Due in October 2012 Part 6 - Third Trimester Trials and Tribulations

[YompingJo]

Shiny new thread!

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Steady?
Go!

hi everyone!

We have had a lovely day hanging out with my friend and her boys. Been quizzing her on juggling a baby and a 2 year old-am now terrified!

Bit disappointed with my a-level marks this morning. They weren't bad but not as good as I was expecting.

squid I always feel weird about going away while preggo but have 2 weekends away v. Close to my due-date. Eek! Sure you will enjoy it when you get there! And if by some crazy chance the baby does come while you are here-give me a shout! You can go to the lush birthing centre/hotel/hospital that I am booked into!

fjord you have such a wonderful pragmatic attitude to everything. I so admire you. I am so sorry you have all this extra stress to cope with, but it sounds like they are taking good care of you xx

yomping can totally empathise with your need to plan/organise in order to relax. i am the same-I am sure it is a teacher thing. I have a whole book of lists all year around! It is so weird having time over the summer isn't it? Because in every other 'holiday' there is still mountains of work to do!

cwest I asked about overly wriggly babies too-mine just never stops! No pattern to it either. Do you think it has anything to do with its position?

I wrote this the other day on the post that wouldn't send but am paranoid that it did and I just missed it, but will say this again as I think it is funny! My friend is a chinese medicine student and she checked my pulses and said that because one is stronger than the other, I am having a girl apparently! Ha ha! How scientific...

Big love to you all x

bella age 29 31 weeks today-wahoo!

Hi all,
Far too much to catch up on as usual. I've been away too long!
It's past my bedtime, so I shall post properly tomorrow, but I just wanted to let you know I've added a bump photo finally, while I was on the real computer rather than the iPad.
So, what do you think? Boy or girl?!

Squid, I'm going away at 35 weeks too up to my motherland, Yorkshire, for a family wedding! A bit nervous about being so far away from home, but I reckon it's fine to do trips in the late stages.
Cherry, loving your gorgeous bump! Very neat. Mine seems mahoosive now. I went from not looking pregnant to looking like a giant whale in the space of 2 weeks. Yet still there are businessmen on the tube who pretend not to notice. One this morning still ignored me even when I directly addressed him and politely asked if he'd mind giving up his seat. He gave me the same withering look that so many assholes give to Big Issue sellers. Is there any excuse for ignoring another human? Makes me cross.
Cherry is there some theory on telling whether it's a boy or a girl from the outside?!

Am holding off on Facebook for now as a) I struggle to keep up here let alone there, and b) I've kept the pregnancy off facebook so far, kind of a superstitious thing, and don't want people to work it out by seeing a new group. Or would the fact I've joined be invisible to my friends? Security settings baffle me, I think I've got it on max but can never be sure. Idiot. But it doesn't mean I don't want to play with you all!

Fjord lots of and admiration, so sorry to hear about the GD but impressed by your fab attitude, and hopefully it's better to know and so to be able to get on with next steps rather than wonder?

yomping please please please come and organise me and my life, please??

cherry what a neat and tiny bump! I'm only 3 weeks ahead of you but stick out at least 6 inches further I fear...

squid last year I was at a wedding which a friend attended at 38 weeks - it was in Yorkshire, they live in Cambridge so plenty far apart. she was fine and even danced :) and is definitely less fit and healthy than you. Stop worrying!

Thinking of all the teachers out there getting A'Levels today, hope it's not been too stressful and that the kids all get uni places despite the normal newspaper scaremongering.

Have I got pregnant-lady-hormones-crazy? Had a bit of a hormonal attack today, when DH and another friend completely wound me up by email and I very very nearly sent an evil email . Luckily(!) I went and cried in loos instead . So, AIBU... DH has a longstanding joke that if we ever had a kid, he had a name picked out - totally unsuitable, 'comedy' name. When I got BFP, I asked him to drop that joke in case it sticks - either with us, or more likely with friends who end up calling the baby by the comedy name (we have one set of friends whose son is still called by his comedy bump name so it does happen). This afternoon's emails were back to DH and friend trying to 'persuade' me to call the baby that name. It just really upset me. AIBU???

Yoga tonight, and boy do I need it - everything hurts today, and definitely need some breathing to counter these crazy hormones (or maybe I'm just going crazy )

Thank you for being a lovely group of people to come and be me with. Wonderful nobbers!

