dec 2008- the one where they all turn 2...probably.

[VagolaJahooli]

Sorry bit boring I know but I didn't want to make any reference to spot as I don't want to jinx her and have her baby come early, then it would be my fault. Also didn't want the mad rush at the end of the thread. This way we've had plenty of time.

Oh no DB, I am very sorry to hear that indeed As if she hasn't suffered enough. Keep us posted.

Spot, that trip to the GP sounds more productive. As to the beans and pulses, having been a veggie for 27 years and a regular cheerfulness imbiber for about 22 years, I can tell you my digestive system is very tuned

DB very sorry to hear that about your Nan. Will be thinking of her and wishing hard.

Spot - I was chatting to my sis yesterday. Apparently a pretty high proportion of the doctor crowd don't trust GPs to be much use with littlies and many pay to see paediatricians privately. She took her 4 month old DD the other week (not that there is anything wrong, more a check up) and she was quite impressed with what he could spot just by looking at her e.g. he figured out immediately she was a sicky baby. I know its the magic answer, but I feel for you and poor T and maybe half an hour with someone sensible might help you figure out what is going on? I ask around for names for you if that's any use. From past experience with DD you don't necessarily need more than a one off consultation - once you know what is going on you can roll back into the NHS system. I know you are seeing the asthma consultant so maybe do that first, but if I can help, just shout.

JB - I totally get where you are coming from re the party. What with chicken pox (which thankfully is definitely on the mend) and weather DS had 2 cousins and 2 kids from next door come round this afternoon. I don't think he minded in the least, but I still can't help feeling a bit sorry on his account.

LadyT - gosh, I am glad you got supplies in, but sorry you are stranded. In an odd way, you will probably remember this Christmas fondly as a bit of an adventure mad as that might sound now. We had about 3 inches of snow in my bit of London which was quite enough. Tubes are running, but side roads still snowy/icy and even in the city there is quite a lot of slush.

JJ - I think if you buy wisely, some sale shopping is definitely called for. The one thing I did do last week was clear my wardrobes and they are ridiculously sparse.

I do hope Veggie is OK.

Morning all :). Rain forecast for later, so hopefully the snow will clear. I'm glad I don't have to go into work until Thursday, the trains are predictably knackered.

No word from the Vagster, hope she got across OK. Does anyone have her mobile and could send a quick text?

Spot: glad you got your mum safely away. Any more twinges?

Re:vaggie. My cousin is stranded in Paris, not looking good for him getting home for Christmas. My Uncle is trying to get him on a train to Calais and then ferry. But it seems to be chaos there too. Vaggie was going from Calais wasn't she? I hope they are snug in a hotel if they've not got the ferry yet.

No news on my Nan, she was still in theatre about midnight. Should ring mum but I'm not sure I want to hear what happened. Besides if I ring now she'll think its the hospital and panic.

Yes, I hope they aren't trying to battle through. If they get as far as Harwich we could get them to us at least!

Deids: I'm sure your mum would have rung if there was urgent news. Will keep fingers crossed.

A quick yippee to LadyT for having a brave DP who secured sustenance for young D.

I too hope the Vegmeister is safe and having fun somewhere. Veg, if your reading, I wanted to say I was sorry to hear your down. As others have said you have coped amazingly integrating into a new community. And if a language course will help you settle better then of course you must do it. Could it also be the weather that's getting you down? I remember you found the long winter hard last year (as did I). Any chance of splashing out on a sunny break? Or even just investing in one of those sun lamps?

Deids, so sorry abt your nan. Keeping everything crossed for her.

Got to go as battery low. DD2 is addicted to watching the Snowman on YouTube and she uses half my batteries before I've even left the house. iPhone 3 batteries are truly crap. I wanted a new iPhone 4 for chrimbo but house moving austerity measures mean I'm getting wellies instead...

DB sorry about your nan. Hope she battles through.

Maybe we should send out an international mumsnet search and rescue for VAg.

Effie rain really? God I hope so had to go to the supermarket and it was pretty scary getting out of our road once I made it to Witham the roads were ok though.

Lady there is somethiong slightly romantic about being stranded in the snow doncha think. Or in actual fact in RL its a fucking pain in the arse. Glad you got milk for DD2.

Rubes you must not worry about talking about frivilous things its what happens in the world somewhere someone is hurt and somewhere else someone is celebrating.

JJ absoultely go for new clothes now is a good time as all the shops put their sales on. If you get in quick you can get some lovely stuff,

INvis glad to hear the pox is on the mend. Is this unusual to get pox at this time of yr have heard of loads of littlies with it. I always thought pox was a early summer illness.

