mooncake

hi, you can find all of Eos's dance classes plotted on a map here: https://www.happity.co.uk/companies/15 And all classes for a 3 year old in the East Dulwich area on a Saturday here: https://www.happity.co.uk/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&location=SE22&age=3-4+Years&weekday=Saturday&commit=Go%21 (You can also set your own location to see what's closest to your home, and filter for drop ins - unfortunately no drop in ballet, though you can see on the site that there are a few Mini Drama classes around that might be fun for your child). I built this website myself and it's rather new, so I would really (REALLY!) appreciate feedback on it and how to make it better! Thanks. :)

Hello Mums & Dads, A while back, I posted on the ED forum looking for advice on how to set up a website - I knew next to nothing about tech or the internet. (Original post here - see how confused I was: https://bitly.com/) That was two years ago!! Since then, I had a baby, went to coding school, and built a thing from scratch. With a server, bespoke database and everything! The aim of the site is to help parents find something to do with their babies as fast as possible. The main features include:- * browse results by map * see timetable by venue * view a provider's timetables and see a map of their closest locations to you * filters tailored specifically for babies & toddlers * embedded newsfeed from each provider On it's way: * free text search for venue / class provider * whatever else you can think of to make it better than Hoop. I've just published the beta version online and would really really appreciate some help with testing it out and with any suggested listings / edits to make it more accurate and complete. Here is the link: https://www.happity.co.uk I now work with a small merry band of 'stay at home' mums (and a dad) with the ambition of proving there is an alternative to the 9 to 5 (plus the hour commute each way and a nursery dash). Just because we want to work flexibly, shouldn't mean we can't do meaningful work. Not in the 21st Century. I really hope there are some other mums out there who will see this and know that if they are interested in coding, they can learn and they can do it - it is never too late to learn, and it's so important to increase diversity in this field. (Plus, it's the best thing ever!) Drop me a line if you like, I'd be happy to hear from you. Thanks. :) [email protected]

Congratulations Ruth! I'm only 2 weeks away from due date now. Feel like I am stuck in an endless vortex of laundry, getting all the old baby stuff ready!

Hey folks, sorry I've not been on here for a while! I could do Mon 30th if I've not popped yet. Saw Annabel last Mon at Muddy Boots group on Devonshire road, which was ace. Might be a nice thing to do? Starts at 10am until nearly 12. Alternatively, could do Horniman museum / playground for having a backup indoors option and somewhere to grab lunch if you fancy it too? X

Or maybe Spanish?!

I guess the trouble is that what I really really *want* to eat are the rare meats, cured meats, unpasteurised cheeses and ceviche!! Which is why I find it upsetting being faced with a menu of lots of tasty things and then having to substitute for other things or ask for it to be cooked well done. Experiencing it not so much as a nice evening out treat, more a form of torture!! Thanks for the good suggestions there nevertheless. I've been to Ledbury a few times before and Trinity is also very nice. Thinking maybe we'll look for some Asian fusiony sort of place where pretty much everything can be eaten as it's meant to be!

Yes I actually thought of duck and waffle first as there's lots of variety of actually cooked things on the menu. would have been perfect, but it's fully booked up weeks in advance. It's harder than you think... Menus at fancy pants restaurants are dominated by things you're not meant to eat when pregnant - I end up with grilled fish but I don't actually like it much!

And pate, and undercooked egg / meat (no steak tartare for me!)

Hi all, I've got a very rare date night planned with husband before baby 2 arrives, but we don't really know where to go! I'd quite like something a bit upmarket and special - but the problem with this is that the menus are typically not very well suited to pregnancy and choice is incredibly limited. Have you got any suggestions on where to try?? Daughter is being looked after overnight so no qualms with travelling across London for dinner. Thanks in advance!

I'm headung to the cafe now, so hopefully yes!

Ooh yes. Forecast at mo for Mon is a bit touch and go. I'll pop an event on the Facebook page and maybe if anyone wants to share contact details that would help? Especially if it's the park. I'm coming up from forest hill so bound to be late!

