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

[quokka]

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?

Hi Rislip. Don't know if you've read the thread, but I am a Kiwi, been here almost 5 years, married a Pom and we have a 7 week old boy.

Hi Cori, wondered where you'd disappeared off to!

Quokka, although I'd love to come I think it will be a bit far But email me your address as I have a little b'day pressie for your DS.

Cori I thought we lost you!

Hi Rislip, and welcome. No date yet of next meetup so you haven't missed anything . Been organising ds2's bday party, dh is away in asia, and have been doing a bit of childminding on the side. To top that off both boys have had a hacking cough and not sleeping very well . Anyway I'm hoping after Sun things will settle down.

Hi & welcome Rislip, we are a friendly bunch on here! I am an Aussie, originally from north coast nsw. Have lived in london for 6 years. Oh and have 11 week old dd.

Quokka good luck with the screaming hords at ds's bday party on the weekend! I am hoping dd is at least 4 before she realises about parties.

I will be enjoying my last weekend while my parents are here. They leave next week. It has been soooo good having them here. dh and I even went out for dinner last night for our anniversary.

ooh dinner sounds nice, I highly reccomend going away for the night before they go! Freedom is lovely, so take advantage while you can. Happy anniversary

Hi Rislip and welcome. I'm a newbie to MN as well. DH and I are Aussies both from Rockhampton and have been in London for nearly 7 years. I have a DS who is 8 mths old. Hope we all get to meet up soon

02beme, I also have an 8 month old DS, we should meet up sometime. Where in London are you?

Cori - I read earlier that you are returning to work soon? What are going to do about childcare? I'm not planning on returning to work until the end of the year but have started looking around at childcare options and finding it's quite expensive. That's London I guess.

I have a wonderful childminder who has looked after my older DS for three years, so thankfully I have no worries there.
I only work three days a week so the cost hasnt been to bad, but will now have to organise before and after school care for DS1. It is still worth my while to go to work but only just

Cori - I live in Teddington. Where are you?

right lets try and work out a date that works for us all. I'm afraid all I have free is Tues, Wed, Fri mornings till 12:30. Have started to look after a couple of lo's from the neighbourhood so my time is now limited .

I think this thread is getting too long, should we start another? Maybe we should broaden the search and include all aussie, and kiwi expats living in the UK? Need some ideas for the title, I'm not feeling funny today, bit knackered from ds2's bday party yesterday. Who had the best time by the way, he didn't stop smiling the whole time.

Tues are quite good for me, or Fridays.

Thats great that ds2 had a great b'day party

no ideas on what to call a new thread be the way........

Fridays are good for me too. How about next friday 2nd February? Should we try the playcafe at Kensington Palace Gardens?

location sounds perfect, do you guys mind starting quite early? Just have to be back in Gunnersbury for 12:45 to pick ds1 and mindee up from nursery. Do you know the nearest tube Mellin?

It's about 2 mins from Bayswater tubr (central line)or about 10 from notting hill gate (central, district & circle). Here is info and map:- www.royalparks.gov.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/

In winter the cafe is open from 10 - 4pm. So maybe if we meet at 10:30? Is this ok Quokka?

Thats fine by me. Friday is good, is the cafe the one by the Diana playground?

Oh yay, glad its on the central line, means i dont have to change tubes! this sounds okay to me

Bummer, can't make it this Friday. Leave on Fri for a holiday on the slopes for a week. Oh well will try and catch you all at the next meet.

Should we try Tuesday instead - O2BMe can you make Tues or too close to your trip?

Hi Mellin - sorry but I leave this Friday (in 2 sleeps time). I get back on 4 Feb.

Oops, have a good holiday then (but she's probably already gone!)

Everyone else still ok for next friday then? Yes Cori it's by the Diana playground.

My parents went back to Oz on Wednesday so now I have to scrounge for my own breakfast

I've been in bed for nearly 4 days, and still have a cough so might give Fri a miss. I've been totally wiped out by this bug, and don't really want to rush back here after an hour to get ds1. Have a great time though , I will make the next one!

sorry to hear you've been ill quokka, hope you're on the mend now

i am hoping to make it fri Mellin. we took ds on the tube on sunday and he screamed most of the journey, so will have to see what kind of mood he is in i think!

Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well, hope you get better soon

Kaybee see how you are feeling later in the week & let me know. Otherwise we could postpone till later so o2bme can make it also.

hi, i am still on for friday, but if you want to postpone i am OK with that too.

How are you doing Kaybee? Up to braving the tube