tarafitness

Congratulations! My son starts school next year, and Harris is on our list. This is very encouraging :)

Health Hub, Herne Hill :)

Hi there. I sent a PM asking to join the WhatsApp group, but got no reply.

This is what it looks like now..

We've recently installed a lawn in our back garden... it was a tiny patio space, so we had to lay underlay/'shock pads' first, and then glue the grass on top of it (very easy job). We're very pleased with the results, especially my 3 year old who loves to lie and roll about on it! We used Easi Grass, and specifically their award winning Chelsea Grass. I ordered lots of different samples, from various companies, but this was my favourite in terms of how realistic the grass looked, how soft it was, and hot little it shed - some companies were very poor in this respect, so I would recommend ordering free samples and roughing them up a bit (you can use them to make little gardens for toys ;-) ) Our cats took over a week to accept it, but they're happy to sit on it now, I guess it didn't feel or smell 'right' at first. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as means it'll deter other cats from using it as a toilet!

Done, for my 21 year old son.

I'm also with Juniper, and am in two minds over whether I want a home birth or not (mainly due to having another young child about). Juniper is the equivalent of what the Lanes used to be. Allocation is based on postcode, which benefits me as it used to be that it was a midwife caseload team assigned to specific GPs, and I missed out as I'm with the Gardens.

yay! someone with a due date later than mine :-D

I don't have experience of school nurseries, but my (much) older son moved very easily from his nursery to reception - and even two subsequent primary schools while we tried to get one closer in the borough we lived in. At that age, they're very adaptable. My youngest is in the pre-school room at Gumboots, and I'm the opposite as was wondering if it would be worth keeping him there an extra year, and having him start in Year 1 instead of Reception, as it's such a lovely environment there for them, and when he starts school, his outdoor play will be seriously restricted. In many countries (including Finland, where my partner's uncle and daughters live, where the education system has been ranked #1 in the world), children don't start any sort of formal learning until they turn 7. I have to agree wholeheartedly with Goodliz, regarding keeping things simple. I'm due another baby in August, and my son will start reception next September - when I'm likely to be going back to work.. the thought of navigating two dropoff/pickup locations, doesn't exactly fill me with joy! Also, just to say that I think Gumboots do a really good job of preparing the children for reception, and there will be many kids joining school reception who have never experienced any sort of structured daycare setting, so your son will definitely have that as an advantage :-)

Nature Play - SE London, run a session on Thursday mornings in Sydenham Hill Woods. If you join the group, you'll get an invite on Wednesday morning, to the event the next day. There are only 15 spaces available for parents and their child(ren), so keep an eye out. The Centre for Wildlife Gardening is a lovely place to visit. They did have Saturday sessions running throughout the winter - up until the end of March. I'm unsure as to whether or not they're going to be reinstated.

Thank you, worldwiser, that's very helpful.

I had my son's picture taken at the post office on Forest Hill Road :-)

That's brilliant, thank you Becca

Thank you for the swift response, Louise. Although the rope ladder is clearly in need of repair, it's the bit underneath the two new handles that has the exposed metal wires sticking out. Can you please confirm that has been attended to, also? Thanks, Tara.

Very good points, JoeLeg.

Anyone due in September? I'm thinking I might potentially sneak into this group, as my next child is due on the 27th of August (and my 3 year old was 6 days late) :-) I'm hoping for a 1st September arrival date, but I know that in reality, babies come when they feel like it :-D

MarkT Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've sent a link to this thread to one of the > Council's project management team who, I think, > were involved in setting up the playground. > MarkT Thank you

Nigello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > _____You'd hope that the contractors/supervisor > would have a quick scoot around to see if there > are any other problems, but I doubt it happens. I > bet they get given a task, finish it, then go > home, which could well have more to do with > council procedure than any lack of initiative > (perhaps). The cable I photographed - with the wire poking out - is actually situated *below* the new handles.. they can't have missed it really :-(

I love Brighton. It's the only place I'd consider leaving ED for. My grown up son lives there. He moved down for uni, but ended up staying there when he made the decision to end his course and work instead. We just spent a weekend down there with our three year old for a friend's wedding, and had a lovely time. We stayed in an airbnb place, which was a lot cheaper than a hotel, and nice to be close to my son's house (and the beautiful Queen's Park, and excellent Hanover pub!). The place has a lovely feel to it. It's a great place to go out in, both for young people like my elder son, and families too. It's hilly as hell.. I was exhausted hauling my heavy pregnant self up the gigantic hill to our rented place, but it was nice to see all the houses along the way, and feel like I was getting a bit of exercise too :-) I can't drive so it wouldn't bother me that you have to walk/bus everywhere in the centre. A good friend of mine lives a little further out, in Portslade, and says it's really lovely around there for families, lots of beautiful parks to explore. It's only the lack of jobs (we're both in IT), and moving away from my partner's parents that puts me off moving down!

