srisky

Bellenden Belle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Actually a good sourdough is hard to find in the > area. > And good cheese. How about overpriced cake at ?3/slice? Actually, my waistline may be better for the move. Joking aside, you are all doing a sterling job of selling the area to me. Will be in touch BB should the move work out - thank you! Otta, yes I agree about Brixton. Always felt I ought to explore and enjoy that area but it was a case of it being near yet so far.

Ah, thanks, Looks well connected to central London also but we also need easy access to Herne Hill, which unfortunately rules Elmers End out. Edited to say: admittedly, I haven't quite got into my head how easy it is to get around that area so it may wel be very easy to travel/walk from Elmers End to Beck Jun.

Thank you for the replies, they have been very helpful and have eased the jitters about leaving zone 2 after being and ED blow-in for over a decade! Help-Ma-Boab Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Elmers End. Thats where its at. Why?

Shameless hijacking of this thread....what is the Clock house/Kent House part of Beckenham like, as we have looked there (mainly because of transport links) but know little else about it? I mentioned it to someone and they turned their nose up at it and said we should look around Shortlands. Is the Clock House/Kent House area the poor man's Beckenham (which doesn't bother me) or is it just not a great place to live? Thanks.

Coach Beth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Carols on the Green Event on Friday 18th December > 6pm, is very child friendly - organised by Goose > Green Primary School PTA, it's led by the school > music teacher. Mulled wine, minced pies, carol > song sheets and a brass band to accompany the > carol singing round the Christmas Tree. > > More info here: > https://www.facebook.com/events/1410373955919401 A non-facebooker here(!) - the event sounds great, what other additional info is on the fb page? Thanks

Thanks everyone, very helpful as ever! Hubby got a lovely one from Northcross Road. There will come a time when she will want a chocolate one but as she has no idea about advent calendars, let alone a treat laden one, then I will keep it simple for as long as I can!

I've been looking for an advent calendar for my daughter but all I can find are ones with chocolates, whereas I would like to get one without. Admittedly, I haven't searched extensively due to zero spare-time so would appreciate any recommendations of where to get one. Thanks!

Very useful, thank you!

We are taking my 4y old niece along with my nearly-4y old daughter and 20 month old son to this production, so I am hoping it will be ok! Either way, you won't be the only one with young kids there. If he gets bored, then so be it but he may also love it. My daughter (and her friends) have been going to children's theatre since they were 2+ and there is no shame if one of them has an off day. Also, a noisy, interactive panto is a good introduction to theatre for young children, as there is no expectation for them to be quiet or well behaved. Hope he enjoys it!

Yes, monthly - with highlights of any overpayment/underpayment (2 kids, 2 different childcare voucher and 2 different monthly payments means I often get it wrong). When I have overpaid they have offered to refund it by cheque or carry it over to the next month.

Thank you and will def check out the meaco site.

mancity68 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You could try a dehumidifier before swapping the > windows. We have same problem - sodden windows as > soon as temp drops and unable to leave open. But > the dehumidifier is fab, stops most of the soggy > windows, keeps flat bit warmer and helps to dry > washing too. > > We got ours online from meaco who have good > selection. We have loads of condensation on our windows, too. Do you have a dehumidifier in each room? If not, where do you keep it for maximum benefit?

Also got her a radio last year for her birthday or Christmas (about ?20 from Argos), which she loves, and bought audiobooks since which are great.

I have a daughter the same as yours - 4 at end of Jan and getting a bike for her birthday! We'll be getting her books, board games/jigsaws (orchard toys do excellent ones), dressing up clothes, Disney-type DVDs (not necessarily all of these but you get the gist).

Road to hell - Chris Rea

Lots of people have recommended Magic Moments. I don't know much about them but here's the link: http://magicmomentscreche.co.uk/index.html Good luck!

Amazing, thanks!

Wow, thanks for all replies! I now know which brands to look out for and try on when shopping.

Following numerous failed attempts at staying dry, can anyone recommend one that will keep you dry even in down pours, not just showers. A hood that stays on is a must. Other desirables would include being warm or, even better still, a removable lining; lots of pockets; and maybe mid thigh or knee length (I'm average height). I would like a coat that does all this for days when I am with the kids. A smarter one would be handy for work days but numerous pockets are not necessary when I am sans kids. Thanks!

Goodrich tours are on alternate Tuesdays - need to call to book on one.

Caroline_S Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > All our conventional bath toys have been shunned > in favour of empty Calpol syringes used to squirt > water out of the bathroom window (and everywhere > else). Same here - also empty shampoo bottles to fill and squirt water out of. No issues with mould, as there's always plenty more.

It's all very well to talk about a return on your property within a catchment area versus paying for private school fees but in reality it's not that simple. ?1k/month (average) for school fees is much more achievable than a deposit for a ?1m tiny 3-bed house plus stamp duty/fees etc. Apparently, paying rent in a catchment area then moving out once in school is also frowned upon but most can not afford ?3k/month rent plus bills on a long term basis, so again school fees are more affordable. This is why I said (several pages ago either on this thread or the other private school thread), that it really is not as simple as saying all those that go to private school are rich, stuck up or trying to buy their children an education that others can't afford. To get into a good school around these parts you either have to pay for a house or pay for the school and both these options are generally to the exclusion of those less well-off. 40k may be in the top 10% of earnings nationwide but little point in comparing it with the rest of the UK, as cost of living can differ so wildly. Moving out of London is not always an option.

Try Push studios, blackwater street off lordship lane

srisky Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I can see the disadvantages of streaming, > demoralising for those in lower sets etc. > However, on a practical note, how would a teacher > teach a subject where the ability in a class was > quite varied - how to stretch the top pupils > whilst improving the lower? Engaging pupils across > a range of abilities must be difficult and may end > up not doing any of them any favours. > > Also, the argument of pushing up the bottom even > at the expense of the top will not be great for > the future of this country - economy, health, > research, science, not to mention that we want the > next generation of teachers to be bright, > motivated so the future generations can benefit - > there is already a brain drain going on in the UK. > Both needs to happen, I just don't have the > answer to an educational utopia! I meant at secondary, not primary (insert that squiggly mouth emoticon)

I can see the disadvantages of streaming, demoralising for those in lower sets etc. However, on a practical note, how would a teacher teach a subject where the ability in a class was quite varied - how to stretch the top pupils whilst improving the lower? Engaging pupils across a range of abilities must be difficult and may end up not doing any of them any favours. Also, the argument of pushing up the bottom even at the expense of the top will not be great for the future of this country - economy, health, research, science, not to mention that we want the next generation of teachers to be bright, motivated so the future generations can benefit - there is already a brain drain going on in the UK. Both needs to happen, I just don't have the answer to an educational utopia!