LouieM

Really sorry to hear that, hope you are ok. And that they catch the little b*gger.

Thanks Pickle!! Glad your 'babies' are doing well and hope you are enjoying your new life in NZ. HP - deadline nearly up. Erika retires on 28th June and we are putting together a scrapbook. Let me know if you would like me to include a message. Thanks again to everyone who has contributed!

Thanks Katie! Would it be ok if I included your memory in Erika's scrapbook? Hope all well with you now! Best wishes, Louie

Hello, My name is Louie Matthews and I used to be the Maternity Support Worker for the Lanes midwives based at the DMC in East Dulwich. Our fabulous midwife Erika Glenny, who worked at the Lanes for years and delivered countless babies in East Dulwich (loads of them at home!) is retiring. I'd love to hear from anyone who may have memories and/or photos of Erika to include in her retirement scrapbook as obviously we can't have a party. Let me know if you'd like to share an anedcote or photo, we would really appreciate it and I think Erika would too! Thanks, Louie

Nigello - in answer to your question, we were told only to worry about cracks you could fit a ?1 coin into. Hairline cracks really aren't such a problem.

I have to wade in and agree that you shouldn't try and fix subsidence privately - especially if you are planning on selling at some point in the future. We had subsidence in our house near Forest Hill and it was a royal pain to get sorted - three years badgering Co-operative insurance and even having our own tests done at great cost (although we eventually managed to claim these back too). However, when we came to sell, our buyers were very pleased it had all been sorted and - crucially - our premiums with Co-op did NOT go up. The only thing we had to do was make sure our buyers took over the same insurance policy when we sold. I wouldn't touch a privately fixed house with a barge pole.

I am training to be a midwife and see lots of freshly named babies! There are SO MANY of the following names it is ridiculous: Isabella (every second baby seems to be called this!) Grace Emily Olivia Annabel Samuel William George Noah I would avoid any of these if you don't want to have four of the same name in your kid's class! The other funny thing is waves of fairly unusual names. Arlo had a moment, Edie is definitely having a moment and even Dora has been quite popular recently. Good luck!

We are currently trying to move to Beckenham and have run into trouble as the bank have valued the property we were hoping to buy for a wopping ?75k under the price we had agreed to pay. We got in touch with the vendors and asked to meet them half way. They replied by offering.... ?5k off. So we are pulling out. It just seems crazy what people are hoping to achieve compared with what banks are willing to lend. In our case, they were asking for three qurarters of a millions pounds for a semi detatched 30s property in zone 5....... YOu can get caught up and think this is a great deal or you can listen to the banks who think this is crazy. Who is right?

Try childcare.co.uk. That's where we found our au pair and a lot of the au pairs on there already seem to live in London so you can meet them for an interview. Good luck

If you're looking for childcare 4 days a week until 7, I'd recommend an au pair. We've had one for 18 months now and the flexibility is a godsend. Obviously only works if you have a spare bedroom though...

Hello, Hypothetically, if you were suddenly given the opportunity, would you send your child/ren to private school or stick to your original beliefs and ideas and stay state for secondary? All thoughts appreciated! Louie

We pay ?110 a week. Our au pair is on duty 8-9am if we need her then picks up our 6 and 8 year olds up at 3.30 and looks after them until about 6.30-7pm most nights. Some days it's longer, other weeks I'm home by 5pm every night, she just has to be flexible. She doesn't get a car or any other perks but she does get 7 weeks a year paid holiday (same as I get at the moment). I saw the websites advising ?80 but seems a bit low in London and I think you get a better calibre of au pair depending on what you pay. Ours speaks brilliant English, is 22 and is planning to stay a second year with us. Friends have had 19 year olds with basic English who have left after 3 months. So I think you get what you pay for!

I found mine on childcare.co.uk and she's brilliant too, has been with us for a year and planning to stay another. Let me know if you have any further questions, good luck!

Hello, we pay ?110 a week. We love our au pair and she was offered two different jobs so we offered a bit more money to snag her. I think it depends on what they'll be doing but personally I'd rather she's happy with plenty of spending money - our au pair even manages to save a bit. It also depends on how long you need/want them to stay. Our au pair has been with us for a year now and is planning to stay another year while friends who have paid less have lost au pairs very quickly. Hope this helps!

