Tanza

Sorry, slightly off topic, as it's a mouse, not a rat, but I was on the top deck of a bus heading to work a couple of weeks back and a mouse dropped from the ceiling and fell onto the shoulder of a woman sitting two seats in front of me and then it scampered down onto the floor. I saw the mouse fall but I couldn't make out where it had come from. We were all peering at the ceiling, there were a couple of tiny vents near the window.

That's a very good suggestion, because if the climbing frame failed to wear them out there is also the adventure playground just over the road. And the food is always good there too. Thank you

Thank you Redjam, like the sound of the Nutfield Priory. Looks good online so have just emailed them asking for a guide price and sounding them out about a private room. Our party will include some rather, er boisterous little boys (not my own little darling of course) so somewhere for them to run and let off steam would be good. Is there direct access from the private room to the gardens? It does all look very posh, trust the gardens are not full of guest wafting around in towelling robes expecting peace and quiet? I imagine your party was full of rather charmingly behaved little girls?

My husband's mother is going to be 90 and we are looking for a restaurant/pub/hotel where a group of about 20 people could have lunch, ideally where there is a playground or big garden to keep the numerous great-grand-children amused. I did think of Locale in East Dulwich, but feel the food there isn't really special enough for this occasion. We would be very grateful for any recommendations/ideas for either London, Sussex, or Surrey

EDmummy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My mother would vacuum outside our bedroom door. > Always worked. Ha Ha - my mother would hoover right inside the room, banging about as much as possible. I snoozed through it quite comfortably. My mum would also regularly say in despairing tones, "Well it's a shame you can't get a job watching television.". But quite brilliantly I did get a job in my twenties in TV, where all those 'wasted' teenage years turned out to be very useful research.

These are great suggestions, thank you. Like the look of the Time Travelling one in particular. I've also found something that looks good for the 6/7 year old range -Brilliant Brits : Henry VIII by Richard Brassey. There's also one on Elizabeth 1. All well illustrated and quite easy looking, bite-sized chunks of info. Doesn't look too off putting for an unconfident reader. Appreciated!

I need to find a book for my 7-year old god daughter whose parents says is interested in the Tudors. They also say she isn't a very keen reader so I think the brief is I am to find a book on the Tudors, that's interesting enough for a 7 year old, but not too hard going. Hmmmm. And also it can't be from the Horrid History series as she has that already. Oh and a necklace, but luckily I've found one online. Any recommendations please as have left it v late and need to order quickly on Amazon to make her birthday in time. Are any of the following which I have found on Amazon suitable for a 7-year old - Tudor Stories for Girls - Alison Price or Elizabeth (My Royal Story), a Tudor Princess's diary byt Kathryn Lasky? There's no reviews on Amazon to say what age they are for, and I don't want to risk sending a Tudor romp by accident.

Hello - Anyone travelling from East Dulwich or Denmark Hill has to pay for kids because the train operating companies aren't part of London Transport. The service going through Forest Hill is, as CivilServant points out part of London Overground which is either run by or is part of London Transport (and therefore is free for kids) - this is the new-tube-like service, which isn't scheduled to pass through Denmark Hill or Peckham Rye until 2012 according to the TFL website. So presume we will have free travel for kids by 2012 at Denmark Hill/Peckham Rye, although East Dulwich will presumably remain a paying-for-kids station as this new service won't run through it. I reckon we should definitely march on somewhere with our Bugaboos, waving our organic vegetables. civilservant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > no, ludoscotts, it's not you that's the problem at > all! > I was confused myself until I found this web page > http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes > /15359.aspx > > so Forest Hill is served by the Overground, but > East Dulwich is not. And according to the map on > the above link, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill are > also on the Overground. > > However, I think that Overground refers to to the > train operator and not the station, so that some > trains through Forest Hill, Peckham Rye etc. may > be Overground (and hence free to kids), but not > others... > Sorry, my head's beginning to hurt now! You can > see why I just trust to my Oystercard to work it > out for me

Thanks civilservant - I hadn't thought/realised you could get an Oyster card for a child. That's a good idea. Also thanks to Ludoscotts for the Overground advice at Forest Hill. I always forget it goes through there, will investigate for good days out using that route.

