Dec 08 Ladies - LIghtning Strikes... and the usual gossip!

[Beans33]

Hope this works for everyone - I'm assuming Summer won't give birth in the next few hours!! x

just read that back and not sure it makes sense. It's my BF who has moved away who always used to have P for me, so I haven't got anyone to ask to have her anymore, meaning I can't really attend the appoiuntments.
I'm sleepy and not making much sense!
And Jam well said! hurrah to you too

Trace: def talk to your manager. A couple of hours every few weeks is worth it.

Yeah Vaggie - the itch never went away - but it will make it stronger than ever!

Lady - will get back to you after I speak to mil hopefully tomorrow. dh says Wed best for him as he has to work quite long days on the following Sat and Sun so wants the day off before that, but it will depend on mil and I know Avo will be up that day so let me know if it'd be too busy for you.
Anyway, I'll look forward to seeing you soon!
Off to bed now to watch the BB eviction from there

Still didn't manage to catch up - but there's tomorrow!

Rubes, as I said, whatever fits in best for you. I think DP would not so secretly like it to be Tues or Wed when he will in all likelihood be there (now, as he has junked some work) and he will have a pal with whom to do 'proper' work, possibly involving actual power tools...

Avo, as above, DP might be around on Weds, now. I hope it doesn't put you off. I would still love to see you.

I feel like I have really weighed the basket down this last week (sorry) but Jam is absolutely right, the support on this thread really is something else. I am not just talking about the amazing offers of practical help I have received but everyone's kind words, which mean so much to me. Why was ON EARTH I worrying about erstwhile friends who let me down in the past? My friends on here are totally brilliant!

Veggie, I am laughing about your boys having pirate cake every birthday until they are 21 Too funny. And I did have another little laugh when I was painting some bannisters earlier, thinking about Sybs 'rummaging' and finding the end of her coil.

Trace, that's a tricky one. I do get why you don't want to talk to your manager about it. Is there anyone you could get to look after P - anyone at all? Could nursery have her just for that little bit of time? Of course, your work ought to be decent about it but I do see that it's not a convo you want to have...Gur. Wish I could think of something. Hate to think of you feeling crummy.

I hope DB is drinking cocktails in some bar now. And Kiwi as well, for that matter!

I dropped my nice Guerlain bronzing powder on the floor yesterday and it smashed. Today I dropped some Clarins solid foundationy powder on the floor which also smashed. All the cheapo stuff I have, of course, remains in tact. I think anything made by Rimmel would probably survive a nuclear winter.

Right, off to sleepo I must go. Goodnight, sleep tight.

Trace I think work should give you the time but I think the better option would be to find an alternative childcare as having to tell your boss is probably more stressful and their is the potential for the other nurses to find out which you probably don't want. So what alternatives have you got? Could you temporarily add an extra morning to P's nursery? Is there another friend you could talk to about it maybe you could do a share care thing where you look after them on the alternate week? If you don't want to give the reason you could just make it seem like it's a mutual break type thing? Can DH help at all? Can thr appointments be late in the day or early in the morning?

Woe there is a proper MN working bee going on now, fantastic! We are going to need photos!

Effie it's difficult to butter the tin because of the piratey embellishments. I think I might go for oil again and try not to let it pool. The last few days DS2 has been going down at 10.30 & waking at 1pm (I know!) but today when I need to do this cake he is as bright as a button and doesn't want to sleep. Will try him again after lunch. He is pretty chilled today so might be able to make it while he's awake anyway. He is currently annoying entertaining the rat/hamster.

Poor DS1 was late for school this morning because my pedal crank fell off! Luckily DS1 was on his own bike so I jogged behind him with DS2 still in his bike seat. A lovely man at the bike shop near DS1's school fixed it in about 2mins.

Gotta go DS2 tried to pull the rathamster cafe sown

Beans Sorry Izz's constipation is back, hope the medicine gets things moving soon. All my sister's children suffer/ed with this and it has been an ongoing battle for her so I do sympathize. A little more understanding and support from your DH wouldn't go amiss!

Guidance on at what age you should take your children to the dentist for the first time seems to be a bit vague. NHS 0 - 5 book says you can register them as soon as they are born and take them along when you go but in practice I don't think this is possible. I have heard that in some areas they won't register children under 2 and in some places 3. A friend of ours who is a dentist says they should go when they are 18 months but then he is in private practice so he would say that! Anyway, I think we were definitely pushing it at 4 with DD and I think she might have found it easier if we had been taking her along earlier. However, it wasn't helped by the fact that neither DH were actually registered with a dentist ourselves and then we had to find one that we thought wouldn't frighten DD to death. The dentist we saw yesterday is super and was so kind and patient with DD. I'm going to take Eddie with me when I go for my next check up in February and hopefully, he will be a bit more used to it when I take him for his first visit in March.

