Kath Berry

Hi! This is a thread I feel really passionate about... We were with the Kings East Homebirth team and I had a fabulous midwife the whole way through my pregnancy. Like dtoh, I was also concerned about 'midwife lotto' not knowing who we would get, so we organised a close friend to come along as a support person (non-medical, just to help out, make tea, support my husband etc). This was really useful, as it minimised the 'not knowing' aspect about who would be involved. As luck would have it, my midwife was on call when I went in to labour and she was with us at home. I had a super quick labour (six hours) and she decided I needed to be transeferred to Kings, and bubba came an hour later - my midwife stayed to deliver him. We were discharge shortly afterwards - so only in hospital for a few hours! While my hospital experience was very positive - the comfort of being at home for the labour was terrific. Definately recommend it. Happy to talk privately too. PM me. NOTE: being at home can be a little distracting too... my husband nipped off for ten minutes to make and consume a pizza (I was about 8 cm dilated at the time) (!!) Another friend said she caught hers watching tele. Hmmmm KWB

Hi Winter BC Mums! Sorry to butt-in on your thread... I have a 5 month old 'Spring baby' and am organising a social gathering where we swap and sell our baby stuff... A friend recommended I post here as alot of the stuff will be for the 0 - 6 month age group. It's at the Crooked Well on Tuesday 6th November from 10.30am. You'll find all of the info here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,973794,973794#msg-973794 Or PM me if you have any Qs. We've never done this before so I don't know how it is going to go... there will be coffee and crumpets available so please come and socialise - even if you're not up for the 'swap and sell market' idea. Okay - now back to the workshop and flu jabs discussion... Best Kath

Hi Autumn BC Mums! I have a 5 month old 'Spring baby' and am organising a social gathering where we swap and sell our baby stuff... A friend recommended I post here as alot of the stuff will be about the 0 - 6 month age group. You're welcome to come and sell stuff too (?2 seller's fee), it's at the Crooked Well on Tuesday 6th November from 10.30am. You'll find all of the info here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,973794,973794#msg-973794 Or PM me if you have any Qs. We've never done this before so I don't know how it is going to go... there will be coffee and crumpets available so please come and socialise - even if you're not up for the 'swap and sell market' idea. Best Kath

Yeah - did you scroll down to see the baby stuck in a cheerios box!? very cute!!!

Hello, Check out this link for some seriously cute costume ideas: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=baby+halloween&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=WHR0UPSyL4yAhQfWlIHIBw&biw=1152&bih=551&sei=W3R0UKSCC9CT0QW9voGoAg#um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=baby+halloween+costumes&oq=baby+halloween+costumes&gs_l=img.1.0.0l8j0i5l2.77.77.1.1967.1.1.0.0.0.0.114.114.0j1.1.0...0.0...1c.bB_29P9eGGY&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=dbbb159d35099aca&biw=1152&bih=551 I should note though, that don't go to a huge expense or stress to dress up your bub as it's just for fun. The theme is 'fun, fairytale or fearful' to extend the range of costume options... If we get a large group, we'll move to the upstairs area which is currently being refurbished (looks like it's going to be a fabulous space once complete). Thanks for your PMs and emails, I'm excited! Kath

Hi, The Crooked Well is in Camberwell, on Grove Lane. They host mums and bubs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10.30am, so on the 31st there will be the usual coffee, pastries and crumpets with the added delight of bubs in fancy dress (not mums- unless you fancy it).. Should be fun! Just show up, hope to see you there! KWB

Great!! Let's spread the word : )

I have spoken to Jen, the Manager of the Crooked Well and they're happy to host it as they now open on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am... Thought it would be fun to dress up the bubs and tots. What do others think?

Who's up for a HALLOWEEN PARTY!?

Hello! I am so thrilled to share this with you. It's a link to an educational iPad/iPhone app for kids aged between 2 - 4 years old. Featuring all Australian animals, it is totally unique, colourful and fun. It is the result of several years hard work by my dear friend Danielle Hickie who has personally designed all of the animals and scenery, as well as developed the technical coding behind the app. So celever- especially with a baby! If keeping your kids quiet for some time interests you, please download it from the app. store (it's FREE!), review and share with friends. http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/clever-possums/id540930089?mt=8 Enjoy!!! KWB

Has anyone else noticed how these have recently popped up out the front of several venues? Walking down the high street is like an obstacle course... KWB

Hi, thanks - had a look at the site, looks great, but it doesn't say what time and where in the park to meet? Also, is it just drop in - or do you have to sign up for a course? And how much? Looking forward to stretching my legs! Cheers KwB EDITED: Just found this on another website: Peckham Rye Mondays 12.30 Meet @ Cafe next to car park. Dulwich Park Thursdays 10am Meet @ Court Lane Gate, just down from Dulwich Library.

Howdy mums (and dads) I've been trawling through the forums to find out more about "power pramming" - when and where is it? I am keen to lose my baby-shaped muffin top ; ) KWB

Hi, just letting you know there is one place left, please PM me if you can make it? Cheers Kath

Just found this too. Thanks KWB Planning Permission for a Greenhouse? When it comes to planning permission for greenhouses, they are covered by the same rules governing outbuildings and ancillary garden buildings. Under new regulations that came into effect on 1 October 2008 outbuildings are considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions: The greenhouse should not be built forward of the front elevation of the house. The greenhouse should be single storey, with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m and maximum overall height of 4m with a dual pitched roof, or 3m for a lean-to. The greenhouse should have a maximum height of 2.5m if it?s within 2m of a boundary of the curtilage (area accompanying the property) of the house. This still allows for a greenhouse such as the Gabriel Ash 6x8 or 8x10 to be built right up to the boundary. The greenhouse should not cover more than half the area of land around the "original house" ? this is the house as it stood in July 1948 (or when it was built if that is the latter date). It is worth bearing in mind that although you may not have extended, a previous owner may have. In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by a greenhouse (more than 20m from house) is limited to 10m2 If your greenhouse is going on the side of the house within the above areas (AONB, National Park etc) Planning permission will be required. Within the curtilage of listed buildings any outbuilding will require planning permission.

