snowboarder

It's a fairly weak copy of the crappy pictures blog by Amber Dudick isn't it? Now that is funny....

We loved it here: http://www.simpsontravel.com/greece-holidays/lefkada/villas/mousses-creche-and-childrens-club 2 bed villas, pool, pool bar and kids club. Small and really low key but lovely...I wish we were going back this year!

Sydney! (2 months wouldn't be long enough though!)

Agree re girls pinkness - but if I look at the clarks girls school shoes I would have been ecstatic with any of them when a child - they're cute and patent and pretty. The boys school shoes - grim. Clearly my two boys are less bothered by this than I am!!

Yes pediped are nice aren't they - he has a pair of pediped trainers which are cool - but - so lovely and soft that they have been trashed by a 6 year old hooligan quite quickly!! Also I want him to try these shoes on! You can find some nice ones online but harder to get them fitted properly. The only school shoes I like are these - http://www.geox.com/en_en/boys/junior/uniform/savage-black-J0324G05443C9999.html#start=1 but no trainers at school and I'm not sure whether these would be considered such....

Seriously!! They are so UGLY! Like old mens shoes scaled down! My 6 year old needs new school shoes (not good timing huh?) and they are all hateful. Ditto the sandals. Only reasonable ones are geox trainer types for school and maybe birkenstock sandals? Yes obviously there's camper and maybe vivobarefoot (crap size availability) and a couple of the italian brands but the starndard clarks/startright offer is so grim, especially as they get older. I realise the pink flowery sparkly girls shoes is a whole other matter but at least they're pretty. Anyway - sorry for ranting I'm feeling cross tonight. Please share with me any funky but not cost the earth boys shoe brands if you know any!!

Look at hoy kids bikes as well - in Evans. There's a second hand islabikes Facebook page - the 14 and 16" versions come up a lot on there. We just bought a 20" for our 6 year old and it's so much better than the 16" specialised he had previously.

We have Quartz - would recommend if you're a complete clumsy clot like me...it always looks smart!

Lego, playmobil, dress up stuff, and anything superhero related here :-)

Did you not have to do it by the 30th April?

You will certainly lose your deposit - but you might be lucky they might not be back at school for the summer term yet?

Bromley admissions out online now x

Just to add a lone voice of a less successful 'transition'....neither of my boys really 'got' balance biking - they never really did that scoot along thing, they sort of ran with it between their legs, and massively preferred their scooters. Probably because of this they both had/have stabilisers, eldest only for a couple of months, youngest still has them at 4. But they enjoy their bikes, youngest loves to potter along and actually has pretty good balance, but just is happy for now. So yeah, we 'failed' at the balance bike/pedal thing but it hasn't made cycling any less fun for them in the long run I don't think! 6yr old loves his new islabike with GEARS (which is very exciting to him!) and did a 6 mile route happily at the weekend.

My just 4 year old is definitely too big for his balance bike now, but I think you can buy larger ones? Anyway, despite having a balance bike since he was 2, he never loved it, only ever walked with it between his legs, and loves his big boy bike with the much maligned stabilisers!! My older son was similar, and now aged 6 is a fearless cyclist!

Gymboree and tumbletots are proper 'classes' with sessions for different age groups rather than regular commercial soft play centres aren't they? I know Gymboree does have free play sessions but it also has age group sessions that you sign up to - activities and songs etc. I did tumbletots with my children - they enjoyed it. Otherwise yes - pickle mentions the other local options above. Beckenham spa is good as the cafe is within the soft play, and quiet in term time school hours.

Thanks everyone - I was really put off the trail gator style because of reviews on other forums and the precarious appearance! Maybe they are worth a go though - certainly much cheaper than a tag along.

Can anyone recommend a brand of tag along bikes - the sort you attach to the back of your own bike? Apparently the islabike version was great, but no longer available...I'm struggling to find any reviews or advice. It's for a 4 year old so he can keep up with us and older brother!

Also the aquarium on Hastings sea front, and cafes and little train there....

Hiya - unfortunately I don't do residential stuff no (wish I did sometimes actually!) but can give you some names if you need. Good luck!

Hi.. Exciting times!! Just some quick answers - 1 - No - you can apply to your local council for a certificate of lawfulness for your permitted development - you will need to submit a to scale location plan and scale plans and elevations of the existing and proposed layout and fill in a form and pay a fee - if you check on your local council website within the planning section all the relevant details should be there - You don't need an architect if your own plans are clear and to scale. 2 - Yes architects can do building control drawings - you will need to submit these for BC approval from your local council - or you can use an approved inspector - same price I think. These plans would be used by the builders in order to comply with and by signed off by the building inspector. 3 - You can employ a structural engineer directly - or if you go down the route of employing an architect they could possibly recommend. You will need structural calcs for building control. 4 - The best thing to do (if doing it yourself) would be to do a basic specification of all the works that you want done in as much detail as possible and get builders to put prices against the various items - so you can compare them and you are getting a realistic price for what you want (especially in terms of finishes). If you employed an architect to run the actual build and tender the job they would do this. 5 - They can do yes and if you're not confident with doing it yourself it's a good idea - but will obviously add to the fee you pay the architect. Hope that helps....basically you can employ an architect to do as much or as little as you need. There are also other architectural technologists/designers that can do basic drawings for you - and building firms who might come with their own designers who can help....it all depends what you want! I'm an architect so clearly I would say you should get a better product for a better price (ultimately) with less hassle if you use a registered architect...but there are other options!

This one?? http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1451331,1451331#msg-1451331

Ps - Guernsey = cold, from what I remember. Like Cornwall but more exposed....

Do you have an approx budget? We had a lovely holiday in Lefkada last yr, but not cheap. This year we're renting an apartment near Malaga having been to a really lovely place in the hills north of there s couple of years ago. I love the Costa de la luz and Tarifa in Spain but the sea is cooler than the med and there are fewer child focused places (good/bad!!). I spent ages looking at camping and glamping options in France, but in the end went for some guaranteed sun - plus glamping is sooo expensive! Oh - also - Mallorca is lovely....

Just to add sorry - the first 6-7 months were definitely the hardest. After that I had an amazing 6m when they both had a post lunch nap together - seriously lucky considering my first didn't sleep at all for about the first yr. I almost look back on that time fondly now - they are such brutes these days!!

It absolutely does get easier!! Mine are 22m apart and (well I think I've blotted it out of my memory) but even by the time they were 1 and 3 things had settled. I started my older one at a pre school for three mornings a week once her turned 2, that helped. I was reminded last night be a fellow forumite that we said that we were looking forward to them being 4 and 6 - which they just about are now and I feel a world away from those early days! No nappies, no buggies, we can go anywhere without special food or anything, the youngest will start school in September and now I'm back at work I treasure my time with them, mostly! They fight (2 boys) but also look out for each other - and we can do things like cinema/restaurants/camping trips etc without too much stress. Hang in there!!