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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?

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Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 11:56

Hi Tamara, I was crazy and took ds 2yrs and ds 5 weeks to oz. The little one was fine just ate and slept but I had to resort to drugging ds2. Medised is great and was the only way to get him to sleep. Take lots of fav snacks and toys.

Qantas was great going out there, ds2 got loads of attention and food, but we flew back with BA and they had no food for ds2! They had baby food for ds1 who was 5 weeks and didn't need any. I ended up having a huge fight with the trolly dolly who was the biggest bitch, telling me it was my fault and I didn't order food (which I did). Dh had to tell us both to shut up! Anyway when they were both aslep it was great . I hadn't seen my sisters for 2yrs and the first thing they said to me was "Oh my god your boobs are bigger than your head!" I was bf at the time and can happily say they have completed deflated now!

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Palmwoods · 23/08/2006 12:37

Kaybee7777, I'm an Aussie that just moved to South Woodford about 6 months ago and am pregnant with my second, due in January. I had my first in Chelsea and had a great experience with awsome midwives from Putney, however - I am finding it really hard to find a decent midwife over here also! I only have access to one and it took her two weeks to return my phone call!!! Am getting slightly worried about the whole process over here. If you are keen to meet up, let me know.

Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 12:53

Hi Palmwoods, Kaybee hasn't been on for a few days why don't you try and cat her as it sounds like you guys both have midwife issues? We will be having a meetup sometime in sept maybe at Kew Gardens. keep on the thread and hopefully we will be able to round up some more aussies.

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Palmwoods · 23/08/2006 13:07

That sounds great, Kew Gardens is a great spot we used to go there all the time when we were living in the South West. Am finding it hard now with a toddler and a growing bump on trains but the effort just has to made!

Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 13:15

Why did you move? I think a mainline train goes to kew? Maybe you can get Kaybee to give you hand . where are you from in oz?

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Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 13:19

forgot to say that I think the attitude over here is, if had a baby before and it wasn't too complicated they don't give you that much attention.

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Palmwoods · 23/08/2006 13:32

Not quite sure why we moved to be honest. I think we thought it would be better because the commute into the city is much better and you get a lot more for your money housing wise. We've now realised that for kids, South West is much better (i.e. loads of playgroups and great schools/nurseries). Therefore we are plotting our way back to SW London.

SydSnow · 23/08/2006 14:03

Tamara,
My mother used to have to ferry my sister and I back and forth btwn Sydney and London when we were babies. We would often get pressure in our ears which obviously makes babies scream, but the Singapore Air hosties taught her a great trick. Turn your baby upside down and it instantly relieves the pressure. Also saves you from being the most unpopular person in the cabin!

Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 14:26

are you a sahm palmwoods?

Hey cori is ds better with dh now?

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Kaybee7777 · 23/08/2006 14:42

Hi , Sorry haven't been on for a few days, wasn't feeling so great but am ok now.
Palmwoods - hooray someone else from South Woodford! Would love to meet up sometime
I haven't yet figured out to get to Kew gardens but am sure where there's a will there's a way !

Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 14:48

hi kaybee hope everything is alright? I suppose we should set up a date for Kew. Need some feedback from you all, do we meet up during the week or would the weekend be better? I'm a sahm so am pretty flexable. I'll work out how to get the train to Kew.

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cori · 23/08/2006 16:15

Quooka, DS is getting better with DH, he does seem more clingy to me though in general. DS cant settle him when he is upset or needs burping etc. I think he is finding it a bit stressful because DS 1 was never like this and was equally bonded to both of us especially in the first year.

A weekend meet up might be a good idea. DS 1 starts reception in september. First two weeks are half days, then fulltime. So have to be back to pick him up by 3.30, ( a bit nervous about that) Do any of you have aussie DHs?

Original poster
quokka · 23/08/2006 16:25

did you watch that show last night on channel 4? I'm very nervous about ds starting school. I'm sure it's harder for the parents than the kids! Do you think we should invite dh?

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Kaybee7777 · 23/08/2006 22:49

Everything is ok, thanks quokka.
If it's weekend meetup then maybe should invite DH's ? I am easy either way.
My DH is English cori

Original poster
quokka · 24/08/2006 09:42

ok what about the 23rd or 24th sept, as it's the weekend then maybe we should let the dh's come, thats if they want to? Let me know if your free

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Original poster
quokka · 26/08/2006 16:31

Oh no I've killed the thread! Ok Ok husbands are banned from meetup! Seriously where has everyone gone?

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cori · 27/08/2006 14:09

am still here, off to corfu tomorrow. I dont mind if the DHs come.

Original poster
quokka · 27/08/2006 19:40

cori have a lovely holiday

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Kaybee7777 · 29/08/2006 14:10

Sorry, was away in Northampton for the long weekend! I don't mind if DH's come or not!
I don't think we can do 24/25th sep as we have a wedding to go to that weekend.... but if everyone else is ok with this then we'll just have to miss out
I hope no one minds that we don't have any kiddies yet! Don't even have any to borrow for the day if we meet up

Original poster
quokka · 29/08/2006 14:35

You can have mine for the day (kids that is)!

I thought I had been deserted, but at least your back kaybee . I'm sure we can work out a date that everyones happy with. Maybe we can catch up before anyway as your not working?

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Kaybee7777 · 29/08/2006 14:58

Yeah that's true, though small possibility I might have a few weeks work coming up (can't decide whether I want it or not as am used to not having to get up early but could do with the money!)

Original poster
quokka · 29/08/2006 15:07

wast do you do when your working?

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Kaybee7777 · 29/08/2006 20:07

Banking. I left my last temp job because I was supposed to be covering someone elses maternity leave but when I found out I was pregnant I figured it wasn't going to work out too well! And since I can only do short term contracts I haven't been able to find anything else since....

Original poster
quokka · 30/08/2006 13:00

what a shame you miss out on a maternity leave/pay . Are you going to to be a sahm when the baby comes? Most mums tend to go back to work here, I only know of 1 mum who hasn't but maybe thats a west london thing. I get mistaken for being the aussie nanny instead of mummy, ds1 has ginger hair and blue eyes, ds2 has blonde hair and blue eyes. I have brown hair and brown eyes, so look quite different to them .

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Kaybee7777 · 30/08/2006 18:39

Yeah not getting maternity pay will suck!
I am going to be a sahm, that's the plan anyway, i can't imagine going back to work and leaving the baby.
We intend to move to NZ sometime next year and most of my friends there with kids are at home so am looking foward to that