Morning all! It's a beautiful three-day weekend here, and I've been drinking a mug of tea (made from my special supply stash brought back from London last weekend) and downloading the Archers omnibus - gah, homesickness is clearly turning me into my mother! 
I hear the weather is absolutely glorious in the UK. I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine, in spite of the rash of bumps and small children it has enticed out. It's 90 degrees F already here, and Mr TightarseMr C has been refusing to turn on the air con on in our flat, so I'm up early to enjoy the cooler temperatures. And, of course, to read my favourite thread on MN! 
euro - I'm so sorry that AF is on its way, and so sorry that you're on to IVF and feeling understandable amounts of trepidation about it. It's totally crap. Thinking of you, and praying that this next step will be the one that brings you your little one. We will be here to hold your hand through the process.
teu sorry that your period is due, and really good luck with the new job on Monday. I always find it really exhausting when I start a new job, as there is so much information to process - not just the work, but learning all the new faces and navigating the new office dynamics as well. What will you be doing? Are you and your DH in NZ for work, or permanently? No need to say if you don't want to put too much info out there! From my limited research of watching Lord of the Rings, it looks like a stunning country. I would love to go one day.
carrie how are you feeling? That sounds terrifying. I definitely had sharper pains and twinges on Clomid, even though I didn't ovulate, but like others have said, nothing like you describe. I can't believe that you aren't being monitored with your medical history. I did three rounds of Clomid myself without any monitoring and found the lack of knowing what's happening bloody stressful and frustrating. I'd push really hard for your doctor to be checking on what your ovaries are doing with scans and blood tests.
sarlat Just wanted to say that I found your post about IVF very moving. It's a horrible thing for anyone to have to go through, and it is amazing to hear about your journey (if that doesn't sound to American). I really, really,really hope that this wait flies past for you, and most of all that this round is successful. As you say, it will all be worth it if there is a baby at the end.
buzzy hope you're doing ok, and enjoying your holidays. What are you growing in your allotment? I've found that doing a bit of gardening is one of the best destressers in this whole crappy process, although I am very much a novice at it!
kitty yay for the 12 week scan! Lovely to hear that it is all still going well on the other side, as it were, and sorry that you're feeling anxious - I hope the hypnotherapy helps.
princess you are one funny lady Sorry to hear about ShowerGate, although it sounds as though a great triumph compromise was reached with the girly bedroom design! The waiting room was quite plush in my new doctors, actually - it was huge, with masses of comfy chairs and filtered water....no Vogue, but they did have Allure! I thought of you on Friday when I splashed out on a kale, cucumber, pineapple, broccoli, pear and parsley juice at WholeFoods. It was $7 of green deliciousness, but I did feel a little embarrassed paying at the checkout. I imagine the cashier was thinking, bloody yuppy! 
Speaking of yuppies and fur babies, my friends came over last night with their elderly Jack Russell terrier and it emerged that they occasionally give the dog coconut water as a treat, which apparently he loves . I'm sure that his ancestors would be howling in horror. Can dogs be metrosexuals, do you think?
wine how are you feeling? 
I hope you've been able to sit out in the garden and soak up some Vitamin D. Maybe Mr Wine could bring you a nice cold drink and some crap magazines to read? I'm sending positive thoughts your way, and praying that you heal as fast as possible. This has been one hell of a rough ride for you.
mrsden how irritating about your colleague. I think that some people don?t even consider that getting pregnant isn?t as easy for some people as others. Reading the IVF thread ? in which the vast majority of posters were thoughtful and kind, apart from the horrible OP ? reminded me that if you haven?t had the experience of wanting children and not being able to have them, you can?t understand what it feels like.
joyce yes yes to the heart bleeding sensation. That is exactly what it felt like being surrounded by all the little outfits? I know rationally that the best thing for me to do is to not put myself in situations with a high danger of baby awareness, and yet often I can?t seem to help myself. Good luck with the scan tomorrow.
Artemis at the linen outfit ?projecting an air of relaxed cool?! I bet you look great, though. My sister (who lives in Italy) was laughing at me the other day for unironically wearing a pair of neon yellow nylon running shorts with very, very pale and slightly furry legs, and told me that ?no self-respecting Italian woman would be seen dead in those?. I really need to work on my ?summer look?. I am lightly waggling a kipper at you, but fervently hoping that it?s not required.
Gin hooray for Pimms at the Chelsea Flower Show! I am totally jealous, I?ve never been? I went on a tour of grand private gardens here in Georgetown (an uber posh part of DC) a few weeks ago, and it was amazing ? one garden had only white flowers, and another garden was a massive two acres, with an enormous main house, a huge pool and a sweet little summer house in the grounds, in spite of being in the centre of one of the most expensive areas in the US.
beryl It sounds like you are fully in the system, and that things are progressing, with Mr B?s SA coming up, and your blood tests normal. I know what you mean about not wanting to ask about exact results, but you could always ask for a print out of your notes? That?s what I did with my previous doctor. I can?t believe that 35 is the magic drop ? so many of my friends here have had their first baby after 35 and gone on to have more. I was just having lunch yesterday with a pal who had her first at 39 and is having her second at a month shy of 42.
pout how are you doing? I dyed my hair red throughout my twenties and vividly remember the purple boobs look. The best way to not get dye on your clothes is to do it in the way you describe. It's practical, innit!
lemons you must be nearing the end of your 2ww - hope you're feeling chipper. Keep that tail feather high!
Waves to mrstolis, frannie, becks, and everyone else that I have missed. Right. I'm off to make some princess approved buckwheat pancakes. Mr C has emerged from the gloomy lair of our bedroom and all this typing has made me peckish!