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.

Urbs, might have to start up a tradition like that myself. Yum
The jeans aren't that long, well not as long as XXL depicts. I'd guess about a 33-34in inseam? I'm 175cm but they are only just long enough when I have heels on.

Good luck on eBay. I've been going a bit mad but very happy as I just won dd a dress I wanted from Boden for a third of the price in store so v happy

Very pleased with the factor outcome.

Oh and dh slept from 3pm until 7am but I think he is a bit better as he went to work, although his attitude sucks at the moment

Ok so we're watching the garrow's thing and DH just said "I love the way that this guy is a template of 20th century morality". I have just been thinking about wigs. So had to snurk in a semi-knowing way without having a clue what he was talking about. Think these drinks might be a leeeetle strong.

glad your dh is better rubes, but obviously grr at attitude if it's annoying you.

must step away from laptop or high risk of ill-advised internet purchases...speaking of which what are you getting your dds from father c? am running out of inspiration.

hello all.
thanks for the new thread vag.
urbane I'm enjoying your cheerful chatter! I think father C is bringing P an all in one fleecy sleepsuit thing. Santa's on a budget this year!
deids that is beautiful that your ds made your cousin giggle. How was your reading?
Spot so sorry about the troubles with DP and the way he's feeling, but at least it's out in the open now rather than festering resentment. Hope you two can get settled really soon and be able to enjoy the thought of MiniSpot arriving.
Sorry not to do more personals but I'm pooped. Had a migraine fri and Sat, and also on ABs for my UTI, so on the whole feel a bit naff physically. Mood wise I feel a bit better than last week - partly due to getting lots of rest this weekend (thank you DH) and partly because I have some amazing RL friends. Hoping to hear back from the CPN tomorrow and see GP on fri - CPN thought the pill might have caused the sudden dip, so I might be stopping that.
P is poorly too. She has a croupy cough so sounds like a little barking dog all night, but is ok in the day. She also has a really red, swollen, oozy eye, so I took her to the docs this morning and she has some ointment for an infection. Poor little P .
Anyway must go to bed.
night night x

Just checking girls.

Urns your boozefest made me chuckle.

Rubes the rambling is back good and proper hurrah!

Pretty good drive up here yesterday. I couldn't sleep so got the boys up and left at 5.30am 2 wee stops and we were n Edinburgh by 12.45 so really good going. A friend leant me her headrest DVD what a godsend. I have always been a bit sniffy about them but when driving on you own with 2 under 3 perfect for keeping them quiet.

Anyway best go got to get the bacon and sausages on for all the family. Off to see my Grandmother today.

Happy B'day PD
Jam we're def getting a car with TV's in headrests another reason to only have two!

Morning Girls,

Urbs - I love your cocktail tradition. I am inspired and have told DH that we have a new plan while away the winter nights. Re girls' pressies, does your DD have a play kitchen? DD1 has one and DD2 spends hours playing with it. It might be cringingly gender steryotyped but they love it. We are copying Rubes and getting DD2 a trunki for her birthday. DD1 has one and they use it as a toy as well as a case. There are loads of squabbles over it so we NEED another one. In fact most of DD2's presents will be stuff DD1 already has that DD2 covets. So her Christmas present will be a Sylvannian Family.

Jam - I am glad you had a good journey. I hope you have a lovely week with your fam.

Rubes - Sorry you missed your dinner party. Your DH sounds like he is stretching himself too far. Have you got any holidays planned in the near future?

Trace - You have heard my views on the pill. I think your CPN could be right. Good yr feeling a bit brighter.

LadyT - I saw DR last night as I went to the recording of his radio comedy with Len ny Henry. Twas v funny and free. I think BBC radio recordings may be the entertainment way forward in the Age of Austerity.

Spot - so sorry about your house and DPs final stand against Brighton. Can you see any good things about returning to London?

