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MNHQ

Coo-eeh! Come tell us what you think of the New (hopefully much better) Mumsnet Local

184 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 12:07

Hello. We've been aware for a while now that MN Local isn't all it could be and we've been beavering away for several months now to make it much, much better.

And today's the Grand Unveiling of the all-new, all-singing, all-dancing (well, OK, not quite singing and dancing just yet) Mumsnet Local

We've reorganised the Local sites a bit (they were a bit random, geographically speaking, before). And, if you go to your nearest Mumsnet Local site, you'll see there's much more to it and it's much easier to find your way about. There are loads more categories for listings and space for reviews, and you'll find nearly new inside an expanded Classifieds section - which should make your Mumsnet Local an altogether more helpful place to hang out. Don't worry, we haven't lost the talk threads from old Local. They'll be reappearing in the new sites very soon.

Some Mumsnet Local sites are still a bit light on listings and info (we're working on that right now) but, if you'd like a look at what we're hoping all Mumsnet Locals will look like pretty darn soon, do have a butcher's at Bath. If you want to share something with other Mumsnetters on any of the sites, just click on Add a Listing (the pink button on the right just under the navigation bar).

Sites that are not far behind include Bedford, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bolton & Bury, Manchester & Trafford, Bournemouth & Poole, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Exeter, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, and in London? Barnet, Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Hillingdon, Islington, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Waltham Forest boroughs.

And we're hoping all the other Local sites, including those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be hot on their tails. We're looking to entice people to look after these sites, but more on that soon.

We've designed an easy-to-use Meet Ups page. If you want to volunteer to organise a regular meet-up in your area, just email [email protected] . There are more bits and pieces and snazzy new features to come, too. Once --Tech's had a bit of a lie down

We do hope you like what you see. Do let us know what you think - as ever, all feedback is most welcome.

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MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:56

@boredandrestless

I am getting no problems at all viewing the pages. Just thought I'd add that as it must be disheartening to only get the problems posted so am trying to balance it out a bit. Grin

(Am using windows vista and google chrome)

Thank you - and hurrah!

And it's OK: it's almost impossible to test something like this enough to cover all the bases and all the ways people view MN, so we're actually vv grateful for the feedback.

But the nice feedback's best of all, obvs!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:52

@stealthsquiggle

Helen - I am on a Windows 7 PC (using IE8) - I haven't tried it on my phone yet.

OK, we'll flag this to Tech. Thank you.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:46

@stealthsquiggle

Um...

If I click on 'local' in the banner, I get the same error message that JaquelineHyde was getting.

If I click on the link in the OP I get a very messed up page with no content, and error messages if I try to click on anything - I can send you a screenshot if it helps.

Yikes! Are you on a phone or a computer?

And if you say which Local you're after, I can give you a direct link.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:33

@Chefette

Hi, could you do a Scotland "Angus" page area? There is no location for "all" the towns inbetween Aberdeen (shire) and Dundee Grin

Try local.mumsnet.com/angus (no www) Smile

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:33

@BrainSurgeon

I live in a village between Egham and Bagshot / on the border of Surrey with Berkshire... so I guess either of those would be good! Ta Thanks

Try local.mumsnet.com/berkshire (no www)

Or local.mumsnet.com/surrey (no www)

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:31

@NotGeoffVader

Looking good!

For my 'local' area (Chelmsford), I am aware of some events/childrens centres but they're not actually in that area, just close - can I post them up or would be that too distracting?

Of course. Providing it's reasonable that someone living near you could get to them - ie they're not a million miles away.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:16

@BrainSurgeon

All I'm doing is click on the link in the OP

What is supposed to happen when I do that?

You should go straight to a map.

Listen, if you tell me the local you want (by PM if you prefer) I can give you the direct link.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:09

@dinkystinky

Ok Helen - will get on trying to put in some info about the Queens Park Activities/shops there. However will most likely only annoy the people in Harrow, Stonebridge Park, Northwick Park etc areas who are nowhere near QP....

Thank you!

And don't worry: am sure we can strongarm some people from Harrow, Stonebridge Park, Northwick Park to try and match you!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:05

@BrainSurgeon

Sorry I don't actually see a map, I see a link that says "view map" and when I click on that link, I get a list of locations

No actual map to be seen - just words

That doesn't sound AT ALL right.

Which Local are you looking for?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:54

@exexpat

Even when I get into my local site (Bristol), via the map because the 'my local site' button doesn't work, I can't use it to get into local talk because neither of the supposed links work.

I know most of the rest of it will be content-free for the moment until we all have time to add some, but there are already lots of discussions going on in local chat, and now no way to access them unless they are already in 'threads I'm on'.

Think you needed a bit more testing before you launched this...

Hello. And yes, the Talk threads will be visible in a few days' time. Nothing that was in Talk before will be lost, though.

Because the Local sites are now separate from the main site, we have to migrate the Talk threads across the sites - and that takes a little while.

Hope you can bear with us.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:52

@dinkystinky

Looks v smart - but all the pages in MN Local for Brent for activities etc seem blank. Why is this? And how can I drill down to the area of Brent I'm interested in (which is Queens Park/Kensal Rise/Westminster borders)?

