GinaG3

To be fair I don't understand why they have taken cash for so long. I take the bus 4 times a day, to and from school I'm on it from 15-30 minutes a time. In the last year I've rarely, very rarely seen anyone trying to pay cash. Oysters and travel cards are convenient even if you have to think ahead the day before if your going somewhere. Its not difficult.

Things like this never used to be an issue. As kids we used to be on my mums passport, never had our own. I suppose they have to be on the ball with people not having permission to travel with their kids etc.

I've seen very violent arrests involving truncheons and a lot of physical violence not restraint, although it was needed somewhat. It does happen, rarely, but does happen. It's not too far fetched from the things I've seen but then I didn't grow up in London. Are the Met gentle officers of the law?

Haha, no we do not. Were using an ancient sky box with outdated card as we only have a dish not an aerial. Free sat is much better reception and more channels than free view. That explains it!

I could rant all day about housing. I'm completely with you about the stress. Its exhausting. We've been with our landlord for 5 years, impeccable tenants and she had been really happy to have us. Unfortunately she is selling up as she doesn't want to pass the landlord empire on to her children, she is now quite elderly and less able to move around etc. We are currently in the middle of the court process to be evicted as the council won't give you emergency housing until the bailiffs come to evict you. We are around 4 weeks away from this point. The stress is killing us as a family. We've got a 5 year old daughter and another baby due in November. Of course, falling pregnant and finding out we were being evicted happened in the same week! I've got a case officer at the council who deals with trying to keep us housed and have been on the phone to him today to find out about a property that is frankly out of our price range but perfect for us. He advised me that this morning they had 200 families outside the door at opening seeking emergency housing! 200! The situation is desperate and this is exactly the situation I'm faced with if I can't find a property that takes LHA at an affordable price. My partner works full time, my daughter has JUST in the last 3 weeks settled in to reception and I can't up and leave all this to relocate. I keep thinking I need to just calm down, there are people out there in more desperate situations than ourselves but its really difficult when your in a desperate situation yourself. The council do everything too late, they are pushed to breaking point, they haven't got unlimited funds, the haven't got unlimited housing. The whole thing is just the worst nightmare come true. I really feel for you, 100% its so difficult finding something so simple as a roof over your head. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your journey and I hope everything comes together for you very soon. Try not to worry and panic as it only makes things seem worse than they are. Its difficult, sometimes I wish I could take my own advice but its really what we have to try and do in these situations. P.S there are a lot of recommendations on the forum for removals and also a lot of people willing to help or give what they can locally. Were in a good part of the country for that, it would seem. I love the community here! x

Its funny, we get BBC London news but if you try to watch ITV its all central (midlands) I've no clue at to the stupidity of this.

I walk that way everyday to drop my daughter off to school, I've heard they are securing the site for building and development works. Can anyone clarify?

I think you can make a complaint via environmental health (rats, smell etc) or try and convince the refuse collectors to come out, they may well be able to put a letter through the door in the occupiers language for next time.

ninbi, she uses a supplier in Reading. Their website is www.vgl.co.uk its a family run business but the quality is brilliant. Of course there is a lot of competition out there so you may just want to google search for outdoor canvas printers etc. You can choose stock images or find your own. She's had some outside for 10 years and they are still going strong and look pretty vibrant still.

The turning in to Glengarry road with the new improved road surface is worse! The bodge job at tarmacing at the raised section is likely to cause a bike to dismount turning in to Glengarry road. Its really not the immaculate job you would expect on a road surface.

You can get huge outdoor canvases to use for this purpose. Think beach, woodland, sunset etc. My mum has used them at landscape design shows and they always look great, everyone loves them. Plant alongside with grasses or whatever fits in with the theme. Not too expensive either.

I got mine at booking. You should have them as they say you must keep them on you for all appointments and make sure they are given back to you if taken away.

What pickles said. I breastfed until 2 and my daughter was somewhat spiteful with her biting. Try to nip it in the bud quickly and without reaction, I know that's hard!

I was there in September 7 years ago. 2 weeks spent in glorious sunshine, hot but not overwhelming and dry every day. We did have one enormous thunder storm over night and the streets flooded quite a bit but we sat inside with alcohol and watched from our balcony. Was lovely watching the lightning crack over the sea. I'd go back again, and wouldn't hesitate to go in September.

My daughter is 5, she plays via the iPad, iPhone or Xbox. It has got to a point now that is drives me insane. All she talks about is minecraft, all she does is minecraft. This is a serious minecraft addiction. We have minecraft tantrums, minecraft dreams, minecraft happy dances, minecraft lessons, minecraft rules and a lot of pure minecraft geekery. The amount she knows completely baffles me, the minecraft genius. Can you tell I'm minceraft-waashed, I dare not count how many times I've just said it in ONE post!

