Curmudgeon

So you like juice huh It gets expensive with all the fruit and veg And it is not a weight loss solution (whatever the hype says) it's just a way to drink your calories rather than eat them

The pedestrian has right of way And those lines at the top of the road mean you must stop Why don't you know this?

I am coming up to my 1 year anniversary of training with Giulio and would strongly recommend him. When I first got in touch with him I was overweight, mildly asthmatic and chronically lazy. In the last 11 months I have lost almost 4 stone, dropped from bursting out of a size 16 to a size 10, haven't needed my asthma medication in 6 months and am the fittest and strongest I have ever been in my entire life. I look and feel 20 years younger. Giulio helps and motivates me and pushes me harder than I ever thought I'd allow someone to push me. I look forward to every session, and we laugh so much whilst training, I feel invigorated when I leave. If you commit to getting fitter and stronger I can think of nobody better to help you. One word of advice though...never tell him you want to achieve something specific because he will not rest until you do...enough with the pull-ups G :)

Peggy37 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry, but if I read that Guardian link rightly, > this headteacher has less than five years > experience as a teacher? He's a banker. I guess we > know what direction schools are now heading. What an idiotic statement. As someone who works in secondary schools I can assure that someone with years of experience at a senior level in the private sector coupled with a number of years as a teacher and senior leader in secondary schools within the local area is ideally placed to become headteacher of a new secondary. I find it appalling how negative people can be, with no foundation at all. Although it's too late for my children (the eldest at Kingsdale and the youngest who will start at Sydenham Girls next year) I am delighted to see another school open to lessen the total angst that parents feel regarding secondary school place availability I wish this school, and it's new head the very best of luck and the benefit of a supportive local community who wishes to add to the opportunities offered to our young people.

I strongly believe in a real clock with numbers that's on your wall tbh

I once passed a cyclist on Upland road who had his child sitting on his shoulders

When does the building work start on the old police station...there have been no signs Are they knocking it down and rebuilding? That's going to be a couple of years minimum isn't it?

James How long do Fusion have the contract to run Southwark Leisure centres? Their mismanagement has been going on for years it seems

Looks gorgeous can't wait to go tomorrow Well done to the Picturehouse team...clearly lots of work and building work always runs over ... we have been excited and delighted to see a cinema coming to ED both for us and our burgeoning teens... I hope this new cinema is succesful

She's turning 40 not 80 LOL Get her something that won't make her want to smack you :)

Then they should park properly *shrug*

There is a big difference between selective schools who cherry pick on academic ability, family background and wealth, lack of SEN etc and State schools which accommodate all children no matter their ability and background. I know which kind of school I prefer to send my children to and I know that they will achieve as bright individuals and develop friendships with a wide range of people. You have to pick the right type of school for your children, your family and your political beliefs and then select the ones that you like and stand a chance of getting into.

I would not insist Take him swimming for fun and don't sweat it

You do realise that Charter is not the only State school. Yes it is a good school but it is also benefits from a lot of playground chatter from people who buy into the "must go to Charter" without having any direct experience or done any research at all. No one school fits all children and that includes Charter. And to be more honest some children will do extremely well wherever they are educated,and others will face challenges. Spend some time visiting and getting to know all the state schools and don't just take the word of the playground as gospel.

I assume you are quite young? A young teenager? Everybody feels like this at some stage in their lives and learning the social cues can be quite tricky sometimes There are lots of internet resources , books and help at school ...speak to your parents, your tutor, or year head about your concerns ...join clubs you're interested in http://m.wikihow.com/Make-Friends-Easily-if-You%27re-a-Teen

Yes you will automatically be on waiting list for schools you put above your offered school There's lots of movement with school places and lots of really good schools. If it helps 3 years ago we were offered Charter at the start of September but stuck with Kingsdale, which was absolutely the right decision for our child

Looks great Thoughts Are those the only toilets on site? Are they at the back and inaccessible from outside so you can monitor them? Do you have a first aid area? Or a quiet place for an upset child to sit down and recoup? What about storage? For parties the hatch from the kitchen was great but now it's behind the office so organisers can't keep an eye on things ..is that a problem?

Parenting styles - what a quagmire, there's no right way no matter how many books you read or guru philosophies you aspire to. IMO They're small children. They will never do as they're told all the time, which neither makes the concept of "do as you're told" a bad parenting guideline nor one that stifles creativity and independence As parents our role is to nurture and teach but for me, there is nothing worse for a confused hysterical small child to be hit with a wall of sound that comes with explanations. Easy to understand parameters of behaviour, consequences for negative actions, short sharp no, cuddles. One of mine responded well to time outs to calm down, another needed to be held whilst she regained equilibrium You muddle through and they don't break. If you love them and do your best it's good enough 99% of the time. You took them home when their behaviour was unacceptable - sounds like good parenting to me.

Yes the dog should have good recall to be off a lead and it's not unusual for a small child to be petrified of dogs, after all at that height they are at tooth level. He may well grow out of it naturally. If at all possible try to encourage him to stand still without eye contact. That said, as a dog owner, I think you're right, but wonder if you can avoid walking through the park as you won't change everyone so the chances are it will happen again. No you shouldn't have to but it is easier to control your own actions

I was immensely impressed by Harris Boys when I visited 3 years ago and nothing I have seen and heard since has swayed that opinion. I have friends whose children are happy and flourishing there. I think edmummy gave you valuable advice. It would be easy for your "shock and dismay" at your school allocation to be transmitted, even unknowingly, to your child and that is the worst thing a parent could do in the scary transition from primary to secondary.

Mine too and we are also delighted I think it takes a while to appoint a new head. She's only just resigned.

Troll account set up just for this thread

I was extremely attracted to Sydenham school in part due to the head who I was immensely impressed with. As a secondary data manager I saw nothing in the DFE reports over the last few years to cause any alarms to ring. I wish her well and hope the replacement headteacher continues to make Sydenham School a success. I am extremely hopeful that on Monday I will discover that my daughter will be in their next year 7 cohort. Excellent school, excellent facilities, lovely students.

I thought it was common courtesy to nod or raise a hand to thank a driver for stopping at a zebra. Vie certainly taught my children to always acknowledge that drivers have stopped

minder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks for enlightening me on this Curmudgeon > 'Nope, we don't get attendance records until > student is on roll' So you are obviously somebody > who knows about secondary school criteria but I > just thought your remark 'do it anyway' to the OP > was quite flippant. Yes I work in secondary education, have been a primary school Governor and have a KS2 and a KS3 aged child. My remark was flippant because my experience has lead me to believe / come to the conclusion that sometimes, in the face of bureaucracy and misguided educational policy, flippancy is warranted. When my eldest was in KS1 I think I felt that it was wrong to take a child out for a week, even though my children both have virtually impeccable attendance records. I have mellowed with age and direct experience. A child with good attendance and concerned and supportive parents can easily be kept up to speed / catch up with the curriculum It is my opinion, perhaps somewhat wryly expressed Others may well think otherwise.