Jingle Bells, Mysterious Smells, Fab Feb 2009 babies will soon be on their way - Oh what fun it is to waddle around like an overstuffed turkey all day.

[dinkystinky]

Hello lovely ladies, the new thread is open for business

oh herby, i don't blame you for screaming at him..... what is it about men that they know all this stuff has to be done but always expect someone else to do it for them! hope he's been suitably apologetic and gone off to do his jobs himself. have fun wedding dress shopping, should be a lovely day with your mum and sis

oooo, MS, you've reminded me i need to get cracking on making my xmas sweets to give to folks...... no idea where to get cellophane in the middle of the countryside though ..... may have to settle for just pretty tissue paper

off to drop dp's dad at the station now (trhank the lord!) and get our xmas tree. poor dd is coming down with our ug and is asleep curled on my lap....no idea how to get out from under her!

Oh god pink and MS i want homemade sweets!!! i want to make em then eat em! cant though but it sounds gorgeous ...

Got the dining table yesterday in a flurry of last minute DIY type nesting and put it all up so at least we can all fit around this one ( the last was a bit of a squeeze! ) Going to do not alot today as have had busy week ... anyway is horrid and rainy so much better idea to snuggle up indoors methinks

Afternoon all. PP - so sorry to hear your FIL was a drunken arse; not great to have to deal with when you're preggers (or at the best of times anyway!) Herbgarden - you were right to yell at your DH; hope he's pulled his socks up - and LBB, glad your other half finally saw the error of his ways too.

Miserable day here in London and my cold has taken hold with a vengeance today. Had my best mate round for dinner last night (her arse of an ex-boyfriend who dumped her to return to his ex 3 months ago bobbed up back on the scene and begged her to take him back 2 weeks ago and proposed to her, which she accepted (as she's still totally in love with him), only to dump her and tell her he doesnt want her at all last week - why fuck with her head like that??? Personally I believe she can do so much better but she's now questioning her judgement on men totally) so was doling out much sympathy and comfort food and tissues last night -so I fear I may run out of snot rags for today and have to venture out into the rain for more soon. Then had mates and their little kids round for brunch this morning so what with one thing and another feel totally wiped out - think an early night with a box of Kleenex may be in store tonight.

MS - hope you enjoyed your xmas party if you did go to it in the end.

MOS - what a lovely thing for your DH to do! Bet you're loving having him home. Hope your DD is better now.

Rosie - you sound like you're rapidly becoming a DIY queen. Can I get you round to ours??? DH is upstairs re- putting together the Stokke mini-cot (so we'll be all ready for Squiglet whenever he decides to make an appearance)and all I can hear are bangs and muffled swear words...

PP I got 30 bags from Lakeland for £1.95- I can post you some if you like? They might get there by Christmas.

So far the fudge is a success, although labourious but the honeycomb, less so.

We made it, smashed it up, and then popped a bit in the mouth only to stare at each other with contorted facial expressions whilst our jaws clamped shut.

I think I need to try again with that one...

MS do you sell your sweets by mail order. I just fancy some fudge ?

I've been cleaning all day too. My friends, that were meant to be arriving at lunchtime, are going to be here at 5.30 due to the terrible weather we've had down this way. I just got a text from them saying 'We need alcohol'. I think it has been one of those journeys.

I have pulled a muscle in my stomach from vomiting today. I am surely going to be the hostess with the mostess tonight !

Has Mrsy popped back in since she went in for her check up ?

Hi all....
Weather absolutely hideous here today too...rain, wind and fog too not a nice combination

MS - can I have your fudge recipe please - I have the bags but not the content and remember trying to find one on the internet last year and found one but never wrote it down. I wanted to make some fudge for the nursery staff where ds goes.....ta !

dinky your poor friend and just before xmas. Some women just can't see what arses some men are can they.

On a positive note tonight - my sis found a fab wedding dress which she looked gorgeous in in a shop in Guildford. I'm knackered !! It's been a long day. But I've got back DH has fed DS bought a xmas tree and put it up (with lights ) has done his jobs (except vouchers) and has bought me a big bunch of flowers with a little note (they are even in the vase) apologising for being a pain in the arse last night - I think he's possibly forgiven now . Off out with the girls for dinner tonight.....

