nancysmum

when i had my daughter my lovely sister came over, put me to bed, tidied up and did the ironing and cooked dinner. i woke up when nancy needed breast feeding, and although i went to bed feeling really guilty that my sister was doing all the work, i woke up feeling really refreshed and a tad more human!

i've had no problem getting in touch with the nursery or caroline. I'm sure it's just a glitch, so do perservere as it's a fab nursery and my daughter loved it there (she's now at school - sob!)

would be really interested in coming along too. (with my 5.5 year old)

best of luck xxx

she could be going through the stage where she is more spacially aware, and she may have fears that she will fall off the bed. I suggest that you 'break' her in gently - sit on the bed / sofa and cuddle, read stories, etc. then bit by bit move off the bed (eg: drop the book and get off to pick it up). It is a stage, and it will pass! xx

i'll be going to see Sarah moule, she is fabulous! xxx

i'm more interested in the reindeer...any one know if they are coming back to ED?

sorry, bad grammar on my part. It as in the event / the spectacle, not it as in santa.

sorry, bad grammar on my part. It as in the event / the spectacle, not it as in santa. Seriously though, if anyone does know if this will be happening again in east dulwich, please do let me know.

last year it was by john allan flowers...anyone know if they are returning this year?

the problem is responsible dog owners would most probably pay the tax, irresponsible ones would most probably not bother...and then, how would it be policed? You'd have to carry your licence around with you. What would happen if the person didn't have a dog licence? the dog taken away? destroyed? the person given a fine which he/she would never pay, taken to court, put in already overcrowded jails, come out and most probably get another dog. Unfortunately we are living in a time of austerity and so if the council spent time and money implementing this, it would be ludicrous when the money could be better spent else where. I think a better way of handling this is to use the faces/features of a child or animal who has been maimed, create posters and put them up around the places where people walk their dogs so they can be reminded of the personal cost of irresponsible dog ownership. Anyone agree?

Sorry you had such a bad experience. but you're right, it's often the owners, not the dogs that are the problem. Although this owner did say he would keep his dogs on the lead and perhaps (I'm assuming) only let them off when he didn't see you (if you were sitting, perhaps you were out of the line of his vision?). However, if his response was to beat his dog around the head, it's no wonder that the dog is the way he is. Beating a dog only breeds a dog with behaviour issues. It would be a shame if you had to get rid of your dog...are there not local school children (of an appropriate age) who could walk the dog for you? Good luck with the pregnancy.

if you are talking about the elderly man who walks his two russells on goose green, I know him personally and cannot believe he would allow this kind of behaviour. His dogs bark but don't bite (when I was childminding the children would always play with the dogs and the man made sure the dogs were well behaved). Please don't point fingers unless you are sure it is that person.

I can also recommend Pippa. She has occasionally looked after my daughter and she has a wonderful way about her.

bawdy-nan I'm really sorry your children's scooters got stolen, and that some people on here think it's an opportunity to show off their 'rapier wit'. We have all done things by mistake (I left my ipod in my car, not on show, but it got stolen of course!). The police were giving out microchip marking packs a while back, it may be worth getting in touch with them to see if they are still doing it. hopefully you'll be covered by home insurance this time. hx

are you limiting it to east dulwich, or would you venture to beckenham (we have moved!)

first mate, i totally agree with you!

saw a poster on a lamp post in beckenham which said something along the lines of "Parents Against Poo. You are responsible for your dog pooing. Would you like it if children pooed on the street. Clear it up". Not written ver batim but definitely impactful.

wow! how can they have ?700million of debt?!

perhaps one solution would be to have a stack of these bags attached to the dog bins so that anyone walking their dog cant say 'oh i didn't bring a bag with me'...

why is the council spending on money on giving out free bags to collect dog poo? seems a waste of money. surely, if you have a dog, you can afford your own bags, even if they are old shopping bags?

my daughter is 4 and still sleeps with me. i've tried putting her in her bed but would wake to screams, or her more than likely climbing in with nancysdad and me. we tried putting a single mattress at the end of the bed so that she was in the same room, but not the same bed and that worked for a bit. some nights i would have to sleep with her in her single bed (not comfortable in the least). we've just moved house and while her room is being sorted (double bed ordered for her!) she is in with me and hubby is in the loft! (plus side is she takes up less room and i don't have to listen to his snoring!!!).

fiona foster is fab. My daughter, who isn't into pink or anything girly, really seems to enjoy her classes and is very proud of her first position footwork!

Hi there I'm a childminder and I would say that, like in all walks of life, there are good and bad practitioners. Feel free to come down to the Peckham One O Clock Club on a Wednesday morning where there is a childminders support group on. You can see the ones that are active with their children, and the ones that sit on the sides chatting to their friends. You can talk to one of Southwark Council's Childcare Services Coordinators who can put you in touch with childminders in your area. Fees vary depending on what's being offered, meals, transport, entrance fees to clubs / soft play etc. A big chunk of what we earn goes on tax, wear and tear (i have been through three double buggies in the time I have been minding). Also, some of us childminders took this route so that we could be with our children when they are young. I know I did. So I left my job in PR to childmind and needed to earn enough to pay the bills. This may be why there is a variation in the fees out there (just a thought). Also bear in mind that fees may be pitched at a certain rate as there may be times when childminders have spaces they can't fill (eg: a child finishes in December but no one is looking to place until March etc). Our income can fluctuate considerably. My advice would be to work out your budget (don't forget you may be elligible for working tax credit), get a shortlist of childminders, visit them, ask for references and speak to past and existing clients and then go with your gut feeling. I hope this has been of help.

thanks for keeping us updated. hx