h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi there,
We should be in your neck of the woods this month. Planning to go to the Ashton Court festival on 16th & 17th July (hubbie's birthday weekend) Are you going? It would be lovely to meet you in person

Hi Meg


Oooh, not heard of this festie!
I think the Larmer Tree festival is on the same weekend - the Man and I are hoping to go for one day, but seeing as it's £40 a pop, we may not go, so this looks like a good idea!

Ashton court looks really cheep which is one of the reason's we're going. Went to Larmer tree years ago when it was cheap but the price has put us off in recent years. I'm trying to book tickets for Ashton court now.

A friend of mine is a stallholder at the Larmer Tree, and may be able to get us in for the day , but I like the sound of the Ashton Court festie too! I'm just greedy!

Nothing wrong with wanting lots of enjoyment!

Looks like we may be going to Ashton Court on Saturday

Bought our tickets today. Will be there Saturday and Sunday if the campervan gets that far (making a nasty hissing sound at present). If you look on the IMA website, my personal website is now up and running. Jot down my mobile number and give me a call when you're there. It would be lovely to meet in person

Lovely to meet you and your Hubby at Ashton Court. My hubbie told me off later for not being very talkative! All I can say is that I used to be painfully shy, now I'm just reserved. I think Charlie does enough talking for the both of us, especially after a few drinks. I'm much better at listening and in one to one situations.
Have you read the ukmidwifery list recently re someone planning a homebirth (in Stroud I think) The advice is if hospital say they've no midwives to send when you are in labour ask them to contact a local Independent midwife and the hospital foots the bill. I know it's not ideal, but it has been done. So it may be worth just making contact with an IM in your locality and having her details close to hand when in labour

Hi

It was great to meet you and your family on Saturday!
Painfully shy? I know how that one feels. People never believe me when I tell them I'm shy!

I haven't been keeping up with the midwifery list as much as I would like recently, but I did see a message from a woman trying to get a midwife or a doula in Radstock near Bath and just up the road from me as it goes. I think I read Mary Cronk's reply which was to the effect you mention - it's rather timely as it happens...
I saw my midwife yesterday and she was waffling on about the fact that our midwife unit has so many staff off on long term sick, and the ones that are left are mainly part time and on restricted duties, so the chances are that they'll be unable to cover my homebirth, but hey, I might be lucky and things will change by October....

I just smiled sweetly and told her that I didn't want to get aggressive about it, but that my feelings about having my baby at home were very strong and non-negotiable. She kind of smiled to herself and said that she'd contact the head of midwifery and inform her of my wishes. She also said (when I mentioned continuity of care) that what needs to happen is for women to not take no for an answer and demand their rights.
My plan now is to write the HOM a letter stating that as my birth is not until the beginning of October, they'll have plenty of time to arrange cover with either bank staff or an independent midwife.

It's a shame that you're not a bit nearer!

That's a good idea about contacting the IM's in my area 'just in case', thanks!

Good luck with the local services. Looks like they'd like to help which is a good sign If you're really stuck and I have no clients by October I'd love a trip to your place if the NHS are going to pay. I wouldn't be doing daily postnatal visits though, especially in my boneshaker campervan