Will check in tomorrow- Missing x factor final tonight but will be recording on SKY + to watch in the morning.......

Fudge:

Disclaimer- this is not my recipe, it was kindly given to me by KatyMac so if it is good then we can thank her!

8oz butter
2lbs granulated sugar
1 large can of evaporate milk
Flavourings:
Nuts
Dried fruit
Cocoa
Vanilla essence
Coffee
Rum

Obv not all of them

Melt the butter sugar & evap together in a very heavy bottomed pan

Stir until the sugar dissolves
Bring to the boil and stirring occasionally cook until 238F/140C (soft ball stage) (this is when it might burn)

Remove from the heat stir in the flavours then beat until thick

Pour into greased tin

Mark into squares when half set

btw - it takes a while

I made vanilla.

We had 3 attempts at honeycomb, two of which ended in chewy gloop and one which was burnt. Sod it.

The Florentines look interesting...

So far the fudge has turned out the best!

I have prepared a Strictly/Xfactor picnic of wedges, chicken goujons, pizza, coleslaw and dips for DH, DD and I so am about to retire to the sofa.

I just realised it has been ages since I sat down.

The fudge sounds delicious Markstretch. Last time I tried to make florentines they ended up looking like dog poos! Definitely not ones to be shared. Am sure yours look miles better than those.

Went out this afternoon in the rain and picked up a Peppa Pig readybed for DS to sleep in at his grandma's house over xmas (as far too big for the travel cot now) - he loves it (but I suspect will be far too excited about the bed itself to actually sleep in it - oh joy as we're sharing the tiny box room with him over xmas). We're having trouble extracting him from it so DH is trying to deflate it with DS in it...

Laidback - no news from MrsY yet. Am hoping she's ok and its just internet connection issues. Pulled stomach muscles sounds really painful - poor you.

DH is kindly making me a very spicy curry tonight (to see if it can clear my sinuses for a bit).

Evening all!

Foul weather here too today which matched DS's mood perfectly...

Celebrated my 39th birthday by taking him to see Father Christmas at Selfridges which was fab. Then lunch when I broke my no alcohol rule and had a Buck's Fizz which was lovely. Had planned to wander down Regents Street & look at lights and Trafalgar Square and tree but DS very whiney due to unspecified illness and it was soooo cold and wet we'd all had enough.

Besides, we've got a tree to rival the one in Trafalgar Square ourselves. Am now wondering how the heck I'm going to decorate it as the ladder goes nowhere near the top. Will have to lob baubles at it perhaps.

Happy Birthday HohohoHOM. Glad your DS enjoyed Santa and good on you for celebrating your birthday in style . Good luck with your tree (sounds like the kind of tree my DH would dearly loved to have ordered) - maybe you can try lassoing the higher branches with tinsel so you can reach them with the baubles.

MS... that would be brilliant if it wouldn't be too much bother, i really don't think i can get any round here and i'm fairly sure my dads' recipe lemon drops would glue themselves to anything non plastic (probably to plastic too but at least tht you can peel off!). my email is dee _ pinktulips AT hotmail DOT com, i have some money left on a visa voucher from the xmas voucher so if you have paypal i can paypal you for the postage and the cost of the bags.

that fudge sounds yummy..... note to self, pick up evaporated milk tomorrow

so annoyed with my day, dp's mom sent up some money to buy presents for the kids and i was going to borrow some of it til we get paid to buy our tree but everywhere was sold out how very dare they?! have to wait til monday now... sob, sob!

ouch laidback... i ripped tummy muscles with ds and it's horrible.... much sympathy heading your way. let your guests pull their weight tonight... horrendous trip or not you're the pregnant one and deserve to be waited on!

herby, glad he's apologetic... lucky you getting flowers

Pink- have emailed you.

I have got the itchiest nipple in the world.

(I didn't email you about that).

Took two little boys to see Kung Fu Panda at the cinema today - first time for DS1 since he was under six months and used to go to the scream club showings, and first time ever for DS2.

I told them to LIE and say DS2 was three years old if anyone asked, does that make me a bad mother?

Then we went for sushi and noodles etc. Then we cam home and I went to bed. For a few hours. When I woke up, the Christmas tree fairies had been - I LOVE my DH!!!

