New Tsarina - please come and say hello

[ElvisLovesEssex]

Hello

I am the new Tsarina for the newly formed Mid Essex area. (If you were previously in the Chelmsford or Braintree local sites, you should now have been moved automatically to here.)

I've only just started, so am currently looking through the listings to edit them or remove any that are horribly out of date. Please carry on adding listings - there is so much to do in this area; it would be great to have loads more details on this site.

And a little bit about me... I grew up in Essex, moved away when I was 18 (vowing never to return) and then came back 18 months ago. And, I am so glad I did. I have two children - a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son.

I live between Maldon and Chelmsford, but will be adding listings and information throughout the mid-Essex area. And, of course, will be very grateful if you could all do the same. It would be especially great if you could add details of groups you go to, including why you like them, as I find these are invaluable to keeping sane.

If you fancy it, please reply and introduce yourself. Also, if you have any questions about anything... I am really no expert, but am happy to help where I can.

So, that's about it really. Please bear with me while I get used to things on here and I look forward to hearing from you all.

OK... Luckily I am not the sensitive type so am quite happy to sit here on my own, talking to myself. In fact, I rather like it...

I know, why not post about why you don't use the local site. Are you all turning to Netmums for your fix of Essex listings? Tell me, I can take it.

And for those of you who have added listings - thank you.

. This is marvellous - all this space - all by myself. Lovely.

hi Elvis. I just couldn't leave you there all on your own! I have just moved to Billericay - am i in the right area or is there another site more relevant? I don't know essex very well at all so anything on this site is very useful. I have 2 sons, 4 and 1. At the moment I am keen to find summer holiday activities for my 4 year old to help him meet some other children (and stop me going crazy) so it would be great if you or anybody else has any suggestions.

Hello! Thank you for rescuing me - I'd just about decided to create a friend for myself out of a basket ball; just like Tom Hanks in Castaway, but now I don't have to.

You are definitely on the right site (and even if you weren't, I'd pretend you were!)

I shall keep my eye out for summer holiday activities and make sure they get posted on here.

How are you finding the area so far? Where were you living before? Have you found any activities to keep you sane so far? (Feel free not to answer my nosy questions)

I do know that Barleylands Farm runs all sorts of summer holiday activities. They haven't added all the details to their website yet, but they have got a few things listed here

thanks, I have seen signs to Barleylands but not got there yet, i will look into it.

We moved from Surrey - DH grew up in Southend and his family are all around here - the main aim is to get some babysitting! Really enjoying it so far, we have been spending a lot of time in Lake Meadows park in Billericay, and DS1 has 3 afternoons a week at preschool which is great as I wasn't sure if he'd get anything. He starts school in January (not sure which one yet though).

I'm hoping to try and find some kind of course for him - swimming/tennis/football in the summer. he has limitless amounts of energy and I do not.

Think I will be joining you in the basketball friends, except in real life. I only know my in-laws here!!

I understand what you mean about the babysitting - when I left Essex at 18, I always vowed never to return. Then, when I had the children, I could definitely see the benefit of living near to my mum and in-laws, so we moved back!

I found it really weird to meet new people when I first moved - one of my friends said it was just like dating, talking to anyone and everyone, looking for potential friends.

What are the schools like where you live? Have you had chance to visit them?

I am constantly striving to get people to come and use this local site (and not just because I want to be voted Tsarina of the month.... in fact, at the rate I'm going, I shall probably be the first Tsarina to be fired!) so hopefully some Billericay parents will come and share their local wisdom with us soon.

Hello again - someone on the main thread sent me this link to a local mums' website in your area Mums The Word. I think it is brilliant.

And though it's probably not strictly ethical to link to another local website, MNHQ will hopefully feel this is done in the spirit of trying to support another mum.

many thanks, that website's really useful.

Hi

I'm a newbie to all this but good to hear people out there and happy to help the thread along...

I'm not from Essex, but have lived Chelmsford 15 years(ish). Thinking of moving to one of the villages on outskirts of Maldon - anyone know what Maldons like? Anything about the Plume school (village priority area) - be honest folks, I need to know these things before we uproot ourselves from somewhere really central to somewhere not central at all....

Hello Hippyhil

I live about 3 miles outside of Maldon, in one of the villages (Wickham Bishops). Where I live is lovely, and so is the village next door - Great Totham. Not quite as much to do as Chelmsford, obviously, but lots to do during day as a mum with kids and lots of 'community' stuff going on in evenings e.g. drama, sports, quiz nights, pubs. Also, there are fetes, open gardens... that sort of thing.

I really like Maldon - it has a high street that has managed to avoid becoming a bland street like so many others, though it does have a Dorothy Perkins and M&S Food! There is also a big Tesco on the outskirts of Maldon. The Plume school has become pretty good in recent years - the headmistress, who has just left, put in an awful lot of hard work to improve results and the school has now got a very good reputation in the area. The new headmaster so far is continuing her good work. It is also a specialist centre for performing arts.

Maldon also has a lot going on - music, toddler groups, an Arts Festival, an art trail. It's got a big library that runs childrens' activities in the holidays. There is a brilliant park (The Prom) which has a great splash park; loads of fun and free. Maldon also has some good restaurants and bars. When I was younger, it only seemed to have rough pubs - I avoided those as I preferred the rough pubs of Colchester!

Personally, moving here (from London) has been just about the best thing I've ever done; but I'm very much a 'village' person iykwim.

Wow, that's a long post! Which villages were you looking at?

Hi Elvis

We are thinking of one of the Tolleshunts and I have driven through Wickham B on my way from the A12 to view properties. We've seen one we're partic interested in, just needed to cover the school from all angles. It's good to hear that the school is doing well - she's only in yr 4 at the mo, but you can't be too careful or early checking these things out!We like the arts side as she's musical, and arts in and around town is a bonus. I like the idea of being rural and next to a town (and Colch) and water (I'm from the North east originally and miss the sea). We are very much looking forward to having some space around us and some quiet time without any noise - well except our noise of course. Fingers crossed the chain holds together!! How long you been out of London?

Tolleshunt Major and Darcy are both great - I know Tolleshunt Darcy slightly better as I have a friend who lives there. You're right, it definitely pays to check out the secondary schools early; would be awful to move somewhere that looked good and then find out the schools were terrible.

We love the sea too and go to Mersea quite a bit, it' about a 25 minute drive from here. Maldon also has the estuary; it's a great place to sit and watch the boats and has some excellent waterside pubs.

Ah, if your dd is musical, then there are loads of activities she can enjoy around the Tolleshunts and in Maldon. The Plume would definitely be a good school to bring out her best side; they put on some brilliant shows.

I moved here 18 months ago. I actually grew up around this are, but moved to London when I was 19, vowing never to return. As a teenager, I was certainly not interested in village life! However, when I had my children, I found myself longing to give them the childhood I had; I didn't realise how much I would enjoy myself here too.

Good luck with your move and selling your house. If you want to ask anything else, please do. I can always ask my friend about Tolleshunt Darcy if there's anything in particular you want to know about it.

Oh my!
Just had an offer accepted - looks like we on the move to Tolles M....
Suddenly feeling rather nervous....
oh my!!!
deep breath..
Don't they say moving is one of the most stressful experiences...
......................................

Brilliant news! Good luck with the move.