Branching Out
In which I make an exception to my brunch rule. Plus my favourite new high street find and the answer to your playmat problems
Aside from my one very forgiving new pal, I haven’t branched out much over the past 9 months. I’m lucky that lots of my friends have children, but we’ve all conveniently decided to live in different corners of London. Seeing them usually involves some degree of planning, travelling and bag packing.
What about your antenatal group? I hear you cry. Well yes, I do have a thriving Bump and Baby group. Or did. We moved borough just before Nico was born and I can’t seem to get my act together to make the meet-ups. I prefer to stalk the group chat and occasionally remind them of my existence with urgent questions like ‘is this ringworm???’. My cohort was blessed with a GP, two doctors and a midwife all of whom have an impeccable response rate and charming bedside manner. Their answers are always reassuring (no).
And whilst I am quite content on my own (you’re looking at someone who relished two weeks of hotel quarantine at the Radisson Blu Heathrow), I couldn’t help but wonder what my local scene had to offer. I am, according to an online personality test, an introverted extrovert. Or an ambivert? Oh who cares! Point is I was in the market for a coffee and chit chat that didn’t involve a journey or bringing kit. Especially in these dreary months when all Instagram seems to do is remind me I’m not in South Africa.
Enter The Mum Club and its January brunch. For the record I don’t do brunch. Partly on principle, partly because Anthony Bourdain didn’t either. But for the reasons already stated I make an exception. Typically I pitched up half an hour late, having got the start time wrong (deja vu). If you think running with a suitcase is embarrassing, try it with a pram. The best way to describe what followed is Belle’s arrival to dinner in Beauty and the Beast.
A lovely lady called Fran welcomes me in and deals with my pram. Valet parking! Nice touch. Her co-host, Liv, takes my coffee order and says food is on its way. A babysitter called Lara taps me on the shoulder to offer her services whenever I want a minute handsfree. How many minutes do I have? I ask. As many as you’d like. I think I’m going to like it here.
Over the next hour I go entirely hands free and dive into everything from Brooklyn Beckham’s outburst to returning to work and juggling the load. It was strangely reassuring hearing my own concerns come out of other people’s mouths.
For some reason it caught me off guard to find it wasn’t just first time mums. As if veterans with hard won wisdom had no need for connection. I wince at how I offered one advice on how to feed a broccoli stalk to a 6 month old only to be met with a gentle yes, my three year old actually…
I occasionally remembered to glance over at Nico who was doing his best to escape the play zone.
When my Garden Brunch Plate arrived, I let him polish off half of it. Lucky boy, this is such a treat! I said, loud enough to ensure no one need worry about his general salt intake.
We both left full of beans, and not just the harissa butter ones, delicious though they were. They say you can’t buy friends but it certainly felt like £30 well spent.
You can find your local Mum Club here.
In other news…
we’ve just outgrown 6-9 month clothing which called for a exciting wardrobe refresh. I am probably late to the party but, a moment for Mango Kids please? And their entirely separate outlet website?! Here’s everything I got in the sale. As ever, the options are even better for girls. (The links are slightly futile as there’s only random sizes left but consider them a gateway drug…)
And in other other news. I searched high and low for a wipe clean play mat that didn’t make my eyeballs bleed, I could fold with one hand and that cost an acceptable amount for a foam mat (sorry Totter and Tumble). Foldimats were undoubtedly the best option but I was feeling a bit mean so settled on this dupe and wasn’t the slightest bit disappointed. It’s even had some compliments! I like the alphabet version too, its got a bit of a Binibamba x Bobo Choses vibe about it if you know what I mean. More than happy to demo the one handed fold if there is demand for such content.
That’s enough from me.
Happy Sunday!
A one handed fold request from me pls