Author: shona

NHM Readers recommend: Fitness Classes with Childcare

Posted by shona on in Children, Exercise, Health, Mums, Things to Do 0 Comment

I recently asked the Friends of  my “Louise nhm Smith” profile on Facebook if anyone could help this NHM reader with their question: “I am struggling to find any fitness classes that are in the weekday mornings with creche facilities for babies and toddlers. Any chance you can do a post and see if there are some?”

These were the responses I received. They are in no particular order

NHM Readers recommend: fitness classes with childcare

Mary said: The aquadrome has a creche but I am not sure of the details.

Rebecca said: Fonseca Fitness is brilliant for this 🙂

Jason said: Beechdown

Vicky said: MummaBFit

Kelly said: Marie FitMama Behenna ☺

Helen said: I have had similar issues, and I work part time, so I turned to signing up to Les Mills exercise classes online (body balance/ body combat/body pump as famously known in gyms). It’s a relatively small monthly fee and you can do the classes whenever you want & download to whatever device TV/iPad etc.

I know this doesn’t directly answer the question, but for a Mum like me whose partner works away I can’t get out to the things I used to love doing so have effectively bought the gym into my living room. Hope this helps

Pat said: People take their babies and kids to Fitness Flex. The classes are 45 minutes and is brilliant

Sarah said: Studio 41 Marie FitMama Behenna. You can take your little ones to the class. X

Peta said: I second this – Marie FitMama Behenna gives a great workout and with children of her own, she gets the work/family juggle. She also offers PT sessions if you would find that easier 🙂

Aimee said: Studio 41 in the Basepoint centre in Chineham. You can take your babies to all of the daytime classes (they can sit in their pushchairs or car seats in the studio)….it is run by Marie FitMama Behenna who knows all there is to know about pre and postnatal exercise and nutrition so she will ensure you get back to fitness safely. Hope that helps x

Louise Nhm Smith responded: I spoke to the lady about this and she is really looking for classes that have creche facilities as she has an 8 month old and 2 year old who won’t sit still whilst she’s working out!

Peta said: I sometimes take all three children with me to see Marie FitMama Behenna – aged 1, 4, 5. I take food, water, entertainment (colouring in, etc). hope this helps.

Claire said: Tadley Boot Camp x

Amelia said: Beechdown

Wendy said: Beechdown, Hampshire Court, the Aquadrome have creches. I haven’t used these but I have used others in the past where you take baby in and understand you need a creche for children between 18 months – 3 1/2.

Mandy said: Beechdown Health Club https://www.facebook.com/BeechdownHealthClub/ xx

Victoria said: Beechdown is fabulous! Have so many facilities, Creche for under 3 and Beehive for over 3’s. Xx

Helen said: Hampshire court hotel has classes in the morning and crèche facilities and a pool plus kids pool 🙂

Rachel said: Beechdown; although I pay for gym and crèche and still don’t go! Oops!! X

Don’t miss out on future posts like this – you can receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address to the box on the top right of this page and hitting subscribe. 

NHM readers recommend places for a Sunday Roasts

Posted by shona on in Basingstoke, Family, Food, Hampshire, NHM Readers, North Hampshire, Restaurants, Things to Do 0 Comment

I recently asked the Friends of  my “Louise nhm Smith” profile on Facebook where they like to go for Sunday Roasts within a 30 minute drive of Basingstoke. (Thank you very much to everyone who responded and thank you to Shona for putting this post together!!)

These were the responses I received.

NHM Readers Recommend Places for Sunday Roasts.

Natalie said: I enjoy the food at Longbridge Mill just after Sherfield Park

Wendy said: I like Lord Derby by junction 5. My friend’s favourite is the White Hart in Sherfield

Sarah said: The Hatch does an amazing roast. Service is always dreadful though

Holly said: The Clock and Thyme in Overton, Kids eat free!

Tracy said: Leather Bottle is great and they are also Coeliac UK accredited. 

