Jessie

go to pubs after 7pm, and they should be child free

no, i agree, it's pretty sad if she and/or the father was

believe what? no one's been charged with anything yet

With the UK spotlight on the Portuguese police I expect they're not being dodgy and corrupt in this case. Whoever took that little girl, whatever happened to her: it's unspeakably sad and tragic. Poor little thing.

try alluc.org or sidereel.com to watch stuff online.

I really resent the fact that mothers are always lumped together, as if the fact we've had kids makes us all the same. Or that there's two types: young, working class and clueless or older, middle-class and organic-mad (both complete generalisations). There are lots of different ways to be a mother. Sorry, rant over. Just riles me sometimes.

Seems v sad that she hates ALL mothers who've 'infiltrated' ED recently. To be non-hated I guess mothers round here should have been born right on Lordship Lane. Some mothers in ED have irritated me massively, but then so have some teenagers, some commuters, some shopkeepers, some streetcleaners, a GP did once too. Bus drivers. Estate agents. People annoy people, and if they're mothers is not the issue methinks.

Did anyone ever actually say that though?

the emphasis should be on 'complementary' as opposed to 'alternative'; the people i know who've had cancer have benefitted from the likes of reiki and homeopathy as a complement to chemo/radiotherapy, a respite from the harsh gruel of said therapies with their full-on assault of the body, albeit in saving lives (hopefully).

Reading The Accidental by Ali Smith at the moment and actually think it's quite brilliant, and a good summer read if you prefer your books more literary (good for summer because set predominantly on a family's summer break in Norfolk)

I don't mind the 12 and it's a good bus if you're travelling with a pushchair

What they call marmite in new zealand is no where near the British marmite. I craved the UK marmite when I was in NZ. It wasn't as salty and had a different consistency. Nice to be back to my British marmite.

Keef, not in so many words but it was what i inferred from: "I feel that sometimes these women are being so obvious about their breast feeding simply to show the world how succesful they've been at being an ED "yummy mummy", and that if the trendy thing to do was to bottle feed, their breasts would be back in their bras before you could say "blue mountain"."

It makes me feel sad all these assumptions are being made about women just because they choose to breastfeed, like it's some kind of code to belong to some Yummy Mummy sect. I breastfed my child because: It's free!! I'm NOT a yummy mummy, I don't have lots of cash to spend on stuff I don't need, I need to watch the pounds. It's the best thing for my child, the best thing for me. I have a huge history of breast cancer in my family. Breastfeeding is proven to reduce the risk in breast cancer. It was a massively strong bond between me and my son and after a v traumatic pregnancy AND birth AND infancy, we needed all the help we could get with that one. No need for tonnes of sterilising crap to cart half way round the world and back. So so so many reasons why it's good to breastfeed, and luckily for me (and my son) I didn't give a sh*t what people thought about me breastfeeding.

Fair points. Must say though when I was breastfeeding i fed on demand, so did feed whenever/wherever. But always discreetly. Not sure about your point about connotations of breastfeeding in a cafe - are you saying you'd feel uncomfortable seeing a baby bottle fed in a cafe/at evening meal times, as inevitably it leads to the same soiled nappy scenario?

What's wrong with having a discussion about something many people feel strongly about? I think it's good to hear lots of different views about this.

Try breastfeeding in Newcastle! I breastfed my son when he was a baby there v discreetly under my tent-like top - no boob on show whatsover - and peolple pointed, stared and tutted at me whilst sitting on a bench near the one I was on a woman openly smoking a fag while with a newborn baby was completely ignored. But then again perhaps they'd somehow found out I'd left the Toon for London and saw me as a traitor.. Breastfeeding in public - god, does it really make some people so uncomfortable? Says more about them and their repression and f*cked up pyschologies than anything.

I'm with Fuscia - Snorky's post just seemed a bit nasty (and patronising) to me. Thanks for useful posting Fuscia, I've lived in the area for years and haven't come across some of the suggestions. Jess

just to add to controversy re. estate agents, i've found all staff at dulwich village resedential brilliant. Never thought I'd say that about an estate agent.

Okay all sorted out now, and they've been incredibly helpful and approachable. Can't wait to start! Jess

East Dulwich

Hi ivemet-jimmy, We're waiting for the 11.30 Saturday class for 'Junior Kickers'. As a Geordie I'm v keen for him to get his footie boots on. Jess

Thanks Keef. I've emailed them, and left a voicemail and haven't heard back. I hope it means we have a place as I have a liitle boy with an abundance of energy.

Even as a mum pushing a buggy I've let other mums (and dads actually) go first past me on the street, and haven't even been honoured with a smile, thank you or whatever. It is incredibly rude, but is not just an East Dulwich thing. Seems to me to be a London thing. Now back as a full time commuter I'm amazed by how people just lack in basic grace, always in a rush to be first through the ticket barriers etc. Truly find it bizarre.

Hello East Dulwich Does anyone take their children to Little Kickers football? I've signed up my 2 year old son, and apparently there's a waiting list but they've banked my cheque already, which I don't think is a particularly good thing to do until the place is available. Jess