December 2008: because i unwittingly finished the old thread

[waitinggirl]

oops. sorry. didn't realise i was post 1000. hope people find this...

just a quick one to send massive hugs to Urbane and DB - so sorry to hear both of your sad news. Big prayers for you and all your families, we're all here whenever you need us.

Damn being by a very large window into a public area at work. At least I can pretend I've got some ancient book dust in my eyes and that's the problem. :(

Oh my lovely, lovely friends, we are so lucky to have each other. Damn that old book dust.

Rubes Kiwi did the rice thing and it worked for her.

Effie I knew what you meant - and I cannot tell you the difference you've all made in last 24 hours. I'd told my BF and DH obviously and no one else (and am not that keen to). Although I did actually tell my boss this morning as I thought he might want some explanation as to why I was being a bit mad and might have hospital blah next week. He is v old school so didn't quite know what to do with himself. But I think better to have said.

Dr was actually useless - which is surprising because she's usually very good. Luckily I have rhino skin because she kept saying to me 'it's exactly like when you've had a baby it takes a while for your body to get back to normal..that's why we do a 6 week post-birth check' etc. which I thought was a bit .

But hey ho. have just been to sainsbos and bought trolley full of rubbish food and also grazia. And am eyeing up downloading another series of 30 rock. DS is watching TV and DD eating cereal from the packet . So definitely taking it easy.

Rubes your story about DS flushing all that down the loo really made me laugh - I really hope it's dried out ok. So crushing when they think they've done something really good. The rice thing worked for my phone.

Urbs I think it was def a good thing to tell your boss, that way you don't have to try so hard to hide it if you are feeling rubbish. Oh and the supermarket trip with a trashy mag is something I always do to make me feel better when I'm down. Except mine would be full of wine and trashy mags as I'm not a chocolate person at all.
I'm glad my story made you smile. I've just now put my phone and the baby monitor in rice - fingers crossed! It's been drying out on the radiator all day and we're walking around the house like we're on holidays in Florida mid Summer since I cranked up the heat dh just called and likes the rice idea - says it acts like those little packets of silica or whatever it is to keep moisture out of things that always say do not eat (because it's really something youd be tempted by) Anyway, 8 hours on the radiator may be too late for the rice. DH did the radiator thing with his and it sort of worked but he still had some dodgy keys and only 75% visable screen. Oh well I'm sure I'm due an upgrage soon.
The baby monitor, who knows. Need a new one anyway with a longer range that works through solid brick so I can drink wine at the neighbours house
Right, I'm off to think of another topic to cheer up our urbs and our Deids.
Deids I hope you are lurking if you have time. Thinking of you today. Hope the family are doing ok. My dh's G'dad was quite ill and his son (dh uncle) lives in the states and dh told him to get over asap as G'dad wasn't looking good. After 4 hour drive and 10 hour flight he was late by an hour. Bit sad, but he still said goodbye. Your G'dad is looking over you now and isn't in any pain or suffering but is with you always and is happy.

Right we need some cheeryness. I think that's my cue to pour a glass of wine i will think of a new silly topic - pleeeeease can we talk Christmas tree decoration? Who was it that said we can't? Effie? Vag?

Ok I'm off to find my bottle opener.... who am I kidding, it's not lost!
And that, my friends, is rambling.....

Hello beautiful ladies...thank you so much for all your kind words, it's made me cry more! Rubes you are right it didn't matter that I wasn't there, who knew how much I loved him. The funeral is on Thursday, I'm doing a reading...Nan asked and I am quite proud she asked me (she has 7 GC!). The DC's are coming too which I was a bit about but as my Uncle pointed out he loved the children, and their noise its what he would have wanted. No being morbid but celebrate his life and the good times.

urbane Hope you are doing okay.

rubes I bought some new Xmas tree lights today...so yes you can chat deco! Oh and oopps about your phone, and monitor. Apparently it can take up to a week for everything to dry out properly, so it may well improve yet.

trace DH is doing great now thanks for asking. Time has really helped him come to terms with his mum.

Oh and I have wine, Chinese take away on order and a funny DVD to watch, well at least it'll pass a couple of hours!

I'm just putting the boys to bed. DH is away at a work thing in Amsterdam so the boys & I had a pizza & movie night. I'm putting them to bed in with me so er are all snuggled up together while I feed DS2.

I can hear the neighbours (will be so glad to leave this house). They have their baby in their bedroom and its crying loads. I'm pleased to note that while I can hear it, it isn't so load that it would wake me. So I'm hoping that they aren't getting woken by DS2s 4am wailing. They are pacing the floor wearing what appear to be tap shoes though. Bit noisy.

Speaking of moving we finally heard back from.the estate agent representing the house we offered on. Apparently its takings ages for her (the owner) to get back to him because she has to contact her ex-husband about it. This could take a while.

DB so nice that you are doing a reading and also I think its good the kids are going though I guess it makes it harder for you. Enjoy your Chinese.

I'm all up for decorations talk. DH is a long way from understanding my love chrissie decorations. He is mystified that I still want a tree etc even though we are going to London for Christmas. However we have reason here to start early. Tomorrow Sinta klaas arrives! this is the Sinta klaas story. He arrives tomorrow from Spain.

