Dec 08 Mums - Snot Beards, Farty Boos and Willy Milk (not how it sounds!) - let the fun continue!

[Beans33]

Here we are x

Jam, that didn't have a question mark, are you mocking me?

JJ, I like the house, the garden is awesome. But I don't understand why they have a shower room on the 1st floor but a bath in the loft, they look like the same size rooms. I can understand your concern about the not being on the same floor, but I think in a couple of years that won't be a problem. If it were us we would just wing it and have a mattress or 2 available upstairs with us incase they were unwell and needed to be in with us. Or you could make the loft room a storage/playroom for now and you all sleep on the middle floor until they are all settled on their own.

PD I like The Help, but I do understand what you mean. For me at the time it was an easy read, but I did feel I wanted it to do deeper and be a bit more risque. But I think she did well to keep it in an historical context, at that time in Mississippi, what those women did was really risque. I liked that she made it feel like you were in a bubble, like this was all quite normal but she hinted at what was going on in the rest if America at the time. Now the Slap, I did like the writing, but as Lady said about 'one day', I felt really manipulated. I found myself wanting everything to be ok for the characters who didn't deserve it, and in the end was really annoyed that it ended the way it did. I also didn't like the portrayal of long-term BF and active parenting being used as it was. I know it needed to be, but on the surface it looked like those were the reasons for the childs behaviour and not the parents various ishoos, and conflicting inconsistent parenting. However, I loved the age and ageing theme going on during the book, very well done I thought. But in general it just felt a bit like the author wanted to act out some sexual fantasies and exorcise his own upbringing as a Greek Australian demons. I also felt, like many American movies these days, that he didn't trust his readers to see much of the symbolism, so he made it way too obvious, and the stereotypes were too much. Lots more I could say but I think I might be boring you all, and don't want to give it away to those who haven't read it. Surprisely, I recommend it as it does make you feel something, which for me does define a good book.

Well today I am sat on the couch with DS2, he woke with a temperature and is really listless and sad. We have watched Nemo, and now we are onto how to train your dragon. I've had three coffees already. Thankfully one of the school mums is having DS1 over to her house as today is a half day. DH is home later from a conference in London. He got an award from the big global boss of his company for outstanding achievement, because he set up this benelux team. So sweet.

Rubes he is back in London next week in Reading and said he can deposit the money for the glasses in your account at the bank if you can give him details? How is the jet lag going? You guys are hardcore. How is DH with going straight back to work.

WG your MIL is too funny, the microwave thing! The long feeding is a bugger, is her latch ok?

PD, there is some thing about kids losing their sucking reflex at around 7, but not 2. I have noticed that DS2's latch can be a little crap if he is drinking from his beaker cup a lot. Obviously BF and drinking from a beaker require different ways of drinking and I guess they can get a bit mixed up. When this happens I do what he did when he was little take him off and make him latch again, but I make my nipple hang nearer his nose so he has to open wide and lift to it rather than just putting his lips around it. I think this is similar to what happens with the whole nipple confusion thing, does that make sense?

Morning ladies

Still feeling bouncy but perhaps 3% less so than yesterday. My mind will probably have totally clouded over again in about a fortnight

JJ, I like that house, it looks charming. I wouldn't worry about the two smaller bedrooms - as you say, one will be your DH's study and the other one will just be a spare or eventually for one of the girls. I think putting the girls in together is a good idea. Fireplace you can probably knock through/create in due course, and kitchen storage - you can change it in time. As to the general storage prob, we have the same in the new house (4 bedrooms over three floors) and there isn't too much storage so basically we are probably going to have to get some clever cupboards built.

PD, glad the job 'n' house have worked out. What sort of books do you like? I will have a think. With The Help, I think you have to levae your cynicism at the door, or...

Trace, you sound so chipper about going back to work so that is absolutely marvellous.

SL, I think you definitely need to treat yourself clothes-wise after losing a good stone since the beginning of the year! Yes, I did have about 20kg to lose after DD1 but the bad thing is I had about 12kg to lose when I conceived DD2 and I still have it But am in a good frame of mind to do so. But yep, I suppose a couple of stone isn't the end of the world.

Mom, if you liked Three Men in a Boat you would also like Diary of a Nobody, if you haven't already read it. Same era, same humour. I am really tickled by those late Victorian/early Edwardian comic novels.