Trace I really hope you manage to sort something out childcare-wise so you can still attend your CBT. Are there any kind people from church you could ask to have your DD for an hour? Or would it be possible to have your appointment at lunchtime to cut down on the time you would have to have off from work, although that would mean that you would still have to have the conversation with your boss.

Veggie Hope the pirate cake making goes well. I'm so pleased that DS1 is enjoying the violin. I'm very keen for my DCs to learn an instrument but so far DD is showing no interest in my offers of piano lessons. Hopefully, she will change her mind but I'm not going to force her if she doesn't want to. However, she did mention learning to ride for the first time the other day which is something we are hoping to avoid - hmm, we'll see...

I was thinking in the night, as mothers do, about DD wetting her pants. I feel so sorry for her that she (a) might have felt too worried to ask to go to the loo and (b) too ashamed/worried to tell the teacher that she had wet herself. It then came to me that I may have been partly to blame for this. We have had a reward chart going over the holidays to help her learn to wipe her botty and wash her hands properly in readiness for starting school and I think I may have overstressed that she needs to be able to do this herself and that the teachers won't help . I really need to think through more what I say to her.

By the way, DH pointed out to me that I'm a technical numpty and that our camera leads would fit MIL's camera, so there are now a couple of piccies of DD in her school finery on my FB page if anyone wants to have a look.

Wow, Rubes - so kind of you and your DH - and Lady - well done accepting. Never know, it'll probably be really good fun!

I am getting ready for my dinner party tonight - am actually excited about it!

Have bought DD1 wellies today (crocodiles - brilliant) and some shoes. Did lots of research and ended up spending nearly £40 on them, but they have 2 insoles and are a bit big for her, so they should last til Feb/March time apparently. I thought better to buy one expensive pair than 2 or 3 pairs for £25 or so. So am pleased. Albeit fleeced.

Must go - cooking to do!

Sorry not to do many personals, just a bit overwhelmed! Nolda - thanks for tips on dentist and sympathy re constipation. Does help. Poor Izz.

Have a lovely dinner party, Beans. I love entertaining. Can't really do it at the mo so it's one of the things to which I am most looking forward. Hope the bunged upness improves - will she eat things like dried apricots? And drinking ok? Some kids just seem prone to it,though, it's unfair.

Nolda, don't beat yourself up about the wetting incident. I am sure a large part of it is not what you said but her feeling uncertain in general, school is so overwhelming when they start. Bet things will improve. My SIL is a dentist, I will ask her if she's got any tips for a scared tiddler for next time.

Veg, you jogged behind DS1's bike to school? I don't know where you get your zip from! Please let me have the name of your stockist We got back from the house at 9.20 last night, we had supper and DP went back and didn't come home until 1 in the morning. I have had to have the morning off and will only do a short afternoon, as I have made myself feel a bit seedy by overdoing it The rush is because the carpet fitters are coming tomorrow morn and there are areas we need to have cleared and decorated by then.

I had a lovely parcel from Sybs this morning. I tell you this only to flag up how incredibly thoughtful she is, though obviously you all know that anyway...

Rubes' computer has gone pop and so she is temporarily estranged from us!

To return briefly to the cheerfulness chat, the nicest wine I ever tasted was a Lebanese white from 1970. I can't remember any more than that, not even the grape, but it was like liquid butterscotch. Every time I have bought Lebanese wine since, it has tasted vile. Also, I am wondering what 2010 will be like for wine. I wonder this because amazingly, the years in which DP was born, I was born and DD was born were all terrible years for wine in most places Not a vintage in sight!

Apparently was 2009 was very good, can there be 2years in a row. I'm not sure how they know in advance that it's good, you know before it's vintaged but there you go. I only know because I was thinking of buying my brother a 2009 wine for him to open on his 10th wedding anniversary (he got married to his new women last year).

Lady, Rubs & Avo I was wanting to buy you a bottle of the Brown Brothers Muscato rosa I had last week. I thought it would be nice for a mid afternoon break from the DIY. Unfortunately, I can only buy & send you all a case of the stuff. I would feel a little uncomfortable sending 12 bottles of wine to a preggers lady, a recently unclackered Pube and therefore a driving Avocado. Not to mention the uncomfortable questions that would arise when our credit card bill arrives.

Lady I actually jogged whilst pushing my bike. I should add though DS1 is only 5 and was slowing down for me.

