canela

there are so many! depends on whether you want wild or facilities. if you want the latter, then wowo is great.

we got a bell tent....only one pole so super easy. In fact, I've gone off with the kids on my own for a few nights and managed to put up and down single handed. you can get extra bits for partitions etc, and you can definitely stand up in them. we love ours and have gone away for over 2 weeks in it. they are tents you actually like being in so if it rains it doesn't matter so much. you can get them online at the bell tent company.

kew gardens. lots of space to run around in and a great climbing frame.

agree with above. both are great schools. go along to summer fairs if you want to get a feel. otherwise i'd go for where any friends/ neighbours are going.

both mine had it under 3 and didn't suffer that much. bur other friends' kids did. i had it at a child - via a cp party! - and had shingles in later life too. my friend had it in adulthood but not that bad. it all seems quite individual.

I am in awe of you ladies!!! I think I am fairly organised bar the house. Have adopted the philosophy of fluid "inboxes" that was in the Guardian a few weeks back, i.e. an untidy top kitchen drawer is actually an inbox of things coming and going, ditto a laundry basket full of clothes waiting to be folded and put away. Can't afford cleaner, too knackered to do FLY lady (who incidentally sent a friend of mine a bit mad for a few months), plus OH is a messy git and there is no way I am cleaning up after everyone all the time. So "inboxes" it is for us....

The most useful (in fact the only useful) thing that I got from my antenatal classes (in Spain - not dissing the ones here) was that the midwife said clearly: - some women have a more difficult birth than others for a whole load of reasons - and it might be you - examine your attitude to pain during birth. Pain is usually the body's signal for when something goes wrong. Pain in labour is not anything going wrong so come up with another name for it. That just struck me straight to the heart and kept me strong. I suppose it's, "Am I allowed to go beyond the normal ways we talk and think about birth?" Wish I was there!

I would also like details of the Wed night Barry Road class please

Does anyone know any drama classes for primary school age that happen during the week? most seem to be saturdays as far as I can tell.

Not to Forest Row so much but we tend to spend the summers visiting friends in villages in the area or camping. Looks a bit pricey though!

yes, diversity etc is an issue for us as we are a mixed family. we've lived in brighton before and have family ties to brighton and the whole of sussex so do feel very at home there. but really keen to find a more arty, alternative kind of place where i think we would fit in better. kind of trying to find brighton but a bit quieter.....if that is possible? it's a hard decision to make. i was v against our initial move to london but now we are here i can see how much it has going for it for the kids etc. yet i just know that whenever i move out of london i feel so much happier! and the kids were born in the countryside and are keen to get back. they are still small. i feel that if we don't go soon we never will. which would be fine too - i love east dulwich - but something in me wants to see if we can make it work.

Thanks! The plan is to not have to commute on a regular basis. I've done that before from Brighton and whilst ok I don't want to combine with kids. However, the reason we moved to London was it was so difficult to get work down there! But I've so many friends who have managed to make it work that I am hopeful. I am drawn to Lewes or the surrounding area as it has a great vibe. But, yes, pricey for the region. thanks for all the ideas - and more welcome!

Thanks everyone. Yes, schools and possible commuting an issue! Anyone got experience of further inland, like near Haywards Heath or Forest Row?

Crystal Palace Farm is good too. Perhaps a walk in the woods so younger one can run around?

Hello, as our vague plans are to move to Sussex I wonder if any family roomers have any experience of life in that area? We're not thinking Brighton as already done that and getting quite pricey, and not really thinking along the coast. We're thinking in-land, small town or large village. Good community feel would be nice. We love Sussex, but outside of Brighton don't have a whole lot of knowledge so just some pointers would be great!

how about telephone-internet deals?

again, canary islands!

Only do this if you can handle minimum 6 months of chaos. If you are the kind of family or have the kind of kids that need things to be ordered and calm this is not for you. If you - or at least one person in the family - thrives on chaos and loves the creative side, then this is for you! We have done this. I have gone out to work and left DH spinning all the plates. By the time I get home, all is finished for the day and he hoovered every night. Kids loved the chaos.

Is DKH open on Thursday?

Can anyone recommend any woods that are not that far away - apart from Sydenham Hill? Love those woods but looking for a change...

he needs to also raise concerns with doctor or health visitor. for possible safety of child as well as possible support for mother and for his own safety and legal case.

any ideas for healthy-ish cakes and biscuits?

Hello ladies I've benefited from many a word of wisdom from the family room over the years. I know there are some really inspiring women out there who I hope might be interested in using their experience to inspire the next generation. I've just started a new job at an education charity (Education and Employers Taskforce) that is setting up the Inspiring Women campaign, which aims to support girls and young women to broaden their employment horizons and raise their aspirations. Basically, research shows that 55% of young girls feel they don't see enough positive femle role models. And research also shows that girls respond best from other women, so the Inspiring Women campaign sets out to give girls across the country the opportunity to hear first-hand from women about their experiences of working life. Our ambition is to see 15,000 women from a wide range of occupations going into state schools, over the next year, talking to 250,000 young women about their job. It doesn't matter if you are full or part-time, self-employed, on a career break, a SAHM or recently retired. What matters is sharing your experience of the working world, and the choices you took to take you where you are today. All you need to sign up for is a minimum of one hour to go and talk to school children in a school near your home or place of work. If you are interested please go to www.inspiringthefuture.org and sign up! If you work in a large company that has a women's network or a diversity HR officer or similar, and you think they might be interested in getting involved - please PM me. This is a great campaign and I hope you'll feel inspired to get involved. Please do pass on to friend, family and colleagues. If you have any questions at all, please PM me and I'll get back to you. Thank you!

they do physical sunscreens at neil's yard.

I would be interested in that person's contact details. sounds perfect for my son too.