June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

The old one was taking too long to load!

I have a friend who's journey home took 10 hours yesterday instead of half an hour. Think it's another inside day for us!

Bugger - sorry to hear about your losses, how sad. Also, read your fb status - what an awful journey home.

DH took an hour to get home yesterday a max ten minute journey normally. Heinous ice here today, so he's walking in today rather than risk the rear wheel drive car!

Cabin fever setting in here - thank god granny arrived on Sunday before the weather turned again. She entertained c all day!

Quick hello from me, cabin fever here too, our thermometer read -13 this morning, which is a tad chilly. There was frost all over the front door lock this morning, on the inside.
Me and J have done some baking and lit the fire.

Bugger - good to hear from you. Sorry for your losses.
That journey home sounds awful.

Amber - I munched fruit flavoured Rennies through both of my pregnancies. I prefer the chalkiness to the chewy types. Does that make me weird

I'd better go and try to be productive before H wakes up.

Gosh dead thread!

It is crazy cold in Scotland isn't it. Water was dripping out of our boiler today , so I rang our plumber (DH's cousin - very handy). He said the pipe outside had prob frozen so water was backing up so I poured boiling water over the pipe to defrost it. Did the trick. Keeping the heating on tonight.

Bugger, sorry to hear you have had an upsetting couple of months. Hopefully things will pick up soon and hope DH gets better too.

I def think it's a massive fix on X Factor to get Cher into the final! Don't know why Simon loves her cos no one likes her so why are they so convinced she is going to be a massive recording artist? I am quite looking forward to seeing her in the final tho - I think she will be more entertaining than Mary would have been, much as I love Mary. i think Matt will win but I am not really bothered about any of them.

refers to a 'classic' MN thread from a few weeks back where someone was asked round to their child's friend's parents for dinner and they were fed crappy food like mac cheese and tinned soup. There were other crazy things the couple did (like give a bottle of turps to the school tombola - and when asked why, said 'we have loads of turps'... it was very funny). So MNers encouraged the woman to invite to wierdos back and when they came, before dinner, her DH offered them Pombear crisps with the line "Pombear, anyone?"

I am finding T so demanding at the moment - he just seems to want to be naughty. He'll do something (like throw food on the floor), I'll say 'don't throw your food on the floor' and he just does it again. E never does anything like that! All she does is climb all over the furniture.

Nursery phoned about half an hour ago, they can't open tomorrow. Had already decided that we weren't going to try to get there anyway, glad I'm not trying to get to work though!

Commiserations for those with weather woes.

Penguin - I will attempt to put some pics on fb soon. I need time on the computer rather than the iPhone to do it properly. Serlo is a Norman name and is the name of the monk that founded Gloucester Cathedral when it was still only an abbey in the 11th Century. I went to school at what is now the cathedral school and Serlo is seen as an important chap in the school's history. Whilst I liked my school my reason for using it was to give W a link to my background because he does not have my surname. Similarly with P his middle name is Bryce which has been used for generations in my Dad's family.

W is one month old today. The hv came and weighed him. He is now 11lb1oz so has climbed from 75th to nearly 91st centile since birth. He also failed his hearing test so we have been referred.

Neenz - sorry that T is being difficult. The food antics don't sound so different to some of P's behaviour.

KeepCalm what happened to your stranded friend? Snow melted here, though it's a very clear night so whatever is left will be glassy tomorrow. Just hoping it clears for Christmas so we can have a lovely 7 hour car trip with 2 fractious kids down to Norfolk.

He got home early this morning System. The M8 is still closed tonight. I am officially over the snow! Dread to think what it will be like when it all melts.

Got to post and run - DH mothering me about some washing!!!

We have a gorgeous hoar frost here at the moment. It is beautiful, but oh my god it is cold. I am dreading my heating bills.

We have the heating on overnight too Neenz, but mostly because the conservatory has not blinds or anything and I was worried the pipes in there would freeze. Am planning to bubblewrap the ceiling this weekend and get some curtains to try to make it less of an icebox. The most difficult part will probably be keeping the kids off the bubble wrap...

I can't believe W is a month old already! That has gone so quickly.

It is beautiful here but freezing! My car is still at nursery, and the road out of our estate is horrendous, so I'm not going anywhere today. No buses out here either, we're not even that far from the city centre, but there's a bit of a hill outside, looking treacherous, so not surprised the buses aren't running. Have just spotted some amazing icicles on one of the houses opposite, must be at least a foot and a half long! Eeek.

Hope you're all staying cosy.

Bugger lovely to see you back and I'm so sorry about your losses.

Freezing cold here, and lots of frost and ice, but no more snow so far.

We went to the Penny Readings: thereaderonline.co.uk/2010/12/06/2010s-penny-readings/ at the weekend and it was fabulous .The Reader Organisation is wonderful. They arrange for volunteers to read aloud to people in nursing homes, and train people to run reading groups in places like prisons, drop in centres and so on. I'm a big fan and am going to bulk buy their book: www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Aloud-anthology-reading-someone/dp/0701185635/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291800654&sr=8-1 to give to everyone I meet who might like it.

