All those online for NZ timezone!

[buzzybee]

Hi all. Used to be a regular on MN when I lived in London but since moving back to NZ have found it harder to make the connections due to all the brits being asleep when us down under are online! So if anyone is keen to start a thread for those of us in this predicament please reply! My DD has just turned 5 and started school last week (scary). Have just found out I'm expecting number 2 - due roughly Xmas day...

That's just fantastic news, Wellie!

Wow, Wellie, I can't imagine how amazing it must be hear to hear music again after so long...fantastic, I imagine

Hi to Sibble and Papillon!

Shells, maybe you could hire out the inlaws, as a kind of "Housework incentive" or something?

Ninedragons - how's everything with your baby? How old is she now?

Or is your baby a he...sorry...can't remember

Hi Wellie, great to have you back! So so pleased for you, must feel incredible.

Shells, glad you have found some coping mechanisms, well done you.

I spoke too soon

Lovely nanny has a cold, went home early yesterday and isn't coming today.

Really stressed out now about all the work and other stuff I need to do and can't.

Ho hum.

Must go and look at the dds - I can hear screaming....

Forgot to say Buzzy, any of those days (Mon/Tue/Wed) are OK for me.

Cafe in Ponsonby fine. there are a zillion usual cafes and 2 (that I know of) kid-focused ones that have big play areas - apparently - haven't been to either yet. One is called Bang Bang and one A Spoonful of Sugar. I don't mind where we go - doubt Amelia (or Bea!) will be interested in a play area but Isobel may?

Boooo about the nanny, Welly. Hope she's well and back soon

Oh no Wellie! Swings and roundabouts on that one between nannies and childcare. With childcare it always seems to be the kids getting sick you have to take time off work for. I have friends who swear that the best approach is a combination of both (2/3 days each) as its sometimes possible to get a last minute casual place at childcare when the nanny's sick or to get nanny to cover an extra day at home for a sick child. Doesn't work if you share a nanny though.

I am NOT looking forward to the first year back at work dreading those phone calls to say come and get your baby. Not least because you know they will be feeling poorly as well as causing you stress about taking the time off.

Anna, either of those cafes sound great! Issy will no doubt appreciate a playground. Shall we tentatively say Tuesday? What time suits Amelia's routines best? Bea will no doubt be all topsy turvy with being away so anything fine by me.

Hi have a look here

Mumsnet people have recognised that NZ and Australia exist!!

Well done MrsJC for volunteering

Well done indeed Mrs jc. I can help with anything Auckland way - well south of Auckland anyway (rarely venture over that bridge ). I had actually wondered what a Tsarina was but was too scared to ask!!

Ooh, well done MrsJC!

Gloom and doom here - we've all had colds this week.

Roll on weekend!

hi welliemum, assume you are in wellington ??? we are flying down next weekend for a long weekend for bil's wedding. heading to Te Papa friday, fingers crossed for good weather for us.

Hi Sibble. Happy to try and organise a meet-up if you're willing?! Assume you mean weekend after Easter? What day is BIL's wedding? Would Sunday lunch work for you (30 March - my baby's 3 month birthday!!!)?

Hi Kiwis. Are you all busy hiding Easter eggs? I completely forgot to buy any! I've spent weeks snapping at my begging children at the supermarket till 'no, you CAN'T have Easter eggs now - you'll have to wait til Easter Sunday.' Oh god. What a bad mother! Am hoping the dairy will be open in the morning and I can claim that Easter bunny is running late....

Shells, I can offer you 2 eggs left over from last Easter!! Yes I am such a mean mother I have not let DD crack open 2 of the eggs we got last year

Hi all

Happy Easter! I'm still under the lurgy, not feeling great.

Sibble, I'm in Wellington and I hope would be in the running for a meet up - I'm sure I'll be better by then [hopeful]

Hi all Wellington crowd

Loose plans fly down Friday and 'do' Te Papa, cable car etc... Dh wants to catch the train to Upper Hutt (I think) on Sat am to check out a motorbike. I'll be free with the ds's. Wedding Saturday 4pm onwards. SUnday am hoping to catch up with a friend from home who moved here with her 4 dc end of last year but every thing is very much up in the air. Would love to meet/catch up with you all.

We have booked a babysitter for Friday night so we can go out in town. I've never used a hotel babysitting service before and am very nervous. Ds2 who is 3 is very clingy at the moment (only started 3 weeks ago before that he was 'danger mouse') but dh really wants to go out in town for a meal. Any recommendations for nice restaurants greatly appreciated.

On another note we had a great Easter at the beach. ds1 is getting really good at surfing although with the full moon the surf was wild. We all got dumped a few times. The Easter bunny visited and dh let the boys have chocolate eggs for breakfast . I had a bit of a breakdown about it and ds2 has been out of sorts all day but as he says it is only once a year.

Dh reckons he got me an Easter egg. Apparently it's "in the office" .

We have stayed in Auckland for the long weeknd but been out to beaches, visit friends etc. Actually quite nice driving rounf Auckland as so many people are away for the weekedn the roads are fairly quiet.

Last Friday would have been my mum's birthday, so that was a bit hard, but it's over with now.

Hope everyone's had a great Easter.

The in-laws have gone! I feel free already! Dp has been sad all day and I've been pretending to be sad. But inside I'm cheering! Oh dear.
Easter panned out ok. Emergency trip to dairy. Mine had chocolate for breakfast too and were foul as a result. Oh well.
Sibble, Buzzy is good on recommendations for places to go/eat etc. I'm sure she'll be on soon. I'd love to be in on meet up if I can.How old are your DS's? I can't remember.

Shells, I feel your relief

Sibble, Shells, Wellie (KJM too if you see this?) shall we try for say 11am on Saturday? I presume central Wellington is best for you Sibble? If so somewhere like Astoria may be best as its not too far from the railway station (next to Kirks)? However if you're willing to stray a bit further south to Cuba Mall there's cafe called "Plum" next to the famous Bucket Fountain outside Farmers which is a bit more child friendly on a nice day (adjacent playground etc).

As for a dinner on Friday where will you be staying? Courtney Place is probably your best bet. I'd suggest Capitol or Cafe Bastille for french style kiwi cuisine. If you're anywhere near Thorndon/Parliament and like romantic Italian trattoria type places then "Maria Pia's" on Mulgrave St opposite Old St Paul's is very nice.

I will only have DD2 (12 weeks today!) with me so can be quite flexible.

Wellie - sorry to hear you're not well. Echinacea tincture works for me!

Shells - YAY!!!! I'll say no more...

We're off to Masterton tomorrow overnight so I may not see replies for 48 hours.

That sounds great, we're staying at the Novotel, The Terrace which looks to be very central. My ds's are 8 and 3 and will both be with me unless (highly unlikely) they want to catch the train to look at some motorbikes. Actually ds2 might.

In haste - children running riot - would live to be there on Saturday but it looks a bit tricky.

Can I be irritating and say that I'll aim to be there but won't know definitely til Saturday morning, and will let you all know then?

OK must run

hi, hope you all had a lovely meetup on saturday, was very dissapointed not to be able to make it, appreciate the invite Buzzy , especially with our northern visitor being down here, sibble! I was busy entertaining an old Pal from overseas, who is still a single lass, so didn't think it would be her cup of tea somehow.
Hope I can catch the next meetup, it would be lovely to meet you all x

I'll do my best to be there. Its this Saturday coming isn't it? Will probably have baby and a DS with me.