Any m'netters in the La Vésinet area?

[barbie1]

Hello

We are moving in 2 weeks to la Vésinet, myself, dh, my 2 year old dd and 3 month old ds.

Having no friends or relatives in the area and with a French vocabulary of appoximately zero I'm under no illusion that it's going to be tough, so was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers.

Any recommendations for hairdressers, supermarkets, playgroup type things for the 2 year old?

Is there anything I should stock up on in the uk to bring across?

Any advice about anything would be helpful

Thanks in advance

Oooh which bit of Le Vesinet?

I know a good hairdresser but there may be others closer, supermarket will depend too although there's the Carrefour at Montesson. Activities not too sure bit the only soft play I've found in the area is about a 20min drive.

I also know a trustworthy babysitter

Umm, which part? dunno.. I know it's only a 5 min stroll to the market place.

Sorry I'm rubbish aren't I!

Babysitter you say? Would be very interested. Roughly how much should we be looking to pay an hour?

Rue de seine is the area, by the train track. So very close the the bridge back over into st germaine

Oh Oooh that's near DH's grandma which is where we stay. Nice area, lovely park with lake, very nice primary schools

Will PM you babysitter details if she agrees.

I can't help on the area, but two random things I would suggest bringing to France:

Nappy bags -- we used to get 300 bags from Tesco for like 50p or something, here in France they are stupidly expensive

Your favourite teas -- obviously you can get tea here but it's more expensive, also it's hard to find decaf black tea if you like it

We moved here when DS was 1, France is great for children I think, just give yourself time to adjust and don't be too hard on yourself if you screw up sometimes (as you are bound to!)

Oh also, I really recommend Michel Thomas for learning French (I think it's on Audible?) You can pick up a lot of basic French very quickly.

Teabags, calpol, lemsip - and any other medicines that you like cause you won't be able to get the same over there and when you are ill you will want comforting.

Michel Thomas has an iPhone app - you can try it out if you have an iPhone. Otherwise have a look on eBay. I picked up the whole set quite cheap. He is very good if you actually listen to the fecker

Boots teething gel - the only person to have lignocaine is the dentist. It's good for mouth ulcers, too.

Curry spices if you do indian food - French chilli powder is so mild as to be almost tasteless.

Remember to redirect your uk post - poss a last chance to apply for any uk credit cards before it gets too close. It's very difficult to increase a credit card limit after leaving, and I've not heard of anyone who has managed to get either a new uk bank account or a credit card.

I miss marmite - used to buy it in great plastic tubs from Costco. Costco membership is quite a good thing if you will be back in the UK every year or so.

Get proof of as many years no claims bonus as you can if you are a car driver - UK max is 9, in France it goes up to 13.

Get repeat prescriptions of any UK medecines before you go - I take thyroxin, and got a double prescription before we left as it meant I didn't have to sort it out as soon as we arrived.

Good luck with the move.

Thanks ladies

I'll add all of the above to my shopping list.

We are relocating from Dubai so are used to the expat life, however I'm much more daunted by this move!

Car insurance no claims will be sorted, thanks for the heads up.

Will it be easy enough to find an English speaking doctor?

You can get calpol no problem actually, it's called Doliprane in France.

If you google the American embassy/consulates in France, they have lists of English-speaking doctors for various regions.

You should also sign up to a pediatrician -- here DC get their vaccinations through a pediatrician, not the GP. (They also get Vitamin D supplements in the winter.)

When they go for the shots they'll also get a thorough health and development check, it's quite nice actually.

At least that's how it is where we are (Loire) ...

There is an English GP called Dr Clarke in Croissy Sur Seine (2 mins from Le Vesinet) she will give vaccines, you just need to pick them up from the pharmacy first. You don't need to register with her, just call up when you need an appointment.
There is also an English speaking dentist in Croissy on Rue Des Pont.
I also had an English speaking mobile hairdresser (Anne Sophie) but I've lost her number. I can get it off some friends still there if you're interested.
Around Le Vesinet you will find lots of the people speak enough English in shops / restaurants to help you get by till you become more confident.
You can get sky television installed if you're in a house, but not usually allowed to put a dish up on apartments.
There is a pre-schoolers music group which holds sessions at the British School, if you call the BSP I'm sue they'll give you the times / days.
There is a play park on Bougival Island that lots if the expats use, I'm sure they would be very welcoming to you if you take your children there.

Dreaming
I know you can get the ingredients of Calpol but my DC like the taste and colour of "the pink medicine" and refused the yukky forrin stuff. That might be the Swiss stuff though, not sure what the French one is like.

Oh gosh, now I don't remember what calpol is like!

Doliprane is pink and tastes like strawberries. Yum

OP when your little one starts teething, you can get something called Camilia at the pharmacy, it's little vials of camomile liquid -- we used it with DS and it really seemed to help a lot.

wow, thanks for all your replies. Busy packing...only one more week!

For toddler groups check out the AVF in Le Vesinet (go to the ciav next to the post office or google them: I think they are on the web somewhere) stuffed full of English speakers and they certainly used to have a toddler group and conversation classes, that sort of thing. You could also join www.messageparis.org which is a parenting association within Paris region and they have all sorts of settling into France support and run meet ups and stuff. there is also a playgroup at the Anglicn church in Maisons Lafitte (again if you google holy trinity maisons lafitte you will probably find the details.