West London chat winter & beyond

[tillyfernackerpants]

Hadn't realised we were so close to filling up the last thread, hope you all find it!!

Awaiting report of sfx's dh being arrested for murder.

vbus - baked cookies. Millions of them! DS2 helped and made 50p-sized ones but I made much bigger ones and there are still lots. Lucky kids like them! Also baked some parmesan cookies (also very yummy in a different way), which confused DS2. Holding polenta cookies and "are these cheesy?"

no fear murder was averted he is now polishing his halo, congratulating himself on self restrain

tilly it is always nice to enjoy the work, I doubt mine will flow, it is al about the difficulty of providing services for people with dual diagnosis, with the specific example of mental health and drug misuse, bundle of laughs that is

dd is nagging for a pet preferably a cat or a bunny

Copper - Glad you liked the recipe! maybe you could send me the parmesan recipe in exchange, they sound nice

Tilly - glad study going well

Sfx - what treats did you get from amazon?

Ds1 seems to have a had a run of accidents this week. Tonight he started crying and said he's now scared of going to the toilet at school even though he hasn't had any problems up til now. I think he's been holding it in and so desperate when I pick him up, hence the accidents He asked me to speak to his teacher about it, maybe he just needs some encouragement at school to go...

I need to make a batch of cookies to freeze

vbus dd was very worried about poo at school after an incident, I talked to the TA last year but she has not needed to go since then until this week, I must say they were great with her, she told me she had cried because she was desperate to go but was worried about, they were very reassuring so now she feels confident about it

amazon got Misfit series 1&2 boxset, Andrew Motion bio of Keats, a folk compilation CD, David Attenborough Planet Earth dvd boxset and a book on crazy people, I think that is about it

I need to bake some cookies, might do that after school tomorrow

Copper yeah, I totally got that

Sfx, mine isn't v uplifting either but it is v interesting, about providing antenatal care to women in prison, some of the stories are shocking

Oh, and theoretically I have a job! Its all a bit confusing tbh, but if I do then I should start next Weds for one day a week, on a month's trial basis. But after the email this afternoon I suspect they're having second thoughts

and vbus this week she did a wee on the way from school standing on the pavement, that was my fault that when she says I am desperate it does not always mean the same thing

Parmesan cookies:

Equal weight of plain flour, grated parmesan and unsalted butter. (I use 100g and got about 24 cookies.) Some black pepper, salt and cayenne pepper. Put in food processor and whiz to a crumb. Add a little cold water till dough forms into a ball.

Roll into sausage shape, cling-wrap tightly and put in fridge for 4 hours (I put it in the freezer for 30 minutes). Mix sesame and black onion seeds (I used black sesame) and scatter on a board. Brush cylinder of dough with beaten egg and roll in the seeds to coat all over. Wrap and chill for another hour (I didn't).

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Cut cylinder into 5mm slices and lay on non-stick baking trays with 2cm space around them. Back for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Sfx - Thanks for the reassurance. So many little things can trigger changes in behaviour. We have parents evening next week too so we'll find out a bit more of what he's like at school. Other than the toilet trauma he seems quite happy, hopefully the phase will phase and the laundry will cease

Tilly - congrats on your job hope they decide to employ you

We have millions of biscuits at home atm, can't get rid of them fast enough, maybe they're multiplying during the night

oops, the phase will pass

copper - ta for recipe, will try that

Multiplying cookies sound quite good! Unfortunately the only thing that multiplies in the kitchen seems to be the washing-up. Best go and put a stop to it now.

And then .

Also highly recommend those parmesan cookies. Looks really attractive and taste yummy. They are part of my new plan of giving kiddies non-sweet snacks after school.

I made cheese twists yesterday, similar recipe,Dc and friends raided them at playground, none left now!

Must go food delivery here with free bottle of

thanks vbus, though tbh they've taken 4 months to get to this point so not sure if they really know what they want, and I'm wondering now if its worth it!

tilly hope the work situation is resolved soon, congratulations on offer anyway

I like the look of that recipe, must try it soon

nearing the end of my book, thinking ahead to next one, must be entertaining, leaving heavy stuff for later

Kew you are having a really hard time ATM :( I wouldn't worry about telling DS, children just kind of accept pet deaths I think (well mine did when they kept killing hamsters and goldfish by mistake)

Horrible to say, but it kind of teaches them about life & death

Vbus/Copper I think Boden is good for women over 35, as it is very well made and styled and is designed to hide all sins. Some one on MN rather cruelly described Boden as "catalogue clothes for women with no style of their own", which is why I like it

Tilly what is jonb doing? TBH the study sounds more interesting than the job in fact the study sounds V interesting

"Women over 35 with no style of their own" - that's me alright.

Did have a look at kids' clothes but didn't see anything I like. This is OK but does not beat this which I got for DS1.

And I have no job oh well, prob for the best anyway!

Dusty, I was supposed to be trying to improve sales through their website! The study is really eye-opening. Pregnant women are being denied dignity (shackled during labour, how on earth are they going to be able to escape?!) just because they are in prison, most of them are victims of sexual or domestic violence, most of them are foreign nationals. They're at the bottom of the list for any reform, things are slowly getting better but honestly, you just have no idea until you start looking into it!

And I'll step off my soapbox now

Tilly - what a let down about job. Study is certainly an interesting topic

Copper - I like the t-shirt you bought

Dusty - you look good in Boden Does this mean your hamsters are no more??

Meant to add I spoke to DS1 teacher today about accidents and he was v. understanding. He said a lot of the kids are getting tired now and are starting to feel more sensitive about things. Anyway, he is going to have a chat with him and will send DS1 with TA or friend if he needs to go to toilet to build up his confidence again, fingers crossed it works

Hello!

Rain rain rain rain.

vbus - I also got the walrus one. What I really wanted was a yellow narwhal one but they've sold out.

tilly - shame about the job.

Can I get Boden that doesn't look too much like Boden? I have a fear of obvious labels. Destined to just buy muji or generic high street stuff.

Thanks VBUS :) I look 7 months PG ATM though due to middle aged spread, which is spreading rapidly as I can't motivate myself to excercise more than once a week

DD still has accidents and she is 7, as she forgets to go to the loo . She gets upset but I just minimalise it and cheerily get her some clean clothes

Tilly I've read about the shackling of birthing women in prison but thought it had been stopped. Its unbeleivebale in this day and age FGS! How is a woman in labour going to escape from prison anyway? I think Mum's area treated very badly too, after they give birth.

I read about a woman once who was detained as an illegal immigrant, then just shoved onto the street with a two year old and newborn. She slept on a park bench for several nights until a member of the public called the police, at which point she was arrested. She spent four days in custody before she was given any santitary towels and her toddler and newborn were put into care, while they made a decision about her fate, so she couldn't BF her baby and was in great discomfort.