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

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

The old one was taking too long to load!

Neenz - can your children please have a word with Luke who will not even vaguely entertain the idea of weeing on a potty.

ROFL Amber! And Iestyn too - 3 wees on the floor... This evening I was at my Mum's and we were playing, and Iestyn has learnt his right and his left. So Mum started saying 'maybe you next teach him...' and I interrupted 'to wee in a toilet'. She laughed and agreed...

OK, Republican moment... I don't stand up for the 'national' anthem because I stand for my own nation's anthem (and also I'm a republican and disagree with everything within God save the queen). Plus it's a rubbish tune, and v. musical DH agrees on that and wants something better.
Anyhow, Neenz, right, you don't hear it often. But if you're the wife of a judge, that and toasts to her maj (as chief lawmaker of the country ) come up often. There we were at a massive service for all Welsh judges and lawyers (including my mate LCJ ) and the programme had, on the last page, 'please sit or kneel' (for a prayer) and then 'anthems'. But, sneaky so and sos, they decided to keep everyone standing for the last prayer, as they knew where they were (Welsh heartland) so the music started up for God save etc. DH was standing with all the other judges and I was with the wives (let's leave the feminism issue for another time... ) so he leaned back to see what I was doing, largely because he was sh!tting himself that I was going to make a spectacle by sitting down especially.
As he looked, I suddenly reached down for my handbag which was on the floor, and I swear I heard him gasp...

I stayed standing but snarled and humphed a lot. Incidentally, though, DH said he was the only one in his row who sang it, and fewer than half of the (Welsh, remember) judges joined in the singing. But all of them sang Hen Wlad fy Nhadau. Natch. Rather a republican crowd, then, the Welsh-speaking judges. No surprise.

I once held up a toast in Temple because I refused to stand to toast the queen. They waited (around 100 people), and eventually I made as if to stand, they muttered the toast dead quickly and I downed the champagne with a sliver of air between me and the seat.

I have however sang praises of the queen in College. Not God save the queen - it's too ropey musically - but decent massive vivat reginas from Zadok the priest. Loved it. Should stress though that the queen being praised was Elizabeth I. Whole different kettle of fish there.

Hope nobody's offended - always remember I'm not English.

Dewin that is hilarious! not sure i would have the balls but would hope i would.

Amber, a week ago neither t or e would entertain the potty either. They really needed to be persuaded onto it - I had to sit with them, read books, cuddle them , do anything that would keep them sat on the damn thing! Then Esther would get up after 10 mins and wee on the floor. I had to watch them really closely to see when they were going to wee then basically throw them on once they'd started weeing on the floor. It did surprise me that they couldn't do it but I suppose they feel safe doing it in their nappies so you do have to take the nappies off and really go for it. Prob not a good time for you to do it now being so immobile and with babies on the way!

I'm Scottish Dewin so not offended at all The offensive to Scots verse might have fallen out of common usage, but that doesn't make it any better for me!

I do wish we had a cheery inclusive national anthem that isn't offensive to any of the home nations.

Mmm I am so tempted to try with Caitlin, I think it would take about 3 days. But I never have 3 days in a row with her!! Nursery would do whatever I asked on this front but would rather wait till she makes the first move, and dp has a horror of bodily fluids so is in complete denial about the whole thing and would rather wait till she is asking to do it herself.

Might try over the Christmas holidays - actually we are going to my mum's for Christmas and she claims to be expert potty trainer with visiting babies - maybe let her do it!! in and around cooking Christmas dinner and entertaining three under-5s. Should be a piece of cake for her, I can put my feet up. no not really of course [systems puts mother issues back in their box for now]

Luke will sit on the potty for about 30 seconds but then runs to the nappy cupboard and pulls one out and hands it to me. hmmm. He won't even sit on the potty at nursery. I guess we need to do the nappies off treatment but he's at nursery full time so impossible unless at w/e. I think cleaning up wees and poo splats (Luke is NOT a solid child) whilst 30 weeks preggo with twins is not ideal.

Did you see that they reckon the wedding next year will bring in nearly a billion £ of revenue?

I am ignoring all talk of potty training - - I just can't face it right now, maybe at christmas.

By the way Biscuits did you see that Miranda is back on tv? I think you are the only other person I know who liked it last time around.

Am not really ill ill, have just hurt myself so am stuck on sofa feeling sorry for myself. Thanks for the sympathy though!

sybil, I like Miranda.

A loves sitting on his potty but I don't think I have the energy for potty training at the moment and the thought of staying in just makes me .

