trinity

Brian and his team have just finished redecoration of our hallway & stairwell. It was a big job and included 4 flights of stairs, high ceilings, 2 windows, intricate bannisters and 10 doors. The team also had to deal with damaged walls, skirting boards in poor condition and specialist wall coverings. The team did an absolutely fantastic job - a beautiful finish on all the surfaces and my house now looks like new. The preparation undertaken before painting was meticulous. It was clear from the beginning of the job that we were in safe hands. Brian and his team also worked hard to minimise disruption to the household (particularly important as I have been working from home) and nothing was too much trouble - a superb level of service. I would not hesitate to recommend Advanced Painters of Dulwich - Brian and his team are highly skilled professionals and we will certainly be using them again in the future.

Hi All, I wanted to recommend Prestige Build and Management Ltd to the users of the forum. Jay Gentle and his team have completed many projects for us over the last 10 years ranging from building of built in storage units in bedrooms to major works such as a new roof & chimney stacks, installation of a wet room and most recently a kitchen and living area extension. The quality of Jay's team's work is very high and they are always professional. Jay keeps tight control over the works and is always accessible to deal with issues or queries. I feel very lucky to have found a professional builder that I trust to provide a consistent quality service for the price agreed. I am happy to share my experiences in more detail with anyone thinking of using Prestige Build.

Does anyone know where I can find details of the exact diversion? My young daughter uses this route and I need to talk her through how to get home from school. I couldn't find any info on the tfl website.

Hi, if you are the Mum or carer cycling with 2 young boys in front of you along Upland Road today at about 4.30pm I just wanted to say that it was quite difficult to see your boys when I was driving in my car. It's very easy to overestimate your visibility when a pedestrian or cyclist and your boys are very little which makes them even less visible in dim light. It's great that you are all on the road, it would be even better with lots of reflective gear on your boys. Best wishes.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Irony is that the bordering private schools don't > have proper covered cycle parking for staff or > pupils but all wanted this junction made safer for > cyclists and pedestrians. Jags/Japs does have proper covered parking for bikes.

Went to the circus last night with my 2 children. We have been going every year for at least 10 years and last nights show was the best we have ever seen. Absolutely superb. There is a web discount for the tickets -web30 for 30% off.

I don't know what the legalities of it are but when my daughter travelled with a friend and her parents last year we sent her with letter giving permission which I believe was asked for at border control.

They don't have to be able to read. What nonsense. They are looking for girls with an interest in listening to stories, who can join in games and follow instructions. Counting out some bricks and perhaps recognising their names would be good but they do not have to be able to read.

I would second this recommendation. Jay and his team at Prestige build have completed a number of jobs in our house ranging in size from the building of cupboards to a full roof replacement. Every job was done to a very high standard and Jay is very straightforward to deal with.

I think if you are high on the waiting list (first 5 or so) you have a good chance of a place. I think by mid-end of next week it would be reasonable to speak to the school and ask about your place on the list. Let people have enough time to start turning down their places

Dishwasher powder is as bad. The problem is that the powder and the tabs are not just soap. They are highly caustic chemicals that cause burns. There are lots of cases of burns to children through ingesting dishwasher powder and I seem to remember a horrible accident where a baby pulled the powder container onto themselves, some powder got into his damp nappy and causes serious injuries to the little chap.

Ellie - so sorry you are having such a difficult time. My little one (number 4 so I thought I knew everything I needed to know about babies - but I was wrong) would not sleep at all during the day. Not ever, not at all except when being walked in a buggy. As soon as it stopped she woke up so I was exhausted. The solution that worked for us was a baby swing - I bought it when she was 8 weeks old and that was the first day of her life that she slept at home during the day. She slept for 4 hours solid the first time I put her in it. Once she was getting regular sleep during the day her night time sleeping improved also. She didn't have reflux or a medical issue but just needed the right conditions to send her to sleep. Some babies need movement to send them so sleep - some need constant movement - perhaps your baby is one of those.

We get to Dulwich college at just after 8. We get on on underhill road so after you which might mean the bus is less busy at your stop.