Travel is free on tubes for the under 11s according to London Transport Website below. I guess my irritation stems from the fact that getting anywhere from South London often takes multiple public transport links including the non-free-for-kids trains. Now that Oyster cards have made it to South London, the inconvenience of having to stop and buy a kid's ticket instead of sailing through quickly with a swipe-card through is more obvious. London Transport for 5- to 10-year-olds Children aged five to 10 can travel free at any time on buses, Tube, DLR, trams and London Overground as long as they travel with an adult who has a valid ticket. Up to four children can travel free with one adult. Children aged 5 to 10 who are travelling unaccompanied on the Tube, DLR or London Overground will need a 5-10 Oyster photocard to travel free. Find out more about 5-10 Oyster photocardon the Transport for London website. London Transport for 11- to 15-year olds Children aged 11 to 15 years can travel free on buses and trams and at child rate on Tube, DLR and London Overground services, provided they have an 11-15 Oyster photocard.

Are people aware that you are supposed to buy tickets on the train for your child once they are five? I was stopped at London Bridge yesterday and made to pay. (fortunately I wasn't fined). I hadn't realised this was the case, as travel is free for kids on tubes and buses. Turns out that the train operating companies aren't part of London Transport so free travel doesn't apply once a child is five on trains. I paid up, but felt fed up. Oyster cards have finally made it south of the river, but free travel for kids - seemingly not.

Ooh I like the sound of this one. But as a non driver can anyone recommend the best way to get there on public transport. Is the best way, train from East Dulwich to Queens Road Peckham and then the 177 from there to Woolwich? At that point do you have to take the Woolwich ferry? mrs.lotte Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Having been to Depford, Latchmere and Bromley in > order to search for something comparable to the > pool (sorry, sub-tropical swimming paradise) at > Centerparcs we have found a winner. It's a bit of > a hike but well worth it - Woolwich leisure centre > (just beyond the woolwich ferry turn off) it has > LOADS of slides, several pools, a wave machine > decent changing facilities and a car park. It is > brilliant.

I think it looks like two giant rats. But I know nothing about art.

I loved these pictures, fantastic idea. But the one with the scouts, surely that isn't really taken at Goose Green? The building behind does look very like the swimming baths, but the grass seems to go right up to the building, can't make out much of a road. Or is the angle it's taken from?

BBCNews

Narnia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Isn't Sitges a gay resort? I might be wrong and it > might not matter but I thought it was. Sitges is rather like a smaller, prettier Brighton with fantastic beaches. It's very arty and cultural and like Brighton, it has a thriving gay community and festivals. It's a wonderful place for people of all orientations and is a lovely place for families. I used to work in central Barcelona teaching in the mornings and would hop down to Sitges in the afternoons. It's a welcome relief from the heat of the city centre, it's laid back and interesting. The water is also somewhere I'd be prepared to swim (unlike the city centre beaches)

I would recommend Sitges, a very beautiful beach resort, very arty, just outside Barcelona. It's very quick into central Barcelona by the very frequent trains, it's no different from say, living in East Dulwich and travelling into central London. In fact probably quicker.

My mum said she heard a comedian on the radio doing a skit about East Dulwich - a sample line being "It's only one postcode away from white bread". Anyone know who this might be?

My son went to Cherry Tree for a very long time and I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

Hello Legalalien - can you advise on what the public transport is like from East Dulwich to DCPS? Would the P13 be the best bet and then a walk from Dulwich College? legalalien Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > EDZ - depends where you're coming from, I guess. > I walk from the ED/DV border (DS used to walk, now > cycles) and the traffic in the ED Grove - Gallery > Road direction is generally fine, in the opposite > direction (towards JAPS) it's a nightmare. > Parking is fine as people park in the Belair Park > car park. Personally I'd go for a bike, and cut > through Dulwich Park - but then I don't drive and > am fairly evangalical about the benefits of > walking or biking to school.... For drop off, > doors at the nursery open at 8.50, and children > are expected to be in by 9; pick up is around > 3-3.10.

Article about East Dulwich's 'tenant from hell' from the Daily Maildailymailtenantfromhell

What is the best website to buy pretty clothes as a gift for a girl aged 6-9 months please? I've had a look on Monsoon's site. Any other ones anyone could recommend please?

is this an early April Fools??

Thanks very much for all these replies. I am passing on details to my friend. Much appreciated.

I have a lovely female friend (41), very good looking, slim (not that these things matter, but it helps) who would like to meet a local chap for an entertaining, low-pressured drink in East Dulwich. Own hair negotiable but own teeth a must. My friend is interested in books (high and low brow), sports, food, travel, music and the theatre. She can't face the hideousness of a dating website and our circle is only smug-marrieds with kids, I recommend her highly but have no one suitable or unsuitable to introduce her to. She's upbeat, sociable and thinks that even if Mr Right doesn't materialise it would be good to expand her circle of friends locally. If you have a friend you could recommend or if you think you might be the very man to put a spring in her step then please step forward.