Due April 2009 - Sod the thread title, we will need a new one in a week.

[PuzzleRocks]

Welcome new joiners, lurkers, occasional updaters, prolific posters, and Nutty and Springy .
I say this one wont last a full 10 days.

Still out of pain although it was bit too noisy around here to sleep much. Not using crutches. Tired but happy!

Excellent news, Boffin! TENS machine sounds magic.

Nutty, I hope you get some decent treatment asap.

Random question coming up: does anyone know if people in the UK use a kind of nickname to refer to babies' dummies? In French there are several, but the French tend to give loads of diminutives/nicknames to things. I'm mid-translation and thought I'd mine the MN fund of knowledge.

Sun is out here, the last remnants of snow on our (North-facing, sun-deprived) square are starting to melt. And a snowdrop is peeking out on our terrace. Almost enough to make me smile, but sadly the financial news from the UK has put paid to our plans to buy a new home; the pound is now worth so little that I'm not sure it's worth tranferring my funds. Though some investment hotshot was recommending yesterday that everyone flog their sterling asap...
Looking around for acceptable rental, and feeling v depressed at not having acted earlier. But DH has only had a contract since the beginning of this month, and I didn't want to make any decisions till we were sure he would actually have a definite income. More fool moi!

Morning! BoffinMum, so pleased for you. Will they be able to give you something that will work at home as well? I really hope so. Nutty, sounds like you will have to kick up a fuss to get admitted too, go for it!

When I spent a night on the labour ward with premature contractions the woman next door was screaming her head off, movie style. It was really scary. But then I did some screaming too during transition - it does help in a weird way...

AuldAlliance, a friend of mine calls it dumdum but she's South African

The only nickname I know is 'blankie' for a textile transitional object.

Re: SPD. Just been to the food room to get myself a breakfast tray (fixing my own food! yay!) and consultant and midwife obviously came to my bedside and clocked the crutches were there without me, and came hunting for me with big 'Can it be true?' smiles on their faces.

I have to say I don't think I can walk very far pain free (the pain lady gave me strict instructions not to overdo it), but consdering yesterday morning I could barely make it to the ward, it's almost Biblical in its marvellousness.

Auld Alliance, it is a bad time to buy from the point of view of the pound, but properties of three bedrooms and fewer have dropped a bit in price so there are a few bargains out there if you are prepared to be patient - it depends where you are looking. So don't be too depressed because if you are buying for the medium to long term it will all even up in the end.

great news boffin - hope the lack of pain lasts.

auldalliance - feel gutted for you about the house - guess its just one of these things that happens and as you say, you couldnt move earlier anyway. I heard that investment guy on Radio 4 yesterday - made the whole scenario even more depressing - basically saying that the UK will be a net importer of oil within a decade, and the only other thing they had to sell was the bankers of the City of London, so since their reputation has been tarnished, we have nothing to offer the world. Therefore sell all your Sterling cause the country is going down the tubes.

All very depressing and may be true but i think its a case where I may bury my head in the sand and think it cant get that bad. May well get the damp proofing done in our house though instead of leaving it for a purchaser to do, as we will be in this house for the forseeable future.

cant think of a nickname for dummy other than a soother or a pacifier, but they may both be American.

how are you today nuttytaff?

and how's your finger puzzlerocks?

Aha, I wondered about dumdum. Problem is, the bl**dy text I'm translating has three nicknames: chuquette, choupette, tototte (!).

BoffinMum, hooray for the miracle!!

Re houses, we're looking in the Aix/Marseille area, where prices have only fallen a little and bargains are few and far between. We have to be out of our current rental by Aug 31st, but need to move in July, really, to get DS settled before starting at new school, etc. We had a nice budget 6 months ago, it's now halved, and I can't see prices doing that in the next couple of months down here.

Boffin; I cannot believe you're doing so well! It is utterly fantastic. Hopefully it lasts; don't over do it.

...you next Nutty ...

In the States pacifiers are sometimes called a 'nuk' (nook-rhymes with book), but Nuk is a brandname; I think it's more regional, I don't remember it from when I lived on the East Coast, but it was popular in Wsconsin... Also they're called 'plugs' and 'binky' (I think Binky might also have been a name brand)

Sometimes it's a struggle with contracting isn't it? You don't always know if you're coming of going until the last minute. In troubled times it means extra worry, but in good times it seems so easy. I empathize greatly Auld.

Sorry Auld, for some reason I thought you were talking about relocating back here. Got the wrong end of the stick, so ignore me. I am stoned anyway!! Very bad luck on finance but hindsight is the greatest gift, and we all have regrets about this sort of thing at the moment. Still shit though. But life goes on.

Morning all

Was out all day yesterday so missed all your posts - nutty what's your email and I will send on Boff's final letter and timeline

How you feeling today? Really hope things have picked up a bit.

Just trying to catch up very quickly -

Re pound please please don't listen to everything you read or hear on the TV and papers - most of it is PR-crap made up to get someones name on the paper! (I know because sometimes I do it!!) Also the media are bias in their reporting (for example you will see pages and pages about profit losses on stores but virtually nothing about all the stores (and there are many!!!) that are doing much better this year than last! They are only really printing negative stories as bad news sells papers!

