KikiMac

Another recommendation for Fernando. A great job on our front hedge, reasonable price and very pleasant to do business with. Thanks!

monniemae Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I used to recommend the Gardens though had a > couple of bad experiences. I highly recommend > Nunhead Grove Surgery particularly Dr Ackland. Totally agree, Dr Ackland (apparently she is actually the daughter of Joss Ackland!) is just lovely. Dr Iu also great, though a man. But the whole surgery, esp the receptionists, is second to none. Appointments usually the same day, no questions, they are efficient, cheerful and helpful. Pretty unusual!

LOVE the Ivy House. Sunday afternoon, fantastic music, brilliant (unfancy but tasty) food and a real sense of community. Kids, yes, but not dominating. Like the idea of a child-free room, having said that. Not a hint of flock, or gastro thank god. Feels like pubs 'used to be' but I suspect thats just nostalgia, and actually it is much better.

Great work, this. Trefford21, i can't see Hollydale or John Stainer (St Asaph Rd)...

We loved it too. Also have 30% off vouchers. Quite agree with Mrs TP re the bird joke, but unless I missed it it didn't seem to put in an appearance this year...

Nice idea... Could try but i didn't mention it is battery operated and remote controlled, so may be more elsctrical than the bike shop could do...

I've posted this in the trades section but got nowhere so wondered whether you lovely family types might be able to help. We have a broken Buzz Lightyear space buggy. It is (I think) a straightforward problem with the rear axel but I need someone who understands mechanics better than me to mend it. Anyone know anyone handy with that kind of thing?

My two are 19 months apart and I was fine without any formal childcare, despite being convinced I would need it beforehand. However, this was due to a number of factors: 1. number 1 is very easy going and low maintenance, 2. we have great granny help and 3. a cleaner! Looking back, I'm pleased I didn't get round to sorting out nursery for number 1 as he could have felt pushed out, and instead got to spend time with me and his new brother. As everyone else has said, it depends on lots of different factors, some of which you don't know about yet, so if you can be flexible and prepared to suck it and see, do. Good luck!

Anyone know?

From my experience, definitely the place you want to be if things don't go according to plan!

Hang on, I thought this was supposed to be an opinion-free zone...? ;)

Your friend has an excuse though. Black and white opinions should be the luxury only of those without kids (IMHO!). One thing you learn from having them is that it is bloody hard work and everyone does what they can to get by in huge variety of settings with different levels of support, personalities, partners, finance and babies. Those that have babies and still think they are a) in control and b) doing it all 'right' and c) everyone should do it the way they are are the ones that really piss me off! Am I ranting? Sorry, sleep deprived!

I second Corinthia. Went a couple of months back. Never seen anything like the 'sleep pods' before!

Hear hear. Just being clear about which days it will be open and sticking to it would be a good start.

Yes, small, but brilliant and heaven for my 2 and a half yr old too.

I think the not breast-feeding to sleep theory is that if they don't get themselves off to sleep at the beginning of the night they won't know how to re-settle themselves when they stir in the night. If night waking isn't a problem for you then, as Convex says, it isn't a problem!

Aaagh! Toddler woke twice in the night and then baby at 3.50, never to return to sleep... Am in pieces. Here's hoping it is the weather, because at least then it won't last!

All sounds like good advice, and obviously, we (most of us!) try all we can to stop our kids doing this to others. But I do think your friend needs a bit of a reality check. Having recently been on both sides of two biting incidents (once when my 2 yr old was bitten and once when he did the biting) i can confirm that it is 100 times worse being the parent of the perpetrator than than the victim!

Saffron, I started when the first was about 5 months old as i wanted support in getting him out of my bed. They are now two and a half yrs and seven months and I call her as and when - early waking is our problem. Andrea's approach is 'gentle sleep solutions' so she's sympathetic to those that don't want to go cold turkey...

I'd definitely recommend one to one advice. I have used www.andreagrace.co.uk for both my kids, and she has been an absolute life line.

Could it not be a wave of separation anxiety? We had a similar thing and dealt with it in the same way (ie leaving the bedroom door open) and put it down to that...

Should have been, but wasn't. Really annoying. And no sign to explain. Grrr...

Thanks for all these replies - great. Will probably try all of them at some point! In the meantime, I've just started brushing them in front of the mirror and making the eeeee ahhhhh faces myself so he can copy. Seems to be working a bit, for now, in case that's any use to anyone...

Feel this post could run and run... Hearing and sympathising with everyone, apart from the the really organised ones, who I'm just in awe of. Kittysailing - i know your secrets! Anyway, I'd just like to pick up on 'post', which Snowboarder mentioned in passing. Aaaagh! THAT is the bane of my life: bills, letters that need a response, things that come through the door and can't just be recycled. Where do people put these things? Trying to avoid the ever growing pile in the middle of the kitchen table which gets covered in food. As we are starting from scratch in a new house, I am trying to work out the ideal storage solution for such things. Any suggestions? Other 'arf a bit weird about aesthetics and probably wouldn't tolerate a pin board...

Hi all, just looking for new ideas really before he's at the dentist getting them all filled! We tend to do it when he's in the bath, I do it too so he will copy, which sometimes works, but most of the time we're lucky if the brush makes contact with the teeth at all and he isn't just sucking the toothpaste off the brush. Any suggestions??