How you doin', Rubes? I was watching/half sleeping through a Heston Blumenthal prog about cooking for an airline and learned that the humidity is about 20% when you're up in the air. It's about 50% on the ground in the UK, and even in the Sahara it's 26%! So being on a plane is more drying than being in the Sahara! Actually I am still dry from the flight - with keeping my eye on the DDs and DP I didn't really drink/moisturise as much as I should.

Right Invis, The Finkler Question: I thought it was well written, urbane and funny, but I think that goes without saying. Maybe a bit too arch at times. My major prob with it was the character of Treslove, whom I found loathsome and irritating but more importantly, really unbelievable. His attack made no sense to me. Didn't really believe in the sons or Tyler, either. Were we supposed to dislike Sam Finkler? He was so much more interesting and attractive than Treslove, even though we were probably supposed to dislike him. It raised some fascinating questions about Gaza but I must admit that I am now so much more confused about the rights and wrongs of that than I was before - ditto Jewishness. I loved the sense of London in the book though (made me really homesick) and the Libor bits were very good. I just thought it was so marked that all the Jewish characters seemed warm and real and inviting and the non-Jewish characters...weren't. What did you think?

Well, I did want to stick around for a bit but I have to take the girls to London for the weekend as DP has this really heavy trial on Mon and he is tearing his hair out and needs to work in the quiet.

Sorry about the broadband, Jam, that's a pain in the crack.

Sorry also about the lost post about the books, Vag, that is soooo annoying.

Am keeping a travel diary for each of the girls. It has the places they abroad they visited in utero and beyond. In the back of the book is a list of all the places I have ever been, In case I get senile and forget.

Well done to your DH on the award, Vag. X-posted. V interested in your thoughts on The Slap. I can't remember the sex in it though I do know the writer is gay. Yes, I suppose it did seem at first that the long term bf was part of the problem with the kid when it eventually became apparent that the parents were bonkers and horrid.

Right, don't know what I am doing lazing around on my bum. Must get on!

Hello! be back in a minute as I have to make ds a sandwich but doing great thanks Vag! DH was a bit tired yesterday and left work at 8pm then pretty much straight to bed after some beans on toast (haven't done shop yet) he went on his bike to work this morning so doing ok! I am fine although up with ds at 0230 understandably! He went back to sleep after some milk though. DD fine although was a bit constipated at first. lady - yes it's very very dehydrating on the plane - hence dd's constipation - it does wonders for frizzy hair though!! You have to drink LOADS of water, especially if you don't mind the odd cheerfulness up there. Thank God the coffee is crap on planes or I'd be in trouble as it's 5 o'clock all the time on those international flights!
Right just going to make ds lunch then back in a bit- have put a ton of photo's on FB too.

lady you look fab and very refreshed in your holiday pics!

Mmmm....that's interesting Lady, I'm not saying a gay man can't write female characters but for me he didn't write the Aish, Connie, & Anouk characters as he should have, they lost something towards the end, weakened. I do have another theory that he was trying to make people face their own attitudes towards familial violence, a big problem in Australia, as it is in a lot of countries. But I just don't feel he did it. Believe the sex was fine, I just felt it was a bit unrelenting, I found myself thinking like my mother 'I just don't think its necessary' are particularly favourite line of hers comes to mind.

Rubes I'm having a coffee want to join me.

Oh and Lady I meant to say I loved your photos, but that one of DD1 & DP is so sweet, he is just so in love with her, she has him so wrapped around her little finger doesn't she.

sure do Vag, I've only got instant though, but I'm craving it a little as I found it just too hot to drink much coffee at my brothers, despite the fact he has a proper coffee machine.

Yes Vag, he is dotty about her but this also means he takes it v personally if she misbehaves etc...As to The Slap I think I have totally blanked out the sex scenes. Er...think I can remember one or two, but not much. I am going mad!

Welcome back dear Rubes, must have a look at your pics.

dd has released her constipation! I've had to literally throw out her vest - it's beyond cleaning
Right, evidently I'm never going to be able to catch up the last 3 weeks so can I have a Vag style bullet point update of anything important that I have missed?

By the way, I have post holiday / family meet up temporary depression. Are there any meet-ups planned?

