Grab your Ganeshas and collect your cats: The Elderberry Pavlovas in the Quest for the New Year clusterdiff (thread 25)

[happylass]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+ months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

Huge congrats otters, have just been catching up on the news. Have a great holiday tiger.

Hi to everyone else. I am still living in my fourth year of hope for a Christmas miracle. AF due this weekend but no sign as yet. My antisocial cat came and snuggled on the sofa with me last night whilst watching Strictly, but I really doubt his prediction skills as I feel very premenstrual Could have tested this morning but I wussed out as I don't need extra disappointment, AF rocking up later will be enough.

Sorry for the downbeat post, the realisation that this is our fourth Christmas without a bfp is quite hard to deal with.

Aww Lumen sorry you are feeling so low. I will send positive berry vibes for a Christmas miracle for you. I really hope your cat is a sign! Hugs and just incase.

Jellie where do you even start with explaining Christmas crackers?! I'd struggle with that one. Well done you for being the go-to explainer of Christmas traditions. It's a thankless task, but somebody's got to do it.

Poor you Beaky with your plaster on your chest, although it does sounds quite cute. Hope you get your results sooner rather than later and that you get the all clear on this one. I hope you are doing ok and not feeling too, too worried.

Tiger it had somehow passed me by that you were going to Lanzarote for Christmas. That sounds like fun. Have a fab time and send lots of sunny weather updates to make us jealous.

Shame that Mr T didn't get that job, but I'm sure something better will be along soon. Ideally he would also get a job that he really wants, so the move isn't all about you iykwim .

HB so will you travelling back from Devon for your scan? Is it far? Life and TTC just do not go together sometimes.

Bushy - how are you feeling?

Ok, so we made some Elderberry martinis at home last night. It's: gin, sloe gin, creme de cassis, lemon juice and blueberries, and crucially Elderflower cordial for the Elderberry bit.

We had no idea of the quantities to use, so DH just put in lots, and now we have half a cocktail shaker full of the heady brew in our fridge. Perfect for sharing with the beautiful Berries. It's pretty strong stuff, so HB get yours down you before you start downregging and then stick to something safer, such as Tequila!

I think we should save the rest to virtually toast in the New Year.
- martinis all round.

lumen that's the very reason we've run away to Spain for Christmas, can't face yet another one that isn't baby's first, or at least with me being heavily pg. We've now ticked our 3 years of trying as well, so again the 4th Christmas of ttc being on my mind (the first Christmas we'd only stopped the pill that month so no expectations of an instant bfp but couldn't help expecting that 2011 would be our last Christmas with just the two of us, there should at least have been 2 + bump by Xmas 2012).
It's quite a scary thought that if Xmas 2015 doesn't involve at least a bump after 3 more stabbing cycles and throwing everything else we have at it, that will officially be game over.
But hey, we're here to forget about ttc ha ha, any tips? and forget about Xmas. So I'm off to rebuild my bike and go cycle up some big hills .

tiger hope you're also enjoying the lack of rain, wind and general grey miserableness .

Evening Berries. Am well of you ladies who are chilling out in warmer climes! I've returned to the scene of the Great Berry Meet Up of 2013 with DH. Currently chilling in the hotel but heading back out for more mulled wine, strüdel and deep fried cheese later on.
Tiger and Wild it is exactly your amazing qualities that have helped you (and all of us) survive this nightmare. Lesser mortals would have collapsed in a heap before now. I know what you mean about not quite being able to get your head around how long this has gone on though. We started TTC during our summer holiday 2012. Thought that would be our last summer hol as a twosome. Here's hoping summer hol 2015 will be the final one!
Hope everyone else is well. Time to head out for more food and drink

Mm, I want an elderberry martini! They sound delish!

tiger sorry about MrT's job, bigger and better things must be out there for him. Enjoy the sunshine on your hols!

hb that's an auspicious start day, hopefully a good omen for you. Definitely enjoy a cocktail or two now!

lumen I am with you on the hopeless hoping for an Xmas miracle. I think the witch will show up tomorrow (my cycles have been a bit off last couple of months, so it could be any day up to Xmas day). trying not to torture myself too much in the meantime. The bright side for me is that even if she does rock up, we should get our ivf referral next week. 3 long years!!

barking hope you get some good down (and up!) time in Spain on your bikes.

bushy I'm the nutter camping in Devon - we go on the 30th, straight after the appointment with the FC. All I've got planned so far is that I want to have a cheese fondue on New Years eve. I should probably start thinking more about equipment and less about my stomach...

Three days of work left for me - office will be a ghost ship tho so shouldn't be too tough. No doubt I'll be on here half the time! Anyone else still at work??

Wild I'm super impressed with your elderberry martinis cheers! I'll definitely be toasting you all, you guys have kept me sane this year and I really appreciate you all. Fx for everyone's bfps to come quickly in 2015.

Barking I hope you have a lovely time away and are feeling as ok as you can be at the moment with everything you have going on.

Happy that sounds like an amazing evening! Mm mulled wine, cheese starving here hope you are enjoying your well deserved Christmas hols!

Rain cheese fondue sounds lovely! Bravo to camping mind at this time of year. I hope your appointment goes well.

minx I always find it difficult to talk about things hence why I only really chat ttc stuff on here. I bet your friend was pleased she could lend you an ear. But what's this?! Your northern? I have been the most northern berry so far I think - can you say where you are? madly curious good luck with that long journey!

