snowboarder

I'm searching for the same sort of thing - with the added complication of having to go in school holidays! Simpson travel have 2 areas in Greece which exactly fit the bill but are really quite expensive. Mark Warner etc look good but again expensive and generally half board. There's a chalet camp site in menorca that I'm considering called camping Bon sou - but no kids club! My only other plan is to go to a villa complex in Spain/Portugal and hope the children make friends at the pool and that will entertain them! If anyone has any other ideas (esp for school hols!) I'd love to hear them too!

I've written about this before but anyway...we have moved out to a village in between Orpington and Sevenoaks. The commute to London Bridge/Cannon St/Charing Cross is fast and in some cases a non stop 18 mins, we have a village green, pub and amazing village school with class sizes of 12. Villages like Shoreham/Otford/Halstead/Knockholt are all close by and similar (some bigger/smaller/nearer etc). I think the Otford line goes to Victoria/Blackfriars. But despite lots of positives (and overall I am starting to admit it has been a good move for us as a family) we do still miss ED nearly 2 years post move! Good luck - it's so hard and depends on so many things (work location/family etc).

ps - yes, re langbourne, but apparently it's on the up!

Hi - yes it possibly is the same - I don't know it at all but there was much talk on here about it when the reception offers came out last year - do a search. I really wouldn't bother with Biggin Hill! It's really far out and god knows how you get to Kings from there! All schools in the south east are oversubscribed it seems - they are where we are south of Orpington and I know they are in Sevenoaks - so further out does not necessarily equate to spaces in schools. Good luck - what a nightmare! Are you able to come down and have a look round places? I think it's only once you're here with an address that you can really speak sensibly to the schools...they may for instance have a waiting list but for reception that may include children that didn't get their first choice in september but who now might not actually move if a place came up....possibly!

What about Langbourne primary? That was one of the few schools that wasn't oversubscribed I think? I don't know bickley but I now live just south of Orpington - I'm pretty sure schools like Crofton (which I don't think is the best primary in Orpington, but is big) was oversubscribed for reception at the start of the year - all schools were! Sorry I realise that's not super helpful - in a way maybe you should just choose an area you like (like east Dulwich) that has a fairly high concentration of options with maybe a place in yr 2 and then hope it all works out?

Have always thought this place looks amazing :-) http://www.country-kids.fr/

I'd say a nanny - ours does 7.30 - 6.30 2 days a week and will do other ad hoc hrs when she can. It's def been the most flexible solution for us (we have 2 boys, the eldest has just started school, so she does the pick ups/drop offs etc too).

Oh SO many things! I went to the theatre with my 4.5 yr old yesterday, and had a day in town with him, and it suddenly occurred to me that I've hardly ever spent any time with just him since his brother appeared nearly 3 yrs ago. I found just getting around with 2 way harder. So trips out would be my recommendation - train trips into town, museums, adventures etc. I've never taken my 2 to the science museum as I just can't face the journey and logistics, even now! My eldest is a bit of a runaway which makes things harder! And swimming! Not easy with a toddler and a baby! Have fun....and I hope number 2 comes along just at the right time....

I think you need to talk to an architect - will be able to help with the overall design and advise and coordinate the programme/other works.

How about stick with doing it at home with some games and party tea but get an entertainer of some sort along too? We went to a fab house party for a 4th birthday with games and craft and buffet tea and the magician simon rosselli who was great, and i think would be really good for older kids (esp boys) too - i think he can even do magic and mini disco combos!

Just tell him he's too late, and smile sweetly! And maybe secretly check if he can exchange after christmas, just for your own peace of mind? ( (My husband did sthg similar to me so my surprise is slightly ruined too!)

I think it's fine as long as you don't have too many adults! Am presuming at 7 they get dropped off? It's the 2 grown ups per child (sometimes) when they are young that means you need so much space I reckon!

Sorry I really do have to say - after nearly 5 years of reading/taking part in this forum - this is one of the most perplexing posts I've seen....boys are lazy?!? Wow. As everyone else has said they are all amazing little people doing their own things in their own time.

We just use the pampers disposable adhesive sheets - and double up as above so can whip off at speed in the night if necessary and not have to scrabble around for sheets....

If it really bothers you why not get a maxi micro? At it's lowest setting it is exactly the same size as a mini, studier and will last longer... (But the candy blue of that one above is lovely!)

My two fight constantly...and they are only 4 and 2!! They are very different characters, play in very different ways, always want the same thing and are both somewhat prone to dramatics when don't get their own way. It's very wearisome and tedious - I can rarely leave the room (to get some washing, for example) without returning to someone crying!! I basically try to direct them to opposite sides of the house and hope for the best... (Oh - just to add - they do occasionally get on if they decide to perform joint mischief....)

The funny thing is, I would totally have been with you all on this a year or so ago....cursed bonfire night, hated over night guests, ocado delivery men etc....but now, at 4.5 and 2.5, my two boys seem to have completely altered the way they sleep and literally nothing wakes them, especially in the first half of the night. I can go in their rooms, turn the light on and put clothes away...really weird. So it does, as everything seems to, pass....

Does anyone have one and can recommend? My 4.5 yr old is going on a school trip and needs to take his booster seat with him - well his car seat is huge and heavy so he can't take that!! Is this more versatile than just a standard booster seat?

Does the ELC plastic one stay together bumpy? We have the fold up set that matches so thought would be good idea - BUT it drives me crazy as it keeps coming apart!!

I think the GLTC one is the Le Toy Van one which I have read is not v sturdy as not solid wood, and has poor plastic edges on it which break? After a couple of lovely GLTC wooden toys breaking (literally snapping in two!) I'm actually quite keen on sturdy plastic these days! It also needs to be interesting enough for a 4.5 year old who is very seduced by Ben 10/superhero type stuff and def would think Little People are babyish...

Hope the mini snowboarders aren't reading this.... We're going to get them a toy garage to share for christmas. I am currently endlessly trawling the internet to find one I like...to no avail! I actually don't care if it's plastic or wooden - but most of their cars are the metal/plastic hotwheels/matchbox style cars so it needs to be appropriately scaled. Loads of the plastic ones look flimsy and the wooden ones don't look much better - and loo a bit basic for my 4 yr old who is lusting after some sort of scooby doo catcher toy he's seen on the tv! I don't like Le toy van after having a set of their cars and all the stickers peeling off - and have seen some terrible reviews. The ELC ones both look a bit rubbish. Hotwheels looks flimsy and over complicated....gah! It needs to be fun, sturdy and appropriate for a 2.5 and 4.5 yr old. What do you think, forum?!?

The prices on the other post do sound too good to be true! Just to say I had a stall at the sale and I really don't get the impression that this is anything to do with the organisers who quite openly publicise the event properly. I actually did a similar thing and posted in the classified that I would be there with various things - totally in good faith - so maybe don't discount the sale itself just because of this one weird thing. Understand it's disappointing though.

Use leggings instead?

I like the haba dolls - http://www.funkymoose.co.uk/toys-games-creative-play/dolls-dolls-house-from-haba?page=all - could get them both one for Christmas?

One of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ronhill-ladies-vizion-photon-jacket-aw13/ Genius for anyone who runs in the dark!