Mrs TP

Only the sweatshirt / cardigan needs the school badge. You can buy all 3 items from the school i.e. sweatshirts with the badge, cardigans with the badge or just the badges (iron-on or sew-on ones) to put on jumpers / cardigans bought elsewhere. The school polo shirts with the badge on are cute but many children have plain polo shirts. For anyone starting reception don't rush out and get the PE kit - they just take their shoes and socks off for the first term and don't do getting changed PE until after Christmas. The school office will be rammed the first official day back for the majority of children (5th Sept) but should be quieter with a receptionist available on the Tues and Weds before this.

British Heart Foundation will come and specifically collect from individual addresses - google them. The big St Christoper's is almost over-run with stuff and they have specifically asked me to drop at the smaller one before - this is because the big one has the better parking.

Oimissus - our house (like most) has been unbearably hot recently and our 9yr old with a high bed took to sleeping on the floor with a fan pointing at her. She was half in the den under her bed and half out - v. bizarre but she found it more comfortable on those intensely hot nights. Ole - I think she was 7 when she got it. She has bashed her legs endless times in the day time, going up and down the ladder to fetch stuff but fingers crossed has never fallen out. It has a metal ladder with really thin slats that hurt my feet like hell when I have to stand on it to change the bedding!

Sunbob I remember you saying your daughter is starting at SJSC - they don't get changed for PE until at least the beginning of the January term. Before then they usually just get them to take their shoes and socks off for PE activities in the hall. Speak to the teacher in Sept and find out what they specifically doing, definitely no need to buy the PE kit ahead of the Sept term start. For my older two we started off with black plimsoles and progressed to trainers as they got older.

I think they are on the look out for Kate and Wills heading over to JoJo to kit out their little one and then join the general throng of trendy buggies up and down Lordship that are the start of many a thread on here ...

What has always puzzled me about Indian Restaurants and takeaways is how do they know how much rice to do? We have a nightmare in our house with 5 of us and no one can ever remember if it was just over half a mug full, 3/4 of a mug full or the whole mug of rice?

At the risk of being kicked off the forum for mentioning the Maccie D word, we were discussing the content of Happy Meals when my 4yr old piped up 'what do you get in a sad meal?'

Your post made me feel better katgod. I have had 3 and never bought a specific changing bag and just used any bag I liked and that worked for the situation. Usually contained a small fold up changing mat, wipes, nappies and then any other clutter as necessary. I think with the specific bags you tend to fill up all the compartments and perhaps lug around more than you need? All that said there do seem to be some pretty funky specific bags out there ...

Sunbob I sent you a pm along these lines after the Rainbow thread - don't think you have seen it? I have one at SJSC and one about to start. There is usually a mass picnic on Goose Green (grass not play park) on the last day of term after school, which is 3.15 (3.20 for juniors) on Weds 24th July. Everyone would be welcome to come along to that, it is not invite only and the more the merrier. Happy to go to something else for newbies only.

Gumboots do a pick up after school. Really don't know if they do a morning club but the school itself has a breakfast club - ask now about a space. No idea of costs as haven't used them myself although someone did tell me the school breakfast club is cheaper than Rainbow is at the moment.

It is closing down at the end of this term. I know some children are transferring to Gumboots after school, which is in the community centre on Darell Road.

I never got the hang of the combs with long hair - I always seem to loose the carefully trapped eggs partway down the long hair shaft.

You can get a list from the Southwark council website. My older two went to Gumboots in Crystal Palace Road. They are now 9 and 11 and it has since been refurbed and was and is v well thought of.

Yes sift through for unhatched eggs. They are brown and elongated with a little hook that attaches them to the hair. I thought they were bits of pollen at first because everyone says the eggs are white. The egg cases only look white when hatched so remove before then. See it as one of life's annoyances like the toaster breaking and not as a huge social stigma / plague :)

MGolden - I knew I was being rash and would probably face a backlash from parents of boys. A very mild backlash from you :) The adolescent / teenage world is a whole new world we have recently entered. Scary but a new challenge to embrace. We are all emotionally vulnerable and can give it out by accident too. It is being aware of non-malice intended mistakes and wanting to do something about it that separates the good from the bad.

This is one of these threads for all the mums of boys to sit back relax and think thank goodness I have boys. I have 3 girls and it is an emotional roller coaster. No 2 telling no 1 she is fat. No 1 telling no 2 she smells and no 3 congratulating me on not being fat any more as I have lost half a stone ... Don't beat yourself up. If your worst crime is the very occasional choice of words that hasn't gone down too well then you are doing ok.

Oh dear am having an airhead moment, this is the second time I have looked at this thread and expected it to be about what buggy to use for your 12th child ... Slightly disappointed again ...

I think it was to Goose Green playground and defo not in our road about quarter of a mile away, which can be traffic busy and nobody 'plays' in and no mention of going to the other person's house. Goodliz, it's all good fun beginning to explore the freedom years ... It is happening gradually and so manageable but yes new challenges.

On Friday another local 11yr old knocked for my 11yr old at 7.40pm and asked if she wanted 'to come out?'. I was quite taken aback and thought it too late for her to be starting to go out and said no. Just wondered what others think re this sort of situation. Also I don't want her 'hanging around' on the street or in the park. Am I way out of touch with what modern kids do?

I find the phrase 'excuse me please' normally works and reminds others who are not doing any serious harm other than absentmindedly blocking the pavement to budge over. I'm sure at some time or other we have all been 'lost' in our own worlds and not realised how are actions are impacting on others. A friendly nudge to come back down to earth and be aware of others works wonders.

A couple of years ago I took my eldest two then 9 and 7 to see two performances by the English National Ballet at the English National Opera House. It was a special deal for two performances for family audiences. We saw Cinderella in the summer and Nutcracker at Christmas. It was just over ?50 in total for 3 of us at the two performances - it was something like pay for 1 adult and take up to 3 children free. Worth goggling both organisations to see if anything similar planned this year. We preferred Nutcracker as it was fab but also shorter. Cinderella seemed to be padded out with all weird and wonderful scenes - e.g. Cinderella getting lost in the forest on the way home from the ball. For grown ups this was great as you really felt you were getting a good performance but to be honest the kids got restless as it dragged on and on. I'm sure it was something like 2.5hrs with 2 intervals. I found mine liked going but once they had seen 15-20mins of ballet they had actually had enough. There is no speaking and so there was a lot of grown ups explaining what was going on at various parts. Still worth a trip if you can get a good deal.

We bought a couple after my eldest cut a deal with V as we were monied out by the time I had bought MIL's flowers - thanks so much, gorgeous.hairbands.

Cheers!

I've sent you a pm.

It looks complicated from E Dul Peck to aim for Barbican tube - anyone know a simple route for tube / bus / overland? Thanks