fordybee

We have electric UFH that is not working. It is a single zone, controlled by a Vysal thermostat which seems to work, but the heat doesn?t come on. Can anyone recommend an electrician who could come and take a look please?

I can also recommend Jon who came and fixed our external soil pipe that was leaking. Another plumber (recommended on this site) had been previously and incorrectly diagnosed, which would have been a very expensive mistake (and would have required breaking up tiling in the bathroom). Luckily that plumber was also very unreliable in booking the work in, so am very pleased I got Jon round. He sent me a price, and then we agreed a day and time the following week for him to do the work. He's also a very nice chap, and had a look at a leaky tap without extra charge. Highly recommend. "East Dulwich Plumber" 07590316924 [email protected]

We?ve just used WD Scaffold and highly recommend them. Lee and Jamie are punctual, polite and do a good job. It was a pleasure to have them around. Call Lee on 07790 987616.

Thanks Lynne, you can get different sizes - standard are the big ones and we're thinking more medium. Will be doing some careful checking of breeders and their dogs re temperament as well. Thanks for your post.

Hi, we are considering getting a dog and are keen on labradoodles, at least on paper. But we don't know anyone with one, nor do we have any breeder recommendations. Does anyone have a doodle and is willing to meet (with dog) for a walk / chat in the park or got any advice on how best to embark on this.... Thanks!

As an update, I've had a good study of the lights at that junction over the past few days going to/from school - the drivers are past the lights, so have no idea that their light is now red, and presumably can't see the green man for the pedestrians, so I am in no way drivers here - I would do the same. But I would ask everyone in a car to go slowly and be aware that little people might be on the road. Clearly at the very least some change is required to the light synchronisation - no idea how they do that, but the green man should probably not come on immediately, and then stay on a bit later to allow pedestrians across. Over to the council (who have obviously not answered my email).... In the meantime, as a family we are now aware that cars still come from the right even when there's a green man, so we wait until they have gone before we cross. All the better that others are also now aware. Thanks all.

Thanks bawdy-nan and singalto. I'd also imagine that lots of kids walking along the pavement in school uniform would suggest there's a school nearby - though actually that's a bit of a red-herring - the 20 mph limits are presumably in places where there are greater risks to pedestrians so perhaps drivers should drive more carefully generally in a 20 mph zone, not just near schools. And as I admitted in my original post, it's a learning point for us as a family that just because the green man is there, we still need to check (and we've already learnt that on pedestrian crossings like the one on Half Moon Lane / Burbage Rd when a coach went sailing through without slowing down, yet alone stopping). I think kids are taught this at school, though I couldn't be sure either of mine were. As a parent I've always taught them to check both ways (although here we check right, left, right 😉) but unfortunately accidents happen in exactly this kind of circumstance - when not expected and when, in the moment, kids sometimes forget what they've been taught. I wasn't trying to start a debate about who was right or wrong, just wanted to raise awareness among drivers and pedestrians as I'd hate for something serious to happen at that junction - to anyone.

Thanks all. Haven't checked cameras as I don't think I need to go chasing after the drivers - as TheCat says, it's a dilemma and more the fault of the planners / council as the light system isn't working to ensure the safety of those it is designed to protect (drivers or pedestrians); though I do think those today could have slowed down and if I was a driver and saw a child on the road I'd stop to let the child across not just carry on regardless (which is what the 3 who drove past appeared to do today). Yes pedestrians should check even if there is a green light, but I also think drivers should drive extra carefully near schools.

