GinaG3

My daughter has always had clarks shoes, since her first pair. We went to buy school shoes last week and as usual I had her fitted. First day back at school yesterday, wore the shoes. Came home with a big blister on the back on her heel and really complaining about the pain that the shoes gave her. I've NEVER once had this problem with Clarks shoes, its the sole reason I buy them over and over again. Fitted shoes should provide your child with the comfort and support they need for their delicate growing feet and should not need 'breaking in'. The soles are still perfect and I have the receipt and box. I am armed and ready for an argument later when I pick her up from school and take them back to the shop. Has anyone ever had this issue and returned to the store for refitting and refund/exchange AFTER they have been worn?

Convex you no longer get the voucher but you can apply for the trial pack here.. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200276/how_can_i_reduce_waste/1663/real_nappies

We have a Waldorf/Steiner wooden farm set. It was mine when I was little and has since spent 20 years travelling down my family. I know they are hard to find but you can find similar on Etsy or eBay, quite an expensive thing to build up and collect considering you can buy full sets in ELC and such but the quality of handmade is second to none. Really solid wooden structures, hand crafted and finished. I think things like wooden toys are great to pass down to other family members or your children's children as has happened with us, every child loves a toy farm! Plan toys also do lovely sets, although once again hard to come across. Check this out though, tempted by it myself! I'm sure they do/did a farm set too. Yet again excellent build quality. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plan-Education-Wooden-Vegetable-Farm-Set-Ideal-Nursery-Pre-School-/151320386167?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item233b65da77

Yes, I realise that. This way you can try them all and find one!

If you don't use it already get on hungryhouse. There's about 100 Chinese alone that deliver to our postcode, that's not to mention all the other cuisines. I don't order any other way now and regularly get discount.

My daughter has always worn black leggings. I've done my uniform shopping and picked up cycling shorts this time as it was the first option I can across. Will do for 30 minute P.E session indoors every week.

I reuse bags or hand back to the driver who delivers my shopping for recycling. If I know I'm specifically going out for shopping I will take a jute bag with me. Its about people being making that conscious decision, and there is a problem that a lot of people won't. I don't think a ban would be the way forward. A levy on single use carrier bags will be introduced in England in October 2015 but will only cover large businesses, I think small and medium businesses are exempt.

I have this problem with my daughter too and school have been fully accepting of the issues. She wears 100% cotton leggings and 100% cotton tshirts with a cardigan. I must admit I did feel quite sorry for her in the height of summer as she had to have full leg coverage so as not to make contact the the carpets and also had to keep her cardigan on after a spell of bad sunburn due to being unable to wear suncream. I understand your concerns completely and I think it's just best to do what you feel is right in thee situations. If it becomes an issue at school, have a word a afterall everyone's priority is the child's welfare!

I stopped using them about 4 years ago, after several occasions where this happened. I've never had a chinese live up to it, but felt I couldn't go back. Shame to see them go still, if they actually have.

Buttercup, I sell on my daughters used stuff to afford to buy the next stage of toys or clothes and wouldn't use anything but eBay or the forum. eBay is a huge platform for selling and buying with an enormous reach. I would go elsewhere. Yes I pay fees but it's worth it for the additional monies earned, plus I like my paypal account to be rolling constantly. Each month they just send me and email detailing fees and automatically take them from my paypal account, I don't see it as a debt at all. I don't think amazon is worth selling on although I haven't ever researched fully. I hope this helps somewhat.

I used to love yee wah until I started finding bits of steel scourer in my noodles. No-one does spiced smoked shredded chicken like them! Zin oriental were the next best but they've gone too.

Don't think this can be what I heard at the very top of lordship lane. Two very loud explosions like professional fireworks but no fireworks to be seen. Definitely not thunder although that was almighty here and 2 huge cracks that looked like they hit Crystal Palace tower.

I can't see prices falling. Our 2 bed rental was valued once in November and then 7 times in the last few weeks! Between Nov 13 and now, with no works or change to the property it has increased in value by ?70k.

A fair few of the kids in my family haven't been dry at night until 7-9 years old. No medical intervention was ever needed they were just 'slower' than some other children. My friend has just got her daughter dry at night at 6 years old. I don't think people realise how common this actually is. I personally would get it checked out to put your mind at rest but I think a doctor will probably see this quite often with no underlying issues.

I had problems on Friday night through to Saturday morning. They blamed a power failure that totally wiped out the user settings of my router. Had to re-do the full set up as if I was a new customer. We are still virgin national ADSL customers. Virgin won't replace our hardware as we are 3 years out of contract with them and they keep urging me to take out fibre optic. We are about to move house and I told them I will never be back to them for broadband. We have never got our advertised speeds, not even close, running around 3-9mbps when promised 30-50mbps+ in our area. The technical side drives me mad, distant indian call centre, very quiet down the phone line. We've had all the wiring changed along the front of our flat due to wear which meant we spent weeks running at barely 2mbps, for this I was offered ?5 compensation which then increased my bill, I complained again and got ?10 off the next months bill. I hate them, such shoddy service and slow repairs!

