JL Dulwich

I do this journey at least once a week, though generally not in rush hour. There's a direct train from East Dulwich which takes about 25mins. It's pretty reliable and I've never seen the trains packed going that direction in the morning. If there's an issue with trains (usually only happens on a weekend), there's always the option of getting the bus to Forest Hill and the overground from Forest Hill to West Croydon, which is about 15-20mins. My friend regularly caught the bus the other way (from East Croydon to East Dulwich) and it took anywhere from 1.5 - 2hrs. Personally I'd avoid that option, if you can.

Hi I used a private midwife ([email protected]) as I found the NHS service to be severely lacking. It was fantastic having an advocate when I needed to go to hospital as well, as I didn't want to be bullied into doing things that weren't right for me. I would urge you to consider all possibilities and write down what you would like to happen in an ideal world, and what you are happy to accept if things don't go to plan. Best of luck! Kind Regards Johanna

I just had Stefan from Oven Rescue clean 2 ovens, replace a broken oven light and clean the pan rests on the hob. He scrubbed for 4 hours and did a fantastic job. Totally worth the money! https://www.ovenrescue.co.uk/oven-cleaning/south-east-london-east-dulwich.html

Ikea sell cushioned high chair covers and inserts to go with their high chairs, so you may find that does the job. Alternatively, would a fabric travel chair like this one help: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Totseat-Washable-Squashable-Highchair-Circles/dp/B001QC77W0 Not sure if it would work in addition to the safety strap the high chair has, but I've got one that's nearly brand new (only used it once), if you'd like it.

I've travelled during the week and weekends at various times (ED / PR to London Bridge, ED to Streatham and further on that line and PR to Blackfriars and Kings Cross) and found the trains blissfully quiet. Rarely more than a handful of people per carriage - they're likely to be emptier towards the back of the train.

Honestly, I'd get an Ikea highchair with tray and soft seat insert. They're cheap, sturdy and easy to clean. Doesn't the safety strap hold your baby safely in the high chair? If not, and if you feel it's safe, just roll up a bath towel to provide some extra padding around him while he's in the chair. We did this with our chap. There used to be a baby shop in the retail park opposite Ikea in Croydon, but I'm not sure if it's still open (might have been Mothercare, but I can't remember) - might be worth a google search.

I had extremely poor experiences with 3 of the GPs at The Gardens (specifically around maternity and infant care). However, my other half only ever saw Dr Stephens (only a few times over about a 3 year period) and felt she gave the help he needed.

I think there's still confusion over what Government guidance is. The helpful 'What constitutes a reasonable excuse' doc produced by the CPS (and I'm pretty sure published on this forum) gives guidance to police on what may constitute a reasonable excuse to leave one's home. This includes "...the purchase of snacks and luxuries." The guidance goes on to state, "If a person is already out of the address with good reason, then it would not be proportionate to prevent the person from buying non- essential items." So, if you've gone out for your exercise, and you fancy an ice-cream on the way home, that's perfectly reasonable. If you, as an individual, feel that puts you at extra risk, it's your choice not to do so, but I think it's unreasonable to condemn others for doing so. There is also guidance on Gov.uk regarding which businesses have been required to close. This states that restaurants / pubs / wine bars / cafes / supermarkets and "other food and drink establishments" can remain open for "the provision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for collection or delivery to be consumed, reheated or cooked by consumers off the premises." So, I think Oddons is operating within the guidance, and the original poster was a perhaps a bit quick off the mark to assume they were bending rules.

DF, you're lucky you haven't had measles or chicken pox more than once. One certainly can get both of these - severely - more than once, which I know from personal experience.

Ask your GP for guidance / go to a registered dietician: https://www.bda.uk.com/about-dietetics/find-a-dietitian-near-me.html

Aneto on East Dulwich Road have adapted their cafe in line with guidance on social distancing (i.e. they've moved the tables further apart) and are still serving in-house meals / drinks, as well as take-away. They have also set up the front of the cafe to be a community store, offering basics like fruit and veg, home-made pasta, toiletries etc; and are offering free local delivery for the elderly / vulnerable. The shop part seemed well-stocked when I went in this morning. Tel: 07979879616 Email: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Anetocafedulwich

It was still open two days ago.

