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Original poster

Festive W. London Chat

992 replies

vbus · 03/11/2011 13:56

Hello

Just popping in and saw thread already full up! The craziness of November is well and truly under way. Sorry I'm behind on your news, hope everyone is well.

The scarf video, I thought she was going to hang herself for the final tie Grin

Still undecided about floor, have got loads of samples ordered. I want a fresh, modern look whereas Dh wants more clinical, utlitarian (sp?) look, need to find something that we both like Hmm

OP posts:
sfxmum · 01/12/2011 14:09

I really should teach dd a bit more Portuguese, dh is making progress with his teacher, I might just start talking to them in Portuguese at least a couple of days a week Grin

tillyfernackerpants · 01/12/2011 14:47

island, dh is v keen on ds1 starting kumon, both of our nephews do it, the eldest one has just taken his GCSE maths a year early which he put down to the Kumon. I have heard good things about it & ds1's teacher also recommended it, my concern was just having to add another scheduled activity in which didn't leave much time for ds1 to just relax or have friends over etc. Plus it is expensive (around £50 pcm or £90 pcm for 2 subjects).

vbus, lovely to see you both today, had lots of fun so thanks! Ds2 fell asleep on the tube, had to wake him up for our stop!

Dh came home yesterday & said he'd won a competition. So sometime next year we're off to a private island in the Bahamas for 1 week Grin Grin Grin

sfxmum · 01/12/2011 14:51

awesome tilly Grin well done to your dh

Kewcumber · 01/12/2011 15:38

vbus - can you believe (yes you probably can!) that I intended to come and say hello but between sfx saying she was meeting you and me leaving (about 10 min gap) I forgot!

UptoapointLordCopper · 01/12/2011 16:19

tilly - well! Grin

Still in office. Last meeting done. Xmas do later.

I think kumon etc can be done - you just need to somehow fit it into the routine. The problem obviously is whether you want to have the routine ...

islandhaze · 01/12/2011 16:25

Tilly thank you. And wow congratulations on the prize!!! would love that myself :)

For the math and english : we are going to do it just dont know wich one. Maybe we will get help from school. but if not, then its me that has to choose one. it has to become the routine. Otherwise the process of learning is going to be long and slow...

Sfx, we have a Christmas Fair in school tomorrow, from 3 to 5, i dont think we will stay all this time, so i guess we will be by the station before five :) DD1 got very happy :)

And about the languages...DD1 asked if she could go to the French club in school. I had to tell her that 3 languages is enough for now....:)

sfxmum · 01/12/2011 16:30

KewC you are a proper mother, when off duty just tune out other people's children, ours were quite lively yesterday Grin

sfxmum · 01/12/2011 16:32

ok island, our Christmas fair is next week, I am sure we can spot each other at some point

UptoapointLordCopper · 02/12/2011 09:34

Good morning! Xmas Smile

V. sleepy ...

sfxmum · 02/12/2011 09:45

dh working from home again today, I really need to get a job, there will be more of that coming up Xmas Shock

lovely sunny do far must pop out for a job before it all goes wintry again

Kora · 02/12/2011 11:39

Sorry not been around, hope everyone is well - holiday win sounds amazing tilly, enjoy!

Looking forward to xmas, and might get a bit of time off in new year, but we'll see. At least I can eat myself silly over the period. Hmmm, perhaps a bit of a worrying relationship with food there... Xmas Hmm

I'm off to annual xmas reunion with old uni friends tomorrow - we're leaving our beloved DCs with DHs and will either (a) have a raucous party or (b) fall asleep after 9pm... Xmas Grin

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

islandhaze · 02/12/2011 11:42

Sfx, I also decided to look for a job. Smth around, and part-time. DH said that his boss said he can be flexible for this reason. Very exited :)
Delivered the cake for a cake competition this morning. The school is literally stuffed with cupcakes and cakes. Oh dear, kids are going to be very sugary tonight :D

Original poster
vbus · 02/12/2011 12:20

Hello all

Kora - option a sounds fun but option b would be quite restful, have fun either way!

Kew - good job you left before the plate smashing and them trying to kick their own noses Shock don't ask Grin

Tilly - Harrods was lots of fun, DS2 didn't sleep on way home, I think that micro second power nap he had was all that was required!

All the Kumon chat is very interesting. I know that you don't have to do Kumon to be good at maths, but equally lots of practice will make you better. I personally don't have the time/patience right now to instigate any sort of regime on DS1. He likes maths and we do a few puzzles here and there but I'm happy to leave it at that at the moment, he has enough to cope with without any of the things he does becoming a chore/bore. As with all these things, I think it's important the child should enjoy doing it.

