Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

Original poster

Islington update

109 replies

Zinger · 17/09/2004 09:34

Hi Islingtonians and those nearby: Aelita, Simi and I met up for the first time on Wednesday with our little ones, which was lovely. We're hoping to arrange another date very soon and would love to meet some more local mumsnetters - especially those with youngish babies (ours are 5-8 months).

Let's try and find a date that's convenient for as many people as possible this time. Post your availabiity / non-availability here and let's see what we can work out.

Mid-afternoon (3ish) works best for me - Weds, Thurs and Fridays are all good.

OP posts:
Simi · 04/10/2004 21:04

Will be back in London next week and would love to meet up again! Are there any plans yet for the next meet up? I am quite flexible but would always prefer to meet in the afternoon...

cityjen · 05/10/2004 11:19

I was trying to arrange a toddler meetup, but doesn't look like it's happening (no responses to thread).

Jennifer

Original poster
Zinger · 05/10/2004 21:06

Simi, let's set a date and go for it. How about 21 or 22 Oct? Ideally somewhere where DD can crawl around - she was a bit hard to contain when I met up with Myrtle in Starbucks last week! Maybe we should finally give Highbury Fields 2 o'clock club a go - Jzee, what's it like for crawlers? Does anyone know anywhere else? Alternatively you could come round to our place for tea, depending on how many of us there are.

OP posts:
keren143 · 06/10/2004 02:12

Hi,

I am a new mum and new to Islington. My son is almost 3 months old, and I am looking for activities to do with him. Can any of you tell me a bit more about these 1 o'clock/2 o'clock clubs, or any other similar things? Is he still too young?
I am from Florida, and barely know anyone here...I would really love to meet all of you whenever you have your next get together. I'm so sorry that I just missed the last ones
If anyone wants to meet anytime I am up for it

Original poster
Zinger · 06/10/2004 09:33

Hi keren123, welcome! Have you tried SureStart baby massage? Your health visitor can give you details of the one nearest you - there are loads in Islington and it's quite a nice activity in the early months, and a good way to meet people. Gymboree @ Business Design Centre on Upper St is great - we've been going since DD was 6 months but there's no minimum age. Where in Islington are you? The Highbury Fields 2 o'clock club is just a little enclosed play area (in & outdoors), open 2-4 every weekday. I still haven't been!

BTW if anyone off this list takes up my Gymboree recommendation PLEASE email me for my real name as I get 2 free classes for referring a friend! We'd be very grateful as it's the highlight of our week.

keren123 and alfiebetty, see below for our meetup plans - this is a new meetup so there's no clique or anything - do join us - it sounds like your babies are pretty close in age, too, which is nice. Which area of Islington are you both in?

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 06/10/2004 09:34

Oops, keren 1FOUR3 that should've been!

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 06/10/2004 13:06

As soon as I get a vote or two for either 21 or 22 Oct I'll start a new thread to confirm the next meetup. Venue ideas would be very welcome: for me, preferably somewhere within walking distance of Highbury Corner, suitable for a crawler. If I don't get any better suggestions I'll go for Highbury Fields 2 o'clock club.

OP posts:
ilovechocolate · 06/10/2004 15:40

Hi Zinger

thanks for letting me know about this. 22nd is best for me and DD as my MIL and FIL are coming to stay on 21st!!!!

What age is your baby?

Grainne

alfiebetty · 06/10/2004 16:56

Hi Zinger. You seem to have loads of info. How did you get info? I'd love to come to meet up on 22nd, any ideas of location yet?

alfiebetty · 06/10/2004 17:02

I (sorry we)live on Islington/Hackney border and sometimes go to cafe in Clissold Park at lunchtime if anyone wants to meet for coffee n chat.

