Making friends

I know a number of people have been curious about how I would make friends out here. So I thought I'd explain how you go about it.

- Newcomers Clubs - local organisations that are set up for new people moving to an area. I have joined our local one and been added to a weekly playgroup of Mums all with children a similar age to Ethan.

- Expat group - there is a local expat group which we have also joined. They organise monthly coffee mornings and ladies nights out and I have also arranged a play date with another Mum through there.

- The YMCA - we are now doing three classes there and tomorrow I have a play date with a lady I met while we watched our children swim;

- Family contacts - on Tuesday I went to Manhattan to meet Mum's friend's daughter in law for coffee. We had a lovely morning and hopefully her and her husband will be joining is for lunch in the New Year. On Sunday we have some old friends of Ann and Phil's (inlaws) coming to lunch. They are also currently in New York on a secondment.

- meetup.com - put in your area and tells you all the local groups. I joined a couple of parenting/mum type ones and have just put in a request to join a new playgroup when the 'term' starts in January.

- Putting yourself out there - ok so it's a LONG time since I was in the dating game but it feels a little like that. You meet someone you click with. You ask for their number. You arrange a play date!