So when the UK sleeps, we know you other MNers are out there part II

[tadjennyp]

I was looking for thumbwitch's recipe for that cake and found the old thread has disappeared so Linzer and I thought we'd resurrect it!

I have bought cards - special Aussie ones - which surprisingly aren't that common! There are more "normal" Christmas cards than ones with native Aussie animals on and I don't want to send "normal" Christmas cards!

Just got to write and post them now...
One good thing, they reduce the postage cost of cards-only post at Christmas time, isn't that cool!

Have the sniffles again - probably allergy-based - might even be the mozzie spray although that's meant to be hypoallergenic so probably not. Probably tree pollen then, it's been damped down the last few days but one day of sun and it's back. Boo.

Should be doing something energetic but cba - DH wants to go for a bike ride but I'm stiff from the swimming - and I know I should but still...

Blimey thumb what time is it there? I've shoved the dcs in front of the Aristocats as we've been to a party today and just thinking about doing some dinner. They had plenty of cake though so prob won't want much. I can't be bothered to do anything either. V tired. Loved the book list by the way.

well it was 9:30 when I typed the last post - we went for the bike ride, which was hard going (unexpected short steep slope on the road back) and a bit depressing - at least 8 dead kangaroos, where I've never seen any before, and not that many live ones - they might have been culled, and the bodies were ones who took a while to die so didn't get clearer away; or it might have been bastards killing them for sport.

So - back in one piece but sniffling worse now. :(

The book list - I think I forgot to add teh beginning bit! It was a bbc list, apparently the average number of books off the list that people have read is only something like 13 - I should have posted that bit at the top of my Note

Why are they culling the kangaroos? Are they a pest over there where you live? Seems a bit weird to just leave them there though.

I thought I'd seen the list before. Read about half so far if I remember correctly. Who reads absolutely everything Shakespeare wrote? I've seen a lot of the plays but I certainly don't remember reading all of them, or all the sonnets! Better get cracking on some of them then!

well, they're not normally a pest no, but we live right near a mental hospital set in very lovely grounds - acres of bush and then the hospital. There are 100s of kangaroos down there normally - but it is a limited area and right next to human habitation, so it is possible that they do periodic culls whenever the mobs get too big.

DH thinks that if they did a cull, they would have taken the bodies away with them - but depending on how they would have done it, some may have not died immediately. Certainly never seen 8 lying around dead like that - don't think I've ever seen one like that down there before. And we go very regularly!

I always wonder about Shakespeare - and also the Bible - does anyone still read the whole thing? There are some verrrry boring bits!

I would say I've read about a third of the bible and it's a very long book. I don't remember if I've read all of the Magic Faraway Tree series but certainly some of them. It' also a bit annoying that the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is listed separately to the Chronicles of Narnia. On the whole I think the list is quite good though. Poor kangaroos....

reading the bible is on my list of things to do before I die. DH has read all of shakesphere but he did do a module on it with his OU degree.

tad I've love to meet you one time, but suspect flights up there would be a bit pricey. Can't get used to how big this country is. Are you in the third trimester now? I was due Feb last year, but think it was Jan before I got all 'oh my god I can't do anything'. How's it going juggling the the two other DC. You have much respect from me.

Linzer Have you had a book class thing yet?

thumb intersting about the foot n breathing thing. i will have a look. Exercise can also trigger my asthma (I'm OK if I pace correctly) and like you I can't concentrate on breathing otherwise I get an attack (hence I got one in labour but I blame the G&A). You doing much swimming (and remebering you sunlotion)?
Linzer when do you thing basil will be tested?

Stranded bet you're counting down the days now.

I refuse to do sun lotion before 10am (swimming is 8-9). And then I don't go out if I can avoid it - so mostly don't do sun lotion .
Am strong advocate for vitamin D synthesis being a necessity and dislike intensely the newer breed of suncreams that have nanoparticles that lodge beneath the skin. I have an old fashioned zinc cream for me and DS though - does the job when needed. Tis a very "natural" one (from a health food shop) so limits skin exposure to unncessary chemicals.

have to admit I rarely slap the stuff on. Just when I'm climbing really as you always have the sun on your back so don't notice. Only took two times for that lesson to be learnt But when you out it's normally for at least 6 hours

Well, this is the country of the road trip climber! And this is the place to be if you like walking, hiking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, fishing, camping, golf, skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing etc! I am determined to make it down to California, at least as far south as San Francisco this year!

