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Original poster

The Lucas North Portakabin at the University of Milton-Northern.

999 replies

SupermassiveLBD · 09/09/2011 22:28

WARNING

Don't forget your hard hat, hi-viz gear and parachute. We lost a careless vice-principal this way only last year.

OP posts:
TransylvanianVampiress · 19/11/2011 02:36

I love the fact Maud said she was off to bed at midnight and only just went or are you still around philosophising with MrT?Grin

TransylvanianVampiress · 19/11/2011 02:37

Might go sleeping again now I've had my fix! Grin. And doesn't MN go down for nightly backup soon too many sleepless nights to know that!!Grin

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 08:20

RA channeling HJ in black leather?

could someone help me to the chaise longoo, I feel a little faint.

PassTheTwiglets · 19/11/2011 08:25

DAMMMIT, MissTwigs just guessed what we've got her for Christmas!!! I instantly dismissed it, of course, but it was my own stupid fault that she guessed and now the surprise won't be as good :(

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 08:45

You need to put her off the scent - can you get a empty box for something else (maybe of one of her friends has a birthday in the next week or two) and hide it very badly so she sees it and thinks she's getting that instead?

What have you got her btw (nosey moo emoticon!)? Miss Spiro has just got bits and bobs this year really.

PassTheTwiglets · 19/11/2011 08:57

We've got her a Wii. She is obsessed with her grandparents' one but they are so expensive so we've always said she's not getting her own one . But somebody was selling a 2nd-hand one really cheaply where DrT works so we've got her that. I'm so cross with myself though, as she would never, EVER think that she'd get one had I not said what I did. She and I were talking about what we were going to buy TwigBoy and she said she hoped was getting something-or-other (which she isn't). So as not to disappoint her I said "no I'm afraid you're not getting that but I promise you will like what we are getting you, as it's really exciting!" She then instantly gasped and said "Is it a Wii?!" I laughed and said "you must be joking, you know how expensive they are!!" and she said "or are you just saying that so you don't spoil the surprise?" Why did I have to open my big mouth? :(

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 09:00

helloooo?

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 09:06

She will still be mega excited Twigs, whether she guessed or not she won't know for sure until Xmas.

The Smallboys have written to Santa this morning with a list comprising three quarters of the Argos catalogue.

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 09:07

Hi Small

Twigs - you need to leave some clues to something that is a bit like a Wii but not quite as good iykwim? Maybe a circle round something in an Argus catalogue or a page left up on the computer.

We are going to do Miss Spiro letter to Santa this weekend, although I've already bought her presents. I juts has to 'remind' her of things and steer her in the right direction.

Vanessa the bear has already written hers (which strangely includes some very accurate predictions, although I'm certain Miss S hasn't seen anything)

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 09:08

How many typo's?! Blush

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 09:21

Yes we have done the same Spiro, I have bought most of heir stuff so some gentle guidance to the right things (although I have got stuff I know they want) and a few small random bits.

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 09:27

I find this age quite difficult to buy for though tbh.

DD has got a fairly expensive board game that she mentioned a couple of months back, a DSi game, DVD, books, Rainbow Magic Jigsaw game thingy, Jacqueline Wilson Shrinkies and an obscene amount of bear stuff (although I did have £10 of loyalty vouchers and 25% online discount to use for those).

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 09:29

There's a silly number of stocking fillers too Confused.

Mr S will be aware of none of this until she opens it all on Christmas morning, although he didn't look hugely impressed when I came home with a stocking for Vanessa last weekend (50p from Tesco's and the bear clothes are going in it -I'm not quite that deranged!)

PassTheTwiglets · 19/11/2011 09:40

Sorry Small, didn't see you down there... here, have some smelling salts...

You're right Small, she will still be excited - I am just more excited than her which I think is why I had to let some excitement slip out The Father Christmas letters are so hard - I tried to guide them as well but they asked for the most stupid things that in the case of TwigBoy have no play value whatsoever and for MissTwigs, she will never be able to use anyway. I tried to steer TwigBoy away from what he wanted but he was adamant - it's something that looks really cool but will have about 10 minutes of novelty value before he gets bored with it.

I'm just struggling what to get him from us now. I am thinking about a dollshouse as I think he'll like fiddling around with all the little bits. I just can't tell his very old-fashioned Grandad :)

Then I've got them a few little bits and some games from ebay (Harry Potter board game for about £1.50!)

Spiro, I find our girls a hard age to buy for too. She's almost outgrown toys but isn't yet at the CDs/iPod/sort of age. I got her this when it was half price a few months ago that I'm really pleased with.