Did anyone else hear the drumming on Oakhurst Grove late last night, that started again at 6:50AM? Does anyone know where, exactly, it was coming from?

Seriously, Nina?! Thanks so much for highlighting my rights to what you think my feelings are. And "got in the way of..."???? No, that wasn't what happened at all; but I shan't go into it again. I don't consider the above post mum shaming, though you are, of course, free to view it as you wish.

Thanks to those who commented and sent kind wishes. Nina - perspective is not the issue at all. The mother looked to be about my age, so a difference in generational attitudes isn't what I was suggesting. It's irrelevant whether the mother was having a bad day or not - we are all responsible for our own children. If you take your child out, you are responsible for making sure they are safe and letting them know what the correct response to a situation is e.g. point out that a specific behaviour is dangerous, has hurt someone and, therefore, change your behaviour and apologise.

Hi Jules I saw two guys laying cement outside Oliver Bonas at about 8:45 yesterday morning. Perhaps they were fixing reported damage in several places that day? Agree it wasn't the weather for it to set well. Sorry to hear your buggy got stuck, but glad the chaps in the car wash were kind and helped you out.

Thanks, Ginster; I really appreciate your response.

I am so angry and upset, I don't know where to begin. I have just got home from what should have been a nice, treat day - taking my elderly, ill mum into town. At Charing Cross station, a child of about 8 was running from side to side of the platform, then started swinging a balloon weighted with a heavy piece of plastic around wildly. We stood well back of the family and stopped to avoid the running child twice when he suddenly ran in front of my mum and swung his balloon around, causing the hard plastic end (not insignificant in size) to hit my mum in her eye. Mum had a stroke 2 months ago, which has caused blindness in one eye, and the medication she is on causes instant and severe bruising - potentially internal bleeding - when she is injured. Mum called out in shock and pain, which is the only reason the child's mother turned around. My mum said she'd just been hit in the eye by the lady's son, and all she said in response was a casual, 'oh, sorry' (in a completely indifferent, I don't give a sh*t tone) and carried on. She didn't ask her son to stop messing around or ask him to apologise. Mum said that wasn't good enough and the lady said, 'i've said sorry, what more do you want? He's just been at a protest, he's excited.' (As if that somehow cancels out his bad behaviour and the mother's lack of supervision?) I explained mum had just had a stroke, was blind in one eye, and her son had injured my mother's good eye. Yet still, the woman didn't seem to understand why we were upset and what we wanted her to do. I wish I had been able to get across what we wanted: 1. Admonish your child 2. Ask your child to apologise 3. Remove the item that caused the injury until you are in a place where it's safe for your child to play with it I have a young child myself and, with the best will in the world, sometimes one's attention slips for a minute and they do something they shouldn't. As the adult, I take responsibility for my child's actions. I wasn't expecting - nor did I want - the mother to shout at or embarrass her child, just to tell him not to run on a station platform (it's dangerous for them), to be careful of those around them, and to say sorry when they hurt someone. 1 simple (sincere) sentence would have done it. "Please walk on the platform and please say sorry for hurting the lady." Is that too much to ask? I don't expect strangers without personal experience to know that 72 year olds who have just had a stroke can have severe reactions to what younger people may consider trivial. I don't expect that mother to realise that in the 1 minute it took us to get from the platform down to the escalators, my mum's eye had visibly swelled and bruised. I don't expect her to get how shaken such an incident can leave someone. I didn't expect her to notice that my mum was visibly shaking and nearly in tears over the unexpected shock and pain of it. But I did expect some courtesy, some basic manners and just a little bit of imagination (i.e. putting herself in my mum's shoes). I don't know what I want from posting this here...I suppose just to vent. And to ask all parents to please be aware - and teach your kids to be aware - of their surroundings (i.e. recognise where it is safe to run or swing toys around) and to do the right thing: say sorry when you hurt someone.

