bubbachumps

We started our son in nursery one day a week when he was one and he didn't really settle until we upped it to two days. I think he just didn't really have time to get into the nursery routine when he was on one day a week. A friend of mine whose son was also doing one day nursery, two days childminder, took her son out of nursery in the end as he just didn't settle. All children are different of course, but my feeling is that consistency and routine are important at that young age.

Yes we did a house swap via the Guardian Home Exchange site last year. We spent a week in Budapest while the Hungarian family stayed in East Dulwich. It was great! Nice to be off the tourist track a bit, we met some of their friends and neighbours and the house was very well equipped so great for families. They left our property as they had found it and we intend to do it again this year.

removed

It's a lovely nursery. Our son has been there for a year and is very happy there. We like that it's small so has a "homely" atmosphere. The staff are wonderful and some great activities are arranged for the children. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

We were in Norfolk for a long weekend and there were some amazing beaches, very quiet, our 2 year old had a great time. Best beaches we saw were Sea Palling and Mundersley, both long, wide and sandy with lifeguards. It was about a 3.5 hour drive from SE22.

I am a freelance media consultant and also miss the hubbub of an office, would love to join you!

Thank you for the suggestions, I hadn't thought of the markets - good idea for teens! Alieh, enjoy your swap too! Am slightly nervous, but it's an adventure!

We are doing a house swap with a family from Hungary who have 3 children aged between 8 and 16. I am writing them a guide to the local area with some family-friendly activities both locally and in London generally. Our son is much younger so I'm worried my ideas may be a bit too young for the older kids. If anyone has any tips for things to do with older children I'd be really grateful for any ideas!

We went along to this today - it was fantastic. My 20 month old and his friend both loved it!

I agree with James that the Coop would become a destination shop during those hours, being the only one of any size open in the near vicinity. It would also harm the trade of the local independent 24 hour shops. I don't live on Lordship Lane so it is unlikely to affect me, but if I did I would not be happy about it.

I was wondering if any other parents with children at this nursery have any feedback? I am considering it for my son as I was impressed with the staff and their interaction with the children when I looked round but as it's so new there is less feedback for this one than other nurseries. It's so hard to make such an important decision on one visit!!

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Yes it was easy with the buggy, there were plenty of buggy parks and we were able to take the nappy bag inside the venue. Would recommend the sling as well once you park the buggy as some of the seating areas are very steep climbs.

We went today with our one year old as well. We took the bugggy, there were buggy parks at each of the arenas and the it was handy to have for the long walk from Stratford station to the basketball arena. We also seemed to get into priority lanes. The basketball was great although our baby didn't enjoy it much after the first half an hour or so and once he had started trying to eat the ice cream of the man sitting next to me we felt we had to leave after the first game! But it was a fun afternoon out anyway, and lovely to feel at the centre of all the action.

The Edtots website is good for seeing what's on at a glance each day http://www.edtots.co.uk/

I found that I needed to try a few before I bought into a system. I use Tots Bots easyfits and Close Parent Pop In Dream Dris during the day, and Tots Bots Bamboozles at night. Not all the nappies I tried worked for my baby, and in fact the ones I use full time now are birth to potty but when he was tiny they did leak a bit as they are just so bulky on newborns. I wasn't completely cloth until he was about 3 months old and they started to fit better. Now we never really have any leaks. I think it's good to have a mix of nappies for absorbancy at night, ease of use for the day, and some quick drying ones! I found the Cheeks and Cherries website quite helpful.

It's a great name, totally obvious what the group is, and a bit of fun. Perhaps people who don't go because of the name wouldn't be much fun to have as members anyway...

What a fabulous idea! I'm sure many mums in the area will be grateful for a resource like this, having all the useful info in one place. Congratulations on a great community initiative!

East Dulwich residents are generally really good at minimising use of plastic/carrier bags - most of us take a bag with us on a planned shopping trip and local shops generally only give out a bag if you ask for one/really need one. Can we all however hand on heart say that we carry a hessian shopping bag with us at all times, whether we are planning on going shopping or not? I popped into Green and Blue on the way home from work the other night and bought 2 bottles of wine. It was not a planned trip and I had no bag, other than my handbag and my laptop bag, and was obviously laden. I paid and asked for a bag and was told that they do not give out carrier bags. I was quite surprised since they are selling heavy, breakable objects, and wine is often a spontaneous not a planned purchase. I was offered a box instead, but was told it was not a carrier box, but an actual box I would have to carry in both arms. This was not suitable. I was then told I could buy one of their hessian bags. This did not seem acceptable to me since I had already spent ?40 on the wine and have several hessian bags at home for planned shopping trips. After an uncomforatble trip home an email to the manager provoked a response noting that not carrying a bag at all times is lazy and forgetful! Well that told me. Perhaps I am the only person in East Dulwich who does not have a hessian bag on me at all times, whether I am intending to go shopping or not, but I don't think so. I have heard people say Green and Blue are "up themselves" before, but this was the first time I had experienced it first time. I am fully in favour of reducing carrier bag usage, but in the real world can any of us say that we never ever use them? CAn shops not have emergency second hand carrier bags to give out when really necessary, or recycled paper bags or something? I hope the manager of G&B does not fly anywhere or drive a car.......

We live locally and have found it shut many times too. Quite often when we are in it's nearly empty - we were in last Tuesday night and there were only a couple of tables of people and they hadn't even bothered to light the candles on tables like they usually do. It would be a shame if it closed as it's a lovely pub - I think it's suffering because of the Phoenix

We are considering buying a property down off Peckham Rye near the Clockhouse Pub. We currently live in Camberwell so don't really know that end of ED well at all. What is it like? Are the local amenities good and does it feel safe late at night?

I have been incensed by this new system and have sent a letter to the practice manager (who has not replied to me). The nurses call you back at a time convenient to them - ie. you are expected to talk about your medical problems at your desk at work, on the train etc. If you can't get to the phone at that time you have to start the process again. I actually needed a referral to Kings and the nurse made a mistake with the form so I had to do it all again with the doctor. It's an utter shambles. I really do think the GPs are of a high calibre there, but this new system is ludicrous. Perhaps we could organise a patient petition?!