Have been enjoying the FB pics - Rubes, I love the pic of B in his sunglasses, what a dude! And you are looking excessively glamerous.

LadyT: another glam person wearing skirts and mascara. Sigh. Love the pics of the girls, they both have a knowing look about them as if they've sussed everyone out already .

Effie, I would have to be practically dead before I left off the mascara But I wear jeans all the time at home.

Don't be sad, Rubes. I know it's horrid that all your folks are miles away, though. Will your bro visit again this year, do you think? Meet ups - well, I have to nip to London Thursday afternoon as I have to go to the storage to sign something and then have a house meeting in the evening about the freehold malarkey. However, would only be free between about 4 and 6, say, (which is probably no good to anyone...) Am bringing girls in as I said at weekend, but have a friend with a birthday so they have first dibs and not sure when I am seeing them - once I know that, I am free the whole weekend. Though having the girls is a wee bit limiting. If that is no good, DP's attempted murder trial runs for two weeks from Monday - could come into town alone for big girls' drinks pretty much any night, but would have to be an early start as would have to get the 2148 train home from Paddington...a few options there though. We were supposed to be moving but now DP has this big trial, we won't be going anywhere until that's over, so we are looking at end of March! Sigh...Anyone watching Silks?

Talking of telly, I missed the last two episodes of Episodes (I know ZJ and Jam were tuning in) and now they aren't on the iPlayer. Grrrr. I have a mate at BBC2 and will see if I can get them from him but I suspect it's a dvd release issue.

Oh, and WG - wonderful for your DH re: BE telly transfer!

Vag, did you see the MN Book of the Month is The Slap? We should get over there and join in the discussion.

Oh cock, I am so HUNGRY. I have already had carrotscucumbercelerytomatoes (and this is since lunch, though had a very diety lunch). Will make a mug of Miso, find some other raw veg...

Hello All!
We're back from Barcelona. I have SO MUCH to catch up on and not sure if I am going to have time! But wanted to say hi!

DH did his best ever time marathon - under 3 hours 30, which was what he was after - he did it in 3 hours, 29 mins and 22 seconds!!! Amazing! We had the best time and I remembered why we married. He was fantastic and we laughed and drank and slept ans sightsaw and everything. Just fab. Barcelona is great.

His Mum has had her operation and has come out of it ok. They removed 18 inches of her bowel and the tumour - they won't know for 2 weeks if it's cancerous. But the good news is they didn't find any other lumps in there. It was fused to her appendix, so they removed that too. She is awake and in hospital til Sunday/Monday and seems to be doing ok.

I must go as don't want to neglect DDs as haven't seen them properly for ages, but they were beautifully behaved and grandparents are missing them already - how lovely!

Hope you're all well and will try and do a spot of reading up on all your news.

Masses of love.
xxxx

Hello ladies. It is 2 weeks since little madam arrived. I lost 1 litre blood and am on 3x day iron tablets. But I am bushed. Really exhausted still. I 'm normally really rosy cheeked and I look as pale as Dracula. Any other of you cs ladies experienced the same? I went to the doctors today- a 10 min walk there and 10 back. I was shattered. Is this normal?

Lady- thx for the congrats re: BE, though the guardian article was about as factually wrong as it is possible to be. There are lots of behind the scenes shenanigans going on at the beeb. Which dh is not party to. It's a bit frustrating, but while BE isn't going to be made for telly, hopefully something else will be.

Actually WG I read about it in Broadcast as I am a subscriber, it said different stuff to the Guardian piece (want me to pop it in the post? Want to send you a congrats card anyway!) Um, I know the journalist who did the Guardian piece and suffice to say, we ain't pals. I'm also, as you know, familiar with the Comedy dept and the deeply frustrating decision making processes...Anyway, as to feeling exhausted...I felt dire for weeks this time so it was normal for me though I know Rubes was springing about...

Oh, and welcome back Beans. Look forward to hearing more about the trip! What did you manage to do? Nice food?

