Aberdeen

[CER]

Am going up to Aberdeen for about a month at the end of July. Does anybody know of any drop in groups I can take my 10 month old ds to? Thinking of music, gym etc as well as mother and baby groups. Will have a car so am pretty flexible on area.

Thanks for your help

Don't have a clue as I have only been there once (and froze!). But I have a friend in Aberdeen who has a (wait for it) 10 month old! so I will ask her and get back to you with anything. I dont know how much she will know as she works full time but I'll ask her anyway.

CER - I live in Aberdeen! Well actually I live about 20 miles away but go into Aberdeen fairly often. I'll look out some telephone numbers etc for you. Am feeding baby at the moment so I have my hands tied somewhat.

The only problem I can see is that with the school holidays most mum's and toddler groups wouldn't be running. There are drop in creches though. Also the school holidays finish earlier in Scotland (mid August) so you may be able to go to more things for the end of your holiday.

Back soon.

And yes it is a bit chilly but ever so healthy

Thanks susanmt and Eulalia. I would really appreciate anything you could come up with.

Not much time to write last night. I was a bit surprised that anybody actually replied. Should have known that mumsnetters wouldn't let me down.

As for the weather, I'm more worried about not having access to the internet for a month than the cold and rain!

CER - actually it doesn't rain much here - its one of the driest parts of Britain. The West coast of Scotland is much wetter - think misty Scottish islands. In fact I don't own a brolly. However even we've been getting a lot more rain this year like everyone else but at least it was a 'sweltering' 19C today!

Anyway enough of that - I've not had time today as I've been out but will get back tomorrow with some info.

This is the climate stats for Aberdeen.

Jul
Avg. Max.18°C
Avg. Min.9°C
Mean 14°C
Avg. Precip. 61 mm

Aug
Avg. Max.17°C
Avg. Min.9°C
Mean 14°C
Avg. Precip. 76 mm

Oh and you'll notice we have an hour longer daylight than the South of England.

Still more worried about the internet than the weather!

CER, I lived near Aberdeen until May. There's an internet cafe in the Costa's (I think it's costa's) Coffee Bar at the side of John Lewis's, as you leave the Bon Acoord Centre. HTH!

Last night on Beechgrove Garden (Scotland's equivalent to Gardener's World), which is located up in Aberdeen, they said that it had rained as much in the first 3 (or was it 6?) days of July as it had in the whole of July last year!

Some info -

www.ifb.net/webit/

www.agtb.org/

Aberdeen Tourist Centre - Provost Ross's House, Shiprow (01224)288828

back soon.

CER - My friend must be on holiday I keep getting her answering machine and there are thousnds of 'beeps' on it!
The weather will be fine! I was in Aberdeen for a wedding one May and it was perishing, the wind was coming in from the sea. But it was dry - and as I live on one of the Misty Scottish Isles I can vouch for our wetness!!!!
The wettest place in Britain is Fort William - hahahaha my Mum has just moved there!

Thanks for all your help. Huge relief to know that there will be a computer I can have access to and don't worry I will definately be packing some warm clothes for me and ds!

Thanks for trying to get through to your friend susanmt. I have found the number for Aberdeen NCT so I'll see if they'll let me pop into any of their open houses. Think I'll definately be going to visit the "secret" nuclear bunker that came up on the sites you suggested Eulalia, sounds too tempting to miss.

It's been great weather all this week - it can't last though

Here's another useful link - www.aboutbritain.com/towns/Aberdeen.asp

There's a huge leisure complex on the beach with swimming pool with flumes, jacuzzi, gym, ice rink and there is a creche. Nearby is also Codona's amusement park, a cinema, cafes, restaurants, nightclub etc ... and of course the beach itself if it is warm enough!

For music/arts try the Lemon Tree - is a small venue which has bands playing most evenings and also some lunchtime shows which allow children. There are also some theatre shows and workshops for children over the summer. The Lemon Tree is in central town. They have a cafe as well.

