The summer equinox has been and gone, the nights are drawing in. Come and join the countdown to Christmas 2019, thread 4!

[NoWordForFluffy]

New thread for the new month tomorrow!

Afternoon all. Wow i cant belive how fast the thread is moving now, i must make more of an effort to keep up. Well now the house is pretty much sorted its back to christmas planning. Over half way there now im so excited.

Crap day today. I took the boys into nursery and within 5 minutes of being in Finn had to come home because he had a temperature. He seems well in himself, I’m not sure if it’s the heat making him a bit groggy.
I had to go to an appointment with my Nan as it is her review to see if she can be taken back into her care home so I had to take Finn with me. Nan isn’t doing well at all, she’s very angry because she’s not even allowed to go downstairs without supervision because she’s angry and unpredictable but then that’s because she isn’t being given any freedom so that’s a Catch 22. Anyway she got irate and I had to calm her down and then she was upset. It feels like we’ve gone backwards ten fold with nan, and me and mum and DH are the only people who visit her other than my uncle who comes once a week. So I called up my family and had a right moan at them which I shouldn’t have done but I’m hoping it gives them a kick up the bum to see nan.
Then I fetched Jude from nursery at normal time and as soon as he got in the car he threw up, all over the car. I had to get both boys out when we got home and have them a quick shower and some water. So the car had been stewing in the sick for a good 45 mins, in this heat. So I had to get them out in the double buggy on the street whilst scrubbing the car and making sure they weren’t being sick. I think I’ve done a decent job, it doesn’t smell too bad now but I’m airing it all out.
I’ve just put the boys to bed, I’ve got the fans on, I’ve stripped them down and I’ve put a bucket in there for them and a cold towel on their head to keep them cool. Ive called DH and had a massive cry to him, just feel like everything went wrong today.

I’m sorry for my moan, I’m just feeling very sorry for myself today. And I know I’m very lucky because my nans still with us and the boys are well but I just can’t stop crying. DH will be home in about 3 hours so I will get tea on soon, have a shower and hopefully I’ll feel more myself.

Fluffy he’s about 6 months older than the twins then. They’re bad at bedtime now too, maybe it’s an age thing?.

Biddy gosh you’re very busy, I feel a bit guilty for my moan now.

Mrs I hope the cream works well for your DH and he gets some relief.

Ninjas that sounds like a tough day

We went to the zoo today. It's the 1st time dh has been to Belfast zoo and the 1st time dc have been. It was built on the side of a mountain, so we were pushing the double buggy up hill most of the time. But it was all worth it as dc loved it. DS was shouting goodbye mr lion for about half an hour.

Mrs, I hope your DH is feeling better soon. You're both crocked!

Ninja, tough day indeed. The only way is up from there.

Maybe you're right about bedtimes. It's so frustrating. Thankfully DD wants to go (partly due to her new bunk bed!), so it's only one we battle with! (Unfortunately it's the one I take to bed 😭😭)

The concerts were lovely. Total tear jerkers (small children doing BSL signing to A Million Dreams is rather emotional!).

We let the kids play in the playground after school, then they've had dinner and we've had a pint in the pub near school. 😁😁

It chucked it down earlier (against forecast) then was roasting later.

I got a couple of hours in at the allotment between shows. It needed it, so I'm glad I did!

I’m feeling much better now, DH forgot the cat food and got it in the neck but he’ll never forget again😂😂.

Neros I love the zoo! I’m glad you had a great day, it sounds lovely.

Fluffy our boys share a room and they keep each other up talking. They’re both very active so they don’t like having to stay in bed, it’s a nightmare. We get the ‘can I have a drink’, ‘can I go to the toilet’ excuses so they can stay up another few minutes, it’s a nightmare.

The concert sounds lovely, I’d be in bits. What sort of things do you grow in your allotment. I’m considering putting raised beds in my garden but I’m not sure what to grow.

