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Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

Original poster

roll call for any Aussie mums in London who want to meet up?

609 replies

quokka · 03/08/2006 19:27

Been here 7yrs now have 2 ds's 2yrs and 6months and am married to a pom so looks like I'm here for the long run! The closest I get to an aussie now is watching neighbours (I know its quite pathetic). Anyway if there are any others who fancy a catch up, I'm in west london?

OP posts:
Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 15:36

man i am so sick of looking at this computer screen, DH is in IT and looks at a computer screen all day i don't know how he does it. and i have already had 2 cups of coffee and now really want another one, i'm trying resist as i am still BF DS twice a day, maybe if i sneak in a quick one now it will be all gone out of my milk by 7pm when i feed him before bed?

yeah

Original poster
quokka · 11/10/2006 16:00

Got any decaf in the house? So are you going to be a sahm soon or do you work part time?

OP posts:
Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 16:18

I am essentially going to be a sahm, i am currently working 3 days permanent part time, but i will be giving that up and taking DS out of nursery and will do some casual shifts in the local area. maybe night duties occassionally and the odd day shift when DH is working from home. just to keep me sane and my hand in (i'm a paediatric nurse). have also been putting the feelers out for some guest lecturing work at some london universities, but could only do that if i had heaps of notice so could sort out childcare, mainly using DH, on report writing days or annual leave.

what about you guys, kaybee you said you are temping will you try to get back to that after the big event?

Original poster
quokka · 11/10/2006 16:38

I'm going to be a sahm for a while. Used to work in retail management, and refuse to do that again! I have lots if ideas of things I'd like to do when the kids are older - curtain making, baby bag business, kids play cafe, etc. I would like to have another baby as well, but when ds1 starts school I think.

OP posts:
Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 16:43

Kids play cafe would be great that is also an idea i have had in my head even before DS was born, a friend who was a paediatric physio and i thought it would be great to start one and we could be an advise service for parents as well. I even thought of where, Clapham, it has the highest birth rate in the capital and probably the highest disposable income per mummy in the capital.

Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 16:49

i've had enough of this work, and i want to go get my DS i can hardly wait til there is no more dropping him off at nursery. I am cycling over to pick him up hope the weather holds out

Kaybee7777 · 11/10/2006 16:50

I am going to be a sahm until the kiddies (I am planning more than one!) go to school. Then I am looking at doing something different (I was temping in banking but that wasn't exactly thrilling) like kindy teaching or working in a creche or doing some kind of online wedding supplies shop in nz....

Original poster
quokka · 11/10/2006 19:31

after you've had the first then you'll realise labour isn't that bad!

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kiwibella · 11/10/2006 20:59

veggiemum... hello!! I'm a kiwi but also on the Isle of Dogs.

Off to finish reading your posts... you all been busy today

kiwibella · 11/10/2006 21:10

seems to be babies and why you have been here so long Your mind must really be busy atm kaybee!! I'm sure that everything will go well on the day. My visa also has the same stamp as yours about public funds but you are entitled to maternity leave and pay if you have been paying National Insurance. Dh and I are on ancestral visas. We came over with our dd almost three years ago and dh has no immediate plans to return home. Neither has dd now she is thinking about secondary school . After a really long break, we are expecting number 2... I am 20 weeks! Not quite sure how I am going to do it without my family here but we do have a lovely 'London whanau', kiwi friends, who I know will help keep our feet on the ground

Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 21:50

just checked in to say goodnight, my ds was so busy and hyperactive tonight took ages to get off to sleep. cheeky little monkey.

Kiwibella should meet up sometime, i'm off work at end of november so will have loads of time then. will be able to show you some little kids stuff ready for when your next one comes along.

goodnight quokka & kaybee thanks for keeping me sane today.

Veggiemummy · 11/10/2006 22:15

sorry didnt make myself clear there little kid stuff to do in the area.

Original poster
quokka · 12/10/2006 09:04

congrats KB you kept that quiet, or had you told us?

