New in Melbourne.....

[wilbs]

Hello all, I am new to Mumsnet (although have used it before as a reference in UK), and also new to Melbourne having moved over a few weeks ago! Feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment and just wondered if there were any Aussie/ expat mums around for school/nursery/playground tips!

Hi Wilbs,
Welcome to Melbourne, my beautiful city
Where abouts are you living? We're out near Berwick, although I work down on the Peninsula. How many children do you have?
Questions, questions!
Am leaving work in five mins but will check in with this thread later. Melbournemum and Ghosty might be around later too...

Hi Wilbs

I'm in Melbourne too. I'm out west in Point Cook. I only arrived here from London in May so still finding my groove too. I'm an Aussie but have been away for 10yrs and have never lived in Melbourne and have no family/friends here.

I have a 3yo DD and a baby due in Nov, I would be happy to meet up or if you want to. Melbournemum and ghosty are lovely and I'm sure they will be along soon. They know me and can reassure you that I'm not a crazy freak (well they better had - I know where they live....)!!

As for tips I found I have just had to put myself out there and be brave. Generally people are very friendly here and easy to get along with.

Have a look at the playgroup Victoria website and track down your nearest playgroup. I have met some really nice mums there.

Hi Wilbs ...
I am in Melbourne too and yes, superloopy is right, I am lovely
Where have you moved to? I moved to Melb from NZ 6 months ago and moved to NZ from the UK 5 years ago.
I live in Ivanhoe ... 8km north of the cbd.

Hello everyone, nice to 'meet' some friendly people! We are living in Mentone/Parkdale area, I've got 2 boys who are 8 & 4. I've been able to find a nice kindergarten for the youngest,and I'm trying to find a primary school for the oldest but they are on holiday until Monday so I've not had much luck. Thats my main job next week!
Superloopy, I will check out the playgroup website, and a meet up would be nice thanks, I am feeling quite isolated at the moment especially as my husband started work this week and the kids have been full on!

Hi wilbs. Email me and we can sort something out, miss _ kirsty @ bigpond . com
(no spaces).
I know how isolating it can be when your husband is gone all day at work and you are home with children and you don't known anyone. I used to crave adult conversation!!
Anyway get in touch and we can meet up for tea and cake sometime soon!

Ditto Wilbs ...
ghostyandmeg(at)bigpond(dot)com

MelbourneMum, superloopy and I are getting into a regular meet up habit now ... we are pretty spread out but every 3 weeks or so we make the effort and have a lovely time. You should join us ...
DCNatch works full time but I am sure we can work out a saturday to include her ...
I looked on the melways and MelbourneMum seems the closest to you .... she may be able to give you ideas re. schools etc.

Oh and Wilbs, my children have the same age gap as yours (although they are 7 and 3, nearly 8 and 4), Boy and Girl ... it is always nice to meet people with a bigger age gap as it is a bit unusual ....

Yes, would love to eventually meet up with you all. Work is great but very, very hectic.

I could always skive...I'm VERY good at that.
We're currently getting ready for DS1 to start school in January, but have also just moved house so it's been chaos.

Perhaps we can organise our Xmas meet-up through this thread?

Hello, have been out exploring local playgrounds! I will email you both, thanks for that, I am definitely craving adult conversation...
DC, we are renting at the moment but I keep coming across Berwick as maybe somewhere to buy, how long have you been there?
Is Melbournemum around much, I could really do with some advice about schools!

Hi Wilbs ... she isn't on MN every day like some people I know but she does look in now and again.

If you email me or superloopy we can forward your mail to her ...

DCNatch ... I don't know how to start organising anything ... but it would be a good idea to sort something out on here.

Let's start:
What do we all fancy?
a) Daytime or Evening?
b) With kids and other halves or without?
c) During the week or at a weekend?

Answers on a postcard ....

Hi Ghosty,
I'm fine with anything although I do have teeny tiny preference to perhaps meet you all without children....
Reason being is that my two are absolute hooligans, and I know that I would spend all my time chasing off under tables etc etc instead of being able to chat.
But I'll go with the flow...if everyone would like family day then that's cool. Or if we decide on evening nite with kids, then that's cool too.

Am also rather shite at decisions and organising

Hi Wlibs,
It's lovely round near Berwick. You can get the best of both worlds, as you're only half an hour from Frankston's lovely beach and foreshore, but still only 40 mins into the city, via the M1. The Dandenongs and beautiful Gippsland are all up for grabs too.
We really loved living on the Peninsula, but felt that we were ready for a change. We rented for over a year in two different places, then finally bought our first house last month. I wouldn't rush renting if I were you as it will give you a better chance in choosing exactly where is right for you.
Everyone has different opinions on where's good - just spend time travelling round and see what works.