Beans good luck with your travels.

SYbs did you manage to get your work done. I have to say I am prob guilty of annoying the hell out of DH when he works from home. Mainly as he always seems to be on FB or running websites so I feel he can be interupted by me.

SUmmer sorry to hear DS is not taking to DD. I would suggest maybe trying to devote part of the day to soley weoth you and DS and see if the one to one with you helps.

Spot sorry to hear T is under the weather still. We too are all still earinfection sore throat snot monsters aswell 3wks in will it ever end?

Thanks all for thinking aobut my friend, I was texting with her a fair amount on Sunday evening. She was on the labour ward . It is just so heartbreaking I was busy wrapping all the boys chrimbo pressies and recieveing these heartwrenching text messages about how it is going to ruin her and she explained how they would deliver the baby onto her tummy and she would be allowed some time with him before he was baptised. So so so sad. I was in floods. I have not heard from her since so am assuming she has had the baby and has said her goodbyes. DOnt know whether to text her today or let he be with her grief. So difficult to know what to do. What do you think? I thought text as it means she can ignore it or respond a bit more easily than having to speak to me. But nit sure if thats make it easier for me too??

So onto happier times. ..

All wrapped and ready to go for the big guy on Friday night. The boys are remarkably calm about it. DS1 is more excitied about the snow. DS1 is just excited in general. The boy is bonkers. He spent teh best part of an hour this morning running around say taaa daaaaa and hurrah!. Nutty child.

OH and very exciting news re New York. After some conversations betweeen my parents and my inlaws. No idea what was said but my inlaws cornered my paretns at DS1 bday party and at the end of the party came up to Dh and I and said they would be happy to look after the monsters so that we could do NY. I was very shocked as they have always been [retty upfront about not wanting to do that sort of thing. So huge hurrah. We got a gresat deal on flights and accomodation. Staying in my favourite NY hotel. W on Union Square. FLy on the Thursday lunchtime and return on SUnday night red eye. Whoop whoop.

Whoops I meant DS2 bday party and DS2 is the bonkers one.

Oh and my secret santa recipient wont get their gift until the NY I have been told Christmas delivery wont happen.

Jam so so awful for your friend. I would go with a text too. Then she can ignore if she's not up to answering. Then call her in a few days if you haven't heard from her.

Lady very glad you got the formula and that you have plenty of beans and cheerfulness to see you through the festive season.

Rubes this thread would not have been the same in the run up to Xmas withouth the LED christmas table runner chat. So definitely keep up the trivial chat.

Jam, DS is not soooo bad with DD. Mostly he seems to like her. And when he's not tired he's fine in the trailer, they are so tightly packed in in that thing it's asking for trouble but I thought I would risk it. Usually I put him on a seat on the back and DD in the trailer but the seat will not go on my mountain bike and it's too snowy for my other bike. He was fine on the way there but on the way back tired and overexcited it's like he just can't help it. I am sure he will grow out of it but it's annoying!!

Oh vaggie I hope you are ok!!

Hmm, I have come on here and predictably I have nothing interesting to say about myself. DS is at nursery and I am going to try and pack in the hope that we will be able to travel to my parents tomorrow afternoon. It's not looking that promising at the mo though so I am struggling to be arsed!

Jam, I say text. If it wasn't this time of year and the post wasn't nutty, I would say drop a little line or card, as it's something she can read again. After DH died it was very raw and I didn't always want to talk to people (well, in person was ok) but a text or something from someone saying they were thinking of me was v welcome. Also I would say jot down the date so that next year you can tell her you are thinking of her on the right date. Her and her DH will never forget that date for the rest of their lives but the rest of the world will.

On a lighter note...Avo, what kind of wellies are you having? Hunters? I know they are dear but they are lovely. If you scroll down the link, there are even some done in association with Jimmy Choo! here I like the trad olive green ones myself.

DB, any news on your Nan?

I expect Vaggie is holed up somewhere and they are having to conserve phone batteries.

Soya beans for lunch. Yum flipping yum

Godd lord ds slept till 8 the other day then 830 and today 915!!!!!! we had balanced the radiators again as I thought his room was still too cool and also put an extra layer on him at night and he's had less milk so no nappy leaking - could all that be it?? or perhaps he's just sleeping off this cold dunno but pleeeease let it continue.
DH vomiting all night like I was a week ago. D&V - yuk

Yep text would be good Jam....

Lady hope you gets some melting of the snow soon

Jam: I think a text is a good idea too.