Nolda you are so much like me with analysing the wetting. However, I don't think you should over think it. If you worried why not just ask her what happened. It may be that it happened at the end of the day and she was caught between home time and needing to wee and it just happened. I do understand your analysis though.

Beans I love that yesterday you were going to buy wellies from a charity shop & today you spend 40quid on a pair. You also a very much like me!

Rubes What a wonderful offer & lady well done for accepting, what a great bunch of ladies on this thread!

trace I agree with Nolda, is there anyone at church taht might help out rather than raise the issue with work? Failing that if its only once every few weeks is there anyway you can not tell work the whole truth? Although I'm not sure what you could tell them instead either.

Nolda DD LOVES going to the dentist (due to the stickers she gets in the main). He is a lovely man and pretty much said that once she had her first full set she should come along with me just to get used to it. Her first visit was her sat on my knee in the dentist chair, and he just counted her teeth and made a big fuss of the number etc. Now she jumps into chair mouth wide open telling him how she brushes them!

Wanted to write more but am at work & can't think.

I will get something instead and we will toast all the December ladies. Though it is looking like I will have staggered help with Rubes and Mr Rubes possibly on Tues and Avo on Weds.

If 2009 was good it makes it less likely that 2010 will be, though it's not impossible. But I expect it will be terrible as I am having a child this year and DP and I will be passing on the curse of the non-vintage Like I said it depends on the type of wine and the region, but I am not including Aus and California - maybe we would have some luck there. Must investigate. Smashing years all round (if anyone is looking for an excuse) were 2005 and 1990. Port is good from 1977, also 1970...

Hey DB, was it a fun night out last night?

1986 was a good year for Aus and Californian wines.

I will shut up now and not even get started on talking about champs. Mmmmmmmmm.

Veggie!!! I didn't spend £40 on the wellies. They were a tenner - got the crocodile ones - charity shop were all too big. £40 were on winter shoes! these ones - she looks so sweet in them!

I love wine at the moment. Particularly a lovely one I've found called Nostros. So tasty. Yummers. But Sancerre is hot fave too, but too expensive!!

PS Have just noticed that link that they were £6.50 cheaper than the ones I got. Tits and double tits.

beans oops...get them rung up and see if you can get the difference back!

ladyt yes night out was good. I haven't seen the friends for ages so it was nice to catch up. Even managed to pencil a few more dates in the diary. It wasn't boozy though, that treat I am saving for tomorrow night!!

Just a quick hello. I am on my way to my friend's hen do but have stopped in Borough Market and am indulging in lovely tapas. Mmmmmm. I am also feeling very cultured as I came here via Tate Modern & saw a photography exhibition on voyeurism and surveillance. Oh, I also saw a real live Peregrine falcon kill a pigeon. Right in front of Tate Modern! So a good day all told. AND we have a second viewing on our house this arvo. Yay!

Beans those shoes are so cute! Does she love them?

Cake was successful. Now just need to ice it...well those little ready made icing tube things to decorate a little. Might even stick a Lego pirate on too!

A Dutch friend who has 2 kids who are friends with thr DS's rang today to arrange a meet up in a park near where we live. I don't really like this lady, I don't dislike her, I just haven't really warmed to her, she is very Dutch and quite hard to talk to. Anyway, she told me today that her marriage is falling apart and she doesn't know what to do. I suggested counselling etc but she said they've tried that. She said she thinks she'd like to separate but they can't afford to live separately. I feel really bad because all I can think of is that I dont want to know all this because I don't really want to get close to this women. Is that terrible! Anyway I've offered for her kids to come over for a sleep over whenever she wants so that her & her DH can talk. Apparently she & her DH fight a lot & throw stuff @ each other and they often do this in front if the kids!

Oh Avo that all sounds so nice. I do love the Tate modern. I like peregrin falcons there were 2 living in a cathedral in central Derby & the locals were very proud of them.