What about trying an activity that only you do with her, something she really likes - swimming, sewing, baking, going for a milkshake etc. Agree with her mum that it's kept as your special activity and develop a nice routine. I remember my Nan used to cook fried egg and proper deep fried chips and always told me not to tell my mum. It was fun having a 'secret' I suppose. Good luck!

We needed somewhere to stay for 6 weeks in the summer and stayed in some holiday let apartments in Catford of all places. They weren't glamorous but had a fab indoor swimming pool which kept the kids happy and you can book week by week. Here's the website http://www.londonselfcatering.co.uk/ Good luck

My car was broken into on Rosendale Road last Wednesday - this lot did smash a window and stole my ancient Satnav. I must admit I had got complacent and thought Satnavs weren't worth nicking any more so mine was on the dashboard in full view. My Audi is 17 years old - another reason I didn't think anyone would bother with my car! I called 101 and the police came very quickly. They told me Satnavs are still very much on the Christmas list of a lot of thieves who will sell them on in a pub for as little as ?10.... So do still hide your Satnavs away. Cost me ?75 for the window excess and the Satnav not covered as it wasn't locked away...

Thanks for all the tips - might try the old cucumber! I think I'll probably end up like you, Mrs TP - buying posher when the budget allows! I'll treat myself to one jar of pricey stuff and let you know if I notice the difference. Merry Christmas!

Hello, For the first time, I looked in the mirror this morning and saw giant bags under my eyes - despite 10 hours' sleep! It made me think - I'm 36 1/2: should I be starting to use expensive anti-aging cream or are they a waste of money? I currently use Oil of Olay purely because my mum did and she used to give me a bottle in my stocking every year as a teenager! It costs about ?6 a bottle and I always chicken out of paying for anything more expensive. Do people think more expensive moisturisers are worth it and if so, which ones? This might just become my New Year's Resolution! Thanks, Louie

Yes, we're in a Lewisham school. Maybe I am over thinking it - they also go to the childminder three evenings a week where they tend to get chicken nuggets/ fromage frais and sweets so I'm aware their diet isn't brill overall at the mo. Yes, the pudding portion sizes are apparently small but the salad bar also runs out frequently before they get there... Thanks for the thoughts! The food is provided by Chartwells

Hiya, I'm never one to look a gift horse in the mouth and was delighted when it was announced that school meals would be free for reception - Yr 2. But after nearly a term, I wonder how healthy they are - or am I just thinking too much about it? Every day there is a different hot pudding with custard or ice cream. One pudding is ice cream with shortbread biscuits! Today my kids said they had pizza with baked beans plus cake and custard. Am I being over-sensitive or is this really not very healthy? If it was up to me, the pudding would be fruit or yoghurt every day except Friday!

I can recommend Ariadna Sole who runs Bump, Birth and Beyond. She's a midwife who also runs antenatal classes including refreshers and always makes an effort to put you with people who live nearby. She's absolutely lovely too Check out www.ariadnasole.com/ Good luck, hope this helps

Hello, I've just found a white iPhone in Court Lane and have brought it home as didn't want the next person to pick it up to nick it. If you've lost yours today (Tuesday, found about 5pm), PM and tell me what network it is and what picture's on the screensaver. Then I can give it back! Thanks, Louie

I weaned my son on the DAY he turned four months purely because he was enormous (99th percentile) and was demanding milk every hour, I couldn't even defrost the frozen expressed stuff fast enough! HV wasn't too supportive but said to trust my judgement. It wasn't about sleep - he was sleeping through already by then - and he loved solids right from the start. We've never had any problems with any allergies and he eats everything. Hope that helps

Hello, Just to let you know a new NCT playgroup has started on Monday mornings 9.30 - 11.30. It's in the Forest Hill Methodist Church in Normanton Street and is a great big space with a huge hall for the bigger children and a lovely room for mums with little babies and / or bumps. It costs ?2 per child and includes a snack, singing and cups of tea for parents. There will hopefully be an activity every week too - this week the children made chocolate truffles! Feel free to come along and try it out.