southoftherivermum.com

It’s nearly THAT time of year again.   For me this usually means the start of RHS Chelsea Flower Show and all the madness that that involves but this year I’m referring to the annual event that gets Dulwich residents puffing out their chests and talking about how wonderfully creative we are in this little part of south London.     This may sound a little self-congratulatory but it’s not without justification.

May brings the Dulwich Festival and the Artists’ Open House to Dulwich and surrounding areas which runs from 11-20th May.   The Artists’ Open House runs alongside the Dulwich Festival on each weekend.   This extends far wider than just Dulwich and many postcodes across SE London.    If you haven’t caught the Artists’ Open House in the past I urge you to take a look this year as you will get the chance to see a huge range of art from ceramics to fine art, screen prints to photography and collage to hand blown glass as artists from over 150 locations across South East London will be displaying their work in their homes and studios.

Artists are opening their studio or house to the public during these two weekends and visitors will be able to view art in some of the most inspirational settings.  Some of the most popular studios and houses to visit are The Recycled House in Sydenham, Pond Cottages and Court Lane in Dulwich Village, Parade Mews in Tulse Hill, Blackwater Court, Hindmans Road and Crystal Palace Road in East Dulwich, Havelock Walk in Forest Hill, ArtDog Gallery in Honor Oak as well as Winterbrook Road and Kestrel Avenue in Herne Hill.

You can find out where all the artists are located by at www.dulwichfestival.co.uk or picking up a free booklet in bars, shops or restaurants in Dulwich. There All venues are open on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th May from 11am to 6pm and many are also open on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th May 2012.

See you there…..

We are constantly being bombarded with headlines about the huge in rise in the litigation bill for the NHS caused by blunders made by maternity-unit staff during labour and birth in the UK and with headlines that that you could be forgiven for thinking that maternity services in the UK were in a mess.     I cannot begin to imagine how terrible it must be for complications to happen in labour and birth which result in your baby dying or suffering brain damage or disability.     My heart goes out to all parents who have experienced this terrible pain and loss and at the same time I am thankful to Oakwood midwife Julie who brought two of my three babies safely into the world as well as the midwives at King’s for the safe, if not uneventful, delivery of my first baby.

I am uncomfortable comparing birth statistics as the birth of each baby is unique and amazing and terrible if something goes wrong but I hope you will excuse me in this instance as I think it illustrates a valuable point.   In the UK the chance that a women will die in childbirth during their lifetime is 1 in 4,700 and 99% of women have a skilled attendant at birth.   If we look to Ghana the chance that a woman will die in childbirth is as high as 1 in 66 and only 57% will have a skilled attendant at their birth.    This results in around 75 women dying each week in Ghana die because of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Birth Rights Exhibition at King’s College Hospital

An exhibition on Birth Rights is currently touring the UK with Oxfam, with photos telling the story of two women’s experiences of childbirth in Ghana with photos by Abbie Trayler-Smith.

The exhibition is coming to King’s College Hospital on Denmark Hill, Camberwell, from 4th 11th May.

The exhibition follows two mums, Selina Fletcher and Adumporka Abotiyure for whom free healthcare is making a real difference.

Pregnant women in Ghana are now entitled to free health care. This is a huge step forward, but too many women are still dying because they lack access to qualified care.

Free Health Care Saves Lives

Fees for health care are a life or death issue for millions of people in poor countries. In 2008, the government in Ghana made health care free for all pregnant women – a decision made possible in part by UK aid and pressure from people in the UK and Ghana. In the first year, at least 433,000 more women received life-saving care.

But women aren’t receiving the care they deserve.  The benefits of free health care are not shared equally across Ghana. One of the reasons is that not all women are aware of their right to free care. And this is made worse by low literacy levels and limited health education. Women are still dying during childbirth in unacceptable numbers.

Women in the poorest and most rural areas in Ghana are at the greatest risk. Further challenges here include: a lack of facilities within reach of women’s homes; a lack of health workers if women do get to facilities; and a lack of medicines to save lives if emergency strikes. Some facilities even lack electricity and clean water.

Sometimes, women don’t seek hospital care because they prefer to use traditional birth attendants. But these unqualified workers often don’t have the skills to save lives when complications arise. That’s why Oxfam works with traditional birth attendants and community volunteers across Ghana. With support, they can inform women of their right to free care, better understand the warning signs of when women must seek qualified care, and understand their own limitations in caring for pregnant women.

You can find out more about the exhibition and how you can get involved at www.oxfam.org.uk/birthrightsand/or http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/find-an-action/aid-promises

 

One Bigg Party at The Roof Gardens in Kensington on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May.

