Central London children's picnic - Sat Sept 11th

[binkie]

As discussed at today's Cityslickers lunch, we thought it might be nice to organise an all-mners-welcome picnic, with partners & especially with kids, somewhere central, to start off the new school year. Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens was our first idea (Diana Memorial Playground being the obvious draw), but could also consider Regent's Park perhaps?

So, who's interested? Imagine we'd all bring picnic for our own, plus something to share - say enough for another 6 people.

If it's a goer, any ideas about how to deal with risk of rain? I think, though not sure, that the Diana park doesn't have a function room. Anyone know different, or of somewhere parky & central that does? Paddington Rec?

Hi I am new to this but would love to join you along with DD who will be 21 months then. I will be travelling from Clapham Junction area on public transport if anyone else is travelling that way maybe we could travel together.

Lasvegas, my dd is 22 months so maybe they can play together! I'm travelling from SE London so probably not going the same way as you, but hope to see you there.

Just a quiet pre-bank holiday bump so you know that this is still going ahead & can plan it into those first few weeks of term. To save people having to review messages below, basic outline is:

• venue: Coram's Fields "Band Room". Very nearest tube is Russell Square on Piccadilly line but lots of other ways of getting there;

• date & time: Saturday 11th Sept. The room is ours formally from 12.30 but we can get in from around 12 - playground obviously open from morning on (and there's other cover if it's raining, so don't let that put you off); and

• arrangements: bring picnic for yourselves plus something to share (for about another six people). Please note that the rules are no alcohol and no glass bottles.

Oooohhh am sooo sad - can't come - will just be me and DD and am a bit worried about travelling all that way on our own - plus have been invited to a aparty with transport there and back and had to agree to go!!

Next year hopefully!!

Count me in too...... Plus 3 boys, 10+7+2 year old. Not been to Coram's Fields, it sounds nice....

Er...can I come? My Saturday afternoon Pilates doesn't start till the following week.

bump...

definitely motherinferior !

I'm sorry, I can no longer come to this. Too many friend and family invites poured in, and one party in particular where I have to help, so I shan't be coming, but I wish I was!

(Janstar)

sorry you're not coming - I was looking forward to saying hello to you. I didn't get the chance to chat with you at the christmas meal.

I'd LOVE to come. Me and 1 dd aged 23 months.

OK, those who may be noticing this: do you think I should ask MN to have this as a discussion-of-day from Monday so that anyone who mightn't have spotted it can feel welcome? If so, how do you think I do that? E-mail to tech?

So far we have (rough count) 27 MNers and their littles (and/or larges if bringing dps, I doubt I'll be bringing mine, he's scaaaared).

By the way (to anyone new) that's NOT because MNers are scary to meet up with - couldn't be more the opposite.

I think that's a very good idea binkie. Some people originally interested are bound to have forgotten about it by now. But I haven't a clue how to get it put up as a discussion of the day. A tech might be good to help there. Or between us, we can keep bumping it so that it stays in with the active conversations?

bumping it up then

am really looking forward to this - hey this time next week it'll all be over !

binkie are you coming to city lunch on tues ?

ps this was just a shameless bump

Another shameless bump!

So, do a lot of people coming to this already know each other? Will I feel like an outsider?

Twick, don't worry please - it's true this grew out of the Cityslickers lunchtime meet-ups, where those of us with schoolies were a wee bit envious of those with babies who were able to bring them along - so the City girls (eg Kayleigh, frogs, twinkie though she can't come, sponge, metrobaby) do know each other a bit now, but I can vouch for them being so very very welcoming that the fact there's a "core" will mean all the more open arms.

If this would be your first meet-up, I would admit there is an initial deep end of the swimming pool moment where you have to plunge in and say "hello I'm .." and then in a split second decide whether to "be" twick or your real life name (I prefer latter) - but thereafter it couldn't be easier.

twick - I said I'd come with dd, and I've never met any mumsnetters in real life. Must admit that I've been thinking about what it will be like to meet up with some of the people who are almost like "imaginary friends".

Also wondering what it will be like trying to meet/get to know a group of new people as dd is in a phase of demanding almost constant attention. So, for me it may be a case of "who was that woman who didn't complete a sentence the entire picnic?" Anyway - hope to meet you, and everyone else there next week.

As I'm bringing 3 kids on the train/tube I don't really want to come up on my own, so I've told DH he's coming too! Is anyone else bringing DP/Hs?

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Possibly..............

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Pasticchio (not sure of the spelling tbo) basically almond biscuits - had to wrap 120 of those things the night before DDs christening!

I bought all DDs christening stuff whilst on holiday, so there was a connection, honest!

Glad you liked them!

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