*Due in June 2005*

[PinkArjuna]

The thread was getting far too long and taking ages to load.

London meet is a week away. I don't have to get the train until 10.30 this time Could someone tell me which tube line to get from Paddington?

Go for fixed. If you want, you can borrow my mac 3 for a test drive. The wheel is fixed. I actually bough it because it was the cheapest fixed thre wheel on offer at JL, and I thought it would be a pain for every day use. But I bought it so I could take DD running so fixed wheel was esential. However, the fixed wheel didn't bother me like I thought it would. If you are really going to push this thing on bumby ground or at high speed, you really do need a fixed wheel. But, if it's just because you think three wheelers are cool looking, the swivel will do you.

Oh, and if you don't want to push around an empty pram, that I hcan of course lend it out with DD in it!

Afternoon all! I imagine you are all out enjoying yourselves in the sunshine and not half-dead from a trip to the Dam. We didn't even do that much, but it all seemed to be v tiring anyway. Too many people and too much bloody fag smoke if you ask me.

I've got an interview next Wednesday in Leeds - although am currently debating whether I can really face the c. 400 mile round trip as I have to give a 10-minute presentation on "Making a Cup of Tea". (The job is not as a tea lady, I should add). To add insult to injury, I don't even drink tea Perhaps I will offer to do a presentation on "opening a bottle of wine" instead.

Enjoy your weekends one and all!

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Hiya Lynny - sorry, Dam = Amsterdam. I couldn't be bothered typing all the letters in the name

The trip wouldn't be too bad as dh will come too, so I won't have to do all the driving (although we have to be v careful that he doesn't get over tired as well). I just can't face the thought of actually writing a presentation on making a cup of tea. This is for a job in the NHS, btw. Think of the useful things I could write about such as "rationale for charging me £18 for a letter saying I am okay to fly" (sorry Lippy!) or "my GP thinks my dh is a drug seeker, what shall I do?"

I know what you mean about cabin fever, although this would never motivate me to want to go shopping! Glad your BP has come down though.

Hello ladies! Hope those of you that went had a fab time at your lunch. I'm very Honestly, I hardly ever go out and I was so hoping to be able to make a last minute appearance (if dp had to go and do some work), but no Couldn't really argue either as it's his birthday weekend and I've not really seen him at all this week, then he's off again next week and I'll hardly see him until May He'll be away for his actual birthday on Tues. And he was away for mine.

Thanks for the offer Uwila - especially of your beautiful DD! I actually popped into JL with dp today to test out there new MB Urbans and he just loved it and is so sick of my procrastinating that he's put his size 10s down and ordering one "first thing Monday" Couldn't find a Terrain to test sadly. Never mind - I'll be very happy with the Urban I think. Everyone has said they're great off road, over pebbles, sand and on dirt tracks as well as round town, I can always buy an old fixed wheel Landrover further down the line if I push it too far off road. If I could have the luxury of a pram just for how cool it looks, I'd go for a reconditioned Silvercross coach-built like a shot. There's quite a few on ebay at the moment which I drool over every now and again.

Trib! Are you sure it was just fag smoke? My trip was tiring too but I think all that walking around and stuff is good for you - must strengthen your body a bit?
I'm very intrigued as to how you'll be applying your IT/technical/physics(?) experience to "making a cup of tea" in your interview? It's such a huge brief once you think about it... The bottle of wine one sounds much more enjoyable! I'd be tempted to go up the night before and book into a Travel Lodge or something rather than drive all the way that day heavily pg. Dp has to go to leeds to do a seminar in a few weeks and we've decided this is what he's going to do. He might even get the train and taxis. Much less stressful imo.

Poor you Lynny - sounds like you've had a really worrying time lately feeling all sick, especially if your baby wasn't moving much you must feel much better now s/he's been moving. Hope you're up and about soon

Morning all,

Trib - maybe I should write your presentation - I am afterall a Tea expert!