I’ve been in contact with Aza who runs One Bigg Party for a while now and we went to their fabulous spooky party at Fulham Palace in October last year.

She has sent me info on her next Bigg Party which is being held on Monday 7th May at the Kensington Roof Gardens with a magical theme.

In addition to a truly impressive list featuring London’s top children’s entertainers there will be a hosted Mad Hatters tea party, 1001 magical stories zone, ice cream carts and sandwich art, gardening lessons, caricaturist, face painters, balloon artists, circus workshops, flamingo sightings plus fun family games, competitions and prizes throughout the day.

NEW is the Grown Ups Only Zone with free beauty treats and an early Golden Jubilee tea party for grown ups complete with complimentary champagne. All this in a spectacular setting set just 100 feet above the bustling streets of Kensington at The Roof Gardens.

A magical day not to be missed.

Tickets include all day entertainment and party bags and are available on www.onebiggparty.com.

Prices are £45.00 for a family (2+2), 16.50 child (18m+), 11.00 adult

Aza is kindly giving away one family ticket to One Bigg Party this bank holiday Monday worth £45.   All you need to do is to email info@onebiggparty.com with your name in the subject to be in with a chance to win.   The winner will be annouced on Friday.

 

BBC Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins and the Flower Council of Holland (FCH) are launching a nationwide schools competition today to give one UK primary school the chance to win a
floral transformation of a dull outside area of their school with flowering bulbs.

This competition caught my eye as I used to work for the International Flower Bulb Centre in my 20s and it was such great fun.   Such fun and kind clients and I had a small flowerbed at the time and loved learning about the different bulbs.  Now I have children we plant bulbs each autumn and even Little T knows his Muscari from his Snakeshead Fritillary!

Back to the competition, the Flower Council is inviting PrimarySchools in the UK to get their creative kids to design just how they would perk up their playgrounds and update their asphalt.  Guided by FCH, entries will be judged by Chris Collins and the winning school will have their own design brought to life with the help of Chris who will spend a hands-on day with the school transforming their chosen area.

Schools will be sent a briefing pack which contains a ‘1-2-3 Transform Your School’ poster template and instructions on how to transform it using a variety of flowering bulbs, pots, window boxes and hanging baskets.  They will also be sent information about the different bulb flowers available and the variety of colours.

The competition is open from Tuesday 17 – Friday 27 April* and the winning school will be selected by Chris Collins and announced on Wednesday 2 May.  Runners up prizes will also be awarded:

1ST
prize: Chris Collins to visit winning school and create a floral make-over to an outside school area
2ND
prize: 10 plant pots filled with flowering bulbs
3RD
prize: 5 plants pots filled with flowering bulbs

Entries to be submitted by email to: transformyourschool@peretti.com or by post to: Transform Your School Competition, c/o Peretti Communications, Ltd, 247-249 Cromwell Road, London, SW5 9GA

For more information on the Flower Council of Holland visit www.flowercouncil.org

 

Folded Feather, has been at the forefront of adult and children’s puppetry for almost 15 years and they are bringing their children’s show, Suitcase Circus, to Dulwich on 2nd June.

It’s been hailed “Absolutely exquisite.” by Total Theatre so I’m expecting 6yo and Little T to really enjoy it.

Here’s a quick preview:

Meet Wobulous Discombobulous, the anarchic sock as he presents a line up of extraordinarily talented performing objects, all with their own unique and captivating storylines.
Suitcase Circus features the most unlikely of performers including the world’s only acrobatic potato sack, a daredevil ski glove, an incredible dancing milkshake straw, the hypnotic tie snake Windsor Knot, and the lovable yet bizarre magical Mexican hat Timrek.

As with all quality circuses we have a wonderfully weird and bizarre musical accompaniment provided by Maurice who must bare the burden of performing alongside such delinquent object theatre.

Suitcase Circus was given the coveted ‘Pick-of-the-Day’ award at Kidzfield, Glastonbury Festival 2009.

Here are some othe review:
”Outstanding” Timeout London

”Delightful and hilarious…” Circomedia

”Pick-of-the-Day”, Glastonbury Festival 2009

”A fantastic puppetry act…” The British Theatre Guide

It’s suitable ages 4 to adult and I’m definately taking 6yo and Little T but not quite sure if 9yo will think she’s too grown up.

Suitcase Circus
Timing: 2.30pm, Saturday 2nd June
Run time: 60 mins (no interval)
Ticket Price: £11 adult, £8 children
www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk

NHS London is undertaking a review of children’s emergency services in London hospitals, with the aim of developing standards that will
secure consistently safe and high quality emergency care for children across all hospitals in London, seven days a week.

