On your last point my advice would be to get to know your neighbours - we did and had tonnes of offers of lifts when it was required. As it was we didn't need to imagine the 185 scenario as that was my wife's mode of transport to Lewisham hospital. Not that she knew she was in labour at that point.

We use Rubadubs (http://www.rubadubs.co.uk) Nursery on Davids Road near the station and would highly recommend it, the staff are great. The waiting list is huge though (I think a recent new attendee had been on the list for 18 months). Whatever you decide, check out the ofstead website as they produce evaluations on all registered nurseries.

NCT classes were a good way to meet people in the same situation as yourselves so I'd recommend following that up. We are in Forest Hill but our classes were in Catford - there were some other Forest Hill people there too (some bloke called Vipes...). Whichever of you is off work with your baby will meet loads of people at Baby Clinics and things like that. The Horniman and the Library are other magnets for people with babies - both do storytime events which are worth attending even though your little one wont be too aware of what's going on at first. You'll see the same faces time and again and people are more friendly in daylight hours, breaking that taboo of talking to people they dont know.