Original poster
Zinger · 06/10/2004 19:37

22 Oct it is. I'll start a new thread to alert everyone that there's a new meetup.

My DD is 8.5 months - I don't really have that much info but I guess you just acquire it as you go - also my old antenatal group meets every week so we exchange tips. Still, glad to help! Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

OP posts:
aelita · 06/10/2004 21:08

Hope to make 22nd, Zinger.
alfiebetty, whereabouts are you? I'm Hackney/Islington borders too, Dalston to be precise. Had a nice meetup with Zinger and Simi a few weeks ago and am now ready to do meetups ad infinitum with DS (9 months) as I've just given up work and celebrating my first week of freedom!

alfiebetty · 07/10/2004 11:56

hi aelita I live De Beauvoir area not far from Dalston. Thinking about going to Rio cinema next to see film they have a parents and babies afternoon on Tues and Thurs this

keren143 · 07/10/2004 23:53

22nd works for me and I am excited to meet all of you. Everyone here is so nice!!!
I have one question..I am new to this and I can't figure out what ds, dd, ect stands for. Can someone please fill me in?

Also, this past wednesday I went to the "buggy brigade" which is a walk through hampstead heath that i read about on the hampstead mums' string. Not too far from us and it is really lovely. The mums meet around 11-1130 at the downshire hill playground and walk their prams up to the kent house, where we have lunch at the cafe and then walk back. It was great exercise and fantastic conversations with other mums...will definitely go next week.

alfiebetty · 08/10/2004 08:16

Keren143 I read about the hampstead heath walk if you are going next week Lydia and I would love to join you. If not I'm also going on 22nd so will meet there.

Fiona

Original poster
Zinger · 08/10/2004 13:08

keren143, there's a link to a list of acronyms above, under 'useful stuff'. DD is darling daughter, DS darling son, etc. etc.!

Great that you can make it on the 22nd. See my note here about emailing me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 08/10/2004 13:17

I just went to the Books for Babies session at the Central Library (off Fieldway Crescent, just off Holloway Rd). Normally they meet at 10.30 and have songs and stories for under 3's at 11; today they had a one-off puppet show, which I was surprised to find actually entertained DD (8.5 months). Got her a library card and borrowed some books, so she's feeling very grown-up. Will definitely go back to the regular Books for Babies session next week.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 08/10/2004 13:18

ON Fieldway Crescent, that should've been

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 08/10/2004 18:07

Posey (and anyone else who knows): tell me about soft play centres like Sobell & Zoomaround. What's the youngest age that would appreciate them do you think? Are they any good for crawlers??

OP posts:
aelita · 08/10/2004 20:34

Has anyone been to the Playhouse soft play centre on Highbury New Park? I saw an ad for it the other day. Apparently it's drop-in and suitable for 6 months up. Zinger and any locals, fancy trying it out?

Original poster
Zinger · 09/10/2004 12:45

Had never heard of it aelita - sounds much handier than the other places. Where did you see it advertised? What are the opening times? Definitely up for giving it a try.

OP posts:
aelita · 09/10/2004 13:21

There's an ad up at the playgroup DS goes to. I've done a Google search and got the number (funnily enough there's a link to an old Mumsnet thread with a Playhouse meetup in 2002!).
I'll give them a call soon and get the opening times.

Original poster
Zinger · 09/10/2004 16:27

Great - let me know

OP posts:
frogs · 09/10/2004 21:59

Haven't been to the Playhouse recently, aelita -- is it the one attached to Highbury Grove school? I think it must be a new setup, as the Pirate's Playhouse that used to be there has moved to the Castle Climbing Centre on Green Lanes. That's my personal favourite of all the softplay centres, as it has natural light and doesn't get too busy. Also you can get to the climbing equipment to locate your child. The setup at Highbury Grove used to be very long and thin, so once a child was up there you had to follow them up if they needed assistance. The Green Lanes one also has a chill-out room for parents with leather sofas and newspapers!!

Zoomaround is meant to be okay. Kidsmania in Clapton have thumpy music and it's a bit overheated and headachey. Also dirty went there once and my ds came down the slide covered in poo (not his own). The staff didn't even seem that bothered eek. Never been back since.

Sobell is a jungle-themed gym. Ds has been there with his nursery class but I haven't.

I would think confident crawlers up would enjoy the experience -- there's usually a ball pool and low-level stuff for tinies. Having said that, my three were very slow to get mobile, so it's not something I was doing at that age. If you go during school hours, there shouldn't be too many older kids to squash the babies.

aelita · 10/10/2004 09:44

Thanks for the info! I don't think mine can be classed as a 'confident crawler' though sadly, he tends to rock back and forth on the same spot for hours,