I thought there was some old wives' tale, Londonmrs, like up high and in front is one and low down and round the sides is another? But then, what if it's high up AND round the sides?!
But what I really want are people's vibes, as many as possible. Then I will collate them, analyse them and calculate...stuff and come up with a concrete, definitive answer.
Of course, I could just ask the doctor, but that would take all the fun out of it
Way past my bedtime now...

bella from your comment to squid can I presume you are in Newcastle area? Just wondering as I'm in Chester-le-Street...

Well, I was having a decent day until this afternoon. Everytime I get settled and try and ignore things at work, something happens that puts my hackles up!

same old, same old! 5 weeks off, back for 2 weeks, New manager, things feeling vaguely positive (or at least as positive as anything has done for the last few tyears) and then she's on holiday for a week, I end up with the same crap (spent all day unpicking payroll after various errors that were made whilst it was done when I was off, complaints about reception that reception team leaders refuse point blank to deal with etc etc) and to top it all off I think I've previously mentioned that new manager let slip last week that the (crappy and useless) reception leaders had a payrise whilst I was off.

I've not officially been told but as I was doing payroll today I had to clarify. Letter from senior partner in personnel folders saying "in recognition of the hard work and extra effort you have made over the last year the partners wish to thank you and show appreciation by promoting you to pay band etc...." - they are doing 1 job between 2 of them, no extra work and staff still complain that they spend all their time on internet...I have spent best part of 5 years (and certainly since Jan) doing 2 jobs without a sausage! Feelabsolutely crap(per) and (even more) unappreciated and like I'm something they've stepped in. If I wasn't such a nice person I'd be tempted to take them to a tribunal for unfair treatment due to a) being pregnant or b) having had time off sick....is that me being overly sensitive??

Pardon my language but f*ck the lot of them. New manager keeps on saying "just want to spend the next few weeks making you feel settled so that you want to return after your maternity leave". At this moment in time I want to return as much as I want a hole in my head!!

I am incandescent!!

firstbubba I can't get into any antenatal classes so birth plan sounds like a nice idea but not one I'm likely to do any time soon...

I'm feeling a billion times better today. Had a mani & a pedi at my beautician friend, sat down for 3 hours solid (with a fan on me at all times!!), with ice cold ribena and just had a really good laugh & catch-up with my friend and just felt really, really chilled out. Came home & DH had made cotbed & changing unit so spare room is now officially the nursery!! Looks so different but makes it all so 'real' now & very, very exciting !

Think he's popping out later for fish & chippies...mmmm.

Then I popped to post office to send off 3 ridiculously cute soft toys for my Indian friends triplets, think she'll love them & felt really good to do this as will be big surprise for her

God I feel so groovy, wish I could bottle this feeling

Evening peeps. Sorry to jump straight in but feeling a bit worried after consultant appt :(

Basically my BP was v high (only ever high with him , always alright with MWs, highest ever today) and baby is measuring huge - and I mean huge. At 30+1 had 3D scan and she was 'measuring' 4.5lbs. Today at scan (32+6) she was measuring 6.5lbs! :( I'm getting really worried about GD even though I 'passed' a test at 25 weeks. I asked him about repeat testing but he didn't seem that interested :( Thing is I was overweight before pregnancy but I've only gained 1st 8lbs (33 weeks tomorrow) so not like I've been gorging myself / put on ten stone etc! :(

Feeling really worried and tearful. I know the USs can supposedly be unreliable but there seems to be a definite trend :( I don't know whether I need to insist on another GD test - don't even know if I can insist as I'm seeing my hospital consultant privately. He said she is a bigger than average baby but I can't understand it when I haven't put on excessive weight.

If anyone has any advice would be glad to hear it :( If she keeps growing like this they may give me section at 38+4. I would pay to have a repeat glucose test but don't even know where they do this.

Kyrria - cross posted but sorry to hear you're having such a massively shit time of it No words of wisdom but a big for you x

Hello, just checking in, I got so far behind the thread dropped off my "threads I'm On" list! Must try harder!

The bump is starting to get very stretched now. I can see outlines of limbs and little hands or feet sometimes and she does kick anymore, it's more like she's trying to stretch out.

I am starting to worry about this baby coming early. DS arrived at 36+6 and this time round I feel bigger, with a lot of pressure and Braxton Hicks (I didn't have Braxton Hicks at all with DS). I know there's nothing I can do to stop it but I'm still worrying.

