Is anyone from Exeter?

[AngelF]

Hi,

Is there anyone around from Exeter? I'm 26 and have a 15 week old daughter, so I've just come out of the exhausting newborn stage and would love to meet up with some other mums

10:30 is ok for me. What about meeting outside so that we don't get lost in there? Oh and I will need the address...

ok see you at the entrance 10.30 tomorrow then.

I think you can find details at www.dinkysplay.co.uk or similar, it's off South Street. I've never been before either. I will be there with a blonde 2 year old girl who will probably be wearing a pink duffle coat.

Janet

I have found the place on multimap, so I will see you there at 10:30am. I will be with a 21 month old girl probably who will also be wearing a pink coat. Look forward to meeting you.

Lesley

I am from Exeter (now living in London) we go home a lot to see DM who is still there, in St Davids. I went to school in St Leonards and Baysmum is spot on with her observations!

I was really surprised that all the new mums seems so unfriendly in Exeter having grown up there I expected people to be friendly and chatty like they are in London (yes it surprises me too), when you have a baby, but they weren't.

Also I was not so comfortable BF as I am in London. The organic cafe on the Cathedral Green was the only place I wasn't stared at. My usual London haunts prompted raised eyebrows - Starbucks & Wags! And my poor mum spent the whole time trying to cover me up with a muslin even though there was nothing to see!

We are home next week for the week so any tips for places to go (DS is 6mths) would be welcome.

Lesleyworm, I hope you check this this morning as I'm going to have to postpone our trip to Dinky's. Will try CATing you and we can rearrange properly.

really sorry. am not feeling well.

Thank you Mumptious - I am vindicated!! Everyone says London is unfriendly but it isnt because - imo - pretty much everyone is an 'outsider' there, unlike in the south west. As for places to go witha 6 mnth old Im not sure if you dont fancy p&t gps, but , if you are interested (and this goes for you too Lesleyworm if you are checking the thread this morning) I am going regularly to St Leonards gp on a fri morning 10 - 11.30 and I promise to talk to you (if you want me to). I am tall with blond hair and my ds is 16mnth, v blond and called bay - thats blown my cover on Mumsnet!!!!

Hi there! I'm expecting my first(17 1/2 weeks) and i live in bideford which is relatively nr to exeter( about an hr away) I am 20 years old and would love to keep in contact with other expectant mums/mums to share experiences with etc

x

Bumping this in the hope Lesleyworm sees it before going to Dinky's

I still maintain everyone is very friendly around here. Maybe I am just in different places to other people, I think it can be pretty isolating anywhere with a first baby if you don't already have loads of friends with babies.

Fennel, I hope you are feeling OK. I only just got your message, though pls don't worry as I still went to Dinkys and dd had a fab time. Definitely worth going there if anyone fancies arranging a meet up soon? What days are good for people?

Re: London - OK, I admit it's not SO bad having just moved from there, though I still think that people are friendlier down here (I am talking about people in general not mums, of course we are all wonderful!!).
Ta for the invite to the St. Leonard's gp, Bay. I obviously couldn't make this morning but if you give me the address, I will see you there next week. (I am 5ft 5 with a dark bob and a blonde 21month dd and will probably be the one looking lost)
Oh and hi Charlii13

P.S. I am glad people's names are coming out as I am finding it really wierd to call people by nicknames (or is that just me?)
Lesley

hi Lesleyworm am glad you had a good time.

I feel bad about cancelling though.

am just beginning to sober up now in fact from night out at our school "fashion show". went because we don't know people already and ended up on best friends terms with half the village everyone was extremely friendly due to the copious amounts of cheap wine being served.

I agree that in general people in the SW are far friendlier than in London, but I have found that IMO what Baysmum says is spot-on. I guess that new mums in Exeter might be fortunate enough to have have a support system in place and people that the loveclose, unlike so many of us London mums. So the desire to talk to strangers at a bus stop isn't there!

I was visiting my mum (who had been in hospital) during the summer with DS who was only a couple of months old and we were on our own a lot so wandered around the town loads and I was amazed that no-one engaged us in conversation at all, which never happens to us in London.

I think that I need to seek you guys out as you all sound lovely and friendly... Dinky's here we come! You are so fortunate to be bringing your children up in Devon, I had a wonderful childhood there!

