elkie - it was lovely to see you too, and I'm glad you all had a good time. Hope the journey back wasn't too bad for you?

My ds is also quite upset that there are no plans for us all to go on a train again any time soon, I may take him up and down the Metropolitan line next time he's being a -- little-- shit challenging!

Well, we had a great day out, ds1 really enjoyed himself playing around outside. He was fascinated by a bubble machine and kite. He slept most of the way home, though woke up in time for a local cafe stop (had to feed crying ds2). He said he wants to go on a big red bus this morning, but I think he'd love to go for another picnic in central London too, particularly one with such interesting toys.

It was also great to meet some of the women organising it, such as Morgan Gallagher and MN regular theUrbanDryad, and I was quite impressed by the number of people who turned up.

I'll be back at work next year but will try to plan in advance so dp and I can take the day off to bring our two.

So! how was it?

We have sorted things out and are all now coming.

What a shame elkie. Pah! Men! Grrrrrrrr!!!

Since I posted it looked like we were going to be able to make it as a family outing (!) tomorrow - I would have quite enjoyed bringing both the kids, but not very feasible on my own given that the older one is only just over 2 and that I'm not really used to looking after them both alone even at home let alone travelling into central London. However, M (not very dp at the moment) after agreeing that we'll all go at 11 pm and letting me get quite excited about it, decided at 1 am that he doesn't want to come, and has picked a massive fight, and then apologised but is still being a tosser.

thanks elkiedee.

I was planning to come to the London one but my CM can't look after DS1 tomorrow and I'm not very confident about bringing both DS1 and DS2 to central London on my own. dp is trying to rearrange or get someone else to take on his meetings tomorrow but I may end up just taking them to local baby/toddler group.

Solo, sorry to hear that your dad is in hospice care, but of course you need to be there for him. I will probably be at work next year but I will try to get to a picnic on the relevant day if I can, even if by then my ds2 exists on a diet of sausage rolls and fruit shoots.

Bugger! I really wanted to go to the London one, but Dad is coming home from the hospice tomorrow and I really need/want to be there when he does, sooooo, I don't think I'm going to be there with you all...If Dd is still bfing next year, I'll try to get there then though.

Bump!

Ooh, I think I will try and make it to Durham! I have never been to Durham in my life, but have just moved to Washington. I'm not BF, but have a 2 year old who was for a while and am PG again with hopefully a BF baby. Would be nice to meet people from the area!

Bump
[wink ][gri n][sm ile]

bump

BUMP!

Mmmm, could try and persuade DB to meet us at either Salford or Warrington (he's in Manc) but Birmingham is the more sensible option.

Thanks for the help Dita

Where do I find the details for birmingham picnic?

Yorky Warrington is in Cheshire, inbetween Liverpool and Manchester. There's also one in Salford (Manchester way) if that suits you better.

Thanks! Alestorm

Solo - Victoria Tower Gardens is next to Westminster. If you come out of Westminster Tube station next to the Tesco Express, then cross the road so the Houses of Parliament are on your left, and follow the pavement along then you will come to VTG.

LOL @ Morgan organising them - she's just the pretty face!

Thank you sambo...no idea where VTG is though, but will attempt to get there

anathemdevice I am travelling from surrey and going on the tube, we can meet up and help each other! I think it's an easy journey - one stop on the Jubilee line to Westminster

Solo it's at 12noon til 3pm Monday 20 July at Victoria Tower Gardens (the venue has changed from Parliament Sq)

Well, I can't find the London one on FB. Any update please? where and at what time? I'm hoping to get there this year

Great, I enjoyed last years in Oxford, and am feeding this year! We've moved though so off to multimap to see if I'm closest to Birmingham or where is Warrington?!

Thanks DVC - I'll def head down there week Monday and try and get time to email her from blog tomorrow. MM

Hmm - I can only find the blank one on FB. I know Morgan is doing an update tomorrow, so there may be one on there, or you could email her through her blog.

Not sure about Refugee Action, sorry!

The London one. On the 20th as far as I understand. Do organisations like Refugee Action know about this?

monkeys Which one are you hoping to go to?

I'd never heard of these. I've just looked at it on FB and will definitely go with dd. Is there any poster or anything I can send to mates to get some other people to come?

By the bandstand (forgot to say!)

The Stroud one is at Stratford Park:

Map

We will be there! It is from 12 til 3.

Stroud details

I will be at the Warrington one

Hi - I'm in Bristol, whereabouts in Stroud is the bf picnic?

bump

Bump again having just read that Britain is unfriendly towards breastfeeding in the parenting news!

(will be bumping this a lot over the next week!)