Right, got to go and blow my nose. Horrid, horrid cold is lingering. Bleurgh. This is my third cold of the season and DH hasn't had one. I covet his immune system and really hope the girls have inherited it.

Sorry you're poorly too, Avo, it's so grim. I was told once that when you have kids you're basically ill for at least five years. I think I dismissed it at the time but fear it's true.

You are right in that there are plenty of good things about coming back to London - we'll be much nearer my mum and sister, I do have lots of friends there and if I want to get a permanent job it's the only place that's really got anything happening in my industry. So it's not that I don't like London - far from it, it's just that I like it here and will hugely miss the life I've made. Plus got bog all idea where we will be able to find a 3 bed house with garden.

Trace sorry to hear about your migraine, I hope it's cleared. How is poor little P today?

Jam glad you had a good journey, sounds knackering though. Hope you get your fair turn of having a nice cooked brekkie made for you.

Must go, off to another m/wife appt. They told me last weel I had thrush (nice) bit are otherwise happy with how things are progressing. Washed all the newborn stuff this morning. eek! So tiny. So real

Oh, and what's the bar serving tonight, Urbs?

Spot you can rent our 3bed with garden. It's small and has stuff all options for schools but it has an impressive view of canary wharf. In fact you barely need to use lights in the kitchen as de wharf keeps it quite well lit.

Jam we are up to our 2nd portable DVD player this one has a control bit that sits in the center console and 2 headrest monitors. DH has burned 5 hours worth of movies onto one DVD so we just turn it on and off we go. Unfortunately for yesterdays trip we didn't have "fight dragon" (how to train your dragon) so DS2 kept intermittently yelling out "FIGHT DRAGON" in disgust. We also had a satnav nightmare. For some reason the Dutchies closed an, very essential road, so we had to go around but the satnav wouldn't accept that we couldn't use it and kept driving us around in circles, even when we told it there was a road block, that and the inevitable traffic added an extra hour to the trip. It was good fun though and got to see a part of Netherlands that actually has hills.

I went to bed with DS2 as soon as we got home and was asleep by 9pm, I had intended putting him to sleep then having a cup of tea but I fell asleep with him. So when he decided to wake screaming blue murder at 3.39am I was still in my day clothes. He continues until 5.30 until DH who was sleeping in the other room came and got him. He really isn't giving up on this morning feed.

Trace, I'm glad your getting some help from.CPN and friends. I'm not surprised you have great friends, your lovely.

Urbs, will you be posting the recipe of your chosen cocktail. I think we will be drinking mainly vin chaude over the Christmas period as our friends have it every.night as a rule in December. They buy it ready made though, so I'm hoping to convert them to my chuck it all recipe that DB(?) put me onto.

Rubes I got quite excited as I thought I might be taller than you buy 3cm, then I realised I'm 168cm not 178. Bummer.

Avo I was going to make a comment on something you said but can't remember.

Happy birthday PD and have a nice relaxing easy trip. I wish sunshine and German towel free sun lounges for you.

Oh that's right sorry about the cold. I am currently coughing up my guts, as we say in the old country. DH has a work colleague and close friend of ours coming from the UK to stay for the week. She is considering basing herself in the Netherlands. She may decide to do it but with my coughing and spluttering and DS2 nocturnal chorus, she def won't be wanting to stay with us again.

Can't believe they are turning 2

Happy Birthdays everyone :)

I have a q about car DVDs - we are v tempted as DS2 basically squalls his way through any journey unless placated by sweeties (then he's sick). Poor DH ends up with white knuckles and a severe headache. For those with kids who get travel sick, do the DVDs make it worse? And does anyone recommend a particular model? If not, any other way of getting through long journeys without a disaster?

Oh and we finally saw the dragon film at the weekend - loved it :).

Hello ladies

I am hugely behind with everything this morn so a quicky catch up pour moi. Happy Birthday PD! DP's birthday yesterday was nice but please remind me never to take the smalls to a posh place every again.

