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Horniman museum (top end of Lordship Lane, towards Forest Hill) is great and has an aquarium, opposite that is a park, then you have Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye park both with nice cafes... I think there is a "Little Movers" class in Camberwell Friday mornings and there are quite a few classes you can join - Sparkle music, Bea babies, there is a cafe on East Dulwich Rd where you can do handprints etc. with baby on plates, cups etc. SO much to do this is a great family area - welcome :)

I found when I was exhausted my milk supply went down so get someone to mind baby for a few hours, go for a beauty treatment or swim, something really relaxing and get some sleep. Plus watch what you are eating - in terms of making sure it is enough. Dieting can affect milk supply too. Simple changes will hopefully work for you. Good luck!

There is an industrial unit that's been up for rent for ages on ED rd nr goose green, might be worth looking into as u would have a fair amount of height in that space... Excellent idea, nice change from eateries!

snappy snaps camberwell green (next to the shopping mall/parade of shops which has morrisons at the back), nice staff...

I saw a load on crystal palace rd last week, sadly think prob wee. Yuk!! Who knows why tho my hubby opened read newspaper the other day on tube and found someone had blown their nose in it :(

Sunday 12-5

All welcome, bring picnic food n drink... Plenty for kids, face painting and games etc. Should be fun and no red, white n blue bunting!!

One of my neighbours is leading the way in organising a street party for our road - neighbours all welcome... We have the promise of a bouncy castle (TBC - depends on whether we can organise one at short notice) and everyone is bringing food, drink and some outdoor toys for the kids. We hope to have sack race, treasure hunt, face painting etc. Should be fun :)

My main advice would be prepared in terms of knowing what you want (water birth or whatever - tho you are likely to change your mind when in excruciating pain!) - and be firm. There are lots of agency staff and other nurses who are not quite as wonderful as those you see smiling and lovely on 'One Born Every Minute' (which is good to watch by the way to prepare yourself for every eventuality and get to grips with how it really is!)... Be firm in saying what you want and if you get a not so nice nurse or doctor and are unsure about their advice or decisions then ask for a second opinion and be strong. You will be fine xx

Yes, it is standard practice but you can see why - not a massive amount of pay for long hours and very hard work let's face it!

nabz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > tbh im quite scared about leaving my baby with a > childminder, iv heard such horror stories > recently! atleast if shes in a nursery theyl be > other children to play with and more then one > adult...:S I would say I found our childminders give a complete home from home environment and would highly recommend a childminder (obvi best to go off recommendations) rather than a nursery when very little. baby rooms in nurseries are nowhere near what a childminder can offer in my personal opinion nursery far better once 12 months or older as more space to run around etc. Good luck with your search! Bright Horizons and Little Jungle are 2 nurseries that seem lovely and My Favourite Nursery on Upland Rd has less of a waiting list.

The Sanctuary spa in Covent Garden is always a lovely treat

Fab idea, if I go down to a shorter week I will get in touch! :)

There is a hall next to St Thomas More church (nr Dulwich library on Lordship Lane) - might be worth asking Father Gerry if he would consider letting you using that as it is a great child-friendly space and very convenient for ED mums :)

Try reading 'I don't know how she does it' and the 'Playground Mafia' - hilarious and will definitely perk you up - or read 'Born to Succeed' if you need a pep up and are considering returning to work. Maybe see a career advisor to help sort thoughts out re career? Take good care, we all feel those same feelings now n then - it's very HARD being a modern mum xxx

I know not strictly a family room discussion topic but if you like me are searching for a perfect cake to have delivered or for a special birthday treat try The English Cheesecake Company - online they do next day delivery and trust me when I say their cheesecakes are AMAZING! I cdnt think of a present for my brother so got the cookie dough cheesecake. Fabulous isn't the word. It had crunchy choc base with cookie dough in centre and decorated (personalised message) with a choc disc in the centre. Presented in a gold box this was the perfect present for someone who has everything :) http://www.englishcheesecake.com/

This will sound ridiculous and like I have too much time on my hands but the chicken from Co-op is amazing, tastes so much better than anything I have tasted from other supermarkets or even the organic butcher - highly recommend and they quite often have good offers on making it pretty reasonable! Thought I would share :) Perhaps we could also get a recipe suggestion chain going...