This work builds on the review of emergency care pathways for adult patients, where clinical standards of care have been developed to improve the way the services are provided and to reduce the variation in services and outcomes for patients, between weekdays and weekends.

Patients and their carers and relatives are an integral part of this review in order to help us improve and shape services so that they meet the best needs of children in the capital. Therefore they invite you to complete the following survey to provide us with your views on the service that you have experienced.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PESpatientsurvey

The survey should take about 5-10 minutes for you to complete and the questions in this survey relate to the last time you (if you are aged under 18 years of age) or your child attended an A&E/ emergency department or was admitted to hospital as an emergency.

Please email the project team at paediatrics@londonhp.nhs.uk or call 020 7685 6947 if you have any difficulties completing the survey, or if
you have any further queries.

Your participation in this survey is very much appreciated.

For more information on these reviews please visit: http://www.londonhp.nhs.uk/services/quality-and-safety-programme/

 

I’ve just heard that the very swanky Athenaeum Hotel has won the Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 award.  It’s considered the Oscars of the tea world and if the ‘Pudding Parlour’ evening I went to earlier this year is anything to go by then it is well deserved.

 

 

I was in Harrogate earlier this week at the annual Nursery Fair and no trip to Harrogate is complete without a cup of tea at Betty’s.    It is a special treat to go to Betty’s at this time of year with all the lovely chocolate eggs on display.   Unfortunately I was weighed down with leaflets and samples from the fair as well as my suitcase so I didn’t have any space to shop.   All is not lost, however as Betty’s has an online shop!  Hurrah!

 

 

If you are looking for a special Easter egg or a simnel or apostle cake then I suggest you get your order in at Betty’s.  You can order online at www.bettys.co.uk

I hope my OH reads this post!

 ****

Afternoon Tea at the Athenaeum, Piccadilly, is priced at £28.50 per person or £35.00 including a glass of Champagne. There are 3 sittings: 12:30pm, 3pm and 5:30pm daily.  Reservations can be made by calling 020 7499 3464  www.athenaeum.com

Guest Post by the lovely Batman’s Mum

I was delighted to be asked to review 20th Century Fox’s new film We Bought A Zoo.  A rare chance to have a night out in town as well as ogle Matt Damon for a couple of hours!  I wasn’t disappointed!

OK, so the movie was a bit predictable in that Hollywood way: perfect American family, ‘Mom’ dies, Dad deals with grief – badly, fresh start, all comes good.  But none of that detracted from my enjoyment of the film; in fact, I’d have been disappointed if it hadn’t all worked out in the end.  It was heart-warming, tear-jerking and feel-good all-in-one.

I know I’ve just made We Bought A Zoo sound really shallow and schmaltzy, but it wasn’t.  The film is based on a true story and it explores how the different family members each deal with the grief of losing their mother/wife.  As a mum myself, it did make me think about what legacy and memories I would leave behind for my children.  Guilt button pushed, I have now resolved to try harder to make life more fun and not least take more photos!

In We Bought A Zoo the life changing adventure is driven by grief and wanting to start over.  And although, thank goodness, my family is all alive and well, I do often think what would our plan “B” be if it all went wrong?  I’m not courageous, risk-taking or indulgent enough to chuck it all in just on a whim, without there being a major push, but what would I do?  Would I retrain?  Become an entrepreneur?  My personal fantasy is that I produce an English form of Parma ham in the country somewhere (this is mainly because I love prosciutto crudo and think there is a gap in the market, rather than loving the idea of pig farming itself).  Hubby fancies running a triathlon or cycling-based holiday company in the New Forest.  The thing with plan B’s, is that it takes a brave person to do something life changing without one’s hand being forced by a lost job or family catastrophe.  According to the film, it takes just “20 seconds of courage”……

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve done something life changing, or have an unrequited desire to start afresh.  20th Century Fox have given me an amazing Detox package at Dove Spa to give away to the most original, fun, indulgent, life-changing ideas – so get commenting!  Parma ham anyone?!

Looking for inspiration?  Check out the film’s facebook page www.facebook.com/WeBoughtAZooUK

There is an amazing prize for the best comment on how you would change your life.  What would be that big, indulgent risk taking, , awesomely fun life-changing dream.  The prize is a Detox Package at Dove Spa (23 UK Locations)

http://www.dovespa.co.uk/Locations.aspx
Including:
•            Full Body Scrub
•             Detox Wrap
•             Brightening Mini Facial
•             £30 Travel Allowance

This is a sponsored post.  The competition ends on Wednesday 28th March. Batman’s Mum and I look forward to hearing your suggestions…..

