How about a Sheffield Forum Parenting meet then?
Meet up, parents/carers have a chat and a cuppa, kids have a play and some juice.
I propose Monday 30th October at 1pm - 3pm at Jellytots since I'll be there already and since we'll have everything we need there too!
There is an entrance fee of £1.50 but £1.00 if you buy membership and I'm sure we can arrange an SF table so we can tell who is SF and who is joe public.
I'll even chuck in a free cuppa for anyone who comes and identifies themselves as an SF member!
Lower ground floor of Victoria Methodist Misson on Chapel walk using the lift for pushchair access or the George Street entrance and down the steps inside.
Let me know if you are up for it and I'll arrange an SF reserved sign for you all, just an idea of how many chairs would be good.

How about a Sheffield Forum Parenting meet then?
Meet up, parents/carers have a chat and a cuppa, kids have a play and some juice.
I propose Monday 30th October at 1pm - 3pm at Jellytots since I'll be there already and since we'll have everything we need there too!
There is an entrance fee of £1.50 but £1.00 if you buy membership and I'm sure we can arrange an SF table so we can tell who is SF and who is joe public.
I'll even chuck in a free cuppa for anyone who comes and identifies themselves as an SF member!
Lower ground floor of Victoria Methodist Misson on Chapel walk using the lift for pushchair access or the George Street entrance and down the steps inside.
Let me know if you are up for it and I'll arrange an SF reserved sign for you all, just an idea of how many chairs would be good.
:| I no longer have babies/toddlers :( does that mean I can't come.

Nah come down, you're still a parent!

My big boy will be back at school - so no good for me:(

i shall try to pop down, but am pathetically disorganised at the mo (who knows, maybe i will have grown out of it by then? *snorts derisively*). see you then....

I'd love to come but my baby is due on the 30th :-) LOL I'm sure I'll be coming down once I've had my little one though.
It's a lovely idea.
xx

You don't have to have your kids there, come down anyway, you'll still meet others with kids and then you can bring your kids to Jellytots in the holidays.
Mrs Carter - we shall be looking forward to meeting you and your new arrival, remind me about that free cuppa when you get there.
Babychickens - tattoo date and time on forehead, looking forward to meeting you!

Hi,

I'll be up for that. I dont think i have anything planned for that day.....is it better to get the bus into town or do you think i'll be able to get a parking space somewhere?

trish

There's parking underneath The Crucible at the NCP which is across the road from the building we're in. It's not cheap but it's never full.
John Lewis isn't a far walk away if you know the route. The on street parking is one hour only though. So maybe the NCP or tram or park and ride. The tram is really local to us too.
Will be great to meet you!

It's looking ok for now, we've got two of those babyswings for parents with little babes, ideal to have pulled up to the table or something while you relax with a cuppa!
Just aquired a Thomas The Tank pushalong, an inflatable playring and various other items for teeny tinys.
I've taken some fruit teas down too so we can cater for non caffeine drinkers.
Do you think we should sell milk? As in cups of?

As it is on the tram route, I think my daughter and I might wander down, I can't stand driving/parking in town.

Which tram stop is Jelly Tots closest too on the blue/yellow trams ?

The best tram stop is the one between Ponds Forge and the Cathedral, outside the Bankers Draft and TJ Hughes, and Primark etc. Then you just walk from the tram along Arundel Gate to the Crucible turn off and down the side of Jumbo to the George St entrance. (Unless you have a pushchair because there are about 10 steps inside that door).
The Cathedral tram stop is ok too and walk through Chapel Walk to the upper ground floor entrance on the left before the charity shop.
Don't forget to tell me you're SF members for your free cuppa.
I'll need to wear a badge or something with Zebra stripes on for you all to identify me won't I?
Best put thinking cap on :idea:
I'm so glad you're all going to give it a try :thumbsup:

It's a date. It's in my diary, and I'll bring cosycub and all, god help us.

Can I get in free if I bring some toys for the group (Only joking - it's a bargain.) I'm needing rid of some cuddly toys - his majesty the cosycub doesn't do cuddly toys, and I'm drowning in them. Let me know if they'd be useful. Never used!!!

Fantastic, we'll be delighted to see you.
I don't think we can accept normal cuddlys because they have to be washed all the time. I'll double check that.
Anything with stitched eyes is good though for the teenie tinies.
I daren't offer free entries since we struggled so much for funding but you can certainly hold me to the free cuppas.

I was only teasing about the free entry, I very much want to support Jellytots...but I will possibly drown under cuddlys in the meantime. Will look out any other possibilities, including non-furry cuddlies with stitched eyes.

We've been given a high chair and another pushalong walking toy thing by Faye12 (and thankyou so much) so at least one person can feed their child in a highchair whilst at Jellytots.
Also - thanks to Stardust for the idea of selling baby bits down at Jellytots to help raise more cash for the group - I think that's a winner. Going to riase the bar a little on the 20p though, Ive got lots of Next and Gap items and a few Monsoon so I think I'd look at 50p to £1 for those and 20p for the others - fab idea that one.

