Round up your broom stick, black cat and cauldron and get ready for Halloween, it's the Countdown to Christmas, thread 7!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here we go again. I think the last thread was the quickest ever, so this one probably won't even get to Halloween, but we shall see!

philomena Thank you :) he's just had toast so hopefully that'll stay down.

Heavy I'm sorry to hear your anxiety is flaring up, big hugs. Take some time for yourself in the evening to unwind and do something you find relaxing.

Afternoon everyone!

Coffee was grand and tasted so good, I was so happy! Then I brought it back up and I’m no longer happy or wanting coffee 😂

I’m eating a coronation chicken sandwich and wait for it... a slush puppy 😂 what baby wants, baby gets!

Fluffy - I think i’m Going that way as well, sleep just doesn’t happen what so ever! Thankfully, the first trimester exhaustion has now eased off. I used to work 17 hour days so I’m used to running on little sleep, although without the caffeine keeping me going it’s tough 😂 love the cross stitch it looks awesome! Sorry to hear you had such a awful EMCS experience. The perks of having 5 brothers is that they have done all the packing for me 😂

Seafood - I’ve just accepted the fact I’m probably never going to sleep much again until the baby turns 18 😂 I hope your boy feels better soon!

Yep not long at all now mrs - sorry to hear you also had a awful EMCS experience too! Have a lovely walk :)

April - sorry to hear you also had the weird dream that your life had literally flashed by and was wasted, so very strange! Yep thankfully it was just a dream, and it’s lovely you are watching your family grow with you :) thank you very much! I’m 15 weeks 2 days. Baby is due 26.03.19, so excited to meet him or her :) yep I have both a boys and girls name picked out already! I find out on the 15th October whether it’s a boy or girl, well I hope to find out. This baby wasn’t playing ball at the 12 week scan and took them over an hour to get the nuchal measurement, so I imagine baby will make it awkward at the gender scan too 😂 I Always thought I’d be a mum of a boy, but all my family think baby is a girl and I’ve really warmed to the idea of having a little girl, I’m so excited either way and can’t wait to find out and get the nursery painted :) ah you’re going to have another in a couple years, that’s lovely :)

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone; baby brain 😂

I want the Christmas coffee!! Unfortunately I cannot be trusted in Sainsbury's

I'm so tried I've done so much driving today! Was pretty but didn't have time to admire the view really. So pleased no more work until Monday.

Evening all
Goldcliff was wonderful had a lovely walk , dried a load of washing on the line it is so lovely here today .
Came home via Tesco in Spytty Park , they had loads of half price toys there , some great bargains by the look of it.
When we got home the NDN had the police at his door because he pressed his alarm on his wrist (accidentally) , we let the PC go and looked after him, made him a nice cuppa & piece of cake, stayed with him for an hour, emptied his catheter bag and away to go . He is fine now but no sign of his DDS .
We have booked a Carol Concert on the 27th Nov in St Davids Hall Cardiff , the Cathedral choir are singing l am really looking forward to it
Wreck it looks beautiful countryside , have a good rest now m'dear
Acey thank you we had a great walk , sorry your much looked forward to Christmas coffee didn't stay down but the Chicken sarnie & slush sounds just what the baby ordered , whether it is a boy or a girl it doesn't matter so long as you are both well, 15th will soon come round m'dear YAY!
Sea am so glad DS has managed some toast fingers crossed he is ok thank you for the understanding re my nightmare birth on DD2 , thankfully we are alive & well to tell the tale
Heavy l hope you are ok it is awful when the anxiety strikes try to breathe through it m'dear
PSB there is a big gap between your DD1 & DD2 , am not meaning to be nosy but think it must be because of a new relationship , if so then that is wonderful for you to have a second bite of the cherry!

Sorry you have trouble with your sleeping , l don't think l could function if l didn't sleep well, l am sure l would be very irritable with my loved ones
Carol the weather does dress imho, a lil common sometimes , I think she needs a make over mwah hahaha shall we apply for the stylist job lol I would have her in Phase 8, Oasis, Next & Monsoon with a splash of Zara & M& S
Fluffy , have not forgotten any news on the job interview m'dear , everything crossed all week for you
Better go do tea , my DDS went to the Parents today and they were absolutely gobsmacked at what my Dsis gave my Parents for lunch, bought Quiche & spaghetti hoops !!! I can't even have a day off and she gives them awful food . Somehow l think they will be glad to see me tomorrow
Hope everyone ok , have a great evening everyone

I mean ......Spaghetti Hoops!

