Devon in the sticks - mid to north. Anybody out there?

[SuePurblybiltByElves]

See I know there must be Mnetters around but it seems to be a NM Mafia controlled area . I'm about 30 mins north of Okehampton, equal distances from Exeter and Barnstaple. Middle of nowhere but surrounded by villages full of mummies. Some of you must be Mnetters surely?

I do this thread once a year or so and forget it when it drops out of active so do PM me if you're local and willing to out yourself

Oke's quite accessible still, but they grit around here pretty quickly. Hope MrTesco manages to make it through!

We've sledged to the shops for emergency supplies before now, excellent fun. I'm always comforted by the thought that Waitrose would only close for the apocalypse (and would prob. still give vouchers for the inconvenience) so as long as can make it there we're OK.

In-laws (live here too) are going to Ireland on Tuesday so hoping they'll be able to make it (and won't have to stay here )

Jakers, more snow! Tho the gritter almost got as far as my house this morning and it's stopped now.
Am not convinced Mr Tesco will manage it.

ha ha!

same here. banks of drifting snow everywhere - well over a foot deep. haven't trudged up to the end of the lane to see what the main road looks like yet, but not hopeful it will be much clearer. it's certainly not been plouged or gritted.

haven't even thought about doing a food order yet - did a run out to oke on friday in prep for a few days being snowed in.

starting to think i may well be stuck here over xmas as well.

humbug... will have to have family xmas when it all clears.

We have a really thick fog here tonight, can't even see across the street Has been like that all afternoon, looks quite eerie with all the snow.

Forecasts seem to say that's it for snow - is there any chance of any more do you reckon?

Hope Christmas arrives for you tomorrow Sue How bad is it where you are?

Maaaaaaaad fog. Roads are clear for most of the village but I wouldn't fancy going out the back way to Oke! Steep and not a whisper of grit.
Tesco Man has been spied today so I live in hope for tomorrow. It doesn't look like we're due for much more. Maybe I'll finally bother clearing my paths

roads seem to be clearer, but still got masses of snow on the fields, garden etc.

fog everywhere - and yes, it is spooky.

really hoping no more snow as getting stir crazy.

No fog in Barny yet. Roads are clear, but our lane is a sheet of ice with yesterday's snow on top of Saturday's.

a bit west of Oke myself.
25cm of snow yesterday. fantastic sledging today. can't get a 2 wheel drive car out the village tho.

I've discovered this thread a bit late but it'll keep it bumped if I post!

A mid Devon poster reporting in! All the snow here gone now after that day of rain, I can now see the garden

now the snow repoarting has ended...

just wanted to ask what age everyone's DS/DDs are?

I'm pregnant (36 weeks) with my first.

My dd is 4.5

Hello All, I live in Moorhaven near Ivybridge. I work full time but have taken a year off to spend some time with my 2.5 year old twin girls. This is going to be a disaster unless I can find stuff to get us all out of the house. Swimming lessons on Mondays. Does anyone else have any ideas of things happening on a reasonable regular basis in this part of Devon? I lived in Tavistock when I was on maternity leave so have no leads in my local area.

My DD is 2y6m and DS is 7m. Great to see so many more people on this thread now!

Happy New Year everyone :)

Cannondale - don't know much about things around Ivybridge tbh. Are there any toddler groups near you? A good one can be brilliant.

'fraid I don't know ivybridge either, but you could try your local GPs and see what sure start groups they might have locally?

On that note... Does anyone know if there are any mum to be or mother and baby groups in the okehampton or torrington areas?

Crystylline - there's the Okehampton Children's Centre who do lots of things. There's a BFing group which is pretty good and has peer supporters. I think some people go along to that before baby arrives as well to get tips (I think it's on Tuesday afternoons, 1 - 2.30 or something in the Ockment Centre). Also a 'Learning Together 0-1' group on Wednesday mornings (10.30 - 12 in the Parish Church Hall next to Somerfield). That's also pretty good and quite relaxing - I've been a few times to both things although I find it a bit harder with toddler DD in tow so I tend to just go to toddler stuff these days! The Children's Centre staff are very welcoming.

Oke children's centre are well worth contacting. ditto Hatherleigh if that's vaguely your area, does Torrington have one, probably.

There are parent and baby/ toddler groups in a lot of villages, Childrens centre seem to hold info and contact details for most.

Helloo!

Are you all still around? I've just found this thread by searching 'Okehampton' on mn. Looking for some local company.