I'm glad you got out ok. After my optimistic views on rain, we managed to get stuck in town - it's nigh impossible to push the buggy through thick slush and DS1 was getting tired. Thankfully DH was able to pick us up and drop us back home. We have plenty of beans and a tenner bottle of champagne from Asda so I'm not off out again . If DH wants anything more for Xmas dinner he's getting it himself.

Hope your DH feels better soon Rubes.

Deids: any news on your nan?

jam Agree text, and Lady's idea to remember the date is really lovely.

Nan's op has put the colostomy back in. The original op to reverse it wasn't successful and she was leaking into her abdomen. All sonds grim, and she has complained of pain since her op but I think they thought she was being a bit soft. Mum visited yesterday and said her body was visibly blue in places so she raised the prospect of a bleed. Anyway, mum and her bro have an appointment with the consultant this afternoon to find out exactly whats going on. But she is not out of the woods yet and very weak and poorly, but still with us so positive.

rubes I hope you don't all catch DH's vomming bug again

Oh DB hope she is feeling on the mend soon.

Thanks will text her this arvo.

Effie if you are bored and fancy visitors while you are off over Chrimbo give me a shout. A12 is pretty passable and bored boys are no fun.

That sounds good Jam :). I have no idea what our plans are (or if indeed we have any) but likewise if you fancy a trip into town let me know.

Deids: that's really good that she's come through the op OK. Hope your mum gets some answers from the consultant. Does this mean your nan will be in over Christmas?

Effie who knows! She's back on High Dependancy Unit, but prior to this happening they said she would be out by the end of the week. I know from MIL being in last Xmas that if they can get people home they will.

I'm at work really can't be bothered. Just want to get finished for Xmas! Finally wrapped the presents yesterday, although one of DS's is missing in the attic somewhere.

You are v organised Deids. We have wrapping paper... and all the presents bar a parcel from my mum which is in transit somewhere. Must start on the wrapping this evening, or we will leave it all till Xmas Eve and start bickering about Sellotape over the sherry.

Good news about your gran dieds, fingers crossed she can get out for xmas. Lots of love to her.

I have done my wrapping too but not done any packing for going away. can't be arsed til i know what the weather is going to be like.

Well, that sounds tentatively good, DB. White light coming from snowy West Oxfordshire!

I have been thinking, at least when we are in the new house and new village, the village shop, though poorly stocked and run by a nincompoop, is about 30 paces from the door and the cottage itself is at least on the A44, so likely to be cleared if this bad snow happens next Christmas...

A quickie to Spot - when I was feeding DD2 at 5 this morning I started thinking about names again for your new DS. I still vote Alistair but the other name I thought of was Sean, because I was thinking of my cricket captain and it is a plain name I like. (I know there is no use me suggesting Quentin, Montmorency or whatever). Robin I have mentioned before, and also it is a bit festive, as is Nicholas. Both nice names which would go with T...Other more classic names I was thinking of were James and Frederick (incidentally the names of my grandfathers) - James and Fred would also go with T. But I will shut up now

Hello everyone,

Just a quick stop in from me...

Thank you to my Secret Santa, a parcel arrived this morning! I promise not to open till the big day .

jam I agree that a text is most appropriate, plus LadyTs suggestion of noting the date so you can remember in subsequent years.

Good news about NY!

I'm worried about veggie. Hope all is well.

deids So sorry about your nan. She sounds like a fighter from what you have said about her before. Much love to her.

Sorry you are so stuck ladyT but there's not much point in us all putting together a food parcel the way the post is. I do like corner shops when they are eccentrically stocked. One round the corner from us used to sell, amongst other things, cabbages, dried black peas to buy loose by the pound, and ladies knickers!

Oh and we're toying with Frederick for DC2.

invis Glad the chicken pox is finally on the way out. It must have been awful not being able to get out and about.

avo DD is Snowman obsessed too! We have the DVD, book, and a vinyl recording of the soundtrack complete with a narration by Bernard Cribbins! All of which we owned prior to having DD , it is all our own faults! 'Read Snowman', 'Watch Snowman', 'Listen Snowman'. It is driving me mad!

Warning, me me me post coming up...

Oh fark. Boiler emergency repair man has been, and it turns out our boiler is over 30 years old and he very much doubts he'll be able to get spare parts. It tries to fire up, I whack it firmly on the side, it fires, comes on for about 20 mins, and then switches off again when the water reaches the right temperature. So the house has been averaging about 14 degrees since the middle of last week, less first thing in the morning (as heating doesn't come on automatically when timer tells it to) and when I get in from work (ditto).

Arse arse arse!