*Moving to Saffron Walden, Essex , in August - does anyone live nearby?*

[SaffyCat]

I am moving from Surrey to Saffron Walden in mid-August with my husband, 7yr old son and 1yr old daughter. We don't know anyone in the area yet and I would love to meet other local mums (am happy to drive a few miles) and also to find out about toddler groups/recomended family activities.

hello! we are here, we are Finally all connected and I'm back surgin the board. Looks like I've got lots to catch up on and have missed a couple of meet-ups. I hope you all had good times. I must read your posts in more detail so I can catch up on your individual news. Hope you are all well, I've missed you! Not having the internet is becoming like not having chocolate - not an option

As for us, we have have the house back to bare stripped walls and and manky carpet; living out of boxes as there isn't enogh storage furniture and we are generally not fit for visitors: but we don't care. We love it!! It just feels right - saffron walden and the house.

Haven't been very sociable yet though and have yet to make it to any mother and toddlers groups. Did make our first trip to suss out a nursery for ds. Visited Saffron Walden Nursery School who can offer us a place for Sept start (yikes!!). First impressions were good and then I went home and thought it through and started planting seeds of doubt - something I'm a Past-Master at!

Reading over your notes about school placement issues it looks like I've got a whole heap of worry to look forward to. Somehow the responsibilty looms larger the older they get.

Nice to be back. x

What are your worries about SW nursery, might be able to offer you peace of mind?

Does your son go? It's nothing substantial really. It's just that I got scooped away by the Manager whom I really clicked with, but didn't get time to see much interaction between the staff in the classroom and the children. Each time we walked through the classrooms there seemed to be emphasis on the whole group sitting down and paying attention to something. (it was nice and calm though). I didn't see any of the staff get down to the children's level and I didn't get a great feeling of friendliness and fun. The headteacher answered all my questions spot-on, but theory is often different from practice.

But I am a nitpicker!! I just want him to go somewhere that will allow him freedom and room to grow at his own pace in a relaxed atmosphere - he is only two years four months afterall. Maybe I should keep him at home until he's three in Jan. Or four. Overprotective mummy alert!

How are you doing anyways? Enjoying the rainy Bank Holiday???

Yes, he's been there nearly a year. He absolutely loves it. Remember he'll be in red class to start off with, where the emphasis is fun (if you looked in blue and green they do more learning). The staff really are very friendly and they do have an excellent rapport with the kids. They are only sat down for snacks and then just after outdoor play when they come in and wait for parents/guardians. If you're concerned just take another look around, they won't mind. You'll get a home visit in a few weeks and then you'll probably get more of a feel.

Crap weather but at least our drive isn't flooded, we've jsut had the thing resurfaced after 2 years of being swamped each tiem it rained.

I'm planning on doing a run in the morning but this weatehr doesn't seem to be stopping so if you see a mad woman running down PV first thing tomorrow ....

we looked around the nursery school and were impressed with it but they didn't have any space for DS1.

weather is sooooo bad

glad the move went OK and enjoy unpacking

let's hope the weather gets better tomorrow

No joy on this weather hey!

oh my goodness, it is so bad - having rows with DS1 as he wants to go on hi sclimbing frame everyday and he obviously can't - i sent him out there in the rain today because i was sick of the moaning - he came in adn complained because it was wet, slippy and cold

This weather is so bad for the kids. Both of mine are at an age where they need to run around outside. I took them to coconuts as a compromise but it was hell being half term!

Hi, We're in the new house..but no broadband as yet .
And also in manky carpet and box land but no regrets so far.
We were meant to go camping over the bank holiday but one of our cats went AWOL so we stayed at home, so glad we did after that evil weather!
And I"m back to work tomorrow Had our 'school holiday' nanny over this pm to show her where everything is and let the children settle with her. She's looking after them for the next couple of days but they seem to get on ok and I've left zillions of craft type things to do in case the weather continues.

I still haven't tried the hot choc at Cou Cou - I'm just not ready to go back to work

Hooray, we're moving tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll bring some sunshine with us. Had better go, as there is still so much left to do.
Will be in touch soon x

Thanks for feedback on Nursery, it helps settle my doubts.
Very impressed with the run! I couldn't run to the end of the drive!! (I have a very short drive by the way).

Fingers crossed for your move Susie and thanks for bringing the sunshine - it's my birthday!

Glad you're in Milarkie, I know just how you feel although I don't go back to work until the middle of June.

English Springer - how's your baby boy doing? And how are you finding it with two?

L x

Hey ES - was it you in the marquee today? I spoke to a chap with a baby called Henry. Was sitting at same table with dopey 3 yr old dd sucking her thumb..when she wasn't trying to run up and down behind the speakers.
If none of this makes sense then it obviously wasn't you
If it was then 'Hi' - had to run off as soon as speeches over as dd was starving.

Hi

was my DH - i am telling him now that he spoke to you - i obviously wasn't around or completely oblivious - i was wearing a blue top and cream trousers - very small person. my DS1 was outside i think palying with yours with the stomping thingy that jumps in the air

will defiantely have to meet up - especially since i didn't have a pen to write down all of those dates

Laura - DS2 is doing well - he is now 8lbs 8oz and i have all but given up breastfeeding - shock! i know i am terrible etc. etc. but he wasn't gaining any weight and had to go see a paedeatrician because fo low gain etc. they assessed my milk lots of it but not much hind milk, all fore milk so i was expressing to see how much i got - 6oz of water before any good milk came in and by then he was too full up! ha everyone bleats on about breast is best - well obviously not always. please tell me i'm not a terrible mother.

