MrsP

Wow, there are some really good ideas here, thankyou everyone. It is such a headache. I have a lot of wasted space and feel the only way round is built to fit shelves/cupboards. Free standing won't work as there is a wide concrete step with a bit of a slant running around the inside of the room on three sides, sp nothing will stand flush against the wall, but maybe something could be done......will give it some more thought - far to scared to start drilling yet!

I am considering whether or not to register with ofsted to provide after school childminding, but would like to know what the going rate is. Do you charge per hour or by per session? I was thinking of having maximum of two children from 3.30pm until 6 - 6.30pmish, so would include providing supper. Can anyone shed any light?

I took my daughter to see a cranial osteopath when she was about 13 months old. She had always fought sleep and found it very difficult to unwind and relax. She had two sessions after which she was much more relaxed and easier to deal with at sleep times. My son has also had several sessions with the same osteopath but the results were not so clear cut. One must of course bear in mind that all young children of this age will have some difficulties sleeping and in my view children often need to be taught how to go to sleep from being wide awake. Whilst I certainly recommend seeing an osteopath, with the addition of stopping breast feeding and the recent holiday, it may be a case of too many things going on at once and adding something extra may be too much for the little one to deal with. I would deal with one thing at a time and if nothing improves see an osteopath. Mu experiences with an osteopath are extremely positive and I send both kids to have a bit of an MOT a couple of times a year.

We have a basement room which has had a damp proof course installed and has been tanked. The company that did the work advised me that any drilling into the wall would disrupt the damp proof course system and invalidate my guarantee. I understand this and am keen for the house to remain damp free. However, I do want to have some shelving and cupboards fitted into the alcoves - without having free standing furniture how can I go about this? Has anyone had the same problem and found a way to get round it? Would be grateful for any suggestions.

We currently have our house on the market. So far not many viewings, I know things are not what they were, but Foxtons do keep ringing me to tell me how many houses they have under offer in ED and would I consider using their services. They informed me today that they have 9 properties under offer in ED, one of which has gone over the asking value. This sounds great, but does this mean Foxtons are selling more properties faster than anyone else? Would all of these under offer be actually getting through to completion? My other issue is their commission, a whopping 2.5%, but if I can get my asking price with Foxtons it might be worth it. Don't know what to do, has anyone had any experience of selling with Foxtons?

Hi there, I have an 11 month gap between my two - you will cope - I agree with the post advising to let your standards drop, also let your horizons shrink for a bit. I never thought I would get through it, but have. Looking back I think a common sense approach is best, it will not be as bad as you think. I found the first six weeks quite easy with two as the baby would sleep all the time. I used the baby bouncer alot when feeding the eldest, and then had the baby in the bouncer in the bathroom while I did bath. My eldest was really good when I had to feed the baby, admittedly TV was a god-send when all else failed. The children never woke each other up crying, although the baby was co-sleeping with me for nearly a year. All in all, whatever works! But if you do struggle and need to catch up on sleep don't be afraid to ask for help, none of us are invinsible. Good luck!

Ni hao! Yes, I think this is a great idea. I seem to recall that there is already some Mandarin teaching going on at Goodrich but might be mistaken. I learnt Mandarin at university and lived in China for some time. Contrary to what many believe it is not difficult to learn containing virtually no grammar and is based on much simpler principles than any european language. Not sure how proficient GCSE Mandarin is, my memories of GCSE French are patchy but we got as far as learning how to ask for directions to the Gare du Nord. However, I do think that language learning is important and would support any local mandarin classes for children or adults. China is a world player and having an increasingly important role to play in such affairs, it is crucial that we have young people able to understand Mandarin and Chinese culture if we are to engage in a meaningful way. Anyone offering conversational Chinese for adults - I need to practise!

Does any know if the trains are running from ED station and if buses are getting up Dog Kennel Hill?? Have tickets for the theatre in town tonight and really want to go.....