They had an amazing mezzo-soprano, who sings in nursing homes and has a particular interest in old songs. Check out her heartbreaking article: www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/7482468/Awakenings-the-beauty-and-sadness-of-performing-in-care-homes-for-the-elderly.html and singing: www.youtube.com/user/patriciahammondsongs.

Sorry, that was a bit gushy, but I'm having a shitty week and thinking about it is really cheering me up

Amber - New name is my RL name, sort of: Maya, trying to work out a good name around Maya, but haven't suceeded yet. I don't find the creamy indigestion things help at all, I need the chalky stuff and even that only works for about 20mins...same as you KT!

Am lying down due to backache and baby keeps kicking and knocking laptop around, he doesn't want to be left out!

Thanks for the summary Neenz. I don't know if it's a subconcious thing but I think DH and I have been spoiling/indulging Ry a bit at the mo. He gets far too much ice cream, dvds, gets away with murder genrally and he has become the most adorable loving child. Lack of discipline is making him behave better! I think it's because we are ignoring the bad behaviour as some many people say to do (attention feeds it, etc), something I have never found easy to do before. Anyway, worth a try maybe...?

Spider - Great name reasons. Is the hearing test serious or a precautionary thing that is likely to be fine long term?

Not being unresponsive to everyone - not got much to add to snow / x factor talk. Except to mention the quality of Oz X factor is awful compared to Uk one. Oh and burst pipes cost ALOT more than heating bills (and I speak from experience) so keep warm ladies!

Another scan tomorrow!

Neenz I've found if mine have been behaving badly then being very organised about their routines helps - managing their expectations. But I imagine that's something you're on top of anyway and you seem very much more organised than I am .

Sometimes I've tried attacking the bad behaviour with love and affection: so if T is throwing something I'd swoop her up and blither about throwing it and rush her off with me to play something else. But that can depend on how much one is feeling like a children's TV presenter, and on other family demands and energy levels. As Maya says, sometimes just ignoring it can help. At the moment my children are all fighting in the morning before school, and it's driving me crazy, but when I'm rushing around trying to get things ready I just don't have time to deal with it so a lot is getting ignored.

Spider I love your thinking on the boys' middle names . We've used family surnames as middle names, but we all have the same surname. I hope the hearing thing is just a little blip. You've had a lot going on with W's first few weeks. You always seem so steady about it - I hope you're ok and it's not getting to you.

Exciting about the scan Maya! Our neighbour's partner has just had a little girl and I'm desperate to go round and sniff her!

Pies how is little D?

I have a clothes question:
I went into town to try to buy some daytime dresses yesterday and I tried on loads, and brought with me tights and a positive outlook, but they all looked awful. I think the problem is that they were all made of soft jersy fabric, which clings to my many bumps and protrusions. I even tried on a slip with the dresses in the hope that it would make them hang better but it didn't. I'm not vast - 5"5" and size 14 but I am definitely overweight in a suit of lard sort of way, ie not just a few problem areas, but an overall covering .

I tried on some more tailored dresses which I think were more flattering but they all had high necklines which aren't good for huge norks. The best dress was a tailored sleevleless dress which I thought I could wear with a long-sleeved shirt underneath and black tights, and the dress was lovely except for the high round neck which made me look as though I was trying to smuggle several loaves of bread around my chest.

Hmm, spending a bit too much time on MN this morning...

Rolf I am the same with dresses. I have not got a dress body and no style seems to flatter me. Basically I just don't bother trying any more! I have huge bangers and I'd have to get a size stupid to fit them in!

Maya - Am I being a bit stupid? I know your real name and it's not Maya or eeny meeny!

Rolf have you tried posting a question in the Style topic? I am always amazed on the odd occasion I come across a thread there at the specific recommendations people can give for such things! (I am no help. I now only own one pair of trousers as my 2 daily rotated pairs both developed big holes in the knee on the same weekend.)

D is doing well thanks rolf, still waiting for midwife visit that was supposed to be on Monday to check she's gaining weight though - the weather is horrendous so they are doing emergency visits only. She did phone to check we were ok though and I'm pretty happy that she's gained weight since the last weigh in.

We had ice on the inside of our windows this morning ( only single glazed as we live in a conservation area and would need to try and get sash and case double glazing, v expensive and we'll probably move in the next 2 years.) We get a bottle of milk delivered too, and that was frozen solid, smashing the bottle! Really hoping the thaw starts soon as we're running low on supplies!

Am on my phone, so sorry for not replying to anyone...

SA I posted something on the style topic ages ago and got links to pictures of polyester smocks .

NO! OK I take it back!!

Argh, really sicky morning. Had to meet the new VC - arrived late, sat down, got up and went to vomit (in the toilets, don't worry!) and then went back in. Very professional. My suit is tight now - who said they started showing much earlier second time round, or is this generally true? - and my boss thoroughly pissed me off, but that's fine because I've had an epiphany of sorts with my job issues. Long story as usual so won't go into it here!