Hurray! Thank you.

And they're blank because we need folks like you to load up lots of great info for us. We reckon MNer listings would be much better than listings we could filch acquire from other lists - cos you lot definitely know what's good and what's not, local to you.

Re Brent: it could be that Brent doesn't have a Local Editor yet. Drilling down is definitely possible but it needs a Local Editor to get it going.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:48

@AnotherCerealNameChanger

Nothing seems to work for Norwich

Eek, really? Are you calling up local.mumsnet.com/norwich (no www at the beginning)

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:45

@BrainSurgeon

Hi sorry I disappeared - how rude Blush

I am on a laptop so not the mobile site.
If I try the link to Local (right under the Mumsnet logo at the top of this page) I go to a white page with some code on it.

If I click on the link to the mumsnet local link in Emma's OP I get to a page proper with a few links on it, however top link called "Local" takes me back to the white code page though.....

The link with locations around London seems to work however none of those places is near me - I am between Egham and Bagshot, where should I go?

When you click on the link in Emma's OP, do you get to a page with a map on it?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:44

@Bumpinthenight

Or delete multiple entries.I shouldn't be allowed on a computer!
Grin
MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:44

@Iggly

I'm trying to add content to my local page.

However it's asking me for a date range for playgroups (which are indefinite so could finish at any time in the future) and also for parks. Now, my local park isn't planning to disappear any time soon, and even if it was I don't know anything about it.

So please, remove the date ranges or have the option to not fill it in as it is compulsory for everything I try and add!!!

Yes, we're aware of this one. On the case!

Thanks so much for adding stuff.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:43

@JaquelineHyde

The link in your OP works but the page it takes me to is a mess. All the text is written over the top of other text down the left hand side and there is nothing else on the page accept for a Sage advert that appears to be working fine (opening when I roll over etc)

Ah - see you tried that! Which Local site is this, JaquelineHyde

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:42

@JaquelineHyde

I can't get it to work.

When I click the link in the blue bar it brings up a tiny little box with a computer connecting the a world symbol and then that dissapears and another box tells me... 'Cannot continue. The application is improperly formatted. Contact the application vendor for assistance.

I'm on my laptop, so not accessing a mobile site if that makes any difference.

OK. Try going through the Mumsnet Local link in EmmaMumsnet's OP.

Does that work?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:37

@maryann970

No content :s

Layout is fab but alas is useless without content!

The idea, maryann970, is that folks add the content, if they'd like. We want MNer-generated content (cos you lot know all the best places and tell it like it is), rather than just bland listings pulled in from existing lists.

Do please add some if you've time. Would be much appreciated!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:35

@TheSkiingGardener

I think it's luverly. Hope Techs head isn't hurting too much.

Off to add some content to Southampton....

Mwah! Thank you.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:34

@HastaLanugo

It launched and I signed in, but once I was in my local area, everything I clicked came back with the "feature coming soon". I didn't click all the links just things I was interested in. No use to me for now. Sad

Try clicking on the blue/green tabs above the ones you clicked. LOADS of stuff there.

And the "features coming soon" really are coming soon. And will be fabbo.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:31

@Jux

Blush thank you, garlic. I am very embarrassed.

Olivia (and Tech), I'm terribly sorry. I just had to scroll up a bit and there was Devon, Exeter and Plymouth. All links worked. I went to Devon and then to Exeter, but gave Plymouth a miss as it's getting late.

It looks lovely and works well.

I would quite like to have a link that gives me the opportunity to go to any of those 3 Devon, Exeter or Plymouth, from any page within the local site, iyswim. But I am nitpicking.

Well done you lot!

Gah! Just seen that you'd alread found it. Ignore me!

Will pass on your suggestion re going to other sites, Jux.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:30

@purplepenguin86

It isn't working for me. It keeps trying to launch an application and then says the application is improperly formatted and to contact the application vendor. I'm on a PC.

How odd. What url are you typing in?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:29

@Jux

When I get to the page with the map, I click on Devon and get a white bubble saying Devon, but that's all. I have tried all the links on that page and they all result in a box saying Coming soon. The search box remains blank and I can't type into it to tell it to look for Devon or Exeter.

Could it be because I'm using an iPad?

Jux, look to the right of the page and then up (you'll probably have to scroll). You should see a blue tab there for Devon.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:27

@CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz

How do you get to it on the App? When I click on 'Topics' and go to MN Local, it just takes me to the local talk boards?

It's not available on the App, we're afraid. The app is just a Mumsnet Talk app.

But we hope we can release a MN Local app one day.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 11:22

@Wigeon

The links in the OP don't work for me - they just give an almost blank page, where some of the menu on the left looks like several bits are written over each other.

And when I try to access the Local pages direct from the homepage, I get an error message saying "Cannot continue. The Application is improperly formatted. Contact the application vendor for assistance" Confused.

I am just on a regular laptop using Internet Explorer.

Which Local are you after, Wigeon?

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