I'm adopting a scatter gun approach after a scary incident this morning - am trying to get word out to all, pedestrians and car drivers re potential accident waiting to happen at the junction of Turney Road, Dulwich Village and Court Lane. My daughter and I were on our way to school, travelling north along Dulwich Village past the florist on the left side of the road to the junction with Turney Road. We waited at the traffic lights and when the green man lit up my daughter moved into the road. Luckily I spotted that there was a car coming and stopped her but she was narrowly missed by the car (which was then followed by a further two cars). None of the cars gave way, and none of them stopped to check we were ok. Unfortunately I was too shocked to get their number plates. I can only assume that those cars were in the middle of the road waiting to turn right into Turney Road from the end of Court Lane, or from the opposite side of Dulwich Village, and turned right when their light was in fact red (although possibly they had gone past the light so didn't know this). I assume that they didn't realise that the pedestrian light was green. This would appear to be an accident waiting to happen. My daughter was very shocked and upset, and insistent that it wasn't her fault as the green man was there - it has taught us a lesson that we should still check to see if cars are coming, but I understand from other mothers that this happens regularly at this junction. I have emailed Southwark Council through their website, as well as the local police team and Helen Hayes our MP, as well as the school safer routes to school coordinator, but thought I'd also get the message out on the forum - although it's not strictly East Dulwich. We are trying our best not to contribute to the traffic in the area by cycling to school instead of going in the car, but this has made me very nervous about continuing to do so, and shattered my daughter's confidence on day two! She was doing so well, she's only 5 and cycled all the way from our home in Carver Road up to DC and back down to JAPs and I really want to try and keep this going.

Recommendation for Wayne. I had been looking for someone to come and clean the outside of our kitchen glass extension, and used Wayne as he was recommended by lots of people on this forum and he hasn't disappointed - lovely chap, punctual, efficient and does a great job at a reasonable price. Definitely recommend. Ring 07886 990081.

I agree with the positive comments about HHS above, and do not recognise what JxC and Jesska say. I don't have any experience of Rosemead. I looked round HHS and DUCKS when looking for my son and just thought HHS had a softer feel to it which has been completely the case in our experience. My son is now in Yr 1 at HHS, having started in the Nursery, and my daughter is now in Kindergarten (having also started in the Nursery). The teachers are wonderful - they give so much love, care and attention (which now I write it I think is the motto for the school - but it's true!) to each child and completely go at the child's pace. Yes, the focus increases in Yr 1 but friends of mine with kids in state schools say the same thing. I disagree that the kids get loads of homework in Yr 1 - my son has a reading book every night (which he loves, and they only move on reading stages when ready), and spelling practice during the week for a test each Friday. That really doesn't seem too much to me, and my son loves it - he couldn't wait to get back to school after half term! At parents evening they made it very clear that they want each child to progress (what good school doesn't?) but only to their own ability. I have not once felt that the children were being judged against other children. We had parents eve last night and got a great sense that the teacher will only be pushing our son to the degree she thinks he is capable. We think it's a good thing for our kids to be challenged, even at this young age - it really isn't being done in a pushy way and I don't know of anyone having external tutoring! I don't yet have experience of Yr 2 but I have friends who do and have not heard any of the above negative comments from them. I would suggest going with your gut instinct - they are all brilliant schools and you will always get differing opinions based on people's individual experience. Good luck!

We've just booked an April trip with Ski Norway - kids are 4 and 6 and it will be our first ski trip with them. Not skied Norway before (they have recommended Trysil) but it all looks fab and although I haven't directly compared costs DH reckons it will be substantially cheaper than the Alps....

We got a Kokua from Bon Velo in Herne Hill (which is reopening post flood very soon I think). It was recommended on the basis that it's really light, so a bit pricey but our son used it for 18 months and now our daughter (nearly 3) is on it. Because it's light it means you don't mind lugging it around when they get fed up of being on it 10 mins into your walk? and you can also pop it on top of a buggy.

I'd also recommend Simon Orchard (details posted above by winslow) - he is a lovely chap who is really flexible and just works around you, managing to get some beautiful and natural shots of our 3 and 5 year old. Highly recommend him.

Would also like to add my recommendation - Hamish took down a eucalyptus in our garden and clearly knew what he was talking about, was efficient, and a delight to do business with. Lovely chap, who also entertained my 2 year old as he worked (along with his helper Sam!). Thanks guys.

