We're taking the train...some now boarding, some delays, some still standing on the platform! TTC 'Waiters' IIT!

Squirrel - that's so lovely that your friend was so positive & supportive :)

DHs heart wasn't completely in it when I stopped my meds. Was more of a case of I told him that it was what I was doing because it was what we had agreed when I started! (He'd changed his mind by the time it was planned that I would stop, but I pointed out that he wasn't the one who had to stick a needle into his leg muscle every week!) He isn't sure about having number 2 for a whole host of reasons & said he didn't know when he might feel differently but I can't keep waiting forever! Was hoping that stopping my meds would force his hand a bit IYSWIM? For me it makes the most sense, both financially (long term) and health wise to have another DC NOW! It's really difficult because I can see his points as well, but I am trying to think of the bigger picture & what makes most sense for us as a family. He is thinking more short term & is (IMO) being a bit blinkered about the future & what it potentially holds for us! :(

Morning all! I may have let slip to my friend last night that babies could be on the cards, and instead of shock and disbelief, her reaction was a very calm 'makes perfect sense, in many ways it's ideal timing'.

So now I have my first imaginary pg symptom! Have I really gone up a cup size in the last week? Or, more likely, have I only just noticed that I have gone up due to putting on a bit of weight over the last year? Either way, I realised this morning that none of my bras fit

I second the wire, DH and I watched the whole thing, last year I think! We have just finished the Glee boxset - think we are slightly addicted to boxsets!! Much easier to watch a boxset than a series when it's on TV.

I had the swine flu jab earlier in the year and it made me feel bad for a few days. Real flu must be so much worse.

jbells where can I put in an order for a Christmas hamper?

bebe sounds like you need to catch your DH and talk properly. He knows that you've stopped your meds so if he is having a change of heart then you really need to know.

I've tried that approach, but he just says, 'yeah we will, but not now' or 'I've got a lot going on at the moment I can't really think about it' or 'we'll see'! He is quite perseptive about the hints, I know that he gets what I'm going on about, but he ignores it because he doesn't want to talk about it! I think he thinks that if he ignores it it will just go away. I don't want to push it too much because I know how stressed out he is! But it is driving me insane!!!

bebe, I'm a bit dense in the mornings and forgetful at times. Have you sat down with him and said we need to discuss this. I approached my OH with a 'can we talk about this at some point' to which we talked about it there and then. Maybe you need to say to him 'I need to talk about something, when is OK?' Then you can go in with your reasoning re worried it'll take a while, knowing you are not on meds etc etc. As opposed to just dropping hints re what meds doc said you could take etc, in my experience blokies don't often pick up on hints. It's only a suggestion, and you may have been through it already and if so I'm sorry my head is a mess first thing in the morning.

JBells - As long as you sterilise the jars properly it should keep for a good few months! I have chutneys/jams that I made back in June for xmas! MIL has just used a jar of mincemeat that I made last October & it was fine!

My DH is a dvd addict too, at last count we had over 350 (including many, many box sets! Just counted over 50! ) Dread to think the total if we include videos as well (which we need to get rid of as we don't actually have a video player!) We really need to get out more!

Nannyl - I hate that 'bruised' feeling you get after jabs. Last year the actual flu one didn't hurt but the swine flu one was painful afterwards for a week! Think swine flue is in this years normal flu jab Ouch!

Mentioned to DH last night, whilst taking my vitamins, about asking the doctor what I could take when pregnant. He just sort of grunted at me & changed the subject I know he is mega stressed about work & money but he won't even listen to me let alone talk to me about TTC! :( Really hoping I can convince him that we need to give it a go from January. Especially with the trouble my friend is having. Just have this gut feeling that it won't be straightforward, coz this time I really need it to happen quickly! Last time we wanted it to take a while & it happened straight away! It'd just be sod's law!!

Nanny, glad you got the flu jab now :) Sorry to hear about your friend :(

jbells, I might look into them, to be honest we don't actually watch a lot of telly and last night I only watched about 1hr 30 the whole night.

I've now started to think I will give AF till sunday before I POAS, having not even thought of POAS this month I'm now quietly wondering WTF is happening!!! LOL I very nearly caved in and did one this morning, but I stopped myself.

Lots and lots to do today, hope you all have a good day.