Dewin, love it! I'm English and not remotely offended and it bloody annoys me that I'm expected to stand up! We used to go and watch ice hockey a lot before the kids arrived and they always play the national anthem before the game and I never stood up. Could hear lots of people mumbling behind me but why the hell should I do it just because everyone else is? I don't have any respect for them and they've never done anything to earn my respect as far as I'm concerned .

Rant over .

Dewin, Neenz, Knitting and DG - I love it that you have such strong views about things, even though I generally don't share them . Not offended at all.

Sybil hurting yourself still entitles you to sympathy . Hope you're not badly hurt.

Deb if you're reading CARRY ON PACKING!

Where is Whinegums and Ktpie and Penguin?

Rolf!

I've always been an opinionated cow - that's why I originally pursued a career in politics. Who knows what would have happened had I not fallen in love .

What did you do in politics Knitting? I am going to get much more involved in the local Labour Party when the kids get older and I have more time. I know the guy who stands every year for Labour in the council elections here - he always gets trounced . Oh well, we do have a Labour MP

Staying in the house has nearly made me go mad Knitting so I know where you are coming from! But we went out this morning to bible study at church. I took a towel and a change of clothes. When we got the E had a wee on the potty. Great I thought. But then T wet himself, so I changed him. But he mustn't have finished cos then he wet himself again! But only a bit so he was ok staying in his slightly wet clothes. (I had no more for him). Neither of them had pood before we went so I was thinking they prob would while we were there. Well T did, in his pants and then E did, in her pants . But then she asked to go on the potty and did more poo and a wee on the potty, so it wasn't too bad . My mum advised me to put them in trousers so the wee got mostly absorbed and didn't go on the floor much and it worked a treat. So I didn't get much bible study done but it was an adventure . Hopefully they will get more reliable as the days go on! I don't think it can get much worse than 2 poos and 2 wees accidents and it was not too messy or embarrassing so just a case of patience I think.

E was awake again in the night shouting 'cuddle cuddle' - 3 times in an hour between 3 and 4! It is so frustrating when Daniel is sleeping through. Not sure what I can do about it except just keep trying to convince her not to shout for me when she wakes. She seems to just want me to find her teddies, which have never gone far so she could do that herself.

Well I did a politics A level and then went on to do a politics degree. While studying I met Tony Benn and asked if I could come and work with him - which I did during the first Gulf War (showing my age!! ) which was fascinating.

I then worked for David Blunkett as a researcher and when I graduated I went to work for a parliamentary monitoring organisation that advised clients on the workings of the Commons/Lords, bills that were being passed, constitutional questions, etc.

Then dh decided he wasn't happy in London, we moved to York, and my political career came to a crashing halt!

Your potty training stories continue to frighten me Neenz - I so couldn't be bothered to clear up all that mess!

I don't potty train until the children are more or less doing it on their own. T has done a few wees in the loo but nothing much, really. So Neenz whilst I admire your commitment, I think you're mad as a box of frogs

Our Labour MP is a pain in the arse. He does a column for the local newspaper and, whilst the last (Labour) MP saved the party political stuff for when it was unavoidable, and worked well with local councillors etc the rest of the time, this bloke uses his column inches for increasingly tedious jibes at the government. I'd like to hear about the work he's doing for the constituency, not the party line about how everything bad in the world is the government's fault. I liked our old MP so it's not a political problem I have with him. What's your experience of him Neenz?

I have to try out out the new smiley

Not sure what it is for though?

Anyway, glad to hear I am not the only miranda fan knitting. It is just so refreshing to see a female comic on tv doing well, and the jokes aren't offensive which is doubly fantastic.

I am not political but happy to read other people's views. I do feel a bit sorry for amber sometimes as she seems the only tory voter willing to come out on what is clearly a mostly labour thread. If it is any consolation Amber, a friend of mine commented during the election that if you cut my dh in half he'd be blue down the middle

knitting no issue with you not standing up normally for the anthem, your choice, but at hockey games that would not go over well if there were hockey fans from other countries about - they'd probably assume you weren't British and were insulting the country rather than that you didn't like the queen - tricky one and something to watch for if you're in an international audience. You want your protests to be well understood...

sybil it's for the pom bear thread - I didn't read it all and I'm not sure what it's supposed to mean.

