Hi Soosy
The travelling and staying in London actually worked out much better than i thought it would. I had visions of me, DH and DD spending one night on the houseboat and then I would have to phone a friend and beg for a spare room for a couple of weeks! In reality, it was lovely to be on the boat with DH, and DD adapted really well to keeping later hours than normal and not having a garden to play in. My biggest fear was always walking along the pontoons to get to the boat, but DD was harnessed up and I gripped her hands and harness each time and it worked fine, no untimely swimming!
Each of my clinic appointments was in the morning, so it would be about an hour and 15 minute drive each way. DD and DH came with me each time - there isn't any childcare at the clinic really and I didn't want to impose on the lovely nurses there, so DH had to come along. Plus DD is only 19 months so is very active and doesn't understand or follow instructions at all, so isn't at the best stage for leaving with a stranger for 15 minutes if it can be helped. For EC, DH went and did his bit first and then he took DD to the zoo for a couple of hours before collecting me.
I'd be happy to go back to the clinic again if need be, rather than find a new one. It is so much nicer to go back to a small clinic where you know people already.
For you though, do you have any other childcare or could you extend DS's hours at nursery at all? It is only for a couple of weeks after all.
Good luck finding a rental too - I had this last April and it was a nightmare, but we did have 2 dogs and cats and a small baby so weren't ideal tenants in retrospect. Once we found a house it was all pretty smooth. It is odd renting after so many years in your own house.