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?

I'm feeling better - hope to be there but will be coming sometime after 1.30. However, various problems at home - sick car, sick older son, may prevent younger son and I from getting out.

I'll be there!

Leaving in 10 mins. see you soon X

I'm coming. Sick car and sick child problems are sorted ou. See you later!

Lazy morning of mumsnetting and telly has won out, I'm afraid, and my cleaning remains mainly on the to-do list. Am therefore now whisking partner and boys to Bodeans- thanks to the London dinner thread for reminding me it's there!- so that partner doesn't get a chance to see state of the flat. Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC time and will make a better effort next time as I'd love to remeet and meet all of you.

Had a lovely day today. Thanks Binkie for organising it all and was nice to meet everyone else too.

Ah, you beat me to it Metrobaby, I ds and I had a lovely time - great to put faces to a few more names. Thank you so much Binkie for having the idea and organising it all. Thanks to all who came for making it so good!

Sorry I couldn't make it after all. I wish I had been able. Can't wait to hear all about it.

It was a lovely day. Excellant choice of venue. The flying wire thing kept my boys and dh amused for ages. So lovely to meet everyone.
Really enjoyed it.

I have two very tired boys in the bath

DH, DS and self had a great time! Thanks for putting it together. Hope to see you ladies again at a Cityslickers once I've left work and am happily redundant...

It's fun to come home and read messages from all of you now that we've met in person. Really enjoyed it, and had a great time. Thanks to Binkie for organising, and thanks to all of you for making my first meet-up such a nice one. DD is already sound asleep, so looks like I'm due a lovely night of reading, telly and mumsnetting with my new pals.

Thanks, binkie, for organising such a great day!

I had a lovely, lovely, lovely time. So did the Inferiorettes. And even DP has admitted he feels a 'bit better' having been left to recuperate all day (AND he did the washing!)

Lovely to meet you all. My only regret is that those little babies are so lovely they've re-ignited my broodiness!

Yes, thanks Binkie for organising a great day. We all had a fab time!

I am about to go and post a new thread about a Christmas meetup so give me 5 minutes and then check it out!

Hey, thank you all SO MUCH for coming. My two have been little dreams this evening, so happy, tired, and for perhaps the first time ever, they feel they've really had enough to eat!!

Metrobaby, we loved your cake.

Other great unexpected pleasure was the number of dps & dhs - specially ilanak's with an infant in what I recall as a large floral (?) sling. Particularly pleased they came too.

Ooooo - floral! I don't think he would be pleased to see it described like that! He is totally into babywearing and often argues with me over who gets to wear ds2!

I agree that it was lovely to see lots of men there.

Come one everyone and check out my christmas thread!

We are sorry we didn't come earlier, but had a lovley time too. Nice to put faces to names and know you are all real and not in the strange and bizzare imagination of a 14yr old child (see calpol thread for further details).
Thanks to the little boy in blue t shirt with skater type writing on it who kept my ds happy playing balloons, very sweet boy.
Thank you binkie for organising it, what a great idea.
Will be up for a christmas party, so off to Ilanak's thread.

Thanks binkie for today. I meant to ask you if you would like some dosh towards the hiring costs of the hall?

Lovely to meet some 'real life' mumsnetters though I think there were quite a few I didn't actually introduce myself to. Ah well ... next time!

Yes, definitely a nice day. I think DH was quite glad to see that you aren't hairy truck drivers! Lovely to put faces to names, although having babybrain due to current bout of sleep deprivation, can't promise I've got the right names to the right faces.

MI - Apologies, I had a tape with the last 4 episodes of Angel with me and forgot to give it to you I can post it if you email me, or I can just keep trying to arrange another Hornimans/Dulwich Park meet up?!

Must go to bed now.

Thanks from me too. It was lovely to meet everyone. I was a bit nervous as a first timer, I'll try to say hello to more people next time. Thankyou for organising it all.

I've just realised we were supposed to contribute to the hall cost. Binkie could you let me have your address so I can send you something please. Sorry...oops....etc

binkie, same here - email me through CAT so I can send you something, especailly as I had third helpings of your delicious fruit jelly.

Really nice to see everyone and that room was great venue with lots of potential for future mumsnet meetings. My boys both loved the park. My oldest ds got off to a slow start, but later on joined a game of football on the astroturf and wanted to stay all evening.

biketastic (I like your name, I forgot to say when we talked) I think the boy in the blue t shirt was my youngest son. Glad he created a good impression

Truly, I didn't mean for people to feel they were meant to contribute - apart from in the way of food, and I was so impressed by what you all did there! I am more than happy with the contributions people did give me, so please don't worry at all.

Here is how to make that jelly: a few packets of veg jelly crystals (raspberry flavour) and a packet of M&S frozen summer fruit. It gels very solid so if you want to be extra impressive you can turn it out as a sort of sliceable loaf. It is so shamefully easy.