Hello East End!

Hi! Y'all can call me Blondie and I'm representing all the Mommies in the East End of Glasgow.

You might have guessed from the "y'all" and "mommies," but I'm originally from the USA, but have been living in the east of Glasgow since 2004.

I'm a new Mommy and had my son, Blondie Boy, via an emergency c-section at the Princess Royal this past January. I live with him, my Not Blonde Husband and our dog in the east of the city. I'm really looking forward to trying out all that there is to offer for Moms and babies in the east, especially if it's cheap or free!

So if you have any hot tips on where to go and what to do or have someplace you'd like us to check out, please get in touch and let us know! I can't wait to get to know other Moms in the East End and the rest of Glasgow!

Bumps & Bundles Toddler Group, Bearsden

Isla and I love the Bumps and Bundles toddler group which meets on a Monday morning in Bearsden Baptist Church. It’s a really well run and friendly group with lots of activities for the children.

There is a great selection of toys for the children to play with, from baby bouncers and walkers for the youngest ones, to dolls houses, playdoh and ride on toys for the older ones.

The first structured activity is ‘sticky kids’ which is movement to music – great fun exercise for the children and adults! After that we have snack time where the children sit at a table for juice and snack, and the adults have tea or coffee and a biscuit. After snack the older children can take part in a craft activity while the younger ones carry on playing with the toys. The toys are then tidied away before the session finishes with singing time (Isla’s favourite is ‘sleeping bunnies’).

The group is really popular so there are lots of children for your child to play with, and the ages range from tiny babies to pre schoolers. As the name suggests, pregnant women are welcome to attend as well.

The group is a great place for your child to socialise but also for the adults to make new friends. If its your first time and you don’t know anyone, the ladies who run the group will make sure you are introduced to someone so you’re not on your own.

There is a charge of £1 per adult, and the group meets from 9:30 till 11:30 on Mondays during term time.

Hope to see some of you there!

Contacts:

Carina Craib (Chairperson) 0141 563 7830

Bronagh Ewart (Secretary) 01360 771 575

Mugdock Country Park

My friend and I took our children (two boys aged 5 & 6 and two girls aged 2) to Mugdock Country Park on Wednesday. When we arrived, we went straight to the playground where all the children had a great time on the swings, slides and obstacle courses. We had lunch from the Stables café sitting outside in the courtyard, went for a lovely walk round the loch, through the fields and woods, back to the café for an ice cream and we finished off with a play on the adventure trail for the boys.

The park also has a lovely Victorian walled garden complete with bandstand, a garden centre with farm shop and restaurant, and the ruin of Mugdock Castle which has recently undergone some restoration work. In the courtyard there is a craft shop ‘Mugdock Makkers’ and a gift shop which are worth a look. There are two barbeque areas in the park – you need to book these.

There are some great activities to do while you are at the Park, including a history trail, tree trail, scavenger hunt and easy access orienteering – we have done the last 3 on previous visits and my son really enjoys them. You can borrow everything you need to do these from the Park office.

There are often activities and events on at the Park from archery to cinema and these are advertised on the Park’s website and in the local press.

The Park is a fantastic place for a day out and I feel very lucky to have it virtually on my doorstep.

Opening hours:

The park is open 7 days, with the car park open from 9am – 9pm (April – Sept) and 9am – 6:30pm (Oct – March). The Visitor Centre, Garden Centre, Restaurant and Farm Shop are open 9am – 5pm. The Stables Gift Shop is open 12:30pm – 4pm, the Stables Tea Room 10am – 5pm and the Art & Craft Gallery 12pm – 4pm.

Contact details:

General enquiries and bookings: 0141 956 6100

Email: office@mugdock.org

Website: Mugdock-country-park.org.uk

Ranger Service: 0141 956 6586 or email rangers@mugdock.org

How to get there:

Just off the A81 3 miles north of Milngavie and 1 mile south of Strathblane. Well signposted.

Bookstart Rhymetime!

My daughter CJ and I just LOVE Bookstart Ryhmetime at our local library (Glenburn) and cannot recommend it enough to other Renfrewshire mums!

The woman who runs the sessions is so good with the kids and uses toys and puppets to keep the children interested and enjoying it. She also has a really good balance of books and songs so there are no kids playing up as they are all transfixed on her. She uses songs and rhymes the children mostly already know and puts some new ones in now and again too! She works to season also which is fab! Had an Easter Bonnet rhymetime last week! So sweet! It lasts 30 mins and unlike many singing groups I've been to with CJ the time flies in and the kids stay in the caroet area happily for the full session without getting bored and wanting to move off.
These sessions are free and a great way to get out, meet other mums and babies and also help your child's development with books and songs! The children/babies who attend are anything from newborn to 4/5 years old so> anyone can join in!

I know most libraries have this facility so check out http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-cg-Bookstart-Rhymetime> more info or contact your local library for days and times.
And dont forget to pick up your free bookstart pack while there.

Happy Rhyming!
Jenni x

www.baby-scot.co.uk Dunbartonshire Editor

Baby Scot welcomes our second editior Karen, who will be looking after the Dunbartonshire area.
Check out her page.
www.baby-scot.co.uk

www.baby-scot.co.uk Renfrewshire Editor

We warmly welcome our first editor Jenni - she will be looking after the Renfrewshire area keeping all the parents informed of what is going in the area.

You can contact Jenni via our forum page under the Glasgow, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire section.

www.baby-scot.co.uk