DP fancied this Michelin starred place in Newbury for a treat. I was a little doubtful given DD1's current form, but it was the usual triumph of hope over experience.

She was a howling, struggling, red faced banshee. Furthermore, when we were seated, they said it was ok for her to get up but ot bear in mind that we were next to the thoroughfare where the waiters brought the plates through, and the other side, reaching almost from floor to ceiling, was a "priceless" painting (actually, we checked out the Christie@s website afterwards and it was worth about half a mill, but still more than we could afford ) which she was of course drawn to. It was bad. Dahlia, not to miss out, had a leaky nappy which leeched pooey water all over DP's new trousers. Still, a day to remember.

Avo, I have just checked out the Terry's Choc Orange ad on YouTube. Ha! Can I just point out that he is the one with the girl on the sofa at the end, and not the bearded saddo on his own in the previous scene He luuuurves himself, Avo, don't you think? Speaks nice French though. Hey, great that you saw D's show the other night. He is vaguely talking about a party before Christmas, I believe.

Rubes, how is DH? Sorry you didn't get to go to your dinner party on Sat, I was looking forward to hearing how all that went! And a Trunki - what a v good idea...

Vag, my Christmas plans are a but nebulous as yet but I may be available for drinks in London - not yet sure. Our new house is in Enstone, which is a small village astride the A44, between Woodstock and Chipping Norton.

Hope you are having a super time, Jam. Spot, you might find a super place in London, you never know

Urbs, it really is nice to have you on more. Loving it. Garrow a template of C20th morality? I will put it to m' learned friend but I felt that v much with Ep 1 and the slave storyline - we are watching Ep 2 on the iPlayer tonight. The cases are real though, as is the vague trajectory of his life. Wigs are still made of horsehair. They cost about £500. And they stink, even if you have got a clean head. You can't wash them either, you have to send them back to be 'dressed'. DP scrubs the headband inside with a toothbrush though.

I have looked at the WW thread I started and can't puzzle a good date or time from everyone's specifications anyone else up for it before I put my brain to it?

effie we watched the Dragon film at the weekend too, it was great!

We have the car DVD's that you just strap around the headrest. Great for long journey, in fact not sure how we ever coped without them! I think they were about £80ish, and have been worth every penny.

DD back at school today, DS still weary but doing okay, me I feel like sh*t! Great, DS birthday on Wednesday and we are off to Sheffield on Friday night to watch Peter Kay. I fear my first night away from them for months will be thwarted by illness

Hello all,
Hope everyone had good weekends. Mother in law has left the building - hurrah! Bit of a nightmare weekend as DS has been adorable(ish) yet MIL has spent all weekend complaining about his behaviour!! Eg every tiny bit of whinging or throwing food on the floor or spraying toys around the room when unattended. She says mean things like "What you whinging about now?" in a grumpy non-jokey voice when he makes the slightest whining noise (not even a tantrum) - errrr hello, he's a toddler, it's what they do!!! Within minutes of being here she was telling me there should not be so many toys on the floor as DS should put one toy away before getting out another. Oh yes, very good idea, if you want to watch him 24 hours and never get anything done, and not bother feeding the other one. And then when asked to watch him for 5 minutes she puts the TV on, even taking the effort to change the channel off something it is recording for me to put it on CBeebies, and then reads her broadsheet newspaper so she can't even see him out of the corner of her eye. Now don't get me wrong, nothing against TV some of the time, but don't make yourself out to be a fucking parenting guru when you can't even be bothered to spend 5 minutes with him.

Oh and in addition, DD is now flavour of the month, and it's all "SHe's sooooo well behaved, she's soooo lovely" in front of DS. Thankyou, I am struggling with a jealous toddler - just make it worse, thanks. I supposse she could say DD was shit too!!

Anyway upside of this is I am very very pro DS whereas he was driving me mad last week.. He is so lovely really even thoug he's going through a jealous rough stage.

