Bellenden Belle

I feel very uneasy about her actually. That's a little like criticising Mother Teresa but perhaps that's partly the trouble. The publics perception of Kids Company is of a small operation run 'under the arches' in the streets of Peckham - yet the reality is the company has an annual turnover of 18 million with 4.4 million coming from statutory funding. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that turnover for the work they do but a) I would suggest there are many people delivering frontline services in Kids company that we haven't heard of b) would cab officers be equally as quick to give a free ride to the CEO of Oxfam, NSPCC, etc etc? I feel churlish even writing this post and I know most charities would absolutely kill for such a media friendly spokesperson. We do need more people like her willing to draw attention to the issues - but I don't think we need to necessarily beatify them as saints.

I just wanted to give people a heads up about Polka Theatre's production of Gorilla. If your kids love the book it is really worth going to see it. It is very faithful to the book and just delightful. There are two versions. One - Mini Gorilla - is specifically for 1-2 year olds. It has been adpated to suit their ages - lighting and sound adjusted; the content slightly shorter; some of the older elements of the book removed. My 20 month year old was absolutely captivated. I see a lot of theatre with my little one so I try to only post when something is particularly worth seeing. Go!

4am start here today. What did we do wrong?!!! We stretched him last night til 7pm (so 8pm in his world and an hour later than his normal bedtime). What time should we put him down tonight? I'm tempted to try 6pm, going with the sleep beget sleep theory. Bizarrely he has only had 45 mins nap today and yet us in better spirits than normal.

http://www.saralongmuir.co.uk Sara is based in Pinner - 90 minutes from East Dulwich on public transport. But for me it was definitely worth the trip. I first saw her eleven years ago for interview nerves. I couldn't believe how effective it was - I have got almost every single job I have ever interviewed for since. Previously I would physically shake throughout the process. I returned a month ago when tasked with a 15 minute presentation for a job interview. I had previously turned down interviews requiring presentations, out of fear. I spent two hours with Sara, nailed tHe presentation - even would say I enjoyed it - and got the job. Worth every penny. Although my partner also helped immensely. He works in communications and speechwriting so knows effective body language and presentational techniques. His help was invaluable.

Done.

http://www.barbarahouseman.com The brilliant Barbara Houseman lives in East Dulwich. On another note - I had hypnotherapy for public speaking and it worked a charm.

Voyageur Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm allergic to the whole thing. Watching > celebrity hungry people bake cakes? I'd rather > stick pins in my eyes. Erm, I think it is safe to say that Bake Off really doesn't attract celebrity-hungry people. It's what I love about it so much - the contestants all seem so ordinary. Buck teethed, old, overweight, ungroomed - I see myself in each of them (albeit without the baking skills).

Team Frances here too. Ruby will crack under the pressure of the final. Kimberley is indeed beautiful and probably the best baker but Reeko's right - she's such a know-it-all. I loved her in the first few weeks but little by little she's lost my affection. It's a good line-up though. And a terrific series.

https://www.unicorntheatre.com/twas-the-night-before-christmas Not a pantomime, but guaranteed to be absolutely magical.

I haven't had a similar experience - hopefully others will reply that have - but I wonder if she's jealous of the one on one time you spend with no.2? Particularly if she's showing signs of regressing in terms of potty training? Could you have some one to one time with her at the weekend? Even if it's just for a couple of hours? So she knew that was coming after a week at nursery? Just a thought.

I only know a place called La Cave on Borough High Street. Surely not the same company? La Cave Des Bellons appears to be a fairly new company, whereas La Cave in Borough has been serving overpriced, underwhelming foood for years.

For anyone looking for a really easy-to-use swaddle this was amazing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004A6BEUU/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1380952314&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70 Basically you just zip them in - they look a little like a slug! And there's definitely no escape!

Definitely another vote for the Baby Led Weaning book. We've used it solidly for over a year - since Baby Belle was six months. Really tasty recipes, and easy to follow. Also try the library - there are absolutely tons of cookbooks available to borrow. And I can also guarantee you can't go into a charity shop without seeing a shelf full of Annabel Karmel books.

Thank you all so much. Moxon street is where we're going to head I think - I'll let you all know how we get on.