OOOH It sounds as if it's going to be 'the place to be seen' when I have my bundle :-)
Seriously though, it's groups like Jellytots that keep Mums and Dads sane by giving them somewhere to go to have an adult conversation ;-)

Keep up the good work!! Hope to come and meet you all when my Munchkin arrives --- only 12 days to go *tremble*

xxxx

Hey Mrs C - why don't you come down anyway if you're still pregnant by then? At least you can meet everyone quickly and know people already by the time you bring your baby with you - it would be great to have pregnant ladies down too so they are familiar with the people and the place before the baby arrives. It can seem a lot like hard work once the baby arrives so if you're familiar with it already - should be easier IMO.
Plus you can glean lots of tips from the other mums.

Hey Zebra,
I'd love to come down on the 30th if I'm still pregnant but I'm not sure i'll have the nerve to leave the house!!! I live in Rotherham and as I don't drive I'd have to make my own way down there in a taxi. My husband would rather I was near home when I go into labour because we live 10 mins away from the hospital and it will only take him 10 mins to get from work to our house to come and get me :-)
I'm certainly going to come down once baby is here though. I want my free cuppa ;-) LOL

xxx

59 hours and we open the doors at Jellytots! Hurrah!
You might also like to know that we received a fairly large equipment grant and will be shopping on Sunday to buy some lovely super duper brand spanking new and shiny toys and things.
Roll on Monday!

Oh Zebra, what a shame we can't come :( i'm away Monday to Friday next week, would it be ok if we trek over from Leeds next time you arrange something?

Would it be ok? Well of course it would!
We're actually going to be there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now on bar one or two dates we weren't able to secure because of prior bookings.( Jellytots I mean).
Pm me someday in a couple of weeks or so and I'll let you know which days are best for large amounts of forummers. We might have some regulars, who knows.
:)

Sounds like fun! My son and I haven't been 'home' in almost a year now so feeling a bit homesick (even though its not my original hometown :loopy:) would be nice to make a day of things and meet up with some of you forummers!! Be warned, i have a 20 month going on 5 year old child, full of life and attitude!!

16 hours and the kettle will be boiling, toys out waiting and doors wide open.
See you all there, Lower ground floor of Victoria Methodist on Chapel Walk from 1- 3pm.

16 hours and the kettle will be boiling, toys out waiting and doors wide open.
See you all there, Lower ground floor of Victoria Methodist on Chapel Walk from 1- 3pm.
Anyone would think you are excited ;)

Whatever gives you that idea? LOL
In honesty I'm so pleased we've actually managed to get this far, there have been a lot of stumbling blocks.
All we need now are the people to make it all worth while.

I hour 10 minutes to go...Cosycub is splatted out on the sofa having a preparatory nap, and I am checking where it is and ticking Daddywolf off for taking the pram to work this morning (in the boot of his car - though I suppose he could freewheel into town from up here, lol. Cheap parking.)

All systems go for meeting up at Jellytots and making its opening day a success. Make sure you get down there, you lot!:thumbsup:

Gah, blasted shopping!

I nearly made it today, but as i don't go to town often i thought i'd get a bunch of shopping done as i'd made the effort to come down, and by the time i'd done that i was in such a foul mood that i didn't think i should really join you...

i shall NOT do any shopping in wednesday, so i will see you then.

incidentally, you could probably do with a sign on the entrance on chapel walk - i guess anyone with a pushchair will be using that option.

ps no, sending me a pm to remind me was a very good idea. blast my bad mood! i'm all chirpy now i've calmed down; some new people to chat with would be most welcome now!

Hi,

Hope it went well today :-) It's my due date today but nothings happening yet!! As soon as my Munchkin makes an appearance I'll be down to say hello and meet a few new people.

xxxx

Well we did it. Much to the amusement of Claire, my co Jellytot worker who thinks I'm mad when I covertly say 'How did you hear about us?' and someone replies 'Sheffield Forum' and I go 'Yay! I'm Zebra, who are you?' She doesn't use the forum and has no idea about these names so has now called herself Elephant and still not joined the forum.
We had 1 friend of mine, one friend of myself and Claire, 5 or 6 forum members (braindead now you see, can't count) and 1 josephine public.
Not a bad start, hoping for returnees.
It was great to meet other forum Mums today putting faces and real names together with forum IDs.
We had some great feedback and a couple of new ideas to look at plus one health & safety note which we dealt with immediately.
So, on Wednesday we'll have two breast feeding cushions, one sooopa dooopa twin one which is great for tandem feeding and pretty big and stable so would suit anyone with bigger babes too, also one Boppy cushion.
The electric swings went down well it seems.
We spent aaages putting new equipment together before everyone arrived today and still didn't do it all.
More to come on Wednesday.
Thanks to those who said they would come and did - you really helped us make our opening day worth while.
Babychickens - not a problem, I totally understand and look forward to meeting you Wednesday.
If anyone has any further feedback on reflection, please let me know, we want it to work for everyone.
Right, I'd better go and work on some ideas for Wednesday.
See you all then - and hold me to the free cuppa!

hi where abouts on chapel walk is it? right at the bottom near superdrug? how do u get in? prams ok?

