ladywotlunches

Sorry to hear about the redundancy - its never good to be forced to do something (though it can make the decision easier!) But just to hopefully reassure you, we moved away in the summer, and both kids moved schools (eldest is in Yr 5, youngest went into reception but in a different area so away from her nursery friends). They LOVE their new school, and the new area! They've made great new friends, its so easy for them as they spend so much time in school in the company of those new children. When we had a dusting of snow on Saturday, my 9 year old was bouncing round the house saying 'I love living in the country!' over and over again!! (it is very green, but still within the M25!) My eldest was always very balanced about moving - I know its not always the case. But they both had trial days at their new schools which were great. I found getting them involved in all stages of the move - so viewing new homes etc was the best way to get them on board. Obviously its a big move for me too. But my fears about the older mums all being cliquey have melted. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. There is no EDF equivalent though - anyone want to help me set it up?? (happy to run just don't know how to make it in the first place!) Good luck with the move - fingers crossed you'll look back and decide that it was the best thing that happened for you and your family :)

Don't forget the Jumble Trail in Honor Oak Park TODAY. There are 20 stalls across Honor Oak Park, Stretching out to Brockley, Forest Hill and Canonbie Road for a good hill walk! We have a stall at 56 Dunoon Road - loads of handy baby and toddler stuff, kids and adults clothes, bedding and towels, Oh and a classical Guitar and a Rocking Moose!! More info here: http://www.jumbletrail.com/event/SE232015#

Toys R Us do have a wooden version, in their Universe of Imagination range. It comes in plain wood, so looks good as is or could be painted. Also, Sue Ryder shops do a range of lovely painted wooden dolls houses (all new). And you'd be helping a good cause. Theres a shop in Forest Hill next to the Sainsburys

Great service (literally!) from Steve as always. He arrived exactly when he said he would, sorted out the problem, serviced the dishwasher and it's now running like new. Thanks!

Being a bit cheeky - and probably no good for the OP as both bikes are pink, but I've just posted on the classifieds both a 14" Ridgeback with pedals, and a balance bike which my daughter has grown out of....:)

My 8 year old had the same request. After general consultation with friends we decided that they are stinky, noisy and he would get bored quickly. But he was insistent that he wouldn't. So as a compromise, I got a Zhu Zhu hamster. Now they were everywhere a couple of years ago, not so much now, but good old ebay came up trumps. Hamster arrived - kids (both) loved it. Its quite cute and runs around making noises - some 'realistic', some like car horns!! They had great fun. For about a week :)

It was outstanding yes, and in EVERY criteria. That is really hard to do with the revised standards set by ofsted, so huge congratulations to all the staff and governors for looking after and teaching our children so well! NewtoSE22 - good luck with the school intake process. By your username it sounds like you're on the 'other side' of the council border, so I hope you get in. Last year was a 'bulge' which will probably mean a high proportion of siblings next year (and probably no bulge as there is absolutely no space!) Its a shame that such a brilliant school doesn't have more space to take in more of the community. There is a thread running on SE23.com about an ex-nursing home that Lewisham want to turn into temporary accommodation for homeless families too - which may further impact local school places, and many think it would be better to use that space to provide more school space/extend Fairlawn. If anyone is a local resident to the school, and hasn't already responded to the council's consultation on this proposal, please do so (I don't want to hijack this thread though so will leave this here!)

Bananas for veruccas - well, this is why I just love the forum! I get a remedy for my 4 year old's horrid verruca that won't go and she screams when I touch it (even gently). AND a use for all those bananas they get through!!! Hoping this works as nothing else has - have been trying for months and last night tried the freezing stick but she wouldn't let me leave it on for 10 seconds let alone the 30 you need to. Will report back!

Sorry to hear this has spread over to the Nunhead side of the park. Quite a few thefts have been reported on the ED side regularly on the forum. Vespas are easy targets as the fuel pipe can be just pulled out. On the upside, it does mean that its just the fuel you have a bill for, not a new fuel pipe if they cut it! As Nick says, try and park your bike against a wall to make it harder. We still have had petrol nicked where they have moved the bike - but you can get motion alarms that would prevent this. Anything that would draw attention to the thieves, like an alarm, or CCTV (or threat of - dummy camera/sign?)would make your bike less attractive, so its worth a go. And if you have somewhere you could store it, its helpful to keep a can of petrol to top up if it does happen and at least you can get to work! Yes, the police are roundly rubbish on this type of crime. Sadly though, its because they have to prioritise more serious stuff.

Hi all My son is taken by the idea of the Tiger cubs at London Zoo, thought I'd prefer somewhere where there is more room for the animals to roam like Port Lympne. Anyway, the prices for both are well up in the ?70-80 mark for a family of four. Anyone know of anywhere doing 2-4-1 deals or similar for the summer hols? thanks!

Bluesuperted, I wasn't for one minute condoning the crimes, but just expressing my sadness that we have to have quite such lewd detail plastered across our ears and eyes day in, day out. You mention that as a nation we may be getting desensitised, but I think this is another reason not to constantly bombard us with the graphic details. What benefit really does having a daily report on Rolf Harris' et al trial provide, other than to sell newspapers/get ratings/visitors to websites? As a deterrent simply reporting that he was arrested, tried and sentenced to a significant amount of time in prison would have sufficed, surely? As Saffron says, all this coverage is unhelpful for victims too. Those most affected by these or unreported crimes may well be less likely to report them for fear of becoming national news. Every news report with flashing images from cameras carries a warning beforehand. But sex crime reporting seems to be totally harmless, in the eyes of the news media, it seems...

