Help! Feeling alone in Sydney..

[leonieandevie]

Hi, moved here with DH and DD Evie (1 year old), 2 months ago and finding it really hard to meet other mums. I'm living in Rozelle, so if anyone out there lives nearby I'd love to hear from you. Got on a bus from circular quay the other day intending to get home quickly and it took an hour. Hmmm..reckon I've got a lot to learn. Evie needs some new mates as she's getting seriously bored of her mum too!

[ninedragons]

Well hello

There are a few Aussies around, you just have to catch them at the right time of day. I'm not one of them yet, but I will be moving back to Sydney (Birchgrove, so just down the road from you) at the end of the year. No doubt you'll have a million friends by then, though.

[leonieandevie]

Thanks! I know - its getting late here. Keep in touch - you can never have enough friends! In my case zilch at the moment - apart from my 2 buddies here at home of course.

[ninedragons]

I know how you feel - I am in much the same position myself. All my friends here in Shanghai have very demanding jobs so I do find myself window-shopping, milling aimlessly around the neighbourhood and twiddling my thumbs a fair bit during the day.

I think the secret is just launching yourself unashamedly on any likely friendship prospect. I overheard someone at the next table at the pub quiz talking about her toddler so I just leapt on her and begged her to have lunch with me.

[superloopy]

Hi! I moved here to Melbourne last year and not knowing anyone just threw myself into playgroup and activities.
A few times I probably came across as a big desperate dan but I have made some great fab friends.
Check out where your nearest playgroup is here...
playgroup
Maybe a gymbaroo type class could be fun too.

[Astrophe]

I have a friend who runs a toddlers group in Ashfield - want me to get the details?

[leonieandevie]

Hi Astrophe -thanks that would be great.
Yes, am beginning to throw myself in at the deep end but as you said, superloopy, I'm just a tad worried I look a bit desperate. DD v.sociable so am hoping this helps.
Doesn't help that I don't yet drive - I know, crazy.

[ViolentFemme]

Hello. My wee family will be in Sydney from the end of June (Cremorne Point for first month). DS is 11 months and will need a friend - and so too will I!

IIRC driving in Sydney is a nightmare at best of times so you are as well on public transport (although you could probably have walked from Circular Quay to Rozelle in an hour darn buses).

Stay in touch on this board. If I get round to paying the fiver I'll CAT you!

[ninedragons]

There's an Aussie roll call thread that I've just bumped for you.

[sunnydelight]

I'm miles from you I'm afraid (St. Ives) and my kids are a lot older so I don't really fit the bill, but I know how hard it can be when you arrive. There is a very friendly bunch of women, lots with little ones, who meet at the Castle Hill RSL on a Tuesday morning, but it would be a pretty major expedition on public transport and none of them are anywhere near you to scrounge a lift. I find my whole concept of reasonable distance has changed - I will often drive half an hour or more to meet people, but you can't really manage without a car in the more Northern suburbs. Have a look on the British Expats website - you'll find lots of people in the same boat and I think there have been a few new arrivals around Drummoyne recently with small children.

[Astrophe]

My friend Jane says:

" our playgroup is on Tuesday's between 10am-12noon at Annandale Community Church Hall, entry on Johnston Street Annandale. The current kids range from 4 weeks old to 3 years-old. There are 3 almost one-year-olds there, two of whom are girls so they could make friends It's a smallish playgroup about 14 kids, and pretty relaxed. If you need any more info let me know or if she needs a lift there or whatever..."

Jane is the lovliest lady on the planet, so definately go to her playgroup and meet her, you wont be sorry

[leonieandevie]

Thanks everyone! Feel a bit better tonight.
I'll def. try the Annandale group, Astrophe - I like relaxed places!
Violent Femme & Ninedragons - keep in touch. I'll buy you both a drink at the Opera House bar when you get here!

[Astrophe]

Good, I hope you enjoy it. Tell Jane that Kat sent you

Will you go tomorrow?

[leonieandevie]

I may have to go next week as I've got boring things like banking to do tomorrow. I'll have sussed out exactly where Annandale is by then!