Yes the country is in a dire condition at the moment and financially it is going to be a horrible 18 months, however until we know what the US reaction to Obama will be we have no idea what the future will hold (when the US sneezes, the whole world catches a cold etc), so if they start to pick up economically because of the buzz of Obama, then 6-8 month later we will also! Although to be fair, makes me glad I don't have significant amounts in savings!!

Auld to be honest, I don't think there is going to be a 'good time' to buy for the next year or so (although I am not an expert) but if it were me I would bite the bullet and invest.

Boffin - that is great great news!!! So pleased.

Starting to see the end to my horrible week now, just one more massive project to get done and all will be fine with the world!!!

Hope everyone has a good day today!

BB

Nutty/Conker - I haven't dared look under the dressing yet but I think it's ok. DH was very impressed that I literally put blood sweat and tears into the supper.

How are you today Nutty? Are you going to kick some butt?

Boffin - Terrific news. A bloody long time coming though.

sounds like most people are having a fairly postive start to the day - its funny how it all moves in waves - all feel down, then all start to pick up - must be as a result of the commune (nuns periods all happening at the same time etc).

and it was meant to be the most depressing day of the year on Monday by that formula someone worked out- so guess everything is up from there.

I posted this on pregnancy and on childbirth but haven't had any responses yet....

I am extremely unhappy with the midwife I have been assigned on the NHS and have made a complaint. Should this not be resolved to my satisfaction I am thinking about hiring a private midwife as I would like a homebirth. Can anyone recommend one? And do you know what the going rates are please?

Does anyone here know much about this?

Thanks.

My God am I a pack-rat! I have so much weaving and crafting things...I keep finding it stuffed in places like I'm saving it for a rainy day... lol
If only yarn and string were as good as money I'd be RICH!

Aaaargh I have just been looking at hotels in Austria... trying to plan our summer holiday but the exchange rate is so bad at the moment that we'll end up spending £1600 per week for full board. Is that too much? I have no idea how much you'd expect to spend as a family of four. Boffin???

Morning ladies!
I forgot to tell you yesterday that we had our first NCT antenatal appt on Tues night and it was BRILLIANT... such a nice bunch of people, we've already swapped numbers with two of them, and it was such an eye opener for DH... his eyebrows kept getting higher... and higher... as we were shown the pics of labour - we got in the car afterwards and he turns to me and says "Have i told you lately that I love you? I'm not leaving your side for 1 second!! My poor baby - I had no idea!" sweet funny man...

One thing that was bit concerning was that, of all the ladies in the class who are due the same week, my bump is by FAR the smallest... I'm not half as big as a lady who'd due on the same day as me!!! I know I'm tall so probably have more space inside but I got really worried... anyone think I need to call the MW? (i have my 28 week appt next Tues so can wait if necessary)

Schulte - I work in travel and that does sound a bit excessive.. what kind of holiday are you planning? Hotel? Villa? Fully inclusive? Half board? Maybe I can help with a few "insider" specials...

Anyone for some homemade carrot cake with orange and creamcheese icing? I've just boiled the kettle too... xxx

Hello! haven't been around for a while as I have been ill. #i have lurked a little, but probably missed lots.

Nutty - sorry to hear that this nightmare is getting worse. Good luck. I can't imagine how frustrated you must feel.

Boffinmum - I hope this upturn continues!

BabyBolat - how are you bearing up under the work strain?

Frekkles - are you around? Have you been joyously reunited with your DP yet? Sorry if I have missed updates.

This is my second day at work after having been signed off sick for two weeks with the random undiagnosed can't-breathe-wheezy-chest thing. I am not really better but not as bad as I was. And really not feeling being here, or the commute. I am vast, and wheezing, and no fucker will stand up. I really want to kick the bastards really hard in the shins. PLEASE tell me how to ask someone to stand up and who to pick. I have done it a thousand times on behalf of someone else when I was feeling fit and well but I just can't do it now and ... for some reason I am always afraid that I am gooing to cry.

Also... please don't think me a band-wagon-jumper... but in a very modest, dilettante-ish way I think I might be flirting with a minor case of SPD. Hobbling, not immobile. Is swimming bad or good? Anything I can do to stave it off?

Sorry to hear that so many of you have been in the wars. here's to things looking up.

Kitty I wouldn't think you'd have to worry too much as bumps vary so very much... My suggestion is bring it up at the next MW appt. and get reassured then. If you're eating fine and drinking fluids then I really doubt there's a reason to call MW right away.

Mind is Mush Story:

Just needed to go to the toilet...walked into the room; it was very dark. I thought, 'I must turn on the light.' Went straight to the toilet and pressed the flush...lights (obviously) did not turn on. Annoyed, I pressed the flush again before it occured to me what I was doing...
lol giggle

gingersarah - come right ahead and jump on the bandwagon - think it keeps the rest of us with a bit of perspective when we see how much nutty and boffin are suffering - but i am hobbling slightly too but not every day so think i will just mention it at next mw appointment.

from what i've read, you should try and keep knees together as much as possible when turning in bed, getting in and out of cars etc - and some people seem to have a support belt to help but i've so far not got round to finding one.

kitty - your class sounds like fun - i regret not making more effort to keep in touch with people but we went to nhs classes that were for a different area cause our area ones were during the day and i was at work. the knitted boobs i think were the highlight though.

i also wouldnt worry about bump size - such a huge variation and previous weight and your height and lots of other things affect it.

oh dear bleuravin - think you need to sit down with a piece of that carrot cake (me too please) and have a little rest.