Jamma

What a strange thread. I thought the OP was just trying to be helpful and I can't see that thebestnameshavegone was being aggressive, helpful if anything. Seems to be a lot of fluff about nothing to which I am now admittedly adding very little.

Most interesting aspect of this story is that it's been a massive PR fail by Maclaren. I'm sure there's lots of PR folk domiciled in East Dulwich, get pitched for the Maclaren account because there's going to be a vacancy very soon.

No Ewan McGregor doesn't live in ED. He's got a house in St John's Wood (I'll give out the address if the money's right) and one in LA. Not sure if he's still got the house in Glasgow. Also he's really very short.

Some of us were there in the Plough Mr Iaineasy. Albeit it was nearer 9 before I made it along. Should've had some sort of identifying feature.

Go see the Robot Zoo at the Horniman. It's flipping ace. It's only got a few weeks to run but you really shouldn't miss it and now it's the end of the run it's quiet. We went Tuesday afternoon and were only folk in there. It's not too big, it's not over-priced, it's just interactive enough. It's even been worth the nightmares my toddlers been having ever since about the robot giraffe and robot ant.

Thurs night is quiz night at the Plough. I'm not trying to put anyone off, I'm just saying. Indeed an EDD team would surely romp to victory.

22nd could work for me. Supposed to be out the 23rd too but reckon I'm ready to return to the days of going out two nights in a row. Thursday is the new Friday after all.

I've never had any trouble getting into Peckham Jelly Babies on a Tuesday afternoon. I try and get there about half an hour before it starts. I've heard the horror stories of having to queue up an hour in advance etc but the only time I've not got in is the first time I went and turned up at ten to (I now know of course that ten minutes is not long enough to get me and the baby changed really).

Who cares if the Bajans thought you were rude or snobbish? They were being rude and disrespectful to you. I don't want to get lounged so let's get back to the topic - there is no excuse for the behaviour of the yobs outside The Castle. End of. It's only a stupid sexist society that would tolerate it.

Bah, so it's not the power of the EDF. But they were there because stupid people are blocking the road with their dopey parking. Seems silly that the bus drivers have to call in TFL folk with no real powers when the head of the school should be dealing with it and saving everyone a lot of bother. They may not have been giving out tickets but they were moving people on who parked at the non-school end of the road. Yet again a numpty had blocked the path of the Number 12. The situation was a lot better today, I guess because people saw men in uniform and presumed they were parkies or something. I can't wait till the parkies do come then, it'll be even more fun.

This thread is incredible. Incredibly depressing. How can so many people think this sort of thing is acceptable? A group of beery lads, one woman. Why are they shouting at her? For one reason only - to make them feel big and she feel uncomfortable. And that is completely and utterly unacceptable. Go to town. Contact the Castle, contact the PCSOs, contacting the licensing board if such a thing still exists. I really hope you don't just ignore them and hope they go away, you shouldn't have to put up with it a second longer. THe problem is that engaging with them is hard. I've seen women try and then the mob invariably turns to nasty abuse. Ideally I'd say take their photos, post them on here and let's name and shame them (and photo-shop them to make them look very silly indeed).

Why all the moaning? The old pool was undoubtedly skanky. But from what the councillor says the new one will be nearer the mark. Reducing the length seems perfectly reasonable, especially as it will allow walking right round which seems pretty basic.

Woo hoo the power of the EDF. Today there was three parkies in Etherow Street busting dumb-parking-ass all over the shop. It was a joy to see.

My little one is mad for the yoga bit in Waybuloo on CBeebies. Does anyone know of any local yoga lessons for parents and toddlers?

My wife has just had to switch her regular Weds night commitment to a Tues so not sure I'll make it now. At best will try get along for around 9.15

It's nearly Tuesday. Is this on or has there been a collective cold feet? If so, who is going and what's the codeword for recognition purposes?

I don't want to get personal but I have to wonder just how far away Fuschia lives from Heber. I'm inclined to think that if it's further than walking distance then move to a school nearer your house. Walking distance to Heber I'd say is anywhere between the Horniman museum and Sainsburys. (I appreciate I perhaps am getting a bit personal. Sorry.)

James - I think you've got the wrong end of the stick. I'm not talking about nanny-statism at all, quite the opposite. I went into the school yesterday to try find the offending parent simply as a decent citizen. It made no difference to me that the traffic was backed up, didn't affect my bus route. But since no-one else seemed to be doing anything about it I felt I should. But as the balloon who'd done the bad parking and all the yabbering and disinterested parents showed not everyone is a good citizen. Hence a system to cope with the diddies is needed. I'm not suggesting a teacher give up their free time, it would only be needed when school is starting/finishing so the teachers should be there anyway. And a decent teacher should care about how their school is perceived in the community it serves, so they should be keen to help out I'd have thought.

If this issue is genuinely nothing new then why hasn't it been tackled? My suggestion to them (which I still haven't been able to email them) is to put a teacher on the gate then when there is a problem that person should know whose car is causing it and can find them quickly. So I don't have to go wandering into the school grounds asking who is holding up the traffic with their dumbass parking. And while this is a problem around other schools it's particularly troublesome at St Anthony's because it's on 2 bus routes. The 12 and the 40 were held up yesterday, that means people have to wait for their bus to work, that buses are more crowded etc etc.

Of course there may be an issue with folk driving to St Anthony's because it's catchment area is not geographical but theological. That is quite a different issue. I tried emailing the school with my complaint but the email address on their website didn't work. Anyone got a contact email address for them?

Anyone see the traffic congestion caused this morning by a stupid parent of the aforementioned school parking right on the corner of Friern and Etherow streets and thereby preventing the Number 12 from getting by? It's not the first time. Etherow Street is chaotic of a morning as parents don't park, they just abandon their cars on corners and across driveways to drop off kids at the school. It's inconvenient to residents but most of all it's dangerous. Some even stop on the yellow zig-zags outside the school. Surely parents don't need to drive to the school? How far are they travelling to get there? And what can be done to control them? St Anthony's likes to show off about their Ofsted report and league table results. But as a part of the community their reputation is poor as a result of a proportion of diddy drivers.

The answer to how you'll get yourself and minikatsu out the door by 7.30 is that you'll make sure KatsuKing pulls his weight!

Does she seem happy and healthy? If so try not to worry about it. How much is a lot? If she's eating a packet a day then you may have a problem, anything less than that and I'd be inclined to just let her get on with it. Or try cooking stuff with butter in it - asparagus in butter then maybe she'll eat the asparagus or boiled potatoes with butter on them. Or have you tried that and I'm just patronising you now?

YOu may miss football focus but the Match of the Day repeat on a Sunday morning is a godsend. I'll need to check the calendar but should be good for Tuesday.

Has anyone any experience of the Aquatots swim school? The London Swim School offers Aquatots 1 and 2 at Crystal Palace. My concern is that Aquatots 1 is not going to be much use as 18-month-old daughter is already pretty comfortable in the water. Aquatots 2 you can't start till the child is 3. Or anybody recommend any other swimming classes? On holiday my daughter was throwing herself in the baby pool and wouldn't let us hold her because she was so keen to swim so though she's clearly a long way from learning to swim would be good if there was a class to get her used to the basics or similar.