PassTheTwiglets · 19/11/2011 09:47

Have I mentioned that we are staying at home by ourselves on Christmas Day for the first time ever? We always spend it with my family but I am quite excited for it to be just us this year. I was a bit concerned that it might seem a bit flat, or just like any other weekend, but it will be lovely to be able to do whatever we want. Much as I love being around lots of family at Christmas, you can never watch what you want on telly and you always have to fit in with others (eg. lunch is always way too late for the kids). And everyone talks throughout Doctor Who which, let's face it, is what Christmas is really about :) And I always feel so sorry for the kids when they open their presents and we have to say "right come on, put your toys down and get dressed 'cos we're going out". So I think it will be a nice change to do everything how we want it for once and to let them just play all day whilst we get steadily drunk. Oh and we'll be able to have mulled wine without the family complaining about the smell :)

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 10:03

Twigs I'll message you what we are getting SB minor, might be some ideas?

I hate the thought of not being with people on Christmas day although bythe end of it I am glad to see the back of everyone! Grin.

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 10:17

Twigs - I've kept looking at that (and the bath bomb one) and thinking about it. Might see if I can pick one up somewhere if it's good as DD loves her perfume and was trying to make rosewater this summer!

We will be at home on our own (again!). I'm getting a bit fed up with it tbh, but with no family of my own apart from the olds, and IL's I'm not that close to I'm resigned to the fact that my fantasy Christmas is never going to happen.

MIL is working (not saying a word...) so hopefully we'll have FIL and my parents round in the evening although Mr S is reluctant at the moment.

We are going out on NYE though - for the the first time in 10 years!!!

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 19/11/2011 11:06

::Staggers in, eyes propped open with matchsticks::

I had meant to go to bed at midnight, but you know how it is with CiN. There's always something else that you have to stay up to watch, just in case it's any good.

Aaargh to all this talk of Christmas. I have no idea of what to get the Girl (or The Bloke for that matter) but I will investigate the Jacqueline Wilson shrinkies. I rather like the idea of just being the three of us on Christmas Day or - even better - going to a hotel. It'll never happen, though.

TransylvanianVampiress · 19/11/2011 11:40

Oooh pM me ideas for small boys too!! Really failing on that front too!!

Vampy junior is getting a cheapy
Digital camera I think - I haven't got it yet tho! She got one of the child plastic ones 3 years ago but the photo quality is rubbish but we don't like her using our big expensive camera either!

We finally got her an Itouch last Christmas after years of asking - still think it was extravagant but so worth it as I get my phone more often for valuable research!!Grin. We wrapped up a case for it as well and made sure she opened that first. We then told her it was a promise from us that we would get her one next Christmas and she was so pleased just with that it was so sweet! Then when she opened the actual Itouch she cried and didn't app saying thanking and hugging us for days!!Grin

As for Christmas we've gone abroad with my parents and siblings since I was 8 so much as I love the idea of a family Christmas at home it will never happen either as it's not fair on my unmarried older sister and my parents who bribe us by paying airfares and ski passes for our Christmas presents! . This year though we're playing it by ear due to the colonel's mum obviously. Hoping our travel insurance will cover last minute changes if necessary.

By the way, the colonel finally plucked up the courage to ask Mil outright about going to see her. She said she would like a private chat with him and bro but after she'd spoken to husband so we not going next weekend but finding time while bro is over from down under.

What plans have you all this weekend?Smile

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 19/11/2011 11:56

You bought VampGirl an iPod Touch?!

::feels guilty at what a cheapskate she is::

TransylvanianVampiress · 19/11/2011 12:23

It was on an amazing offer at the time Maud. She doesn't have a DS which most of her friends have/had which is a similar price now with the DSi etc. version.

But she got very little else - a case for it, then an annual and some nail polish from Santa and that was about it!! I always think I'm a cheapskate as so many friends seem to depend about £250 overall on each child - I think I'm overspending if I spend more than that on everyone in total!

Just been to see my friend's 5 day old baby girl - so very cute but thankfully I didn't have any broody thoughts - which would have been pretty poor timing!!Grin

TheSmallPrint · 19/11/2011 13:22

We spend way too much. Can't afford to so it's a bit stupid of us.

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 14:35

We all do it, Small, although am Shock at Vampy's friend with the £250 per child budget. Miss S probably gets about £100 spent in her, although I never set a budget & never add it up properly. By the time you add on the ice show, pantomime this year, having a few of her mates round for Xmas tea party and/or going to see a Christmassy film it probably goes a fair bit over.

That said I have been getting ideas for Miss Spiro's bedroom makeover next year that are quite ridiculous!

DumSpiroSpero · 19/11/2011 14:38

shrinkies linky for Maud!

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 19/11/2011 17:37

Thanks, Spiro.

Actually I bought some this morning (although not the TB ones as The Girl is always at her brattiest after watching TB so I went for the alternative). I don't add up what we spend on The Girl either, but we've avoided all the electronic stuff. I have been thinking that we might get her a camera this year, as that could be a lot of fun. I go deaf every time she asks me for a DS, as she already like her mother spends more than enough time staring at a screen.