crescent

Is it just Southwark, or is a Lewisham tale ok too? There used to be 3 Lewisham funded toddler activities at Sydenham Hill Community centre, just on Sydenham Hill, which is exactly the border between Southwark and Lewisham. Monday's song/ rhyme time, Wednesday was a baby/ toddler mini-gym, and Friday was a toy library drop-in - all cut, at very short notice: think we were notified at the beginning of March, and they stopped at the end of the month. It's a real shame, as they were very well-attended, and now there is nothing in this corner of Southwark/ Lewisham. The rhyme times at Forest Hill Library/ Dulwich Library are already a bit like the New Years sales...the reduction of these services means that busy over-crowded events become even more so...

When my DD was 3, in the queue at Sainsburys, kept saying 'what IS it mummy, what IS it?' as I was busily putting items on the conveyor belt. I (evil mother half-listening) sort of sing-songed 'oh, bananas, bread" etc etc. "No, NO, Mummy, it is a boy or a girl, is it a boy or a girl?" pointing at the rather unfortunately-visaged check-out... person. I was mortified.... tried stuffing snacks into her but she would not be fobbed off...

Hi there My 6 yr old son is obsessed by this place as we drive past it quite often. We have one day left before we go back to school and this is what he wants to do! I have looked on the southwark.gov site, but no information about opening times/ days open. Does anyone on this fabulous forum (shameless buttering up) have any information on this? Many thanks!

Hi all, My Peugeot has developed a fault and I urgently need it for an important trip on Thursday. Does anyone know a friendly mechanic or garage who would be able to assist? Any numbers or names greatly appreciated. Thanks Kirstie Clark

I hope this doesn't result in getting flamed - but saw on another site that the government has axed the central budget for training teaching assistants, and one of the gvm's favourite think tanks, Reform, is proposing that ALL teaching assistant jobs are phased out to save money. If you think this is a bad idea, please sign up at the campaign weneedtas.blogspot.com/

b&BRed, LOVING you, thank you!

That's pretty much it really... Need to bake lots and lots, so would like to freeze them and then ice them on the day. Will that work do you think, or will I have dozens of soggy mini fairy cakes? :o) Any advice/ suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks to everyone for the info - appreciate it.

Hi - I'm an SE26 lurker on this forum, and hope some other se26 lurkers might be able to help. :o) My daughter is soooo keen to join Rainbows, like some bigger girls she knows, but I am finding it hard to find a local group - I'm on Sydenham Hill, so Forest Hill/ Sydenham groups might be closer for me than ED and West Dulwich groups. Does anyone out there know of an se23/ se26/ se21 group? I've tried the girl guide website, but not as helpful as I found the Scouting one for my son. Many thanks for any tips.

thanks for that! May try a trip there tomorrow if weather lasts :o)

Hi - I wonder if anyone has some tips for where to park at the brockwell lido. I know I am being pathetic, but as someone who only to drive a couple of years ago, I hate driving to new places, and then break out into cold sweats if it is somewhere slightly busier, such as around Herne Hill station! I understand the parking on site is very limited... Thank you!

My son is 6 and our closest Beavers is St Michael's in Lower Sydenham, but I know of 2 Cubs closer to home - Grove Park (if that is right place on Jews Walk SE26 - Forest Hill end of Sydenham) and the one at St Stephen's next to Sydenham Hill station is supposed to be very good. Hope that helps - my son loves it.

See the visual makeover in the link below. This is what we might get if the Crystal Palace Cinema campaign succeed :o) http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2923

mothergoose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Still not sure how they work out admissions with a > pan london catchment area when it is > oversubscribed. > > Surely it will be extra hard for local kids to get > into their improving neighbourhood school. > > I got so excited about the school, but by the time > my 6 year old is doing secondary applications it > might well be impossible! Exactly my fear! I have 6 year old boy and 4 year old girl, and we're 0.5 miles as crow flies from Kingsdale. As friends start to talk about moving to Kent for grammar schools, Kumon to pass entry exams, etc etc, I have smugly (serves me right!) been saying "we have a lovely state co-ed comp on our doorstep" - but after following various threads on this board, I have a growing sense of dread they wouldn't necessarily get in. The other option are Lewisham single-sex schools - good, but I really would like them to have a co-ed education. Does distance really make no distance at all? Am I going to have to groom my son in basketball/ cello lessons?:o)

:o) You're most welcome and hope w/e proves helpful

thanks for all those ideas... good to have some inspiration :o)

I'm feeling uninspired... My daughter wanted a TJ mini gym,(Crystal Palace) party for her 4th birthday like her brother a couple years ago. I called up today - and it turns out it 'stopped operating' a couple months ago... The only alternatives I can think of are Gambados, Little Rascals (Bellingham), or Beckenham spa's soft play. I think she and her friends are still a bit little for painting pottery etc... Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks so much!

Hi - yr post made me smile in sympathy as we were in same position 4 years ago - but in 2-bed flat in Penge rather than lovely ED. :o) I wanted to move to Becks as all my NCT pals were in Becks,I spent hal primary schools all lovely. But we found (in 2006, may have changed) we didn't get much house for yr money: 3 bedrooms around Balgowan school were ?320-340K and we ended up moving to Sydenham Hill area (edge of Lewisham and Southwark). We had been looking round the Balgowan school area, as I had 2 friends round there at the time: they now have 3 children at the school. It is very good, very active PTA and high-powered mums, and my friends are very pleased with the school. It has 3 form entry as someone else mentions. The catchment is tiny at the moment: similar situation to Heber and Goodrich in ED. Another lovely school is Clare House, on the Shortlands side of Beckenham, but only one-form entry. And if you're catholic, you're sorted, as long as you attend St Edmunds starting now: St Mary's has a great reputation. At the time, with our 2 yr olds and bumps, all we thought about was primary schools. Now, rather tragically, with our 6 yr olds, school chat is now all about secondary schools: and Becks is surprising not well served: Cator Park Girls or kelsey boys. (I don't know why? Does everyone just go private?) The Langely boys and girls schools are excellent, but new expensive developments nearby have made them very hard to get into. 4 sets of friends have moved from Becks to West Wickham or Hayes in the past couple of years , as they have both lovely primary schools, and very good comps. Can you tell my beckenham friends talk about this a lot? Hope this brain-dump has helped- good luck with the move, and baby #2.

know a mum who goes and she really rates them!

Hi Greenkin, you mention that Eliot Bank went up to 3 classes this year to cope with demand. I was just checking: are you referring to this past academic year (08-09) or what will happen for the upcoming year 09-10? (Have 2nd child starting there this September, so quite interested to know what's happening there!) Many thanks.

I'd recommend moving a wee wee bit further away, and get more for yr money in... Sydenham! I live just off Sydenham Hill (forest hill end), so about a 10 min walk from the Horniman, 8 min walk from Sydenham Hill station (12 min to Victoria) and my kids go to Eliot Bank school. I am one street into Southwark, and Eliot Bank is a Lewisham school, Outstanding in all areas of OFSTED and a lovely lovely school. Just thought I'd throw it into the mix. :o) Good luck!