You guessed right Mrs!

Picked DS2 up, DD had brass club but was back before supper was ready, the rest of the chicken chow mein, DS2 will go to bed at 7, DD will go at 7.40, she woke up ridiculously early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. 🎺😋🍗🍜😴

Aldi had some Christmas food in. A ginger beer gammon and festive sausage roll looked good

And someone I know from another thread posted on the "good things that have happened today" thread, that Aldi have Spekulatzius, the German spiced Christmas biscuits.

81

QVC is doing Christmassy things this weekend (I think it's lights next)

Sainsburys sent me a 1000 bonus points voucher (when I spent £1) to get my Nectar Points bulked up. I need to check my total, I save it all for Christmas.

No cake but a spoonful of peanut butter takes the edge of things.

Morning!

What a grand time to be awake 😩

On the plus side; I have woken up feeling inspired
I have decided that next year, I am finally going to go for my degree in Law. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since before leaving school, however, life and other stuff has always got in the way. Not any more though. It’s going to be tough, but it’s a challenge I can’t wait for! This wee baby of mine is my motivation and inspiration to be the best possible person, and mum that I can be

Heavy - I’m sorry to hear that your anxiety has flared up, I hope things calm down for you soon

Mrs - I’m glad you had a lovely walk chicken sandwich and slush was definitely what the baby ordered yesterday you’re right, the 15th will soon be here and I can’t wait 😁

I have a huge craving for weetabix and orange juice, so that’s what I’m going to go eat now

Food shopping for me today. Such a fun way to spend my day off 🙄

Morning everyone
Shaky the feral stray cat who is now ours , vomited late Tuesday night, we didn't think anything of it , you know what cats are like . Since then he has refused to eat a thing, chicken , rice, tuna, sachets, steamed cod , he won't eat anything! Have bitten the bullet and now booked him into the vets this afternoon. He is drinking water, washing himself & seems fine except he is not eating and he is a little quiet. Have tried to force him to eat but he spits it all out . Such a worry . Have got to take him to the vets in a carrier and he is not going to like that at all! He is going to be really angry when we get him in there and l have warned the vets that he may be really aggressive toward them HEY HO l am trying to do my best.
After the spaghetti hoops charade yesterday , my Dsis rings me to say have l had a naice day off and that she won't be able to help next week at all. I have had a right feed of it tbh , everything is left to me , my DBrother does nothing at all , he doesn't even go and see them & she gives them spaghetti hoops on the 1 day that l have off . I am really upset about it because l am being put upon but my family are so toxic l cannot say anything to them because they turn it around and say l am being aggressive . I feel like they are horrible and l don't want to have anything to do with them l am trapped and it is all my own doing because l cannot tell them the truth because they are master manipulators.
Anyway that is my awful day to come , DH & l up the parents sorting out the mess that my DSIS/parents will have made and then taking Dad to the hospital for his bloods & chest xray which he doesn't want to go for and is moaning about to my DSIS about and then taking Shaky to the vets .......sorry to vent here but l can't even talk to my DH about it because he gets so upset with my family when we talk about it.
Sorry to go on , l hope everyone has a good day, normal service will soon resume here l am sure

Morning!

I'm on the way to have my shoulder looked at. Woooo! It bloody hurts todayand I forgot to take my painkiller, but that's probably good as they'll be able to see how much pain I'm in!

No word on the job yet, should be early next week now as the last interview is today.

Acey, FireflyGirl and I are the resident lawyers on this thread so feel free to ask any questions you may have. I did a different degree and the GDL as my route in, however.

I have about £121.00 in Nectar points, but I've already spent about £100.00 on ingredients. I save them for Christmas too!

Mrs - it’s awful that everything is being put on you and that you feel so trapped. I don’t have any experience of what you’re going through, but I hope things get better and ranting on here helps

So, my gender scan has been moved to Friday 12th at 11am
It’s only an hours flight from here to Dublin, but Dublin to Donegal is 3 hours 40 car ride, so I will be flying the night before. You can fly from Dublin to Donegal, but there are only 2 flights a day and they don’t fit in with the Flights from here to Dublin.
I’m so excited I could burst

Hope everyone is having a grand morning :)!

Morning! Woke up at 1, took a while to get back to sleep, heard DS2 come in at about 5, dozed, the light and birds on my app didn't wake me up, the vibration did, 5 minutes after my alarm time. I'm very refreshed.

