Lonely Aussie Mum in East Sheen/Richmond

[Jussy]

Hi

We moved to London two months ago as my husband was transferred here from Sydney. I have two children aged 3 and 5.

It is very hard not knowing anybody and would appreciate it if anybody has any suggestions on keeping myselft busy. Unfortunately the Mums at my daughters school are not a very friendly bunch.

[Jussy]

Thanks

[Lonelymum]

I am nowhere near where you are Jussy, but just wanted to say hi and welcome to England! We are not all unfriendly! My dh is from Brisbane and has been in England now for 18 years (mainly because he met me!)

[janinlondon]

Hi Jussy. I'm from Brisbane but have been living in South London (not exactly near you, though!) for 16 years. The weather at the moment is pretty depressing for an Australian, but when the summer comes the parks are a great place to meet other Mums and kids. Its early days. Don't get too down about it. It does get better!

[MoggyMummy]

Hi Jussy

I'm in East Sheen and have a DS aged 3.
Where in Sheen are you - I'm on Sheen Lane (parkside). We should meet There are a few East Sheen mums on this site but I haven't met any of them yet. I work full time in Richmond. Are you SAHM or working?

[nosyincognitosheenmum]

Hi Jussy
Which school is your dd at?
Am paranoid now that am a cliquey mum!

[Jussy]

Hi

I am a stay at home Mum. I admire any mother who works full time. How do you fit it all in. I feel like I don't have enough hours in the day and I don't even work.

My DD goes to East Sheen Primary. I don't think the Mothers are Cliquey I just think they are busy with there everyday lives and don't realise how lonely it can be when you don't know anybody.

Jussy

[MoggyMummy]

Hi Jussy

If you fancy a coffee or something - I can always come down to meet you from work

[nosyincognitosheenmum]

I think you'll be fine with the mums at that school, it just takes time. One way often to get to know other school mums is to take your children to the activities they all seem to do (ballet, swimming etc) or maybe through your youngests' nursery. Do they have coffe mornings? Or maybe invite a friend round to tea and the mum for coffee?

[MoggyMummy]

nosyincognitosheenmum - who are you really?

[CountessDracula]

Hi Jussy, I am in East Sheen too (but my dd is only 3 so no experience of the schools) I do know a lot of people with kids at East Sheen and they all seem v friendly but of course busy etc - as I work 4 days a week I don't socialise with them really anyway!

SO, there are quite a few of us mnetters in and around Sheen, Moggymummy and I have been planning to meet up but not managed it yet (SORRY MM!!)

Am off to NY tomorrow but will be back next weekend, so any time after that I would defo be up for a meet up, maybe we could all go to the playground on Mortlake Green and then out for some coffee or lunch or someting?

[MoggyMummy]

Have a fab NYC trip Countess.

We'll be off to Egypt for a couple of weeks when you get back - so I reckon March would be a great time to get together to play on the Green.

[Jussy]

Hi

It would be great to catch up with both of you. We live in Milton Road which is close to everything in East Sheen.

Countess, I also have a 3 year old DD who would love somebody to have a play with at the park. Do yo want to meet up at Mortlake Green Playground on your day off once you have got back from NY?

Moggymum in the mean time I would love to catch up for a coffee before you go off to Egypt (lucky thing).

After a week of the flu I have been feeling sorry for myself, so thanks for sending me an email.

Jussy

[CountessDracula]

Aha just round the corner, I am in Church Ave!

Yes defo meet up one Friday soon, that would be great. Or a weekend would be fine too if we are around.


Actually while I;'m here does anyone know where the video shop at the top of Milton Rd has moved to?

[CountessDracula]

Moggy have a great time in Egypt!

[Jussy]

Hi

It didn't moved, it closed down. It was so handy for us too. There was a sign on the door saying the closest Universal video store would be in Putney. Now its just a boring Parking shop.

Send me a message when you get back from NY. Friday morning or weekends are good.

Jussy

[scully]

Hi Jussy, hope you've got to meet a few people since this thread started I'm from Brisbane, have been over here 10yrs and have 2 dd's, 4 in April and 8wks. I'm about an hour from you (Farnham, Surrey) but if you had a car and fancied a day out of South London (spent the first 8yrs living in various suburbs near to you) we could always meet halfway somewhere. Hope you're settling in and enjoying the wonderful weather

[YanksUponThames]

Hi Jussy (and everyone else!) --

I'm a newbie here on mumsnet but it's about time I started meeting people.

