Tea Room the Twelfth

[RacingSnake]

Come in, come in, to Tea Room the Twelfth! We now inhabit a rambling log cabin, surrounded by mysterious pine forests and mist-covered mountains (but also, strangely) easily accessible by regulars, new-comers and passing bishops, ferried in by Mellors driving the troika. All the usual rules apply and all are welcome!

Ooh, I say, that Twiglet surprise is a bit of an eye-opener!

I am most of the way through knitting miniThumb a sleeveless jumper - it's going well, I had to do the front and back at the same time though cos my big problemi scounting rows and I've done this with coloured stripes across the middle; so I have 3 balls of wool hanging off the needles at the mo.

JM - I am in the UK because of incompetence - I didn't have all the paperwork in Australia to do my tax return which has to be done by 31st Jan, so I decided to come back. Also, if I had still been pg, I wouldn't have been able to come back in June (when the return flights were booked for) so this seemed like a good time. Tis damn cold though! (more freezing than sad)

MrThumb seems to be coping well without us - he gets unrestricted viewing time of the Australian Open which makes him happy. He thinks Murray might win it but failed to put money on it before Murray beat Nadal, so no point no because the odds have shortened loads.

I fancy a glass of merlot please - I think I've recovered from my coven meeting on Saturday where I drank more than I have done in one sitting for nearly 3 years! But thankfully no hangover.

Would you like another scoop/slice/bowl of Twiglet Surprise, Thumb?

ta muchly, stillcrazy - pass it over! (yum)
Amazing how the tastebuds go change as you get older, isn't it

cin, cin..

Am in heaven though - have bought vast numbers a couple of bars of G&B milk and almond chocolate so far, gooness how I've missed it!

um, twiglet surprise, a wonderful aroma don;t you think, and so smooth on the palate. I'll have another scoop if you don;t mind.

Surprisingly cabbage surprise is pink. I did only use the recipe as a starting point, suspect ours had rather more garlic and black pepper than the original. I seem to be having a week of cooking nursery food, tried a sainburys recipe card "toddler meal" on teh family the other day. a cumin and coconut chicken almost curry. was nice.

House we have been tipped off about has a garden... and a garage, and is on our 2nd choice village. Still haven't got hold of the owner but asked a couple of people how to get to his house, then got busy with google maps.

Thumb- your dedication to your tax return is remarkable! I'm sure your trip home is just for tax purposes and nothing what so ever to do with chocolate and girlie time. Have a gold star and go to the head of the class.

UniS - a house! sounds good, maybe this is the one? Fingers crossed for you.

I know it seems like a relatively feeble reason but tbh I've been itching to get back here and sort out the paperwork for months - my family are useless in the extreme at finding anything for me! Take the TV licence for e.g. - I asked them to find it so I could send it back and claim back the months I had mistakenly paid on it when my tenants moved in - Dad and sis couldn't find it. Well, within 5 mins of looking through my file box I found it! Too late to claim back any money, however. They have a 3m limit on it. (boo)

Amber, I think you went astray by getting a slug of brandy with your minestrone stew, rather than a slug roll... Perhaps the NMBs mistook your order - or perhaps they realised you'd been trying to sort insurance out most of the day and thought you needed it for medicinal purposes?

UniS - should have mentioned that - mistlechick's hands were clean to start with - but he decided to get a bit creative with the naturual food colours to make things a bit more interesting... His hands were red/blue and purple by the time he finished. Luckily he is versed in the 'standing still with your hands in the air whilst MT opens the doors to enable access to the basin' move. House - sounds hopeful. We will wait anxiously to hear future news, but won't press - we know what this sort of thing's like. We sold our previous house, as we found one on the market and had been looking for 18months - sold in 3wks, the day we confirmed the sale with the estate agents, the vendors withdrew theirs from the market. By this stage we knew that houses both side of us (one attached) were going to letting agents and needed to move out. I was having chemo on a 2 weekly cycle - luckily it was a 'good' weekend coming up (ie somewhat recovering) and I spent Thurs and Friday visiting estate agents and driving past houses (about 45 I think) and setting up viewings. We saw 12 properties that weekend. The one we're in now was the 12th!

OK, so I need the wisdom of the tearoom - after another night disturbed by mistlechick coming in after a bad dream. After he failed to lie still and go to sleep after about 40mins I sent him back to his own bed - but I'm shattered! I don't know when my last properly undisturbed night's sleep was . Any suggestions for what to do to deal with the bad dreams problem/habit????

MT, vague and possibly unhelpful suggestions -

if he's sleeping in the dark, put a low light on. If he's under a light duvet, change it for a heavier one even if you have to turn off the room heating or open a small window. Or vice-versa. Are pyjamas very soft and comfy with no uncomfy labels in the back of the neck? Is bed linen very smooth - it can get marginally bobbly with washing. Any new washing powders been used that make it smell different? Even children nowhere near the autism spectrum get disturbed by surprisingly small things and end up fretful, I found over the years.