Other upside of it is DH is also completely pissed off with her, which I am glad about as he's starting to realise that though undesirable, DS's bad behaviour is normal toddler behaviour and his mum is not some sort of parenting guru. So maybe he will chill out a bit s about his behaviour from now on.

rubes I don't have any sleeping bag thing for the Phil and TEds, and I need to get one. Those with one, can you get others that aren't the Phil and Teds own ones to fit.

Also I meant to ask people what cold weather clothes they have for their DCs and what tips they have. It's about to get really cold and DS goes 20 minsish each way to nursery 3 times a week on the bike and so I need some proper cold weather clothing. Am thinking of visiting Polarn O Pyret as I like their kids coats, will have to lie to DH about how much it costs!

What is this Garrows Law thing? Is it easy watching? If it's good might line it up for recording as sounds like the kind of thing DH and I might both watch.

Dierdre and Avo sorry to hear you are both ill. This time of year is such a pain in the arse! spot how is DS?

LadyT my god, that meal sounds massively stressful! A busy throughfare to one side, a priceless painting to the other, and a tantrumming toddler. Like something out of a sitcom. Glad you survived it, does not sound like fun though! My birthday is on the 4th, we are going to go out in the evening sans kids if possible...must find a babysitter.

pd happy birthday to you!

rubes how is your DH now? What do you mean about him having a bad attitude to work?

spot sorry to hear about house troubles and london moving back stresses. Will you live central london or suburbs?

Right must go, need to feed DD.

Hello back from toddlers this morn. DS really starting to play with the other kids these days - albeit with a little girl in her little kitchen. He was mainly manning the microwave though Well there wasn't a BBQ which I thought was quite an oversight by Fisher Price -- ooh must look for one of those!

Lady happy belated to DP. Oh you are brave taking not just one but both to a posh restaurant! Michelin Star? I wouldn't even take both to any other than a child friendly pub these days! Well done even though it was slightly disasterous. Those leaky nappies always happen at the worst possible public places

Summer not sure, but I bet you can get another footmuff to fit the P&T - just get one with several holes for the straps. DH is much better. I put dd in the cocoon this morning and ds on the seat on top as usual and he is so long that the footmuff actually won't fit him plus dd looked really squashed so not long left for her in it I'd say. Speaking of which those who have the P&T can I ask, if you have the footmuff, is there a way of attaching it to the seat itself? As it keeps slipping down and i keep reading that it clips on but can't see how? Urbs? Effie? - re his attitude, it's not about work, he's just been tired, and sick and strangely not wanting to have anything to do with deciding on using this fireplace I want to use and he was being selfish so I told him I won't be doing things like dragging my arse (35 weeks preg I might add) over to Spain and driving him to bike races at some un Godly hour unless he starts helping with things I want to do ie get this fireplace working. But I flipped, threatened to go home for Christmas and have (temporarily) abandoned the fireplace plans until he pulls his head in. Which evidently he has, and if nothing else I have gained about 4 weeks of arse kissing as he's bending over backwards with help around here and desperate to go and look at fires. I shall ride this one a bit longer though

Who asked about my hols planned? I have decided to bite the bullet and do Aust plus 3 nights in NZ in Feb after all [eek] if not I'll regret it I'd say.

Spot, will you rent at first or look to buy? How much can you spend (either renting or buying?)

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all your congrats for Mr Jolly. He starts in the new year and it looks like we'll be moving up there - the job is in Lancaster. I've worked there for ages at the university so things are coming together nicely. It is a bit scary leaving our friends and my in-laws behind but it is less than an hours drive for visits.

spot Eeek, that is bad news on the house. At least you found out prior to exchange. Have you discussed where you might move to yet or are things still a bit raw?

LadyT Most amused at the idea of having lunch with two little ones next to a practically priceless painting! Did O try any of the food?

summer Your MIL sounds so frustrating! There isn't a toddler in the world who can put one toy carefully away before getting out another. Grrrrrr. Did she impart much wisdom on DS's eating?!

