barrybrains

A decent Chinese restaurant would be great - I don't rate the food at the newly refurbed Mr Liu's and it's also quite pricey. Also a Vietnamese restaurant would be fantastic although I don't mind doing the bus ride to Camberwell. I would like to support local restaurants on Lordship Lane but find myself underwhelmed by the stodgy and expensive offerings.

Have Kingsdale released the banding dates yet? I can't find that information on their web site but I don't want to miss out on doing that. Is it before or after 31 October that the tests usually take place? http://kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk/News-and-Events/Calendar/event/Admissions-Banding-Tests

Yes, just ask for a seat, otherwise no point getting your knickers in a twist over it. Definitely don't expect to ever be offered a seat on the number 12 bus unless you ask!

sillywoman, is there any particular church you have to regularly attend, or can it be any local CofE church?

Not totally a disaster. The benefits for me are spending more time with my daughter as I don't have to commute, I save money on nursery as I can do my work later in the day when she is asleep, so it works out pretty well. new mother, I can see that it's a bummer for you as you are paying lots of NI and tax :(

The amount you receive for Maternity Allowance is based on your previous earnings. At the highest end, it will be the same as SMP. I'm glad MA is not taxed. As a self-employed mother, for me to take time off work means several months of not earning anything, plus losing several clients who will go elsewhere and sometimes not come back, so it has longer term ramifications for me to be out of work whilst bringing up baby. For someone on SMP, at least you know when you go back to work it will but at your full salary rate, but for me, it took a long time to get my business going again. I'll obviously face this problem each time I have a child.

?80 for a toddler to go to a teddy bear's picnic for 3 hours? Madness!

How about asking at your local GP surgery or Kings' Hospital PALS? http://www.kch.nhs.uk/patients/services/pals/

I looked into this a few years ago, and I got varying answers from different sources, either accountants or Mums-in-Business helplines. I think there is an option to pay yourself dividends as income instead of a higher salary, then claim childcare vouchers, although it seems pretty complex to set up. There is also some option to have a 'workplace creche' but it wasn't suitable as we work from home. I didn't go for the nanny option, just went for a childminder supplemented with a bit of tax credits instead.

No idea about tutors, but does your child do Kumon? There are classes in Goose Green at St John's church hall I think. http://www.kumon.co.uk/ This may not be the specific one-on-one help you need, but it does really improve maths skills.

Simon from Amigo's Magic is brilliant with that age group. He's done several parties in the local area and goes down a storm. His web site is: http://www.abcmagic.co.uk/ [email protected]

I had a regular income from property rental, so couldn't defer that. I guess that is OK as it's not work that I am actively doing whilst on Maternity Leave. From a business point of view, I would never defer invoicing - clients are too likely to take the p**s! I am sure you can still keep working if it's under a certain amount of hours a week - it's not like anyone can live off ?116 a week, can they? I must admit the money was a nice little bonus in my pocket as I kept working. If I had to rely on it to live off, it would have been as good as useless!

My circumstances sound slightly different as I don't have an employer as I run my own business, but I worked and had an income whilst claiming my Maternity Allowance post-baby. I'm not sure if this is allowed, but so far I've not had anything flagged up by the tax man and this was a few years ago now. However, I am only small fry, so I doubt they'd be too bothered about the income I was bringing in whilst claiming MA!!

I am also self-employed. I claimed Maternity Allowance for 9 months, approximately ?116 a week I think or the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay. Pop into the Job Centre in Peckham where you can pick up a form - they give the form to you at the front door, so you don't need to loiter in there! Details are here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

Oh no, I was hoping for a sunny weekend!! Is the steam fair any good for young ones, 18 months or so?

It's on the same day as the big Horniman Summer Fair, otherwise it'd be tempting

That's an interesting post, Fuschia. I always wondered why formula is never included in BOGOF or other promotions.

When are Gumboots moving, that's been on the cards for ages. I am on the waiting list from nearly 2 years ago but won't be able to move her there until they are back on the Crystal Palace Road location.

I can't guarantee it's 100% correct. Why don't you pop down to the pool and pick up the latest timetable? You'll have to go there in person to buy a ticket for a swim anyway. You can then have a look around the pool and see what you think. I go to the 3pm session on Thursdays so that's the only one I know for sure is correct.

Here's the link to the swimming timetable. Jellybabies is the best session for babies. Unless you are a member, you have to buy your tickets in advance in person up to 6 days beforehand.

Not strictly true, prdarling. A friend's daughter was allocated a place in January this year and lives on Lordship Lane (and is a non-believer too).

No, you are not being funny at any point in this thread. This is in response to Fuschia's comment above mine. It's a possibility that ED residents may end up at one of these schools.

Not quite ED but still in the catchment for lots of residents: Dulwich Village infants (SE21) and Fairlawn (SE23) are outstanding,

I do agree with the first point. My daughter goes to a state school primary, but I am already saving up for her private secondary school as there's not too much choice of state schools in ED and there's only really one state secondary I'd like her to go to. Re: the laboured point of church schools, well we aren't a cmopletely non-secular society, hence the existence of faith schools. Faith schools will exist for the forseeable future. However, if it really irks you, I'd suggest you start campaigning against it as it's obviously something you feel very strongly against.

Yes, a pat on the back indeed for you. If you are fortunate enough to be able to consider private schools as an option, then it makes sense to send your child to one and leave a place free at a state school, of course.