We went to London today to apply in person for Imogen’s passport – which was OK but I am shattered from the whole experience! I have learnt that preparation is the key and last night spent most of the evening ensuring we had enough nappies, change of clothes, bottles and all the rest of the paraphernalia that you need and also that you only need when you don’t have it!

We went by train, but it was exhausting just worrying and thinking about all the aspects that normally when I went to London weekly for work just weren’t an issue! The main dilemma was parking and getting from one side of the station to the other, as at our station there is no lift and pedestrian access between platforms involves very long distances if you can’t manage the stairs. In the end, I parked the side we needed to leave from and carried a very heavy pushchair and baby up the other side when I got back – and still have the scars on my fingers to prove it as unfortunately there were no friendly strangers to help me!

Overall, it was all fine and I can now proudly say that we have travelled on trains, busses and black cabs, all of which catered for disabled passengers fairly well so it was OK. I was feeling very proud of myself and positive as we conquered the transport, passport office and even made lunch with Leigh and a show round of Imogen to his office.

I treated myself to a new book, chocolate bar & huge cup of tea at Waterloo for the train as Imogen was sleeping for pretty much the first time since we left home, due to the excitement of her trip. However, it started to go a little pear-shaped just outside of Waterloo when she woke with a very dirty and leaky nappy that needed urgent attention! The nappy changing unit is a tray that pulls down over the loo with no straps and the floor was very wet with dubious content, so we had a challenging time changing her and all clothes whilst keeping the change bag dry, surfing a moving train and trying to be hygienic – they should try that one on the Crystal Maze! I can’t imagine now that anything can top that for changing challenges for me (& hope not!), but would love to hear others stories!

I never realised before, how the good baby changing rooms have toilets for mums in them as well – a must! Otherwise it’s the disabled toilet, which is also fine as you can fit the buggy in. I was in a town today though where you have to have a special radar key, only issued to disabled people, to access these toilets to avoid vandalism. A great idea, but precludes people with buggies from using them and I haven’t yet figured out how you would use a normal public cubicle as it is often a tight squeeze for a normal adult, let alone including a buggy into the equation! I wouldn’t feel happy either leaving her outside.

I’ve discovered online grocery shopping – a mum’s saviour! I started to use it when I was on maternity leave – in theory just to make sure I was set up for the early weeks of having Imogen, but also because it was getting to be hard work taking myself round a supermarket, let alone actually putting things in and out of the trolley and car boot.

I have tried food shopping with Imogen, putting her in the trolley seats, but they keep her awake so I find myself nervously dashing around before boredom sets in and she starts playing up, to avoid using the dummy in public which inevitably draws tuts and looks of disgust from people who don’t have children (I probably used to be one, to be fair!) or are too old to remember how much they used one! (See earlier post!)Also, I used to leave my trolley at the end of aisles and nip up and down to grab groceries, as I was driven mad by the people aimlessly wandering the store with trolleys in tow, taking up the whole width of the aisles with no awareness of people trying to get by them. Now I can’t do that, so am just driven mad!

So it’s online shopping for me – although the mum brain means I always leave it too late so end up visiting for top up shops most days too! By the way, soft bags instead of baskets would be good for those trips so I can take Imogen in on her car seat on wheels. I try to balance the metal ones so I can steer with both hands, but the view for her is not that exciting!

I have always prided myself on being an experienced shopper – but I have such a different perspective now I have Imogen and, more importantly, the baggage that comes along with her!

I visit totally different shops now, driven by the ease of access and quality of the changing facilities and / or coffee shop so I can easily fit in a latte as I give her a feed!

I never knew where the lifts were in shops and centres before, but now I am becoming an expert! It’s amazing how many are tucked away in corners and so slow! It always annoys me when young, fit looking people take up the spaces in the lifts and you have to queue. Also how many filthy looks you get for the space you take up! On a good day though Imogen gives a smile to the occupants who are interested and it makes it worth it!