sanity girl

The chemist in Camberwell butterfly walk does them for ?5 - I always go there

99p store in Camberwell is good for paper plates, cups, decorations etc. Re. food I usually just make a few ham/cheese sandwiches, crisps, cucumber/carrot sticks, grapes and strawberries plus juice/water and cake of course. A couple of bottles of booze and extra crisps for the adults. That should do it!

done

My son started off with a potty - I got a nice sturdy one called a "Pourty" which you can easily pour the contents of down the loo, and then moved on to a padded seat which went on the loo, and now he just goes straight on the loo. I have the potty and seat which I would be happy to pass on for a small contribution if you would like them. I also have a potette (portable potty) which I used for my daughter but found I didn't need for my son.

My 7 year old has never needed more than 10 hours a night. Now she has discovered Harry Potter and despite my best efforts stays up reading until almost 10pm! She wakes around 7.30-8am. Doesn't seem to do her any harm and she has bags of energy.

Try soaking first in a solution of water and soda crystals? Then bung it in the machine, as hot a wash as you dare, with bio powder detergent

Wish there was a "like" option for your post bawdy-nan! The PTA comment made me laugh. I am not nearly as organised as some of you, but my non-negotiables are use ocado/online deliveries for as much shopping as possible and have a cleaner. bawdy-nan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Having done this for years (working full time with > kids but with no au pairs) I'd say another really > important thing is accept that some things just > have to slide. Decide what's important and let the > rest loosen up a little. Buy a load of bithday > cards and keep them in a drawer - use a mass > google calendar and bin as much book bag admin as > you dare - aka understand the PTA as something for > people without jobs.

Freecycle - or stick them outside your house in a box with a sign saying "please take" and they'll probably go!

There's no way I would dry clean a duvet - all those chemicals! A hot wash (60 degrees) will kill off dust mites etc

Just take them to a laundrette, put them in their biggest machine on a hot wash, then an hour or so in the tumble drier - if they are big duvets you may need to divide into 2 loads. I like the laundrette on Sunray/ crossthwaite avenue. A big machine wash costs around ?7 and the tumble drier ?2-3

Sue and ladyruskin - they are the "bad" invading Harlequin ladybirds - http://www.harlequin-survey.org/factfile/concern.htm I have come to hate them and they really stink when disturbed. Anyway, most of them have gone now as spring has come and they've decided it's warm enough to head outside again and maraud our native species, but next winter honestly if you want to come to my house each week and take them away you are very welcome.

Scirocco

Yes, they invade my house over the winter - they get through the window fittings (gaps between frame and casing - need replacing but I'm only a tenant...) I hoover them up mercilessly, then wipe with vinegar or multi-surface cleaner where they have been clumping together to get rid of their scent and discourage them from accumulating there again. Now it's warm if you open your windows they should soon find their way outside again.

Going on the pill sorted it for me

Thanks for the links hellosailor - I had already looked on the Gingerbread and Netmums discussions but got the impression that while a lot was discussed not much was actually done. I hadn't seen the movethat site though so thanks for that.

Bumping as this is something I have been mulling over recently, in light of the current crazy rental prices. I am based in Dulwich and need to stay in the area as my daughter is at school in the village and also because I rely on my parents, who also live locally, for childcare. Has anyone out there actually done this? Would anyone be interested in looking into a possible house share in the Dulwich area (DVIS/Hamlet cachment)? I am a 40 year old single parent with a 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son, working 5 days but around school hours.

Hi, yes I'd be interested. Can't do weekdays daytime as I work and then doing kids pick up, afterschool activities etc. Evenings probably best. I'd be interested to hear how other single parents are coping with ever increasing rents - my biggest worry right now.

Our regular holiday spots are Dorset - the coast between Bridport and Lyme Regis) and Northumberland by the cost around Alnmouth. Dorset has the fossil coast, Abbotsbury swannery and children's farm, Lyme Regis and lots more. Northumberland has beautiful unspoilt sandy beaches, lots of castles to visit.

I am planning to deliver some clothes and toys to the young woman running this project next week. If anyone wants to contribute PM me and you can drop stuff with me to deliver.

Hush are having an amazing sample sale today and tomorrow at their office/warehouse in Battersea in Ingate place - right by Queenstown road station, very very cheap prices as they are selling off loads of stock - I got 10 things for ?50. Go today if you can! It's open until 7pm.

My daughter has snack at pick up from school, dinner around 5.30 pm and then more snacks (more or less constantly!!) until bedtime - she is ravenous after school! I usually offer the following as snacks: fruit (bananas, grapes, clementines, tinned peaches), natural yoghurt with honey or jam, cheese and crackers, ham, toast with butter. Re. stopping 7 year old coming into your bed - - some things that have helped with my 7 year old who now stays in her own bed most nights - hot water bottle at bedtime, extra blanket during cold weather, reward chart (which has now tailed off as she mostly stays in her own bed) - star for each night she stays in bed with pocket money earned when a line of 10 stars completed.

Yes my daughter loved going on the London Eye aged 6 - you could go and have lunch at one of the places by the festival hall on the south bank.

me too usually, but H&M are so cheap and have some decent skinny/biker trousers Pickle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On principle I wouldn't wear trousers that I'd had > to buy in a bigger size than usual ;)

Agree that H&M sizing is crazy - I wear a size small in tops and size 16 bottoms - usually I'm a 12-14

Comptoir des Cotonniers (when the sale is on), H&M - great for nice simple slubby/drapey t-shirts - you just have to hunt through the dross. If money was no object then I'd be quite happy to dress exclusively in Comptoir des Cotonniers - love their clothes! They have a branch at the end of Kings Road close to Sloane Square.