ELEVENSES HERE *****************************************************************************************

[MaryAnnSingleton]

think we've been deleted,so shall we put ourselves here in other subjects ?
Sleepless night fretting about T and loos and lunches at big school - how neurotic am I ?!

aww poor cat - they get like that when very elderly - all of ours when I was living at home seemed to live to very old ages and gradually packed up. You'll know when it's time to do anything though - as long as she seems happy and comfortable.
I think I'm reluctant to have another pet in a way because of all the bits when they are ill or old - we were heartbroken when our Wilf died (the most fantastic cat ever,he truly was) and I feel I can't love another in the same way - no other cat would match up. If we do get a pet it'll be a dog though !
You are good having dc's friends for tea - haven't had anyone here for ages -will ask if E wants to come after half term,once T is really in the swing of things. Mind you E wouldn't appreciate brownies and cinnamon crunch cake (drool) - he eats very little here !

I know MAS but I am wondering if that time is now seeing as she apparently cannot remember where she lives

I get ridiculously nervous about O and E having friends for tea. And I feel I have to be 'on duty' instead of changing into my comfy joggers and old sweatshirt...

O has his girlfriend J here, she is the very quiet one, extremely bright, and just very very sweet and nice
E has her friend L who is in a different Y1 class. She is lovely too.

Right, they have had cake and a drink and are now playing. Dh has just walked in he has brought Betty home!! She is looking fab!! Apparently when Betty was at the restoration place a man came in dropping off an old radiator for restoring, saw betty and wanted to know if we would consider selling her as he'd been looking for a fireplace like that for ages But they can't have her, she is all mine
Can't wait to take a sledge hammer to the brick fireplace now and install Betty in her rightful place

post a picture of Betty - even if she's not in her rightful place !! how exciting

our cat,before Wilf (who was a rescue cat from the RSPCA) was inherited with the house and was actually as lovely as Wilf - we thought he was a she, but turned out to be a boy ! she always smelt lovely too, like warm,clean fur - anyway,this cat was called Little Puss and must've been fairly old - she came in one evening,staggering about and not at all herself so I whisked her to the vet and he told me that she was virtually blind and had huge growths in her stomach - and I hadn't been aware She had seemed perfectly well and happy, eating and drinking and not getting lost, or apparently unable to see. Possibly the blindness came on suddenly ? Anyway,he thought it kindest to put her to sleep,which is what happened. Wilfy was much younger and had had a very bad foot,infected as a result of a flea allergy- he'd had several operations (unbearable to put him through that) and the foot was healed up when dh found him dead in the alley behind our garden - he'd been missing all night which was very unusual and I was frantic with worry. I was very relieved that we;d found him as I couldn't bear the thought of him being dead or injured and not found - but of course it was heartbreaking. Both cats had very good funerals in the garden with flowers and music

Will post picture of Betty later - have taken one but unsure how to get it onto the pc (technophobe)

Dh wants me to take ScrappyCat to teh vets. Will make an appointment. I keep thinking she is still happy. At the weekend she was laying on the patio table, in the sunshine after I had fed her a few pieces of leftover quiche. She was purring and just soo content....
I wish she could tell me 'yes I am fine' or 'no I'm old and have had enough', it would make life sooo much easier!!

Picture of the current brickette fireplace and Old Betty on profile now

ScrappyCat a bit better today, turned up for her breakfast on time and now snoozing on the patio in the sunshine. Not calling the vet yet I think she is still happy

Betty looks beautiful !!!!!! actually,old brick fireplace really isn't that bad you know..is it 30s/50s ?
Cat sounds as though she's ok for the time being - if she's eating (quiche )and seems happy..don't rush into it - see what's what and I think you'll know when things aren't right- hope that's not for a long time too

Thanks I really do love Betty

Brick fireplace is not too bad, but I hate the brickette it is made out of, and it is just so not in keeping with a Victorian semi. If the house was say 1910 or so it may be different, but from the outside the hosue is very red brick, arched porch by front door, bay window etc. So the brickette fireplace is just so out of place (to me anyway) My other gripe with it is that it is too wide - it takes up the whole chimney breast and seems too big for what is a small-ish dining room.

Plus Betty is a smaller version of the fireplace in the living room, and I like the idea of having similar/slightly matching fireplaces downstairs

ScrappyCat turned up for dinner tonight, she seems less confuzzled

hope you are all having jolly weekends, despite this rain ! We did manage to get out to town yesterday and dh did some gardening but today looks a bit of a wash out. Made stewed apples yesterday with T then he helped his dad make pizza for tea. Today we might attempt to make brioche
Went to Winchester on Friday with my birthday money - I also had a voucher for White Stuff..am pleased to say that I bought 3 things - a lovely cardi and skirt from White Stuff and another cardi from The Hambledon. This week I also ordered some new boots which arrived on Thurs to replace some much loved and elderly suede boots which I've had for about 5 years...they are lovely and sooo comfy - am delighted to have tracked them down.
When does Betty get installed hippi ?