JS- i also record loads of trashy series tyo watch while im alone, especially cos my dp wont watch them with me anyway

quod- also u shud try shield if u liked wire

squirral- i really like your idea of chocolate truffles and the nuts :) not sure on the alcohol tho none of my family really ever drink my friends on the other hand wud like it tho hehe

so my jeans even my ones that r lose r feeling very tight :( im at the stage of just looking like im getting fat rather than pregnant tho, im growing so much quicker than last time round really praying its not twins

morning all,

thankyou so much for recipes and suggestions, can u make chutneys now and they will last till xmas? sorry very limited cooking knowledge

BEBE- i think i will have a go at making that very simple fudge today dont think even i cud make that wrong, ill try to do a trial run today and if all goes well then make a batch closer to the time to put in hampers, wud also like to make sum treacle toffee will have to find a recipe online

nanyl- hope u have a lovely wkend with your friend and her family, and so sorry to hear about your friends loss, especially on her birthday :(

100years- if u like the wire have u tried the shield there is 7 seasons and they ae brilliant, also if anyone has virgin there is fab seasons called fringe on the on demand at the mo, well worth a watch my DP is a dvd buying addict so we have a collection of prob more than 500 dvds

morning all

pleased your Drs appt was "ok" bebe.

JS I will be SWI on the weekend before Xmas, with the aim of having a baby due date 12 / 13th September (my birthday!) so you could start trying even earlier for one of the oldest!
When we very 1st even mentioned TTC and me wanting an Autumn baby it was January this year, so in effect i have waited a year, (although back then we were undecided weather or not to try jan 2011 or jan 2012!)

wow all those recipies look yummy! i LOVE making chutneys jams etc. Am VERY lucky and IL's have the most amazing house which rediculously huge garden and they grow EVERYTHING growable in england so we have been jam / chutney making on their AGA all summer

its so satisfying to see the shelves full of home made preserves in the pantry.

I called the Drs yesturday and got a flu jab for yesterday afternoon. Tha jab itself was painfree but My arm hurts so much now(it woke me at 4am) but other wise i feel fine, and it should be 7 weeks before i start TTC so fingers crossed that should be ok, and not effect baby.
Nurse was very surprised i was having it before TTC but i said 1) it was due to asthma so i was eligable, and 2) i wouldnt risk having it while pregnant

Got very sad news this morning... one of best friends Dad died.... on her birthday yesturday. (Ok he has been very sick for along time and was given just weeks to live in July 2009 and has made it 15 months, but even so it really upset me )

On a brighter note one of my best school friends, her DH, their 7 year old and dog are on there way to stay with me now cant wait to see them.

If i dont make it on here much hope everyone has a good weekend

Sorry, no I hadn't watched 'the wire' OH really enjoyed it and I hadn't really heard of it till I met him! With shift work I didn't really get chance to watch the programmes normal people do with either working a night or having to go to bed early ready for an early start

Ooops I cocked up my don't there, but you get the idea!

Yeah, but you could get it all out of the way in one month

I kind of wanted it to be an after September baby originally as I wanted a baby at the beginning of the school year not the end, now I really don't give a fuck I just want one-- am not bothered about when it happens!

I'm getting more and more counting the days, it's been ahem 8 days since we ditched the condoms, another few days and I'll be wondering if we ditched them at the 'right/wrong' time LOL Still no sign of things, still symptoms of all kinds, probably pre period symptoms I'm just wishing were early pg symptoms

Right that's my domestic knowledge passed on for now! :o

I must spend alot of time in the kitchen as DD has taken to saying 'No mummy, go away....back in the kitchen!!'

100 - It's not the present issue that puts me off December but it's a busy month! Our wedding anniversary is the 1st, I have a really close friends Birthday on the 8th, DHs best friends birthday on the 13th, then Christmas, then SILs birthday on the 30th & then New Years! It's a pretty packed/expensive month already! January isn't much better!

JS - really hope you don't have to wait til 2012!!

Recipe Number 1

Absurdly Easy Chocolate Fudge.

450g chocolate
57g Butter
396g (1 can) Condensed milk.
...
Melt the chocolate and butter together before adding the condensed milk. Stir throughly.
Pour into tin/mould then place in fridge to set. Leave at least overnight. I find it tastes better/firmer when its been in the fridge a few days. After a few hours mark into squares.
Keep in the fridge

Recipe Number 2

In a medium, heavy based saucepan put 225g granulated sugar, 50g unsalted butter, a 397g tin of condensed milk, 1 tbsp clear honey and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves - keep stirring all the time.

Bring to the boil, and boil for 6 - 8 minutes - keep stirring all the time!

Remove pan from heat and beat in 100g grated dark chocolate until smooth and glossy.

Pour mixture into square cake tin (lined with baking parchment) and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Chop into squares. Store in an airtight container

The 1st one is really yummy, make with half milk half plain choc.

The 2nd one is 'fudgier' and doesn't necessarily need refridgerating!

There is a good white choc & cranberry fudge recipe on MN recipe pages. Will go find my choc fudge one now, but is another one that needs to be made relatively close to consumption!

jbells we made chutney with our leftover green tomatoes the other day, sooo easy...I just googled recipes. Pretty sure you can do a normal tomato chutney too.