I'm just sharing the view of another who works a lot harder, for a lot less. I'm not saying that either is right or just. I'd dearly love for my son to work somewhere else, but he likes the camaraderie and family feel to the place.

That's an intranet link, I'm afraid. I take it you're a BBC employee? Do you happen to have one for an external website? Thanks :-)

I'd advise you to look for a rescue cat that needs rehoming, and one that has always been kept indoors - as plenty have. From my own experience, female cats seem to prefer staying indoors - but that's my limited experience of two females (and talking to other people about their cats).. the latter is one of a pair of siblings, and won't leave the house via the catflap, but will venture into the garden if you open the door for her, and makes no attempt to explore further. Our other female cat would only use our garden. If a cat has been kept in all their life - without any distress being noted - then it might be perfect for you? :-) But yes, please consider a rescue cat, rather than a new kitten :-)

My 20 year old son walked past your lot on Saturday. He works at McDonald's in Brighton. His starting salary was ?5.45ph, and he works his arse off on a zero hours contract. He had to giggle, and point out that you really don't know how lucky you have it.

The fabric from the foot holds/treads on the infant play structure in Goose Green adventure playground, have been in sorry state for a while now. One of the handles was broken for absolutely ages, and now had been replaced - hurrah! However, the fabric from the foot rest underneath has worn off, exposing the metal cable strands below, including sharp pieces sticking out (see pics), waiting to shorts the legs of any child who slips onto it. I ended up having to move my shorts-wearing son away. The other net-style foot/hand holds are suffering similarly, and have been patched up with duct tape, which is also wearing through. Does anyone know who to contact about this? I don't understand how the hanging handles can have been replaced, without anyone doing anything about the rest of the apparatus, which is in such a visibly bad state? Cheers, Tara.

Response received by email today: Dear Tara XXXX, The Government has responded to the petition you signed ? ?Immediately stop plans to cut Southeastern services to Charing Cross & Victoria?. Government responded: We are seeking passengers? views on the principle of reducing the choice of London termini to provide a more regular timetable and reliable service. We are not proposing to cut specific services. The Department for Transport has launched a public consultation to seek passengers? views on their priorities for the train service on the South Eastern network. These will be used by the Department of Transport to specify the service required from the next train operator, which is planned to start in December 2018. The public consultation seeks views on all aspects of the train service, including the provision of more space for passengers, improvements to customer service, simplifying fares and ticketing, improving access and facilities at stations, priorities for speeding up journeys, and providing additional services. Question 17 seeks views about whether passengers would support the principle of reducing the choice of London termini served from individual stations to provide a more regular timetable and reliable service. We are not proposing to reduce or change specific services. An example is provided to explain how the concept could potentially operate in practice if passengers supported it. This question is being asked because passengers have indicated that reducing delays is a priority. Paragraph 4.6 of the consultation document explains that one of the causes of delays is the need for trains to cross complex junctions at key points such as London Bridge and Lewisham, which are operating at close to maximum capability. Reducing the need for trains to cross these junctions, by reducing the number of London termini served from individual stations, would help to reduce delays. Journeys could also be quicker. It is currently necessary to add in waiting times at stations to timetable moves across these junctions and these could be reduced or eliminated if services ran to a single London termini. In the peak periods, the majority of passengers change at London Bridge, although a significant number do continue through to Cannon Street, Waterloo East, and Charing Cross. We know that these passengers value a choice of London stations. We are therefore seeking passengers? views on the principle of reducing the choice of London termini to provide a more regular timetable and reliable service. In answering this question, it is important to consider the many new journey choices for passengers that will result from the completion of the Thameslink programme and the opening of the Elizabeth line. For example, by 2019, passengers from many South Eastern stations will be able to travel via Abbey Wood or Woolwich for fast and regular onward connections to Canary Wharf and central London. Many more passengers will change at London Bridge to join Thameslink trains that run every five minutes between London Bridge-Blackfriars-City Thameslink-Farringdon-St. Pancras. On the Bexleyheath line the number of passengers from intermediate stations between Dartford and Lewisham and who travel beyond Lewisham towards Victoria is relatively small when compared with those travelling on much faster trains to London Bridge. In the future some passenger from the outer stations on this route will travel via Abbey Wood and the Elizabeth line, or change at London Bridge for Thameslink onward connections. Overall all passengers will benefit from more reliable journeys and many will benefit from faster journey times. The public consultation will end on 23 May 2017, after which the Department for Transport will carefully analyse each response. The conclusions will be published in the Autumn in a Stakeholder Response document. It is important to note that there would need to be a separate public consultation by the next train operator before any significant timetable changes were introduced, and this would include reducing the choice of London termini served from stations on the South Eastern network. Department for Transport Click this link to view the response online: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/190894?reveal_response=yes The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response. They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate. The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee Thanks, The Petitions team UK Government and Parliament I guess this is the crunch paragraph? Tara