Lambeth - What's on for the family - February 23rd-24th 2013

Hasn't it got cold again! Hope you have all had great half terms! Let see what we can do this weekend!

SATURDAY (23rd February)

My daughter turns one today - Happy birthday Boo-boo!

Crazy baby alert!

However, she's unwell so we won't be going anywhere. But you can. Take a trip to north Lambeth and visit the Garden Museum which has a free family activity of flower bulb planting. This session is on from 2pm to 4pm.

The Garden Museum is located on Lambeth Palace Rd SE1 7LB and can be reached by buses 3, 344, 360, 507 or C10.

 Following the River, wander along to the Southbank Centre who are currently running the Imagine Children's Festival. From 10:30am to 4pm, there are a group of children's illustrator and writers telling stories in the Clore Ballroom in the Royal Festival Hall. Visit the website for more details.

The 59 to Waterloo will take you there. Or catch the tube or overground.

Love dinosaurs and don't mind a trip into central London? Then take a look around the Grant Museum of Zoology, (UCL, Rockefeller Building, University Street, London WC1e 6DE) from 1pm to 5pm, for their Fantastic Fossils activities.

The buses 59 and 68 will take you to Euston which is close by.

SUNDAY (24th February)

Can the kids face the cold? If so, it's Junior Dig the Park at Brockwell Park. Wrap up warm and meet at the Community Greenhouses at 10:30am.

Buses into the area include 3, 196, 322, 68 and 37.

Want to stay indoors, then head to the Tate Britain in Pimlico . Every weekend they run Liminal, an interactive experience with sculpture for families running between 11am to 3pm. Ask at the Information desk when you get there.

Buses to Pimlico include the 185, 436, 36, 2 and 88.

Fancy a bit some art and storytelling? Then, pop to the National Gallery for family events. Under fives have the Magic Carpet Storytelling at 10:30am and 11:30 am; and five to eleven year old children have a hands-on art workshop running at 11am to 12:20pm and 2am to 3:20pm.

For both activities, meet in the Pigott Education Centre Foyer. The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Hop on the number 3 bus or 159 to get there.

Have a good weekend!

The Joys of Motherhood -what I've learnt so far...

On my way back from visiting my parents, I got to thinking about all the stuff that has happened over the last year which hadn't been part of my life before that time. So here's a few things I've discovered

1, Buggy rage. Who'd a thought I would want to shout at the lady who pushed ahead of me in the queue for the bus!

2. A lot of shops and shop doors aren't buggy friendly. However, the buggy can be really useful getting around Borough market; people soon move out of your way when you've clipped their ankles a few times.

3. Mothering is really 24/7. Proper 24/7, not closing down for half the night once a week (like Tescos) but all the time, day in, day out.

4. Baby's growth spurts are weird. One week they fit the sleepsuit, the next week, it's too small. How did that happen!

5. Having a baby makes nearly everyone want to talk to you and give you parenting tips. NOT FUN!

6. It  also means a section of society will give you evil glances as you have a child who might make some unwanted noise. Some of your friends now keep a distance for fear you might start talking about babies and forcing them to "coo" at pictures of your little one!

7. The big wide world is unfriendly to childen and families. Most places don't have buggy space, there is nowhere to put the kid down and people get irritated by frustrated children.

8. Packs of toddlers are scary. Visit any oversubscribed soft play for this experience.

9, When you start breastfeeding, you are very discreet. However this goes out of the window when it becomes a useful way to stop the child from screaming the place down!

10. You get use to poo, pee, vomit and bogies. All in a day's work.

11. Although you might have planned to not show the baby any TV til s/he is 16 , you realise the benefits of the TV pacifying them for 20 minutes.

12. It makes you more sensitive to other people's negative view of children. And sensitive when bad things happen to kids.

13. There is a whole world of mummy bloggers just chomping at the bit to share their stories, thoughts and experiences with you!

I'm sure there is more to say about all of these things. Let me know your thoughts!

This last year has been amazing (and very hard work!. Baby is one on Saturday - doesn't time fly!

Me and the baby go on an adventure!

Free Half Term Fun! 18th - 22nd Feb 2013

Yep, I've been so busy that the weekend thread didn't happen.

*insert sad face*

However, I've taken time out and am sitting in the wonderful Treehouse deskspace/creche facility to find some free events and write a half term post!

*insert happy face*

So what's on where?

Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, SW2 1JQ

On Monday, from 1pm to 4pm, celebrate the Chinese New Year with story telling and crafts!

West Norwood Library,  14 - 16 Knights Hill, SE27 0HY

On Monday, they are also celebrating the Chinese New Year with an arts and crafts session.