We regularly get an earlier p13 (7.45ish) which is packed but has become much more reliable in the last year. I think the service is much better than it was and is now reliable enough for school journeys. The later p13's seem less busy which is good but that stretch of the south circular is so variable in terms of traffic that it is difficult ever to guarantee an arrival time.

sillywoman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Each to their own of course but I would say it's > more than doable. We've never had any help at all > - no parents/grandparents, aunts or uncles who > could 'take my kids', no cleaner, no nothing - so > it was never part of our equations. My lovely Mr S > has been as 'hands on' as he can be but in the > early years he often worked 9am-11pm Mon-Sat so > wasn't always around much. > > I really am not a 'Mother Earth' type as my kids > would be only too quick to tell you, but we both > (MrS & I) were clear that we wanted a 'larger' > family so we did it. I loved having 3 and found it > much easier than 2. They were close-ish together - > about 4 years between 1st & 3rd - so I don't know > if that made any difference. > > I found people were more inclined to be helpful & > considerate of me when I was out & about with 3, > than with 2. ANd the interaction between the > siblings was, and continues to be a source of > endless joy & fascination. > > As I say, each to their own, but there's a lot of > doom mongering about having 3 on this thread and I > thought I'd just let you know that it isn't always > "too much hard work". Maybe it depends on your > attitude. Personally, for me, three was a joy. > Absolutely Sillywoman - sometimes I think you are me. I get so many gasps or looks of admiration when I say I have 4 when really it doesn't (often) feel too demanding. Having lots of children can be fun - for parents and children. Often it depends on your own family background. Both hubby and I are one of 5 children and my mother was one of 13 children so really my family seems rather small (and quiet) in comparison.

My 7y old daughter is keen to join the Brownies. Anyone know of any lovely packs? Thanks

Hi James - I sent an email and got one back saying I should report it via the TFL website. I reported it via that website and noticed that my case was immediately marked as closed. I also noticed that the same fault was reported 4 days ago and also marked closed. So I rang up the tfl website and reported it to them on the phone. A nice lady assured me thatit would be fixed. The fault is still there today. I have reported it again to the tfl website but it has been immediately been marked closed and the TFL helpdeask is not open at weekends. How canI get the problem sorted out? Trinity James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi trinity, > Yes, either email [email protected] or > call 020 7525 2000. > You should highlight this is a road safety issue > that needs to be dealt with urgently. > If it isn't dealt with urgently please do let me > know via an email right away.

Hi James, The pelican crossing on Forest Hill Road (half way up outside, near the Turkish Supermarket) is not working properly. The push buttons (on the left hand side if you are facing up the hill) aren't working so you can't stop the traffic on that side. It has been like that for a couple of days. I couldn't find a link on the southwark website to report it. Can you tell me how to report it? Thanks Trinity

You need to check your insurance carefully as garden walls are often not covered by buildings insurance. oilworker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The rebuild and clean up costs should be covered > under your building insurance policy (assuming you > have one) but you will be responsible for any > excess. Didn't anyone hear anything?

I have found some nice work wear in Hobbs.

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > It's estimated at 86p a mile for a family car > doing around 5,000 miles per year - or about > ?4,400 a year. With an average annual income > around ?25k a year, it means people work on > average one day per week just to feed their car > addiction. > I don't think this is a fair statement. In this example the family are paying ?4400 for transport for the year. If alternative forms of transport, buses or trains etc would cost the family for example ?3000 then people are paying ?1400 to feed their car addiction.

Hi Bee. Sounds like you are having a tough time - you have all my sympathy. I had a little girl that sounds very similar to yours. Grazing all day and very difficult/impossible to settle. My 'breakthrough' came when I realised that the problem was not feeding but the fact she was not getting enough sleep during the day and so was constantly grumpy and needed constant comfort ie boob. In addition no-one seemed to understand that when I said she she feeding all day I literally meant all day. (I also had 3 others to look after and life was a nightmare. If you are happy that she is getting enough milk (the suggestions made by other ladies on here are very helpful) then I would concentrate on helping her to nap during the day. There is a fantastic book by Dr Harvey Karp that talks about the 4th trimester ie new born babies often need the comfort of the womb for 3 months after they are born. This means - swaddling, movement (in particular swinging movement) and noise (often white noise) in order to soothe them. If you can recreate these for you little one she will sleep better and feed in a better pattern for you and her. As a desperate measure I bought a baby swing for my daughter when she was 8 weeks old. For the first time in her life she slept for 3 hours and I wept tears of joy. She needed to sleep and couldn't do without very specific conditions. Your daughter may need different conditions but I think trying to create the right sleep conditions for her would help both of you. Good luck

Forest Hill Road has now re-opened.

I hace experienced both DBS and Chelsea Ballet school which holds classes in St Barnabus Church Hall in the village. DBS seems the most serious - RAD syllabus, regular large scale productions of real ballets and lets the children know about auditions eg for the London Children's Ballet. Chelsea Ballet doesn't seem to link the children to the wider ballet world and follows the Cecchetti method.

Should also say that afterschool clubs are free however they are not a childcare option. They are only half an hour, and you can take part in a maximum of 2 per week.