I get all sorts of excuses for not going to bed too. I wouldn't have them share though. That's not my idea of fun! 😂

We grow (front to back!):

Tomatoes
Courgettes
Green beans
Runner beans
Broad beans
Parsnips
Peas
Lettuce
Beetroot
Brussels
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Carrots
Squash
Pumpkins
Sweetcorn
Raspberries (though they won't fruit until next year)
Redcurrant
Strawberries
Rhubarb
Gooseberry (though I this wont fruit til next year as it's an offshoot)
Leeks
Blackberries are also there from an old bush which has been there for years
We have fruit trees, but only fruit on the apple.

Fluffy we have to have them share as there’s only two rooms. It was cute hearing them chat away at first, but there’s only a couple of months until school now so I’m going to have to figure something out. I’m hoping school and the long walk home will knacker them out, I might dress up as Mr Motivator and do a workout class to knacker them out😂.

Gosh you grow loads!. I’d like to grow some fruits I think, I love the idea of berries. And pumpkins! Have you always grown your own or was it something you decided to do for fun?

My mum is a keen gardener, and she got it from her dad (who was actually a gardener for their local council), so I guess it's in the blood.

We got the allotment last year as we wanted to show the kids where veg comes from and to get involved in growing / picking it too.

Pumpkins are a new one to me this year. They're taking over the bloody allotment!

Fluffy oh it’s just gorgeous!. It’s nice to see people growing their own nowadays. And lovely that it’s a sort of family tradition for you.

What do you do with your pumpkins, do you make pumpkin pie/soup?.

I've not grown them before, ninjas, so I'm not sure what I'll do with them. There's loads of little ones on the plants, so we may be overrun.

I think it'll be mostly soup!

That’ll be lovely on a cold winters night. I’m excited to see how they turn out

They're only a small variety (probably very lucky given how many we're getting!), so no giants here. I'm quite excited too.

So proud tonight. Chipstheeldest got an academic achievement award in Physics from her school

166

Morning!

That's brilliant news, Chips! I bet she's well chuffed too!

I'm glad it's Friday today. Though it's the sorting / clearing day on Sunday and allotment tomorrow (DS' best friend is coming to help pick peas too!).

Morning all :)

Well done Chip's DD!!

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my cross stitch. Really hope it arrives today so I can crack on over the weekend.

Desperate for some rain here, starting to feel as though it will never rain again.

Morning all.

Well done to your dd chips.

Fluffy do you find it strange working Fridays again? I'm on the look out for jobs at the minute and I'm so nervous about it.

Atticus can I send you some of our rain. It has barely stopped here all week.

It's a bank holiday here today so dh doesn't have to go into work until 10. Woohoo!

My newest Christmas recipe book arrived yesterday. This one is Gordon Ramsey. I've nearly got a full collection, I think. Unless someone can recommend another.

Its odd, but less stressful, Neros. Working 5 condensed meant there was literally no time to do extra work if it was needed, but I have that luxury now.

It's annoying not having that day to do life stuff / the allotment, but I'm less stressed, so I suppose working 5 days is better for me!

Is the GR book good? I might need to get it!

Hello all, I have been neglecting the Christmas chat but this popped up on trending and it was like seeing old friends again.
It is school holidays now so I can post more regularly and i can offer a thread baby for the autumn (a grandchild). I am planning to make a stocking for him/her plus one for DIL to match the DCs'.

Fluffy I haven't had a chance to have a proper look through it yet but I do want to try GR beef wellington.

Neros are the many vegetarian recipes in there?

Chips Well done to your DD!!🌟

Constantly Congratulations on your GC!

The boys have had to have the day off nursery today. They’re both not well at all. I don’t know what’s wrong, I just feel helpless. God help me when they start school and get every bug under the sun..

Constantly congratulations on your dgc. Do you have a design in mind for the stocking?

Ninjas there is about 2 main recipes that could be made vegetarian but that's it.

Neros I’ll have to keep looking then. I’m not sure what to make for our main this year.

Constantly! I've missed you! Congratulations on the forthcoming DGC.

I'm a 🐑 as I've bought the GR book!

I hope the twins are better soon, ninjas. We've had fewer bugs at school than preschool with our two.