We're planning a trip to Aus too, and I was advised to buy lots of little cheap toys from Poundland - things you can chuck away at the end of the flight rather than having to carry. Bring them out one at a time - for novelty value. I LOVE emza78's cellotape suggestion - brilliant!

Hello, We have just bought a second-hand greenhouse 10' x 10' do we need planning permission from Southwark Council to put it up in the garden? I have tried looking through their website and it's not very helpful. Your knowledge/ experience is much appreciated. KWB

Hi, I've recently been asked to pilot test a new bottle which is coming on the market. They've asked for another 4-5 local mums to be involved. The meeting is on Wednesday 18th July at 11:00am at Green and Blue on Lordship Lane (for approx an hour). Please RSVP if you can come as places are limited. Here is what they say... "" 'Anywayup' is better than a bottle. It works differently to all other bottles and emulates the breast. So, it is a tool to support breast feeding, as well as providing a better alternative than conventional bottle feeding. It has advanced anti colic technology and removes micro bubbles that are held within the milk. It allows the baby to feed at their own rate and avoids the swamping and guzzling that often occurs with other vented (anti colic) bottles. It has passed all lab tests etc and is safe to use. We are asking mums to use the bottle for as many feeds as suits you, over one week. Even one feed a day would be fine. We have a short, one-page questionnaire but we would also like to follow up by getting together for a chat. This is early stage testing, so any feed-back from mums is incredibly helpful"". They only want 4 - 5 people at this stage, so please reply to let me know if you're interested and I'll add you to the list (two places left). NB. There is no payment to participate, but you do get to keep the bottle : ) Cheers Kath PM me if you have and Qs - though I don't really know much more- I'm not involved in the company- just a mum with a fussy 9 week old!

Hey - if you can't make it today, I just found this YouTube video which gives you an idea of what it's all about >>>

Hi, Just a reminder that the open day is tomorrow (Saturday 7th), apologies I didn't mention entry fee- (I was invited as a guest) but I believe seniors and students are ?5 and children are free. The entry fee is tied up with being part of the National Trust, talk to Steve about it, he's very approachable and warm... On a personal note, my mosaicing is going really well. There are some fabulous tutorials on YouTube and I am greatful to the Mind Charity shop at Goose Green, and the small St Christopher's Charity shop opposite co-op for their contributions. If you're seeking materials too, the tile shop in Forest Hill (LHS before you get to the Horniman) has a crate outside of broken tiles where you can help yourself... Donations welcome! (especially glass beads from necklaces and bracelets- the colours are wonderful!). Cheers Kwb

Great idea! Anyone want to swap? I've got 6 unused tipped bottles for newborns... We bought a box not realising there were so many available on the market and sort of assuming bottles were all the same and that babies just took to them - until today I didn't even realise there was a collective noun for bubs like mine ("bottle refusers")... Please PM me if you can help out, Cheers Kwb

Hi thanks for this, and PMs. Fuschia - the new bottle is called 'anywayup' - I don't know much about it other than it is due to replicate breast milk flow and reduce the intake of air (prevent colic). The Nuk and Dr Brown and Playtex have all been recommended. I guess I'll just start using them one by one and seeing where I end up... 'hellosailor' sent me through some really great suggestions so I'll try there... Cheers Kath

Hi Kittysailing, I serendipitously came across the Camberwell Grove program a few days ago on catch-up TV, it was awesome! Congrats to you and your production team - a really well told story, good combination of history and anthropolgy with a bit of social justice thrown in for good measure! I really enjoyed how you contextualised the conservation of Camberwell Grove within the Greater London trends (to pull down Georgian/Edwardian and Victorian terraces). I also had no idea South London came so close to having a fly-over/ expressway! Really great show. Thanks! KWB

Hello mums (and very switched on dads) I am having trouble getting our 9 week old to take to expressed milk from a bottle. We've tried two different brands (tippee and avent) with no luck. I have read advice on other forums such as trying different temperatures, making sure he is not too hungry ("a satisfied baby will try a bottle because he is curious - a starving baby won't")... and also making sure only dad feeds him with the bottle ("a baby won't take a bottle if he can smell mum near by")... with no luck, and quite frankly I am getting tired of wasting so much breast milk trying! (my husband tips it down the sink with a little too much ease - to me it is liquid gold)!! I've been doing internet research and have been asked to pilot-test a new bottle which is coming on the market, so I thought to see if anyone else might be interested too? The meeting is on Wednesday 18th July at 11:00am at Green and Blue on Lordship Lane in East Dulwich (for approx an hour). They want 4 - 5 mums, so please PM me if you're interested and I'll add you to the list. There is no payment to participate, but you do get to keep the bottle : ) In the mean time, your advice and suggestions are welcome... (I would like to be able to breast feed and have dad - or others bottle feed too). Cheers Kath

Hi, thanks for your lovely replies and PMs. I've just found another YouTube clip which briefly shows how to use the tile nipper effectively... Wish I'd seen this before- would have saved me a few plasters!!! Just found another goodie- adding it to this post : Kwb