fergju

Hi It might be a bit early but we are looking for childcare of our twin girls afterschool when school goes back in September. They go to Rosemead at West Dulwich and we live very close to Penge East station so its 5mins on the train if you don't drive. The ideal would be for someone to pop in for an hour in the afternoon before pick up and helping to get the dinner ready or picking up some shopping. Then collecting the girls from their club and staying with them until 6pm. I will most likely be 3 days a week but that can agreed for the right person. This might suit someone who has decided to take a gap year before university or similar. If you were also available over the summer and wanted to start helping out anytime from now we would def be interested. Please feel free to message me here or on 07813204442 Looking forward to hearing from you. Julie

These are all great ideas!!

all great ideas thanks

Hi My twin girls turn 7 in Dec and I am looking for some interesting ideas. Doesn't necessarily have to be indoors but I guess it needs to be cold weather appropriate. We did a colour spin and t-shirt printing party at Capture on the Rye last year which was a huge hit. They have also done the bouncy castle thing (which i think they have grown out of now anyway), drama party and swimming parties etc so trying to think of something a bit different. Thanks in advance

I pay 120 plus we bought her a phone which she tops up, 4 weeks paid holidays, use of the car during the day and evenings / weekends if we don't need it. She provides a weekly shopping list of food and toiletries she needs which I pay for. We also allow her to have friends and family stay from abroad on an adhoc basis or if we are away on holiday. She is a really lovely girl and is staying for a further year. I paid for her initial flight here. I also paid for her travel when she came on holiday with us for the weekend.

We moved to Sydenham / Penge East 18 months ago and haven't looked back. We loved our house and location in ED but just got so much more for the money. We now live on the side of Alexandra Rec on a very quite road looking into the park with a huge garden something we would never have been able to afford in ED. The area has come up really fast with more bars / restaurants etc in the pipeline. the old Alex bar should be opened by the Late Knights soon, I hear the Greyhound has been bought, and the ground floor of the Sydenham Centre is apparently turning into a microbrewery. We did look at Crofton Park but for us it felt further out of town.

Hi I was just wondering if anyone has used Trex composite decking as a lower maintenance option for outdoor decking? There seems to be few reviews available currently and those I have found are US referring to mould and durability issues which I was surprised at as they claim this product is low maintenance. Any thoughts on what to go for would be great. thanks

I hate to say that I had found i had left it too late when I started looking for nursery places for my twins when they were 3 months. Some places just said their waiting lists were closed another others gave a suggested wait time of 18months. We did eventually manage to get the girls places but at a nursery that had not been on my original list. they only stayed there until we were able to get them into one of our first choices which was after a 12 month wait. in the end they spent nearly 2 happy years at My Favourite Nursery just off Barry Road - which may not be the flashiest but the staff were very caring towards to children and the environment was always fun, safe and clean with outdoor play area, separate sleep area for babies and its own cook which were all on the top of the tick list.

Hi We were with Esure when our au pair started. She is EU and at 23 had been driving for 5 years but they still would not insure her. We ended up with admiral who gave us a very reasonable price given the engine size of the car we were surprised. thanks

oh great thanks!!!

don't worry my own doing - should have thought about it given there was a 12month wait list for nursery school why would parties be any diff lol. Have to love SE living.

great thanks all - keep them coming and going to start ring round today!

arggggggg stressed now - we can't do it at home as not will come as it is a building site and probably a health and safety nightmare!!

Hi My girls are 4 in December and i haven't started to think about their party (bit worried i have left it too late). our house is currently a building site so need a venue / some kind of entertainment / catering (lol not much then). I think anywhere E Dulwich /W Dulwich / Peckham Rye / Forest Hill / Sydenham that can fit about 15 ish children would work. Anyone with ideas I would be very grateful. Thanks

Hi i would def go for salopettes preferably with the braces and higher backs or you will end up with a lot of tears from cold children with snow everywhere and good quality mittens (rather than gloves - much easier to get on and off. I also put my kids in thermals top and bottom and goggles as it can get very cold and windy sitting on lifts etc. Do you have boys or girls? I would prob have some bits from last year that would fit your 3 year old but they are for girls.