I'm a swing voter between tory and lib dems and very anti-labour so Amber's not on her own!

uggh - DH just found that our mouse trap had a mouse in it. I guess it's that time of year but we haven't had a mouse in almost two years so it's a bit :(

Oh, there's me thinking it was Pudsey. I've also seen 'pom bear' appearing on threads but I don't understand it either!
I'm a Miranda fan - watched it this week, loved it.
On politics I'm on my own totally - I'm a Welsh nationalist! Being in a minority I don't join in the politics talks on here - not offended by them, mind. Anyone fancy discussing the forthcoming referendum? (Incidentally, Abdn, I don't ever call myself British either - it's slightly insulting to me - and my nationalist stance means my protests have a double edge...) So, my nationalism informs my politics (in England I would probably be lib dem), my religion (non-conformist - the Anglican church is too English for my liking really, and there are only 5 Welsh-speaking Catholics [wink]@Rolf), and indeed general attitude. Does it show?

But I'll stop there... Oh, will say though that in London last week, I had a bit of a realisation. Up until then, in London I've been invisibly Welsh - I don't look different, or sound different (I do have an accent but I can vary it and it's tinged with Scouse). So I always walked around London with an entire language, culture and way of life in my head, unnoticed. But last week I was with Iestyn and we're always talking, and 4 people stopped us when we went to Balham on the bus to ask what language we were speaking. Kind of nice, and no negative comments.

The pombear (though I'm not sure how to actually do it) originated from a thread that someone posted a very odd experience when going for dinner at a neighbours. The hosts seem quite bonkers and the thread took a very frivolous turn with lots of suggestions about odd things the OP could do when it was their turn to post. A lot of this was to do with food (the original hosts had served tinned heinz tomato and macaroni and cheese for dinner - oh it was a fancy dress up, posh silver type dinner). When the OP had the bonkers neighbours over, her DH walked into the room and said 'anyone for a pombear?' (I don't actually know what pombears are, but clearly not posh pre-dinner snacks). Everyone found this quite hilarious and there were calls for a pombear emoticon. The idea that people could offer a pombear to diffuse a difficult situation (e.g. instead of offering out the popcorn on AIBU etc).

The thread is now in classics - very long but quite funny in parts.

Crumbs, my punctuation on that last post was terrible!

Dewin So then yes, it does make sense for you to not sing/stand for the national anthem since it's both the queen and Britain as a whole you're not keen on.

DGIT Pombears are a type of kids crisp - sort of teddy shaped and you tend to get them in lunchbox meals at cafes and such.

Can you get them in this country, Abdn? (This is an innocent inquiry from a woman who has a packet of hula hoops on her bedside table - seems to make the nausea go away. Yes, readers, I will attempt them as a pre-breakfast snack tomorrow morning. )

Other tactic is bed - Iestyn didn't sleep through last night. His new bad-sleeping thing is a bit troublesome at this present time.

sybil loving Miranda being back - such fun!

good question rolf, where are bugger, ktpie, and penguin...

Deb go and do some packing!

Have nothing to post really other than grumbles about being bloody uncomfortable and fed up of late pregnancy now, so won't bore you all!

On the republican/monarchist thing I tend to avoid all political chat, as there is a gaping hole in my education about it, which I have neither the time or inclination to fill (sorry )and I am of the firm belief that if you don't have an educated opinion you should keep your mouth closed to avoid making an arse of yourself! (Hence never joining in on the topic when it comes up!)

Not international matches AH, just local stuff. Not sure why they play it tbh, they don't do it at footie matches!

Aw - thanks for feeling sorry for me Sybil and thanks AH too - I am not alone!!! There is a bias towards Labour on here but I think it's fairly consistent with the MN website as a whole. Hey I don't know much about politics but i've always been blue - even as a teenager living in a council flat in Hackney! I used to have heated debates with my dad who worked for the local council as a manual labourer and was very much a labour voter. I'd love to be more educated in politics. I'm quite a passionate person so if I knew what the hell I was on about I may even turn out to be good at it!

Feel like shit today as I had a terrible night in pain from my back and hips/legs. It's getting worse now so I can only really sleep an hour at a time. Thank God for nursery.

Sorry you are feeling so rubbish amber (and drain). Marking spot whilst lolling about as full of cold- off to France for weekend.

Am inclined to agree with biscuits re not posting if no idea on things but that would stop debate. I suppose it's political but am with knitting on republican thing- no one has actually said how much money royals bring in and the accountant in me doubts that the tourist money would be lost if we were a republic ( do people not go to Versailles cos there is no royal family there). I think the civil list and security costs particularly with all the cuts is hard to stomach.

Deb if you are lurking hope all
Going well with move.

Drain is dewin