We moved here a few months ago from overseas as well -- husband here for 2-yr job stint. I'm a SAHM and in your area. Ds is 3.5 and a bit lonely from moving around etc., and because this immediate neighbourhood doesn't have enough mums&kids I've met yet, but he's a sweetie and I'm lucky in that regard. I need to meet other mums/playmates and make some friends. My location is good for the shops & station & buses (i.e. convenient for dh's commuting), for the Richmond Green & Park, & the Old Deer Park playground, etc. Our address sounds posh, but flat is tiny and surrounding streets appear to have only pensioners and/or rich people who can't be bothered. So I could use some company with regular people! With kids and everything!

Plenty of mums & kids going by near here every day, but generally everyone seems to be on their way to somewhere else (like the shops), since Normal People don't actually live here, apparently....

I have no car, but lots of buses about going in all directions -- Sheens, Kew, Twickenham, Kingston, Putney, etc. And trains. So I can get about (at toddler speed), but need places to go, people to meet, things to do.

Also what sort of school/nursery ideas make sense for a 3.5 yr old who will be here just 18 more months -- and on a moderate budget (more moderate than a Richmond address probably usually implies, I gather!).
(this is not quite the sort of neighbourhood we live in back home...)

I, too, come from 30-something latitudes and have found the absurdly short winter days here a bit dreary. A bit like spending several months in a dimly lit refrigerator. 'Course the summer days will be absurdly long!

Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone with 2-4 yr olds around the Richmond, Kew, North Sheen, East Sheen, St Margarets, Twickenham, Ham, Petersham, Kingston, etc. etc. areas. Hey, west London generally...

Thanks!

[MrsBigD]

Hi Jussy,

We've sort of got a general West London meet up thread going under Ealing,..., West London. Had a friend just south of Kingstong who was from Brisbane but have lost contact with her :( otherwise I'd point her your way.

Yanks I see you're multi-threading
I think I'll shadow this thread too :)

[mapleleaf]

Hi Jussy & other mummies,

I too am based in east sheen and when the weather is better would love to meet up on mortlake green with all the local mummies. I work wed/fri but can do most other days. My dd1 is 3 and my dd2 is nearly 1. Is your 3 year old in preschool ? My dd1 goes to a really friendly one which has afternoon vacancies at the moment for mon & thurs. In the UK all 3 year olds get part time funding so the fees are reduced for preschool sessions. As for activities the Art Yard is fantastic and just about 2 minutes down from waitrose. I think their summer term starts 25/04 and they have the leaflets outside their door explaining all their classes/workshops for children 2yrs and over. The local library also has storytime on fridays. And if you ring the CIS (childrens information services) they can send you leaflets on everything happening in the richmond area, as well as info on local playgroups, preschools, classes for children etc. Their number is 0208 331 6298. I've only been here in east sheen for a few years and it really is a great place to be. Enjoy ...

[singersgirl]

Jussy, is your daughter in Reception or Y1? Not all mums there are unfriendly...

[Fabmummy]

Hi Jussy and Yanksuponthames and everyone else here.
I am in RIchmond and always love to meet new people, so if you fancy a coffee or run on the Green email me at [email protected] and we'll arrange something.

[Jussy]

Hi

Sorry I haven't replied to anybody. My mother-inlaw came to visit for three very long weeks, so now I am free once again.

I would love the opportunity to meet you all. Maybe we should arrange to all meet up. Sounds as though it might be easier to make it somewhere in Richmond. What do you think?

Jussy

[FENNEKEPANS]

HI JUSSY. I UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOU FEEL. I LIVE IN HAMPSHIRE AND HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL. SOMETIMES FEEL ISOLATED BUY YOU JUST HAVE TO PERCEVEIRE AND FIND NEW PEOPLE.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT HALF TERM WE CAN GET TOGETEHER.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK, FEEL FREE TO WRITE. SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU COME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD, AND NOW MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, YOU HAVE TO FIND FRIENDS.
TAKE CARE

FENNEKAPANS

[FENNEKEPANS]

HI JUSSY. I UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOU FEEL. I LIVE IN HAMPSHIRE AND HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL. SOMETIMES FEEL ISOLATED BUY YOU JUST HAVE TO PERCEVEIRE AND FIND NEW PEOPLE.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT HALF TERM WE CAN GET TOGETEHER.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK, FEEL FREE TO WRITE. SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU COME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD, AND NOW MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, YOU HAVE TO FIND FRIENDS.
TAKE CARE

FENNEKAPANS

[FENNEKEPANS]

HI JUSSY. I UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOU FEEL. I LIVE IN HAMPSHIRE AND HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL. SOMETIMES FEEL ISOLATED BUY YOU JUST HAVE TO PERCEVEIRE AND FIND NEW PEOPLE.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT HALF TERM WE CAN GET TOGETEHER.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK, FEEL FREE TO WRITE. SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU COME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD, AND NOW MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, YOU HAVE TO FIND FRIENDS.
TAKE CARE

FENNEKAPANS