AC I hadn't thought that far ahead! Don't think I'd bother with avoiding an xmas baby though. We're going to Australia for the whole of December which will be a) a chance to finally satisfy the wish for a proper long holiday together and b) a chance to talk about when in the NY we might TTC. To be honest I think it's as likely to be me who puts the brakes on as him. At one point I was thinking maybe we could stop the contraception whilst we're away but I think it might just bugger up our holiday!

Worked out the other day that because my sister's birthday is right at beginning of Oct, my mum couldn't have had her any nearer the start of the academic year without risking her being an August baby if she's tried the previous cycle. My parents are both teachers and I know they conceived my sis first time trying, so I wonder if they actually planned it.

100 have you watched The Wire? Now that is a box set that will keep you busy of an evening for, oh, the whole of winter. I was so sad when we finished it!

Tomato Chutney Recipe
1kg ripe tomatoes peeled & chopped (To peel, score a cross in the bottom then submerge in boiling water for 30seconds or so, then peel/rub skin off)
750g cooking apples, peeled, cored & chopped small
375g light muscovado sugar
250g chopped onions (I use red ones)
250g raisins
1 green pepper, deseeded & chopped
2 tsp salt
1/2tsp ground ginger
350ml cider vinegar

Put all ingredients into a large pan & bring to boil on a medium heat
Stir occasionaly until the sugar has dissolved
Boil, uncovered for 45-50mins until fruit is tender & it has thickened. Cool & pour into sterilised jars.

(To sterilise jars, wash in warm soapy water the put upside down on a tray in an oven at 140c for 15mins, boil metal jar lids in a pan of water for 5mins)

This is really yummy with cheese!

Hi all :) I have managed to get through all the annual review/planning stuff at work today... although now I feel a bit bad for coming up with a long-term plan that I am hoping not to see through! DH is away so I've caught up on last week's Mad Men, and now am just wasting time before meeting a friend for a drink later.

bebe glad that your leg isn't down to the MS, hope the rest of your symptoms disappear too.

jbells how about chocolate truffles? They are lovely, but normally made with cream so they have to be refrigerated and eaten within a few days so maybe not suitable. Other things you could try are fruity alcohol and jars of mixed nuts in honey.

100years my sis has her bday in Nov, and I often get her joint presents! Its too much thinking of all the presents I need to get

Nope, we have no recordable TV options! In fact we have only recently started receiving some freeview channels. But that's OK, we don't usually watch stuff anyway. Might iPlayer something in a while.

I'll get the flapjack and shortbread recipes for you tomorrow

Oh 100. It sucks when you're home alone doesn't it?

Have you got sky+ or the virgin equivalent? I always store up crap tv for when DH is away or home late!!!

hey all thanks for all suggestions

bebe- i wud really like your fudge recipe

anyone with a good chutney recipe i wud really appreciate it to

in fact anything u all want to send me please do so :)

sorry just a quick one as about to finally eat dinner, will catch up properlyu in the morning

oh AC did u ever see that tv show where the people pretended dolls were babies thats wot your comment made me think of lol

and JS pmsl at your "not likely sunshine" remark made me giggle

have a gud nite all :o

I'm a december baby, I have not - unless I requested something mega expensive - ever got joint christmas and birthday presents, if that's what's stopping you.

Oh no JS, let's hope he changes his mind come January and doesn't want to try and make you wait another year.

Im so bored tonight. OH is away for the night, I'm all undecided about what to do/watch/read/post/anything. Gah

Also a big chutney fan. I'll be making a batch of my grannies rhubarb chutney this year, it's amazing !!!

AC have a feeling I'll be here with you!! We can keep eachother company in the bar car nekking martinis and feasting on a cheese and meat antipasti board whilst everyone else is on the virgin mojitos!!!

DH read an article the other day though which said that September and October babies are more successful academically. He seems to think an autumn baby would be perfect............ And then I pointed out that to get a September baby we'd have to change our timings and start trying in January. He then said "or wait until January 2012" with a hopeful face..... Not likely sunshine!!!!

AC - lol at you wandering around with an inanimate object!
If we 'get going' I've always said I'd stop to avoisd a December baby, but think once we start that'll be easier said than done!

JBells - Fudge is really easy, but you'll need to make it quite close to xmas. Have a recipe downstairs if you'd like it? Also 2nd AC on chutney, is SO easy (likewise jam) you will need a very big pot as you have to make quite alot! Christmassy shaped gingerbread could be quite good & your DD could help 'decorate' them. I have a cupboard full of jams etc that I've been making for xmas pressies. Last year I got a cheapy wicker basket & put in a couple of homemade chutneys, a cheese knife & small wooden board & some nice crackers. Went down really well!

JS - I really need that 'man control' recipe over here too!

Have been sowing the seeds of doubt with DH over how long conceiving #2 could take! He keeps saying it's not the right time. I keep pointing out that there will never be a 'right' time, but that there won't be a worse time. If things are only going to get better then surely there is no point to delay. My health won't let me wait forever!