Try calling HMRC helpline on eligibility. As far as I know though, you are free to work as a freelancer without ending mat leave with the qualifying co!

I've done quite a few cooking courses and the best one that's stood me in good stead is actually a knife skills one that was run by Japanese Knife Co. We did it as a group so it wasn't so ridiculously expensive, but I always highly recommend doing a course like this anywhere as it speeds up the process of cooking massively and gives you a lot of confidence in food prep!

We had same dilemma as I wasn't really keen on karndean/amtico given their cost and kitchen living area was too large to use tile. Ended up with quickstep engineered wood everywhere downstairs except WC and utility room, which are tiled. I figured washing machine is the most likely source of a leak. We love it but am still feeling precious about trying not to scratch it! It's a lovely matt texture with lots of variation so I'm hoping it will wear well and can eventually can still be sanded when it all gets out of hand.. We have a 3 year old who seems to relish pushing chairs across the whole room. I have a friend who used a shiny lacquered even coloured wood and the scratches really show, so it depends on your taste as well. Ours is this one here: http://www.quick-step.co.uk/hardwood/castello/CAS1354_havana-smoked-oak-matt-planks We have about 5-6m2 left as well which I've been meaning to put up for sale. I've heard quickstep is pretty much the best laminate you can get and that was one of reasons for going for their wood since it uses the same locking system, is quick to lay and fits tightly together. The disadvantage with laminate is that you can't repair when it gets damaged whereas at least you can try with wood. Either of them will get damaged if you have a leak. Ps - An oiled finish is actually best for ease of repair if you can be bothered with the regular maintenance, but I know we'd never keep it up...

I think it might be because I hadn't added a cover photo. I've stuck one on now. Hope people can find it?!

Yes please. I've made the group public now so hope that helps!

If anyone else wants to join the group, drop me a PM... But it should be appearing in Facebook now so if others could search and let me know if it shows up that would be helpful!! Thanks!

Hmm.. Having a little trouble with starting the group up properly as I need members to add! If you can PM your email ad I'll see if I can add you?

I can do Mondays. It might be easier to start a Facebook group actually... I've just created one called ED Spring Babies 2015. Look it up and join! :)

My eldest is 3. Happy to do a meetup with second time mums & toddler in tow. Maybe a park / playground / Horniman or somewhere so that they can let off steam whilst we natter?!

Count me in. :)

Thanks. I really want to meet mums in forest hill too! Tried posting on Facebook se23 mums group but didn't attract any response. :(

Oh god no... That's awful and completely inappropriate! Why would they assume everyone has watched it?! I was shocked enough that a) our ex-nursery sang let it go as one of their christmas songs in their annual nativity and b) that the current nursery have been playing the soundtrack. We indulged for the birthday party but otherwise watching the film is held back for occasional viewing (though I do let her listen to the songs - especially if she'll listen to the japanese versions!). Also one of the best things I liked about our new nursery is that they don't actually have computers at all and definitely no TV!!

Also try boots kitchen appliances!! you can get quidco cashback as well as boots points - and their installation charges are reasonable if you need them to fit. we also got free tickets to ideal home show and grand designs where you cab get some great deals and see demos of things actually being cooked. usually the kitchen supplier will take model numbers of your appliances to get the right measurements.

I believe Howdens and Wickes do free home visits and measure up for you... but you might then need to be a little sneaky to grab their measurements for use at other stores!! Otherwise there's a paid for service at John Lewis where I think you can keep the plans whether or not you go ahead (online it says it costs ?50). The kitchen designer we ended up with must have spent at least 14 hours in total actually with us present, carefully designing all of the details - and that was even though we already had a strong idea of the layout and appliances we wanted. That meant that by the end of it, we were essentially already committed as couldn't bear to go through the whole process again with anyone else!! In hindsight that made it difficult to negotiate on prices - particularly as we had to get the kitchen ordered in time for moving house / tied in with the building work.