I'm out all day today so catch you guys later!

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Kaybee7777 · 12/10/2006 10:07

thanks kiwibella, i will check out whether i can get maternity pay from the govt DH would be VERY pleased !!
I am out all day today too so will catch you guys later
xx

Veggiemummy · 12/10/2006 20:17

aaahhh there is a women at DS's nursery who is driving me and DH crazy. My DH drops him off in the morning and i pick him up. When he 1st started he had a little trouble settling in but is slowly getting there. he still cries when i pick him up but is fine if my DH drops off or picks up.

most of the ladies there are lovely and one in particular is exceptional and DS really likes her and gives her big cuddles which she loves. anyway she always tells us that he is doing fine and is settling nicely. however she is not always there in the afternoon. but this other woman who is almost always there in the afternoons when i pick him up keeps telling me that he is always upset and cries all day.

this was obviously upsetting me, and i have been counting down the days until i finish work. anyway when i picked him up yesterday she said the same thing, that he was upset all day. then one of the other ladies who is a lovely Bengali lady said "oh no he was fine he has been a little sad but only in the morning the rest of the day he was fine".

so today i picked him today and she again told me that he has been crying all day, but when i got there he was happily playing with some toys, and only cried a little when i saw him. it feels to me like she is focusing on him crying and the way she tells me it is like she finds him irritating. I know most people think their child is wonderful but DS is really a lovely little boy to be around and it urks me that she is focusing on his occasional crying. i really don't think she should be is child care.

anyoo, just had to get that off my chest, won't have to worry about it much longer though.

cheers ladies

Original poster
quokka · 12/10/2006 21:44

Sounds like she's in the wrong job, its her job to make the kids feel good and have lots of fun - with a bit of learning chucked in! I think foreigners are the best best carers, well I'm going on ds's tastes!

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Kaybee7777 · 12/10/2006 22:03

Yeah she definately sounds like she's in the wrong profession.

I have a question for you guys, how do you know what size nursing bra to buy ? I assume your boobs get heaps bigger when the milk actually comes in, but if you need the bra before that what are you supposed to do!?!!?

Original poster
quokka · 12/10/2006 22:11

Kaybee, you need to get fitted for a feeding bra a week before baby comes. I would really reccomend you go to Rigby and Peller, in Brent Cross. They fit you really well and the bras are really comfy. It looks really posh and expensive but you don't pay much more than £30 and it's so worth it! I tried M&S and Mothercare but they were horrid and uncomfortable!

OP posts:
Kaybee7777 · 12/10/2006 22:50

Yeah I was looking at them in mothercare and m&s today and they looked horrible....
So I should go a week before I am due? Might see if they have stores elsewhere, can't face the traffic to Brent Cross on a weekend!

Kaybee7777 · 12/10/2006 23:03

Nope doesn't look like it, only 3 stores

Original poster
quokka · 13/10/2006 08:52

Late night shopping maybe? Or try going during the week as you have to wait to get fitted as they're usually busy!

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Kaybee7777 · 13/10/2006 10:32

Yeah might have to try during the week I think. I'll just have to brave the traffic on the A406.

Veggiemummy · 13/10/2006 19:01

I got a couple of bravado bras not the prettiest but come in small medium and large rather than cup size and are really comfortable you can buy them online from a few online including blooming marvellous. You need to keep in mind that not only your cup size will be bigger post birth but your rib cage is currently expanded to accomodate baby so it will be smaller after.

i went from a b cup to a d cup overnight when DS was born after about 2 months of feeding this settled to a c cup and stayed the same i just expand a little around his evening feed now but my c size accomodates it.

Original poster
quokka · 14/10/2006 09:32

I wish veggiemummy, I went from a 32C to a 36G! My boobs grow to epic proportions, DH gets "scared" of them and hes a boob man!

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Veggiemummy · 14/10/2006 11:27

wow that is amazing, very heavy i imagine, i have to say you are probably the best person to be recommending supportive bras then!!!