I have bought that book! It is lovely, although I would say perhaps better for older children (at a guess, 3+) but it has some lovely pictures so I don't think it's been a waste for us.

No I haven't but have you tried www.BabySleepAnswers.co.uk? Just recommended them to someone else on the dummy thread.... I used them and thought they were brilliant - much cheaper than a maternity nurse, if it works maybe worth a go?

A friend's son was at this school for Reception year - they have now moved from the area but she raved about it and thought it was brilliant.

I had this problem with my son and tried a variety of different nappies and found Pampers to be the best... but maybe just suited his shape. Bambo were also quite good as I recall they had a gathered bit at the back which was quite good at stopping the poop! I also made sure I did it quite tight at hip level at the front i.e. not straight across his tummy button, that seemed to help too. Good luck!

Hi snoopy28 I would echo others on here and say that it's unlikely your son will be able to find the dummy for himself anytime in the near future, so I think you have summarised your options well but would say re c) that this doesn't always work because he is still likely to wake up wanting the dummy to soothe him back to sleep so really your options are a) or b). I would recommend waiting a bit longer if you can bear it, and then when you feel he is old enough, do some sleep training to get rid of the dummy. My son is now 2 and was a very sucky baby too, loved his dummy until we went cold turkey when he was 6 months because I was going back to work full time when he was 7 months and knew I couldn't keep being woken up during the night just to put his dummy back in. I tried every form of sleep training but eventually did controlled crying (felt that at 6 months he was old enough) and actually really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be (or as bad as the anti-CC crew on mumsnet had led me to believe!). Used www.BabySleepAnswers.co.uk which was BRILLIANT. Totally supportive. You have to go through with it once you start otherwise it's not fair on the little one, so you have to make sure you are absolutely doing the right thing and then be really strong about it - but I do think 10 weeks is probably too young for CC and you should perhaps try some of the softer options first. My son ended up finding his own comforter which is the leg of a cuddly lamb which he now basically uses as a dummy and won't go to sleep without, so I'm not sure all our efforts were 100% successful but it's obviously much easier for him to find in the night and he never wakes me up wanting his lamb - in fact in the past 18 months he has rarely woken in the night, only if he has a bad dream or when he's had bad teething. I do worry about hygiene but have bought a couple of replacements and they get washed every couple of days and he doesn't seem to have suffered as a result. He sleeps brilliantly. Whatever you decide, good luck!

I have a 2 yr old and am due with no 2 in 3 months, so am trying to prepare my first. He seems to get that inside mummy's tummy is a baby and will kiss and hug it (ahh, so cute!) but am not sure that means he actually understands what is going to happen. Have also got the books (zaza etc). Also read somewhere recently (think it was an NCT mag) someone said get a photo of you with the bump, then cut a flap for the bump and put a photo of your toddler inside, then explain to him/her that he/she was in mummy's tummy and that a new baby is in there now. Have not done this though it sounds like quite a sweet idea.

millsa, would also be interested in the answer to this as have both a cameleon and techno xt and no 2 on the way early next year... Thanks all!

I switched from tommee tippee freeflow to anyway up cups and think they are brilliant - though after a year of constant use and putting in the dishwasher every day the lids are starting to leak but think you can get replacement lids http://www.hellobabydirect.co.uk/products/69050-ltg-anyway-up-cup-top-beaker-9-months-----blue.html

We also have the BT 150 and think it's brilliant. Have had 2 other previously, a Tomy and a John lewis one and both were rubbish in comparison. Expecting no 2 in Jan and will get a second one for new bub.

Hi Am sure this has already been covered but I can't seem to find it.... Anyway, our son is 9 months old and has been babbling away for a couple of weeks. He is clearly already getting frustrated and I have bought the Baby Sign DVD and book in the hope he can express some of his frustrations. I'd also like to take him to a class but work Mon - Fri. Have found Sing and Sign have a class at 11 am at Goose Green on Saturdays - is this the only Saturday class that is in the area? We are in Herne Hill. Thanks