I’ve just heard about a great event for book worms.  On Saturday 25 February, the first ever London-wide Children’s Book Swap will be launched in cultural, literary and family venues across the capital – from the banks of the River Thames to the edge of the Olympic Park.

Children and families can visit one of the selected venues on 25 February and pick up a book for free. They can also bring any books along with them to leave at the venue for another child to choose and take home.

This new initiative is supported by the Greater London Authority  and will celebrate reading and encourage children to discover new stories by exchanging hundreds of books and ideas as well as recommending their favourite authors and
illustrators. Venues will also be hosting a series of family activities and entertainment throughout the day.

Participating organisations and venues include the Centre of Literacy Primary Education (CLPE), Unicorn Theatre in Southwark, plus Discover Children’s Story Centre, GLA, Booktrust, Reading Agency, Free Word Centre, Macmillan Children’s Books, World Book Day, Arvon, Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, Polka Theatre, Nosy Crow, Usborne Children’s Books, Walker Books, Shoreditch Trust, Marcus Garvey Library, Little Angel Theatre, Islington Libraries and Tea Dance for Little People.

The Unicorn will host a FREE event from 10.30am – 4.30pm in the Unicorn foyer where you can come in and swap books, make bookmarks and bookworms or just listen to some stories read aloud.

The Unicorn, in association with the Crick Crack Club, will also be presenting a storytelling season based around the Brothers Grimm. Performances of A Year in the Forest (for ages 5+, tickets £7) are on at 2pm & 4.30pm and
you can book tickets by calling Box Office on 020 7645 0560.

To find out more about the participating Book Swap venues and their individual events please go to the links below:

Unicorn Theatre

Saturday 25 February 2012

10.30am – 4.30pm

This is a free event

See www.unicorntheatre.com for map and event listings.

 

Discover Children’s Story Centre
www.discover.org.uk

Free Word
http://www.freewordonline.com/

Booktrust
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/

Arvon
http://www.arvonfoundation.org

Reading Agency
http://www.readingagency.org.uk/

Southbank
Centre
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Polka Theatre

http://www.polkatheatre.com/

Shoreditch Trust

http://www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk/

The Barbican

http://www.barbican.org.uk/  

Marcus Garvey Library -
London Borough of Haringey

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/community_and_leisure/libraries/findalibrary/marcusgarveylibrary.htm

Tea Dance for Little
People
http://www.tdlp.co.uk/

Nosy
Crow
http://nosycrow.com/

Little Angel Theatre

http://www.littleangeltheatre.com

Islington Libraries

http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/

World
Book Day

http://www.worldbookday.com/

Do pop back and leave a post to let us know how you got on.

Education Secretary Michael Gove is rumoured to be cracking down on parents taking their children out of school during term time so that they can go on holiday.  This is meant to be in a drive to improve attendance and therefore standards in schools.

I am sympathetic to both those points.  Extended family is incredibly important and helps children to develop their own sense of identity and their value base.   Being unable to visit family because of the increased cost of travel during the holidays is very sad and makes me feel uncomfortable.  In addition, I think that personal freedom is one of the most important rights that we have and parents should have autonomy to bring up their children how they see fit as long as these freedoms don’t impact other people in a negative way.

On the other hand, along with love, education is one of the most important gifts we can give our children as parents.   In my view social mobility, tolerance and self esteem thrive through a good education and as parents and as a society that is what we should be aiming for.   For our children to strive to be all that they can has to be our goal and we need to give them the best education we can to achieve this.  Taking children out of school during term time must go against all of that.

If all parents were free to choose which school their children attend then there is a case to say that the head teacher could be free to impose a ban on taking children out of school during the school holidays.  If parents didn’t want that then they would have to put up with the decision or else to change schools.  But if they haven’t chosen a school what then?

Personal freedoms are extended to adults but when children are concerned there are times when the state has to step in and these are to secure a child’s health, safety and education.  A child of 5 by law has to go to school, she has to sit in a car seat in the car and be taken to seek medical help if needed.  Why not extend this legal requirement to refuse leave during term time.

When I started writing this I thought that this was a straight forward case and that parents shouldn’t be allowed to take their children out of school.  What I’ve realised is that it’s not that parents shouldn’t be allowed to take children out of school but that they shouldn’t take them out of school.   But that if for whatever reason parents decide that it’s in the child’s interest to take them out of school to go on holiday then they should be allowed to do so.   This isn’t an ideal solution but I think that giving parenting responsibility to parents is how we will make parents better in the long term and it is a learnt skill and isn’t something that can be mandated by law.   Ultimately outsourcing the nanny to the state won’t deliver better children or parenting.