Lynny glad your bp's down and you're feeling better - I know exactly what you mean about cabin fever...I can't stay in the house too long at all - and shopping is the best way I know for alleviating the symptoms

Charley - now you don't really expect us to believe your gonna get a pram on monday...I bet you'll still be deciding when Pod's here...you need to do what I did and get 3 coz you couldn't decide...and then decide that out of all of them you'd have actually prefered something else entirely, he he he

Lippy - thanks for keeping me posted yesterday...so I couldn't come, but glad you all had a great time...my bleeding plumber still hasn't finished (I'm sure he can see 'hopeless diy mug' written all over me!) so he's back again on monday and to date we're up to at least £600, and he's not finished yet Oh well it's not as if we could have used the money for anything else at all.....!!

Hey ho, anyhoo - Scraggy sooooo what was your news???? don't keep the rest of us in suspense too long

Right best get off to Morrisson's - it's our turn to do sunday lunch - catch up later, x

morning all,
hope everyone had a great time at the meet up yesterday and everyone else is having a nice weekend so far
im getting really excited now as we're off out shortly to buy the cot and changing dresser for the baby and hopefully the flooring-if we can decide on what to get
also getting really excited about leaving work this month and not having to go back untill christmas AND im certainly not going to miss the central line!!
has anybody else started to have some twinges quite low down? just wondered if this was normal although they have stopped now.must admit,i did panic at first thinking oscar was on his way

Hi all, hope you had a great time yesterday.

Trib, ?Drinking a cup of tea??? Am I allowed to ask what the NHS job is for? Is this a creative or a science/technical-based posting?

I?m still doing long drives at the moment and it?s not easy, so I do sympathise with you. I should make it a lot easier if you can share the driving with your DH though. I?ve got a trip from M?cr to Brighton in about 2 weeks time and I?m beginning to dread it.

Afternoon all,

Just waiting for the parentals to call me back with the latest on how the handover visits have been going with my bro's new baby. Before I went away things sounded as if they were in a v bad way, the bub's physical and mental state sounded a lot worse than they had been led to believe (bearing in mind he is now being looked after by foster parents and not by his insane birth parents) but I had a card from my mum saying things seemed to have gone better at subsequent visits, so I'm hoping the news is good.

I must say, I am amazed at the poor standards of care the foster parents seem to be allowed to get away with, the sooner the poor little bugger is in a proper, loving home the better.

Anyway, I'm not to bring down everyone else's Sunday afternoons as well! Tea, if you would like to do my presentation for me you are most welcome to. I will only be defining 'making tea using a tea bag' as I have no idea how to do it using proper tea and/or a tea pot. This is for an IT role, I trust there will be no actual tea-making involved or they can count me out. Mind you, my degree is (partly) in Japanese, so am tempted to investigate the Japanese tea-making ceremony and do that, not least because then they will have no idea whether what I'm saying is actually true

And yup, we will be driving up the day before. It's really too far for dh to be travelling even in two days but we have to get back for Thursday morning.

Jonah - M'cr to Brighton sounds horrific at any time, I guess the train isn't an option?

I slept all night last night after getting back from London I haven't had such a good sleep since 2004 The weather was great yesterday too. Had a nice lunch; a rather little chicken who looked like he had died spread eagled but tasted nice

Only 10 weeks to go now I am getting a little nervous. I think I might have to come out of denial. This baby is on the way It has taken me a while to notice. I kept thinking - yeah he's on the way but its ages away. But the clock is ticking and well he'll be here imminently I of course realise he is coming but well wouldn't mind stopping time just about now. Perhaps I'll avoid it by doing some revision.

Right I think I am going to go back to bed now and think about the impending baby tomorrow. Sunday is after all a day of rest and I want to watch finger smith tonight. I think I'll eat ice cream actually. Yes ice cream sounds nice

Hi all

Have not had time to catch up on everyone for a while, have been organising an art exhibition with over 150 works. Only had 5 hours sleep 3 nights in a row. Have spent the following two days recovering.
Sounds like you all had a fab time at meet up. Did you all compare bellies ? were they all really different?
I start ante natal classes tonight, hubby also started painting baby's room which previously had blood red walls, we were going through some gothic revival period or something.
Yes I think I feel like Pink, baby really is comming.
Hope you are all well

Morning All,

Trib - I think your Japanese idea is an excellent one. At least your presentation will be a lot more interesting than the other candidates. What an odd thing to ask you to do though. Will your role involve giving presentations?

