The Creme Egg Appreciation Society...memberships expire June 08

[debinaustria]

Good morning all you creme egg lovers ( and those weird ones amongst us who don't appreciate them)

Good luck for all the scans coming up this week, and next.

NH101 - we're 3 stops down the railway line (Liverpool direction)! Not far from you at all. We almost got a Ford Galaxy from Carcraft but didn't at the last minute (long boring story). It is becoming more of a priority now. I like to drive an automatic so that narrows down our sources, so it's easier to stick to a huge place like Carcraft.

I'm being paranoid as I haven't felt any movement today and DD is being too feisty for me to sit down and focus on noticing any!

I've had the odd paranoid day too Rolf. Midwife says when you are really busy you dont always notice the movements.

Is it safe to come out yet after my Creme Egg blasphemy...??

I would love to be able to grow vegetables. We have a medium sized garden but the only thing in it that's alive (apart from the grass)
is a big clump of rosemary

Last year, I even killed a cactus. Which is apparently Impossible...

Really tired as DH away on conference in London till Thurs night. And am OD-ng on Rennie as the heartburn is so bad.

Today's Rant - the in-laws are descending for SIX nights next week when I'm on half term...well they say six but they refuse to buy anything other than open returns "just in case" so you NEVER REALLY KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE. It drives me crackers!!!! Basically, I am going to get no holiday or rest at all I will be running around after them. FIL in mad as a badger and only eats mashed potato and MIL claims "she's already done her bit" (OK so she had 5 kids) and won't so much as make a cup of tea or, worse, play with, feed or even PICK UP DS. They bang on and on about never seeeing him and them whne they are here, they sit on the sofa 8 foot away and observe him like he's an animal at the zoo

(Angry BB hits cushion and tries to calm down)

See, if you liked creme egg's you could have one to make you feel better .

Make voodoo dolls of them, it might help.

On a more serious note... my p's always moan about not getting to see/feed/pick up/play with their grandchild. However, they are a bit the same as your in-laws when the do see their darling GC. Its like they are waiting for my bro/sil to say why dont you pick X up/feed X.... Is it possible your in-laws might be on the same warped generational wavelength?

Hi All. In a bit of a grump today as wisdom teeth still killing me today. The left hand side of my face looks like I've been hit. Luckily my kind boss has told me to take the day off, so am sitting in front of the PC in my PJ's.

I even took some paracetemol last night (1st time in 10 months) after crying in pain. I know we're allowed paracetemol, but does anyone know how many and how often? Can we take the max dosage over 24 hours like the bumpless?

Anyway, on a happier note, I liked Abel & Cole too, but found their stuff did not always stay fresh the whole week. They do a special organic baby box though, so might try them again after June if the veg garden proves to be less than fruitful (I've killed cacti before as well!).

We had Riverford boxes when I used to have a proper job but never got round to using it all as DH a fussy eater. Plus there are only so many mung beans you can eat....buy when I can from local market stall...but might try the box again now I am 'working from home'.

Is there a grumps corner BTW- think I shouldpark myself there for a while until a better mood strikes me. Or just better luck.

Afternoon all. Just come back from swimming - first time since I got pg - in fact, probably first time in a year anyway. Twas fab, although there was a cold patch at one end of the pool which was a killer!

Whoever was struggling with tomatoes in gro-bags, large plastic pots are often much better as they're deeper so they retain moisture more.
Then just water them once a day and feed once a week. Yum! And if the weather's rubbish like last summer you can always make chutney with any green ones...

ok, may have missed this, when i was pregnant 10 years ago with ds1 they did orange creme eggs, anyone remeber them??? they were HEAVEN, i blame my post ds1 weight on them!!! (10 years later still)

We should rename ourselves The Organic Box Appreciation Society. Parsnips and mung beans all round!

Basil brush, nightmare about your parents in law. Knackering for you to have people to stay when you're pregnant and looking after a toddler too. And it's a shame for them too: they'll miss out on so much by not participating. What does your DH think?

NH101 - bit embarrassed you all know I used to be a copywriter. Now I have to write my posts carefully instead of spurting them out in between doing fifteen other things at the same time ...

As for working as a copywriter or journalist, it is definitely something you can do from home. And people find their way to it by different routes. I know several ex-Production editors who are copywriters now, for example! As you work for a publishers already, have you asked if you can shadow any of the writers? Or could you get seconded to that team? You could also consider doing an evening class in journalism, or a course run by someone like the NUJ. The last class in many courses tells you how to get yourself published if you want to go the freelance route. But the key, like everything, is networking.

