EmilyE

You could try oak tree on tell grove as well. They're just about to start having babies (under 2s) so probably have some spaces.

North-ish Ruskin Park, Myatts Fields, Kennington Park. (185 bus) Also Telegraph hill Park, Hilly Fields (Brockley), think there is a bus, but can't remember which one. or 12 all the way to St James Park and watch the changing of the guard too! Or head to Sydenham woods/park opposite the horniman.

Yes, I'd be interested in that question too! My son is a very similar age. I tend to mutter something like 'oh yes it has got bigger' and move on. But his older sister is much more impressed by the whole business - 'wow, that's really good'. I'm clear that I don't want to disapprove, but equally don't want encourage exactly.

Definitely the truth but adapted to her age and the questions she asks. By which I mean you can say the seed meets the egg without too much further explanation and that kind of thing. We've enjoyed 'Mummy laid an egg' in this house. In general let her questions guide the conversation and then you know you're answering the things she's wondering about, not putting ideas into her head.

Not very close - but Oak Tree Nursery does half days 8-1 and 1-6. It's on the corner of Melbourne Grove and Tell Grove.

Yes. Look at the mini micro website and there's a spares section. I haven't done it myself, but know someone who did - I think it was straightforward enough. Can't do it as a link (not clever enough) - but here's the web page - http://www.micro-scooters.co.uk/category/spares/ ?4.95.

I think it's about ?5/6 hour. I pay ?6 and the couple of babysitters that I use say they are (and seem) happy with that.

chemist by the roundabout at lordship lane/goose green also does them.

Vauxhall could work too.

Funnily enough, I was wondering exactly the same thing. If I do want to take children out of school for a part of the year, what is the longest that a school will/can/is obliged to keep a place open for? Are there different rules for if it's for a parent's job and they are schooled elsewhere and if it's to be out of school but not in school anywhere else? Not sure I'm making myself very clear, but hope someone might know some of the answers...!

We pay ?6-8 for babysitting when the children are in bed and asleep or virtually. (?6 for teenagers who would call with any problem ?8 for grown-ups/particularly late sits etc) In the day time I would absolutely expect them to be doing things with the child and I pay between ?8-10 depending on number of children, length of time, what they ask for and so on. I leave library card and horniman card and sometimes make suggestions about what they might do. Good luck finding someone nice.

Yes. I agree. As a pedestrian it can often be pretty hairy crossing at those crossings. I'd support a raised crossing or similar.

Thanks for those links - very useful sites.

Go with the no nap thing and put him to bed really early? I seem to remember that for a while a couple of naps a week was the right kind of balance, but if anything keeps him awake at night you are doooooomed. So just put him to bed really early. Who knows, but maybe it's worth a go.

I've said that if an adult ever does something that they're not comfortable with they should get away, and if the adult tries to stop them they can scream as loudly as they can, kick, bite, anything's fair game. We put that in the context of - of course this will never happen to you, but there are some people, very few, who want to take other people's children. Though this came up a bit older when it was who could pick them up from school - if x came, that would be ok, if y came, what would you do? I think they have a very good sense of who trusted adults are. And always, if there's any doubt, stay at school, or find me to ask if you can go with someone. In fact, I have been known to say - is a stranger dragging you away? Is the house on fire? Well, please stop screaming like that then... To the OP though, I think you'd be lucky to keep a school aged child within arms reach, but I think in sight is reasonable - and no need to do too much of the bad men thing. Just I need to see you to check you're ok. If I can't see you I worry - because a car might come, or you might fall over, or a nasty person comes along, or the big bad wolf...

You could give them to your children's school summer fair. Or if they don't have one/it's already gone St John's on Goose Green is having their summer fair on June 16th and would be very grateful for all that kind of thing. If you want to do that PM me.

LeahP Thank you so much, that made me laugh a lot.

I hadn't heard that the slow bi-lingual language acquisition was a myth. My daughter was bilingual and spoke very late. She certainly wasn't saying anything much at 21 months, but by 3 or so was entirely in line with her age. Clearly though, if you're worried there's no harm in getting someone to check it out. There are drop in sessions at loads of places. I found this on the Southwark Parent carers site: For parents and parent carers of younger children, who would like some speech and language advice, please note that a Speech and Language Therapist will be available at the following drop-ins - to find out about days and times: Tel: 020 3049 8097 or go to: www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk

It does get a bit complicated, but is perfectly workable. I think this is how it works (at least, this is how I do it) but I'm not a tax adviser. My French income is taken off at source at somewhere between 15 and 20%. When I do my tax return I do a self-assessment form showing my revenue on the 'Foreign pages' of the form which allows me to also show the tax I've already paid in France, which is then offset against the amount I would have to pay in England. I think things get more complicated if you are spending more than half your time in France and goodness knows how the Swiss Franc enters into things. But in short there is a treaty between France and England so you shouldn't be taxed twice over on the same income.

Taxis aren't london style, and most don't have car seats. Not saying you couldn't order one, but it won't be a question of just hailing one. The maclarens fit through metro gates, nothing much else does and there aren't manned wider gates at all stations either, so it can be a question of lifting it over in some places...

Fentiman Arms in Oval? They have a room upstairs that I was thinking of booking though I haven't used it yet, so can't say more than you can see on the website. I have been to the downstairs bit though, and it's been very nice.

I had one with an inflatable bottom as well, so it was fine, though I had also put a thin-ish quilt thing underneath too. The midwives brought loads of those absorbent mat things (sorry can't remember their name) - pretty much the same as you put under kids beds when they might wet them - and that protected the sofa and so on. Check the hose fits your tap well before you need to fill the pool.

I don't currently have a child at Oak Tree but have had, and hope to again. I really like it. Not for full time childcare,(they can't provide meals) but for sessions, and maybe a full day or two, it's great. They're very kind and the kids always seem happy. You do have to pay at full rates outside term times. Also you pay for the 4 weeks the nursery is closed - 2 in the summer and 2 at Christmas.

They do request at school that if you have done stuff before that the letters are identified phonetically (by the sound they make) as opposed to by name. So ah, buh, not ay, bee, if that's clear. Also that if they are doing writing that it's lower case, or with the capital letter at the beginning, as appropriate, but not all capitals. Other than that, I think it's all good really, if they're enjoying it.

Balfe's Bikes on East Dulwich Road have sorted out new wheels for our ancient P and T before now.