Pickle

Please do post the link if you can, it is a very dangerous junction and I would be happy to add my signature. Very sorry to hear of your accident.

I used "FB30" to get 30% discount online (from their Facebook page)

I've seen people playing badminton at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, it's worth a try. We go there for swimming and squash, it's a great resource and easy to get to from SE22.

Going to Zippos has become something of an annual tradition for us. Great fun (booked our tickets earlier today!).

Crystal Palace is another option. My three all have lessons there, and 3 year olds go in by themselves.

Apparently there were a few post offices in the area closed today - the one on Forest Hill Road was open, but with long queues, I felt sorry for the lady working there!

Likewise, I'm happy to help - if you want to fill some bottles from our taps let me know (Upland Rd, near Underhill).

So sorry to read this. I had seen him quite a lot recently while out walking, a handsome cat. Take care.

At 4, I'm assuming he's just setting off into reception? Or is he still pre-school? In my experience, for the first term (at least) of reception they are knackered, so anything you choose needs to be easy and fun. My eldest didnt do anything extra (other than swimming lessons on a Sunday) for the whole of his reception year, my middle child did ballet - but it was at school at pickup time, so no stress and not particularly structured ballet, more fun based. My 4 year old is about to start full time school, and we will just be doing our weekly swimming lessons, nothing extra. It's very much child dependent, but I think the most important thing is keeping it low stress, both for him and you!

I was asked for money by a guy outside the Co-Op last week, and offered to buy him some food. He was really appreciative, chatted for a little while afterwards and he seemed genuinely grateful that I'd taken the time to even speak to him, let alone buy him food. I don't like giving money to beggars, but figure if they are genuinely in need they will be grateful for a meal. Whether it be through addiction or some other reason, to end up sitting begging on a dirty pavement is an awful place to end up.

I swapped the price tag on a cobalt blue mascara when I was 15 (saved myself at least 25 cents). Still feel guilty when I walk past the shop, 26 years on! Is blue mascara still a thing, I find myself wondering.

I'm brutal, I chuck the lot!

Yes, I always buy the all black trainer style school shoes for my son.

There is a local hockey club (Tulse Hill & Dulwich) that run kids sessions, on Sunday mornings from memory.

I've seen lots of foxes when I run early morning (6:30ish), and passed quite a few on my walk from the library area to home about an hour ago. We had cubs under our decking, they've moved out now but we still see them in our garden every couple of days.

Just something vaguely grey - they're not as strict about it in the nursery in my experience. I'd go for joggers for nursery/reception rather than trousers, as they spend all day playing. Agree, don't buy the logo tops, Sainsburys do everything you'll need.

We were one of the doors your son knocked on (I came up briefly to check it wasn't our neighbours cat). Well done to your son and the other boy for their efforts. I hope the owner is OK under such sad circumstances.

I've had to adjust my exercise routine around the holidays, I've got kids aged 4, 8 and 9 at home for the next 5 weeks. I'm a runner, so some mornings have been getting up early to run before my partner leaves for work (it's not too bad, as he leaves at 7:30am and my kids are old enough to play downstairs while I shower), and sometimes I'll go in the evening (although I struggle with that after a whole day with the kids). I treated myself to a Fitbit recently, so on days where I don't run I challenge myself to get lots of steps instead (I aim for 20,000). My kids enjoy the park, so I put them on bikes/scooters and we easily spend a whole morning there. We are also keen London day trippers, earlier this week spent a whole day along the south bank, which clocked up a good few miles of walking. I have some exercise DVDs, and sometimes do the weights sections of them in the kitchen while the kids watch a movie in the other room. Good luck!

On the pencil case - from my experience it was only at about year 2 that my kids wanted to take one to school, before that they're just not necessary and not something kids have an awareness of. In year 3 my daughters class went "Smiggle" mad, and the competitiveness/trading etc got so bad the teacher banned pencil cases which I thought was a good move. A charm/key ring on your book bag is a good idea as in a class of 30 it makes it easier to identify your one.

We had great fun in the fountains by City Hall today, if you fancy taking in London sights too. Take spare clothes (hindsight is a wonderful thing...)

Agree with others. I've been taking my kids to the Horniman for nearly 10 years and never had an incident like this. Parent/guardian needs to be aware of where their child is and the potential risks, as should always be the case. Same could be said of the gate out of Peckham Rye Park near the Herne, Dulwich Park onto Court Lane etc.

Do you have a hobby that you could make the most of? When my kids are away (my husband has taken them to see grandparents in Scotland a few times now, I love every minute of it!) I schedule in long runs and travel to Central London to visit trendy craft shop/cafes. I also tend to eat crisps and chocolate for dinner and drink quite a lot of wine!

We went last year, agree that it's a great day out. My older kids loved the castle too due to the history they had learned at school. There's usually live music outside the castle in the summer months too, I've performed there a few times.

For me, thick white bread (not fancy stuff, has to be the proper unhealthy stuff), juicy bacon, not crispy, and lots of butter just to add to the fatty goodness of it all. No beans, no sauce, no avocado, just a big strong mug of tea to help wash it down. Yum.