What do you all do on a Sunday??

[Joe]

It is very quiet on Mumsnet on a Sunday with not much chat going on, last week it was like I was the only one in Mumsnet land. My husband works most weekends, well nearly all the time really, so this site gives me something to do when my son is asleep, but it looks like everybody else goes out. My husband is off today, so I will be out for most of the time today, but interested on what you are all doing.

I'm trying to avoid cleaning my house and doing that most dreaded of tasks - tidying the playroom. It looks horrendous at the moment, but I know once I start on it, it won't take long to do. Anyway, doing this is much preferable. My dh also works at the weekend sometimes (today being one of those occasions). And it's at times like this that I wish I lived nearer to family, as that would help pass the time. Me and me girls are going to make "Rugrats" cookies this afternoon (from a packet - I'm not that domesticated), which will probably be very messy, but will keep them happy, and make me feel like I'm a good mum.

I'm doing some work (I work freelance,from home)then I'll read the papers with lunch and later on we're going to a barbecue - usually I use some time over the weekends to work. Also,I cleaned the lavatory and bathroom today !

READ THE SUNDAY TIMES- everyone! There is the 'Good Birth Guide' in the magazine today and it makes v interesting reading (perhaps would have been more relevant if I had been pregnant!)but great statistics on all aspects of child birth. I was relieved to know the hospital I had my daughter in 18 months ago came in at the top 6th in my region, fascinating stuff. Anyone who was keeping track on the discussion on elective c/sections under the 'how much should we carry our babies' thread should take a look...Go buy, borrow or steal it!

Other than that I have been pigging out in style today (perhaps not good idea for my healthy diet plan-oops!) with my - postponed from last week due to illness - breakfast brunch! Smoked salmon and scrambled egg bagels with bucks fizz, anyone...?!Mmmmm....!

I read the Birth Guide also in the Sunday Times. My hospital ranked 20th in Scotland!!

RE the Birth Guide & Caesareans - particularly enjoyed the story of the woman working at the House of Commons who extolled the virtues of C-section so that busy women could tie in the birth of thier baby with the first day of the summer recess.One wonders how successful she will be in ensuring that the rest of motherhood so neatly slots in with her work commitments!.

Yesterday (Sunday) I took my two sons to Covent Garden. I wanted to catch a few sales and needed to buy a watch. Not a usual Sunday activity, but told them sometime I have to have 'fun' at weekends too. They were pretty good on the whole. Better in clothes shops than make-up shops. Had to leave the 'Benefit' make-up shop in a hurry. Older son was putting his finger in every pot of shadow despite dire threats. Took them to eat healthy stuff in Neal's yard. Didn't tell them til after they had hoovered up the nice looking vegan dessert that it had a carrot puree base. Ha! I'll get those vegetabes down them somehow.

We also went to Trafalgar Square where older son had great fun climbing up the lions on Nelson's Column and younger son tried to launch himself into the fountain.

Tigermoth - Your post about Neals Yard brought back happy memories. My dad used to work near Centrepoint and when I was about 14 I used to go into town during the holidays and he took me for lunch. Then I bought huge bags of cereal and dried fruit from there. The Covent Garden General Store seemed the height of trendiness to me then. I was disappointed to find out how tatty it really is when I was last there! I can't wait until my children are old enough to take to London as I think it really is an exciting place for kids.

Rosy, as a poor flat-dweller I too remember stocking up on huge bags of mueseli at Neal's Yard. Yes, the decline of the Covent Garden General Store was quite shocking. By the way, my children are aged 7 and nearly 2, so not too advanced in years. The older one has a bit of road sense now, and the younger is still in a pushchair, so taking them both for a trip 'up west' is manageable - just!

Joe, I spent Saturday doing usual household chores whilst looking after dd, in fact it goes the other way around, I fit in the odd chore with her. That usually leaves Sunday free to do family things as my dh is at home too. Yesterday am we went to B&Q to buy plywood to block up the upstairs landing as I am soon letting dd out of the confines of a cot bed and converting it to a big grown up bed. Not sure how much she will wander. Then the minute she fell asleep for her nap my husband and I completely cleared out our garage (builders need it from next week as we're having an extension upstairs). When she woke up I spent a couple of hours with her in the garden in her paddling pool whilst dh took all the 'c**p we thought we couldn't live without' to the tip, quick visit to my parents then it was teatime, bathtime and bed. Then I did the week's ironing, sorted out some paperwork (piled up since January), packed respective bags for work/nursery, had dinner (10pm!) and fell asleep in front of the TV - again! Hate that.

Lizzer, too late for me to get hold of this paper now but could you/someone look up Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham and let me know how they have fared?

Interesting what everyone does, it does seem that we all have to catch up on chores at the weekend, not very nice. We didnt go out in the end, got a DVD, visited the ponies, did ironing while son and hubby had a snooze. It was nice to read that St Marys Hospital in Portsmouth came second in the Sunday Times table for the South East (thats my local maternity hospital)

I've had a quick look at the ST guide and found that my maternity hospital ranked fairly badly (16 in Scotland). However, looking up the list the ones higher tend to be the smaller, cottage type hospitals who send all emergency cases and complications to the large teaching hospital which must distort the statistics. I had a straightforward, no assistance delivery with a midwife in attendance for the entire duration. I wonder what the assisted/section delivery rate would be if they just looked at city births.

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