Mrs TP

It is an attitude thing. Some days you feel on top of it and some days not even if you have achieved the same amount. Goodliz you say kind things but our house is in dire need of complete re-decoration and is full to the rafters with stuff - considering nominating the kids for that hoarders program. I ripped the stair carpet off in Jan 2012 before it fell off and caused a serious accident but over a year later it is a little embarrassing telling all we are starting to re-decorate and nothing has happened. Mr TP seems to think I should do it whilst kids at school but he should know I am too busy playing on ED Forum and ebay; he did manage the smallest room in the house earlier this year :) Anyway, inspired by this thread I have blitzed one bedroom this am (changed 2 beds - shock horror) and shall try another bedroom this afternoon. Although, eldest off sick and wants me to watch trash tv with her, which sounds v inviting ... It is definitely an attitude thing. I was pretty fed up before Christmas that not much got achieved. Still the same 6mths on but just not so bothered by it.

When my older two were in the infants I used to work in an office with amongst a crowd of lovely people a rather annoying Essex Princess (sorry Essex) who used to preach about her immaculate house and the hours of endless housework she did in the evenings and at the weekend. She did bugger all at work and so probably had plenty of energy left for attending to her mansion (no kids, 40+, mortgage paid off and plenty of money to spend on decor plus her mum and dad on hand constantly helping her out - I'm not bitter honest). Anyway, one day she took it upon herself to conduct a survey of how often everyone changed their bed sheets, hoping to catch out the slovenlies who didn't live up to her own weekly standard. An entire office of grown up sensible people all stopped work to contribute to this discussion except me who kept my head down (slightly in shame) and carried on working / listening to the drivel around me. Most of her cohort of adoring fans all said along the lines of once a week and the odd person tried to be more honest with 'sometimes maybe every two weeks' to her shocks and gasps of repulsion. Finally, she could stand it no longer and dragged me into the conversation 'how often do you change the bedsheets?'. Much as I wanted to tell her to f* off and mind her own business, without looking up I replied 'when the kids sh*t and p*ss on them'. There were a few sniggers and all returned to work. Honestly, don't sweat the small stuff. I am sure we all do what we can and if time were endless and the kids didn't have personalities then maybe we could do a bit more. I would rather be in my shabby base camp than her immaculate empty mansion. The day my house is perfect and all done, will be a very sad day as it will be a sign there is just me left in it.

There is a water cooler outside the gym at Harris Girls but often not enough cups. Take cups and or bottled / water / drinks. I have been to many a bouncy party there when the kids have got over-heated through so much activity or as my lot put it 'I'm sweated'. They all love it though.

I heard that too! Bonkers, but can imagine it mounting up with all the frills and spills. We had a much more modest affair, nothing that would interest the likes of Hello / Closer etc. However, each to their own.

Difficult one to call but I would think you are more of a yes to get in than a no. I have had one child go right through the school another in the juniors and one to start this Sept. We were initially a new child on a non church place but obvs there wasn't as much pressure when we first started there. It has always been a popular school but as other local schools are becoming more popular too I know of some around the immediate St John's area who are non-religious and are choosing non-faith primaries and so taking some local kids out of the equation for getting in there. So people up this end preferring and getting into GooseGreen and Bessemer for example because they have blossoming reputations and are non-religious. St John's catchment is always going to appear skewed because there will be some children from what seems relatively far away that are either on a church place or are siblings to those from the bulge year, where the school took many non-church children from up towards the other end of Lordship Lane and into Camberwell the other way (and has had to tweak its admissions policy to make sure their siblings will get in). I don't know if it is possible to get the furthest distance for new non-church children from them but worth asking them / Southwark council. All a bit rambling but still think (and can't promise) worth applying and reasonable chance of a place. All that said I was chewing my nails until our sibling place was confirmed earlier this year. Good luck all more daunting that the reality and you have a few good schools in the area. You are close to St Johns and GooseGreen and are not in a black hole of a road without any obvs primary.

Yes there is no connection between pre-school attendance and primary school in the state sector. Children in pre-schools / nurseries at primary schools do not get preferential treatment over others applying from other pre-schools / nurseries. Neither do you have commitment to staying in the same environment.

Or maybe they embrace the state sector and realise it is not such a big scary world after all and that there are plenty of parents who just want good stuff for their children too who manage rather well in state schools. Is there much difference between the Villa and other local private nursery provision charges and academic attainment age 4 - err no.

I know: St Johns and St Clements is 29 June Dog Kennel Hill 18 May (think - can anyone confirm?) Does anyone know the dates for any others locally? I have quite a bit of stuff to sell and don't want to do the Hamlets as my stuff is very children specific and will do better at a school than a general one. Thanks

I reckon the Boots will be following suit soon. Was in there yesterday afternoon and the chap in front of us asked for paracetamol - was told he couldn't have the bigger packets from behind the counter as there was no pharmacist on the premises to approve. How bonkers is that - no pharmacist in a Boots on a Saturday afternoon? He asked to speak to the manager and was told there was no manager on the premises either. Massive queues and only 2 staff in whole store.

Clarks?