Hello, I am back online! that was a brief break! dh's computer blew up thismorning - not just a figure of speech, it actually went bang and smoke poured out the back my laptop power supply and battery went kaput for about the 10th time 2 days ago but a brief stop at maplin on the way back from work and dh fixed them both! Happy days
Vaggie - what a lovely thought all round
Lady hopefully Tuesday we will get to you. Just want to speak to mil instead of text to be sure. What would be some of the jobs that dp is most needing help with etc?
I keep forgetting about my shoulder so apologize in advance if the help from me is pants - sometimes it's fine and I can't even feel any pain and other times it's like a bad toothache. DH does diy 100 times faster and better anyway so I'm sure you won't mind if I end up a bit of a gofer.
Had the shoulder Xrayed and brought a cd home for dh to view. To be honest it was me who was most alarmed at the fat I could see on it and I must admit I did drill him about whether I was 'big boned' or not (apparently not but I have a stupidly long collar bone ) but aside from that I feel a bit short changed, as although he did say my shoulders are predisposed to this type of injury (great) and he could see a little bit of a problem but not any really bad stuff, so hoping an ultrasound guided injection will fix it [yuk] but still might need surgery. Anyway, will know more in about a week.
Anyway, dd got wind and hiccups for the millionth time today - not sure why but today she's a bit unsettled.

Vaggie sorry to hear that about the Dutch lady - nice of you to take the kids. i don't think it's bad of you to feel like you do - you can't be great friends with everyone but I do hope they sort things out and stop fighting infront of the kid.

Hey everyone, long time no see, I hope you?re all well? I had a good old lurk last week, but didn?t get chance to post.

Mainly I remember enjoying reading all about the meet up, and seeing the lovely pics on fb ? especially the very beautiful photo of Veggie and babySummer enjoying a snuggle, it made me very jealous that I wasn?t there to sneak a snuggle too! Afterwards it struck me that it should be strange that although I?ve never met many of you I could still pick you out in the pictures. And, now we know that Jam has a Scottish accent, is anyone reading her post with a Scottish accent in their head?!

Avo soo jealous of your trip to northern Pembrokeshire. It is my favourite place in the world and we?ve spent many happy summers there. Where did you stay? We always used to stay just outside St Davids. We?re going next year ? yay!

I?m sorry you?ve been down LadyT, I do hope your insomnia clears up soon (or your new DD is a cracking sleeper from day 1), as I?m sure it'll be easier to pick yourself up with some good sleep in you. What a great idea to email people, and so nice to get quick responses. Almost as exciting receiving a reply as getting a letter ? I love getting letters and that always always makes me happy, but I can?t actually remember when I last got a handwritten letter. Anyone want to be my penpal? I?m very good at writing regularly, and use different coloured writing paper and everything.

I hope you are having a fab time in NY Kiwi, and that your DD continues to have fun at nursery in your absence.

Spot kids playing recorder the work of the devil? What about adults? At 18 (in 6th form) I was in a recorder orchestra with my friends and it was great fun!

With all these hard workers, helping on LadyTs cottage ? will we be having a virtual housewarming party, with lots of cheerfulness? Just reading about it makes me feel part of it

How much does your boss know about depression Trace? Can you make an excuse and say that it?s the only day you can get appointments, and not say who with? Glossing over the detail, if that would make you feel more comfortable.

My friends Mum was a dentist, and apparently had a slide next to the staircase, so kids who were good got to slide back down to the ground floor while their parents took the stairs. I wish she was my dentist, it sounds great!

Since my last post, I am very happy to report DD?s first sentence. ?More cake please? that?s my girl! And she also has her first boyfriend, at nursery. DH insists on referring to them as best friends, but as there is hugging and kissing going on (and as it annoys DH) I am calling him her boyfriend. DH did ask the nursery staff if he was good enough for her and if he?s from a good family . They replied ?not really? . I think he?s a little cutie though

Blimey, it has taken me almost 3 hours to catch up and write this! And I?ve tried so hard to not waffle as much as normal. It was bedtime hours ago, so I must go now. Night night

Wow, Zoe - long post!

Just a quick one from me. Dinner party went well last night, but people didn't leave til gone midnight. I am now totally whacked. Pru up at 3, so bunged dummy in and she went back to sleep til 4.30. But I am soooooooooooooo tired. Think I've lost my socialising mojo! It was great fun, though and the food was good. Hurray!

I want to go to bed. Roll on lunchtime!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Well done! What did you cook Beans? You truly are wonder wife.

Hello Zoe - wow more sentences and we're still struggling for words here however yesterday ds kept bringing me his shoes (as he wanted to go outside in the garden) but he was still in PJ's so I casually said "we have to go upstairs and get dressed first" and he scurried off upstairs which I didn't give a second thought to as he goes up all the time alone to practice the stairs, but promptly returned and handed me a T-Shirt from his wardrobe So I'm quite convinced he understands everything I say! (must stop swearing) But do you think I can get him to say anything? He desperately wanted his milk just before and was getting it out of the fridge and trying to get his cup etc so I kept asking him to tell me what he wanted and it's just "mmm, mmm, mmm" "mmm, mmm, mmm" and that's not 'm' for milk either as he does it for everything!