Breastfeeding as a contraception is doable but has to meet a lot of strict criteria. Mainly focusing on night time feeding. Most women will find they don't meet all of these to be 100% protected and will end up falling pregnant while feeding even whilst thinking they are safe. If your feeding less than 12 times a day, your baby is taking other forms of nutrition and your periods have returned you are most likely able to fall pregnant, I have heard cases where women fell pregnant again even with no return of periods. If its something you want to do I'd just do it. Also, it will have no effect on breastfeeding but if your current child is still breastfeeding during your second trimester, you may find your child starts to wean as the milk starts to change in taste etc in preparation for the new baby. Best of luck.

Goat milk helped my niece significantly. We tried soy with my daughter and it caused huge flare ups but through allergy testing was ruled out as an allergy. I can also highly recommend simply goats milk soap by this company - http://www.thelittlegoatsoapcompany.co.uk. 1 bar gets cut in to 4 and lasts about 5 months here. It's now the only thing we use in the bath!

I suppose I'll just have to talk to them about it for a definitive answer. I wanted to donate last time, but didn't get round to it so definitely want to this time. It says on the FAQ section of the AN website that you can delay clamping and still donate.

The leaflets are in nearly every letter you get from Kings right now, maternity wise. I'm pregnant with my second and really want to donate but also want to delay cord clamping at birth this time round. Can you do this and then still donate? I've got a feeling you cant. Has anyone done it?

I can highly recommend dermasilk products. Although its not a cream it is brilliant at reducing the signs of eczema within 1 night, we have found. You can buy the face mask for ?19.50 on their website (look it up on google) and I think that is a sound investment if your child has facial eczema that your keen not to treat with steroid or hydrocortisone creams. Try eBay too, sometime cheaper. The products are available on prescription but my GP tells me not in Southwark, unless your at consultant levels it may be explored.

I dont have personal experience either but my mum had all of us at 17, 24, 31, 33 and 41. Last 3 were all natural home births (last one in the garden!) and says none of her pregnancies were any different to the others. Even when she delivered me at 10lb 10oz!!!!! She didn't feel more tired with one more than the other and had no complications in any pregnancy. Good luck with your decision, if it feel right go for it!

Nothing beats Henry in my opinion. I've had experience of many a Dyson and Miele and wouldn't recommend any brand over Henry! My parents one is still going strong after 15 years despite hoovering a 7 bed house with accommodation that regularly needs hoovered. Thats very good going for a ?89 investment, look on Amazon for the best price.

Can you tell me why Southwark feel the need to mulch when grass cutting? I don't know whether the setting is wrong on the mowers or what but it just clumps everywhere. I understand the benefits of it but its so unsightly. Up at Lordship Lane Estate it looks lovely when the grass comes alive with daisy's. The Dulwich Common side now just looks plastered with grass cuttings and even worse when they dry out. Can this road side not be left in a meadowy state? Even for longer intervals between cutting? Please also note, on Dulwich Common grass verge outside the estate there has been a dead decomposing fox for about 2 weeks, today they have just cut the grass around it. It is by the back wall of the Harvester.

My daughter is 5 and has always been difficult with getting to sleep. She HAD to be breastfed to sleep until 2 and didn't know how to get to sleep by herself. After that for a year she had to have comfort by rubbing a mole on my chest to get to sleep. From 4 I've had to be in her bed with her every night so she feels 'safe', I spend around an hour in there every night but I'd rather that than her feel worried and anxious about sleeping. I'll admit I've never actually tried leaving her to sleep by herself, if I say I'm going to the toilet or to get a drink she will follow me or sit waiting for me to come back. Our routine is consistent on week nights and consistent with a different routine on weekends where she is less worn out. Weeknights its dinner at 6, bath every other day at 6.30 and then do what she likes until 8. At 8 we go and get in bed, read a story together, then she tells me anything that she wants to talk about for 5 minutes, after this point we put on her audio playlist on her iPad (out of sight) and I tell her there is no more time for talking and I will talk on the walk to school in the morning. We then tell each other to relax (never sleep) and she drifts off with cuddles after around 20-30 minutes. Sometimes she tries to talk and carry on with needless questions but I always tell her I want to listen to the story as its my favourite and she can ask me all the questions in the world in the morning. She sleeps in her own bed until about 2-4am before coming to get in our bed. I just figure she will grow out of it or feel more secure when there is a sibling that shares her bedroom so she knows she has someone. Its hard but it doesn't last forever. I was exactly the same as a child and remember feeling so horrible without any one there.

sweetgirl what an awful situation for you, so glad your son was found safe and well. I have no experience of the nursery so have nothing more to add other than I hope it get investigated fully, this should not happen in any circumstance. Our preschool door was always guarded by staff in mornings and afternoons, always locked, and was very secure. I dread to think of staff not noticing a child exit the premises, I cant even understand how something like this could happen! Hope you all recover from such shock soon and get the answers you deserve.