Lady, thanks. I'm actually ok, but yeah it's really just when everyone gets together then never know when next time will be. They aren't planners my family! It's silly, as I get annoyed and stressed easily after a bit of time together, and then get all sad when it's over!
DS is back to full health and has had a massive day eating - typical after the holiday ends. I wonder if some of it is that he is back in his comfort zone. He's a real shy little boy.
My brother hasn't mentioned visiting but then he's not a planner. He and his GF are suppose to go to a wedding in the USA in Summer and I was trying to convince them to come to the UK and for her to just go from here (he doesn't want to go really) but it sounds unlikely at this point. Let me know about the weekend. I have stuff on all morning Sat then probably hanging with dh Sat arvo, but Sunday he is working
I must say I feel much better than I imagine after so many long flights hauling dd in her Bjorn, but I put this down to my bro's GF as she is a massage therapist etc etc, and I had 2 deep tissue massages and feel a million bucks. (2nd one was day we left!) I am going to continue getting them once a month - never had a proper one before this!

Beans your holiday sounds wonderful. Glad you and dh are refreshed. I must say my next holiday will be much more lazing around! Actually we are going to Spain for a wedding without the kids next so I'm sure it will be!
Also good news about your mil.

WG, not sure regarding the CS - I felt ok, and had some big blood loss with ds but didn't with dd and felt the same really. The tiredness might just be the extra stress 2nd time around plus the extra stress with having a dd1 to look after as well? Not to mention a 10 min walk even each way sounds tiring just 2 weeks in! You're doing well.

Right, ds has eaten a mahoosive dinner, and dd won't touch hers so baths and bed then dinner for the adults. DH still en route from working in London this afternoon and on the bike. I'm sure he'll be great company this evening

V quickly as don't want to get absorbed and miss my Tube stop again...

WG, I lost 1.5 litres of blood with DD1, I had two transfusions, took iron and was still v weak for a few weeks. My consultant persuaded me to have the transfusions because otherwise I would feel dizzy and tired for a couple of months. You lost only a little less and didn't get a transfusion so its probably normal to be v tired however I would get your iron levels checked. Apparently it's v hard to accurately estimate blood loss so maybe you lost more than they thought. I hope you feel better soon.

JJ, in our old house we were on a different floor from the girls and I loved it! We could talk and move around our room without fear of waking them. In the morning they would bound up the stairs to wake us. I am actually sad we are in the room next to them in the new house as it feels less private and relaxing. So I would have no worries about the master bed being upstairs. I might worry about crossing other peoples' land to get to the garden. Could you just let the girls out on there own when they are older? Could you see them from the house? If not that might be a pain. There are wAys round storage limitations. Could you get a lockable outdoor storage box?

Trace, it's so nice hearing you excited about work. I really hope things are on the up for you now.

Not a v short one after all but have kept an eye on my whereabouts this time.

JJ I'm confused about the access to the garden, it looks like you get to it from your back door?

WG I think you need your iron levels checked again, any type of iron supplement is not as bioavailable as that which is found naturally in food, generally that dose you will only get a fraction being absorbed by your body. I'm a Veggie but I think you need some meat, and add to it some pulses. So for example, spaghetti bolognaise with red kidney beans. Also drink orange juice a couple of times a day and get into some green leafy veg. Keep the iron supplements up but as Arti said thats a big blood loss to have no transfusion. Also with a CS they tend to snip the cord pretty quickly after birth so a fair amount of your blood remained in madam rather than being pumped back out to you and the equilibrium sorted out. So you have that loss also. Def go back and get tested, but get into some dietary iron too.

Rubes how are you feeling now, it is hard, esp when you see the LOs with cousins and know that they may not even remember them in a few months.

WG can you say when the project might be aired. We will be getting all the beebs soon so I will be ready to watch. Shame it won't be BE but if its by your hubby it will be brilliant.

Beans that time is amazing, isn't that good enough for a guaranteed entry to the London marathon next year?

DH is still coughing loads so I have to take his place in a 10km race this Sunday. It will be nice as I will make it part of my exercise for the week, which has been lacking due to DH being away, but I will be posting a personal worst time and really will be just happy to make it round without walking.

DH is cooking dinner, DS2 is loads better but took him to an appointment the surgery had manage to fit him into. The reception lady was so apologetic that she could only give us a 10min consultation slot!!! So funny, in comparison to UK. They said his subascious gland lump that he's had for a few weeks is a bit inflamed but he thinks the temperature is just a random viral infection. I'm a bit sceptical, generally if you have a red raised thing on a kids face, accompanied by a temperature you can usually assume the two are related. But anyway he is better, though I had to cancel a coffee morning I had planned as a house warming with the girls. It's been postponed to next Monday.