Also remember that schools do not go back over topics they have covered with individual children who missed out. So if they have been through the alphabet and various group letter sounds such as 'ing' (I made that example up - I am no teacher!) then they will not go through it again on an individual level with a child who has missed it. There may be some general class reminder / revision session but there would be no specific catch-up program geared towards your child. My daughter was mid August born and, back when she started, her school automatically had January starts for the young in year children. I found her last term at nursery (Sept-Dec) awful as most of her friends had left to start school and she had out-grown it. When she started school there were 3 others younger than her - all in that last couple of weeks in August. All I noted at the time was that she was shy, which was normal for her then (has grown out of it since and doesn't need to be a label that sticks) and that she didn't start reading until year 1. Now she has just started secondary school and I really can't tell the difference between her and her friends born at the beginning of the school year. Some of the older kids in reception can still be quiet 'babyish' but the reception teachers and TAs are used to. It is very much a transition year from pre-school to the more formal learning in year 1.

You could sound out your employer by saying childcare is really tough, you are on loads of waiting lists etc but the nurseries are saying you may have to accept whatever part-time places they can offer and ask your work if they are prepared to be flexible. Not sure if you know but the bulk of nursery places come up in September as the older ones leave to start primary school - this has a knock on effect down the age line freeing up places. Although of course there could be odd places at any time as people move in and out of areas.

My hubbie is always banging on about how Sydenham High Street is like Lordship Lane was 15 to 20yrs ago. You get loads for your money up there and its definitely on the up. Also a very family settled area and not as far away as you might think.

We have been to Crystal Palace twice with my 8yr old. It is excellent but yes steep at around ?12 and I have said every other week only. However, you get a full 90 mins with expert instruction. You do have to book centrally through Climb London - you will need to google them for their website and details. If your child gets into the sport you can pay for yearly membership and block book lessons all at reduced prices.

It would become a bit like a local primary / secondary school - loads of people on the waiting list to become forumites and threads re the forum catchment area.

I can't ever remember anywhere that you can change coins. It's just one of those tough luck life experiences :( and an unfortunate reminder to check change, which I have to admit I rarely do - sympathies, bloody annoying.

Can there not be some sort of swap shop set up whereby people can exchange their places? Especially for those keen to opt out of and into faith schools.

James - some parents on here are desperately worried and upset and are not benefiting from your attempt at political point scoring dressed up as concern.

A bedroom each and loads of storage over a garden but then we have girls - two share and moan continuously. We do have the extra room to give all a room each but it rammed with stuff that needs sorting and will happen one day! Minimal garden requirements - paddling pool & bbq on infrequent hot summer days and bit of snow for snowball fights in winter - parks at other times. Been in London 20+ yrs but even as a student I remember being shocked at how well used the parks are, because hardly anyone has a big garden and you don't have to go too far for some green space. Depends on your family though and their particular querks.

Used too until we got two cats two years ago and then thought perhaps a bit mean to bring the birds down for the cats to devour. However in the 14 years we have lived in Bellleden we have gone from sparrows to jays to green parakeets, who stay at the top of the trees and torment the cats.

Not cycle along it but surely there will be crossing points aka the Marathon and other such events when major roads closed to traffic.

They do eventually fade with time. I would say possibly up to 12mths for the worst ones to fade. I was upset at the time but definitely several years on the scars are all gone from my then toddler who had it really bad.

Sorry to hear about this. Do you know it is actually quite difficult to be a witness. I once saw a van clatter into another parked van. I noted down the reg and company details of the van that had done the clattering and set about knocking on doors until I found the owner of the parked damaged van and then gave him my details and those of the fleeing van. Owner very grateful. Months later his insurance firm called me and asked me to re-confirm the reg of the van that had done the damage - I didn't have it as I had passed the piece of paper to the owner. As I couldn't separately verify the reg details, I was discounted as a witness. I also had someone run into the back of my car when I was quite heavily pregnant. There were plenty of people stood around and as I stumbled out of my car in shock all came to see if I was ok but noone would give their details as a witness. Luckily the other driver apologised immediately and accepted full responsibility and all was ok.

If you are comfortable enough to go in a car then any local company should be fine. However, if you suddenly find yourself in full on labour and not able to move much then do call an ambulance. Good luck.

I did monkey music for a while with my daughter prob from when she 18mths to almost 3yrs. First term I wasn't too sure but she really got into it, liked the routine, learning to sit down and take turns (of a fashion), re-inforced basic learning that we were doing informally with her such as colours, animals, weather. They always had a theme and she was exposed to different positive things and a diff range of songs, dances. She is now 4 and we went to a party with an entertainer recently who did similar action song type stuff. My daughter was straight in there copying everything - I joked with one of the other mums (also a monkey music mum) that all that money had not been in vain! All these classes are on the pricey side. Depending on your child will depend on which class they like. Most classes will do a free / reduced price trial. Children do well at them and without them. There is no right or wrong. Defo on the plus side it got my daughter used to an adult giving instructions who was not me or other relative in an informal teacher role. She had to take turns, tidy up a little - just putting instruments / props away. All good skills for pre-school and school. However, I don't think she would have suffered without it.