Posts Tagged "Tube"

Ella does London without a Pushchair

Posted by cafebebemama on Oct 3, 2011 in Little Miss Adventures, Motherhood, Travelling Adventures | 8 comments

On Saturday, the Cafe Bebe Family braved ridiculously unseasonable temps (29 degrees in Peterborough while we were waiting for our train) to venture down to London for an over-night excursion. We were going to be attending a blogger event for the Lego-Duplo Experts (of which we are a part) at Westfield Shopping Centre in West London on Sunday. Lego-Duplo was kind enough to put us up for the night in London which we thoroughly enjoyed (thank you Lego-Duplo).

As we would be hoofing it around and about London on Saturday and Sunday, we were trying to keep luggage and accessories to a minimum thanks to my 30 weeks pregnant state and the inferno temperatures. Plus as the London Underground on the weekend can be a nightmare at best, we thought it best to forgo the use of a pushchair for Ella for the first time. In fairness, we don’t use the pushchair very much at all for her anymore. With this independence, Ella has actually become a better listener and generally is more enjoyable whilst out and about. Amazing how that happens! But, I’ve never attempted LONDON sans pushchair. This would be the ultimate test. Train, tube, walking…would it work?

In fact, it worked FAMOUSLY! Ella was OUTSTANDING! Negotiating “hes-ca-lators”, crowds of people, tube platforms and crowded carriages, Ella didn’t miss a beat. And there was virtually no shouting on our behalf! We allowed her a bit of freedom to trot along at her pace without holding hands and she responded by staying close and following directions. I was so very proud of her.

Ella was mostly interested in standing on the tube carriages. She didn’t want to sit next to Mummy, no way! She wanted to stand and hold onto the poles like Daddy. So we let her. And she was fine! Granted, even though it was a weekend, the Tube cars weren’t too crowded so we could afford her this bit of freedom. She was an expert at “minding the gap” by the end of our journey and only needed to be carried (by Daddy mind you) on a handful of occasions. I really was impressed with what Ella was capable of given a bit of freedom and responsibility. Ella was particularly keen to have a “ticket” to go through the barriers on the entrances and exits to the various Tube Stations on the lines. We gave Ella one of the train tickets to use but wouldn’t it be great if there was a “mini-Oyster card” for the littlies?? If any Londoners can tell me if this exists, I WANT ONE!

We have discovered, after a very positive experience in London this weekend that Ella is more than capable of being trusted to be on the Tube and other public transport in and around London. This gives me a lot of confidence for any future ventures (as long as there isn’t a lot of walking on either end of Tube journeys!) and shows me how very much our little miss is growing up! Sniff, I’m one proud Mama, that’s for sure. Now, when can we go back to London?? That might not be until Bebe makes an appearance but we’ll be much more confident about any future excursions, that’s for sure. How about you? Do you let your children negotiate the Tube and other public transport in and around London? Have you experienced any NIGHTMARE situations that have made a big impact on your decisions?

(After all of that independence, within about 10 minutes of sitting on the train for our return journey home on Sunday afternoon, Ella was zonked out on my lap! Independence has its benefits…for parents!)

Baby and All Bag

Posted by cafebebemama on Nov 1, 2009 in Great Finds, Out and About | 2 comments

On a recent trip to London, the Baby and All bag, which I received as a prize in a blog competition on Yummy Mummy Tips, became our saviour.  I had packed it with Little Miss’ toys to keep her entertained while I was at a blogging event.  When I hung it across my body, messenger style whilst disembarking from the train from Peterborough to Kings Cross, I popped Little Miss on the Baby and All bag and quickly realised what a brilliant product it is.

