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I agree with above from Daizie - I am actually divorced (and a mum) something pretty common in the late thirties and early forties I would have thought and I know there's a few like me around here (yes, really, in ED!) so where are the divorced men/divorced Dads! Do they all move away from East D 'cos it's too expensive???

Agree with you Daizie - no shortage of men desperate to chat you up but just not the sort of men I'm interested in...maybe you're right, ED is not the place.....just can't be bothered to go anywhere else but need to change that - just not sure where to go!

So skidmarks and dirtybox where would you go in East D? Don't worry the girls and I won't be stalking the two of you specifically, it's a genuine question.....

First off - are there any? And secondly, if you were/are a single man in East D (in your thirties/forties) where would you go for a drink? (or maybe you wouldn't go out in East D?!) Posted a similar ish thread about this ages ago and it never really went anywhere (though good fun to read) Just that there seem to be (obviously) loads of single twenty-somethings flocking to pubs around here but no-one older? Is every bloke in East D married/partnered up?

Some schools have pre-schools attached and take children from 3 years old (Southwark has a list of all primaries with nursery/pre schools attached) My little girl started at St Anthony's pre school two weeks ago - I only put her name down January I think last year (so you aren't too late!) but yes, most pre-school sessions are 2.5 hours to 3 hours so very difficult regarding childcare. I have now got a nanny (or you can get a childminder) who has her from 8, takes her to and picks her up from pre-school then looks after her until I get home. It's not an essential thing to do, I just thought that my daughter would benefit, but there's some excellent day nurseries (i.e. not pre-schools) like Gumboots that would prob give them the same experiences (think they all follow an early years foundation thing?) I just wanted her to do a bit of formal school type thing to get her used to it and she does love it but has been a nightmare sorting childcare.

Yes, have just printed off the latest Ofsted, looks like an excellent school - pretty strict too which is good for my rather wild 3 year old (though I hope not too strict!)

in SE23....know it's a bit out of East D but as I'm on Southwark/Lewisham borders, am thinking of applying there.....

Hello - I live in Nunhead but will be travelling to work in Canary Wharf in Oct - have seen some threads about parking in the cinema for free at Canada Water (or is it Surrey Quays?) then jumping on tube? Anyone know if this is right?

Hi I'm thinking the same - i.e. if my daughter doesn't get into a school that I'm happy with to try and pay for private until a state school place comes up. Any recommendations for East D area for primary? Did someone say Rosemead was good?

Hello all Feeling a bit calmer now have got her to bed and enjoyed a glass of wine but it does worry me a little that she has started to adopt some of my 'shouty' facial expressions,phrases and is generally quite a feisty little thing (but as my friends point out, so am I!) I'm not a touchy feely mum by any stretch of the imagination but I don't want her growing up thinking that shouting is normal(mind you, there would have been a lot more shouting had my ex husband stayed so I can comfort myself with this fact!) Am going to be a bit firmer tonight, but without shouting and completely losing my rag as I did last night - am paranoid my neighbour gave me a 'look' this morning, am sure they heard it all.....

Thanks everyone - don't feel as half as awful as I did this morning now! Just need to get the strength to crack this...she is such a lovely, happy girl and we do have a great relationship but on days when I'm tired I just feel so broken! Need to get firm, for her own good as well as mine.....

I'm sitting here at work feeling terribly guilty as my three year old, still an appalling sleeper, was up and down last night and I was so exhausted that after half an hour back and forth, I was really shouting at her. Of course I know this doesn't actually get either of us anywhere - I get more wound up, she gets more hysterical so it takes longer to settle her. I'm not asking for advice (I know what I have to do to improve her sleep pattern) just reassurance that other parents lose their tempers too - I should add that I'm a single parent so I've got no-one to let it out to in the middle of the night but fully realise that I shouldn't be taking it out of my three year old. Just feel like crying (prob because I'm exhausted too) when I think of her shocked little face as I shouted at her (don;t get me wrong she can be a handful but I know I'm in the wrong)

Hi Starting to look at primary schools for my 3 year old - while she is attending a Catholic pre-school I know there's a big chance she might not make it into the primary so thinking about other options too. I live v close to Ivydale so just wondered if anyone on here has kids that started last year or this year and can tell me a bit about what you think of it.... Many thanks x

I haven't had it for about a year but got one on Sat...we live in Nunhead, just off the Rye

Hi BQC My little girl and my friend's son are both starting morning sessions on Sept 17th....would be nice to meet up. When were you thinking? Or PM me if you'd prefer Cheers

open today? It was closed last week and no-one answering phone thanks

I agree with above - my little girl's nappies were always dry in the morning from about 2 and three quarters (about 4 months after potty training) so I just stopped bothering. Didn't use any special sheets (she's had one accident) but she does get up sometimes at night for a wee but gets straight back into bed (not that she sleeps through, but that's another story!) Glad of not spending on nappies anymore too!

Hi there My daughter has just turned three and I want her to start some formal swimming lessons (happy in water but still clings to me a bit), preferably at the weekend or on a Fri. Am getting very confused about how it all works at the Fusion leisure centres and have yet again missed the beginningn of a course because they never seem to have any info available. Am in Nunhead and drive so can go most places within fifteen min car journey - any advice much appreciated. Cheers

I'm looking for stories of bodge job builders for a TV show next week - pls PM me if you would like more info....

I'd like to hear from anyone who's been allocated a primary school place a fair distance from where they live in a school that's not one of their four choices. It's for an item on a morning TV show to go out at the beginning of the school term...for more info PM me. Many thanks

Hello Not sure if relevant to Southwark/Lewisham parents but I'm producing a TV item airing just before school term starts and am looking to talk to parents of children who, due to a crisis is primary school places, will be starting the new term in an emergency classroom? If you would like to know more please PM me. Many thanks

I used to worry terribly that my daughter having a dummy would impede her speech development - but she was talking by 17 months, full sentences soon after so I would do the dummy all over again if I had to...it has done her no harm at all...

bump

Will try and arrange another soon - think there's a few other takers who will hopefully be able to join us next time.

Hi there I'm doing a magazine feature and am looking to talk to an older mum (am one myself but can't really interview myself!) - i.e. someone who gave birth to their first child aged 39 or 40 about their experience. The child must now be two or under. I'm looking for someone who has perhaps had a successful career and didn't meet her partner until mid to late thirties which has meant that she has had a child later in life....to talk about the positives and negatives (or all positive if that's the case!)Don't worry, it's not for The Daily Mail and will not be a judgemental piece and I know it's been done a million times before but still think it can be an interesting topic. Any help much appreciated