Fabby free meet-up! Fantastic Foodival! Free trial classes: try something new! Your “What’s On” guide from NappyValleyNet

Dear NappyValleyNetter,

Welcome to your NappyValleyNet weekly “What’s On” guide!

So, the time has come. The lovely long summer is slipping away and school is ON!

There’s a touch of autumn in the air; leaves are beginning to fall, colours are changing, the first conkers are being collected and polished, homework is pilling up, a bit like the washing.  You get my drift.  The cycles keep on turning and with them comes a wonderful crop of all sort of classes, events, fairs and festivals.  Here’s this week’s round-up for you.  Please keep up all your lovely posting on our busy calendar to help those cogs keep on turning. (click here)

Try their hands at something new this term.  Here’s a taste of some of the regular offerings:

The first NappyValleyNet meet-up of the new school year! Come and celebrate the new school term (!) with NappyValleyNet and our great friends Gambado in Chelsea. The party is on the 24th of September from 10am to 12pm Complimentary tea, coffee, squash for the little ones plus yummy treats! Free play plus arts and crafts and a special Baby Ballet class! A special visit from Gambado himself! AND a goody bag! Places are strictly limited so please do register (it’s totally free!) and do let us know if your circumstances change as there is always a wait list!  When you’re registering please book one adult ticket and then we ask you for your children’s name(s) further down the form, you don’t need to reserve any tickets for your little ones. See you there!…click here for more details

How about some Funky Jazz and Tap as well as ballet for boys and girls on Saturdays? Sounds like fun!  VBDance Balham are just starting their new term and offering trial classes…click here for more details

Keep those little fish swimming well beyond the summer.  Swimway has a busy timetable at various pools this autumn, including classes at the Fitness First in Streatham Hill…click here for more details

Fruity Tunes are keeping things vibrant all over Battersea, Clapham and Southfields with their ‘live music for lively minds’.  You can pay for ten sessions and then just go along when you can.  Love that flexibility!…click here for more details 

Take your little ones along to the Teddy Bears’ Playgroup off East Hill on Tuesday mornings for a play, a sing-along and the chance to meet and chat with others just like you!…click here for more details

Club Pierrot has new classes getting underway and encourage you to ‘allez-y et amusez-vous’ with a free trial class to be held at Eddie Catz, Putney.  Both for parents and toddlers and after-school clubs for older children.  Formidable!…click here for more details

Let’s Act is holding a free open day this Saturday for children aged 4 to 13.  Go along and try your hand at musical theatre school as they work on Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.  Don’t be late, late for a very important date…!…click here for more details

Popkids are also opening their doors this Saturday morning for children in Year 1 to 3 to learn some funky dance moves and develop their vocal skills and rhythm.  Get ready for your little stars to tread the boards!…click here for more details

Little Kickers in Southfields, Wandsworth Town and Wimbledon Park are offering a free trial class over the next 3 weeks, with four age groups from 18 months to 7 years old.  Try it and see if they can bend it like Beckham…click here for more details

Parties, discos and festivals – it’s certainly never dull around here!

This very afternoon as part of the Battersea Literature Festival, author of ‘Stinkbomb’, John Dougherty, will be in Northcote Library for a session of silliness, songs, inspiration and badgers!…click here for more details

Sharky & George will be bringing their fun and mischief to The Jam Tree on Saturday 27th September.  Brilliant fun – grab your ticket while you can…click here for more details

Loving this party theme!  Fancy a rave with the children anyone?  Big Fish Little Fish will have DJ Food on the decks at The Bedford with Sunday with a bubble machine and glitter cannons. Fab!…click here for more details

It’s not all about the small people all the time.  There’s almost as much out there for you as there is for them!

Sing your way through those early baby days with Pram Chorus, about to start their new term at The Bedford.  No auditions (phew) and no expertise needed (phew again).  Like all the best things in life, each session is followed by coffee and cake. Tra laaa!…click here for more details

There’s more coffee and cake on offer – and Pregnancy Pilates – on Monday afternoon at It’s a Kids Thing.  Just £5 for a taster session. Find out if it’s for you and meet some other expectant mums too…click here for more details 

And there’s more!  Travel Designers in Balham are hosting a coffee morning on 26th September as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’.  Join in, donate £2 or more and you’ll be entered into a competition to win a spa day.  All good!…click here for more details

Go along to an NCT Hypnobirthing session.  You’ll hear from those who have used it, have the chance to ask questions and pick up some relaxation and massage tips.  I know many who swore by it.  Look into my eyes, look into my eyes (sorry – couldn’t resist!) …click here for more details

Spotted this and started humming ‘Absolute Beginners’ by David Bowie.  Not sure he was thinking of adult ballet in Balham though!  Inspire Ballet are offering a £2 trial class to anyone who’d like to give it a try.  No tutus required! …click here for more details

Love a nearly new sale and this Baby & Children’s Market is in the heart of Dulwich Village so you’ll have a great afternoon and bag a bargain or two in the process! …click here for more details

Any opera aficionados out there? The Normansfield Theatre in Teddington is running a ‘Taste of Opera’ 10-week course this autumn, taking a light-hearted guided tour through opera that will be music to your ears.  Sounds like a wonderful break from the every day…click here for more details

Is it Chris Evan’s Breakfast Show who says ‘Don’t forget your don’t forgets…’?  It’s a good line, Chris – don’t mind if I do…

It’s the Bellevue Village Summer Fair this Saturday from 10am.  Lovely things to peruse, buy, eat, watch and enjoy, including a fire engine and a dog show. Oh, and a lovely community vibe!…click here for more detail

And it’s the Tooting Foodival this weekend!  Mr NVN will be in residence with the judges to find the best cook (other than his wife, ha ha!) in the area.  And there’s a free family show – The Apple Cart – on Sunday, when Meryl, Beryl & Cheryl take a cartload of magic apples to the Queen.  Sounds like a hoot!…click here for more detail

Now collapse quietly with a Gin Fizz (mothers’ ruin) in hand and click onto our property section.  We’re working with PrimeLocation to bring you homes in the area to buy or to rent, all linked up to local school catchments.  Inspired (if we say so ourselves)!…click here for more details

Take a look at these great properties from our Preferred Property Partners:

From Hamptons International a lovely 3-bedroom conversion available to rent Between the Commons, split over two floors and in wonderful condition…click here for more details

With Marsh & Parsons, a 5-bedroom semi-detached home to rent with off street parking in the popular ‘Toast Rack’ area, moments from Wandsworth Common and the station…click here for more details

Close to Battersea Park and available to rent with Douglas & Gordon is a stunning family home, refurbished throughout and on a quiet, tree-lined street…click here for  more details

And from Savills, an outstanding detached, double-fronted family house for sale near Wandsworth Common with a mature garden, indoor swimming pool, garage and off-street parking…click here for more details

That’s it for this week.  Whatever you decide to do – keep on having fun!

Love,

Annabel & the NappyValleyNet team

x