Meet in the middle at the schultuete shop!

[PiratesKnittingTreasure]

Here we are .

Btw, anyone fancy a shiny new thread for 2013? And, if so, any suggestions for thread titles?

at the new kitchen LaG. Yes, before and after pics, preferably on fb please

How was the panto Domestic? YY, loving the study free time, though lots of sorting out/organising projects to keep me very busy though not tonight as I had a VERY good day at work so celebrating with wine

Sorry DS1 is playing up. It's awful when you have to follow through on withdrawing something you know they'll enjoy but it's the right thing in the long term. Tomorrow is another day.

On the sleep front, DS has been loads better since he got his new bed. Still get the odd night that he gets up etc, and he can still procrastinate for Scotland when it comes to bed time but it feels like we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Happy to vote for a new thread - no idea of a title though!

The panto was ok - as you know, it's not really my favourite way to spend an afternoon! DS1 loved it, but DS2 was absolutely terrified of the giant and hid under my top every time he appeared/spoke .

yay for good sleeping - one of my friend's has just put a night light in her DD's room (she's 16 mths) and she's started sleeping through after being a nightmare sleeper! Her older child has never had a night light so it never occurred to her that this was the problem - children are soooo inconsistent .

I hate going to bed on an argument and DS1 was so sad. But even after bad behaviour during the day, being a PITA at dinner time and after, he still pushed his luck by totally refusing to tidy his toys and smirking at dh .

Just watching 8 out of 10 Cats does DOND - random!

I'm completely devoid of inspiration for thread titles - sorry !

Thanks for the heads up on taking pictures. Before pictures have just been taken. I won't put them on fb just yet.

don't know about you lot but after christmas indulgences, I'm after a shiny new flat stomach (Hah!!) that could be our shiny new thread title!!

Glad Christmases all went well, De Christmassing here today and doing the big pine needle clean up, got tree or rather bunch of bare branches out in an old quilt cover to save rest of house.

only 2 more sleeps to go until work again, early mornings and all that stuff, boo hoo!

Lisa back with us after trip to Germany and she's very sad to leave her boyfriend again

Hello all- will have a think on new thread title.

I also had to suffer panto domestic but wasn't as bad as I thought. And feel your pain about ds1 as big gig has bEen pushing it at times over holiday and I can feel myself nagging all the time. She also seems never to shut up- it is a school thing I think.

Popular toys here were playmobil for big gig and a Toy badger for mini gig.

Kitchen sounds exciting but I can see how disruptive it will be . Sorry Xmas was tiring- going to France seemed to help that (and castle was lovely).

Back to normal tomorrow- need to get my head round all jobs I didn't do before Xmas and focus on the open uni stuff.

I meant to say LaG - do you have a slow cooker? Could be very handy while the kitchen is getting done?

Gig - what open uni course are you going to do?

Slow cooker or electric pressure cooker as can cook everything in one pot.

Post graduate foundation in classics - am having cold feet now as may have bitten off more than I can chew but is only a short course

Haha - the suggestion of a slow cooker has blown Dh's mind . So, I know MN loves them, and I remember my mother using one when when I was small, but not producing anything especially nice in it. Would someone care to outline the benefits of a slow cooker over and above two hot plates, and a combi-microwave-grill oven?

Classics at the OU sounds very interesting. Second year Latin was about my limit though. Are you doing the language side as well as culture .

Inset day today, so enjoying a pj morning and trying to gee myself into taking the boys to Brighton - we never visit.

CEO - if you are down this way do shout, would love to meet you in Brighton at some point. You probably know it better than I do!

I love my slow cooker! Benefits: chuck everything in, dinner ready 4-6 hours later. Over the last few weeks we've had a slow cooker version of nigella's ham, bolognese and beef braised in cranberry/red wine. Our slow cooker is a massive 6.5 litres, so we usually make enough to freeze a few portions too which are very handy for those nights DH and I are both at work.

So you don't need to brown things first? I can't see DH going for it as he is now emotionally invested in his hot plate a microwave solution

Mixed results from our Brighton trip...

+ves, Found a central, affordable carpark that wasnt a nightmare to drive too. Bought the stuff DSs need, got complimented on boys' behaviour at lunch and their enthusiasm for eating fruit.