Soz Ghosty, my post should read "evening nite WITHOUT kids..."

I have been thinking without kids too ...
don't get me wrong, I like my children and all that but I see them every day ...
My DS has a low boredom threshold too and unless we are at a big park or at someone's house he will eat his lunch and start moaning about being bored and wanting to go home ... in fact he did that at MM's house this week until they started to have a fab game of hide and seek.
Also, superloopy is due to have her baby at the end of November so we should plan to do an official meet up before then really ...
What do you think?

I think FAB. Would rather do meet-up sans children as I think we all deserve a break!

Now all we need to do is decide where to go. Hmmmmm dinner and wine somewhere.....casino and drinks......shopping.....something really touristy like meal on that tram thingy.....list is pretty much endless. We're not particularly loaded at the moment but I never, ever go out anywhere so I intend to have a good one. However, there is tonnes we could do without spending too much dosh like meeting locally somewhere for pizza, going bowling.

I have no preference. Simply to see that life exists outside of my house would be lovely.

Ooh we have a busy thread now!!
My vote is for a night out with no husbands or children, and lot's of yummy food!!
Lygon St maybe?? Good cheap Italian food...
Not sure I am the right shape for bowling at the moment!!
wilbs I got your email thanks! I will reply asap...

Lygon Street could work ...
Would that be a huge hike for DCNatchos though?
Oh and the weekend of the Melbourne Cup we are away so can't do then, so it should be either the weekend prior or straight after or else we may be boiling water and preparing hot towels for superloopy if it were any later ..
ROFL at picture of superloopy bowling ... we might get mistaken and use her as a bowling ball ...

Hey, my DH has just joined a swanky gym so little ol' DC might even stay overnight in the city and fit in some Xmas shopping. Now that would be exciting!! (Won't get too excited as I always have these adventurous ideas and never, ever see them through....)
Where is Lygon Street?
Is it in the city? I'll just fit in with where you lot fancy, as I don't really know Melbum well.

The city is not far from me at all, it's only 50mins away at the end of the day. Could even get the train in...

oh my heavens how has this all occurred without me!! Its just not safe to leave mumsnet for a moment (much less a couple of days off visiting my sister!)
wilbs we are practically neighbours, I'm in Sandringham! I have a 4 yr old ds too (and his munchkin younger brother)

feel free to email me on tuesday and the boys at gmail dot com (no spaces)

all for a girly night out, what bliss! DC you are welcome to park/sleep at mine, you are kind of half way home then and we could travel on the train together (big girls blouse I am at night)

I would also be game to host a pre-xmas day time meet up with the kidlets at my house - its old and garden is huge so there's not much damage could be done!

Wow, thanks MM.That's certainly an offer I'll consider....means I could have a few sips of vino.
I'm actually quite excited, haven't ventured out near the City on a night-time before. Now all we need to do is decide what to do, and when!
Any further thoughts anyone??

LOL at sleepover at MM's house
Let's set a date first shall we? That way we can work out who can do when.

I have had a look at my incredibly full social diary () and I can do any day (weekend or weekday) except melb. cup weekend (we are away Fri - Tue) and am busy 19th/20th Oct too.

Oooh, let's do it like a proper mumsnet meet up ... let's have a list of who is keen:

ghosty
DCNachoswithcheese
superpregnantloopy
MelbourneCupMum
Wilbs

hmmmmmm... it doesn't look as um, many as the London meetups but there you go ...

Would like to join a meet up as well, pretty flexible with dates! With or without kids, although my 4 yr old is a handful as well so without kids but with wine would be more relaxing!

Melbournemum, I will defo email you, have lots of questions about the area, we have already visited the playground by the sea in Sandringham a few times! Heading out now but will be in touch later..

Ghosty it's all about quality not quantity!!

There are loads of eating places along the Yarra near the casino. China town?? Umm and that's about as far as my Melbourne eating out knowledge goes...

As far a date goes anytime in the next 7 weeks is fine as long as junior doesn't come early. Saturday nights are good as DH is usually parked in front of the TV watching English football on foxtel. He won't even notice I have gone...

So, how about weekend 27th Oct? that way we're erring on the side of caution for Superloopy and avoiding Ghosty's hectic social whirlwind.
I'd like to boast and say I'm so booked up that I'm struggling to fit you all in.....but that would be such a lie
Yum, china town sounds good or anywhere what serves food of ANY sorts. Food is just lovely. And wine.