ( not trying to scare anyone) but I do think it put him off carrying a phone for some time. Mobiles are in many ways a double-edged sword in terms of communication between parent and child at that age. It's actually quite nice to get a text re e.g A good mock exam result etc. when you are at work. You also panic if you call at four O'clock and there's no answer ; it usually means the phones's switched off but you don't know that! Personally I see no harm in a cheap pay-as-you-go handset. Inevitably at secondary school age you will need to be able to communicate on occasion as your child will experience quite a sharp level of independence, travel on public transport to name but one. If you're worried that kids are using their phones at school inappropriately that won't happen. I have also heard of horror stories of 8 year olds with Blackberries!

For what it's worth I have used a combination of childminders and nursery when my children were young all within this area. I have no complaints from both. Childminders meet up at various playgroups, one o'clock clubs etc. Why shouldn't they? The fact that they may not be watching a child 100% doesn't equal neglect; an experienced chilminder can cast an eye over a child or children within a safe environment and chat with friends at the same time. I always welcomed the fact that my childminder took them out rather than being 'cooped' up all day. To Nabz I entirely understand your concerns; there are hoards of us living here that don't have any family in London. Whatever you choose, be reassured that our children do come out unscathed!

I remember Elvis dying. I was upstairs in my room and my brother walked in to announce " The King is dead". It took a while to sink in, it was a huge shock at the time. I haven't seen the programme but remember the '70's well. The three day week; playing cards with my three siblings around the dining room table with Radio Caroline on in the background. Was that the right station? The illegal one? I think we were possibly more politically aware then that most of today's teenagers, even if we didn't really understand it all. I remember an incident where a boy at school was mucking about at school during PE in our swimming pool. "Heath out!" he barked,( the boy's surname). Seconds later the whole class joined in the chant, HEATH OUT! HEATH OUT! HEATH!

My daughter has been twice and loved it. My 16 year old son is going this year as are most of his friends, it seem to be the done thing these days after GCSE's. Like others have said watch your valubles, take an old mobile phone or buy a cheap one- you can charge them on site. Wellies are a good idea as it does get very muddy! Food wise there's plenty to choose from but probably not a bad idea to pack a few snacks. I can't remember what we paid for the ticket but it ceratinly wasn't ?300.

Sparkle, we have had many enjoyable campsite holidays over the years. Have been with Eurocamp, Keycamp, Venue and have also booked directly with campsite. I agree with others that booking directly with the site is quite a lot cheaper but you will find yourself surrounded by French families- not a bad thing but perhaps not ideal with very young kids. I would also add that the spec in Euro/Keycamp is slightly higher; French caravans will not have an oven, possibly no microwave and defiantly no kettle! They also do a gistapo style inventory check, you have to clean your caravan before departure and stand there while they inspect your work! I found this a distinctly stressful way to end a holiday. My children are now 16 and 18 and yep we're going again this summer! We found a particularly good campsite a few years back and have returned. All sorts of friendships have been made, daughter is applying to study French at University and will have so many friends in France if she goes on work experience. We would recommend Le Brasilia near Perpignan. But in all honesty you can't go wrong with camping holidays in France! Good luck!

Well put Marie, I am a dog owner and these posters are well designed.

Ditto. It looks serious. Well put bluerevolution.

I saw the blue rabbit comforter too at the same place this afternoon. I thought to myself, 'This looks like a well loved comforter.' I truly hope it is reunited with it's owner!

My son used the new gym for the first time today and he thought it was amazing and very reasonably priced with a leisure access card.

My daughter has just had a week in Brussels as an A level student on work experience. She stayed with an older woman now widowed with a grown up son and grandchildren. She had a fabulous time, the woman was kind and an amazing cook! She made a home made quiche which my daughter said was the best she'd ever eaten and the lovely woman gave her some for her lunch at work the next day. She also made her own ratatouille which was apparently wonderful, yes I'm jealous too. From what the OP has suggested the organization arranges host families as opposed to exchanges. When my daughter was in year 10 French exchanges could be arranged via the school or by yourself. Having had several holidays in France over the years my daughter made her own arrangements and we had met the family before and have become friends. It's shameful how those girls were treated, what a horrible introduction to life in Britain! It shouldn't have been down to luck that hilili could step in. Money is paid in advance for these trips. We paid 300 euros for my daughter for one weeks accomodation and work experience with whatever cost that entailed but had to book our own travel. In our case it was well worth it, daughter waould like to go back next year to stay with the same woman and same work experience!