Does anyone else feel fed up with the amount of daytime coverage all the various sex abuse investigations get? I feel I can't listen to the radio, read a newspaper or watch TV news at all with my kids around, because of the salacious way these news items are reported, hour after hour. I have an 8 year old who can quite easily pick up the words, and I have to divert attention away to avoid unnecessary distress. These reports often mention the "loss of innocence" of the victims, and I am truly sympathetic, but I'd rather it not be plastered all over the mainstream media until after the watershed, to save the innocence of the majority of young children that will thankfully not be subject to such crimes. It seems as a society we are at once obsessed with the non-sexualisation of children, whilst freely discussing the very small minority of people that hold no regard for the law, which *almost* normalises it. If we must be told on a regular basis about the goings on of Savile, Harris etc, couldn't the crimes be just alluded to on the daytime reports? After all, as adults we are all sadly fully aware of what 'Operation Yewtree' means.... Or am I just being over-sensitive???

Thank you! Have pm'd

Yep, we've got a boostapack on order for the littler one - just trying not to have to buy 2 for what will be one week's hols before he's at the magic number of 135cm :)

Apologies if you've seen my post in the classifieds, but I thought it may be best to post in here, in case any lovely souls have a bubblebum car booster that I could borrow for a week! My son is 133cm as of this morning, and we go on holiday for a week in 3 weeks time. The car hire company want ?60 to hire a booster seat. I've seen bubblebums advertised and a friend has one (but she's using it over the half term). They look good. Does anyone else have one and could you recommend? Even better does anyone have one they don't need anymore we could buy or borrow (we'd take great care) for the half term week? Alternatively, recommendations for slim/foam boosters that we could put in the bottom of a case gratefully received! Thanks!

You can apply for a place 4 weeks in advance of the place being needed. And as you own your property, you can use that as the permanent address, as it will be the child's residence at the time they need the place. So you could send in your application in May to be processed for a June 'start', but you can defer a place by up to half a term with a good reason (your reason being that your children have moved from abroad and have completed the current school year already). So if you got a place in June, you'd have the summer to relax, and they could start in September (or even go in for a few settling in days at the end of the term so they can make some friends). Having done an in-year application recently (not Southwark), the wording of the form is all very strict, but when you speak to admissions they tend to be more realistic about the logistics of moving children in-year and sympathetic to the fact that as parents you want the least upheaval possible). Hope this helps - good luck!

I answered my own question about an alternative - went to Sydenham car wash (down the main stretch, Big Sainsburys end, near the Europcar hire place). Very quick service, pleasant staff, good job done for the same price as the Hamlets guys. Car looked great until a family trip to Cornwall this weekend :-\

seconded Pilsbury. I went down to Hamlet to see the boys today and have only just caught up on this news. So I popped along to the only other car wash I know in ED, behind Iceland, and there were several cars waiting with VERY SLOW service, so I decided to leave it. Any other good options?

Lovelyrita - are there any plans for Nimble Arts workshops for the 2nd week of the Easter Holidays? I need something on 16th April but can't see plans on your website.

I think the rules changed this year, so that all term time absence is 'unauthorised'. It does mean that funerals, memorials etc are classed as 'unauthorised' though I think in practice parents only get sent to the naughty step if the child's attendance is under a certain %age. It does seem a silly ruling as in fact it makes schools 'numbers' look worse - as all absence is unauthorised, even when exceptional circumstances. Kes, being unauthorised doesn't mean you can't take your child out. And if it got to LEA stage I think at that point you can put your case. Pickle, I do hope you are intending to go to NZ anyway and that all goes well over there. All else fails, a sudden bout of gastroenteritis just before the end of term? :) (and then the children have 2 weeks to have forgotten about it when they get back if they are asked!!)

Sands Resort in Cornwall is also great, if only it wasn't so far away for a weekend! Bedruthan Steps is similar but about 1/3 more expensive for just along the road. Both have spas, and baby listening in the evening for grown up dinners in their restaurants (both of which serve great food). Happy birthday!

The standard did a homes and property article on penge a couple of weeks ago. Quick google should come up with it and it gave some insight on what you get each side of penge. Good luck!

Now, I'm sure I'm preaching to the converted here, as everyone is very knowledgeable :) But can everyone please remember that when waiting to turn right onto Peckham Rye from East Dulwich Road at the lights, that you are ALLOWED to enter the yellow box junction and wait, if you are waiting to turn right and are prevented from doing so by ongoing traffic: From the highway code Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right. At signalled roundabouts you MUST NOT enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping. And of course, the same applies to every other yellow box junction. Then, if more people can move forward and get through the lights each cycle, perhaps there would be slightly less congestion on our roads. thank you, and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Fairlawn Xmas Fair is 12-3pm on Saturday 7th December also. All are welcome. Santa will be in attendance in his grotto for the little ones ....

I think trying to second guess the system is impossible. The best advice I was given by the (then) head of Fairlawn when we were applying a few years ago, was to put your absolute top choices first, (then if you don't get in first round, you'll still be on the list for a late bulge as happened this year), and follow with the ones you think are likely. The schools don't get given the information about where you put them on the list - they just apply the entry criteria to the list and offer places to everyone that meet the criteria, in order. Then the LEA allocate the places for you at the school you were offered a place highest up the list. Of course, you also need to bear in mind the reality of distances - if you live on the North side of East Dulwich for instance, no amount of bulging will get you a place at Fairlawn (say).