Ok, This is going to be a long one so buckle in! 

Hi everyone, my name is Kerry - a fellow local mum with a delightful 18 month old boy.

For the past two decades, I have dedicated my career to Early Years education. However, like many of you, my life took a dramatic turn after becoming a mama. During maternity leave, I often found the experience of new motherhood to be quite overwhelming and challenging at times. Thankfully spending time in lovely play cafes with my new mum friends became a lifeline.

Before I knew it, my maternity leave had ended, and I was thrust back into busy teacher life. While there were definitely enjoyable aspects to my job, balancing it with the needs of my then one year old proved to be quite the challenge! All I craved was the joyful experience of visiting lovely play cafes with my little one. I decided to submit my notice and see if I could make it work somehow...

Less than two weeks later, I came across an Instagram story on @theciderhouse_e7. They were seeking someone to collaborate with for creative use of their space during the week to support the community. It felt as if the universe was giving me a gentle nudge, so I took a deep breath and reached out.

One week later, I was sat in the sunshine outside @theciderhouse_e7 with Dan discussing my ideas for a Play Cafe!