Hi Fennel and tut tut on you for having a hangover . I know it's a really crappy combination of having to deal with sprogs on top of a self-imposed headache, am speaking from very many occasions of experience here. Still you will go out drinking on a school night .... (where you based BTW- you mentioned a "village?")
How about rearranging the meetup - anyone else interested in coming along?

lesleyworm, would happily rearrange. I did CAT you (did it arrive?), perhaps it might make sense to exchange phone numbers before our next attempt in case of last minute change of plan.

indeed, should not drink so much on a school night but in my defence most of the school's mothers were similarly ashen-faced in the playground the next morning and some were still feeling pretty bad at afternoon pick-up time. mass overindulgence in the name of getting to know people better.

Awww, I'm missing out on all the fun being stuck up here in Nottingham and not in Exeter (or thereabouts)!

Well, you can't get rid of me, I just have to keep my hand in with you SWers cos you will have to look after me when (if??! No, WHEN!) I move.

Going to look at some houses in a couple of weeks. Tiverton, Cullompton and Teignmouth. Really hoping we like the areas as they seem to turn up some nice properties in our (restrictive!) price bracket. Anyone familiar with these places? Well, as Fennel has said before, it's all pretty damn fine down there. I'm just so restless being here... Hope we make it down.

Hi Fennel,

Not received anything in my hotmail account so there must be a problem. I agree that exchanging mobiles would be a very sensible way forward. I will try CATing you tomorrow (havn't subscribed to CAT yet and not got cc to hand tonight).
Walnutshell - don't worry, we will keep a warm pub seat for you down here (priorities!!) Why not Exeter for househunting?

lesleyworm have tried CAT ing you again.

I could do this Friday morning, or lunchtime if that suits people better, but we need an escape route. dd1 has a stomach bug at the moment and I might need to cancel if household struck down with the bug.

Anyone else interested? Greensleeves said she might be.

Or I can do some other weekdays for lunch in town without my toddler, if Friday's not good. e.g. this Thursday, or next Tues, Wed, Thurs.

Walnutshell, Teignmouth seems nice. lovely views and playground by the beach.

Hi Fennel, still not got your CAT, though have sent one to you - did you get it? Would be good to meet up next Tues if OK with you. Am happy to go anywhere, though Dinkys was handy as dd can run around without me having heart attack that she is annoying everyone else. Hope dd1 gets better soon.
Greensleeves - is Tues good for you? Anyone else?

CATs take a few hours usually I think.

Tues would be fine if around lunchtime. Would that suit you?

We will be looking at Exeter for houses as well as surrounding areas. I suppose I just shy away from another city as that's what we are leaving. Need to decide on areas in Exeter to concentrate on. Lots of choice though. Keep that seat warm...
Yes, looking forward to Teignmouth although much of it out of our price range so won't be getting my hopes up... Still, it's a nice trip out!

Fennel and myself are meeting at Dinkys this Friday at 10:30am. Does anyone else fancy it?

Walnutshell - I live in the Pennslyvania area just north of St. James and really like it as I can walk into the centre in 10 mins but it is really quiet where we are. We are only renting for the mo but probably will think to but later next year.

Thanks, LW. However, I think that may be a bit too expensive for us... reducing to one wage and of course coming from E Mids so budget pretty tight. Oh well, we will keep trying... appreciate all the tips!

Hi guys I have been in Exeter 2 yrs now and I really love living here - what do you think of the area of town sw of heavitree ie around Polsloe Road. I live near there and it always seems like a good compromise ie its quite pretty but not so swanky as St Leonards proper. Also its near two big parks and lots of 2-3 bed victorian houses almost affordable??
Lesleyworm Am busy this Friday but would like to meet up at some point - Christmas do perhaps?!!

Ilovedolly, if you are coming to the Exeter meal in 2 weeks on Sat night can you post on the other thread so I can get an idea of numbers to book for?

And anyone else? it won't be cliquey, none of us had met at all til recently.

Hello, are people (lesleyworm etc) meeting this coming tues 921st) at Dinkys? If so, wd love to come?? Also is the xmas nite out still on for the 2nd december or has it been changed?? Sorry, I am v tried today and cant gey my brain to work properly!

Baysmum, sign up on the xmas meal thread

Lesleyworm and I are planning to meet at Dinkys this Friday am, are you free then?