Victoria said: Aingels Bistro in Winklebury! Amazing home cooked food and great menu that caters for vegan/gluten/dairy free

Stephany said: The Cavella Arms in Silchester

Jessica said: The Hogget is by far the best roast in my eyes

Lucy said: My meat eating hubster likes The Phoenix

Hayley said: Had a lovely roast at the Queens College Arms today

Ruth said: Just had xmas meal yesterday at The Elm Tree in Beech Hill – lovely food, owner’s and service. I suspect Sunday roast will be to similar standards

Helena said: The Rowbarge at Woolhampton. Second to none. Also good for a walk along the canal pre or post lunch

Hayley said: The Fox Inn in Newfound is lovely

Ruza said: Like the food over at The Fur and Feathers, also the Crown at Old Basing

Siobhan said: The Hoddington Arms. Dog and child friendly!

Colleen said: The Royal Oak. This place is amazing, and around the corner from Alice Holt so can be combined with an amble in the woods.

Rachel said: The Harvester in Reading is one of our favourite places to go (Mansion House).

Lindsay said: The Queen Inn at Dummer is fabulous for roasts and food in general really

Don’t miss out on future posts like this – you can receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address to the box on the top right of this page and hitting subscribe. 

NHM Readers Recommend: What do do when your child doesn’t get the school of your choice

Posted by shona on in Children, Hampshire, NHM Readers, School, Wellbeing 0 Comment

Last year I asked the Friends of  my “Louise nhm Smith” profile on Facebook for their positive comments about what they have learned and how to tackle the process when your child doesn’t get the school place that you wanted. (Thank you very much to everyone who responded!)

These were the responses I received. Very apt, considering today is the day when the results come out for children starting this year in September…

NHM Readers Comments About Not Getting School Place

Tracey said:

So last year I didn’t get any of my 3 choices and stressed A LOT. But it did all work out and by end of May we had a place at our 2nd preference (which would now be our 1st preference). There will be a lot of movement between now and September and spaces do become available. Top tips are accept the place you’ve been given and speak to the schools you wanted directly to make sure you are put on their waiting list. You can also put in a late application for other schools.

Lorna said:

I haven’t been in this situation…yet! However through work I know it’s vital to get any appeals in as soon as possible with valid reasons for it. All are heard and the panel are generally very open to listening to reasons etc. Stay positive – there’s every chance it can be resolved.

Sue said:

We didn’t get our first choice school but in hindsight it has been the best thing. Our son has done amazingly well and has so much support.

Hayley said:

3 years ago we didn’t get our first choice and I was hugely disappointed. My little girl really needed stability as she was very anxious so I decided to go ahead and not fight the decision so we could start getting prepared and excited about her new school from the offset. Turns out that I was wrong in my original choices and we absolutely LOVE her school, couldn’t have been more perfect for her (apart from having to drive). Good luck to those who didn’t get 1st choices, whatever happens it will all work out in the end.

Rachel said:

When my son started school two years ago we didn’t get any of our choices, not one. Instead we were given a school that we hadn’t even heard of, was a drive away, that we hadn’t been to see or even looked at its website and we didn’t even know where it was at first! We went to see the school and met the headteacher and accepted that it was likely our son would go to that school (and a very nice school it was too). We also went on the waiting list for our school choices AND we made a late application to another school that we had liked but didn’t make our top three. 2 weeks before school started we were told that we had a place at the school we made a late application to and we took it! So it does show you that things can work out, even at the last minute.

Danielle said:

Two years ago, our daughter didn’t get any of our 3 choices. Offered another school. Applied for three others; late application. Got offered two of these at very good schools. Accepted one, visited it with her and then got a place at our original first choice (and only catchment) school at the end of May. I found the whole process stressful, but luckily for us it worked out.

Gina said:

My son 2 years ago didn’t get our first choice, I was disappointed. Now he’s in year 1 and doing so well. The school he did get are fab and he’s coming along great.

Don’t miss out on future posts like this – you can receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address to the box on the top right of this page and hitting subscribe.