Forgot to say, China, without blowing your cover completely, do you work for a contract publishing agency or a more traditional publishers like Natmags or IPC? We work with a lot of contract publishers and have an agency from Bristol coming to see us in March.

Lol upsidedownegg, I am a journalist already. And NUJ union rep! Did the postgrad journalism course at Preston about 10 years ago. I used to be a sports reporter for the Manchester Eve News then the Lancashire Evening Telegraph then I worked on the sportsdesk as a sub on the Sunday Express, then I moved over to the mags department as a sub, hence now working for Star and OK. I have always thought I could do copywriting but not sure how to get into it. Like you say, the key is networking!

Rolf, can't believe you live so close to me. I checked out your profile. My husband is a solicitor in Liverpool, works for Cobley's. How mad would that be if you knew him!

Basil - we have so much in common, not liking cream eggs and nightmare inlaws. Luckily I don't get to see them that often as they like coming down at weekends ans sadly we are usually booked DH also does not particularly like them being here. is Dad is OK but relations between him and DH and his brother and sister (who we don't speak too but that is a whole otehr story) really have not been good since he married his sister in law, DH's aunt 9 months after his wife died. Have persudaed DH though to take DD to Kent for a couple od days in February to see them and his brother and their family and we ill go and see them in July after the baby is born

Sorry NH101. I wasn't sure if you meant copywriter (as in branded content) or journalist (as in Daily Mail)! You can definitely do copywriting from home - particularly 'long copy'. I would suggest contacting a Direct Marketing agency.

Upsidedown - I work in mags, and although I've lived in Bristol for 11 years my job is actually out of town so I won't be one of your visitors.
I worked in contract publishing for a year, but I couldn't handle the constant moving of goalposts by our extremely difficult client so I left before it was uzi in the office time...

Forgot to say earlier - BB - you have my sympathies re the in laws. Mine are pretty good but some of their quirks are extremely infuriating, and the general air of negativity which prevails in DH's side of the family makes me despair sometimes. I agree with previous comment - can't DH sort them out?

Wish I could catch up properly but my eyes are still playing me up so best wait til better I did however see lots about veggies and growing them etc. so will deffo be checking back when I can (wants my tomatoes to be a better success this year!)

Well, had my scan this morning and all was well which is fabberoonie Was surprised about the sex as was convinced it was a girl called Amelia But no, it's another boy Ds has just been looking at all the pics and pointing all the bits out perfectly, we'll tell him he's having a brother when daddy gets home from work

Right, back to it, hope you're all having a good day xx

Looney that is lovely. Congratulations!

No worries upsidedown, my first post was confusing - what I was saying was my dream would be to write features for the Mail but realistically I might find copywriting work easier to come by! Thanks for the tip re Direct marketing.

BB - I sympathise about the in-laws. Mine are OK but my mum has had 37 years of a nightmare with her PILs and it is still going on! She wishes she had told them right from the start that they were being sh*ts but of course she didn't and now 37 years on it is as bad as ever. So my advice would be try to get them sorted now! Easier said than done.

My PILs have annoyed me cos they decided they didn't want to know the sex of our babies even though we found out at 20 week scan. So now I can't talk about Theo and AN Other in front of them and really I think I should be able to talk about my babies whenever I want and say whatever I want! Then MIL annnoyed me by giving us £600 for the babies and then saying "I really want you to spend it on furniture for the babies" What does she think we are going to spend it on? Going down town and getting p*ssed! We have bought loads of stuff off ebay and it is like she is saying that is not good enough. Grrr!

AN Other is of course the baby we don't know the sex of yet!

NH101, just thought: a couple who have an allotment next to ours are both Daily Mail journos. Both as left-wing as they come, and quite badly paid. He writes news and she writes rather intense features for Femail. IMO, copywriting is more fun and much better remunerated.

Looney, congratulations on your scan, and glad we have you back with your regular name! Hope your eyes get better soon.

What's with all this talk of vegetables? Bring back the chocolate talk - so are you having pancakes for tea? We had them for lunch - mine was with Nutella - not an organic veg in sight!!

Got 2 poorly boys today though = high temp, coughs, ds2 has been sick, so I went to bed with him for an hour this afternoon(2 hours later woke up) they are just in that after Calpol high at the moment so things are not too whingey, it will go downhill again soon!!