I have been sending you itchy-nipple vibes, MS, glad you got them.

Oh, and it was pissing down here too. If we hadn't already promised to go to the flicks I definitely wouldn't have ventured outdoors.

Pink, is your Kung Fu Panda as chubby as the one I saw today?

Thanks Swampy you evil monster.

IT'S DRIVING ME MAD!

Morning all.
The fudge recipe sounds lovely! Not brave enough to attempt it myself though!

Your poor friend Dinky

Had the worst nights sleep ever. Went to bed after X-Factor, flicked through a pregnancy book as have nothing to read at mo, the BH were really quite uncomfortable and after each one baby would follow with a round of the strongest kicks!!
Then awake on and off all night, just been laying there since about 4, this one is going absolutely mental, I suppose he's making up for having a few quiet days.
I read last night that UTI's are the most common reason for going into premature labour, so think some of it was worry about that too, as it's still not shifted!
I'm hoping it'll stop raining at some point today so I can go shopping again, or might make dp go so I can go back to bed, that's a better idea isn't it?

swampy... sadly no, mine seems to be all elbows and knees i think i must have alot less water than with the other two as i swear to god i can feel the baby in the bump even when i'm standing up and every time he shifts it's a very odd poking senstation.

it snowed here last night... but alas it then rained on the snow so we just have occasional patches of icey sludge amongst the usual flood waters.... oh well, still almost 2 weeks to go, still a good chance of a white xmas.

lbb, sorry that uti isn't shifting for you, i can't imagine how fed up you must be. sending dp out is most definitely the better idea..... let him get all soggy traipsing around the shops while you pamper yourself and get some rest.

KT yes 5 days for me now too! I would have finished in Jan but just couldnt bear the thougth of having xmas off then going back! Usually I am like you impatient but i know i will just enjoy every minute of my early mat leave, i have really hated work last couple of months, been so stressed!

MS is it just 1 nipple (It just read so funny!) Ive had sore nips cant bear anything touching them, ouch!

I went out last night for curry with some netmums from my area, had lovely time, 3 of us are due FEB. I lasted til midnight and actually got in later than hubby, which is strange because he has got in after i have been to bed the last month!

Hi everyone -

Sorry I've not been around - things have been a bit weird here, and on top of the news we had before, it got me a bit scared.

At the DAU on Thursday they had me on a trace for about an hour during which I had some pains but they didn't show on the trace as contractions, so the midwives were confident that they are not labour contractions, but some form of irritation. There was a trace of protein in my urine, so they think it might be a UTI or possibly thrush ('cos of the snotty discharge, although when I've had thrush before it was very different, the midwife did say that sometime the "style" of symptoms does change from episode to episode) which is obviously positive, but as lbb said, it can cause these irritation contractions which can lead to the real thing.

So, my midwife wants to see me once a week until madam arrives, and did mention that if she turns up before her time it might well exaggerate the heart condition she may or may not have, so we're a little bit on a knife edge here.

However, we are determined that until she does show up, it's business as usual, so we're putting up our tree today and enjoying our Christmas and New Year. We're just going to make sure that all the things we were putting off buying or doing until early Feb we do now, just in case!!!!

{{{{hug}}}} mrsy.... i'm sure it will all be fine. they have to err on the side of caution and warn you of the possibilities..... it doesn't mean there's a huge chance of them happening. with any luck madam wil be born full term with a gloriously healthy heart. try not to get too wrought up about the negative possibilities, even if she is early with a heart condition the hospital are forewarned and will be able to treat her and there's a good chance she'll be just fine.

Good to hear from you MrsY- had been wondering how you got on. Sounds like they're keeping a close eye on you which is good.

Yes it was just one nipple. Thankfully it has stopped now, Swampy must be too busy today to send me itching vibes.

Have been into the city to finish the Xmas shopping. Had to drag DD round with me as DH is at work. She was NOT happy and insisted on jumping between the cracks on every floor and pavement headbutting other shoppers in the crotch because she WASN'T LOOKING WHERE SHE WAS GOING!

And breathe.....

(Oh and all my carefully planned Christmas confectionery turned out shit).

I am now sulking.

marker - can't stop to chat as need to wake up DS from snooze. DH snoozing too but i think I'll leave him till he gets himself up.