ARF

My children are at Goodrich (the oldest in Year 4) and we have been really happy with the school. It is one of the larger schools in the area but it really doesn't feel like that when you're in the school. It's a friendly school with a great community and I think the size also brings lots of opportunities - and sets them up well for moving on to secondary (not that that will be on your mind yet!) I do agree with the other comments though - there are loads of good schools in the area so I don't think there are any bad options.

Thanks for responses. For future reference for anyone who comes across this thread, the visitor car park at the hospital was pretty much empty at 7.10am so we had no trouble parking.

I have to be at Lewisham hospital at 7.30am tomorrow and likely to be there most of the day with my daughter (age 6) who is having an operation. The nurse on the unit said that there is parking available and that it would be ?6 for the day as she is having a procedure. However, I can?t see any information on parking on the hospital website, other than to suggest it is very limited and costs ?2 for the first hour and ?1 for every 30 mins thereafter. Has anyone been there recently?

He's on a bin near the junction of Goodrich and Friern Road

Has anyone had Karndean flooring laid and if so who did you use and would you recommend them?

I have two children at Gumboots and am really happy with it. The garden especially is a fantastic facility and has lots of equipment. There have been a few temporary staff recently after some departures but there have been several new appointees and things seem to be settling down again. The baby room has a really nice atmosphere - several of the staff have been there for years and it's very caring. I'm pretty sure Gumboots don't do half days.

I logged on specifically to see if there was a thread on this and I am really pleased to hear that your dog was ok. I can quite imagine that your au pair was terrified. I was with a friend and saw some of the attack. It was awful and seemed to last for ages. We had three small children with us so didn't linger and several other people were there and trying to intervene. I can't believe the owner of the other dog didn't give her details to follow up with. I really hope you can track her down.

I second the recommendation to go along to one of the sessions at the velodrome. We too had a balance bike for our daughter which she was never that interested in and always preferred her scooter. She had probably been on it literally a handful of times before we gave her a bike for her fourth birthday. We went for a Frog bike from Balfes - cheaper then Isla bikes but still fairly lightweight and manouverable. We didn't get stabilisers. We took her out on it once ourselves - more or less just holding her on it the whole time - and then I took her along to a velodrome striderbike session on it. I was really after tips on how to help her but by the end of that session she was able to ride on her own. Starting, braking and steering took a bit longer to master but once she had got the hang of balancing and pedalling we could just take her out to practice. I was surprised how quickly she got the idea. I think the minimal time she spent on her balance bike must have still helped. And she probably took on board the advice from the staff at the velodrome more readily than from us...

The post office on Forest Hill Road do passport photos and have taken good ones of my children - one was 6 weeks and the other ten months.

We read I'm a Big Sister by Joanna Cole with our daughter, who was 2 years 4 months when her sister was born. I liked it as it plants the idea that a new baby needs attention and that the older sibling can help, but also that there are fun things that the sibling can do which a new baby can't. All very simply of course!

I had a recommendation for The Gardens dental practice but haven't got any further myself so can't speak from experience.

The sibling column is zero where all applicants were offered a place for that school so it's likely that it's just because it was immaterial to allocating places.

Penguinpost, what height are you left with in the first floor rooms after lowering the ceilings and what impact has it had on the feel of those rooms? And what height have you achieved in the loft rooms? We too have a low pitch to our roof and had four companies round who all had different views on what we could do and what was best.

Does anyone have any recommendations for an orthodontist for teeth straightening for adults (or ones to avoid)? I posted on the main forum a while back but didn't have any responses so am hoping that the Family Roomers may be able to help.

The Horniman Museum Christmas Fair is on today and tomorrow.

I've got one of the Brabantia Wallfix lines which are a great option if you've got a suitable wall to attach it to as they just fold away against the wall. They don't spin round in the wind but otherwise are the same as the rotary ones. As Belle said, if you're going for one in the lawn they work best if you get one of the metal holders you fix into the grass that you can then just slot the drier into.

Hello ladies I am the group admin for a Spring Babies whats app group we have set up. Mostly second time mums as it was originally set up through the second time round thread but some first timers and third timers too and all welcome to join. If you would like to be added please PM me your mobile no.

Congrats to all the new arrivals and thinking of all of you still waiting. The Whatsapp group is up and running with eight of us in it at the moment. I think I've added everyone who's been in touch so far. If others would like to join just PM me your mobile no and I'll add you. Alexia

Hi girls I'm planning to try out the under ones screening of Far From The Madding Crowd at the East Dulwich Picturehouse tomorrow at 11am if anyone else fancies it? Also, a few of us thought it might be good to set up a virtual group to keep in touch and make it easier to organise meet-ups - we thought Whats App might work best. If people agree then I'm happy to organise. Alexia

Exciting to hear about the other new arrivals but sorry to hear of your chicken pox woes Sally - what timing. I'm up for meeting on Weds - look forward to seeing whoever can make it. Alexia

All in one Fridays are at the East Dulwich Community Centre on Darrell Road. It's drop in and runs from 10-12 but can get busy so best to arrive at 10 or shortly after to guarantee getting in. People start drifting off from 11.30 usually. It's soft play, craft and music - and works well with two as it's all in one room and self-contained so you can keep an eye on the toddler if you need to feed the baby. We can't make tomorrow but I'd be up for meeting next week. Free Friday but also Weds and Thurs (without toddler) if anyone else is? Hope things get moving soon for you Harriet and Jo... Alexia

It would be lovely to see everyone and I'm planning to come along tomorrow. I'll have both toddler and newborn with me so like DandySandy I'll aim for as close to 2.30 as I can but might be a bit late. Congrats to those who have had their babies and fingers crossed for speedy deliveries for everyone else! Alexia