Right free time up, better get DS2.

OP posts:
sfxmum · 02/12/2011 12:30

vbusGrin

island yeah for jobs, honestly at this point I don't care how shitty they are, possibly soon to change tune

copper is your head sore or was it a retrained office party?

Kora I dream of going away by myself and go to bed at 8 with a book and not be woken up by anyone but myself rested in the morning
enjoy reunion, sounds fab

sfxmum · 02/12/2011 12:33

about maths I will get a reputation for being a pushy parent, dd has been doing exercises as soon as she wakes up, she is finding them fun now Xmas Shock
I expect it will just be for a short while until the novelty wears off

in a way I think practice gives them confidence and they start noticing patterns which in turn makes it easier and more fun

UptoapointLordCopper · 02/12/2011 12:35

Kora - have a very raucous party before 9pm then go to bed.

vbus - trying to kick their own noses sounds quite normal round here. Xmas Grin

sfx - very restrained party. Most people driving ... Over by 9pm. But very enjoyable. Nasty night for driving though, last night.

Have baked crackers and gingernut cookies.

Original poster
vbus · 02/12/2011 14:13

Copper - sorry I missed your post, where did you go last night?

Island - good luck with job hunt too, what sort of thing are you looking for?

Sfx - keep it going if she likes doing it

Back to floor shopping now, can't believe we have to re-select our choice as builders can't fit the floor we originally chose Hmm

OP posts:
UptoapointLordCopper · 02/12/2011 15:26

Back from park. Freezing.

vbus - work do out in deepest darkest Surrey. Sorry to hear about flooring. Hope new choice works. What are you going to go for?

Something is definitely wrong with DS2. Keeps asking people to do sums, and singing songs with only "poo poo" as lyrics.

Those of you who are more up with the Reformation than me: did Martin Luther put candles on Christmas trees thus inventing modern Christmas trees (and exclusion clauses on content insurance, no doubt)?

sfxmum · 02/12/2011 15:33

copper your ds sounds perfectly normal to me Grin

only being familiar with Catholic practices of southern European persuasion, can't really help with Luther but sounds unlikely he was given to such jollity

UptoapointLordCopper · 02/12/2011 17:45

It is in school xmas play. He did it to show his children something or other.

Man changed course of history by inventing xmas tree. Hmm

Let me google...

UptoapointLordCopper · 02/12/2011 17:48

"One German legend claims that Martin Luther was responsible for introducing the use of Christmas trees in the home, in Germany. According to the legend, on his way home one evening, Martin Luther was so overcome by the beauty of a fir tree and stars in the sky, he wanted to tell his family about it. However, upon returning home, words failed him, so he went out and chopped the down and brought it home to share with his family. To mimic the stars that hung over the manger where Christ was born, Martin Luther decorated the tree with candle tapers. This was thought to be the first traditional Christmas tree in Germany."

So there.

Original poster
vbus · 02/12/2011 18:29

So now we know!

Copper - Glad you enjoyed your party. Poo songs/chat sadly seems normal. When do they stop this? We picked a vinyl floor but long story the builders can't fit it so think we'll go for our 2nd choice engineered wood, now need to find some and get it delivered within a week

Sfx - I'm curious, what exercises does DD do?

Don't know whether to take boys to panto or not, DS2 too young but there seem to be some shorter performances geared for younger kids

Also should I buy some snow boots for the boys? Our Swedish gear is now way too small. Is snow really on it's way?

OP posts:
sfxmum · 02/12/2011 19:58

I did not know that copperXmas Smile

defrosting after Kew Sparkle

vbus I got lined wellies for dd, unless the weather gets really snowy these will do

about books it is just problem solving with number puzzles and stuff, nothing fancy, she does straight up arithmetic sheets too when she fancies it. I try to get her to practice her handwriting but it is hard work. Her spelling is reasonably good but the handwriting is quite bad.

islandhaze · 02/12/2011 21:59

Thank you Sfx, was lovely, thought my feet are still frozen [fshok] . I need new shoesXmas Hmm
Kids were so tyred. DD2 felt asleep with 3 balloons in her hand Xmas Smile

islandhaze · 02/12/2011 22:04

Copper, poo songs are normal i guess, although DD1 uses a word "rubish" for her harmonies and interpretations :)

Vbus, i used to work with IVF lab equipment. But what i am looking for now is very different. At this moment i dont want to think much of what im doing when working. So some easy going work. Next year, when i will look for a full time job i will look deeper into it :)