Cross posted with Angelico

6lb5 at 32 weeks does sound pretty damn big but how accurate is that measurement?

It doesn't sound like they explained much to you or gave you much reasurance.

Oh angelico , I'm not surprised you're stressing!

Agree with orange that it does sound big. Could you have a word with either midwife or gp (rather than consultant) and ask if they could organise another GTT to put your mind at rest? Xxx

yompingjo i would love a copy of your lists, ive not even started antenatal classes flippin NHS! How do I PM you on here? Confused by the FB group cant see any previous posts and I got an email that someone had posted up, when i went to check it said it was removed? Never thought of myself as a technophobe maybe its the baby brain :-)

Hi all,

Not going to be able to catch up on everyone but...

Fjord Sorry to hear about GD but you sound like you're coping pretty well with it all.

Kyyria That sounds absolutely rubbish re work. Is there any way you could have a confidential chat with HR? It does sound really unfair and am sure they could get into trouble for it. As an aside, I meant to mention that when I first looked for you on FB, I typed in Kyrria and it brought up a business page with this girl who proclaimed that she'd been an online gaming genius since age 7 and with loads of pics of people holding up signs saying 'We love Kyrria'. I was a bit so glad I found the real you.

Angelico Sorry you're having this worry. The baby putting on 2lbs in 2 weeks (if I've read your post right) does sound a bit much though. Perhaps the measurements are off. Could you or DH try again with the docs re the GD test? Surely if it's stressing you out, then they need to try and help you. Sorry I haven't offered any proper advice. Hope the A Level results didn't add to the stress.

Glad you're feeling better Loopy, sounds like a lovely day.

Cherry That bump looks very cute! Sorry if that sounds condescending but I'm feeling jealous.

MrsConfusion I think you're being reasonable, I would be really cross if I thought the new baby was going to get stuck with a nickname I didn't like.

Bella What A Levels did you take? Hope you're feeling a bit better about your results, taking exams while pg is a big thing.

Still hormone central here. I am getting cross with myself because I have no motivation and just sit around watching crap on TV. Then I feel guilty because I'm wasting my time and I could be doing lots of things to get ready for the baby. And I'm just bored which is my own fault. So the result is that I'm pretty down today but have had a good cry on the phone to my best friend and am going to try and start anew tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a good evening.

Angelico, that sounds like it's likely to be inaccurate. I mean you've put on a totally average amount of weight through your pregnancy so far. Surely if you were having a giant baby, you'd have put on loads more weight?
Kyyria sorry to hear that, it sucks. Not much more to say. Can you be arsed with taking further action?
Cherry, my bump is high up, round the sides and spreading out over my arse and it's a girl... not sure about that old wives tale!
Firstbubba and anyone else- I have a 'to buy list' which I'm happy to share with anyone on google docs- it's an everything you could possibly need list, so we haven't bought everything on it as we may not need everything. Also includes a hospital bag list too. Yes, I admit it- I'm a list-person.
MrsC I think as Kyyria made the group secret, it doesn't show up- hasn't on my profile (I haven't put that I'm pregnant on my profile either, just because we told everyone who matters! And I'm with you on the aches and pains. My ribs!

Oh, and also MrsC that doesn't sound like you're being unreasonable, but I do think we pregnant ladies can find it more difficult than usual to take a joke. Well, I know I'm a bit more sensitive than usual. I'm sure they meant it as a joke. But I do understand- I mean this isn't a hypothetical baby they're giving a joke name to- it's your beautiful baby, so maybe you felt like they were making fun of the baby- I'd be pissed off with that too. Just tell them to bugger off.

Elpis - enjoy France! Am glad the scan was fine :).

Squid - that?s a true bumpety bump. Not so small (?) but perfectly formed and definitely all bump! :)

Shell - I have a lot of days like that. Don?t beat yourself up. Sometimes it?s good just to rest and zone out. I know the feeling of self-pressure that you should be doing stuff though.

For those worried about the fb group/fb privacy, I?ll echo what Yomping/LondonMrs have said. I?m um?a bit of a prolific fb/social networking user ? mostly as I live abroad and it seems the best way to keep in touch with all the people I want to be in regular touch with, sharing news, updates and social stuff. Basically, if you set all your fb posts to ?friends only? (and any app activity you may have), no-one but people you accept as friends can see anything you post. I?m in one other fb group with members I?m not fb friends with. We can see each other?s posts in the group, but that?s all.