Hiya, we're almost directly opposite SUperdrug, through the smoked glass doors (there's a disability button to press and the doors will open for you with the pushchair) Straight ahead down the corridor and there's a lift on your left, go to lower ground floor and turn left out of lift. You'll see the signs on the wall.
Open Friday 1-3pm.
Looking forward to meeting you, remind me about your free cuppa or just tell Jill at the kitchen you are an SF member and she'll give you a free cuppa.

Thanks babychickens who came today - lovely to meet you, sorry I was out so long (spending our grant on even more equipment - hurrah!) See you on Monday!

NOTE TO OTHER FORUMMERS
We will be closed next wednesday - I shall post a list of the days we have to close due to their prior bookings.
We've now got two breast feeding cushions, my huge twin tandem cushion and a red Boppy. Also another high chair for the older tots who want to eat solids.
Cheers.

well, i made it down there yesterday, and i have to say i'm very impressed with what zebra and claire have achieved. felt a bit weird walking into a building belonging to the methodist church, mind...

i'tll be nice to put a few more faces to names, and names to usernames next monday.

I went along on Monday, and faithfully promised to tell everyone how much we enjoyed ourselves...sorry, Zebra, been snowed under at work.

We really, really enjoyed ourselves, met some forummers I hadn't met before, and the cosycub ran around like a mad thing. The organisers were lovely:P My in-laws are considering taking him down on a wednesday when they have him. I will definitely return as soon as I can.

I would just agree with putting a poster on the doors to help ditzy people like myself get in...it actually took two more adults to get me and cosycub into the building, and down the steps (I never found the lift) - my husband, who was trying to get back to work but made it a mission to get in, and a lovely friend of Zebra's/Elephants (lol), who sherpa'd my pushchair down the stairs for me while I mooched along behind with cosycub, lost and giggling. To be honest I think I'd still struggle to find the appropriate entrance - but honestly, that no doubt says more about me than anything else:D

Great work, Zebra and Claire

think ill try nip down fri if babes not been a pain ;)

Just to let you know that we will be closed on the following dates due to prior bookings and the Xmas closing policy:
Wed 8th November, Fri 24th November, Wed 6th, Fri 8th, Mon 11th, Fri 15th, Fri 22nd December until Friday 5th January inclusive.
We will also be having an Xmas party for all members somewhere in the last week we're open in December.
We will reopen on Monday 8th January 2007.

oh pants missing it again. any chance of a morning one? my boy just snoozes at this time :(

Hiya,
We're avoiding morning ones because there are so many of them, our aim is to attract people for the times when there are very few groups on offer.
Plus as one of the organisers - I rarely get out of the house with my twins before noon, I really needed afternoon sessions with my twins but there was only one in our area - which then got shut down for ten weeks - big bag of pants!
So, I'm afraid we're afternoons only but it's drop in - so you can come at 2.00 or whenever, you don't have to arrive at 1.
I stick my girls back in bed around 11, let them sleep until 12 and then get there to open up around 12.30, then they normally sleep in the car on the way home.
On non Jellytot days they sleep from 12 - 1.30 or 1 - 2.30 ish so I know what you mean.
We're there Mon, Wed & Fri next week.
Hope you can make it
Z

Hiya,
We're avoiding morning ones because there are so many of them, our aim is to attract people for the times when there are very few groups on offer.
Plus as one of the organisers - I rarely get out of the house with my twins before noon, I really needed afternoon sessions with my twins but there was only one in our area - which then got shut down for ten weeks - big bag of pants!
So, I'm afraid we're afternoons only but it's drop in - so you can come at 2.00 or whenever, you don't have to arrive at 1.
I stick my girls back in bed around 11, let them sleep until 12 and then get there to open up around 12.30, then they normally sleep in the car on the way home.
On non Jellytot days they sleep from 12 - 1.30 or 1 - 2.30 ish so I know what you mean.
We're there Mon, Wed & Fri next week.
Hope you can make it
Z

sorry i didn't come today, too - madam decided to take her morning nap FINALLY at about 12.30 and didn't wake until over 2 hours later. i used the time to trawl through a bunch of pension stuff and then had a lovely series of phonecalls with the estate agent. i had so much fun that if she does the same sleep on monday i shall b****y well wake her and come to jellytots to avoid the estate agent.

Not to worry babychickens, it'll be nice to see you on Monday.
It was good fun today there were about five or six 18 months - 3 year olds all being daft together and we had a sing song and story time. Then mine, one playing with the older ones and the other going round with her own agenda.
It was nice - much better than estate agency calls etc.
See you Monday!