Congrats on the scan Looney - Amelia will have to be the next one!!

Commiserations with the in-laws BB, I am sure that a creme egg would help.Would they look after your ds if you said you had an appointment - can you make up a dentist appt then escape for an hour to a nice cafe to de-stress?

very nice looney! i'm so jealous that all of you know the sex. dh is dead set against it though so i haven't much hope. i know the surprise will be lovely but i just want to know sooooo badly!!!

i don't think it's possible to have in-laws that aren't at least slightly aggravating. mine are very nice people but the way mil spoils ds is appalling. he's very, ahem, high-spirited and you have to keep him in check or he will walk all over you. she lets him do literally whatever he wants (going through her jewellery drawer and bathroom cabinets and having full rein, pulling everything out, etc.) and never, ever, ever tells him no. when i had to go to canada for my sick friend i was gone 5 days and when i got back it took another 5 days to stop him throwing a massive fit every time i made him do or stop doing anything!! she says - it's just easier!! no wonder dh is such a spoiled brat.

chinasurprise i am def going to have a go at growing tomatoes in our flat. you've inspired me!

NH101 - I have only ever worked in London - we've lived up here for about 4 years, so I doubt your DH would know me. BUT my DH is a barrister in Liverpool so they might know each other.

Penguin - yes, the max dose is the same whether pregnant or not. I asked my GP the other week as I had sinusitis and was in agony.

Looney - lovely news about your boy!

NH - Theo is v high on my list of favourite boys's names but will remain unused as this one is a girl.

I can't remember if I mentioned that DH said to me the other evening: I don't remember actually sitting down and agreeing to have so many children! Well, his sister had a baby boy yesterday and his first comment was: I hope they don't call him ... because we won't be able to use it then . I'm almost 100% sure he was joking.

Lol at your DH rolf. that is the sort of thing my DH would say. Like he had nothing to do with the conception! Is this your fourth? i have three sisters and it's great having a big family. And if he is a barrister you can afford it! Does your DH work in crime? if he does my DH will definitely know him. That is freaky!! You live so close, maybe we can meet up one day after our babies are born (if I can get out of the house with the twins! )

DH got his higher rights last year and has just started doing barrister work. He got his wig and gown last week. I was so proud

Dylansluckymum - my DH didn't want to know the sex so we have decided to find out this time and then have a surprise next time (although I am secretly hoping he changes his mind before next time cos I am so impatient!). Strike a deal with your DH!

Hey upsidedownegg, that is amazing about Femail - they are the features I'd love to right. Thursday's Mail lasts me all weekend with those massive Femail articles. Surprised it doesn't pay well but I suppose it depends what you think is good pay. In London good pay is a lot higher than up here. Will definitely try to look into copywriting. Also I always thought proofreading from home would be good.

Looney really pleased the scan went so well and you found out the sex too, another boy will be lovely.

Rolf, dp's do say some sill things! Last night I was complaining of aches and pains and dp said 'I told you this wasn't a good idea', it was his suggestion in the first place!

I statrted taking Flordix last week and I really think it's helping, my energy levels do seem to have increased so I woud highly recommend it. I do feel worn out now though after teaching dd1 her 3 times table as she has a test on thursday, why can't they it at school it was really stressful as I really didn't know the best way to do it though she does seem to have the hang of it now.

SO is anyone giving up chocolate for lent !!!!!!!!

NH101 - how annoying, you should be able to talk about your babies. In fact, if it were me I'd do what I bloody well wanted (however, that's coming from someone who recently had all that stuff with her parents )

Upsidedownegg - thanks. Yes, my name is back, I decided I have nothing to hide and I didn't like my other name. Plus, so many people didn't realise who I was, I thought it was time to change back. Been looneytune too long to change!

debinaustria - sorry about your poorly boys Hope they feel better soon! Dh doing my pancakes right now!!! I've had indigestion all day but I don't care. I'm going to try honey, chopped banana and choc sprinkles and then roll it up - yum (well, sounds yum to me right now lol). As for Amelia for the next one, sadly don't think so Dh wants to have the snip after this one (well, he wants no more and I said that's the only way because I've had enough of being on the pill and I am NOT being sterilised, especially after what happened to my sister!!!!). Dh says he's getting too old for any more after this one

Oh......I'm needed