Chemo? Dare I ask? (horrible feeling that my brain is so silly that it's missed something hugely important in a way.

Thanks Amber - I might try the nightlight option, even if we use a very low-powered one and just have it on the landing.

Chemo - had molar pregnancy prior to ds which 2 d&c failed to deal with so ended up with 4.5mo chemo... not what you think you're getting into when ttc. And then had to have a year off ttc on Drs orders - which added to the time that ds kept us waiting in total (6yr )

Blimey! That's a heck of a thing to go through...

You'll be needing a soup and lewd roll to go with that set of memories, I'd think...and a sit down and back rub from Mellors?

Blimey! That's a heck of a thing to go through...

You'll be needing a soup and lewd roll to go with that set of memories, I'd think...and a sit down and back rub from Mellors?

What sort of soup have we got today Amber?

BTW, how's the dog settling in - or has he settled now - is he learning English and is he starting to help you out at all?

Have you tried tucking him in firmly ? I find it very comforting, especially when I used to have more disrupted sleep and flail around in my sleep if not tucked in. Now we have a big, thick duvet, so am pinned down by that in the winter.

I managed to get a really nice rising trot going on this morning, which combined with horse finally giving in and reliably trotting when asked made for a fab lesson. I feel slightly less like the dunce now.

V cold here - cats are not impressed

CMot - yes, I do try to tuck him in, firmly every night. I can sometimes be called back in before I've even managed to leave the room to re-tuck..... I don't think he's too hot or cold - he gets too hot under his summer weight duvet so just has two cotton holey blankets, with a thin cot quilt the wrong way about over the top of those (normally ends up over his head) and the duvet just over his feet... And the heating doesn't come on much at night, and the thermostat is rather low anyway at the moment. But he's always nice and snuggly warm when he comes in having woken up - and he's not sweaty either. Then last night, after being kept awake for nearly an hour, I said that its no good and he'd have to go back to his bed - and off he trotted, got into bed and I tucked him in (again!) and didn't hear another murmer... Just a bit that its always me...

Oh - and dh said that mistlechick woke him up the night before (he's in the spare bedroom at the moment so we both, hopefully get some more sleep ) - the strange thing is that I asked mc what the footsteps I heard were just before I got up on Tuesday morning - and he said he told dh he had tummy ache - whilst dh said that this was at about 12.30 or 1 before he'd got properly asleep... I just think that dh fell asleep really quickly (as normal) and thought it was still the small hours, even though it was almost getting - up time!

CMot - very at the riding... although I probably got the same sort of feeling when I got a really nice sitting trot in - you can really feel the power in the horse that way when they are trotting really well for you. I went on a riding holiday when I was 14 - the main ponies were highlands and they were REALLY fit. Their preferred method of getting up a hill (on a road) was a very fast working trot - too fast to rise comfortably so you either stood or sat. It was a lovely holiday - the ponies were just so keen to go, but not (mostly at least) in an uncontrolled way!

How about using a bigger sheet ? You could use a single bed sheet turned the wrong way so that there was loads to tuck in, so should stay on better.

But I am wondering whether this is more of a habit of waking a little and getting into bed with you, rather than just snuggling back down. DS has been a bit of a pickle since we took the stairgate off his room, and would just wander in to be with us - and not sleep very soundly. A bit of firm returning and reinforcing that he doesn't leave his room until there is 7 on the clock, or bunny wakes up (he has a bunny nightlight thing) seems to have stopped that though.

The horse I currently ride is not very forward going - in fact he's a bit Eeyoreish about school work generally. But he is very sure footed and a big cuddly boy, so you can forgive him a lot. DS loves him, even though horses head is as big as DS - I have to lift him up for cuddles

He's in a child's bed, so its narrower and shorter than a standard single, but has standard single sheets and blankets - so I do, sometimes, manage to get the sheet tucked in so that its practically touching in the middle under the mattress.... doesn't stay there for long though .

Yes, I also think its starting to be a habit, which is why I want to nip it in the bud asap, because I really can't function properly when I'm this tired.

CMOt - there was a Cob at the riding school, called Ben, who was rather slow and solid - but I liked riding him. I amazed some of the other helpers when, having drawn him as my 'pony' I actually managed to beat some of the others on what had been bought as pony-club ponies for the riding instructor's daughter (and kept on in the riding school) at a handy pony competition - he was a bit slower but much more accurate. I really liked riding him bareback as it was a bit like sitting on a sofa - and he was actually almost easier to ride like that as it was easier to get your legs round him!

When I was helping a friend with their horse, I used to go for rides with a friend up on the downs. It was really fun saying to the horse - OK, lets have a bit of a gallop - no, you can go a bit faster than that if you want, yes really - go on, you can go a bit faster - that's more like it! - we had a favourite track that ran beside a gallop (never used the gallop though!) which had a very useful nice steep hill at the end of a nice long gentle slope upwards - so you could really let them go for it, knowing that you'd not have a problem pulling them up at the top of the hill!

Re beds ....

