nylonmeals

Two amazing starters that are delicious and easy and would be great for Christmas This is by the founder of the food store Leon - its the most lovely creamy fennel soup, just incredibly tasty http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/15/fennel-soup-anchovy-croutons The second one builds on your salmon idea but people will be enormously impressed - basically you get a side of salmon and then cure it yourself in the fridge with beetroot and vodka. The vodka cures it and the beetroot gives it a great bright pink colour. Then you slice and serve with salad or brown bread. Really easy just leave in the fridge in cling-film for 3 days http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2725/dazzling-beetrootcured-salmon

I swear by the free TMS White Noise app on the iPhone - it literally puts my little one to sleep in minutes. I know that there is a Mumsnet app which launched last week http://itunes.apple.com/app/babies-the-mumsnet-guide/id406970322?mt=8 but wondered if people had found any other apps that kept babies amused etc. Sure that there must be good ones with patterns, sounds and music etc. Of course there is always the issue of baby trying to eat the iPhone rather than look at it but I live in hope!

Thanks for all the advice - really appreciate (don't know what I'd do without the Forum for stuff like this!)

Do you think that your baby won't do a long nap in the buggy? Mine did on the occassions that we were out during lunch. A snooze shade worked wonders for us. If he did wake up early it was dark in the buggy and I used to rock him until he fell back to sleep again. Good luck!

The phone number for My Fav Nursery on Upland Road is 0208 693 2934

There seem to be a bit of difference in prices - Nanny Paye about ?179, Nanny Tax ?99 Just wondered if folks had any recommendations on companies that do take care of the whole nanny tax issue and whether it's worth going with the more expensive option or whether actually they are all pretty much the same? Thanks!

Jelly Belly does just that. Started by Kellie who lives locally she does one to one or group classes (at Dulwich Therapy Rooms) specially designed for post c-section women. I worked with Kellie after my little boy was born earlier this year. She's lovely and it's a great gentle way back into fitness Kellie on 07985700879, email info@jellybellypt.com Think its 8 weeks that you're meant to wait but Kellie can tell you http://www.vitality-centre.com/courses/post-caesarean-pilates-courses/

All Saints have a live donkey apparently for their family carol service! Always mean to go :-) It's quite happy-clappy as a church but nice atmosphere

i loved that series though i did cry for almost every minute of every episode I was 8 months pregnant at the time LOL

Are you sure that the legal minimum is 28 days for full time employee? That was more than I got at work when I was full-time.

Honestly I really wouldn't worry at all. It sounds like you are doing a great job with your little one. I don't think babies of that age get bored. At that age mine seemed to like hearing music playing and would start to recognise songs which was sweet to see. Mats with patterns on and books with big graphics (black and white) also seemed popular I do think that a lot of stimulation comes from watching and listening to you as opposed to what we would consider "play"

My Favourite Nursery (which was called Sure and Firm) on Uplands Road has vacancies I believe as it's new. A number of my NCT class are putting their babies there when they go back to work in the new year. They were very impressed with the quality of the carers that they met and its a lot cheaper than most places in this area. A Google search should be phone number but I will ask my friends and post up too.

White noise is amazing for babies we've found. I know that you don't have an iPod LeilahB but you can get a basic one for about ?150 (xmas present??), there are loads of brilliant free baby apps to download. We use a white noise app that has waves crashing on beaches or rain storms. My biggest problem is that they are so relaxing that they send me to sleep to! They're great though because you can put them on timers so that you don't have to be in the room to switch them off. good luck!!

You could go into Peckham - on Rye Lane a ton of shops and stalls selling exactly that.

There's Bumps and Babes in the church at Goose Green on a Monday morning which is very laid back and a good drop in place. Its ?1.50 I think a session

Happy sleeping baby - though I have been awake since 3.30am. Thank god for the Forum! ;-) I think that I over-ate at the incredible Canton Arms last night. I must have eaten an entire slow roasted shoulder of lamb... Oh well.

There are quite a few French mums or mums married to French men who live in the area See the thread here about various meet-ups http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,532077,page=1 In terms of bi-lingual nurseries etc, Little Jungle is opening in Spring and is run by a French woman and she is thinking of offering French (I believe) http://www.littlejungle.co.uk./ There are also classes which may be of interest and playgroups http://www.lajolieronde.co.uk/ http://www.petites-ecoles.co.uk/ou-nous-trouver?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=7&sobi2Id=5 I think that the closest totally French speaking nursery and pre-school is the Ecole du Parc in Clapham, but I may be wrong about that. http://www.ecoleduparc.co.uk/ Hope that all helps!

my baby's first film was Sex and The City 2 - poor boy!! Great news about Peckham's big scream BTW. Thank you again for sorting and agree we need to spread the word so that as many people as possible register and go, otherwise there's no point in them doing it.

Alieh - Maybe its worth editing the title of your initial post in order that people know that they should be signing up and showing interest in this new screening? Sadly I start back at work on Monday 10th Jan otherwise would have met you all there!

Lot of negativity for a local south london mum who's made a successful business career as well as raising a family

I think that she won business woman of the year, so would assume that this is someone with great experience and great advice

Love the fact that instead of moaning that there wasn't a Big Scream walking distance from ED you got up and did something about it?. Thank you on behalf of a lazier mum than you are. Great idea Mae, ta!

This post made me laugh with recognition. Both my parents live in London and I had sort of assumed that my mum in particular would really want to hands on with the care of my baby, her only grandson. Nothing could be further from the truth. While she 100% loves her grandson and enjoys coming and playing with him she absolutely does not want to do anything like childcare when I am back at work. I seem to be surrounded by friends whose mothers are desperate to come and do a day a week (or more) looking after their grandchild, some I know travel for serious distances as well. Not mine. I'd like her to be more hands on, selfishly it would be amazing if she could do a day a week of childcare but it's not going to happen. I think that my mum is part of the new generation of incredibly active grannies - she has a better social life than we do and is on countless committees and groups and just doesn't have the time or energy I think to look after a 10 month old. It's funny what you expect will happen once the baby arrives isn't usually what happens. Clare, maybe things will change when your little one gets older - it might be easier for grandparents to feel more actively involved then?

Ditto DMC - avoid The Gardens if pregnant, underwhelming midwife to say the least

If you do want to cycle as a way of fitting exercise into a working day TFL do great detailed cycle maps that are free This is the link https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/cycling/cycle-guides-request.aspx You just click on the area that you want and they will send you as many as you want. Pre-baby I cycled to work and did all the cycle and back routes that I found on the map. It took a bit longer than main roads but (touch wood) I was fine and had no traffic scares at all Re - getting body back, we hit the 9 month mark next month and I am still about half a stone above what I was but annoyingly I think that I was over-weight before I had my son... Ho hum. :-)