Also avoid Saturday travel if you can; that's when the northern parts of France depart for the southern parts in the summer. July is probably not as bad as August but nonetheless school holidays for the French. Also I'm not sure you could do it in one go, we've always had a stopover. You needn't decide where you want to stop in advance, get as far as you can and stop where it suits you; it should be a nice overnight stay. Have great time.

I agree EDmummy, the planes wake me daily and it's been discussed extensively on these forums before. I'm not sure that campaigning will make much difference but who knows? I truly envy all of those who never hear them!

I think Ves was thinking in terms of someone not used to London and that person being female. I think any woman should be wary of travelling in a city not known to you and the person flying into Gatwick might not have had much city exposure, or competency in speaking English! I travelled a lot as a young woman but was bizarrely more self conscious in foreign cities than good old London. Better the Devil you know etc. Ves she'll be safe and I hope she enjoys her trip.

No-one here has been able to verify the Irish origins of the event, I'm part Irish but would agree this is not a particularly 'Irish area' in terms of immigrant profile. I suspect most of us have simply enjoyed it as a well attended fun event. I have no idea at all how much Southwark council stumps up for the event; I'm sure I'm not the only one to have given it too much thought but I appreciate that budget cuts must be made. To me it's a shame it has to go and who knows if it will ever return?

I agree Atticus, unless absolutely necessary, it would be a real shame to lose this event. Has anyone been there and not bumped into someone they know? That's how it's always felt to me.

No they shouldn't MM. I suppose many of us (including me) have enjoyed it's presence over the years without really considering it's actual cost as local ( Southwark) residents. This thread is a sharp reminder of what's to come I suspect. It had never occurred to me, for example that we would loose the Irish Festival, which is probably the best attended event locally by a country mile.

Toomuchchocolate, there was a posting about this on the local nature thread in the local gossip section. I suspect they're the same ones. You'll get more interest on that thread and thanks for posting.

Quite so Dorothy, I think you and Mark have identified a lot of genuine issues, that being that you cannot get your nearest local school, nothing more nothing less. I hate the use of the word 'lottery' being associated with school admissions criteria. These words should never appear in the same sentence! It gives no confidence whatever to the prospective parent and above all, the child. It seems to me that there aren't enough local places and with our local population that will only get worse, look at all the 'bulge classes' in our local primary schools. Sorry to sound so doom and gloom but you do have my sympathy.

bandwagonesque Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, am wanting some spawn or tadpoles for my pond. > It is perfect for little frogs with low sides, > over handing rocks and plenty of surrounding > plants. > If anyone has to much i'll gladly pop around with > a bucket! > > thanks, > > Mat > 0785 5423587 See lousmith's post earlier in this thread, not very far up. He has a fantastic pond/frog sanctuary in his back garden. I took up his kind offer of frogspawn who are doing nicely in a tank in our back garden.

Yes I noticed it tonight when I went to collect a takeway. No idea about the science of it all but the moon does look spectacular tonight. Please post photo's if you can PR.:))

I can't add much other than that we have had our dog vaccinated yearly partly for her health but partly that we couldn't leave her at boarding kennels without an updated vaccination certificate; no current vaccine no holiday. I would be the first to admit that it could easily be by-passed if it didn't have family holiday implications and I'm being very honest here. However I would say the annual health check is reassuring; I hadn't realised that cat's vaccine regimes were so strict, probably because they roam more than dogs who are more under owner control? I sympathise Saffron. It's hard to know when you do what's best for the pet or what the vet recommends. It's not NHS and most of us I guess don't have private pet insurance.

Newmother had a point I think, both my primary and secondary schools were hot on discipline. I do think there are problems with un-challenged children at all ends of the social spectrum. When I was at school,we were sometimes smacked with a ruler, at my senior school boys could be caned until the law was changed, (1970's). I have never sat in a class where I was prevented from learning due to unruly pupils; we had a pretty good relationships with our teachers but we had to show respect. Sometimes it seems the kids want the respect without earning it or really undrestanding what it really means, it's a two way street. Some of you are being a little naive about the children teachers can be faced with, in my opinion. For a lot of Dulwich kids secondary transfer can be a bit of a shock.