Due May 07 - W/C 11th Feb

[Frenchsmallfry]

Morning all.............

This weeks resolution for me is to get off my bum and organise my life.

CM, glad things are not as bad as they first appeared. You still have some tough times ahead but sounds like you are doing a grand job at being strong and organised. How old is your dd BTW? LOL at the pies thing but you have a better excuse than any of us.

TYG and SOH, thanks for your help, I WILL ACHIEVE...................... and yes it was voisin not sure how the u ended up in there.

I always wanted to marry an Irish man, I LOVE the irish accent, Ohhhh makes me go week at the knees. Sounding like lg&t and dh's sword. eeeekkkk!

School run now, TTFN

Swimming support. WTF? Isn't that what the water does, support you?

CM, wow, what an update. Fingers crossed that the news only gets better. I never cease to be amazed by how a doctor or someone with equal medical weight can make statements of a damning nature only to have them completely altered or rescinded by someone else not moments later... as if our hearts were playthings!

SOH and TYG am thoroughly enjoying the word play. Makes me think I should perhaps finally cave in and buy Eats Shoots & Leaves. I just have such troubles finding good books to read.

One thing: being born in America, I feel I must make a small defense for the countrypeople I've since abandoned. Not all of us are illiterate and inept fools! Ever seen William Safire's column on language in the NY Times? Brilliant I tell you. Er, I mean, it's like, totally the coolest thing ever, y'know??

However, I thought NYC was considered by New Yorkers to not really be part of the same country as the rest of USA, it being far more chic and better educated than the rest of the country and the NY Times being a cut above other publications.

That's what they'd have you believe on SATC anyway.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is great, as long as you don't mind the incessant ranting. I don't, becuase I'm a bit like that myself. I'm always tempted to get a red pen out at the slightest provocation. DH barely lasted a chapter.

Lynn Truss wrote a great book on manners as well.

William Safire's Rules for Writers:
Remember to never split an infinitive.
The passive voice should never be used.
Do not put statements in the negative form.
Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
A writer must not shift your point of view.
And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
Always pick on the correct idiom.
The adverb always follows the verb.
Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

Gosh TYG, I knew I should have paid far more attention at school. I told you before I was scared to write posts as I'm sure you pick out all the bad bit's. I'm just soooo glad there is not the possibility to underline in red pen on here, SOH would be in her element.

indeed, indeed, New Yorkers aren't your usual breed of American. I mean that in a good way...

Quite seriously, I'm glad I escaped the Midwest after 15 years or I'd probably still think that any form of grilled meat is cause for celebration. Did someone mention ranting? Don't get me started!!! In reality most NYers are incredibly easy going and down to earth, contrary to the popular films of the 80s which would lead one to believe that we either spend our days prancing about in full make-up in our 18-room penthouse suites with outrageous views, or cower in graffiti-covered subway tunnels eating rats for dinner...

I just hope my poor kids learn to speak one language properly. With my American/Brit conglomerated English and DH's Austrian-German, I wonder how they'll ever manage... first words: "kuchen please!" (cake please!)

Off to snarf some Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I'm 24 wks pg and I deserve it!

Oh GAWD, I am going to kill the muppets that sit near me. They are farking singing "I need a hero" at the moment. I got grief yesterday for not posting DD an anonymous Valentine. I was lectured yesterday on the supplements I should be taking.

I seriously need a holiday. I hate them all.

Oh I'm sorry. I need help. I really do. I make mistakes all the time - I know this, like todally. I really shouldn't be throwing rocks around this glazed place of residence.

I am so pleased that there are other language pedants out there - it makes me feel much better (that might be why I am a teacher....it gives me free rein with the red pen)

CM I was just thinking about you and wondering how things were. Poor you to have such a scare but it sounds as if they now have things under control. It always amazes me that they never think about the effect on the patient when they make these statements....

All fine with glucose test today so that is good. I was eating chocolate in the car on the way there saying "this might be my last chocolate for 4 months" - funny how I didn't care until I thought I might not be able to have it...Consultant prodded bump v hard - ouch...got his comeuppance when he tried to listen to heartbeat and baby punched the doppler every time - oh dear, a forceful little so and so.

FSF we spend quite a lot of time in Italy and I have got my Italian up to a basic level of communication through tedious lessons and exercises. However, when DS was learning to speak I realised that I needed to change my approach and just listen a lot to people around and then just humiliate myself by trying to put words together - like a 2 year old. It did help. Then we came back to England and it all went pearshaped. I also found that buying pregnancy/parenting mags was helpful because I learnt lots of useful vocab. Sorry, you are probably v aware of all that since you live in France but thought it might help. By the way - are you near Dampierre sur Boutonne (v small place in Charente)?

LOL TYG, that just gave me a flashback to my German teacher when I was twelve. He made the whole class SING, der des dem den, die der der die, das des dem das, die der....

The stupid thing is, after all these years, I still remember all the German grammer. (yet I can't remember things I was asked to do an hour ago )

Oh Crap,just lost everything I posted. Oh well here we go again...

while we're on the subject DH has been driving me mad using relevant instead of relative i.e. it's all relative IYSWIM

I can be a real grammar nazi sometimes. I work in S.E.London and every time I have to listen to "I done that yestaday" it sends a shiver up my spine... and don't get me started on their, there and they're

I should see working here as a penance really...

