anyone from exeter.

[Coco4]

I'm moving to St. Leonards in Exeter, and have a 13 month old baby.
Would love to hear from anyone in the area to find out about baby groups or meeting up for a coffee...

all the best,

x

Hello, ah your msg takes me back to when i moved here about 9 months ago and felt a little - lonely! I have a now 18mnth old boy and live in St leonards. Have you tried the p&t group weds pm or fri morning?

Hello Baysmum, glad to hear theres a group in the area, is it friendly? am moving the second wk in march, i am in Totnes at the mo so might come and it ago.Have you settled in to life in Exeter? where did you move from? I have come from Crouchend London

hi Coco4

we are new to Exeter too, we moved here from Manchester last March. we love it

Hi Fennel, so nice to hear that you like living in Exeter, can you tell me where are good meeting places for mums, where are you in Exeter?

hi Coco4, we lived 5 months in St Thomas (renting) and then bought in a village just outside Exeter but we come in all the time for work, shopping, seeing people, etc. Dinkys cafe in the city centre is very popular for mums of toddlers, it has a soft play area. I tried a few toddler groups but haven't stuck with any of them, I think some of the other mumsnetters have tried more but my toddler is my 3rd child so I tend to feel I've been to enough toddler groups for one lifetime already

I know what you mean, but its the only way you can meet other mums, Is Dinkys suitable for 1 yr olds

yes it's good for 1 year olds. quite small soft play area. not very scary.

I think Baysmum knows about St Leonards toddler groups. the ones I went to were OK, Alphington, St Thomas, and one called the Calabash club in the one world centre in the city centre. I liked that one best.

will you be working in Exeter or full time with toddler?

full time mummy until i have settied in,do you work?I Also have a 13 yr old, so lots to keep me busy, finding it hard to find a good secondary shool without paying.My daughter will continue with the school shes in until i find the right school

I work 4 days a week at the moment. if i was working less would probably make more toddler-group effort.

secondary schools do seem to be a bit of a headache, we looked into it a bit when we moved but as our oldest is only 6 it could change anyway by the time she's 11.

Are you buying or renting in St Leonards? would that be the ISCA catchment area?

Buying , wasnt to impressed with that school, but that was 1 year ago, well if any mums meet up from mumsnet, remember me,

oh our babysitter goes to ISCA and he is lovely (if that helps!). We are enjoying living here now but it did take some time if I'm honest. Speaking from experience, I would go to any groups with someone rather than alone if at all possible as I found that aspect of it all the most difficult. St L gp is OK but it takes a little while to feel at home there. Hope I havent put you off!

Oh forgot to say, also moved from London at Easter last year.

Thanx i think i'l go and visit Isca school, where is the playgroup held in st L? I know it takes time to settle, at least a year i suppose. Well if you see a new face in st L with a baby girl, and smiling at everyone, its prob me,

The group meets in St Leonards church hall which is on the Topsham rd. I go on a Friday morning (10 - 11.30 am) bu it also runs on a wednesday afternoon. Let me know when you're going and we can arange to meet if you like.

Thats nice of you to offer, dont think i'l make it until we move ther which is the 2nd wk in march. I will get in touch when i get there, i will be on St L rd, is that near you?

Hi Coco4, I'm Italian, but I've been living in exeter for 7 yrs.
I can also recommend gym tots at exeter gymnastics club, which is right up bullmeadow park (in st leonards). It's very popular, if you want I can find the tel number for you.
I seem to remember that isca is quite good, esp for arts, media etc. St Peter seems to be the most popular, but you need to prove you're a regular churchgoer, so I personally wouldn't go down that route.
good luck with your move

Hi Franca70 , i like the sound of the gymnastics. my little one has lots of energy. tel no would be great.The park you mentioned, is it near and does it have a swing park? so your well settled into Exeter life, how many children do you have?

Hi Coco,
the tel number is 01392 250381

(I cut and paste from their website):
Mother and toddler

These one hour sessions are with the parent/minder attending with the child for a mixture of controlled skill learning experiences with qualified coaches and fun while following instructions issued with kindness and a total concern for the child. Group numbers are kept below eighteen and are for children who are walking up to 3½-4 years of age.

Sessions are held daily as follows:
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs 9.30am ? 10.30am, 10.30am ? 11.30am, 2.00pm ? 3.00pm

Friday, 9.30am ? 10.30am, 2.00pm ? 3.00pm.
Bull Meadow park is in st Leonards, between the hotel Barcelona and roberts road (very close to st leonards rd). yes there are swings. It's a lovely park, we used to live 3 mins walk from there. I have two children, a 4 and a half boy and a 2.8 girl. I don't know how well settled I am in Exeter, tbh, I have ups and downs!

Are people interested in another evening meet up, drinks or a meal some evening in the next few weeks?

We are in West Exe secondary catchment, which seems to me ok-ish, and improving, but other people tell us they are worried about sending their children there. As we're atheists and not wanting to go private and not wanting to move again in the next few years I think our school choice was made when we bought our house here (we've only been here 5 months).

I have met perfectly nice teenagers going to all these schools though and parents who are happy with them.

Thanx Franca70, I will def go and try it, did u cometo Exeter from Italy, It feels strange for me at the moment to be away from friends and family, but i feel we have made a good choice for our family

Hi Fennel, am going to visit some schools in the area,imight just stick with the school that shes at in Totnes, but its quite a journey.I would love to go out for a drink,but i dont move until March, maybe i could catch the next one that you organise

'

Hi folks I live in St Thomas, I would be happy to meet up with/chat to anyone who wants to.

Is anyone free the second or third weekend in March (by which time Coco4 will be in Exeter)? How about Friday 9th or 17th, or Saturday 10th or 17th? A meal in town, possibly with drinks somewhere else beforehand?

If anyone wants to meet up for an evening drink before then, I am virtually always available

hi Greensleeves

I'm free those dates. Also free quite a few evenings before then. I think Essbee had some dates she could make when she's got a babysitter, but I can't remember which ones (sorry Essbee).

Hi!
drinks and food are always welcome here, any I'm virtually more or less always available too.
Coco, I moved to Exeter in 1999 from Milano. After seven yrs (with a gap year in 2001/2) it still feels strange to be so far away from friends and family. But I'm sure you'll love it here!

If all goes smoothly with the move, i should be in Exeter the 3rd wk in march, so i will keep in touch,would be great to meet everyone