I must be in the third trimester now though I've lost count of weeks a bit - 29? Definitely losing energy this week with dh being away, dd having a temperature of 103F last night and me getting a sore throat. Do you think my neighbours will take pity on me and clear my drive and footpath of snow? Would it be really terrible to take the dcs for coffee and cake somewhere? There is no instant in the house and I can only make the real stuff in bulk!

Sorry, this post is all about me. Hope you are all having lovely, lazy Sundays!

i can hanle instant no longer either. If your DCs have cake they'll be happy. Go for it

I think you would be perfectly justified in going out for coffee and cake, jenny - it sounds like you have more than enough excuses. I always seem to get ill whenever DH is away; he's off to Berlin tomorrow morning, so I'm just hoping the headache I've had all day doesn't get any worse...

Climber Yes, I went to the book club on Wednesday - it was great to get out and I didn't feel half as tired as I thought I would (had the opposite problem in fact, as I had a coffee there and then couldn't get to sleep when I got home).
DS is going to see the lung specialist on 1st December; he has to have blood tests first and then skin tests a couple of weeks later.

thumb I thought the book list was really interesting too; I've read around half (I counted while I was supervising DD2's homework - 52 in total, but I've started/read part of about 10 more). I saw someone else had posted the same list today and claimed to have read the whole of Shakespeare, give or take the odd sonnet; that's definitely something I'll never achieve!

Hurray the snow has melted from the front so I don't have to get the shovel out and clear it! One less job to do!

Yay! We've had snow forecast for later on in the week, so I have my windscreen deicer, brush/scraper and lock deicer at the ready - the school run in the mornings is stressful enough as it is without the addition of snow!

Hey am I being really thick - where is this book list? I haven't read ANY of the bible but have read some Shakespeare - all forced upon me during English Lit lessons or my degree. I prefer to watch than to read.

Everything calmed down a bit here although this morning there was a 4-hour power cut and we lost ALL communications for a while including cell and landlines, which was a little worrying. We're still keeping in mind that we can leave early if we want. - Climberchick, yup, counting down the days, 4 weeks today!

As for sun cream we're not very good. Initially we always put it on the dd's, now we only do if we are in the sea in the middle of the day (unusual). They both have a really good tan and don't burn anymore. I always wear moisturiser on my face with factor something in it. I am glad we're leaving now though as my skin has probably had enough!

The book list is on thumb's facebook page. Are you on there? Will send you a friend request if you like and perhaps thumb can just link to it. It was a bbc list from a while back.

By my third summer in Cyprus I was down to factor 2 coconut oil. I don't think they sell anything with a factor that low anymore! 28 days to go. Not long now!

thanks jenny - I just re-read what I wrote earlier and when I say I prefer to watch than read I meant Shakespeare! Otherwise I love reading, it is one of my passions.

Do you remember Body Shop coconut oil? I don't think that had any factor at all! We used to slap it on with the sole intent of frying ourselves. Seems so wierd now.

Oh and no not on thumbwitch's FB, don't want to be presumptious!

You can find me under Jennifer Pentland though.

Thanks - will do it tomorrow (bed time here....err well only just gone 8pm but was woken by small warm kicky child at 5.30am) so if you get a friend's request from someone with initial cw that's me.

Stranded - you're more than welcome to be my friend on FB but you can't search for me (I'm too paranoid careful) - Jenny will be able to recommend you as a friend though if you find her. :)

I used to use factor 4 sunscreen - that was back in the day when factor 8 was about the highest you could get!

stranded You're welcome to add me on FB too; my initials are BZ and I'm on thumb's and jenny's friend lists.

and mine are JH