[ViolentFemme]

Oh the Opera Bar is dh's most favourite watering hole ever. I'll certainly not miss an opportunity to have a drink there!

[maidamess]

leonie are you anywhere near Mosman? My Sydney geography is not good. One of my closest and bestest friends moved there last year and really misses home and English folk. If you are nearby I could arrange a contact!

[leonieandevie]

Hi Maidamess I don't know if I'm near Mosman. Let me have a look on the map and see...if not & if she wants to, we could meet up in the city. Apparently circular quay's only 8 mins by bus from here - why did it take me an hour?!

[ninedragons]

I bet you got on the bus that goes via the University and Glebe Point Road - the 44 something? You should have taken any 500-series bus from Circular Quay and got off at Darling Street!

I just spat the dummy with my husband this morning and said I can't stand this third-world shithole any longer, so we've brought forward our leaving date to late August. We have a tenant in our flat until November so I have just been looking at places for rent in Balmain and Rozelle.

You're not terribly near Mosman (it's just north of the Harbour Bridge), but neither is it a vast distance.

[superloopy]

Well done ninedragons! You must be pretty excited now!!

[ninedragons]

Actually feeling a bit guilty. The longer we stay here the better it is for my husband's company, so feeling sneaking guilt about getting my way by chucking such a paddy.

[arfishy]

Hi Leonieandevie,

Welcome to Sydney . Where are you from originally?

I came here on my own when DD was 2, and spent several months in Thailand on my own when she was 1, so I know how you feel. It takes a little while to get back into a group, especially if you had your own ante-natal group for months that you've left behind.

Have you picked up a copy of Sydney's Child or looked at their website? There's a lot of information there for children's activities. There's also a playgroup association which runs lots of playgroups around Sydney, which DD used to go to.

You are very close to the CBD, so there will be lot for you and your DD to do.

Any time anybody wants to meet up at the harbour bar I'm there . I love the Opera House. I take DD to the Babies Proms, which are fantastic.

[leonieandevie]

Wish I'd chatted to you, ninedragons, before I'd got on that flippin bus - yes it was that one!
You're allowed to throw a wobbly - I do regularly - it keeps them on their feet!
Arfishy - originally from Brighton in East Sussex. Got Sydneys Child but very little in Rozelle/Balmain. Most seems to be north shores/ Eastern suburb. Found a great playgroup locally which we're going to tomorrow. Problem is DD likes to sleep for 2 hours every morning between 10 and 12, which I've got to reduce but it happens to be exactly the time playgroups on. Why can't she do this in the afternoon?! Let me know if you fancy a drink at the OH bar - was there the other day - lovely!

[ViolentFemme]

I think aquasea is in mosman, maidamess. I think she's looking for buddies too.

Yay to ninedragons coming over in August!

[Boo94]

You are living in one of the best places for mums and toddlers! I used to live there 3 years ago and still know people who live in Balmain. Off the top of my head...there is a playgroup in Lilyfield near you that is great. One on Darling Street PCYC, library story time in Balmain, a playgroup in the church in East Balmain. We used to go to Gymbaroo in Glebe, swimming at Leichardt pool and there was a fab thing called Magic Yellow Bus that came to Petersham park once a week - all these things are either walkable or an easy drive.But the place you have to go is to Little Nicholson Street play group in East Balmain, it's where all the mums and toddlers hang out and you will find out what is on. It's a playgroup you join and then you can use it whenever you want, it has craft activities, toys and outdoor stuff for 0-5years, it was a lifesaver. You just turn up at whatever time and there are always mums and toddlers there, we ended up having our mums group meeting there too. It's near the Commercial pub in East Balmain. Apart from that there are some great parks in Balmain/Rozelle and you always meet people in them as most people in the area don't have much of a garden. It was really great! Hope this helps.

[leonieandevie]

Thanks Boo94. Went to Jellybean playgroup today which was really sweet and DD loved it. Have heard great things about Lilyfield and Little Nicholson St, so will try these out too along with the Annandale one. Met some great people today, so all in all things are looking up!

[ninedragons]

That's fantastically useful, Boo. Thank you so much!