Had to post as phone going flat. But anyway he arrives on a big steamboat into our local harbour and then there is a big parade as he comes through the Hague. It's very exciting. He stays for a month with his little black men mysteriously leaving lollies in shoes overnight each night (or 2 nights a week in our house) and then on the 5th December he leaves but before he goes he leaves a big sack of gifts for every household. Very nice of him really.

Vag after the 5th Dec, can you send Sinta Klass and his boat over the North Sea? He's welcome at my house
Deids your grandads funeral sounds like it will be a lovely occasion, really something to remember (welling up again, at the loveliness of his family)
Seeing as my stuffing recipe plea has been ignored once, I will shamelessly try again to make this our topic of choice. Nothing rude though, not like Sybs putting the pork in!

Blimey it?s been busy on here today. Been lurking but felt too guilty about posting as it meant I was Not Doing Any Work. Again.

Deidre I am so sorry about your GD, not much I can add to the very well expressed words here so far, but I am so pleased to hear you?ll be doing the reading, how lovely. And that your DC will be there too. He sounded like a really great man. How is your nan doing?

Urbane, that must have been hard telling your boss, esp if he isn?t the most sensitive, and almost worse that your GP was so crap. I am really sorry and I hope you are able to take good care of yourself and have some time to relax this weekend.

Vag, sorry the house is taking so long but good news you?ll soon be away from your current neighbours. Dealing with excessive noise is so stressful. I have friends who just had to put a false ceiling in their lovely Victorian flat as the upstairs neighbours were making too much noise just by existing. Communal living is hard at the best of times, but esp when you and the neighbours have DCs.
I also wanted to thank you for the v kind offer of the birthing pool (and to Pingu for offering to take it down here) ? I do actually have a friend in London who?s offered me hers (the one that stayed in its box last time as there was no time to get it out), so I know I bellyached about the cost but actually it?s about whether we?ll have enough time/brain power when I?m in labour to get it up and running and get rid of T with a friend as well.

Oh and pingu T would love that kitchen despite being a boy but he ain?t getting one as we don?t have the space for it. Lucky he can?t read MN or I?d be in serious pester power trouble.

Sounds like 2 Dec could be a goer for Brighton meetup. Does that suit anyone who might dare venture to the seaside? Don?t worry, I won?t force you to eat candy floss on the pier in this weather.

Forgot to say PD, the actual place we stayed in in Tenerife was a hole (I think the apartments were called Los Amigos) but the weather was good. So would def rec for the climate but take advice on accom from someone else.

Rubes sorry to hear about your various troubles today, they did raise a smile but I hope the important stuff starts working again. Your neighbour sounds ace and def worth investing in a decent monitor if you can go over and have a ?boozy?convivial evening with them.

ZJ I loved the description of your DD?s breakfast extravaganza. And top news o the job, well done you!

Beans I share your taste in crap thrillers. Is it any good? I have ?bullied?persuaded DP to get me a Kindle for my b?day so I will want loads of easy read trash for those night feeds?

T is ill again. I won't write any more as I will implode. Other than to ask how the hell I improve his shattered immune system .

Chicken noodles soup?

Chicken is the one food he won't eat. Seriously, whoever heard of a chicken-hating child?

oh i can't bear it he's crying in pain and I don't know what for, he's had calpol and teething gel and doesn't have a temp but has looked really poorly for days and his nose is all stuffed up despite humidifier, Vicks, saline spray etc. Can't be comforted.

Poor wee guy Spot! I feel like I'm getting sick again myself after having the worst flu in years just a few weeks ago. Too depressing to feel so run down. I hope he/you are able to get some sleep.

I hate potential snot monster with added wail here too. He just keeps waking and wailing. When he's asleep I can hear his gurgly breathing (a highly technical term, obviously). I haven't given him calpol yet because Icantbebotheredwalkingdownstairs I'm holding out to see if he'll settle. We have a dinner party tomorrow night that we got invited to weeks ago and have been really looking forward to, & now we have mr wakealot on our hands again. Im sure this is because of the dodgy heating from the other night. It has been fixed now to be fair to the landlord, but still! Bugger. Spot I'm sure T & J have some sort of weird psychic link.

Zj how about I set SKs boat satnav to hull instead of Spain.

Oops that should have been have not hate.

Same here Vajooli / Spot. Poor dd up at 530 all bunged up and congested. was hungry but can hardly breathe and drink at the same time. I did walk downstairs but Calprofen didn't help much. She was v v upset, then ds woke up. Normally he just barges in our room but this morning he actually knocked !!!! I waited, and then he knocked again so I opened the door!! Where on earth has he learnt that? I don't know but it was very polite, and I like it

We have a confirmed snot monster here. Hoping I can dose him up tonight so we can still go out.

Rubes that is so sweet about DS. Our DS1 is really polite, always says excuse me, and please & thank-you. No idea where he gets it from.

yes I remember your ds1 being exceptionally polite when I met him.
ds was loving swimming again today so I am convinced he has turned a corner. Was even excited and looking for his swim nappy etc.