That's really awful; I'm sorry you're stuck with that. My mother had the same problem with her next door neighbours. As it was rented accommodation, she contacted the housing association that managed it and complained. They warned the tenants that they must comply with the terms of the lease and, if they didn't, would be asked to leave. It hasn't totally resolved the problem, but it is slightly better, and the tenants now usually smoke inside.

We had our child's party at the South London Scout Centre, SE21, email: [email protected]. We booked the Sunley building, which is a massive space with a well-equipped, quite large kitchen and toilets. There are also fold out tables and chairs available at no extra charge, lots of outside space and free on-site parking. We thought the cost was really reasonable (?50 for 4 hours, though this was the cost last year; it may have increased), and everything was much more impressive than we were expecting, given the few photos on their website. Something to keep in mind is that you will need to decorate and set things up yourself.

Hi We didn't have a good experience with the new Butterfly Lane Nursery, so I would suggest you view a few nurseries to see whether they really meet your needs (we didn't - we were just so relieved to find somewhere nearby that had immediate places available). And ask them to be very clear - and put in writing - what their rules are about accepting Government funding, as what I was told during the show around and settling in period, was not what I was told towards the end of term, when I was expecting funding to kick in. When I went for the show around, the lady I met (from the Peckham branch) had all the right answers to my questions, but nothing I was told actually seemed to occur in practice. e.g. there is no outside space at this nursery, and I was told that children would be taken to the local park once per session. This didn't actually happen every day. There were a few other issues we put down to teething troubles (e.g. staff arriving late, leaving us waiting outside; poor nutrition - sugary treats offered instead of fruit; not being told when an accident had occurred; our child being left alone in the hall), as they had only just opened. However, we decided to stop sending our child here when, at pick up time, our child's trousers were soaked and filthy, as he'd had an accident and no one had noticed (despite the fact our child was the only child present at nursery that day). I raised all our concerns with the nursery manager, who did reply with details of what they would change, based on my complaint (e.g. further training for staff, transfer of a senior member of the team to the new nursery, a weekly plan of outings etc). For me, this came too late but, as long as the changes do take place, you may find your child has a better experience.

Hi Someone else posted this in the Lounge section, but I thought it might be helpful to have the details in the family section as well. Kids under 5 are admitted free to Tower Bridge, and adults able to provide a photo ID and proof of Southwark residence (e.g. utility bill, council tax bill) can enter for ?1. I took my son last week and it was a great day out. It was a short walk, beside the river, from London Bridge station and we chose a day where the bridge was scheduled to lift twice, which was exciting to watch. There are lifts up to the walkways, so you'll have no problem taking a pram, and there is a really large disabled / baby changing toilet next to the lift that takes you downstairs. Kids are also given a really nice free workbook and pencil. Once you come out of Tower Bridge, there is a second lift a short walk away, which will take you down to the same level as the engine room (cool for kids who like to see big machines / how things work).

Thanks so much for posting this. I took my son last week and it was brilliant. Kids under 5 go free and, even though I only paid ?1 to get in, my son still got given a little workbook and pencil.

Thanks, Goldilocks. It's good to know that another nursery has changed their lunch options based on feedback. Much as I would rather avoid it, I think I will have to be 'that parent'.

Hello all I was wondering if anyone knew what was 'standard' for nurseries to offer children to eat? Specifically, is it usual for kids to be offered dessert (e.g. chocolate ice-cream, biscuits etc) at every lunch time? I'd rather my child eat fruit salad for dessert, since this is what he is offered at home (with ice-cream etc reserved for treats, rather than an every day occurrence), but I don't want him to be the odd one out at nursery. Has anyone else had any experience with this? I do actually make a packed lunch for our child (at the nursery's request), but they still offer him sweets afterwards. Today I was told that, since he ate the sugary dessert they offered, they didn't even bother asking him if he'd like the fruit I packed for him! So...what is normal??? Thanks