chuck

Does anyone have or know of someone that does have either a mini marquee/ teepee/ bell tent I could borrow/hire this off locally? It would be for Oct. its for my daughter's 6th birthday party. thanks very much

I started driving lessons when i was 40 having never driven before and passed. My excellent teacher was Ollie at Lailey Tuition. 07812 191688. Very calm and patien.

I tried all sorts with my daughter and the thing that works for her (that my sister recommended to me as she uses it on her bad eczema on her hands) and i finally got the doc to give me it on prescription is Eumocream (not eumobase which is a steroid cream). You can buy it off the shelf and it is suitable for babies and the elderly as just a very good emolliant. I will use hydrocortisone if there is a flare up but on the whole eumocream keeps it under control. Also a doctor suggested i only use simple baby products on her in bath (shampoo and bubble bath) and so i use them very sparingly and when she was very small used nothing in the bath.

My daughter was exactly the same holding on for hours and hours- she still has the most amazing bladder control. The fact that your child can hold on for so long goes to prove she is absolute ready for toilet training so dont give up. My daughter is very strong willed and likes to make decisions for herself from a very young age. I tried everything with her - like you say taking away toys,offering little bribes, being calm, not being calm - nothing worked. Until one day I saw a toy that i knew she had really, really wanted for ages. I bought it without her knowledge then put it on a very high shelf, showed it to her and said if she wee-ed in her potty for a week she could have it. next thing you know she goes straight to the potty, sits down and wees in it. She has not wet herself since. same thing worked for being dry at night. She had to make the decision for herself to do it, she just needs a little nudge in the right direction. And i know it says dont use bribery in all the books but i tell you what, it worked a treat for me!

My daughter was transverse or breech for pretty much all my pregnancy. So much so that i was booked in for a c-section and never paid much attention in any of the antenatal classes about natural birth as it wasnt going to happen to me. However at 37 weeks she got into the right position and didnt move from there on in, Probably as she didnt have the space. Anyway I ended up having a pretty much text book perfect natural birth with no intervention and no drugs! So keep thinking postively and hopefully it will all be alright.

Of course your cleaner should do the full hours you pay for. I have always got my cleaners via Selclene agency in Dulwich (We've been using them for over 8 years). On the whole they have been excellent - our current one is great. If they finish the general cleaning before the alloted time they will take the initiative to do something extra like clean the fridge, kitchen cupboards etc. This is something that Selclene tell them to do. if they dont take the initiative, then you can ask them to do it. Of course we have had dud cleaners (dont clean properly, dont turn up) but the great thing about going via an agency is that you can trial the cleaner and if you dont like them for whatever reason, they will deal with it. Also if they dont turn up or go on holiday, they will organise a replacement.

My friend just had a baby and one of their friends sent them an entire Ocado delivery full of delicious cheeses, puddings and ready meals and fresh fruit. I have to say they thought it fantastic and such a help. I would have been delighted with it too. I got the basket of muffins and brownies when i had my child and that was great too.

Have just driven past the new playground to see some youth (probably about 11 or 12) sitting on the brand new climbing frame happily chipping away at the wood with some sharp object and splintering it. I wound down my window and shouted at him to stop but he didnt seem too bothered. Not sure what one can do about this but i just had to get it off my chest as it really pissed me off. The playground isnt even open yet and already its being vandalised. Grrrr.

I think the hospital antenatal classes pretty much tell you what you know already aside from the breastfeeding workshop which was really useful. I would really recommend doing an NCT class, the antenatal and labour information is great, but the crucial thing for me was the close group of friends you make. My child is nearly 5 and I still see pretty much all my NCT class every week. The children have grown up together and are great friends. I have to say that when i first met my group I thought i had nothing in common with any of them but the thing that draws you all together is you are all going through exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. All our babies were born within 4 weeks of each other. When babies are small even a couple of months is such a significant difference ( 3 month baby is so different to a 6 month baby), so to have close contact with other parents who's babies are at exactly the same stage is such a boost - you are all talking about the same things.

Hi there My daughter did exactly the same thing when i potty trained her at 2 and half. It is very upsetting and frustrating as the holding on shows they have bladder control and are ready for it. i tried sticker charts, chocolate treats and everything else they recommend but to no avail In the end i bought a little toy she had coveted for sometime - something she really, really wanted. I showed it to her and then put on a high shelf and said when she had wee-ed in her potty for a week she could have it. Next thing i know she goes straight to the potty sits down and does a wee - no hysterics, nothing. We never looked back. No accidents since that day. And in fact the same tactic worked 3 weeks later when she came out of night time nappies. Some children are very strong minded and like to be in control and make the decision themselves and sometimes they just need the right nudge to make that decision. Obviously all children are different and no one ever wants to put them under unnecessary stress so think what is right in your own particular case.

Exactly Mellors. Our plan is the same really. Cant really afford to but if needs must. Mellors - have you already put his name down and if you have and the state school you want comes up, how will you feel about having paid the first term's fees? Or do you have a plan or know of a loophole to get around this?

Just going through the process of applying for my child to go to primary school and after hearing all the horror stories was wondering if anyone had also applied to independent schools (i.e alleyns, JAPs etc) as a fall back for when you dont get offered anything you would contemplate accepting. My problem is that as I understand it, if your gifted offspring passes the admissions tests, they are offered a place in Feb (well before you hear from state schools)and you have to accept with a deposit which can vary but seems to be just under ?1k and is then taken off first terms fees. However you then have to give a terms notice if you are not going to take up the place. This means that you need to let the school know before the summer term starts (20 april) but you dont find out until 10 May re state school places. If you dont give a terms notice you are liable to pay a terms fee (around ?3k). So what i am trying to find out is has anyone done this in the last couple of years? And if you decide to go with state school place, are you really liable to pay the full terms fee? I hope this makes sense...

hi there crikey you got through a lot last night. I can certainly make 21st may. As for regular meetings tues are best for me. Also happy to make cakes for the east dulwich fair should a stall materialise. how do i send you my email address? thanks for organising all this. Jo

my friend charlotte and i are also very keen but neither of us are able to make this coming tue. can you keep us informed as we are really serious about being part of it? we are both keen chutney makers, cake bakers, gardeners and i did dabble in crochet last year. do we qualify? i hope so! thanks so much. jo