twinmummy

I am moving house and desperately trying to shove our lovely nanny out of the door for as many hours as possible tomorrow and Weds to allow me to pack without the children "unpacking" all those lovely toys they had forgotten they had! Any ideas for activities on tomorrow (Tues) and Weds of this week to keep them occupied. Is Peckham Rye 1 o'clock club running extra 1/2 term activities? Horniman 1/2 term stuff? They are 3 so too young for a lot of the holiday clubs I see advertised. Any ideas welcome - thanks! Sarah

Re VIP who have in-chalet nannies (I did a season as a chalet girl for them, eek, 10 years ago...) have a cheaper "sister" company called "Snowline" who also offer the nanny service. All the nannies who worked for VIP in my season were lovely and I have had friends use them since, all been very pleased.

Keen to join in, but need to arrange someone to watch my kids. Can you please let me know when you'll be starting in Jan? Sarah

Taking the twins to The 3 Little Pigs at the Albany (Deptford) tomorrow, so I'll post afterwards and let you know if it is any good. Sarah

Divas and Dictators v.g.

Sat 4th Dec, just checked the school calendar online. Went to Dulwich College one yesterday which was really good but tricky with a double buggy!

I'm on orange with an iPhone 3 - totally rubbish reception in ED. Pain in the bum as I work from home a lot.

Its a terraced house's front garden, so tiny (only about 3 foot stretch from the front door) but it's definitely private property. It could easily have looked like a freshly delivered parcel as it was a cleanish white cardboard box - about 6 foot tall with brown parcel tape around it in parts. Not "rubbishy looking" and it was literally propped up next to my front door as I'd popped it there to hoover the hall this morning and then assumed it would be fine there until I had a chance to stick it in my car to take to nursery later. I'm not really moaning so much as warning other people not to think things will be ok to stick outside for a short while! I leave my double buggy outside the front door for much of every day - might not now!

I've reported it now on your advice. Would still be interested to hear if anyone else has spotted same thing.

This van came down my road (East Dulwich / Forest Hill Road side) today and stopped, took a box from outside my house, put it in the back of the van and drove off. The man who got out of the passenger side to get the box was wearing a high-vis bib thing. In the box was a large artificial Christmas tree which I was throwing out and had intended to take to my kids' nursery later today. Couldn't run after them or shout as I was upstairs in the very early stages of dressing! I know sometimes vans pull up to ask builders if they want rubbish etc collecting, but this wasn't one of those. The box could easily have been a parcel that had just been delivered and left outside. I'm not unduly bothered about the tree, just concerned that these men are up to no good. Anyone else seen / experienced this?

I get furious when people park in the parent bays with no kids (and indeed Mums with no kids in the car at the time who seem to think its ok because the car has car seats in... grrr). I have 2 year old twins and frankly even with the designated bays and the double trollies its a *beep* nightmare! I had one particular confrontation with a lady in a convertible (top down - no kids) who sped into the space as I chugged along behind her in my "family wagon" - I said to her politely "hi, sorry, but would you mind letting me have this space as I have toddler twins in the car". If looks could've killed, I'd have dropped down dead... but she did begrudgingly move. Only a happier note, they've stocked up on double trollies I notice and they've got coin slots so not getting nicked my tight-fisted selfish idiots who want a free trolley! Am going to jump on band wagon and email Saino's to encourage policing as above. Well done everyone for being pro-active.

Milky way magic stars! Mine don't have sweets at all (they're only 2 1/4, so no need) but are highly motivated now that a milky way magic star is on offer following production!! In fact, my little boy has cleverly found a way of splitting wees into 3 parts to try to maximise his return "mummy more wee wee, mummy star!". My daughter is also a bit phobic about the poo side of things and we've just bought Princess Polly's Potty and Pirate Pete's Potty noisy books from Smiths which are helping. Good luck

thanks all (Fuschia - knew you'd know the score re double buggies)!

Brilliant suggestions - both are do-able and think will manage to navigate! Thank you.

I live on Ryedale and have family coming on Sunday for a birthday lunch - they are all bringing their dogs and hoping to walk off excesses after lunch. I walk my dog on Peckham Rye regularly, but being quite new to the area, haven't ventured further afield yet woods-wise. Should add that we'll be taking a double buggy (good off-roader) so couldn't be dealing with too many stiles etc (not that I imagine their are many in South London!?). Any suggestions gratefully received.