We moved from Ivybridge in October so I don't really know anyone in the area. I work in Exeter, but we only have the 1 car (hope we don't have to get another one) and so I'm expecting to spend the vast majority of my mat leave in Oke.

Cannondale (as in the bike?) there is a childrens centre in Ivybridge, somewhere around the library. The midwife (locum I saw only once) said I would've had my antenatal appointments there, if I hadn't moved.

So if anyone's still around, and has experience of giving birth in Oke, I'd love to hear your stories!

I've heard VERY good things about Oke maternity unit. They are loved and highly thought of by mums who have given birth there. Allegedly they will not try and boot you out swiftly, but will encourage you to stay till you are confident and baby feeding well.

Oke is not a bad place to be stuck, there is a bit going on, largely in church or village halls. Sticklepath is only a short bus ride away and there is parents and tots/baby group there 2 mornings a week. Country lanes garden centre has a cafe and there are umpteen cafes in town. Simmons park is good for a brisk pram push and a swimming pool with a few sessions a week marked out as parent and baby, but most school day public sessions are soooo quiet you might have shallow end to your self any way.

Good luck with birth of bub.

I'm not quite in Oke, but its my nearest town. Like you I do not have car during the week, but its been fine, the bus services are OK and quite cheap.

Petalouda - hello :) Okehampton Maternity Unit is fantastic. I've not been able to give birth there (too complicated) but have had all my antenatal care there and they're great. I've stayed there postnatally as well and it was very good. The MWs are all lovely (all the ones I've met anyway). There is loads of BFing support as well, at the maternity unit and at a BFing group with lots of peer supporters. I live very very close to the hospital so know it well How far along are you?

Okehampton's a pretty good place to be stuck, lots going on. The Children's Centre is generally pretty well. Simmons Park is fab, really good for LOs. Lots of very friendly mums around and a great little community. DH works in Exeter and I used to, but am a SAHM atm. I don't drive though so am quite stuck here.

Good to see there's so many of us now :)

Hello!

Thanks for your lovely stories!

UniS that's great to know about buses & activities, thanks so much!

Twentieth I'm 30+3, moved here at about 17 weeks. The midwives have been wonderful there, and I'm really hoping everything goes smoothly so I can have the baby there. It just feels so homely and normal, as opposed to sterile & institutional!

We're only up the hill from the hopsital too, I expect you can guess where!

Can anyone recommend a nursery/childminder? We need to get something booked for september!

Would anyone be interested in a meet-up? (ooh, I've never written that on the internet before, sounds scary and dodgy!)

Petalouda - think I can guess where you are! We're just opposite the hospital. I hope you do get to have the baby there, I would have loved the chance (although FWIW I had a pretty good experience in the RD&E with DC2 so not all bad there). The post-natal experience in Oke was fab, lovely rooms and great care.

Not sure about nurseries, I've heard very good things about Stepping Stones. Rainbow is also meant to be great but not sure if it's actually a nursery or just a preschool. I've met a couple of local CMs at groups and they seem lovely but no personal experience.

Would definitely be interested in a meet-up!

Hello ladies, can I join you? Not strictly speaking a North Devon resident yet, currently in Brighton, but DH has just got a job in Barnstaple starting mid Feb so we are moving. Yay!
We have 1 DD, 21 months and are expecting our 2nd March 3rd. Yep, great timing with the job start date! Think we have decided to have the newbie here (I have lots of local family in the city) and then move down beginning of April. We always wanted to live down there, but now that it is actually happening I am a bit nervous about moving house with a toddler and a newbie, suffering from newborn misery (god I hate that first bit!) and not knowing anyone at all. Not sure where we will end up living yet, but will be somewhere within a 40 min commute of Barnstaple. Would love to feel I had some contact down there ready for the move!
So currently 34 wks preg and residing on the sofa with chocs, MN and radio, though should be hoovering/cleaning/generally not being a lazy cow!

HI jefilly. not a very busy thread but feel free to watch and see. Welcome to devon.

Hi Jeffily, welcome to the thread :) I'm quite south of Barnstaple so don't know it very well but it seems like a lovely town.

At 34 weeks you should definitely be being lazy!

hello all,

Petalouda - I'm close to Oke too and would be interested in meeting up for coffee. I'm 39+5.

hi Jeffily good luck with the move. i moved here 5/6 years ago from mthe SE, and absolutely love it. So excited to be having a child here, as it's so beautiful and there are great schools/nurseries and people.

keep in touch.