-ves, DS1 whined about Millie's cookies all the way round. (To my knowledge he has never had one). He didn't say thank-you for the things I bought him. He had a huge 45 min plus tantrum when I did eventually buy cookies, for not buying the ones on the sticks . This lasted until we got home and then he stopped and asked for a cookie. All the cookies are still in the bag until he redeems himself.

No need to brown things (apart from sausages). You can literally chuck stuff in. I love my slow cooker - it's brilliant for batch cooking and having meals in the freezer as well as having a lovely cooked meal waiting for you if you've been out/busy all day. Ours was quite cheap recently, from Argos iirc.

thanks Jan

Both boys ate having atrocious moments today. DS1 has improved in the last half hour only for DS2 to step into his shoes.

Early bed I think.

Oooh yes, slow cookers are AMAZING!

We use ours loads - don't brown anything, even sausages! Meat tastes divine done in the slow cooker and big casseroles and stuff are lovely. Dinner all done and washed up in the morning - plates out and ready to eat at 5.30!

Respect for driving into Brighton - we always take the bus!

Good luck with the course Gig!

Deb, hope kids are all good for you at school .

Hands lag a - big gig similarly ungrateful at times. I about it. Then can be lovely. Mini is getting super chatty so be warned domestic.

I gave away our slow cooker (it was huge and heavy) but agree it is nice as never had a bad meal in it. Electric pressure cooker does same but you need a science degree to use it.

cheers Gig, it's needed. School starts tomorrow .

So regarding slow cookers, I have had a look and see that they range from £25 for a crockpot to £200 for a Jamie Oliver. They all seem to get very enthusiastic reviews. Any thoughts on which models you would recommend? For something under £40 I think I could purchase without having to lobby DH first. After all, the new kitchen is going to have plenty of storage .

I discovered H&M for kids clothes today. The DSs are going to be very colourful as a result. Infact, and this is probably no coincidence, I have bought DS2 trousers the same colour as the new kitchen (this colour for the base units ). Gotta love German colour confidence (the kitchen is German too)

Wow - whilst neglecting the boys typing this, DS2 asked to get out of the bath, then sat on the potty which is out mostly as a theatrical prop at the moment, and did a wee and a poo in there for the first time.

Ours was just under £40 I think LaG. The key thing for me was to have a high/low/auto setting. Our old one had a timer, which was handy because we could use it on work days, but most casseroles etc can go on auto, so as long as you're not leaving it for more than 6-8 hours it's fine. Ours is a 6.5 ltr one which is great for batch cooking and we can do a decent sized joint in it,but a bit cumbersome to wash by hand (but a dishwasher would get round that).

Yay for LG's DS2 .

No idea how much ours was as it was a gift, but we have 3 settings too.

I've heard good things about H&M clothes too but can't be bothered to go into Reading to shop .

Yes, great news on the potty LaG. I've bought DS a few things from H&M. I've found their nicest stuff sells out quite quickly, so it's good to have a rummage early in the season to get the best choice. They have some great l/s t-shirts in plain colours and stripes which are good for layering with short sleeve t-shirts and shirts. Very cheap and wash and wear well. They're online too Domestic!

Doh!

Didn't think of on line! I'm such a Luddite when it comes to clothes shopping - and the boys still get so many hand me downs that I don't have to worry too much!

No hand me downs here hence my expert knowledge of shopping for boys clothes! Just don't mention trousers for skinny boys

H and m stuff is nice - decent quality , well sized so lasts a while and not too girly (obviously that may not be such an issue).

Part of reason I got rid of slow cooker was that it was huge and I couldn't dish wash it. As I am never going to be on the fly lady threads, this put me off using it so I would definitely put size, dishwasher proof and cook settings (all that CEO said). I get round it now by using oven timer and a le creuset dish (having laughed at them for years) but that's no use to you lag.

I have to confess that 6.5 ltrs is probably a bit too big, but a 4/5 ltr one would still feed a family of four with leftovers quite comfortably.

Talking to a friend today who is having her kitchen done. They are doing it with just a microwave. I feel v well equipped now. However she did bulk cook 40 meals for her two kids although she forgot about catering for the grown ups.

Ready meals from m&s and takeaways for them then LaG!

How's everyone's week? I'm shattered after nearly a full week back at work! The Christmas holidays seem a long time ago now...

I have lots to look forward through in the coming months so quite excited about that! Not very impressed with reports of a cold snap coming though...