Plenty of ridiculous prices in Dulwich and horrible houses. Our 2 bed private rented ex local authority flat has just been revalued at ?65,000 more than it was only 7/8 months ago. Worlds gone crazy! My mum and dads 8 bed house in Dorset has risen by only ?100,000 in 9 years with extensive renovations. Shame you can't just pick it up and crane it to Dulwich. We'd be stinking rich and have the only purbeck stone built house in Dulwich.

Thank you for the advice. I'll have a look in to that. Can I use linseed oil over any paint work to seal it and prevent chipping?

I doubt they are working in this weather, are they? Should of stepped outside for a shower and collected some rain water while I was at it..

Has anyone repainted a old pine cot? With my daughter I inherited a very very old John Lewis cot that has been passed down my family forever. With my daughter we used it as it was, covered in ancient stickers and looking a bit tired. We're due our second baby in November and I want to repaint it this time. Has anyone done this? I've been looking at child friendly paints online and have found some beautiful colours. If you've done this what brand have you used? B&Q do a range called Nature Paint but I'm unsure of the quality and standards of this for painting a cot bed, the price is very appealing though! I'm loathe to buy 2.5L when I'm only doing a cot bed so alternatively if anyone has any leftover child friendly paint please feel free to PM, this a eco friendly/budget project after all! I'm thinking to sand it all down to the raw wood, leave the cot in its natural wood state with a coating of wax but paint the railings bright colours for a bit of fun. Has anyone used wax or clear varnish safely on their childs cot? If so, what?

As of 8.55am there is a Thames water automated message on the phone line for customers affected in se22 again. They are sending out engineers to investigate. Next update at 10.55am!

Yesterday we were one of the only ones on our block on Lordship Lane estate to have no water. Thames water wouldn't claim responsibility as the ground floor properties had water so my landlord had to send out an emergency plumber who could find no fault in the flat. Then all my neighbours started to notice no water, it was then attributed to the burst main and we got our supply back at about 1pm. No water again now at least its only me at home today with one 2L bottle of water to survive on.

My daughter had all her jabs, then I stopped. I'm so torn between what to do. She's now nearly 6 and has been through a lot, she has a fear of needles after many blood tests and I feel emotionally its a difficult choice to make. She was due her preschool boosters 3 years ago (including MMR), I get constant reminders from our GP practice. I've spoke to my GP about having them done in the near future and if additional jabs will be needed, she assured me that she can have it any time and it would be the same as if she had it on schedule. Of course the other thing that gets me is that no jabs are 100% effective so I always think in the back of my mind whats the point in doing them. I'm completely unvaccinated, except for when I had my last child and was practically forced to get the MMR shots to protect my future pregnancies. There is definitely 3 MMR shots in Southwark at least.

I agree completely with Gooders, our daughter is 5, she is a severe eczema sufferer. She can't use suncream and can't have too much sun. This time of a year is a nightmare for us. She has already needed nearly a week off school, only 2 weeks ago with a severe flare and is going in to one again now. Its so hard to keep control once it gets out of control. I was all for natural therapies when my daughter was in flares, I didn't want any steroids touching her delicate skin. I struggled for 3 years, fighting against the use of steroids, we now sadly use them at least 4 times a week. If you want to try a natural route I would strongly recommend looking at your washing detergent (even Ecover now flares up my daughters skin, I've switched to a brand called Simply), natural soaps for hand washing, no bath products (including shampoo) as a method of trying to reduce symptoms. Chemicals play a big part in our daughters skin condition but we've become accustom to knowing what works in our house. There is a product on the market called Salcura (cream, sprays etc) on mild eczema they work a treat, all natural ingredients. Goat soap is also a great product for use in eczema sufferers, especially young children look up little goat soap company on google. Vaseline, olive oil, coconut oil or shea butter may work for small amounts of eczema that aren't very red just dry, its about optimum moisture for some cases. It may be a very simply case of cutting chemical use and introducing a heavy moisturiser, maybe even a food or additive. If you find all this advice ineffective please don't hesitate to see your GP, they will prescribe very very low dose steroids to start (or may not recommend these at all - dependant on the nature of the eczema and severity). Its horrible to think you have to use them but having been through the horrendous agony I have been with my little girl I would recommend talking any concerns through with through with your GP.

I can't remember what the board dates were when I was passing the other week but I can remember the times for works being between 2000-0500 for around a 2-3 week time frame. I've heard they shouldn't even be starting until tomorrow..

I wouldn't worry about children so much. If they are in school uniform I've never seen them refused. A few charter kids got on the bus with me today, they didn't even touch in and the driver didn't blink. I see this happen daily, even before cashless. ETA: The other day I got on the bus for the school run, I'd picked up the wrong oyster. No credit. Red light. Daughter ran to the seat at the back, I went to get her to get off and driver shut the door and drove away. I felt like a fraud but no-one else seemed to mind. Courtesy of my daughter I now have a smurf sticker on my oyster so I know which one holds my weekly travel card.