Mrs TP

You did a brilliant party for my daughter, Lilian, earlier this year and she is gutted about this theft. She plans to punch anyone she sees running around with your stuff. Sorry to hear about these hassles and hope you soon over this nasty event.

I was at the cashpoint (not Barclays the other one) on Lordship Lane last Monday around 11am with my toddler in buggy and 6yr old off school with minor complaint and became aware of a white guy lurking around the corner but kept popping around to see how I was progressing with my withdrawal. I use a small bag across my body (over head and one shoulder) for my purse and keep my keys in a separate pocket. He massively gave himself away as up to no good, too much lurking and staring and I stopped and stared right back at him and he backed off. I have always been aware that busy, distracted mums are easy prey and try to be as vigilant as I can but unfortunately these things do happen as there is scum out there. A nasty thing someone once warned me about is that the worst robbers will actually tip your pram up so you dive to say your wee one whilst they leg off with your belongings. We just need to be as aware as we can.

Peckhamgatecrasher - I laughed when I saw your post re checking inside the outside bin for the caddie as I realised what a div I was being but laughter soon turned to disappointment as no caddie inside. We are just waiting for our Chinese takeaway and the excitment is killing me with all that potential recycling on the way.

Did anyone get a kitchen caddy? We only got the outside bin but I see from the leaflet you can contact them for a free kitchen caddy. How much of a waste of effort is that delivering caddies to individuals as requested. Anyway prepared to give it all a go.

I used the example of toy batteries to explain death to my little ones when the subject arose, i.e. you can put new batteries in a toy but not a person or animal. They seemed to grasp that explanation. Do have to reassure them that people only die when very old or very ill and luckily we have not had to cope with variations on that. Good luck.

We had a lady and a chap around (not far from Ondine) about 7.45pm from Talk Talk also following up on a leaflet. They looked legit but I just can't be bothered with stuff like that on the doorstep so politely sent them on their way.

I saw a rat at 11am this morning as I was driving into Saino's car park. The rat was pretty huge and it was scuttling across the side road that leads to the gym - ugh. Told the customer service person on the front desk in Saino's who was totally un-phased and said she would pass it on. Imagine they have had loads of complaints.

Duke

I think I have seen the guy you mean - looks shabby landed gentry down on his luck. I have seen him picking in and out of the bins along the shops between Locale and All Fired Up. Probably close to where you are.

We do 25p per week per year of life, so 9yr old ?2.25 per week and 6yr old ?1.50 per week. We still buy odd comics on top. PS Forgot to add we take money off for bad behaviour, e.g. 10p / 20p and they can earn it back or get extra for odd chores such as sweeping up all the rice on the floor after their toddler sister (who doesn't get any pocket money) has thrown her dinner everywhere or picking up apples / leaves in the garden etc. My 9yr old has become v. careful with her money and considers purchases and chooses between things. The 6yr old still doesn't quite get it and sulks when she can't get everything she wants but we don't give in.

Not too much to add but just to sympathise. I have a 9yr old daughter with an almost too healthy appetite and a 6yr old who is far too busy to eat and doesn't like anything - after a 1,000 attempts at modern sympathetic parenting we have reverted to 1950's sheer persistence / 'bullying' and had great success tonight with homemade burgers that over a series of months has gone from total refusal to today eating a whole quarter pounder with melted cheese but of course only half the bun and it had to be separate.

I never bothered with a high chair harness until baby no 3 when aged 8 mths old stood up in her high chair and clapped in delight at her own ability. I squealed in horror and Mr TP performed a heroic dive across the kitchen to scoop her out of the chair - v. hairy moment. From then on she was strapped in but hated the shoulder straps and so we compromised with waist straps only, which did the trick. Would sometimes sneakily hook the shoulder straps onto her trouser belt hooks. Depends on the child but air on the side of caution.

Any advice as to where I can get a beautifully iced Christening cake in localish area? thanks

HonaloochieB - I was so stunned by the grapes I never thought about the bread and crisps. It was regular sliced hovis 50/50 type bread and a regular packet of skips - ?1.89. (However that is a huge bargain in comparison with how much I spent at the fair on Peckham Rye yesterday. Oh dear I have been in London 20yrs but my northern roots still shine through when I start moaning about the price of things in 'that London'.)

Popped in the other day and picked up a loaf of bread, a packet of crisps and some grapes. The cashier asked me for ?5.89. I nearly fell over and asked them to check the prices of each item. The grapes were ?4. The neighbouring cashier told me I could buy twice the amount of grapes in Sainos for ?3 - so I put theirs back and got double the amount in Sainos on my next trip, thanks v. helpful cashier.

The dad from the BT ads is Lesley Sharpe's hubby and does loads of standard dramas.