Kids napping, lamb shanks marinating wooohooo Strictly / X-factor-tastic tonight

Hi guys.
I'm home alone. I'm going out to a posh place for afternoon tea with some girlie friends soon, to celebrate my friend's birthday (yum yum) so DH has taken the girls out for the afternoon, which means that for a little while I'm sitting in peace. Nice. But feel a bit odd though. I think I'm feeling strange at the moment - this might be a dull stream of consciousness coming up, so feel free to skip to the next post. This place is quite cathartic so I'll indulge myself, if no-one minds. I think I'm feeling a bit low again but I'm not sure. About 2 weeks ago my CPN and I decided that as I've been fine for ages, she would no longer need to see me. I'm still seeing the psychologist, but when that's done I would just be under GP care. It seemed like a sensible, positive thing. But for the past week I've been feeling really teary, and qute anxious about things again. I'm desparate to have time on my own (like now) but then I miss P when she's not here and worry that something might happen to her. I don't feel the same about L, which then makes me feel guilty. I went on the pill 3 weeks ago, to see if it helped, as I'm often bad when I'm pre-menstrual. If I hadn't gone on the pill I would be due a period next week, so it could be that. But since I'm now on my pill-free week, I'm supposed to bleed this week (but I'm not , so maybe my hormones haven't a clue what's happening. I don't know if it's just hormonal or what's going on really. I know I'm really worried about money, but other than that things are good, so really I've no reason to feel blue. Which is especially bad when people like Deidre and Urbane have real things to be dealing with. Also I've been thinking bad thoughts about people - people who I think are fab and I usually love spending time with, but I'm just assuming the worst of everyone and feeling cross with people for no reason, which is really unlike me. Really sorry for pouring all this out. I guess it's just a passing phase, but i just feel so odd.
Anyway I ought to go and decide what to wear for posh tea. I need to be warm yet beautiful and elegant...and I'll be back later having eaten too much cake and spent a lovely few hours with my lovely friends and realised how silly I'm being.

Trace: hope you are out having a fab time :). It could be hormonal - I react badly to starting the pill - or it could be sonething else, but if you think you still need the extra support from your CPN ask for it! Take care x

Oh trace. Am sorry to hear you're feeling like that. I hope your tea took your mind of some of it for a while. I wish I knew how to help. all I can think is that it's probably always going to happen when you come to the end of some kind of treatment - you're bound to have a bit of a wobble and feel a bit intimidated by having to do without it. But if she and you thought you could cope then I'm sure you can. Hang in there. And am sure the psychologist can help with repeated anxious thoughts. I found the linden method really helpful and have the books and CDs so could pop in the post if you like.

Also - and this might sound odd I have a real link between blood sugar and anxiety - so chocolate literally makes me feel better . Speaking of which my lovely BF just sent round a huge box of cupcakes. God knows how we're going to eat them all. The DCs can't believe that the postman can bring cakes too.

The only other thing I would say that I think it's quite normal to feel more anxiety about the well being of a very small child. So don't feel guilty about that. And do be kind to yourself. You come across as such a lovely caring person. Do care about yourself too.

I'm feeling a bit better today - although cross with DH who isn't being that great. I don't think he knows what to do. Which I can understand but isn't all that helpful.
I have large piece of stilton and glass of red wine lined up for this evening's TV fest. Have just finished The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim - LadyT did you read this a while back? I didn't love it as much as his other stuff. Need something else to read next before I embark on traditional Christmas Dickens.

Also DS is being super cute. He asked me last night when DH would be home and then said 'he might be home when I'm having my drink before bedtime - I don't know - you never can tell with mens'. .

Vagola I love that story about your DS1. He is a smasher. And Rubes your DS could teach my DD some manners. She's a monster at the moment. We took them to Tate Modern this morning and she had an absolute strop, lay down on the floor and then propelled herself backwards at speed across the gallery. V embarrassing.

This is going to be a rubbish post as I am waiting outside the supermarket but I just wanted to wish everyone happy Saturday nights. We are having a curry and a film/telly. Urbane, I didnkt think it was quite as good as his others either. What sort of books do you like? That new dramatisation of a William Boyd novel starting on C4 next week looks good. Loving "you can never tell with mens". Verily! And another big cuddle your way too.

Loving the polite knocking also! Vv good. DD1 has been a banshee today, by stark contrast. Doesn't bode well for Winter Wonderland!
Trace, I hope you had a lovely time at your tea. I wish you didn't worry so much. You're lovely.

DB, that is so lovely that you've been asked to read at your Grandad's funeral. Is it a passage from the Bible or something else?
I hope you are all coping as well as you can do. Thinking of you allm

ZJ, I haven't forgotten about your plea for stuffing recipes. I'm on it.
And will be up for serious decorations talk. One thing I always love is a real holly wreath on the front door. We had one on the front door of our building in London too - it lasted about four hours before it was stolen.

Spot - is T any better?

I know I have missed people but posting on the phone is a pain. However, I too have been thinking how fabulous everyone is, so beaming lots of warm thoughts to disparate parts of the country (and to those outside these shores of course!) Xxxxxxxxxx