I'm having a cheese and tomato omelette and a banana today. 😋🍅🍌

Mrs, sorry your family is so rubbish. It's not good having the burden. I don't currently live near my parents, so my sister has that responsibility, though even when / if they move here it'll have to fit round small children and full time work. It's difficult as parents age and not every adult child has the time available to help. So hard.

No stollen in Aldi shall I go to Lidl?!

Poor Shaky Mrs! Hope the vet can find out what's wrong.

Why is it so often left to one sibling to look after elderly parents? DS1 and DD1's dad nursed his mum through cancer when he was 18, he was the youngest of 4, the next one up in age was 13 years older. DH looked after his mum, he's the youngest of 3, again a 13 year age gap. His sister would have helped but lived too far away to go every day, his brother just didn't give a shit. My mum was the only one who went to see my gran, despite the fact that my gran lived near Sheffield and she lives in London, most of the other family either live in the same village or Sheffield.

When my gran was dying of cancer, my mum, my 2 older DC and I went up to see her, I spent the whole day in the living room with my gran, my useless uncle, who's a year older than me, so he'd have been 28/9, spent the whole day out in the conservatory. I was so angry. I was thinking, "She's my gran, but she's your mum!"

Fluffy hope something can be done about your shoulder and fingers crossed for the job!

I always save my Nectar points for Christmas too. DH spends his on the meat and a bottle of port, I, because I get so many more, spend mine on beer, naice juice for the DC, chocolates, savoury Christmassy snacks, puddings for Christmas day and "Nectar presents". We each have £5 to spend on an extra present from Nectar.

Referral for ultrasound and light exercises for now as it's still too acute for physio proper. He said it's good that I have movement though!

Oh MrsMad that sounds so hard. I read an article about our generation (40-60 year olds) being the 'squeezed middle' - we have caring duties for the generations above us and below us and I can sympathise. I don't see my mum daily life a couple of my sisters but I am involved in her care and I have children living at home still too. My DH is very supportive but he doesn't have a great deal of patience for the flakier members of my extended family. I'm sure this face was modelled on him.

Make sure you do make time for looking after yourself.

Sorry I've been MIA for a day or so. I lost 2 entire days to a mystery bug that has no symptoms except for extreme tiredness and almost no appetite. I am back in work today but leaving at 2 because I still don't feel great. I've done 1 small team meeting and going to sort admin stuff until then - plan later is to rest up.

MrsMad that's really unfair of your family! I understand the dynamic of 'if you say anything it becomes you making trouble' and it's rubbish (similar in parts of DHs family). At least you know you're doing your best and your parents are being looked after by you - they must realise this and be grateful.
Fingers crossed your cat is ok 🤞

Acey I think your excitement is bursting through the app lovely - I'm so pleased for you.

Woolly if I am ever lucky enough to become a parent I foresee something similar happening. I'm early 30's now with parents in their 50's so I would have children young enough to need a lot of car while my parents need extra help. Dsis would help but I work full time, she has 3 children of her own so it would be a struggle.

In my family, when my Nan was unwell, some aunts / uncles went to visit, talk and drink tea so they looked caring while only one or 2 others did the grunt work of appointments / consultant meetings / changing bedding / making sure meds were taken etc. It's infuriating to see.

wreck I love that you can't be trusted to go into sainsburys

Acey 3am is the middle of the night not morning! Fantastic news about going for a law degree, we'll be cheering you on :)

Philomena glad to hear you've slept better this time.

mrsmad spaghetti hoops for grown up sounds crazy, it's a last minute emergency thing surely if it's for adults not something that you plan to sustain anyone!! From an outsiders perspective it sounds very much like they know which side the bread is buttered, honestly it suits them very well with the set up you have now and they know they can manipulate things if they threaten to change. If things were different who would it be suiting? not them. I think if you ever decide to confront this, and I think the time will come where something will have to give, then prepare in advance for what outcome you want, what you want to say and don't let them try to railroad you or twist things around, just politely and clearly say what you have to and ignore their protests. For what it's worth you come across as an incredibly caring person and your parents are very lucky to have you. I don't speak to a large portion in my family, I just find them too much. Good luck at the vets, I hope all is well with Shaky and if not hopefully nothing expensive!

Fluffy I hope the ultrasound refferal comes through quickly, it's good you have some movement though, sounds positive.

crazy that sounds horrible, I hope you're on your way home to rest now, I hope you feel better soon.