So tomorrow I am due to take Baby Belle to a concert at Wigmore Hall. I'm then supposed to meet a friend nearby but am a little stumped as to where to go. Wigmore Hall is a hop skip and a jump from Bond Street. What I would really like is some outdoor space (not even a playground - a few trees and some grass would be enough) and also somewhere to have tea and cake that are child friendly nearby. Any suggestions? Many thanks x

Grow up Foxhelp. I feel sorry for your sister who probably could have done with your support rather than advice. Squeamish gay men who squeal at the idea of anything to so with the female body are so stuck in the 80s - get over it.

We had lots of other cues - a pacifier/ dummy (not to everyone's taste I know); swaddling; white noise and then shushing and patting. The gentle patting on their bottom replicates the heartbeat in the womb apparently. It was only when Buggie from this forum showed me shush/ pat that everything fell into place. And then after not too long he just understood and a pacifier and white noise was all he needed.

Gosh yes, I forgot about those early days... Breast feeding cushion was so useful - used to throw it under the pram.

Totally agree with all the experience above. I never had any negative comments, lots of approving looks - makes me grateful to live in London, as I don't think it is always the same elsewhere. I've fed everywhere - on buses, trains, parks, cafes - even when things got really desperate once inside a fried chicken shop (it was pouring with rain on a walk back from Lewisham and there was nowhere else to shelter). Clothes make a huge difference. I really recommend getting a few breastfeeding-specific dresses and tops. Check out Frugi and Jojo Mamam Babe and ebay. They just made things quicker and more comfortable. I never did the massive cover-up-and-hide-my-baby-under-something thing and glad that I didn't - I think that draws more attention. That said - if you are a sling mum, I did find I could breastfeed discreetly whilst walking with the baby in the ergo and the raincover on the ergo up.

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?30,915467,915467#msg-915467 Please read the above post to see the history behind ???? sensible comments.

Quids is right. And that tells you more about the establisments than anything else.

I have never come across such a thing - just because the demand is so high for full time all-year-round places. A childminder might offer more flexibility.

Hi Woman of Dulwich, Yeah poor Baby Belle has seen more theatre than most adults I know. His dad does make sure he gets to play lots of football too! All those theatres - but particularly Unicorn Theatre - do really interesting shows for older ages. For example this is currently getting amazing reviews: https://www.unicorntheatre.com/whatson/12/othello-the-remix The Unicorn also has a useful function where you can click on an age range and get shows suitable - one of them is for size L - age 13 plus.

It depends on the theatre experience, doesn't it? I'm not saying for a moment that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory wouldn't be an amazing day out for children - but this is commercial theatre, its aim is to make profit, and as such ticket prices are driven by demand. It's a luxury product you're purchasing. And good theatre doesn't come cheap. Which is why it's so important that people value the Arts Council and art subsidy - because without them lots of children and young people wouldn't have access to the arts. And it's why we are so lucky to have such fantastic theatres designed for children in London. My own son - 19 months - goes to the theatre about once a month. We go to Polka, the Unicorn Theatre, the Half Moon Theatre, Stratford Circus, and Little Angel Theatre amongst others. I use public transport to get to all of them - they are all within reach. All of these theatres produce shows which have been tailored for different age groups - many workiing with educational specialists. Many involve multi-sensory experiences and take place in intimate spaces which have been specifically designed to appeal to children. Don't for a minute think these are the commercial theatre's poor relatives. They're not - they are full of the same creative teams that you find elsewhere. They provide that steady flow of talent that feeds the larger main theatres. Support them and value them - I promise you'll have a great time. http://www.polkatheatre.com/ https://www.unicorntheatre.com/ http://www.halfmoon.org.uk/ http://www.littleangeltheatre.com/ https://www.stratford-circus.com/Online/default.asp

I went on Sunday for the first time and thought it was wonderful. It felt every bit a community pub - packed, yes lots of families, and not a piece of trendy flock wallpaper in sight - it was as if all those words about lamenting the passing of old boozers in favour of gastro pubs had finally been heard. It wasn't trendy but it wasn't living in the past either. It feels like it's got heart. I'll definitely return.