Cuming Museum, Old Walworth Town Hall 151 Walworth Road SE17 1RY

On Tuesday 19th February, have a go at crafting with clay from 2:30 to 4pm. 
On Thursday 21^st February between 2:30pm and 4, enjoy story telling with Olivia Armstrong.

South Bank Centre, Southbank Centre, Belvedere RoadSE1 8XX 

The Imagine Children's festival is on til the 24th of February. Here's a couple of things free fun things I spotted!

Bop along to a bicycle powered children’s disco on the 18^th February at the Clore Ballroom from 11.30am.

On the 20^th February, check out the Big Bingo Show with Timberlina and Hey Baylen – a riotous show with themed bingo rounds and impromptu dance routines. Held in the Clore Ballroom, it is on at 12pm, 1:30pm and 3pm. 

Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG

On Thursday and Friday, visit the Open Studio and play around with different art materials and ideas.  Open from 11am to 3pm.   

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

Sunday and Monday is the Imaginary Worlds Family Festival with loads to do for all ages!

Pram Tour at 10:20am from Room 4 on both days.
Stay and Play 10:30am to 5:30pm in the Learning Centre on both days

Chill and Watch - film shorts in the Creative Space and Sunley Room Cinema - 10:30am to 5:30pm.

Vauxhall City Farm

Pop in on Friday from 11am to 4pm, for a chance to learn about animal feeding and handling and have a go at crafts!

Well there's a few things to do. Many more of the big museums have free family events on, so check out their websites.

Have a good one!

*insert joyous happy face*

Lambeth - What's on for the family - February 9th-10th 2013

Feeling a bit warmer out there? When will Spring start to show it's pretty face? Hopefully soon.

Let's see what's on this weekend:

SATURDAY (9th February)

Today is National Libraries Day and some of the  libraries will be holding family activities.

 West Norwood Library, situated at14-16 Knights Hill, SE27 0HY, has the following activities:

 10 - 10:45am      Fun with Newspaper (6 months - 4 years) 
 11am - 1:45pm   Badge making and crafts

To get to West Norwood, you can catch buses 2, 68, 315 432 and 322.  The area is also served by the overground at West Norwood Station.

 

Carnegie Library, located at 188 Herne Hill Road, SE24 0AG, has a special Storytime at 2pm with free tea, coffee and biscuits afterwards! 

Hop on the P4 bus to get to the library.
 

 Brixton Library, off Windrush Square, SW9,  will be holding crafts, activities, treasure hunts and storytime starting from 2pm.

If you are down Brixton way, pop into Art Nouveau, 77 Atlantic Road, SW9 for some bric-a brac, cake and tea.

Buses through Brixton include P4, P5, 188, 196, 59, 159, 3, 133, 333, 45, 345, and 37. Alternatively you can catch the tube or the overground into the area.

From Art Nouveau to Arts and Crafts, Tuesday saw the opening of a new exhibition at the Cuming Museum about ceramicists, the Martin Brothers. Many pieces of their work are full of strange creatures and funny faces which will be curious to children.

The museum always has lots of things to encourage children to interact with the exhibitions. It opens 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and is located at the Elephant and Castle end of the Walworth Road.

To get to the museum, you can catch a 35 or 45 along the Walworth Road or go to Elephant and Castle on the 133, 155 or 415 and it's a short walk from there. 

SUNDAY (10th February)

For classical music fun, head to the Southbank Centre and have a go at a musical instrument or join the Human Orchestra workshops from 10.30am to 2.30pm in Royal Festival Hall foyers.
The 59 to Waterloo will take you there.

And this weekend sees the beginning of the Chinese New Year and it's the year of the Snake! Visit Trafalgar Square to catch the entertainment on the stage from 1pm followed by fireworks at 5.55pm

Best view is from daddy's shoulders!

Also time to mentioned that if you head to Trafalgar Square you can pop to the National Gallery for family events. Under fives have the Magic Carpet Storytelling at 10:30am and 11:30 am; and five to eleven year old children have a hands-on art workshop running at 11am to 1pm and 2am to 4pm.

Found the magic carpet! Now when's the story time?

For both activities, meet in the Pigott Education Centre Foyer. The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Hop on the number 3 bus or 159 to get there.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

The Highs and Lows of my Return to Work

It's been nearly a month back in the work place. So I thought I'd rustle up a little list of my highs and lows.

Five lows

The first initial wrench of giving my daughter over to the nursery.

The long drag of work! 

Feeling like I will probably never participate in after work drinks with my team.

How tired I feel from it all.

Realising how little time I have to do anything else.


Five highs 

Seeing all my friends at work. All the "welcome backs" have been very uplifting.

Having an understanding team to work with.

My daughter settling well at nursery and being excited to see me at the end of the day.

Having moments all to myself!

The breakfast buffet at my work canteen (freshly made hot scones - yummy!)


So there you have it. What have been your high and low points from your  big return?