Moving to Dorset from the Highlands

[FIZZCAT]

Hi

I am relocating from the Highlands in Scotland to Dorset in June for my hubbys new job. I am keen to get to know other mums and get to know a bit about Dorset before arriving.

I have a lovely but stubborn eleven month old son, two cats and a mothers sense of humour, (i just laugh at everything, (especially having porridge flung in my hair, not!!!)

I have just gotto find other mums to chat to/meet up with the prevent me going gaga.

My hubby starts work with Julas House Hospice in early June, and as yet we havent even found somewhere to live, arhhhggggg, so any advice as to nice locations would be good. We will be renting initially before buying somewhere.

So if anyone is out there in the area please get in touch, it will make this huge move less scary.

Bye Fizz cat

hi fizzcat,
I live in dorset, have lived here all my life, I have a 14 month old daughter (WHO DOESNT SLEEP)

which part of dorset are you mooving to, i havnt herd of julas house,im in west dorset, dont realy get out much and dont realy know many other mums( gone gaga )

Hi Marne

Sorry fr the delay, the wee beastie woke up!!!
Prob will again soon, the horror.

I know what you mean about lack of sleep, zombified most days

He just about sleeps, I was up 8 times with him last night, I have eye bags from hell

I think most mothers go gaga, I reckon we just hide it well . My husbands reckons I have.

Not sure where we are moving to, I have to find somewhere to rent. We are looking at Dorchester, Wareham etc. Hubbys job in near Poole, but we would prefer to live on the other side of Dorset.

Let me know where in nice in West Dorset.

Just got mine to sleep (at last), my hubbys turn to get up tonight as i have to work tomorow, he stays home and looks aftere her, nice to have a break.

We live 15 miles from dorchester, would say dorchester is a better place to live than poole. Theres some realy nice villages around dorchester. I live near sturminster newton in a small village, just mooved into a rented house last week. Still living out of boxes.
Good luck on finding a house.

My dad lives in a tiny village near Wimbourne, very nice area. I am from Bournemouth, obviously very different to Dorchester area.
There are some lovely places in Dorset, also towards the Wilts border, just can't remember the names of them now!!

Hello,

I live on Portland roughly 12 miles from Dorchester.
I live with my 7 week old son, husband and dog.

Hi

Again, persuading the wee man to go to sleep delay, TEETHING, DONT YOU JUST LOVE IT!!!.

I was looking at Dorset on the web yesterday and it looks really lovely, so a bit excited, lots more to do there than in the Highlands(unless you like climbing mountains).

Portland looks lovely, visited Bournemouth several times and loved it, great buzz.

Trying to find a rental house is proving dificult, not many will take children, even young babs like mine.

I will keep trying, but its so strange finding somewhere to live without viewing it in person, I am convinced I will end up living next to nutters

Anyway, is Dorset good for mother and baby groups? Can you let me know of any. It may help me make a decision about where tolive, I found the group up by us now a life line

I am determined not to become a recluse and make myself go out, even though its a tad scary when you are in a new area.

Marne, my little horror will only be settled by myself and screams blue murder if his dad goes in, a real mummys boy. Makes my nights hell!!!

Burstingbug, 7 weeks old, how lovely, I remember mine that age, I feel broody already, Id love another one, despite the hard work.

Littlerach, I have a friend who lives in Wimbourne and said it was really nice.

I will have to sort out the house soon though, getting a bit pannicked.

Is there lots to do in Dorset over the summer, country shows etc Please let me know.

Eeek, its woken up again

Hi Fizzcat

I'm in Somerset so will be the next county to you. We've visited the Highlands several times - absolutely gorgeous although I am sure it can be sparce at times on the activities front.
Dorset is literally 200 yards from my front door and I'm about 17 miles from Dorchester. Dorset is lovely and I'm sure they'll be loads to do there on the Mother and Baby side of things.

You'll find somewhere to rent. We have a 2 year old and a cat as well and we found a rental place fairly quickly and it's a long term let too. So don't worry - a rental place won't be impossible - most landlords are just glad of tenants I think - ours is delighted to have us as he had problems letting the place before.

Hi Amanda

I still need to work out where all these counties begin, I can see me needing to study my road map. LOVE Somerset,thats a place I do know. We actually stayed near Glasonbury a few months ago, it was great fun, bought more self help books than I new exsisted, but havent read a darn one of them, typically. In fact at present thay are helpfully self helping me elevate the babys cot.