Ahh so close! I'm sunderland Minx. Are you not from here originally?

At Minx's Christmas progress. Who do you think you are Minx ? Queen Elizabeth the first?

Minx. This is the first year ever we are having Christmas in our own house!
DH is one of four and we all normally go to his mum's. However, one sister is going away, the other has just become a grandmother and brother is having this Christmas at his partners, so we are having MIL here so she can be looked after!

It's so lovely not having to travel and plan for travelling!

Happy Monday Berries, I'm off work but find myself at hospital this morning. Nowt to worry about, but a bfp triggers panic at the diabetic clinic and I've been summoned for 'a chat' and blood tests. I refused the offer of coming to the antenatal clinic this week, bit too tempting of fate for me.

Elderberry martinis sound amazing. My cocktail of choice is usually a dirty martini, I love the hard booze

Beaky, I think I'm the most Northern berry, I'm in Scotland!

Minx, I'm the same with discussing ttc stuff. I find it very difficult in person unless I've had some and them I just get emotional. I haven't even told my Mum about the two mcs, I don't like people being 'nice' to me about it if that makes any sense at all?

Rain, I am in awe of your winter camping adventure. I'm such a wuss when it comes to the cold. DH and I sold our camper can this year to help pay for the wedding, I miss it so much as tent camping I find a bit challenging!

Hola! Hope you're all doing ok. Christmas feels like a distant prospect in the sunshine. I had to just share this: Out of nowhere a three legged cat has just appeared at the villa and jumped on Mr T's lap where she is now snoozing contentedly. Pretty sure he's not pg but hoping it is a continuation of the cat related good luck!

Lol at the three legged cat, maybe the fourth leg is needed to distinguish between the sexes??!! Maybe the gato will do some ttc magic for Mr T's swimmers. Lots of Xmas dtd tiger to make the most of it! How warm is it over there?

I wonder who our most southern berry is- have we any devon or Cornish berries?

I'm ok hb thanks! cold is still hanging around, lots of coughing & nose blowing. Dh now says he thinks he has it! Man flu alert!

Maybe the missing leg is the one that contains the pregnant lady antenna?

Don't think we've got any Berries as far south as Devon/Cornwall. May have a few in Surrey. Rain perhaps?

There's a grad berry in Somerset. I'm in Yorkshire .

Surprisingly I'm in Hampshire (although close to the Surrey border).

How have things gone at the clinic Otters?

Smiling at the thought of the bfp antenna being in the missing leg of the cat!

I'm in Berkshire so close to hb

Jealous of the sun that tiger and barking are enjoying, have fab sunny Christmases ladies and knock back some cocktails!

My dh also seems to be coming down with man flu, it must be in the water.

Still no sign of AF but a sneaky poas was bfn this morning. Wish she would just put me out of this guessing game.

My non berry friend who had their only shot at IVF at fancy clinic in London finds out tomorrow, cross anything you can for her

Your poor friend Lumen. The difference in funding across the country is wrong.
Please report back when you know. I've spoken to Ganesha.

Minx yes born here. Have lived away during Uni and post grad jazz but never very far south! Are you at the FC stage yet - did you say you were going for a lap in jan? We have some brilliant fc's in our parts. Do you get a full three cycles too? I think all NE does...? I'm not at my closest FC I went a bit further afield since I could choose.

Pip that sounds like a lovely relaxing Christmas! How's things going for you? Hope you are managing not to stress too much.

Otters hope all went well at the clinic.

Tiger the hol sounds promising so far! I agree it must be the cats missing leg causing the issue!

Was RP not devon direction?

Aww Lumen was so holding out for a bfp for you, sorry it wasn't. Is AF late now? I'll be crossing my fingers and toes for your friend, please let us know when you can.

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of Christmas week! I've one and half days left at work woohoo! So unorganised though! AF has been 4 days long this cycle, that's so unusual for me, it's usually 2!

Why why why do fucking babies and pregnancy announcements ALWAYS happen just when you're feeling ok for once?
Traditional Xmas eve drinks with our friends tomorrow night (at the PUB) and one of MrPs friends who now lives abroad is back for Xmas (which is lovely) but his gf is planning on bringing their 4 month old with them (I'd assumed she wouldn't be coming). They're a nice couple but he has turned into a total baby bore since she was born. Am now evilly hoping the baby won't be allowed in.
Then, another of MrP's friends whose family we always spend boxing day with just announced his wife of 8 months is pregnant. Cue an evening of listening to her and his family (understandably but irritatingly) talking endlessly about swollen ankles and morning sickness.

I am suffering serious, serious gluckschmerz today, exacerbated by a BFN this morning after pathetically convincing myself this was the month cos I am an idiot.

excuse the whinging, I'll be back with a less me focused post later, just needed to get that off my chest.

Sorry rain that does sound as though it will muck up your expectations for some fun and relaxed get togethers. Boo!

I think I must qualify as the furthest south, as Sydney is Southern Hemisphere! While in uk though I'm Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire borders (depending on whether in my own home or parents'!)

lumen fingers will be crossed for your friend. I'm keen to see whether the fancy clinic manages to result in a first time BFP. not that it makes any difference to me of course as I won't realistically be able to come back and do a round in London

I've just spent a lovely day in London (yesterday) catching up with an old uni friend. We went ice skating at the natural history museum . Would have love MrSmidge to have been there too.