Could you make MJ a sheet sleeping bag, from which he couldn't become untucked? Yonks ago, in one of the baby paraphernalia catalogues I saw a gadget (like two large paperclips joined by elastic) which attached to each side of a duvet and went under the mattress, to prevent the duvet sliding off the bed. Could that work?

SC... that might just work... In fact, I might even have an 'up to 5yrs' grobag anyway...

Melt down this evening as MiL is here for the night and 'did' bathtime - I stayed well away despite the screams and shouts... I did warn her at Christmas what was happening - and, Lo, it happened again!

Going to have an early night tonight.

Anyone fancy a glass of merlot? And I've found some nice olives of whichever flavour and or colour people want to have.

MT - I have NO advice in terms of putting to bed because Milk co-sleeps and just sort of flops on one of us and we pour her into our bed when the snoring starts. Although most the time this works for us I am really not suggesting you do it too because it isn't for everyone. We all have our own family cultures!

What I do REEEEEAAALLLY want to tell you is we went through a few weeks of Milk violently tossing and turning, sleep talking and even walking around the place and also waking up crying and crying at night - lots of nightmares about a little mouse we saw in rl on the London Underground if I remember correctly! - that mouse has a lot to answer for...

The thing is... over time she just gradually stopped doing it. Now she sleeps very well.

At her check up during the bad nights period I told her dr about the dreams and my concerns. The dr said the channels in little ones brains are forever evolving and at certain points in their life dreams and sleep can be difficult as a result of this.

So my input is - Maybe it is just a little and hopefully very short phase and something that will go of its own accord?

BUT... in the meantime look after you:

sorry to hear you're having sleep ishoos with mistlechick, MT - I am no use either as miniThumb still co-sleeps. We had a nice break between 5 1/2m and 18m, when he had his own room and cot etc. and mostly would sleep in it; but since the move to Aus he has got used to being in with me again and is too big for the cot. He is quite a light sleeper too and if when he wakes up in the night he always gets upset if I'm not there - I could leave him to cry of course but I've never been much good at that.

Morning all.

Mr B the new Dog is settling in really well, but he's not yet people-focused enough to be as useful as Mrs C ever was, so he's become a much loved family pet rather than pet-and-working-for-a-living combination. I think too much went on in his life for him to yet feel really secure about things, though his knowledge of English is improving

Big computer crash at work yesterday, total chaos, lovely engineer now fixed it (hooray!). Where's that copy of "Strip Your Engine Incorporating Motor Maintenance Monthly" - ah yes! And a large cuppa! Excellent! Anyone else for one before I start preparing for the Soup Surprise (today's surprise being that I forgot to pick up the ingredients for it yesterday )

Of course, he slept through last night, but I woke at 4 and then couldn't get back to sleep. Typical . So much for the benefit of an early night!

I am hoping its just a phase - but I don't want it to turn into a habit.

So, as a result of being up since 4, I need a shot of caffiene - I'm having a double espresso - but have some flavoured syrups, hot frothy milk and chocolate sprinkles if anyone wants an alternative?

Is there any coffee going? Am finding it hard to get motivated...

Am also feeling a bit eek because of people not keeping me informed on things. Thing is, if someone tells me that x is going to happen on a certain day, I expect it to happen unless I hear otherwise. Only x is fast approaching and no-one has mentioned a thing, and its probably all too late now.

Ooh, I hate that too - I put it in my diary, then hear nothing more and it really irritates me.

Double shot latte with vanilla v gratefully recieved. I ache this morning, and my spider veins on my legs have burst in a few places leaving beautiful bruises.

I rather like co-sleeping, but as DS will wake up a tiny bit then start talking immediatly no matter what time it is, it really isn't good for any of us.

Mistlechick was doing that the other night CMot - and immediately waking up if I as much as moved, likewise if I sighed or anything ("WHO'S THAT"). Oh, and apparently my pillow was the only one that was good enough, even though he had dh's side of the bed to himself (actually, he was in the middle!) so I ended up with about 1/3 of my pillow, and precariously on the edge of the bed... which is why I sent him back to his! He does know, however, that he didn't wake me up and I have said how much I appreciate it!!!

We've been bopping to school to "The Commitments" ... his friend can sing Boys Own tracks, so its about time that he could do something like that - he particularly likes immitating the squeals!

aaah, I sympathise, I do. I woke up early this morning wanting to turn onto my back, but sensibly checked where I was on the bed first - miniThumb had pushed me to the very edge of the bed so the slightest backwards tilt would have had me on the floor! I managed to push him across but he is being a complete klingon at the moment - has to be tucked right in as close as he can get. At least I managed to persuade him to pretend to sleep until 8am anyway, before reluctantly giving in to us now being awake.

I don't do coffee, it makes me shake but extra strong hot choc with extra chocolatey bits would go down well...

Mary - I hate that too. Especially if it's some kind of party and I've heard nothing - I get too embarrassed to phone in case they've changed their mind about inviting me (this has happened to me before).