Oh rats, its one of those nights, hes up again, thats five times in 2 hours, my nights going to be fun. If I dont come back tonight I will log on tomorow.

Hello
okay we are looking at rental properties in Sixpenny Handlay, hazelbury bryon and just outside of Dorchester, so fingers crossed something will come up. When we buy I think we will be buying something a bit rural near Dorchester, so lots to do.

I feel like a zombie after last night, my wee beastie was up all hours before finally getting up for the day at 5am. I was out walking on the mountain side with him by 7.30, it was on of those days.

Early night tonight.

Hope to keep in touch with you

Fizz cat

Hi fizzcat,
My dd is still awake, just wont sleep, driving me and hubby mad. She had her MMR today so shes a bit grumpy.
Hazelbury is a very nice place, only 5 miles from me, spent time there as a child, It has a good mother and todler group and theres a new activity centre just a few miles down the road.

Hi Marne

Poor you, sounds like a nightmare. We have decided after much thought to give ours the MMR when he is old enough, butthe thought of it does my head in. I think we will wait until we get to Dorset and get settled. Is she having any side effects?

Hazelbury does look good, and I am delighted to hear that there is a M&T group, he just loves going!!!

I was seriously zonked today, havent been this tierd since he was a new born.

He still has no teeth, but seems to be in lots of pain, has been for the last two months, I am starting to get desperate.

I will have to let you know if we get the house rental in Hazelbury, I will probably know by Friday, provided no one beats us to it, they go so quick.

I am so going to have an early night tonight.

Yes, I could do with an activity centre, my May resolution is to get fitter.

Do you go to any M&T groups

Back soon, hes awake again

Fizzcat

Shes not having any side effects (yet), she seems ok, didnt realy want her to have it but decided to go through with it at the last minute. She didnt have any teeth until she was 11 months then 5 came through at once.
I went to the one in hazelbury once when she was 12 months but now i work on the day it is on, trying to find one on a friday(my day off)
Good luck with the house, we were lucky to get ours as we founnd out about it before it was advertised.

I know what you mean, the MMR issue really weighs heavy doesnt it, you just dont know what to do. My hubby is for it as he lost hearing in one ear from a mumps infection so knows first hand what can go wrong.

You shoukd do what a friend of mine did and when she couldnt find a playgroup she liked or was on a suitable day she set up her own play day and invited people around, now the group take turns to host the playday or organise mini afternoons out.

Even when I dont want to go to the M&t group I go for him as he gets so much out of it.

wE HAVE 4 PEOPLE VIEWING OUR HOUSE TOMMOROW AND i HAVE SOOOOMUCH HOUSEWORK TO DO!!!!

sounds like a good idea.

just tried to get her to sleep, tried letting her cry and she was sick after one minute of screeming, hubbys trying again. Seems like we get no time together as she never sleeps longer than 4 hours and doesnt sleep in the day at the moment. feel like im going mad, need sleep! Good luck tommorow.

Hi

We missed both houses we were after and are now after one near there near Sturminster Newton, so fingers crossed.

I know the feeling, J woke up almost e every two hours last night, then woke for goood at 5am again!!!!!

We are so worn out, we barely fuction. I sort of know I am married to the man, but we are so worn out, and busy with Jake its madness, so know exactly what you mean. Just think it will get better, probably when they are 18!!!!

J has been a horror today, really clingy and tearful, even worse when we had people viewing the house, I dont know what they thought of him.

I hope you guys get some sleep, I am off for a shower and hopefully some sleep b4 he wakes up. I cant believe I want to go to bed so early, how sad is that.

Okay, speak soon

Fizz cat

Hi Fizzcat. I live right by Wimborne and there are another 7 or 8 of us round the Poole and Bournemouth area (there have been a couple of good nights out !) I know of Julia's House Hospice, there's often bits in the local paper about it. I don't know Sturminster Newton at all, just driven past it on the way back up to Somerset where we used to live, so I can't be of any help on that front. There is loads to do in Dorset though and June will be a great time to move here and start exploring. Apart from DH's drive to work (outside Southampton), which seems to get worse and worse, I love it here. We've got acres of woodland literally just round the corner, gorgeous countryside a couple of minutes up the road and the beaches aren't far. Good luck with your move and hope your DS lets you get some sleep.

Hi fazzcat,

Any luck with the house?

Did you get any sleep last night, my dd slept a bit beter last night but she wont go down till 11pm. Took her to a new childrens play centre in sturminster newton yesterday dd loved it, i think thats why she slept beter.

