Durham / North East Meet Ups - 2012

[juneybean]

Hello hello! Here I am with good intentions to behave and show up to some meet ups since I utterly failed in 2011!

So we need ideas for daytime meets and of course we must not forget our night time meets

[b]Daytime Ideas[/b]
Beamish
Saltwell Park, Gateshead
The Giants Den, Team Valley
Botanic Gardens
Beach (in the summer of course, unless we want airborne children!)

Okay so ideas for January daytime, I think cake is definitely in order so I propose the one that's next to Ebony, the huge place, down some steps, uhh... Slug & Lettuce is it? CAKE!

January night time? Is this something we want to plan? I know we're always poor after Christmas!

Poo!

anyone up for this?. I know the weather isn't great but we could do an indoor picnic here at my house then potter up the road to the stream. There is a nice spot that is safe for dcs and we can easily release some flowers.

That's a lovely thought. I will if I can- what day is it?

Should be around a bit more over the summer- I have 7 1/2 weeks annual leave to use up before October so they have to let me take some time off.

I'm not going to be able to make the 14th after all as we are going on holiday! Nothing very excotic, we are going to stay in my parent's caravan in the Lake District for a week. I'm really excited though! Although we started potty training this week so the timing is not ideal...yikes!

I'm still up for the 14th, sad not to see those who can't make it

No beans!

Glad you are still comking Frozen :)

I shall book fo 7 of us then, either fat buddah or the capital. 8pm with drinks before as usual from 7ish in Ebony. I'll only go to drinks if it is nice and we can be outside since it does tend to be loud and squishy so don't want to take the boy in.

Ditto Indith. I'll have babba in the sling.

Sorry still not booked. Screaming baby.

Mass for Aillidh is this Saturday at 10am. My FIL coming up so that is the picnic idea out! If anyone does want to help put something together though then see the link, Peachy is going to collect photos people take of releasing flowers/bubbles/whatever to put together a scrapbook for expat.

Would you like me to do the booking? Am working from home today, so childless and therefore free to do lots of ringing 'round? x

Yes please! Currently feeding scream boy. Have read to dd and sent her off to chalk a picture about the book for me!

Right, will get on it now. 8pm, Saturday the 14th. 7 people. Hope pregnant brain can retain this info.

Hmm, not having any luck so far! I think the Miner's Gala doesn't help. I've tried Fat Buddha (only had 6.30 or 9.30, which both seemed non-doable) and Zen (only had 5.15!). Getting the answer machine with The Capital. I will keep trying til I get somewhere, but it might be a different kind of restaurant. Is that okay? I suppose I can cancel the booking anyhow if people aren't keen. I'll try The Capital again and then branch out a bit ...

Okay, this might not be okay for everyone but the only place I've found is Zizzi. Do you want me to keep the reservation or are people not keen on Italian?

Miners' Gala. Not a Gala for one miner. That wouldn't necessitate all the road closures ...

frozen

I've never been, is it nice? Nothing wrong with Italian so long as it is nice and not studenty shite.

what will roads be like in evening? i'm assuming open.....

Zizzi's is nice however I don't think I've been to the Durham one.

meant to say thanks frozen.

Scream baby has fed, slept (on me as dh currently working in our bedroom with the work being donw inthe loft so nowhere to put baby), screamed and is feeding again.

Zizzi's is nice; decent quality and a good range of dishes to choose from. I'm not a fan of Spag, and find Ask pretty disappointing. Pizza Express can be variable ... so I guess you might say I'm an Italian snob. Durham has far too many of them for its own good.

The bursar of Chad's just e-mailed 'round details of the road closures. I think most of the routes through central Durham re-open at 2000hrs ...

Shall I keep trying The Capital - or branch out into the Raj Pooth? I think Shaheens might fall into the category of 'studenty shite'!!

I will be happy with anywhere as long as:

1. my children are not there (other people's are fine- it is just mine that I object to)

2. I don't have to cook the meal

I'm easily pleased me.

Sounds ok, I don't mind, tbf my list of wants are much the same as Spiggy's really although I have to make an exception for scream baby who I hope will be back to his usual happy self by Friday!

I have just bought some bottles to try expressing . My pelvic floor tried to turn itself inside out running so I need to take it easy a bit on that front, am hoping he accepts milk so I can go swimming once a week. It has made me very grumpy as I was getting into the swing of running 3 times a week and it made me feel good. More energy, happier, mmore motivated (my house was cleaner!) and I was eating less shite. Exercise is good.

Haha! Ezpressed a couple of oz straight into a bottle, offered it to ds2 and he just drank it no problem. Makes you wonder why the other 2 felt the need to scream so much when they were offered it!

Yay A for being more co-operative than your siblings. FWIW I've never got the hang of bottles but have used a sippy cup from 3/4months without bother.
I've stopped expressing at work so if you want to borrow an electric pump just give me a shout- it can be used as a double or single pump.

Just got DS1's report and it is full of numbers- am off to find help to decode (you'd think they'd give you something to help with that or is it just another thing that everyone knows about apart from me?)

oooh it isn't bad I think. Not convinced by his mark for reading- report says he is enthusiastic and marks him well but at home we have to force him to do it. much prefers being read to the lazy bugger Writing not good but we knew that as he will do anything to get out of it. Maths and problem solving is his strong suit. Clearly Grandpa's genes at work there...