I saw some very warm looking outdoor stuff at the weekend. I can't remember the name of the shop but it was one of those walking/climbing places.

PD Happy birthday! Have a super day.

Oh and my consultant is sending me to see a kidney specialist to try and find out what is going on. Hopefully will be seen pretty soon. Back later.

Evening ladies. Rubes sounds like your DH is a tad overworked which I guess there is not much he can do about but he needs to sort himself out so he can deal with the stress. Recently DH got a bit grumpy esp with the boys because he was stressed at work. He also had some minor health problems related to stress. His mood while not a patch on my grumpiness, was really bothering him. We talked about it and basically said he needs to accept the stress is there and deal with it, or accept being grumpy and have a not so enjoyable home life. So hes going about ways of coping with the stress and we talk about it when we can. Would your DH talk with you about work stress more, can he take a week or 2 off the private work? Sorry that's probably not that helpful, but your DH sounds shattered.

SL I found the whole MIL hilarious, I mean, can she actually hear the crap she is sprouting from her mouth. I'm sorry she is being so horrid about DS. At least DH is seeing it now.

How's this for two completely opposite children. I made the boys crumbled salmon and chips with broccoli for dinner. DS1 ate all the fish and chips and no veg, whereas DS2 has eaten all the broccoli inc DS1's and I'm currently trying to coax him into having his chips. Have managed to get some of the salmon into him but really had to work at it. Bizarre.

Hi vag - nah dh was just sick (flu) but continuing to go to work as he never calls in sick. He got it off me and ds, in fact we all had it. he also is constantly tired from work yes which doesn't help avoiding getting sick. he's much better today though and is on the bike again to and from work. The private work he does is only within his work week as he has free periods 2 days a week since his boss does privates so he usually assists him. He does work another job though on average 2 Saturdays a month, but it's WAY too lucrative to scale back on. He just needs to not have late nights or get broken nights by a certain dd I suspect the single speed ttraining bike he's commuting on doesn't help either! Anyway, he's on the mend now so all good.
we are having fish too.

DS still has a cold and napped 3 hours today I've just done early bath so he can then have dinner and go straight to bed but is still whining and miserable due to his cold.

Right, I just realised, ds doesn't really need a footmuff anymore does he as they don't really make them big enough for 2 year olds with shoes. Well if they do, I think I'd rather just rug him up and he can rough it

Do you not need a footmuff with a toddler? Well obviously you don't need one anyway but I always think they look more handy than a blanket which always falls off for me, and I would be worried they would get cold in the winter in just trousers.
Rubes your DH sounds like mine, he never calls in sick to work.

I'll be putting DS2's footmuff back on Rubes, I just find it easier than messing about with a blanket. We also have a foormuff thing for his bike seat. It's brilliant it is like a pair of ski pants but it attaches to the seat so he slips into them. Then it also has a rain cover, poncho type thing attached at the back of the seat to pop over him if it rains. Otherwise I have an allinone ski suit type thing that I bought on ebay for DS1 that now fits DS2 perfectly. I've also got a thick jacket and pants set from eBay that he is wearing at the moment.

DH has a single speed and loves it and is getting an adaptor thing so he can make it a fixed wheel bike. However, riding over here doesn't take as much effort obviously.

Well in the end I managed to get DS2 to eat all his crumbed salmon by combining it with bits of avocado on a fork, strange child. Also made him some couscous which he ate mixed with Avo. Settling them both off to bed now.

Oh and Rubes your DH is naughty cos he will make his patients sick. I worked with a nurse who refused to ring in sick even when the nurse in charge demanded she go home as she had a cold. She ended up making a room full of women patients sick as well and extended their stay in hospital and they gave me the cold and I ended up having 4 days off work with high temps and I ran my car into a fence!

Forgot to say lady I'm up for a London night out. Is before or after Christmas better.

wowee where do you get the bike sleeping bags from?