Hi

Yes, I got LOADS of sleep last night, yippee, thank god for Calpol, he only woke twice and I feel human again.

Okay, we are now looking at two rentals one in Milton Abbas, one in Marnhull, then one in POrtland if they fall thru. That said, I have seen loads of houses for sale I like so I think we will buy quickly once we are down there.

Anyone know what Portland is like to live. My main worry would be if the roads get busy when hubby is trying to get to work.

Wimborne looks good, I had a look at piccys on the net. I am so glad there is stuff to do for mums, and nights out, yippee, I am determined not to give up the lippy just yet.

Getting a bit excited now.

I like the name kittypickle, does it mean you have a cat?

We have two nutty cats!

One thing I wont miss up here is the grim weather, it seems to be raining non stop at presnt and we are STILL getting snow, how mad is that, I will think that Dorset is tropical in comparrison.

Okay, got to dash, have a house viewing in an hour and lots of toys to feret away

Speak soon

Fizz cat

Glad you got some sleep ! I've only driven through Portland, I think the roads were pretty small and busy, but could be wrong. Not sure I'd want to drive from there to Poole and back everyday - will he be actually in Poole or outside it ? I think which ever bit you move to there will be a fair amount of stuff going on. My nickname was my daughter's nickname when she was little, but I do have two decidedly mad cats. No sign of snow here you'll be pleased to know !

Hi Fizzcat. I'm another Dorset gal. I'm in Broadstone which is on the outskirts of Poole near Wimborne and have a 23m old. I'm sure you'll love it down here and you're right, you will find it tropical!

I think your hubby would find it a long drive to work from Portland to Poole. DH used to work on the ferries and if it was a Weymouth sailing it would take him a good hour to get to and from the ship.

The other mumsnetters round here are all weird, so I wouldn't bother going on a meet up......... only joking - the ones I've met are lovely, and we'll have an excuse now for another night out. We have two babies heads to wet and now a welcoming party for you!

BTW I've probably paid for your husband's relocation - Julia's hospice have a charity shop in Broadstone. I'm a regular there and dd and myself are often dressed by "House of Julia"!

I am feeling so happy about this move now, it makes heaps of difference knowing that there are a few friendly , mad and interesting folks around. We actually have sun today, its a miracle!! snow still on the mountain tops though.

my writing style has gone awol as i have a strong wriggling 11 month old on my lap, hell bent on destruction of the computer.

its a shame about portland being so far away, i just love the sea, mind you saying that he does about an hours commute thru the mountains to inverness now. i will miss this place, we live in an old croft cottage, stuck to the side of a mountain, views are stunning, mountain ranges one side, sea the other.

that said i am so looking forward to exploring the coast down there.

i am glad you know of julias house, it looks like a good place, but i think i would be a wreck if i worked there, id be crying all the time. you have to be something really special to work in the nursing side of things.

atually i think its broadstone that marts will be working, i am sure thats where the office is.

talking of charity shops we have about 25 in inverness and they are great, i just love nosing around looking for bagains. actually i cant wait to go shopping down south as we are a bit limited up here!!!

we should know for sure about a rental this week, then i only have to worry about buying a place, but i think i will wait till i get down there.

okay, i am being over come with wriggling, he is so strong

talk soon

fizzcat

I live near Marnhull

a very long way to commute to Poole though

Hi Enid

Thanks for that, its such a confusion trying to rent from afar, total mine field.

We are looking at another one in Milton Abbas, but I am not sure what the village has in terms of facilities, ie comunity cntres or baby groups, but at least it will be nearer for hubby to commute.

I just so want to find somewhere where I can tap into other mums and childen, mainly to stop me going insane from boredom and to keep the wee chap entertained.

That said, at 11months old he seems to be turning into a thug, I caught him stealing another childs toast fingers today, then crawling off as fast as he could before hiding under the table to eat it, just where do they learn this stuff!!!!!

Goodness knows what he will be up to when he can walk. Obviously my hippy , zen approach to motherhood hasnt influenced him at all

Okay, if anyone knows anything about Milton Abbas I would be grateful as I have a feeling (provided it hasnt gone), could be the one.

We had another sunny day today, which is a miracle in the Highlands.

Speak soon

Fizz cat

Oh! If your child's a thief we don't want the likes of you down here .

On a more practical note, sorry I don't know anything about Milton Abbas. Broadstone's lovely though!