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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
London ladies - Sydenham?
Does anyone know much about the Sydenham/Lower Sydenham area? A friend of ours is moving and renting their place out. It's really nice and would save us about 25% in rent, which is great ahead of baby. Based on the quality of the house alone, we'd be 100% happy there, however, I'm pretty attached to SW London where I've lived for three years and have made good friends in the neighborhood (some of who will be on maternity leave at the same time as me).
It is only a 15 min train ride from where I am now, and a 10-15 min bus ride to Dulwich, which is super nice. Sydenham, though, does not seem super nice.
Anyone know much about the area? What do you think?
Re: London ladies - Sydenham?
I don't know the area all that well.
I also do not have kids, but I will put my 2 cents in anyway. I think I would stronly consider staying where you are since you have freinds esp freinds who will be on mat leave at the same time.
My parents were just here and my mom was saying how lonely she was when she had me b/c she didn't know the neighbors. She wished she could have popped into someone's house and had a cup of tea while said person held me.
Matt and I are planning on moving closer to someone before we have kids. We are staying here for now b/c it's cheap and we're saving some cash. Then we'll leave.
In other news I think I will be working part time starting in Jan so I will come and visit!
Bio
I would strongly echo what NCV2 said about the value of having people close by especially in the first few months. I had a close friend on maternity leave at the same time but a 20 min tube ride + 15 min walk away and I barely saw her. However I saw my NCT group (all in my neighborhood) at least once a week. A 15 min train ride isn't far, but be sure you think of the total door to door time. Could you sign up for an NCT class in your new area? That would ensure you had a group of local mums (that's what I did when I moved neigborhoods).
I would also take into consideration distance to shops and parks as you'll be spending a lot of time pushing your buggy around! I spent 90% of my maternity leave within a 20 min radius of my house, that is what makes Wandsworth good as it really is 'nappy valley' - plenty of options for play groups, baby classes, etc.
Also if you are going to take the train a lot I would try to get a buggy in which the baby is strapped in from birth. I had a bugaboo cameleon and when DS was in the carrycot (0-6months) he was just 'free floating' in there, which would freak me out a bit getting on and off the tube (never mind the massive gap on the trains around here!); whereas the bugaboo bee for example the babies are strapped in.
Thanks for the tip. I woluld ahve never thought of this!
I third the whole having friends close by. I was part of the NCT and loved it and saw my NCT friends at least once a week. I still keep in touch with all of them and it has been almost 4 years and lots of us have moved. I would have gone crazy at first if I didn't have them.
We have the bugaboo cameleon as well and it never worried me about having him in the bassinet part on a bus or train, but maybe it should have
Also, as an aside, if you are looking for something fun to do after the baby is born I highly, highly recommend this: http://www.latinobambino.co.uk/
I did it with ds and it was awesome. They have classes at the Vitality Centre in Wandsworth and I loved it. I took other classes there with him too.
That looks hilarious! I love salsa dancing so I'm sure I'd enjoy this.
It is SO much fun! You wear them on you and dance away, and while it isn't the best workout in the world it is actually a pretty good one, since you are working out with an extra 10+ lbs strapped on you. DS used to fall asleep every single time!
Come to Kingston!!! We'd love to have you!
I don't know the area, so I can't comment. I understand the benefit of having friends nearby and would look at the NCT classes in any new area as well as mom groups. However, that being said, the financial aspect is a reason to review your options (although I LOVE your flat) because you don't need to be maxed out financially whilst adjusting to a new baby, etc.
I will admit that one reason we moved out here is the lower rent. I know that where we live now we can comfortably live on one salary or two including day care depending on what we do.
One thing I might try is talking to your landlord. If you have been excellent tenants (which I am sure you would have), I would try to negotiate your rent again. Explain that you are pregnant, your work situation has changed as well as your DH's and that you would love to stay and be long-term tenants, but would need a rent of X as opposed to Y.
We have two properties and we did work with one tenant to keep the level. Having a person that we know is taking care of the place, paying rent on time, and they stayed for three years (military transferred them) was worth it. Having to find a new tentant is expensive.
Might be worth a try.
completely agree! your landlord would probably rather keep a good tenant at a lower rent than risk a new one.
I didn't live IN Sydenham but I lived nearby in Beckenham. I had a very good friend in Penge and we were between Penge/Beckenham and Bromley all the time. I think the family center we used to walk to was technically in Sydenham as well but I'm not positive. There were a lot of resources out that way for families and mums/babies. I do know that Sydenham does have its dodgy areas but it always seemed to me that every area does in/around London. Dulwich is super nice, you are right, and I think if you joined an NCT group there you'd find the support you need. I moved to Beckenham with absolutely NO friends save my BF from HS who lived in central London and was totally unattached, kids are still far off for her. I did an NCT course, met up with a few of the mums afterwards and made some of my best friends that way.
For me the money would be a big factor. One thing to consider is that you might want a car there so that could negate some of your savings on rent. Pretty much everyone I knew who was out that way had one and it made life a lot easier. Commute was great, though, for DH - he had a 14 minute train into Victoria. Mine was longer because I had to switch trains (I think in Sydenham actually) to get to Blackfriars but still pretty easy. But we drove a lot (at least Bruce and I did during the week).
I lived in Dulwich for 2.5 years and used to go to the gym in Beckenham every day so would drive through Sydenham . As far as I know its a lovely area and like you say you are just a small train ride away from Duwich and other great places.
Personally i would do it - if financially you will be better off and that helps with the baby -that would be my first priority.
I understand being surrounded by friends but im presuming you didnt have any when you first got to London and made some , so i would just look at it as an opportunity to make more friends and be financially better off.
As soon as you start going to play groups in the area you'll make new local friends and you will always have you old friends 10 mins away.
I see it as a win win!! Good luck making that decision!