LI

Renata Does a Lambeth resident also automatically get added to the waiting list of any higher preference Southwark schools that they didn?t get into?

Russell is just the best. He's done a couple of jobs for me now. Both times clearly showing me what was wrong and how it needed fixing. He will not try and rip you off like some others mentioned on this forum. This latest time he didn't even charge me as it was a small job- despite coming out on a busy weekend. I won't be calling anyone else the inevitable next time my roof has a problem!

Memory makers do this in Mothercare stores and can do home visits. You can see when the appointments are on their website.

Any solicitors around? I made a will (mirror wills) a couple of years ago. I've just had another child and I want to add their name to the will. However, I can't get hold of the original solicitor I used to draw the wills up. Given it is a very easy change, can I just make a new copy adding the name myself ? Then obviously getting it witnessed again. Or can I make my own codicil? Advice on the web is conflicting, but given a solicitor has drawn it up in the first place it seems a waste to pay somebody for 2 new wills just for a couple of extra words.

Have you ruled out staying in central Boston? It's a lovely city with loads to do for a week, plus easy ferry trips up the coast eg to Salem. Then you get a beach week and a city week.

I think you are mistaken in what this scheme does. You can only get these medicines for free if you don't pay the prescription charge eg children, people on low incomes. So while you say some people in the UK can't benefit, those people can access exactly the same medicines for free via a free GP appointment. All this scheme does is reduce the demand on GPs, and is targeted at areas where GPs are particularly busy. What's unfair about that? Now if media, social or traditional, wants to get people steamed up about something unfair, how about the parts of the UK (everywhere except England) where everybody gets free prescriptions??

Legoland is great, but I think you would have a good time at Chessington as well. Plus it is much easier to get to so you have the option of going for half a day. Young children get pretty tired at both of them so a full day may be too much. Chessington has lots of rides suitable for under 5s, plus the zoo and Safari(your 2 year old may be too small for the safari ride but you can still see the animals from the viewing platform), an aquarium and a soft play. I've been in October at the weekend to Chessington and not had to queue much for any ride, so I would have thought a week day this time of year would be fine.

How much did the private prescription cost, for those who got it via your gp?

We took the train and that was also easy, there's a double decker bus from Watford junction station, goes regularly from the station forecourt and you can't miss it! I agree the place was brilliant. It has timed entry tickets so in theory earlier should be better as it will fill up during the day, but there is lots to see and it is big so I don't think you need to worry about crowds. However, when I say a lot to see, i really mean a lot so I'd allow about 3-4 hours, to include lunch or a drink (of butter beer)! And take your ??? for the shop and your picture flying on a broomstick.

It's highly unlikely you'd get into Elm Wood from the location you describe, if you don't meet any of the priority criteria. It is an extremely popular school. However, you aren't too far as the crow flies from Fenstanton. Although this school didn't have a great reputation, it is now part of the same federation as Elm Wood plus several other local schools. The federation are fantastic at driving up school standards(they have turned around failing schools into the best in the borough) so it seems likely Fenstanton would be a good back up option.( you'd need to check though that the last year maximum distance covered your home, as a guide).

I'm having a tea morning for mums and babies (roughly 0-6 months) from SE21 and SE24 on Tuesday 11th November. If any new mums - or second/third time mums - would like to come along and meet some new people or just have a sit down with tea and cake you are welcome. Please PM me for further details.

I went to ESPH on Lordship Lane who have a resident physio. It is expensive( but no more than other private physios) but like you I could hardly walk and the midwives wouldn't refer me in time. After 3 sessions I could walk much better and if I'd had more time pre birth they offer Pilates classes too.

Interesting report. The uniform debate really strikes a chord with me because I had to buy one uniform for reception and a totally different uniform for year one. Both uniforms had several items that could only be bought in one shop and cost way more than non branded equivalents. Even more annoyingly the school likes the children to keep their blazers on all day so they get dirty and worn quickly, but it's not like you can afford more than one blazer is it? I think the school does it because of the correlation of private school uniforms with good results- but of course the results aren't caused by the uniforms. I would love some kind of parent/ head teacher forum where issues like these could be discussed, but that doesn't seem to be at all in the remit of the PTA. And it is quite hard I think to be the one parent who raises issues as you don't want your child to suffer because of it. How would you raise things like this to the school anyway?

It's a bit further away(but out of rush hour only a 20 drive) but the Latchmere leisure centre in battersea has a great splash pool. It is a lagoon style so kids can paddle, play and swim in the deeper bits. It also has a small water slide. You don't have to wait for a special family session, it is reasonably priced and very warm.

You could try air bnb for an apartment if you want a bit of space for the kids to play and sleep. There are lots in dubai. Taxis are cheap and plentiful so it doesn't really matter where you are located, you can easily reach the waterparks, malls, airport etc.