• STRENGTHS:  The Baby and All bag is stylish, durable and has loads of storage which will easily take you through a day out and about.  The interior of the bag is lined with a wipable material that is essential for mums.  You will be able to safely secure your child onto your hip whilst negotiating any mode of transportation and keeping your hands free.  The zip allows you to secure your precious belongings and easily access them when you need them.  The Baby and All bag stands on its own when you put it down on the floor or another surface.  We received the ‘Olivia’ bag which is the more “blingy” style and it is very stylish and fashionable.  The fabric still remains wipeable and wearable which is a MUST for any mum.
• WEAKNESSES:  If your child has bare legs, the ‘Olivia’ bag, after a time, can rub on their legs.  It might be worth the designer considering if it’s possible to have an additional, removable pad which would give more cushion to the zip/seat.  If you’re packing for a weekend away, the Baby and All bag will not fit everything you need but for a day out, you’ll be more than prepared.  The included changing pad is lovely and cushioned but, if you keep it in the bag, you won’t have much room for your belongings.  I had to substitute it with a flat, foldable changing pad.
• OPINION:  I was skeptical about the Baby and All bag, initially.  It was cool looking and had a spacious interior but I didn’t appreciate its real value until I popped Little Miss onto it on a recent trip to London.  She sat securely on my side and remained quite comfortable.  My hands were free to hold onto the rails on the Underground trains and carry our other changing bag.  A second trip into London saw me using ONLY the Baby and All bag which accommodated all our necessities and still provided a comfortable seat for Little Miss.  If you live in a big city and/or take public transport frequently, I would highly recommend adding the Baby and All bag to your arsenal.  You won’t have to fuss about with a pushchair and your child can still remain secure and safe with you at all times.  You won’t have the convenience of the pushchair shopping basket but you will get about with a lot less stress.
• TECHNICAL STUFF:  4 in 1 carrier; Used for babies from 7-15kg;  Colours:  Kerry- Black, Olivia- Brown, Bella- Purple;   Kerry bag RRP = £45.00; Olivia/Bella bag RRP = £98.95
• RATING:  4.5 out of 5

Debra Clare Ltd.

As Clear As PR

London Underground Adventures

Posted by cafebebemama on Oct 31, 2009 in Little Miss Adventures, Travelling Adventures | 8 comments

London Underground Logo

Bump, bump, bump.  Ugh.  Heave…pant, pant, pant.  “It’s alright my love, nearly there!”  “Yes, sweetheart, chugga chugga!”

These were just some of the phrases from the adventure Little Miss and I had on Thursday.  I decided to be an empowered and brave Mummy.  We ventured from Peterborough to London ALL BY OURSELVES!!!  When we finally walked back in the door at 5:30pm Thursday night, I was exhausted mentally and physically and was rather clammy and sweaty but felt slightly exhilerated because I had done it!  I conquered the London Underground and lived to tell the tale.  Little Miss was none the wiser…”chugga chugga!”.  “Yes, sweetheart, chugga chugga!”

We were heading down to London for two reasons.  One, we were invited to attend an event courtesy of EA Games and British Mummy Bloggers where they were presenting their Play for Xmas event.  I love being “journalist-y” (good word, eh?).  Two, I decided to add to Little Miss’ life by attending the Museum of Childhood.  We never do anything “cultural” like that…there isn’t a heck of a lot of culture around Peterborough unless you consider a semi-stinky, soft-play centre bustling with sweaty children culture.

I decided to try all means of transportation, bar automobile, in order to get proper “research” for future adventures.  We took the bus from our wee village into Peterborough, braved lifts and walkways and stairs to get to the Peterborough Train Station.  I had pre-booked our tickets so getting them was a doddle and as we had a few minutes time before our train, I even treated us to a Cinnamon Swirl pastry and some juice.  I polished off both of them as my delightful daughter wasn’t interested (Good Girl…Mummy needs sustinance!).  The train was not leaving from the main platform but a platform 2 across from the main platform BUT, instead of tackling the stairs, I was directed to a RAMP by one of the most-helpful rail employees!  A RAMP!!!  Wowie…what conveniences for those of us with pushchairs.  Thank you, Peterborough Train Station!