The train isn't an option really. First of all, I suspect my v. kind SIL will be piling me high with baby stuff that she no longer needs (she's already given me bagfuls of clothes and a moses basket). Secondly, my DH has a thing about public transport. He would rather drive there and back single-handedly, then not be in his own space. Judging from the no. of mm my bump is away from the steering wheel, this could be a serious option ...

PInk, hope the ice-cream was lovely . Glad you had a good time on saturday.

Ah Jonah, I thought you were going to have to do that drive all your own. Shared with dh it's not so bad. Although presumably he is willing to travel on planes, and they are public transport? (More's the pity).

The job will involve presentations but also is about defining processes. So I can see why they've chosen the theme, even if it is rather tedious.

Uki, good to hear from you again, can't believe you have had the energy to be arranging art exhibitions!

Pink, I know what you mean about the realisation that the baby is really coming. Scarifying.

Good morning everyone! Had a nice time at lunch on Saturday. Too bad some of us couldn't make it. We talked about meeting again after babies arrive, and also thought that somewhere around REading might be more central. Anyone who wasn't at lunch have any idead? Gosh, I cann't believe I'm already talking about "after the birth". Although at the same time, I am quite looking forward to having this pregnancy behind me.

Oh yes, Trib, I like the japanese tea idea. You could even go into the importance of preparation to ensure the job goes smoothly.... I guess you've thought of that.

Morning all,
Lovely to see you all on Saturday - Charley and Tea you were missed (so was everyone else but you weren't expected initially iykwim)
Pink - I know what you mean about the baby coming, I think mine was trying to tunnel its way out last night - its kicks are getting very definite.
Tea - you would have been proud of me this morning, I was very firm on the tube 'Can you stop pushing me please I'm trying to stop my baby being jammed into this pole' Then I had 4 offers of a seat. Just decided to get over my reticence this morning and say clearly that I was pregnant and needed a seat.
Trib - when does the baby officially move in with your bruv?
Hello UKi - what colour is baby's room going to be? We're painting ours soon and am interested in colours people chose - I definitely don't want blue or pink.
We moved dd into her own big bed and room this weekend and, bless her, she's been fantastic. I came up to check her last night and her head was on the bed and the rest of her was dangling over the side onto the floor still wrapped in her duvet - she still hadn't woken up though

Morning All!

Good to hear you had a good meeting! We had fantastic weather on Saturday and spent the whole day outside. I was so knackered, that could not wait for Monday so I can come take it easy at work....

Tea, hope your plumber has finally finished his job! What a nightmare!

Lynny, Sorry to hear about your blood pressure woes. Hopefully you had a nice time outside this weekend to cure your cabin fever!

Trib, I am still mistified about this job interview thing! But japanese tea cerimony sounds much more interesting and charming than british tea making!

My belly was soooo sore yesterday! Especially in the "dark side of it", ie, the part I can't see it anymore....... Anyone else getting those? It must be strectch pain, but I could barely walk. I am much better this morning, but getting ready for an early arrival!

The weight gain of pregnancy continues to mistify me.... I haven't gained an ounce since started my diabetic diet, and baby continues to grow at normal pace and is above 75 centile. How does it work?!

Morning ladies!

I've had a bit of a reprieve on the pushchair front and so have longer to decide. I'm off to Reigate today to test fixed wheel and swivel wheel side by side at last so hopefully I can stop annoying you all (and myself!) with all the indecision Of course, I'll find something else to obsess about ....

What was Scraggy's news?

Bubbs - I'm getting lower twinges - feet I think - still don't think he's turned over...

Trib - hope your db gets through all this handover hassle soon. Must be driving them mad! I love Japanese teas btw Love your pun re the tea making business - TE(a) dious!

Hi Uki you busy bee! I start ante-natals on Wednesday. Bit nervous. Don't get out enough...

Welshie - good for you getting annoyed with people on the tube - you'll have to make a habit of it! Bless your DD not quite getting the hang of a big bed - I remember I often used to wake up on the floor!!

Lua - I get cramps every now and again - yeah, stretching I think.

