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Rusty, I certainly wouldn't want to LIVE in a big city - not nowadays - although it was great fun when I was (a bit!) younger!
But being near enough to go up to London by train is a big advantage.
Living here, we have the best of both worlds - we have a lot of large parks around us, with the countryside nearby one way - and London but a short train ride away in the opposite direction.
I hope your hospital appointment goes well tomorrow ......... er, better make sure you go on the right day this time?
I and younger daughter are going to yet another school Open Day tomorrow!
So I too have an early start - I need to get a train about 9 am in order to be there in time for the school tour.
Have you done your crossword now?

Good morning, Elle.
No, my crossword is in the bin.
Maybe have time to do one today.
This IS correct day for hospital.
It is a dry morning here, no sign of Abigail, so I shall walk there.
Hope today's school is more to your liking!

The Wildlife Photography exhibition is always in the back right. Go in through the Geological Museum entrance on Exhibition Road (opposite the V&A)

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Today's school was VERY impressive! (Maybe there IS a point to education after all!)
The headmaster was informative and obviously proud of both the school and his pupils - justifiably so, in my opinion.
We were split into five family groups and each group taken around by two of the Year 6 children - a boy and a girl to each group.
An excellent idea!
The children were polite and well-mannered, talkative and well -informed , showed us all around the school, and explained everything very satisfactorily.
We were told to ask them any questions we liked, so we did and got good answers.
Both our two "guides" were a credit to the headmaster and the school - and we told him so!
He also talked to everyone at the end of the tour, and answered any further questions asked.
The only problem is that the school is only a one-class intake ( only thirty children; so very probably over-subscribed) and my daughter, although in the catchment area, does not live all that close to the school premises.
So very possibly our grandson would not get in there.
But one can always hope......it is very definitely top of the list so far....although we have three more schools yet to see.
(But my faith in the education system is now partially restored!)
How did you get on at the hospital this morning? Is everything ok?

Thanks for that, Chris! Good to know!
My copy of "Nation" arrived this morning - in very good nick , especially as it only cost 1p! (plus p & p)
I shall let you know my verdict in due course - I have a 'queue' of books to read at the moment

Hello, Elle!
That sounds great.
Seems like a first class school!
And the young ones were polite and well-mannered!
That is the way it should be.
Hope you slipped them a tip!
Surely as long as they are in the catchment area, that should do?
So, how will they choose the ones they want?
Tests?
Who knows, the next three schools could be as good?
I got on fine at hospital.
My neuro suggested she would see me in another twelve months, and that is dinky-di with me.
No sign of the wild weather so far!
You are getting a right one for the one penny books!

Hi, Rusty!
I'm so glad that all was okay at the hospital. Another appointment in twelve months time sounds good.
No, unfortunately being in the school catchment area is no guarantee of a place.
Children with special needs, and siblings who already have an older brother/sister at the school, are offered places first.
Then those living nearest the school are offered places in order of nearest distance.
So our grandson, being a fair distance away (even tho' in the catchment) may not qualify for a place.
It's in the lap of the gods! (or the will of the computer which sorts it all!)
Applications for schools (you pick six in order of preference ) have to be in by January - and I think (I'm not sure about this) that the parents learn the verdict in March?
Have you found the time to do your crossword today?

Hello, Elle,
Yes, twelve months is fine.
The neuro left it up to me to choose when to return to see her. Nerves heal very slowly, if at all!
So twelve months is fine with her, and with me!

Well, fingers crossed time for the school.
Was your daughter very keen too?
I mentioned my friends in Norn Iron.
Their daughter did not get in the school they all hoped for (her big sister goes there) but she thinks her new school is great.
So it may all turn out fine.
Will your daughter apply for more than one school?
Is that how it works?

Yes, finished The Times crossword!

Elle, it is wild, wild, wild, here!
Think Abigail has landed!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, my daughter is very impressed by the school as well! We are definitely "on the same page", as they say"!
The system is such that the parents choose SIX schools in order of preference - and the computer then sorts through the applications and works out which child will get what school ( no idea how that happens?)
The child is offered the first school of choice for which he/ she qualifies.

Your friends' daughter in Norn Iron was sitting an exam (11 - plus?) for secondary school education, though, wasn't she?
Is this not why she ended up at a different school from her sister? The school places were awarded in order of merit? (rather than distance from the school, as in primary school placement?)
(I might be completely wrong here, but this is what I'd understood at the time from what you said?)

Good that you found time to do your crossword today!

Better batten down the hatches if Abigail has arrived!
All calm here at present.......