Aberdeen also has a theatre, art gallery, football stadium, 2 universities. Aberdeen University is the oldest (over 500 years old) and worth a visit. The maritime museum is interesting and the harbour itself (all within walking distance of central town). Marischal College (part of the uni is the 2nd largest granite building in the world). In fact most of the buildings are granite hence the name 'The Silver City'. Storybook Glen is great for the kids (theme park). Other good parks are Duthie Park (with Winter Gardens) and Hazlehead (which has a small zoo). As you'll probably know Aberdeen is bordered with 2 rivers, north and south with nice walks alongside. There are more swimming baths in central town - these are huge and built in the 1950s. Also you can drive 15 miles south to Stonehaven - a small town on the coast which has an olympic sized outdoor swimming pool (and it is heated!) - the only one of its kind in Britain - see www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/index.htm
They also do midnight swims. Stonehaven is a lovely tourist town to visit. While you are there also visit Dunnottar Castle which was the location for the film version of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson. Also see nesting gulls here ...

Not too far away is Balmoral Castle and masses of other castles to visit - see www.castles.org/Chatelaine/list.htm, also distilleries (over 40 - you can do 'The Whisky Trail' ) or you could take a bit more time and drive up to Strathspey and go on a steam train. There are also plenty mountains to climb. Oh I could go on - you'll need a month to see everything!

Another Aberdeen person here and not v much help as I work 4 days a week (soon to be 5 - not looking forward to that). However, thinking back to when ds was 10 months (he's now 21) we went to Hazlehead (in preference to Duthie) park - good play area, nice walks, tearoom. John Lewis has to be the most child friendly shop in existence - even the loo entrance doors are automatic so just glide in with your buggy and then there is a separate locking screened area where you can put the buggy and go to the loo in peace without worrying about someone stealing your baby or pram. The beach is fun. Starbucks on Union Street (as opposed to the St Nicholas Centre) has a large window with a sofa and v child friendly staff. In the days before walking ds loved sitting on the sofa watching the buses go past as I drank coffee. Further afield, Crathes Castle is good for country walks and has a great NT cafe (yummy cheese scones with the homemade soup) as does Haddo House. Don't know much about groups etc - failed miserably to find tumbletots or kinder gym type activities. Have much hope pinned on the NCT group which I plan on actually calling this second time round! Enjoy - it's not a bad place to be for a month!

Thanks Eulalia and Harrysmum. Feel like between you you've provided me with plenty of things to keep me busy for a few weeks. Read about "Larks in the park" that goes on over the summer holiday with activities for under 5s. Any experience of that?

I only saw the poster for this on Sunday and plan to go on Friday afternoon to see what's available (after seeing the mortgage adviser) - I keep forgetting that ds isn't even 2 yet so lots of things that I see will be suitable next year but not quite yet. I'll let you know on Monday how it goes. Eulalia mentioned the Lemon Tree; it's baby friendly (although the changing facilities are in the ladies loos and not the disabled loo as per the stickers and a triumphant dh after ds had produced a particulary bad nappy). On Friday and Sunday lunchtimes they have live music which ds always enjoyed and it means that we all eat together - they are fine about you bringing your own baby food, breastfeeding etc. Folky type stuff (as a general rule, but not exclusively) on Fridays and accessible jazz on Sundays - v relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. Lots of families and small children pottering about.

I went to the 'larks in the parks' last week with my 12 yr old and 15 month old. There were a few play tunnels and pop up tents which the little one enjoyed crawling around in - also little bikes and tractors. There were also races, tennis, and other activities for the older ones which seemed well supervised. My older son was a bit too big - he could have joined in the game of football that had been organised - but was too self conscious - isn't it a wonderful age!

Thanks for all your advice. I'm off tomorrow and am now looking forward to it, knowing that I'll have plenty to keep me busy even on those dull, cold days!

CER - how did you get on with your visit to Aberdeen?