Mrs TP

Sainsbury's box goes to the Salvation Army - I assumed it would be Pecan but doubled checked.

Primary schools are almost entirely catchment area admissions or where-ever there is space for in year admissions (i.e. not starting at usual reception age) unless you are looking at the private sector. Which area are you looking at specifically and private or state?

Plus side of urban foxes is that they do keep the rat population at bay to a certain extent.

Beware Kingsdale is not on distance. Other schools do not do straightforward distance base but will split applicants into differing academic bands (based on their own tests or year 5 reports from your primary school) and will then offer a greater proportion of places to the academic bands with the most applicants - it could be that someone gets a place who lives further away than you but because they are in a different academic band. Good luck with it all.

My youngest falls into the age group for this and has had it in school the last 3 yrs and has been offered it again this year. I was apprehensive the first year as it seemed to be yet another new thing but we went with it and all was well and will be going for it this year too.

I had this in Greenwich a few weeks ago, only my cyclist's wounds were a least a week old having beautifully scabbed over!

Every year I wonder just who makes circus equipment for budgies?

Sydenham School (all girls state school on Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill) and Kingsdale (mixed state school Dulwich) also usual choices for your area - good luck.

Perhaps he is trying to teach his dogs to be calm around cats?

Yeah indeed well done to them. Funny how perceptions are different though, I always think of it as the school that eventually manages to offer everyone on its waiting list a place even after they may have started year 7 elsewhere. Plenty of SE22 and SE15 children go. However, it doesn't offer places based on proximity to the school, so in the pan London application system a child from say Camden has the same chance of getting in as a child from E Dul - quirky!

The sign outside the Chardon says these are the new owners: http://www.tartlondon.com/

I have sent you a PM.

Brilliant 'no no no' when going to the vet! Ours just wraps his front paws around a stair rod, like a big bear hug and refuses to let go. However when we do get him there is as compliant as you can be!

One of our cats says 'Mum' copying the kids he pronounces it 'Marrrrm', definite cross between a miaow and an attempt at speech. Hubby thought I was bonkers when I first mentioned it but has since heard it and finds it hilarious.

Take it to the council dump off the Old Kent Road, if you are a Southwark Resident. You drive in, show them proof of your address and they point you to the correct dump bay.

It took them a while to get their act together - they were painfully slow at first and I fear haemorrhaged many regulars of the previous set up. However, we went in over Easter for lunch and it was lovely and service much faster. The owner made one of my girls a gorgeous strawberry milkshake - over judged the ingredient quantities and so gave me an extra glass for free. Food was lovely and a step up in quality from previous set up although v similar offereings. Would love to see that place heaving again having been going for 17+ yrs and new team seeming settled.

Ask his class teacher for a list / websites / what their current strategy is. I'm sure they will be delighted you are keen to help with prep. The spellings are tough :(

Carbonara I was agreeing with your point about siblings being considered on distance but then I realised my second child wouldn't have got into her secondary on distance as its catchment area has shrunk, we haven't moved but did get a sibling place. So maybe it should be 'sibling if same original address or have moved but still within catchment'.

I had to google these two schools as never heard of them but there are those around here who do ship out to grammars. Either they don't use the forum or perhaps have younger siblings applying and don't want the competition.

Pretty sure JAM in the building immediately next to SJSC which does the after school care also does holiday clubs.

You can get packets of brown paper bags in the pound shops in Peckham - like the ones they use in sandwich shops to put your selection of goodies in - think a Pret bag but plain brown. You could write the child's name on in felt tip and you're done!

BTW loads of kids don't go to the summer camps but those that do do have a head start on 'new' friends if they step away from their primary group.

It varies from school to school. Usually a general day for all during year 6 final term and primaries know pupils will take the day off to attend (obvs let them know though). Then at sometime in the summer hols various days / wk / 2wk induction activities - had to pay for these days at my daughter's school and were entirely optional. Contact your schools now and ask - just explain trying to avoid potential dates. Good luck, announcements must be soon.

Barclays do an under 16 current account with debit card. No overdraft facility. Very low opening amount, maybe ?1?

Well let's hope next time they go for an M&S van and leave the spoils on the streets in a Robin Hood / Whiskey Galore type way ;)