Birmingham.

Any one else?

really wanted to come but cant as working

Poole...

bumpity bump bump bump!
Just over a week to go until the BF picnics!

Post here if you're going along!

Peachy, we're just over in Gloucestershire if you fancy joining us?

Birmingham
Colchester
London
Stroud
Durham
Warrington
Salford

Have I missed anyone?

I'm going to try and make the London one, but I'm a bit nervous of travelling up from Surrey on my own with a young baby, especially on the tube. I'll see if I'm brave enough nearer the time.

I'm hoping to come to the London one.

Bump

Is anyone going to the London one?

Update - I have 2 volunteers to help co-ordinate things on the day! Hooray!

I'm in the process of talking very nicely to Durham Uni to ensure we have permission to have the picnic on Palace Green. Can't see it being an issue tbh. Once I do that I will be contacting the press as well.

If anyone can take over the running the Durham Picnic from me, I would be eternally grateful. Unfortunately I had managed to forget that I am on holiday in Scotland that week for my mum's 60th
I only remembered when I made the final payment for the holiday last week...

I'm in S wales too (not far from Cardiff) and would be interested

Dita! It was you that recommended MN! I was having problems BF DD and followed your link. Did I tell you that I posted and Tiktok gave me great advice and we got it all sorted? Thanks so much, I think we would have given up if I'd not got help then. I know its not very MN but x (don't tell on me!)

Hi Ditta <waves back> - yes thats me! You spotted me waffling the same sort of rubbish over here then! How did you spot me? Haven't disguised myself well have I?

Woohoo!!

IwishIwasMore I wanted a S Wales one as well, if you hear of ojne can you let me know? Ta. Will be alst year I am both available and BF () so REALLY would like to do one even if it emans a drive

<waves at LuluLulabelle> Yay!

Btw, am I right in thinking you came over here from a more lilac board? If so, then I'm Looby <raises dark glasses> Apologies if that makes no sense to you!

Any in South Wales?

Dita, I'll attend your NW one too!

Dita, I'll attend your NW one too!

Any in the Midlands yet? Preferably Warwickshire!

All done! will try to picnic with you all this year, but I can't work out when the school hols are going to start! will it be from the 20th? do you think?

<waves at FinalFurlong>

I've emailed them about a Manc/'Pool/Warrington picnic, haven't heard anything back yet though.

come to ours!! last year was good fun colchester

ooh yu didn't mention this on the other thread
I'll be there, I hope!

I'll volunteer to arrange a local one! Will need to namechange or I'll out myself though.

i am in cheshire, would love to take part in a liverpool, manchester one!

Finally gotten around to creating an event on Facebook

I miss the bunnies

Bump

Jotted it down in my diary, thanks

ooh fab, will try and get to london one

I'd be happy to give it a go, just didn't want to step on anyone's toes!

I'm in Warrington so guess could do Manchester, Liverpool or Warrington, if I'm needed.

Sleepmenot - oh yes, please come!!
DitaVonCheese - we've only just announced things, there are still picnics to organised.. and volunteers wanted to organise them (hint, hint ).

There don't seem to be many regional picnics - are they hard to set up (or have I just missed them?)?

will be there.

have you seen the Durham meetup thread, Sleepmenot?

Hi BT,

Cool! My 17 month old is self-weaning which means unless she suddenly changes her mind, I wont be able to come and feed, but can I still come? I live in Durham...

thanks for that, dd and i have made a note of the london one.

Oops sorry forgot the link to the petition!
here it is!

For you Facebook people

Morgan Gallagher's blog

Last year (for those of you not in the know) Morgan, who champions infant feeding rights and has helped draw attention to situations at Yarl's Wood Detention centre when breastfed babies had been forcibly separated from their mothers, has organised another breastfeeding picnic this year, following on from the success of last year's.
She has also done another petition with regards to legislation protecting infant feeding here which I urge you all to sign - it will be presented to Downing Street on the day of the picnic.
Please attend (either virtually or in person if you can), if you can't make it to London, please check the facebook event for links to the regional events. I am organising the North East of England picnic which will be in Durham City Centre.
The picnic itself will consist of you bringing a packed lunch for yourself and children!
It went very well last year there was no trouble at all and an enjoyable time was had by all!
There was some press presence as well and I am hoping to organise some more for this year's picnic too!

Please note that you are very welcome to attend regardless of how you choose to feed your baby.
This isn't about breast vs formula - it's about protecting mothers' rights to feed their children as they choose (Gregg's sausage rolls & fruit shoots excepted )

Thank you all!!

North easters I will do a Facebook event but I have been ridiculously busy lately