Personal alarm might make you feel safer but the chances are you would be too shocked to use it soon enough, I think a class in self defence might be more valuable or just a small can of hairspray in your pocket - haha one of the last remaining things you can legally carry and which could prove mighty useful if attacked (not that I take my own advice, just try to avoid places that are too dark n lonely generally!)...

Sitters are supposed to be a very good agency

We recently moved around the corner from North Cross Road and it's a fab location - everything on your doorstep and parking not as much of a nightmare as first expected... Yes people clammer to park on a Saturday but there is the usual coming and going of a weekend so that is unavoidable most streets really. The market is great and the shops sell everything you could want and more :)

Good news indeed, pat on the back for the teachers, tho I too am slightly doubtful about Ofsted as my childminder got Good yet another than I went to see (who owned a pretty vicious dog, promised to have my child walking by age 1, and had a play area half the size of my son's bedroom - which isn't that large!) got Outstanding. Sometimes I wonder whether (1) it is too much personal opinion on the part of the assessor and (2) whether they class excellent paperwork and other organisational things above those that really matter... Food for thought :)

lilly123 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > i dont care what dog people own, but the law > should be made for every dog that is out in public > to be muzzled, forget about having a dog licence, > a licence will not stop a dog attacking a > child,human or another animal. -------------- Completely agree Lilly123 - scary number of dangerous dogs (as now classified under relatively new laws) out and about without muzzles and often pulling their owners along, usually smirking at the fact they feel powerful with something that could seriously hurt someone if they gave the right order. Why do people want dogs that could attack or hurt another animal or even a child / adult?? I just don't understand the need for it personally, plenty of lovely types of dog that make perfect pets and do no harm to anyone, yet we still hear about "random" attacks on family members and unsuspecting children... Roll on stronger laws against dangerous dogs and their owners. There are plans to chip every dog I believe, at the owner's cost, can't wait!!

reggie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Judy > You are interested in "approrpiate schooling for > middle income professional families" > Are you aware how bad that reads...I mean > ...really bad. > What kind of school do you think non professional > families on low or high income want? > > > > Judy2 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > James > > > > I have two girls aged 6 and 4 - I'm very > concerned > > about what schooling will be available to them > at > > secondary level. > > > > The demographics of ED seem to be changing > quite > > rapidly and better schooling is needed. This > > process needs to start immediatley. > > > > I'm would not be interested in more Academies. > I'm > > interested in approrpiate schooling for middle > > income professional families. > > > > I look forward to hearing from you. > > > > Michael. ----------------------- I would like to second the need for a good secondary school in East Dulwich. I believe there are consultations going on around proposed uses for the old Dulwich Hospital site, perhaps you could make it one of your goals to petition for a new secondary school on these grounds? As a lesser point the junction of Barry Road and Lordship Lane traffic light system is awful, the lights are phased to allow equal time for those wishing to drive across to Barry Road and vice versa as those travelling down Lordship Lane (obviously a far busier road with heavy traffic). I have written to TFL to ask that they monitor the lights here and allow less time for those driving across Lordship Lane to try and speed traffic flow up but they say there is no issue. In winter and worse weather this problem clearly worsens, with severe delays due to heavy traffic made worse by the unnecessary wait at the traffic lights (quite often for few or no cars to drive across to Barry Rd or vice versa). Pedestrians of course need a slot to cross but again this is not a well used crossing aside from at weekends or at school closing times. The junction and traffic light system is also a problem at Lordship Lane and Dulwich Common - this is highly dangerous as there is no safe way to cross from Lordship Lane over Dulwich Common to the Harvester (without crossing the road twice) as the traffic lights for those turning left on to Dulwich Common is always on green. This has been raised for years by local councillors and I have also written to TFL who did an assessment and said because there weren't any fatalities (tho admittedly lots of accidents) they were unwilling to change the traffic light system. There is a blind shelter close to this spot on Underhill Road so this is clearly a consideration which makes this an even more pressing issue to be tackled. I hope this is helpful and welcome to the neighbourhood!!

I work at Paddington and the train and tube take about 1hr 15 mins so then add walk at station and express (half an hr I think) - would definitely say a taxi! Try Linkway Cars 8299 4444 - you can usually barter them down a bit on price

Locale is lovely, or Le Chardon nice for a special eve :)