Neenz Iestyn is also naughty all the time - he was so bad last night, I was knackered! - but not nasty, bad, or mean; just low-level annoying most of the time - throwing things, jumping on things, refusing to do things...he ran me ragged last night. I was telling mum about it this morning and she said to me not to tell him off - it makes him worse. She suggested distraction instead.

Rolf dresses are actually quite hard. If you want a jersey effect one you need (I mean 'one needs' obv) some sort of squeezing sheath underneath, which you can get but I can't be arsed with. So, you're right to go for structured, but you're also right that you need a lower neckline. (God, I sound like I know something about style! ) I have one great one from Next, and another I got from my sister who has become really thin, thinner than me (through illness) from M&S - that breaks the rules in being in a stiffer jersey but it's sort of a-line. That one I wear with pull-you-in tights. Matalan sometimes have them too. I've had some good replies to very specific questions on style - as for a fitted dress without a high neckline?

If you really do have all-over distribution (!!) then you can get away with a lot more. I have a problem tummy and if I wear something too clingy I look as if I've shoved a large doughnut down my dress. (Which I have, just it went via my gob and is internal.)
Anyway, who am I to say anything? My suit jacket won't do up on account of the newly-acquired norks. This did not happen last time. I'm amazed nobody has said anything - I look like I've had some (expensive, well-done) implants.

Spider is the hearing test a cause for concern? I'm still impressed by Serlo. He must have fought at Hastings (major landowners after the conquest usually had). You can't get better than that! I've been working recently on two brothers - who probably knew Serlo then - who both fought at Hastings: Ilbert and Walter de Lacy. They came from Calvados like Serlo (and many others...).

Got to go to get my eyes tested now.

What a massive post! On fashion! Should have been writing about legal wranglings in Wales in 1280. Oops.

Ah just got the Maya thing - doh

Thanks for all tips re. Theo. They all work I think in different scenarios. Distraction is good and not ignoring him also works sometimes. I do time out and the threat of it usually makes him stop - I had to go through with it today tho cos he was bouncing Daniel's chair (with Daniel in it) and wouldn't stop. I try to let some stuff go cos don't want to be saying 'stop that!' all the time. It's just funny how Esther rarely seems to do anything that warrants a telling off (she can be quite sneaky though eg taking a toy she knows T loves and tormenting him with it so he gets in trouble for snatching).

Dewin, your description of Iestyn sounds just like Theo!

Biscuits, forgot to say, re the wraps: you are more than welcome! Dewin sent me loads of nappies when D was born, Going has also sent me clothes in the past. So it was the least I can do to pay it forward. Anybody want Dewin's nappies btw? D is in Motherease on the big fitting already (and large wraps cos the medium ones don't seem big enough ). He was 15lb 5oz yesterday (17wks).

I visited the pre-school today that T and E are going to in Jan. It was lovely. I'm really only interested in them taking them off my hands for a few hours but they have individual plans for each child so I assume they are actually going to learn something too! We have some flash cards with letters on and T has learned about half of them. Esther knows a few too. T is like a sponge, he loves sitting with you and learning stuff. E doesn't learn as much cos she just likes to climb on things

Neenz - Similar behaviour issues here with J. Made worse at the moment as we have been stuck in the house for 2 weeks and are all slowly going mad. I think I have seen signs of a thaw, fingers crossed. Actually our road is pretty clear now and I could probably be brave and get the van out, but Tesco were meant to deliver some wine yesterday but it was delayed due to the weather so now I'm stuck in waiting for that.
Anyhow rant over, back to the behaviour issues, time out tends to work here but my best tactic at the moment is thinking of something he can "help" me with, he loves to help, so that seems to distract him for a bit.

When he isn't misbehaving there has been a lot of brotherly cuteness going on here, J likes to help H learn to walk, he holds one hand and I hold the other and he walks around the house, very sweet.

Rolf - I can't wear jersey dresses or skirts either, they look dreadful on me, thicker, less clingy fabrics needed here!

Dewin - I definitely got bigger quicker second time round, I think your body just springs straight back to pregnancy shape second time around. Impressed by your professional vomiting.

The pom bear macaroni cheese story makes me laugh because I've recently been making macaroni cheese quite often (was theirs out of a tin? that would make me feel better), I put fried up onions, mushrooms and chorizo in mine and it is lovely with some crusty bread. I'll invite you all round for a dinner party and make some if you like

My macaroni cheese confession killed the thread! (I haven't yet served it up for a dinner party yet, honest!)

Tesco didn't turn up yesterday, so another day stuck inside, they had better come today as we aren't staying in tomorrow.

Big news, the thermometer reads 5 degrees this morning, balmy! Bit of a difference from -13 earlier this week.

Amber - I keep seeing things that make me think of you, first there was this , then this morning I spotted this, which made initially made me laugh, then I started thinking it looked like quite a good idea.