Well i have to join all you blood sugar people! I had a letter through this morning saying I had high blood sugar - should be 6.0 and mine's 7.0 so have to go in for a glucose test Friday - not eat all night then drink a sugar thing and get tested 2 hours later

Good morning! Glad you all had a good time at the meet-up, I was very , thinking of you all on Saturday.

Welcome Noggermum - thought I recognised your name from my lurking trips to the May thread. And welcome back JennyWren, long time no see. And Uki - blimey, you have been busy!

JonahB - my doctor said I had to go on iron tablets too, but I decided against them (couldn't handle the constipation!) and followed Trib's dietary advice. When I spoke to the midwife and told her what the levels were (10.4) she said it was actually not too bad for pregnancy and was ok with me just doing the diet thing. I'll have a look for the link Trib posted. Dark chocolate is rich in iron apparently....

Welshie, well done to your DD!

Lynny, hope you are feeling better now.

Lua, glad DS is growing well. The diet thing sounds like it's working brilliantly...wish I'd not put any weight on in the last few weeks.

Sorry, that's a rubbish attempt at catching up with everyone!

No news from me really. Had a lovely night away with DH on Saturday, very restful. The in-laws looked after DS for the night, and when we got back on Sunday they were asking what we'd need from them in terms of help when the baby arrives. What is everyone else doing? Are you having people come to stay and help? The in-laws are great but quite stressful at times (especially FIL, who is a complete know-all which winds me up massively) and our house isn't really big enough to put them up. Guess I've answered my own question there really, but I wonder whether I'm being naive in thinking we can manage without them.

Cross-posted with you Charleypops. Sorry about your blood sugar levels.

Berolina! You are the first person I have come across with chicken pox issues. I had chicken pox at 18 weeks gestation and was utterly dismissed by my GP when i arrived with spots, claiming that no woman of my age could have escaped cpox in childhood! I had to push for a blood test, which low and behold showed that my first ever bout of cpox did indeed occur during pregnancy. was then sent for detailed scan which seemed to show that structurally, the baby is OK, but was warned that there is a 1-2% chance of the baby having congenital varicella syndrome, which could offer a whole range of birth defects from blindness/deafness to internal disorders, mangled limbs brain damage and death. great. No way now of knowing until this baby is born, and even then some things (like learning difficulties) may not manifest for a couple of years.

Haven't read your earlier threads so don;t know if you have had c pox during pregnancy or just exposed to it - the latter v small risk, the former same risk as me, above, depending on what stage of pregnancy you go it. If your contact was after 21 weeks you are home and dry as there are no risks to the baby whatsoever.

Its amazing how little the medical establishment seem to know about this when, presumably, an awful lot of pregnant women encounter c pox, especially those with older kids.

OMG, Nogger. What a thing for a GP to say to you. Sort of disproves the theory that you need a brain to go to medical school. Maybe he donated his to research whilst he was there?

I think patients should have a score card to turn in on their GPs. Forget giving stars to trusts. We don't we let the patients give feedback? Then, the good one could get credit where it's due and the bad one caould have a bit of motivation to get their act together.

I have to second Uwila - what a crap GP!! Have you changed him/her?? Feedback from patients would be a great idea for doctors - in fact all "professionals". Fingers crossed for you that everything's ok

Charley -sorry to hear about you blood sugar thing- what implications does it have for you?
It's to be expected that more and more of us are picking up these things now, given the assault our poor bodies are under I guess.
Nogger - how bad was that GP?! Will you complain to someone?
Thansk for the congrats for dd - I am very proud of her (was determined to get her into that room by end of March so she had 2 clear months adjusting before this one upset the applecart)

oh, he was much crapper than that. he went on to say that even if I had had chicken pox, the only risk was that of miscarriage in the first 12 weeks, and as I was well past that mark, there was nothing to woryy about! This was rather different to what I had read on the internet so I did see another GP who quickly referred me to the consultant in fetal medicine, who said something quite different (ie. as per last post). Ho hum. I don't mind GP's not knowing the answers - they really can't be expected to know everything - but they should be able to admit defeat and refer you to the appropriate professional, surely?