fuzzyboots

Hello everyone, I'm with Dara, Morph's mum, right now and she has been reading your kind messages of condolence and support. Dara would like to thank you all for your comments, sympathy and kind thoughts. It is very sweet of you. Trish

I hope so. Am just about to go and see his mum now. She is distraught as you can imagine.

I had to rush him straight to the vet. Otherwise I would have got the details. Not telling my kids till tomorrow- they will be just as devastated. I don't know how his mum will cope - he was her precious boy and the light of her life.

Yes he was very very sweet and instantly adored by everyone who met him. I can't believe he's gone. He stayed with us last weekend, too. I've got to break it to my kids tomorrow :(

Sadly it just did and Morph is no longer with us :(

I'm devastated to say that darling little Morph just died of his injuries sustained by the attack he received today from Blue, the blue Staffordshire terrier. PLEASE keep vigilant for this now killer dog and keep your dogs out of harms way. Don't let your dog be the next needless victim.

Tragically, Morph died just after he got to the emergency animal hospital in streatham. RIP darling little friend.

Bonniebird- I think morph will be ok. The next couple hours or so will tell :( he is such a little poppet. The dogs owner is a black guy - possibly late 20's /early 30's.The dog, Blue, had a broad pink collar her, I think. It was terrifying - he weighs under 3 kg and he didn't stand a chance of defending himself. It happened on the Corner coming out on to the large patch of grass opposite the boys school.

Amber dealt brilliantly with a very distressed dog, woman and child today, when our little charge was attacked in Peckham Rye Park. He's not registered with the practice, but that made no difference. She treated him immediately and was calm, unflappable, sympathetic and professional I would NOT HESITATE to recommend the practice.

Calling all dog owners using Peckham Rye park to walk their dogs. The darling little dog that I walk for my friend was subjected to an unprovoked attack today in the Park. The dog responsible was a blue staffordshire called Blue and his owner has another staffordshire - either brindle or brown - I don't remember. The dog owner was lax in responding to the situation where Blue had picked up my friend's dog in his mouth and was about to shake him. The brown/brindle dog was joining in the "game" but did not attack my friend's dog. I rushed him straight over to the Neighbourhood Vet Centre and he was treated immediately. Turns out he has (at least) a punctured lung and broken ribs, he's in immense pain and in shock and he may need surgery to repair his diaphragm. I didn't hang around to say anything to Blue's owner, as I just wanted to get my friend's dog, Morph, seen immediately. However, when at the vet, the vet herself said her dog was nearly attacked by this very same dog, BLUE, only yesterday. Please be very, very alert and keep your dogs with you on a lead if you see these dogs out in the park whilst you're there. The dog is not vicious per se, but clearly the owner was either unconcerned or has no idea how to control his dogs. This happened completely unexpectedly - we were just playing with the ball and our dog. My 6 year old son witnessed this attack and Morph is his best friend - so you can imagine how distressed he was by the whole incident. Morph is now spending the night in emergency care :( PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR DOG BE A VICTIM OF BLUE TOO. Trish /Fuzzyboots

The thing about tattoos (which I like, in principle) is that I can't help but think of being dead on a mortuary slab, old and crinkly, with crinkly tattoos and the wondering what thoughts cross the morticians' minds. ;)

Reminds me of Ted and the drainage on the lower field - ah I miss the Fast Show.

What age is your child? If two or over, then I highly recommend Puddleducks in Nunhead. Absolutely brilliant - sent my two younger children there and they absolutely thrived :)

Ooh yes - I've just looked this up on the British Gas website (my electricity supplier). The documentation says the 4 cuts have to occur between 1st April and 31st March (...!) to be eligible. So if it's going to happen, let's hope it happens in the next 19 days! Otherwise, they'll get off scot free :( What's the betting there's only one more power cut before 1st April and then another one ON 1st April. Talk about April Fools... Here's what BG's doc says: http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/look_how_we_are_doing.pdf

Probably similar to last week I guess. Sigh....

Likewise. On the bright side, I have now received two texts actually on the date of the incident. Progress! I'm told it may take a few "blowings" of the fuse at the substation In order for the cable fault to show up on the diagnostic equipment. So in anticiaption of further cuts, I'm thinking of buying more candles and a wind up radio in preparation. And putting all of my solar lights out in the back garden! It's like the 70s all over again. Will be queueing for bread next!

