Mumsnet Little Italy 9

[Brangelina]

Aka le Patatine

I got someone to lend me Gomorra the other day, so will be embarking on that soon, when I've finished the doorstop I'm on at the moment.

Brange which Vikram Seth book? I loved A Suitable Boy, I have read it 3 times. I love big fat books in general

KWYM about mumsnet on the whole I try and stick to posting advice or on books, music whatever, and stay away from the controversial ones, mainly because I really can't get worked up about things like SAHM/WAHM, breast/bottle etc etc. Each to their own I say. I did get involved in the Gaza threads, and found the experience of arguing with strangers in cyberspace quite odd and quite consuming, wouldn't want to do it every day!

I am the other veggie btw, though I eat fish so I'm not really.

Hi Sputnik - hope you had a nice birthday.

Pippi - good idea about list of books - I bought a diary, but since I'm on maternity leave, I have no appts. to put in it, barring the v. occasional supervision or public lecture or seminar that I'm doing before I go back to work... I will fill it with books I intend to read, and then cross them off - that will be intensely satisfying. Ahhhhhhh.

Sunflower - I hope you got some sleep and that DD wasn't up for too long.

I so agree with you re controversial threads sputnik. if when I get upset is mainly because I cannot understand how people can be so black and white about things. I used to get quite annoyed now I mainly post only here and skim through other threads. It's so time consuming talking to you lot I'd be divorced if I were to discuss with everybody else too.

who has seen gomorra the film after reading the book? what did you think?
I have romanzo criminale somewhere, haven't watched it yet.

must add A Suitable boy. must also read the kite runner and the next one too. oh gooood...when!?

God - I am vvvvvv stressed this morning.

We're applying for a mortgage (in our infinite wisdom, we've decided to move), and I have to fill in the form and find all the relevant documentation (bank statements, pay slips, etc.).

Our house is total chaos. I'm not joking. Not fault of arrival of baby either: we were up to our necks in it before La cicietta arrived anyway, but obviously it's become 10000x worse since... Really, it's awful. I can't find anything. I'm so ashamed and tired of the mess, but can't do anything about it (for reasons I won't disclose, as we'll become even easier to identify to anyone potentially stalkerish reading this)

DH has left it to me to fill in because he's so busy and stressed at work, and besides, he can't go to the mortgage broker anyway, as he's at work, so DD and I have to go later today, and go through the form, which will obviously be a delight: I'm sure she'll enjoy that... Especially since the meeting is bang smack when she normally sleeps, so she'll be tired... Sigh...

But it's so hard to find anything or even to write the form, as I think DD is developing separation anxiety, and gets upset if I put her down for too long, or leave her on her own. And it's not possible to write with a little one whimpering in the background.

And BREATHE....

Ok - heartbeat returning to normal. Feel a bit better for venting.

Now, if I can only find bank statements and payslips... Not that they're much use as am on maternity pay which is virtually nil at the moment, and not really a fair reflection of my salary.

Pffffffffooooooofffffff.

What I've realised and decided about controversial thread is this: I wait until I've decided pretty much what I think about an issue, then I post in full and hopefully only once (or maybe twice ). I do not want to be drawn into debate with strangers online like that. What's the point? Whose mind would I be changing? What impact would it have? It's just weird, time-consuming fussing.

Ha - just realised that my stance indicates what a bossy boots I am: I'm used to forcing people to change their minds persuading others of my wise opinion (ie. I teach! )... When I can't do that, I don't bother.

Also, clearly I am used to being listened to in my day-to-day life [spoilt, bossy emoticon], as it really frustrates me when I post something considered and wise in a thread, and NO ONE EVEN ACKNOWLEDGES!

Pearls before swine, I say.

In seriousness, though: I have noticed that on certain threads only particular posters are deemed worthy of interraction (to a certain extent), and if you want "attention" (attention seeking? Moi?) you have to be controversial, rude, or incomprehensible...

Here I go again: Alan is talking to himself once more. [sad git]

Only 40 more posts to go, Alan, until 1000...

By the way, and for the record (Pippi ), the reason I'm able to post so much at certain points of the day is because DD is currently refusing (despite my half-hearted efforts) to sleep longer than 10 mins on her own in the bed, so if I try to leave her for a nap, it's a disaster. So she sleeps (as right now) in the sling, on me... Which leaves me unable to do anything else except surf the net on my laptop.

Oh I loved those times with a small baby Penthe, treasure it

It does annoy me when I post my amazing advice on MN and the OP never even comes back to thank!

Hi Sputnik

Oh, I do! I love looking at her little sleeping face, and feeling her little hands on my chest. Aaaawwwww.

Yes, agree. T'is very annoying. We are fabulous, but no-one seems to be noticing!

Did you have a nice birthday, btw?

Well, apart from having flu it was ok. It's always a bit strange actually as it's also DH's birthday, which sounds very romantic but is actually a total pita.

And my present this year was a house, or half of one anyway, which I can't complain about really but I kind of suspect I might've been getting one anyway.

Oh, sorry - I hadn't picked up on the fact that you have flu. Poor you. Are you feeling any better?

What a coincidence that your DH has the same birthday. What are the chances?!

Ugh - you're moving too? God, I'm scared of the prospect. Can't even think about it...

I am better but still crap!
I really don't want to move, I live in a beautiful place halfway up a mountain. But DH commutes up to 4 hours a day, we never see him. We'll be keeping this place for weekends and summer though, otherwise I really would be upset at moving (and having to be in Rome in the summer heat).

