Fidgetsmum

I'm travelling to the USA this summer and I will be somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. I'm very keen to be completely covered for all pregnancy related medical eventualities whilst I'm out there. I normally just get basic travel insurance through my bank but wondered if anyone can recommend more specialist/detailed policies they've taken out? Thanks

Fidget (now 2.5yrs) absolutely loved Sing and Sign. We started when she was about 15months (she went straight into Stage 2). In fact, she still signs sometimes in conjunction with her speech. The songs are brilliant too and we still play them in the car for a singalong. We also joined Little Bubbles when she was about 17months and again, she loved that - the mix of activities is great. And also, we've just started Diddidance too, which she is really enjoying (but she's a bit older than yours so perhaps this is one for the future). Hope that helps.

Where is Jacks?

Yes - definitely put your name down if you want to go the nursery route. I didn't and we couldn't get my daughter in anywhere so ended up with the nanny-share route (which in fact has been an enormous blessing as our nanny is absolutely brilliant). But if nursery is the way for you, then definitely get that name down asap.

Yep - basic tommy tippee are the best. Free flowing so they don't have to suck hard - much better for their tongue and mouth development. My daughter occasionally liked to hold hers upside down though - it freeflows very happily onto the carpet or sofa too.

I have to say, except for the initial communication cock up, the other police we met were absolutely fantastic. Took lots of time taking the information and making us feel safe. So if they could just work shared diaries like the rest of the world, it'd all be okay.

The call came from a bona fide source as we we double checked Southwark Intelligence offices numbers with the other police that we had been in touch with from other departments. We are not entirely stupid, but we can forgive people for thinking perhaps we are a little challenged in that arena. Gordie, I'm upset that you chose to swear at us considering how upset we obviously were before we had it confirmed that they were police officers. I have a two year old daughter and felt extremely protective of her, and it is precisely because of the elderly people in our neighbourhood that I chose to place a posting warning people of the situation. AGAIN, we apologise for causing undue alarm. May I suggest anyone who feels there is still anything suspicious (we no longer feel that way) contact Peckham police themselves or ask to speak to the Southwark Intelligence office.. or perhaps the South Camberwell Safer Neighbourhoods team? Not sure there is much more we can say to put anyone's minds at rest.

I've had one PM so far... Anyone else? Do PM me if you'd rather...

Can anyone give me a sort of reference for Half Moon? Please don't respond with the pros and cons of the Montessori method (I have SSSOOOOO heard LOTS of goods and bads) but I'd just like to hear from some parents whose children have attended there... were they happy? what did you think of the teachers? Thanks very much indeed.

Hi Tricia Hope you're ok and hope the gentleman concerned gets better soon.

Goodness me. I am SO embarrassed. Such a shame they couldn't have let us know within 24 hours but then, you know, I'll be just as suspicious if this happens again. And we are so on the ball now with our security. SO much more than we were before that it can only be a good thing. I'm really sorry for worrying everyone. Thanks for being nice about it.

Call the police. It doesn't matter if it's a false alarm. They'd rather have us all safe I think.

From now on, I won't let anyone in my house without telephoning their employer/base office first. Their ID was completely convincing (badge, photocard, black leather wallet, MET logo etc... But obviously, I didn't know what a proper one looked like to compare it to. Now I do though, having seen the real policemen's badges. The traps in my house now resemble that 'Home Alone' film. Fortunately, Macauley Culkin is not present.

Bawdy-nan, we were also told to check that nothing was missing. Whilst the first guy keeps you talking, the second carefully removes some of your belongings - any keys, any post that might have been lying around (particularly bank statements etc) as well as the obvious family silver. They won't want much if they're having to deal with you at the time, but anything can help them.

The real badge is very detailed and flatter than the one we were shown by the pretend bobbies. I think the only way to know for sure is to see a real one. Not sure how we'd all go about that though.