DS1 is definately going to Dame B's although going to look around Friends on Wednesday - cannot get to Elsenham -

oohh - got a new aupair coming on June 23rd - a male aupair - has anyone had a male one before?

How strange to think we were a few yards away from each other (but not surprising I guess). My ds and dh weren't there - had to go back to London, so it was just me and dd who was pretending to swim along the dance floor most of the time . I guess I'm no taller than you - and was probably in some shade of brown top (usually am :-) )
Shame on the breastfeeding (since once you're through the painful weeks it is so much less hassle than bottles) but glad you aren't beating yourself up about it.. H looks gorgeous by the way - I didn't work out which one G was, lots of little people racing around.
My kids have been at Friends for 2 days and they absolutely love it! Although it's not 'academic' by reputation, because the class size is so small (7 in ds's class) there is lots of individual attention/targets etc so I guess it would suit a g+t child as much as it suits my non g+t ones!
I haven't had a male au pair (only female nannys) but think it's a great idea, especially if you have sporty boys. Is he from aupair world? I'm going to have to start thinking about advertising for mother's help or au pair from Sept but for the next few weeks have the luxury of being family-only, and the stress of worrying about delayed trains

ES are you going back to work soon? It only seems like 5 mins you started your mat leave .

hi

2boys - oh am not going back to work until November - was going before but going to Florida in october and they won't let me have the time off so i though bugger it i won't go back and they can get a temp for longer - ha that will teach them

Milarkie - i think i know who you were - you were sitting behind my DH i was infront of him and there was a lady next to me in the black dress with the boy who kept shouting i need a wee and whose little girl kept running over the dance floor. Will have to meet in the park or maybe the pub so we know who is who etc.

I have an aupair coming in September from Canada and am not going back to work until November so i will only be needing her for about 10 hours per week - if you need her to drop off or pick up then i know she would do it for a little extra pcoket money - our last au pair did it for another family and they paid her about £30 a week for dropping off and collecting etc.

Yes! that was me!

I'm trying to talk dh into a trip to the pub for Sunday lunch - it sounds like most of the village hangs out there

Must have a big meet up soon too..any ideas Saffron Walden (and surrounding villages) mumsnetters?

ES - We would be v interested in employing your au pair for a few hours if the times we need someone don't clash with your needs (would save us having to recruit ourselves - yippee)
Think I'm burning the tea - oops

we go to the pub on Friday evenings - lst friday i had seabass and risotto so lovely and they do an excellent choclate cake adn cream thingy

i looked around friends today, saw your son Kyle is it? his class is tiny.

we have looked at both dame B's and Friends now and are discussing options tonight. Friends is £2000 per annum cheaper and includes before adn after school care whereas Dame B's doesn't. i liked friends but i don't know, something was missing and they seem very religious

Every Friday? I am and you have a tiny little one too!

Coconuts could be a good place. Indoor softplay, kids secure.... or, dare I say it, STARBUCKS

2boys - if we make it Starbucks it will just be you and me

Whereabouts is Coconuts? Sounds like a good idea. I'm tied to Tues or Thurs after school and weekends though.

Anything gets my vote! Strong coffee in the day is always good though as I'm so exhausted at the moment with my nine month old still wakuing several times a night and feeding! Too tired to actually tackle the habit if you know what I mean! Ooops i can hear her stirring as I type. Dp away in Ireland for 10 days so I'm flying solo.... should be getting sleep in, rather than surfing but didn't want to miss out on expressing an interest in the catch up.

Dp and I haven't been out on our own since before dd was born. We tried to on friday as it was my birthday but left the house too late and got lost and then knew we wouldn't get to the event in time - came home an hour later thoroughly cheesed off with everything. Came home and both children were up and causing mayhem for my aunt! A nanny sounds like a lovely idea

laura, we are practically neighbours, so if you need to get out of the house.... I have a red P&T and ds is usally singing at the top of his voice, so you'll see/hear us coming!

OK so i have to admit it that since taking up breast feeding and now needing pushchair space i have frequented starbucks

oh my school thing just got worse - i got a letter this morning telling me that there is a place at RAB - how can they do this to parents - so i now have a look round book at Elsenham on 26th June, a look round booked at Newport, i have also accpeted Dame B's (can i get out of this prior to September?) and i liked Friends as well.

I keep thinking how much more we could do with the extra money though - sounds really selfish but we could take him skiing every year, he could have days out, trips etc.

OH HOW DO YOU DECIDE????????????

I saw a mum with a red p+t today - but 2 walking size children and one in buggy, so not you 2boys? (I always look at people with p+t's because i got mine 3 and a bit years ago and was the only person in my area with one..used to get loads of comments..now they are everywhere but I can't get over seeing other people pushing them

OH ES - I thought you might get a waiting list offer from RAB - I have to say that I would accept that one and try to dump Dame B's - no point in paying for private when you have a perfectly good catchment school offer and a school bus to take G/deliver him home! RAB have an after-school club too. Did you give deposit/sign contract for Dame B's? Our contract with Fs says that we need to give a term's notice or lose a term's fees but still cheaper than paying out for years and years I guess. We will have the same decision in 12 months time, whether to put dd into RAB and then try to move ds across (and have real disposable income at last) or to keep paying for the gentle encouragement at Fs.

laura - the waking up every couple of hours for months on end is so draining isn't it! I didn't get a full night's sleep for over 4 years and kept meeting mums whose babies slept through from 6 weeks . My first thread on mumsnet was asking 'Am I the only Zombie Mum?' (must be 6 years ago now). Lots of sympathy to you - hope you get some good sleep soon.