Hmm, I'm getting a bit of a reputation as a librarian methinks. I'm not a complete pedant I assure you and usually wouldn't pick people up on their spelling/grammar/syntax/lexis etc. I don't necessarily take issue with most American ways of expression either, accepting most of them as culturally quite interesting. However, I worry about the propensity for English yoofs to ape American and Australian television and styles of expression. The rising intonation for example was sent from hell to test me, along with the use of the words 'like' 'literally' 'totally' 'actually' 'really' and 'so'. I personally think that linguistic expression is important to our identities and as is often demonstrated, the English identity is eschewed in favour of a poorly replicated American façade.

Favourite verse from a song expressing loss of identity by the very fabulous Show Of Hands:

And a minister said his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well Ive got a vision of urban sprawl
It's pubs where no one ever sings at all
And everyone stares at a great big screen
Over-paid soccer stars, prancing teens
Australian soap, American rap
Estuary English, baseball caps
And we learn to be ashamed before we walk
Of the way we look and the way we talk
Without our stories or our songs
How will we know where we've come from?
Ive lost St George in the Union Jack
Its my flag too and I want it back

Fab song called Roots by English traditional/folk duo Show Of Hands. Worth a listen.

So, proud of my English identity I shall continue to use the words golly and larks with gay abandon and TYG I fully encourage any Irish expressions on this thread.

Anybody found me a swimming costume/tankini yet?

annemme, lol, Dampierre sur butonne is half an hour from us. we are also a V. small place in the Charante. Here goes the whole small world thing again. Infact we know a couple that live there that run a gite, initials are J and R, my mum used to work with J. Just incase you know them too.

CM - you're so brave, putting up with all these inept medical types who keep scaring you half to death. You have all my admiration and lots of positive vibes for the twins xx

Go SOH. Ride that pendant pony

Had to point out to my niece at Christmas that she puntuated like every like sentence with like like, if you know what I mean. She found herself unable to string a sentence together without using it... I am hoping she'll grow out of it

Oh SOH, I LOVED that post. "the English identity is eschewed in favour of a poorly replicated American façade." It's a classic.

I was thinking of bringing DD and baby to a festival with DH and his mates this summer. We've been looking for something small, similar to how "The Big Chill" used to be. Family orientated and so on. I've noticed "Show of Hands" on loads of line-ups.

I love Irish traditional music. I'm sure I could get into English trad as well - as long as it's not too "ooh arr" with the "warbling" over-done, iyswim. I've heard some like that.

I'm going to the Cambridge Folk Festival and Beautiful Days festival in Devon with little Mathilda and DH. I love traditional music of many kinds but am mainly a folkie. Cambridge is lovely, so many families and a lovely intimate atmosphere. They provide lots of entertainment for children and there's a specially designated 'family campsite'.

Show Of Hands are playing at the Royal Albert Hall in April and I'll be there. Highly recommend them!

Good use of 'bringing' there too TYG. Very Irish!

Oh, look at that. The Chieftains played last year at Cambridge, Christy Moore the previous year. I'm obviously missing out. Will mention it to DH. Beautiful days looks good too. Thanks SOH.

The Chieftains played a blinding set too.

Am chuckling at 'oo ar' type music. Like the Wurzels I suppose? If you do go to either then shout out, I'm meeting a few other MNers at both of them so would be good to have you along!

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE TODAY????

MY BRAND SPANKING NEW P&T [GRIN]

Just put it together and made ds sit in all the different positions. It's just like Christmas.

CM - what a tough time for you.

The topic of conversation today has been far over my head! Cant contribute other than to day that i learnt German for 5yrs, French for 4yrs and Spanish for 2yrs. I remember bits of each and some times i can do a 'special' mix of all 3 I remember the important things like 'Windsurfen' 'Schlittschuhlaufen' and ' Ich bin funf und zwanzig jahre alt' Obviously going to get me very far in life

TPT measurement: 8.5 sheets still

SOF I went to the cambridge folk festi few years ago - it was brilliant - such a relaxing festival

AM glad your p&t arrived safe and well - oooohhh how exciting

I saw the lovliest midwife today, she couldnt believe that the registrar had been so dismissive with me - she phoned my consultants secretary straight away, she couldnt get through but saud she will try again likely to know by thursday but she doesnt think there will be any problem getting another scan - she check my fundal height which was fine 25 which is how many wks I am - then she said baby was on the small side ehhhhh!! anyway not to worried it is kicking away happily and had strong h/b, and we always produce tiddlers in our family, she said if I want to see her again that I dont need an appt just to tell receptionist to tell her I am there, all very reasurring ,

Dp saw me in the nod earlier (we usually get dressed and undressed at differant times lol) he said I had got huge all over since he had last seen me, hmmmm surely it wasnt that long ago

Whats ev1 up to for valentines - we dont actually do anything, but its nice to hear that other people are still romantic

FSF,

I'm in the same boat as you with the changing from crib to bed. I'm getting the bed next week, and we will be trying it out with ds (18 months). I figure that I am going to keep the crib in the room so he sees no one else using it, but he'll sleep in his bed. I just don't want major jealousy when the new baby takes it over. Ds is a creature of habit and will do better if he's used to his bed before hand.

lupins--we do have tootsie rolls and I love them. A s for watermelon candy I'm not too sure. We have watermelon hard candies.

Now I only feel the baby moving on my left side. Does anyone else have this isolation like me. I know at my last ultrasound the baby was transverse so maybe he's just hanging around.

Now don't anyone get freaked but last night I asked dh when we can plan our 3rd. He said, "Wait till the second is born because I may cut you off"

things are good and I feel great. I can't believe that the third trimester is here already. This pregnancy is going by so fast.

HELLLLOOOOO MKG!

I had that - the movement all down one side, right up until last week. I had all the movement in the lower right part of my bump. Just this week I've been feeling movement up high and on the right.

So glad you're feeling happy and well.