Morning - wow that sounds a busy (and fruitful) weekend MAS

We did not do much - dh was working all weekend. Saturday morning E had a swimming lesson, and then in the afternoon she went to her friend L's birthday party.
On Sunday we mooched around the house for a bit, mainly reading, put together the spanish stew for dinner adn then O had drama club in the afternoon.
Our computer blew up on Sat night so no MN for me all Sunday [I survived ]

Betty will get installed as soon as dh has a free weekend. Because he needs to remove teh brick one, make good the walls (his plastering skills are improving ) and then I will paint the walls before putting Betty into place.
He (dh) is working next Saturday, and the Saturday after he is helping out at the Cub's trip to RAF Duxford, so it will be a few weeks yet.

How are you hotcross?

yes, hope all is ok hotcross !
Brioche turned out ok, slightly over cooked as our oven is very fast and I forgot to check on it earlier but not too tricky to make and tasted ok !
Am waiting for friend S to come to have coffee then I must do some bits - sort out winter clothes for T, go to shops etc.
Hope E enjoyed her party and O had fun at drama club

Brioche sounds lovely - how do you make it??

O loved his drama group, and it has been sooo good for his confidence
E had fun at the party but was a little 'excluded' in a way. Her friend L is in one of the other two Y1 classes. L had invited all her 'gang' from Rabbit class, 4 of her friends from Squirrel class and only E from Hedgehog class. And I think girls are now at an age where they become a bit 'cliquey'. E said L just played with her friends from her class and no-one else.
She still had a good time though - E is quite happy to make her own entertainment, she luckily does not let exclusion bother her too much (O would have been in tears, he is far more sensitive in a way)

I have a day full of chores today, so better get a move on.

Morning.

We are a poorly hotcross household, so don't come too close Dh and I haven't been feeling great for a few days, then on Saturday night B was sick etc, so I guess we've all been battling the same thing. Dh has gone to work today, not feeling wonderful but better than at the weekend, and B and I are still in our jimjams. I don't feel quite so sick, so hopefully on the mend and B is eating, so must be feeling better.

You both sound like you've had nice weekends. Betty is gorgeous! I am very jealous! Glad pussycat is still around - I was feeling very sad on your behalf Hippi. That's definitely the down side to having pets, but I feel all the benefits outweigh it.

I'd love the brioche recipe too please MAS! Your new clothes sound lovely - you are very trendy

The exclusion thing at parties is tricky. B went to our neighbour's disco party on Saturday. Obviously she probably wasn't feeling tophole anyway, but she definitely stays on the periphery of evything if there are more than two people involved. But I'm the same tbh. I'd love her to be able to throw herself into things and be part of the srowd, but I guess she's just not made like that. She had a lovely time though

poor hotcross household - hope you are beginning to feel better - wrap up snugly on the sofa - I would ! I used to quite like it when T was poorly when younger (sounds dreadful to say that - but ykwim) and we'd just stay put snuggled up together, no pressuire to do anything - obviously he wasn't very worryingly ill !
These friends and friendship groups can be very troubling can't they..
I am v pleased with my new clothes,such a treat to have some money to spend without feeling guilty and then to be able to find 3 things I liked a lot !! I will hold off wearing them as they are to be saved,I always want to keep them pristine ! Actually might wear one of the cardis to book group tomorrow.
Brioche was v easy to do,will link to recipe which was kindly found by another mumsnetter..I'd caution baking it for slightly shorter time.

brioche recipe here - we didn't have the separate moulds so made them it a loaf tin

Evening all
Hotcross, I hope you adn B are feeling better. 'Tis no fun being poorly!
Have just delivered E to Rainbows, complete with 16 squares of homemade Brownie to decorate. They are then selling the cakes at teh end of the session for charity

The house is a tip, adn I have K coming for hot chocolate and apple pie tomorrow (our little ritual to welcome in Autumn as it is our favourite time of year)
Really should get on and dust and hoover, but am feeling very stiff from my long walk with dilldog this morning. I don't know what is wrong with me - I just feel sooo stiff and sore all the time at the moment...