Angelico, I can only think that he conceded himself that he must have got something wrong in the estimations or I think he surely would have brought up the implications with you. I was told today that from 32 weeks, if you go to the full 40 weeks, baby would double in weight. You would be looking at around an 11 pounder at least. I have GD and at 32/33 weeks mine?s measuring 4.2lb. Could deliver at 9lbs if I go to full term or over. I would try to get him on the phone and query the size and if he says nothing to worry about, ask why. It?s your body & baby and you need to know what?s going on with it! If he might have made a mistake it?s just as well that you know that. Just my tuppence worth. Think Kyyria?s suggestion of approaching GP/midwife for a GTT is a good one too. My guess is he got the measurements wrong. My measurements vary wildly depending on who?s taking them (GP and midwife made me off the charts but Gynae knows how to feel for uterus through all the fibroids and fat and other crap ). Hope you get some answers; I?m not surprised you feel worried. Have a while you still can! (not at all?).

My report from the consultant appt today in as a much of a nutshell as I?m able to muster: Baby NOT measuring that big it seems now! I'm apparently 32+4 weeks and she's measuring 33 weeks. Symptoms would put me in the 33rd week. 1.9kg (4.2lb) today. Estimated birth weight on that basis anywhere between 6.8lb- 8.4lb depending on when delivery occurs (or 3.1kg - 3.8kg). She's very active and healthy and wouldn't leave the umbilical cord alone for long enough to get a flow reading! Today I have started taking my own blood for blood sugar levels 4 times a day (have got the hang of the gizmo that pricks my finger! :-)) and I start being seen solely at the hospital birth clinic from next week. So far so good - low GI diet is keeping my blood sugar great (5.3mmol/l) (haven't tried on waking yet though) so fingers crossed there will be no need for drugs or any other drama - just close monitoring :-) and so far, early delivery doesn't look that necessary but due date should be adjusted I think to somewhere between 25th Sept - 7th Oct (although I have/had the most non-verbose Gynae like ever - v hopeful the hospital ObGyn staff will be more chatty and informative!! Have had to work out/look up/interpret most of the above stuff for myself based on his mumblings) :-).

Thanks to everyone for your flattering comments to me about my attitude. It?s just what I have to do to get through stuff. I suffered with trauma/anxiety terribly for a long while before I got pregnant and I know how badly I need to keep a lid on that to keep baby and me safe (BP etc.). I think I?ve surprised myself at my pragmatism. I hope my new-found laid-backness doesn?t disappear with my pregnancy hormones (but that my GD and CTS do! :)).

MrsC I know 2 grown men that are called Jeremy and Fozzie after the childhood bears, YANBU. Does DP have any nickname that he does not care for? Try calling him it to make your point.

londonLivvy I like your birth plan. I also think you had great house buying advice for Fjord. Also Fjord could you get a friend to phone the auctioneer and pretend to be an interested buyer and see what kind of response they get. DH and I thought of buying recently and were amazed at the amount of auctioneers that did not even return calls. Do a 'secret shopper' investigation.

Squidkid My DS1 was 5 days early....

Angelico Good luck with your move. Also well done on making 100's of decisions and not killing any unsatisfactory workmen.
Re the bean, which I am sure is occupying your mind more - I think I read somewhere that in the 3rd trimester the baby can grow a lb a week and this levels off at the end. Are those scans accurate for size? I think a lot of pharmacies can take your BP as well. If the consultant was worried I am sure he would be bringing you back soon. I was seen more often with DS1, fortnightly in the 3rd trimester, whereas my next appt is 3 weeks (Something I see as positive as I assume it means I am low risk). How far apart are your appointments?

Fjordmor your ante-natal care has flagged a problem which will be monitored, does that reassure you at all? I think stories like that of Gary Barlow just put the frighteners on us all. I am worried for you but ;
You are in a country with a first class health care system
They have identified a problem and are monitoring it
You are responsible and are following their advice.
All of our beans have active days and quiet days it seems. Please post as soon as you have news.