Unbelievable - one week and four hours later and my house is plunged into electro-absence again. Have reported it to UK PowerNwetwork. Anyone else experiencing it? Just had an automated text to say "it's a substation fault" - which is what the texts said last time - albeit they were 48 hours late i arriving.sigh!!!!!!!!!

ibilly - are you calling me a blacksmith or referring to the militant Cornish Nationalists?!

Just about to pop them in the oven :) :) :) :) can't wait.....

This is a good one - I'm using it tonight :) http://www.greenchronicle.com/connies_cornish_kitchen/cornish_pasty.htm

:( indeed. It is delicious. I shan't even be making scones for a cream tea for pudding, because I would have to eat up all the clotted cream that was left over and that would be another step too far ;)

Will be making my own Pasties. Saffron bread would be a step beyond my culinary capabilities I'm afraid! for me. Today at least!

I just wanted to wish all my fellow Cornish ex-pays a Happy St Piran's day today. Pasties for dinner tonight :) All for one and one for all, my luvvers!

We've no power in our house in Darrell Road - although nearly every other neighbour seemed to be unaffected - which was more than galling! Was told it was a problem at the local substation and one of the major fuses had blown twice, which could indicate a problem with underground cabling. The lady I spoke to thought this might mean road excavation, etc.. I am on a mailing list to receive a text with news of progress. No texts received yet :( I have therefore decamped with kids to my girlfriend's house in Upper Norwood, where I'm currently luxuriating in electricity. Hope it's sorted soon for folks who don't have this option - our gas heating doesn't work without electricity. Madness!

Well I have to say I agree - it's unrealistic to expect toddlers to sit still through an activity/class, unless that happens to be a) their personal preference and/or b) how they feel on that particular day at that particular time. I despair of reading about toddlers being required to sit and pay attention. In my (Sing and Sign) classes, Stage 2, which is aimed at toddlers, completely recognises that most toddlers NEED to be on the move in order to be learning. It's pointless trying to make a mobile, busy toddler sit still - and in fact, only asking for trouble/conflict/emotional battles. Many toddlers need to physically connect with their environment in order to understand it - that means they need to interact with things and people and use their whole bodies to do so, iyswim. It is far better to provide an environment where the toddler's mobility is embraced and welcomed. In my classes, I see that they NEED to explore the space they're in. I have a few rules all based around promoting children's safety for themselves and others, but other than that, they are at liberty to spend the entire class crawling/walking around, etc.. .If you try to force an active toddler to sit still, all that happens is an immediate emotional battle and distressed child and stressed, embarassed parent. If a child is being unsafe then we suggest that they have a brief time out to calm down away from the prying eyes of other children/adults, and then return when they're ready and able to join in the class. I'm sad that people running classes/activities aimed specifically at toddlers seem to be failing to appreciate the essential nature of toddlers! My son was a nightmare at Diddidance, which I absolutely loved, but he was totally contrary and I was the one who couldn't cope with that - not him! His teacher was lovely and very understanding though. I think that the class/activity leaders who require toddlers to sit still for lengthy periods cannot have thought through what it is they're doing/who it is they're offering it to! My classes have a regular structure with sitting still, hands on and movement elements. The classes deliberately peak and trough in terms of engaging the children so that they can dip in and out with their concentration/involvement. Every child is different and responds differently to the classes - it is up to the skill of the class/activity leader to adapt to the children present (within reason!). I'm delighted that Fuchsia describes us a brilliant :) Thank you :) :) :) :) - we try very hard to be the best we can for you and your toddlers. I can't tell you how much we all LOVE teaching our toddler classes - the children are such fun and it's a privilege for us to be involved with their development. Sigh.... I'll stop now before I go too gooey about them - but they really are a delight ;) BTW, if anyone coming to Sing and Sign classes DOES feel that their child's behaviour has been frowned upon/criticised, I'd like to know so that I can get to the bottom of it! That's not how we want you to feel about your S&S experience. All best wishes, Trish/Fuzzyboots Sing and Sign Southwark & Lambeth