Penth- I am still embroiled in trying-to-make-people-see-it-my-way in my other cyberspace hangout, and frnakly, blimmin' IREM should be paying me a wage!

Sputnik- can we swap? I'd love to hardly see my dp......hey ho!

Off to read backwards as usual....

Ciao a tutte. Haven't we filled up this thread quickly?

Agree with the not posting on controversial threads. I read them, sometimes get indignant over a comment someone has made, poise to post, then realise I haven't got the energy to get embroiled in an argument with someone who is deliberately missing the point. Most of the arguments are quite silly in any case. Also, dont you find that there are lots of permalose posting on MN? Permalose and preziose.

I've also noticed that there are a few names who are deemed worthy of response. I've on occasion posted something that has been totally ignored, only for MN-poster-worthy-of-response to come along 10 posts later, post the same thing and get praised for her wisdom. Sometimes I just want to go Oi!

Sput, belated happy birthday! My grandparents also had the same birthday. Does it mean you and your DH are particularly affiattati? (sorry can't think of English word). At least there's no danger of either of you forgetting each other's birthday. My DP, who has a memory like a scolapasta, has to be warned at least a month in advance and several times leading up to the day.

I'm reading 2 Lives now, which is basically an autobiography and biography of his aunt and uncle in the 50s. I've not got far but so far it seems good. I've also read An Equal Music but liked it a lot less, it's a comletely different subject and lacks the warmth and the colour of a Suitable Boy.

Has anyone read the Book Thief? I keep seeing people rave about it but reading the blurb I'm not sure it appeals. I'm not keen on reading books originally aimed at childrens as I find them a bit bi-dimensional and I'm not sure that the subject matter has been overdone.

Rosa, do email me if you still want the DVD. I haven't tried copying it yet, might have a go tonight after the gym (if DD goes to bed quickly without making a fuss for 2 hours).

Bucharest, well done on having the energy for getting into that argument. I just couldn't face it, I think also because I have PMT so would get irrationally angry and wouldn't be able to put my point across clearly. I am super-disgusted though.

thanks Alan Penthe, in the end I had to feed her again and went to bed, but at least she slept through. didn't think I was goig to sleep as te 2 walks in the snow wheren't too good for my knee (old gymnast injury) and couldn't find the hot water bottle (my house sounds pretty much like yours and have to sort it out by the 14 when mum arrives... and then DP goes on a tidying frenzy which means he throuws everything in plastic bags and so you still have to ramage through those to find anything..) but guess exaustion got the better.
School was on this morning, but getting there with the flimsy macclaren was a nightmare, not eve the roads around the school had been cleared so it was quite hard work pushing over holes in the iced snow. can't even attempt to get the 3-wheeler out of the shed as it's packed in there and everything will fall out... just didn't want to sling it as it's so slippery, but hopefully DP will be able to go pick DS up later.

I've read the Book Thief, I think it was fine as an adult read, doesn't stand out as written for children, and actually quite traumatic.

I don't know if it's to do with our birthday being the same (probably not) but we do think frighteningly alike alot of the time. Except when we don't obviously. But it does make ie choosing a new sofa fairly straightforward.

Lol! We still haven't got a proper sofa as can't agree on what we like (plus everything I like is too cat-attractive so it would be reduced to shreds in minutes).

Ciao a tutte, I missed all the talk this morning, grunt! But, I've been to the gym .

So, I'm now rushing and tidying while mnetting, as I need to pick up dd in 1 hr and take her to swimming lessons. Btw, my children are now both positively hating the thought of going to swimming lessons (despite enjoying themselves once we are there), that I'm really wondering why I do it (it is a grosso sbattimento taking them there. And we go by tram).

Pippi, I read Sophie's choice over Christmas, and it's good. Read it, so that we can discuss it, as I've been thinking about it a lot. I haven't watch the movie though, apart from bits on youtube.

I think you are right not being involved in heated debates on mn, but I still get sucked in at times. I do also find that I'm quite fond of a few mnetters...

Hellooo, happy birthday Sput and hello everybody. I was a good girl last night, stayed away from the net and read!!!!

I also have a quaderno where i list all the books/writers i am interested in, such book is now lwost in the mess that it is now my house. Will now add your stuff, thank you! When it reappers.

Read Sophie';s Choice years ago, i remember liking it, not sure i can be bothered rereading it. Styron ahs also written a wondeful short book about depression, Darkness Visible is called.

Penthe are you buying where you are? I am convinced now i know what it is that will make you recognisable. Oh, cyberspace is weird, like talking to different versions of yourself!

I refuse to take ds to activities because i think he would moan about doing stuff after school, thats' another thing about the typical mumsnette, an obsession with lots of activities fo little children. Io sono pigra.

Franca good on you to do the gym! Impressed.

I'm not too keen on activities too hot, as I'm pigra and trasgressive (and I hated going to activities as a child. I hated to interrupt my games to go somewhere else) . But ds is 6 and I think it's time to become a confident swimmer, given that now that we are in Italy, he has the chance to spend the whole summer by the sea. He keeps going on about football. Now, I really was hoping he'd never ask. Apparently most of football lessons are full on and populated by parents who dream of having a pro footballer as a son . I wonder if I can find a cuddly, non competitive leftie football team, full of imbranati for ds to join

I'm using amazon's wish list quite generously