Still no AuPair

Just a quickie - Angelico I would buy some urine testing strips and see if you have sugar in your urine, maybe test for a couple of days. If you do then may be worth requesting a repeat of the GTT. Growth scans notoriously inaccurate at predicting size - do you have another one booked in? Baby weight is not always directly correlated to weight gain (I put on over 2 stone with DD1 and she weighed bugger all!, my sister put on the same and had an 11lb er (ouch). I would definitely want more information but sounds like everything is working well and high BP clearly no affecting placenta if your baby is growing like that. I have the opposite problems where mine don't grow - sounds like you have a very 'hospitable' womb. This is a good thing. Sorry you are having such a stressful time.

Fjord get your BM readings - probably better than mine and I don't have diabetes. Sounds like you are getting well on top of it.

Cherry My bump is about 3 times the size of yours! I keep forgetting and bumping into things and belly slapping people. Oh the shame. From bump - my prediction is a boy. absolutely no basis in fact is the caveat on that

Orange I share your coming early panic. I have had BH's all day (have a UTI which explains some of this). Keep stroking him and telling him I am not ready - hope he listens.

Kyria I need to send you my 'counting down the days till you leave' spreadsheet. Please try not to let them get to you. I know it seems unfair but employers will take into account sick leave when awarding promotions or pay rises. I think the only time this is dodgy is if your sickness is for a condition recognised by the disability discrimination act (don't know if this applies to you or no). Otherwise it is just a PITA but what is most important is that you don't let it stress you out. Don't let the bastards get you down.

Gotta go - need sleep but didn't want to read and run x

Yes londonlivvy, sorry!! I wasn't ignoring your advice but saving it for another post as there was so much good advice there and stuff to comment on (am trying to make a very late dinner in between posting ). (all those without interest in property please feel free to ignore!)

The property is newly decorated, empty, neutral and has a brand new kitchen with stainless stell appliances included (including a Smeg dishwasher). I've had masses of good feedback about the presentation. However, the block itself isn't a looker (purpose built, 70's and on a busy road) but the flats are renowned across SW London as being some of the most spacious 2 bedders and are extremely popular for letting and with landlords. Any shortcomings putting people off now are things I can't do anything about (no furniture/dressing - I got rid of it all and no money for more - and outside of building).

I hear what you're saying about the wording and this is one of my problems with the agent - I don't think they 'sell' the place at all. No-one's offering anything and I've indicated to the agent to encourage offers so if the price were the only barrier they'd come in with silly offers if he was doing his job (we had lots of silly offers on a property of my dad's in Wales after he died).

Can't do anything about the upkeep - I'm a leaseholder and the council (Wandworth) are the freeholders. I get feedback a few days after viewings occur but I never know when viewings are scheduled. I've had no feedback about clicks online. I'm just a bit fed up - I think this 'local' agent is being run by 2 people with too big a workload and another agent I turned down (who is also a letting agent) was keen to 'aggressively' market my property based on it's letting potential. If I don't write anxious emails every few days I don't hear from them at all - and they will NEVER ring me.

I think I have a one or 2 week notice contract with this agent and I think they think because I'm far away and can't go in the office they can un-prioritise my property.

They're all exceptionally good points and I was expecting feedback that I might be able to do something about not 'everyone's put off by the busy road' (not that I've got a single further penny to invest - having spent over £10,000 to get it in super-sellable order!). I'm surprised that viewers don't even know where the flat is before attending a viewing (why isn't the agent telling them?). Doing the maths to see if we can afford a price drop as big as 40,000. It's going to make life very difficult for us buying a new place here as prices are going UP all the time here (like £100,000 since before the summer holidays on a house) and I'm intending to pay myself 'maternity leave' with a chunk of the profits, as well as pay off my won't even tell you how much it would make your hair curl substantial personal debt that I'm still living off as my only source of money. Doh! Anyway, property rant off my chest, if I was in situ I'd look at the marketing with a fine tooth comb, as you've suggested, but I'm powerless to make any changes now - either practically or financially. I think the only options are price drop and get an agent more interested in actually selling it (that will at least give me better feedback and communication)!!

Lovely ladies thank you all Feeling shattered but calmer, will speak to MW and see what she thinks about repeat test, good idea. I posted about this on another pregnancy thread a couple of weeks ago after first 'big' measurement and when I updated it tonight a nice MW said something about how inaccurate they can be. Also found another post after google search where a girl was told she was measuring 6.5 lbs at 32 weeks, was having a monster baby... and her DD was 7 lbs 13 oz .

