esme

just to follow on from the person recommending everyone shred docs, we have had someone use our name and address to apply for a savings account (which was opened successfully) and various credit cards. definitely seems a good idea to shred as much as possible but also be aware that someone in local sorting office could also be involved - how else would they get the credit card before it reached our post box???

sema thai is awful, the decor before refurb was better and the food and service leave a lot to be desired - i think it's the only restaurant i would avoid on lordship lane! there is a great thai place in crystal palace (i forget the name) but wish there was one in dulwich somewhere. thai pavillion was a really nice place, great food even if the seats were a bit uncomfortable.

second the B&B / hotel idea, know loads of couples who live in flats with no space for overnight guests and the Diana hotel is on a main road (W.Dulwich) and cpl of others are basically rooms in family homes, which then leaves staying in a hotel and paying loads in London Bridge or elsewhere central...

I had "morning" sickness in the evenings for my 4th month and it lasted a month - I found eating very little in the evenings worked for me, ginger biscuits were quite good and staved off hunger pangs.. basically i don't think much you can do about it - like heartburn only a few things work (for me resting, camomile tea, and milk or yoghurt) - hope it eases soon xx

Brilliant programme, will def be watching next week! The husband was a complete idiot and the son was lovely (albeit I didn't get why he was in the delivery room either but hey he was more supportive than hubby - who finally sprang into action when he realised his wife needed him to be a man rather than a 5 yr old!!). Well worth watching and very well made, didn't think it showed truly how much midwives put in but it was pretty positive overall and mercifully didn't scare me to death!

my baby is due on 22 march - i got a voucher from southwark council (?40!) and just bought some nappies online from clean green nappy machine... am slightly fearful but have heard so many good things about how easy reusables are that i have just got a cpl of packs of pampers and some enviro friendly ones (which health matters on lordship lane stock but larger Boots stores do cheaper, as i guess they can buy in bulk). ooh all very exciting (not the poo obviously but the whole baby thing!). maybe we can compare notes when the time comes!!

St Johns Ambulance - check out their website, reasonable rates, lasts 2 days and specifically designed for Early Years

I am due in mid March and looking for other expectant mums-to-be (or mums already!), have joined NCT but trying to save pennies so don't want to do any expensive courses and trying to find others in same boat to meet up with for precious few months of maternity leave. Could you PM me with any local East Dulwich groups? I've read about jelly babies at Peckham Pulse and that sounds good but would like to find other tea & cake groups, pram pushing or similar :)

Sitaram Yoga now run classes at St Barnabas church hall (nice and warm not cold and draughty as you might imagine as in smaller part of the hall - just off the village nr Audi garage in Dulwich Village). I tried it last night and it was very gentle, suitable for those very tired (maybe during first 3 months) and then nr the end when you can't move much and need as much rest as possible :) teacher (Jo) is lovely and the class lasts for 1.5 hours so good value for money (6pm start) Check out their website: http://www.sitaram.org

I think egusi soup is Nigerian (at least my hubby's mum cooks it specially for him - I prefer her spinach soup or Jollof rice mm mmm)... Sounds like this place is worth a try, the good African restaurants are few and far between - if you know anything about African culture you'll be prepared to wait a while for your food lol. Worth waiting for it probably is tho, there are some delicious stews and plantain is delicious - who knows why supermarkets haven't started stocking it yet! I'd say Jamaican / West Indian cooking is completely different from African, from the dishes I have tried. I love both. Rice n Peas on Grove Vale in East Dulwich has yummy food all day long - goat curry with rice & peas, plantain and coleslaw, all to die for. If you want to try a patty get one from there - not a chippy! Anyone who hasn't tried mango juice really ought to be a bit more adventurous :)

Just to put your minds at ease the guy who was shot dead prior to the news that this woman had been killed (condolences to her family) was a nasty piece of work and had a criminal record as long as your arm. This was a case of a targeted shooting whereas this latest murder is totally unrelated. The 1st due to criminal gang activity (yes crime happens everywhere and East Dulwich is no exception) and the 2nd who knows, the police are starting to investigate. They appear to have arrested people in relation to both incidents so that's good news at least.

Totally agree with Jeremy's comments above that "it could work as a pizzeria/ice-cream parlour/dessert emporium" but I have to say I love the smoothies (tho saying that the last one I had was almost frozen and too icy to drink during my lunchbreak!)... the breakfasts (veggi and carnivorous) are the best thing ever, as are the tuna melt paninis, and the cafe lattes are a reason to pop in. The menu def needs a revamp, tho please don't go up to The Bishop prices! I'd say due to the size it'd be best kept as a nice cafe, serving baked potatoes (as someone mentioned above the salad with salad cream should GO!), sausage and mash and that type of thing. Uncomfy chairs and you feel crammed in - mostly couples or 3-somes so yes smaller tables and less crowded would be good. Garden is a yard and needs Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen to stop by as has great potential - more plants, maybe a bit of colour (brightly coloured umbrellas?) and new furniture as again benches uncomfy and look worn out. Staff are generally lovely and efficient, there were a few mistakes where recruitment was concerned a few months ago (non english speaking and very slow, getting stuff wrong etc. - my friend once got a plate of beans without the spud!!!). Overall somewhere I go at least once a week on a weekday and then again at the weekend for breakfast or a coffee...

i also say no no no - even tho i love the apple pies :)

I am interested in trying to get more treatment - physio & reflexology type thing - for stroke patients, as when my dad had a stroke last year the NHS weren't interested (as he also had a brain tumour so shortened life expectancy) and I found it near impossible even to organise something privately. As his was very severe and paralysed his left side, he was bedridden and I wanted to occupy some of his time in a nice way and just give him a treat really. I was wondering what your dad had been offered in the way of after-care - if any - and if you had any ideas as to anything that would be helpful for those discharged from hospital in terms of things like this or generally aids to use around the home to make life easier... Any ideas or feedback welcome - thanks

I am interested in trying to get more treatment - physio & reflexology type thing - for stroke patients, as when my dad had a stroke last year the NHS weren't interested (probably due to the money aspect) and I found it near impossible even to organise something privately. As his stroke was very severe and paralysed his left side, he was bedridden and I wanted to occupy some of his time in a nice way and just give him a treat really. I was wondering what your dad had been offered in the way of after-care - if any - and if you had any ideas about anything that would be helpful for those discharged from hospital in terms of things like this or generally aids to use around the home to make life easier... Any ideas or feedback welcome :)

I like Pistachio Club and have no idea why it's not busier, as I think that puts people off trying it out. Curry Cabin is good but a bit crowded and hard to get a table sometimes. Tandoori Nights has excellent food and super-polite staff but a bit more expensive than some of the others and there are loads to choose from so you are spoilt for choice!