Mary the punk from Eastenders (when it first started) in Sainos yesterday. Looking much prettier and softer than her Eastend days. PS Also seen the much spied Tracy from Corrie in Cafe Nero (last Weds)and again on her mobile phone.

We go to Locale early evening with our brood (3 aged 8, 5 and 1), which is usually quiet with few people in at all and the staff have always been helpful in providing high chairs, colouring etc. I take the view that we should be finished and gone by the time people who have paid for baby sitters are likely to be in the restaurant - this doesn't always work out but I feel is fair approach to all.

If it was green then it is probably part of the rapidly spreading flock that have moved into Dulwich and Peckham over the last few years and it is not a lost pet.

To get out and about: 1. Take cool boiled water in the bottle. 2. Take milk powder in a formula / milk powder dispenser (google it). 3. Treat yourself to a cup of tea in a cafe at the same time and ask them to heat it - most know what they are doing or will give you some hot water to stand it in. Or take a flask of hot water along as suggested above. Also worth seeing if your baby will take a ready made carton at room temp - this saves masses of fuss. I lasted a v. fraught and difficult month breast feeding my first and her weight seriously plummeted. Had a v. unsympathetic GP shouting at me that my baby should be starving hungry and should finish breast feeding in 20mins each morning. Had me in tears and feeling a complete failure. Did much better with number 2 and lasted about 5mths. (Too busy worrying how I would cope with two children to worry about breast feeding and it just worked.) Finally, huge success with number 3 (and despite a few fraught 'I am giving up' sessions along the way) lasted the full 12mths. Second two had steady but slow weight gain until solids were introduced and then the weight piled on. I have also never been able to express. Breast feeding just isn't as easy as it is made out to be. Enjoy your baby.

Hi there, I want to hire a bouncy castle for a child's b'day party in a hired hall (don't want to go to Harris Academy where I know it is all in) and wondered if anyone can recommend a reliable firm to hire from? Many thanks Mrs TP

Definitely straps although all babies are different and you can read them as to what they are likely to do. My first two didn't need the straps (although I do think your memory goes for these sorts of things) and sat there quite happily. No 3 stood up in the high chair at 11mths when we were preparing a gorgeous New Year's Eve feast. I shrieked when I turned around and saw her stood up clapping herself. Luckily my shrieks didn't cause her to fall and MR TP dived heroically across the kitchen and scooped her out of the chair. Since then we use the waist straps and if she has trousers on with belt loops then attach the over shoulder straps to the belt loops as she is pretty good at the Houdini stuff even with straps on. I think generally she is just more trouble / adventurous than the others, e.g. picking stones up to eat them, chucking all manner of inappropriate stuff down the toilet etc. I remember one of the health visitors who came round when my first was just toddling and she complained I had a big packet of Persil powder on the floor and said I should put it out of reach in case no 1 ate it. I argued she wasn't that dim and just wouldn't go near it but did pick it up whilst the health visitor was there only to put it back on the floor the minute she was gone. Now no 3 is not dim but she is certainly experimental and I can assure you that the Persil is firmly out of reach. All part of the fun. x

I think you will just have to take the plunge and brave it. Do you actually know when the night nappies are getting wet? Is it throughout the night while your daughter is asleep or first thing when she wakes and is perhaps not confident to get up and go to the loo? I eventually sussed out my eldest was only wetting her nappy first thing in the morning as she couldn't be bothered getting up and going to the loo. She was older at 4yrs and I had a battle to get it off her as she found it comforting. Had the odd accident after removing it, usually when she snook into our bed and not her own - she would get up to go to the loo and come in to get me to help her and I would think she just wanted to get into bed with us and so would lift up the duvet to invite her in and 5 mins later I realised the real reason she was up. If your daughter is keen, give it a go. My 2nd daughter stopped day and night nappies at the same time (approaching her 3rd birthday) and never looked back. Children are all different and it is a balance between your instinct, what they want and what is practical (i.e. how much washing can you cope with if necessary). Good luck.

I have experienced rudeness from a v. similar sounding chap in this same shop, who wouldn't accept a baby bath as a donation due to 'health and safety'. I don't want to start a whole new thread on the rights and wrongs of 2nd hand baby baths - my point is there are polite ways to turn down unwanted donations and downright bloody minded rudeness - I experienced the latter. I got the impression they were spoiled with donations in there and have since boycotted the shop. In response to the other link I have breastfeed in M&S and Next changing rooms and never had anyone come snooping on me - that is outrageous. If he wanted to check up on you he should have looked the other way and used his voice to check you were ok. I can understand you are furious but do give the head office a little longer to respond, although they should at least acknowledge your message within a couple of working days. Hope you are more chilled out now :) Mrs TP (I am raging on your behalf)

ASDA on the Old Kent Road did it in the past but I have not been for some time - worth giving them a ring.