Trying to keep calm about it all. He did get a trace of sugar in urine today but then he always does whereas MWs never get any - can only assume he uses mega sensitive strips

Will catch up tomorrow but thank you xo

oh and lisbeth - cross-posted I think! News below! I'm not too worried I just hormonally found hearing Mr Barlow and Mr Manford's experiences upsetting and heart-wrenching. I'm a 'super-empath' sometimes - why I could never be a nurse or work with psychiatric teens like my DP...everything would come home and I would not be able to detach! I am very reassured and do feel like I'm being taken very good care of. It might be unhuman not to pass worry though about things that might cause birth complications/harm to baby. Sometimes I worry that I don't worry enough and my labour experience will be a massive shock if there are complications as I always assume 'everything will be fine'! By the way, we don't have auctioneers in the UK. Not sure if I could auction my flat instead of this straightforward selling whether it would work for or against me but VERY good idea to have a friend call up the agent masquerading as an interested party and see how switched on they are - might try that before I axe them ruthlessly !

Morning all. I know i keep apologising for not keeping up but I feel bad and am going to say it again. All of you have stresses and worries and still manage to write and support each other. I am quickly reading and empathising and sending virtual hugs but have not the time or energy to post properly. Hugs and sympathy to all those beginning to worry about health especially, it is good that you are all aware and proactive and despite some frustrations do have access to good medical teams. Not long to go,all will hopefully be well.

I am finding life very difficult at the mo and tbh need to take a step back from MN and FB full stop. Working FT is draining the hell out of me and this period just before school means we are jam packed full. Tiredness and paranoia creeping in and nobberishly thinking I am a voice in the wilderness here who is ranting on my own, so self preservation says stop posting so much and then it does not matter if anyone interested or not!!

We have made the decision not to move until after baby so i need to now find some energy to clear out this house better and find some room and tell myself not to be ashamed when visitors come, but I am very house proud. My silly notion of lovely new clean house and ideal picturesque nonsense has evaporated!! But this is just reality and not dangerous, painful or harmful to baby so i need to catch self on!!!

I look forward to early Sept when i reduce work by one day at least and hope i have a handle on things better then. Has also just occurred in past few days that every possibility baby may come earlier and am not vaguely prepared if that is case as half of house in boxes and half is a tip!! Never mind packing hospital bags or getting new moses mattress and bedding........

So I shall keep reading but not stress myself on posting and try to sort myself out. It is my birthday tmrw but not holding breath for much excitement as am working and so bloody exhausted that my idea of a treat will be an evening on sofa!

Take care bean ovens, best best wishes for all house worries and financial panics, and take care anyone who is poorly. Pregnancy is wonderful, but god, the life changes and worries it brings are hard.

Happy Friday and have a good weekend, sorry for the selfish rant..........
Xx

hufflepuffle massive hugs and please don't apologise! You're not selfish in the slightest - I am not at work and can barely keep up with this thread even though I am very fond of everyone on it. I couldn't keep up AT ALL when I was working. It's not too long till the end of August - I kept a little tick box of days left! Working and pregnancy is just exhausting I don't care what people say. I have also been suddenly worried in case baby comes early but actually babies don't care if houses are messy, so. You will just be so happy to meet baby. Keep reading and post whatever you like and look after yourself. I'm sure no one keeps track of who replies to what - it's just a free for all! We all have good times and bad times and there are no obligations.
I hope you get something nice (and relaxing) for your birthday. xxxx

ah huffle, you are not being selfish at all, you poor thing. Sounds like you have way too much to cope with just now. Please don't feel like you can't come on here and rant-that is what we are here for. What is your job in education? It sounds enormously taxing and I am not surprised you feel as exhausted and downhearted as you do. I would say to make a long list of everything you want to get done. Then go through the list and pick out which bits are the most urgent/necessary and the bits that will give you satisfaction and relief to tick off. You will get there, don't worry. You are doing a brilliant job to juggle everything.

fjord I was enormously impressed with the jason Manford article too. I couldn't believe that a man seemed to understand pregnancy the way he did. His wife is very lucky!

shallwe I am actually a teacher, I just refer to them as 'my a-levels' because I feel like I put so much into them that they are partly mine! (and I beat myself up that it is my fault if the marks don't reflect our predictions) Was really kind of you to comment-I so appreciate it.

kyria WEY AYE PET! I am a a geordie! Well, live in Northumberland actually but only about half an hour away in a lovely village. Glad to have a NE buddy!