Thanks for brioche recipe MAS, looks quite complicated to me, but O and E love brioche so will attempt it!
Right, better get on

oh I like autumn too - I love the colour and the change in the air, bonfire smells etc and I much prefer warmer clothing,scarves and layers !
I always used to take T to Kew Gardens to see the fabulous pumpkin displays - sadly they didn't have one last year when we went to see the Henry Moores - think they'd used up all their funds on that !
Hope you enjoyed hot choc and apple pie with your friend - mmm!
I can't bear this miserable rain - I was going to wander into town to shops and to book my dental check up but I've rung up and booked it by phone instead. Off to book group this evening - friend S has offered to drive,but am sure I should be driving as I haven't for ages.
T went off not wanting me to kiss him as the 2 boys were waiting by the front door but I can understand !
Am a little sad that his singing teacher put a sad face by the date in his singing lesson record book (not sure why- there are smileys by each of the previous dates) - maybe he didn't sing very well or something yesterday ? he didn't say why and she hasn't put any comments, which would be helpful. Not sure how much effort he puts in - I get him to practice during the week when I remember and he knows the words and sings nicely and in tune but maybe he's not paying attention to the breathing and techniques ? arggh - mustn't analyse so much !
How are you and B hotcross ? hope you are both feeling much better today

Morning - oops, make that afternoon

Sorry to hear about the in T's singing book, wonder why he got that??
I don't like faces on any school work, it is sooo de-motivating!

Miserable rainy day today. K and I swam 40 lengths this morning and worked out that is a whole kilometer! Then back here for hot choc and apple pie. Was lovely just chatting

Have a load of washing on the go, and am about to warm up some of the soup left over from last night for lunch.

Hope you are both feeling better hotcross and B - there is a sicky bug doing the rounds at school [hope I don't catch it emoticon]

Right, off to warm up soup, back later

Hello

Well B is back at school today. The bug is whipping round and her teacher and a Year 2 teacher are off with it. Am just hoping Dh and I don't succumb to actually being sick, rather than just feeling really queasy Seems really early in the season for it to be so virulent. It's usually in the depths of Winter isn't it?

I love Autumn too. Probably my favourite time of year, although I had thought we'd have a warmer house this time round! Must get doors...

Well done on the swim Hippi!

Poor T - think a sad face isn't a great help. Particularly with no feedback in the book.

Glad to hear you are feeling better I agree about the bug - normally this time of year colds adn flus do the rounds, the tummy bug does not normally do the rounds till Feb do they?? Lots of children have been sick at school, E's friend H was sick in the lunch hall (all over her dinner [yuck)) and another friend was sick in teh class room a few days later. I am getting in some dettol and extra kitchen roll just in case, it is only a matter of time surely...
Am a bit worried about your 'must get doors' comment, you have no doors in your house??

Swim was hard work today, we were aiming for 40 lenghts but it was like swimming through treacle today, we were both struggeling. Apple pie went down well though

It is very cold already, but we are determined not to put the heating on until we absolutely have to Let's see how long we last....

yes, am worried about your lack of doors hotcross !
We have had heating on I'm afraid but only for short time and very low..really trying not to use it though..I did have a hot water bottle in bed the night before last
I wish the singing teacher had just left a comment to support the face - surely they don't use those in secondary school btw ? - then we'd know what he was doing wrong and could remedy it..tsk.
What do you think about when swimming hippi ? I used to find it very boring when I did swim lengths

T a bit subdued today, not sure if it's the activity trip or something else, or just tired. Anyway,we have kit list for the trip and the list of activities too. Am not sure how to pack all the stuff required - they have to go to school for first 2 lessons and they leave at 11am - so they need a packed lunch too,sleeping bag,pillow,school stuff,clothes for wet and dry - crikey ! Have emailed trip organiser to ask a few questions and put a little bit on the end about T possibly being a bit unconfident in trying some of the things -do you think that's ok and not too fussing mother of me ? I do need to chill out really

OMG MAS, is T going on the trip tomorrow??

We had a meeting and slide show about PGL Marchants Hill (name??) last week. The leaders are very used to hesitant / nervous children and they are not forced to do anything they don't want to. Two of the activities very popular there are archery and rifle shooting - nothing to adreline junkie there so I know O will be fine and I am sure T will be too

Re the swimming, it depends. When I am on my own I tend to just let my mind wander, but I agree it is very boring. But when I am with K we tend to observe fellow swimmers and then quietly judge to our hearts content when we take a breather But is it still very boring.

too argh!

morning !
no,he isn't going until next Friday - I was just panicking a bit, but feel calmer now. Had a v nice evening out at book group..very relaxing and jolly - nice glasses of wine and crisps helped ! T and dh had a Sainsbury's indian box of things for their tea which smelled heavenly - yum !
J who owns the beautiful shop in village nr us says that she has sold all my bead and button hearts (I was afraid to ask in case she said she hadn't sold any and could I please take them back !!) - about 4 to a lady from Farnham who kept coming back to buy them - and they'd like me to make 12 more which is great..but I now need to find more mother of pearl buttons at a sensible price otherwise it's really not cost effective. Also she wants S to design some Christmas cards to sell as her Easter cards went so well -and she will probably be v interested in her bunting - hooray !