Thanks everyone for your friendly comments *faith in human nature slowly restoring*. Bawdy-nan, if you didn't report it to the Police, then please do. They said the more information they have on them, and the more witnesses they have, the more likely they are to identify them when they do do something worse than just checking out people's houses. An update, I had a gruff sounding man come to the door at 6.30 this evening who said he was a window-cleaner who cleans for our neighbours, asking if I was interested. I shouted no thanks through the door and he was already going down the steps (I was on the phone and loudly said I wouldn't put the phone down or open the door). No mailer or contact card or anything. I spoke to my neighbours and this man hadn't called at any of their houses. So suspicions high again. I didn't see his face at all sadly. But more glad I didn't open the door. SCSB79 - I'm in the ED end of the Bellenden Road area.

Hi On Friday morning at about 9am, two police officers (in dress down) asked to see our back garden to get a sense of the lay of the land as we have a triangle of gardens behind us. They said this was because there had been an increase in burglaries in the ED area and they wanted to get a sense of how the gardens interconnected (escape routes etc). We checked their badges etc and then let them in. The long and the short of all this is that they weren't police officers at all. We checked with Peckham, East Dulwich (and they made further enquiries with other stations on our behalf) and they had no one doing door to door for that reason (and would send uniformed police officers if they did). And in all honesty, I knew immediately after they left that it just wasn't right. They were VERY convincing. I'm not easily fooled but we completely fell for it. So now, we're waiting to get burgled, or whatever it was they wanted. NOT a nice feeling. The first one that does all the talking is probably 5'10''- 6', dark blond / mousey short hair with receeding hairline but 28 - 35 yrs old at a guess. The second one was shorter in height although broader in stature. Dark short hair with a side parting and had a Spanish (or something like that) accent. Very round face... almost circular. He was a lot less convincing when I asked him a question, but by that time, they were both already in the house, and I wasn't going to make a scene as my young daughter was here too. They are VERY smooth, slick and say all the right things. Two REAL policemen came and spent time with us this morning so we've told them everything and given them VERY detailed descriptions. I've no doubt we'll recognise them if we ever saw them again. And the Police gave us some excellent advice. Anyway, I'm sure NO-ONE else here would be silly enough to let them in, but seriously, they were very good conmen. p.s. our house now resembles Fort Knox and finally I have a good reason to persuade my husband that we should get a dog. Got to look on the bright side.

Oooo diddidance sounds good. I'll look that up. Thanks!!

BT all the way. It's excellent and you can turn it right down if you don't want to be freaked out by each snuffle or lack thereof. And then the loudest is excellent if you're going out in the garden or something. Or, of course, don't have one at all. I was nearly brave enough, but not quite!

Hi I'm sure there's a thread on this somewhere but I can't find it. I'm looking for an activity class for my 21month daughter and I to do next term. We've done Sing and Sign (which she adored) and we'll still be doing that, and last two terms we did Little Bubbles which was excellent. But I wondered if anyone else thought any other classes were really good...perhaps we need a change? Thanks oh, and please tell me what to search on if you can't be doing with typing it all in again!!! I don't mind!

Taxing Nannies are excellent - very efficient and able to cope with a rather complicated nannyshare!

Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement and help. Sadly, having walked the length of Woodwarde Road for the 6th (I kid you not) time this morning, and my daughter stepping in her first ever dog poo (oh, the milestones of youth), there's still no sign of Charlie. I put a sign up in the library though so hopefully, some kind soul will get in touch if they have him. If not, then we'll have to purchase a 'Charlie that's just had a big bath and is all clean and fluffy now' and hope that does the trick. Won't fix my husband's and my sadness though. Perhaps we're more upset than her.

I know it's Peckham, but still... When I shopped in Adams childrenswear a couple of weeks ago, on paying I was told there was a problem with their machine. They showed me a 'void' ticket, and then put the payment through again, which then worked. Just checked my statement. There was nothing wrong with their till. They took my money twice. SOOOOO annoying. No idea if it was an innocent mistake, but my gut instinct says it wasn't. Be warned. (and no smarmy comments about shopping on Rye Lane please - I really like it)!

Do they have any highchairs? By the sounds of how good they are, I'd be happy to bring my own highchair! Not mine, my daughters. Obviously.

OOOOOh is the pool still open at East Dulwich (the one on Goose Green)? I can NEVER get through on the phone to find out, and their steps aren't friendly to a laaaady with a baaaaby so haven't been able to go in and ask, but am desperate to start swimming (whilst aforementioned baby is being babysat!).