Have been going to DMC for last five years, Dr Sathiya Prabhakaran is absolutely brilliant, very easy to talk to, listens well and deals with issues with sensitivity and understanding. I won't see anyone else but her.

Wow what a brilliant and honest thread about breastfeeding. I am completely with you on moist wound healing and had a similar experience with bleeding nipples never healing when exposed to air. Breastfeeding can be incredibly difficult and is not always a warm, cosy experience. I found the experience quite parasitic and emotionally difficult to deal with, and felt so unsupported I didn't breastfeed my first child longer than 4 weeks. However, I persevered with my second child and ended up doing it for eleven months. I felt very guilty for not breastfeeding my daughter and now believe that mothers should be able to weigh up the pros and cons of continuing to breastfeed in a honest and guilt free environment. I wholeheartedly think there should be more support available, breastfeeding is not easy!!

Don't panic!!! Look up the earlier thread. Watch what you are eating and stick to low sugar foods, say no to fruit juice, and be sensible with carbs. The specialist team at Kings are superb, you will be in good hands. I have had GD twice and was insulin dependent, but now have two healthy children.

I think the expansion of the market is a great thing as there is a dominance of food stalls, hopefully it will expand to include other commodities. But, yes, the road should be closed on market days.

Contrary to the above posts, I'm all for the pilot scheme. We are a family of four and our green bin is never more than a third full and we have a worm bin for our peelings. I have no problem in collecting food waste separately with the brown bin and blue box being emptied once a week and the green bin once a fortnight. I really hope the pilot is a success and hope that it will make it easier for us all to be a bit greener.

Greenwich theatre have got Cinderella on at xmas and new year.

Thank you very much Mr Barber, will monitor the dog poo levels and let you know if there is no improvement.

The dog poo on Dunstans Road, particularly the stretch between Crebor Street and Goodrich Road, is getting really bad. We have run the dog poo gaunlet on the way to school every day this week, and quite frankly this morning it is disgusting. Please please if you are out walking your dog pick up the poo.

Actually, there is an 11 month gap between my two, it does happen though I think I should have had more sense!!!

Have heard on the grapevine that Sharpworks (knitting shop) is moving, does anyone know where to???

My kids have a lot of energy and I was wondering if there are any gymnastic / trampolining classes for 3 + year olds they could go to?

Yes, I think I probably am! Am doing pirate jumpers and dragon woolly hats!

Bluewater, John Lewis, etc all good if you can travel, but from ED the best place is the House of Linen on Sydenham High Street. They have a large yarn selection, needles, and some patterns. Whilst they don't do Rowan or any of the fancy brands, a 100g ball of double knit was just under 2 quid when I last went a couple of weeks ago. If you can manage without the posh expensive stuff this is definately THE place to go.

and I've just dropped the kids dinner on the floor!!!

Given the lovely sunshine, was wondering if the fountains in the children's playground in Wells Park are on yet?

This is my memory of starting breastfeeding. I picked up a good tip from a nurse on the special baby unit at Kings. She gave me some gauze that was somehow covered in vaseline, apply to cracked area and leave on until next feed, feed, then reapply. I can't remember the name of the gauze, you may be able to get it in a chemist, but I easily made up my own. The key is to ensure that the nipples do not get dry. If you have scabs on your nipples (and I did!) it hurts even more as every time baby feeds the scabs get pulled off - don't worry it doesn't do the baby any harm. So keep your nipples moist and smothered in vaseline or lansinoh. My were so bad my baby was actually drinking my blood. It hurt like hell. It will get better!!!

This is all very useful information and supports my view that sure start services should be available for everyone. It appears to me that service providers are incapable of listening to their users and are directing services without actually finding out what is needed. There are so many pre-school kids in SE22 and virtually no sure start provision, I'm sure my own experience of being sent bonkers by looking after kids is not so unusual. I urge anyone who feels they need the support of Leapers to apply for a place and lobby Sure Start Southwark.