Tanza

If you are considering this nursery worth reading the OFSTED report from Sept 2011Cherry Tree Ofsted report Feb 2011

My son attended for a number of years - also a few years back. I agree with Redjam that there are better nurseries out there.

I have always been impressed with 306 medical centre in lordship lane. Their receptionists are always helpful and have either squeezed me in or helpfully said if I come and wait I'm likely to be seen.

Hello - we went to this yesterday with my 7-year old but somehow didn't 'spot' (no pun intended) the room you mention (white room where you can do what you like with free stickers.) However, we thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition. My son was amazed by the 'infinity room' which makes you feel as you are standing in space, with stars above, below and around you - thanks to the use of mirrors, lights and water. You might need to be ready to explain the word 'phallic' though. 'Tuber'-shapes everywhere - in boats, in shoes etc, Ha ha.

We had persistent mouse problems over several years and in the end called in Colin - who has lots of recommendations on the forum. I tried loads of things before calling him in - trying to block up holes, poison, traps, electronic beepers - you name it. He sorted our mouse problem out and (touch wood) we haven't seen a mouse in over two years. Can definitely recommend him. His number is (or was)07940 751 255.

The numbering seems to have changed at some point in Melbourne Grove's history. Because my house number (I live at an end) doesn't feature at all in the census records. Also in a local history book about East Dulwich, there is a picture of a chap on a motorbike outside my house with the house number written in the text, a number that doesn't correspond to the current numbers. Would love to know why and when the numbers changed.

Echoing the comments already made - this is a fantastically useful route but there simply aren't enough 37 buses so my heart always sinks at the prospect of a long wait at Herne Hill, particularly after work.

These bikes look amazing. But gulp ?299 for a kid's bike? Surely there must be a good, cheaper alternative out there??

Can anyone recommend a bike for a 7 year old please? He's learned to ride on a bike we were given, but it's a heavy bike and the pedals don't go backwards (only forwards) so he's having trouble getting going on it.

My dad had a pair of shoes made at Merrifields and they were something gasp-inducing like ?400 but they are the most comfortable pair of shoes he's ever had and he's thrilled with them. Handmade shoes are way out of my budget, but my dad tells me from his research that ?400 is very reasonable compared to what you'd pay anywhere else in London.

I agree a personal shopper is a great way to ease yourself back into style. Selfridges has very stylish personal shoppers - the service is free but they demand a minimum spend of something like ?1000 and won't select from the cheaper brands. I think the free personal shopping service in Debenhams is a good bet. It's free and there is no minimum spend in fact there's no pressure to buy anything. You sit and read magazines while the shopper does all the legwork running round the shop selecting items for you. Then while you try them on the shopper does another swoop based on your immediate reaction. I thought the service was good. My only feeling was that the personal shoppers were not particularly cutting edge themselves. The selfridges shoppers were far better at grasping the look I was after ( I went in the days before the minimum spend)

Hello Barry - I know Denmark Hill isn't your remit...but I wondered if you might be able to advise me on behalf of some friends coming to London. They asked me to advise on travel cards, but the TFL/south eastern websites have left me baffled. I have friends coming for a week to London with four kids 8,9, 10, 12. Can you kindly tell me what the best travel cards would be for them to buy so they can use Denmark Hill or East Dulwich to travel into central London? Travel is free for the under 11s apart from on the South Eastern trains commute, so would I be right to think a pay-as-you-go Oyster card for the little ones would be best to cover them for this leg of the journey, during their week's stay? Is there a child fare for this? For the 12 year old, I guess he would be best off buying a weekly Oyster travel card, plus applying for a photocard? Thankyou for any advice

Hello they offered us ten pounds off our bill...

Narnia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'd have to say that my experience with Virgin is > that problems are few and far between.I couldn't > justify calling their service as rubbish. Well that's good to hear there are some satisfied customers but I reckon the I'm going to take the advice of an earlier poster and email the chief exec. Out of interest Narnia are you an Se22 postcode ? Every time I've called virgin they say it's a fault in the se22 area .

Anyone having any joy from Virgin - we've been without TV and the internet (honestly it's like the 1950s - we've had to TALK to each other) since Friday afternoon. Am logging on from relative's house to post this, but I really wish I'd read this extensive thread about how rubbish Virgin's service is as we would never have swapped from BT. My husband is freelance and while we are sort of enjoying the break from 20th Century communication, by next week it won't be so funny. All Virgin say is there's a fault in the SE22 area. This happens on an all too regular basis - so heads up to anyone thinking of signing up to Virgin - really not a good service at all.

Curmudgeon Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What annoys me about them is that they are only > there when the private schools are open! > what is that about Sorry that simply isn't the case. They are there every single day of the Heber term - in fact they always check with us about inset days and end of term dates. My six year old and I are so grateful for their help that my 6-year old insisted on us giving them a small xmas present and card at Xmas.

It's a very sweet smell, a cross between mild cat pee (we don't have a cat) and the smell you get in a vase when the flowers have been in too long. I bought the tree on a snowy day, so perhaps it's rotting. Anyway, I'll dump it outside, Xmas is over now anyway, bah humbug. Thank you Fabricio and Computed Shorty for your replies.

We usually have a plastic tree but this year bought a real one from Lordship Lane. It started off with a pleasant small of pine but it's gradually turned into sickly-sweet smell that's verging on the unpleasant. Is this par for the course with a real tree? Or have we just bought a dud one?

As an outsider it seems very simple. In your heart you prefer Fairlawn. The only thing holding you back are your fears for your son settling in/not knowing the teacher/the kids. But after day 1 at Fairlawn, he will know all these things. And he'll be at the school for a very long time so you might as well plump for the school you really want.

How interesting, I have often noticed that gas smell exactly at that point in Lordship Lane. Glad to hear it's nothing serious but it is seriously unpleasant.

Agree it's hardly a 'hideous crime' but to answer you Curmudgeon and Kapt Kopter We only had four sets of trick or treaters and my small son spent the evening peeping out of the windows hoping someone would come. Unlike the others, this group didn't come straight to the door, but rustled about treading on the cardboard packaging in front of my windows, before they got round to ringing the bell. The other three groups (who I also know) rushed straight up the path.

If you are the middle-class dad who thought it was alright for his young teenage kids to spray orange juice* over my window sills in Melbourne Grove last night feel free to come round and wipe it off it off. You stood there, chatted to us in a friendly manner and then let your kids accept chocolate (what bit of trick OR treat don't you get?)from us. And then this is what we find in the morning, on a working morning when we could do without it. *edited to add "possibly not even organic" (OK, know I am having a sense of humour failure, but am really irritated)

Hello - not the usual thread and feel slightly daft posting on here, but so the Forum has never let me down before thought I would give it a shot. Does anyone have a copy of the Economist from September 25 2010 please that I could have/borrow please? Since my post I have managed to lay my hands on a copy, thanks to the forumites who kindly looked though!

That's reassuring that your son still reads a lot despite the distractions of high tech gadgets. Thanks Fuschia.

My 6-year old is desperate for one of these for Xmas. I gulped at the price and he said I wasn't to worry because he'd ask Father Xmas for one. Mmmm. My question is are these worth the money? Are they more trouble than they are worth (do you find you are having to restrict their use?) or are they, a bit like TV, something that unless a kid is glued to it from morning to night is basically ok and some of it is even educational? Does anyone actually regret introducing these into family life?