Just arrived, with toddler and bump, Would love to meet up as know NOBODY

[Hearne_Family]

Hi Terry

thanks for your kind offer, that's very nice of you. We're staying in the city temporarily and although we have been lent a car, i'm a very new driver and it's a Japanese one, very different to my uk golf and I'm terrified of driving it in the inner city, whilst having to navigate and ignore screaming from the back seat! So I've been getting around by public transport until now.

however, just today secured a place in yarraville for a couple of weeks' time so it should be easier to drive from then! Unless your wife is coming into town for any reason in the meantime?

Thanks :)

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Sorry for the late reply, let me know when you are settled in Yarraville and we can arrange something then, although we are due in 5 weeks so it might have to be after that unless you can come to us?

Terry

[LucL]

I am not a mother but I am a friendly face....PM me if you ever in the city and I can meet for a coffee on my lunch break

[Chezza66]

Hi everyone. Wonder if you guys have met up yet or any chance of meeting any of you? We are moving to Melbourne (probably Bayside area) in 3 weeks (myself, boyfiend and 6 month old daughter). I'm apprehensive about the move as we've just found our feet in Sydney (been here for 2.5 yrs) and now moving again!! Cheryl-I noticed your post earlier about UK playgroup, that would be a lifesaver! Can be very lonely in the house with bub especially in a new place and would love to move knowing there is a chance we can meet new people when we arrive!
Hope to hear from you soon, Alex and baby Lilli :)

Hi Alex, hope you find that Melbourne suits you. When you arrive, PM me, I'll gladly try to introduce you to others with small bubs.

So far, to my knowledge, no-one has met up yet

[Beeso]

Hi all,

My wife's so interested if you'll meet, she's staying with our 1.5 Year old daughter and we live 20 Min. from the CBD.

So if u'd like to meet soon, she'd like to Join you for a coffee and a chat.

[paddingtonpom]

Hi Chezza66, we have just had confirmtion of our temporary accomodation in Parkdale for a few days then Mordailloc for a month. We are due to arrive next wednesday (7th July.) will be in touch when we arrive-thanks so much :)
Alex and Lilli

[Chezza66]

Your welcome & my name is Cheryl. safe trip over and wrap up warm, it's pretty cold at present!

[gail.crease]

Hi there

arrived on 21 may and staying in temp accom in CBD whilst sorting out rented place. My toddler and I are going out of our minds with boredom and loneliness as we know noone and city attractions are expensive. Not sure which suburb we will end up in yet so can't join toddler groups and things. I'm not used to spending all my time with my toddler as had to give up my uk FT job to come out with my husband! And with big bump, no chance of job here for a while. So please help us keep sane...

We love hot chocs and babycinos if any other families would like some new playmates

thanks

jenny and isobel

Jenny

I know just how you feel. We arrived with a 4 and 1 year old and stayed in Southbank for 3 weeks. It was awful. We'd taken 5 weeks to travel here and by then the kids were bored and playing up. There was no parks nearby to take them to and not much to do. I was not used to being at home and neither were the kids. I'd never done the playgroup thing so I was tearing my hair out. So we picked a suburb quick (Port Melbourne as it was close to CBD for work but more family orientated than Southbank), put them in childcare and I found a job straight away.

You could take your little one to Melbourne Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Albert Park. It's got some great facilities. I take my now 3 year old there for toddler tennis lessons and my 6 year old goes there for the school holiday programme. They've got lovely pools including a wave pool and toddler pool and a really nice creche if you need some R&R time or want to use the gym. It's on the tram line from the city so you could get there easily. Every day it is full of mothers and toddlers and they've got a cafe where they all congregate. I find everyone to be super friendly.

Gail

[Chezza66]

Ok, putting this out there...

10am on Fri 16th July, I'll be at Bay Road Nursery, Bay Rd Sandringham for coffee & chat, hoping that I get to meet Alex & Lilli and anyone else who wishes to join us. :)

[jenniewade]

HI There
I have been living in Melbourne for 18mths and only just finding my way where friends are concerned, if you fancy a change and fancy a look at some more suburbs then you could meet me in Surrey Hills/ or Canterbury for coffee, I have a 2 year old and a 9 years old. Jennie X PM me and we can make a date, I do have a car so we can go further a field just need another car seat.

[WeGottaGetOuttaThisPlace]

Hope you are settling in a bit better now and have managed to have a successful meet up!
I'm just wondering if you could give me some 1st hand advice...

We have been trying to get to Melbourne for the past 2 years but waiting it out as far as the economy and house market slump have been concerned. We thought we would be in Melbourne by now and as soon as we got settled we were going to start trying for another baby (we already have a toddler 2 yr old) but since we are heading towards 40 we can't really put either off much longer so I am worried about arriving in Melbourne pregnant.

What did you do when you got there? Are you just going to public hospital through Medicare? I was told it would take 1-2 yrs on private medical insurance before you are covered for pregnancy so we could use Medicare but then someone else said to check because they think some doctor's will tell you to pay for everything if you arrive in Oz when you already know you are pregnant...

Sorry - did that make any sense? I hope you are finding Melbourne to be family friendly - is it more child friendly that the UK?

Thanks for any replies and sorry to ask something so unrelated to your topic but we will hopefully be in Melbourne this time next year... Who knows now. Things just aint panning out the way we thought (as always eh?)

Thanks and all the very best :)