The ride down to London was rather uneventful and Little Miss decided to fall asleep on me about 20 minutes from Kings Cross, our final destination.  After everyone had exited the train at Kings Cross, I hoiked Little Miss on my shoulder, wrestled the pushchair off the luggage rack, opened it and managed to install her in it without waking her!  We took our time as there was no rush.  Due to station works, somehow we ended up exiting towards St. Pancras International which was fine as there is access to the Underground through there as well.  I highly recommend St. Pancras…beautiful station with lots of shops!  As we entered the Underground I began to sweat.  It’s hot, stuffy and a bit miserable and I find myself constantly worrying about Little Miss, my bag and who’s going to perhaps knock us off the platform into an oncoming train.  Minor issues.

I know you’re not supposed to keep your pushchairs open on the escalators but I did.  I know, arrest me!  You try heaving a sleeping and comfortable toddler out of her safe and secure pushchair to carry her in one arm and her mostly collapsed pushchair in the other along with your changing bag.  Not easy!  But I did have my trusty Baby and All Bag which allows you to sit your child on the bag which is resting messenger-style across your body and still have your hands free to hold things like moderately heavy pushchairs.  It is a god-send, that’s for sure.  Little Miss sat on my hip on the Baby and All Bag quite nicely while Mummy continued to sweat and count Tube stops until we exited at Bethnal Green for the Museum of Childhood.

The Museum of Childhood was lovely but not exactly what I was expecting even though I had checked out the website.  I thought it would be a bit more interactive and “touch and feel” versus being a MUSEUM.  It was some of that but mostly, not quite age appropriate for Little Miss.  Don’t get me wrong, she did have a great time, especially having lunch, but we’ll have to go back when she’s a little bit older to get more out of it.

We braved the Tube system again to get back to where we really needed to be- Oxford Street.  Specifically somewhere inbetween Oxford Circus tube stop and Tottenham Court Road tube stop.  Have a look at the handy Tube map to find where we were trying to get to.  From Bethnal Green, on the Circle Line, to Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line as well.  We managed it…in pushchair…not folded up…bump, bump, bump, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, yes sweetie…chugga chugga, nearly there now…only 3 stops to go!  I’ve never seen so many bloomin’ stairs and escalators in my LIFE!!!  I determined that it was easier to “illegally” negotiate escalators with Little Miss IN the pushchair and heave her up ridiculously long flights of stairs IN the pushchair than to have her on my hip, hoiking the pushchair in my other hand.  I don’t know if that was the right decision or not…my right bicep is currently rather sore and I have a strange tingling in my right trapezius muscle which is giving me one hell of a headache and making me feel generally rather unwell.  You tell me??

The EA Games event happened to be in a building with no lifts and the event itself was IN THE BASEMENT!!!  Who knew there were basements in London??  Bump, bump, bump…sigh…wipe clammy brow!  But the event itself was brilliant and Little Miss was even photographed by the official photographer of the event…will she be famous??  That remains to be seen!  We had ice cream and smoothies and a lovely time and even got to meet Queen BMB, Susanna.  Please read her blog,  A Modern Mother.  She’s a riot…and American too!  Shhhh….don’t tell the rest of the British Mummy Bloggers!  I’ll post more about the EA Games event later.  You’ll just have to be patient.

We managed to Tube it back to Kings Cross (more stairs????) and finally install ourselves in two seats on the train back to Peterborough.  Sigh…I was well and truly KNACKERED.  Little Miss was happy and clueless that her Mummy had struggled and sweat and worried and sweat some more.  The 80 minute train ride home was uneventful and after enjoying the RAMP again at Peterborough Train Station, SLEEPING Little Miss- secure in her pushchair, and I trundled out of the train station to brave the bus back to our village.  As we were approaching the car park to negotiate the walkway, a man jogged past us and said “Excuse me Miss”…It was my husband!  He surprised us by meeting us at the train station!!!  He left work early to be there to collect us!  What a lovely surprise!  And so very welcome.  Sigh.  Another adventure to London under our belts.  Methinks we will try a back carrier next time.  This pushchair malarcky is a bit too difficult!  The London Underground was not built for Mummies!

How do you tackle London?  Where is the best place to go to entertain under threes??  Do share your tips.  After this last trip I think I’ll do it more often, believe it or not!  Wanna join us?