Right better go dinner is ready I think.

Vag, I am impressed with your 10k. I am doing a 5K IN a couple of weeks and not really ready. I have had this funny viral thing all week and it has really knoecked me for six. Had no booze since sunday, which gives you an idea of how bad things were. I must try to run tomorrow or I will never make it round. What time are you aiming for?

JJ, I agree on the house that it is super helpful to be able to see the kids in the garden from the kitchen as then you can chuck them and friends out to play while you cook / clear up / chat etc. I would definitely do downstairs space over upstairs as that's where lots more time is spent and kids don't really notice small rooms. At the Towers, the girls are in together (about 14' by 16' so quite big) and M has the box room which is about 10' by 6'. He still plays on the floor, has a bookshelf etc though so not all bad. When he's a bit bigger, we'll probably buy him a bed on a platform to maximise the play space. You could put the girls in bunks when they are bigger - they would LOVE it.

WG, have you got Spatone? I think it takes the body a while to adjust to the old zero sleep thing and I remember feeling so shagged about 3 weeks in with mine that i felt a bit drunk. Take it easy my lovely.

LadyT, I also never leave the house without at least an inch of slap. I have no eyebrows nor lashes wihout help and I look weird without. I even put it on before I run! Vain or what?!

Beans, welcome home, glad it was fab, will call tomorrow promise!

Jolly, I will now get round to posting your parcel, sorry to take ages.

Rubes, I say YES to a meet up, esp if it's in the evening as the day is not really a runner for me to get anywhere as I need to do school runs at 12 and again at 3.15. When you free? I am a bit buggered until the last week in March then life gets much easier.

Spot, hope you are OK.

I had some very sad news today. My dear friend J, who has always been fond of the sauce, has collapsed at work and is in the process of being shunted off to the Priory. We were extremely close for years but over teh last couple we have drifted a bit. It was a real shock to get the call from her husband today. I hope I will be able to go to see her once she is more stable and allowed visitors. It's so sad as she looks on paper as though she has it all, yet is eaten up with problems which she won't share with anyone. I hope she can get over this.

Oh Sybs I'm sorry to hear that. My SIL was in the Priory with PND, but signed herself out because she didn't like the food .

Sybs I'm hoping to do under 1hr 10 but think it will be more like 1.15 as I haven't actually run the distance for ages. Sadly, my old times used to be closer to 50mins so a ickle bit slower. But hey Ho, its a nice way to see the Hague. Shame Gadaffi couldn't have come over to watch me run. He's had his official invitation and all.

Sybs not sure if Spot can get on much as she is still in the Hossie but she has been on FB and she is really doing it tough in there at the moment poor love.

Paula Radcliffe always wears makeup Sybs.

Evening ladies, I'm sat in the dark with a poor hot girl , she had a spoonful of Calpol an hour ago but is still 38 degrees. Is that too hot?

I'm on my phone which has a v low battery, so will catch up in fits and starts. Back in a tick

Welcome back LadyT, Rubes and Beans - you all sound like you had a lovely time, I am so of all the sun. Gorgeous pics on FB LadyT and Rubes. Oh, and Effie too, your weekend sounded bliss

I'm so enjoying the new baby talk, it is gorgeous. Especially loved the comment from WG to Mom "what are your poos like?" We're all friends, but how much do we really need to know? . Has feeding improved Mom, with having his toungue tie snipped? WG don't forget you also went through the exhaustion of many hours of labour as well as major surgery, followed by sleepless nights and a LO sucking you dry of all the goodness in your milk and toddler demanding your undivided attention, you are bound to be tired, iron deficient or not.

On the subject of iron, I've been shattered in the few days before my period for the last couple of months and wondered if anyone experienced that with PMS? I never have before, but it's happened three times now. Could it be iron, do you think?

Trace that is brilliant news about going back to work Remember that you weren't signed off to give you chance to do chores, but to rest and look after yourself, so even more reason to take it easy for your last few days before work

If Spot is lurking while in hospital, I'm thinking of you and hoping to get to the front of the queue for some good news and a turn in fortunes soon

Deids has been quiet recently, are you there Deids?

Congratulations Kayz, thanks for sharing your news

Ok, post before the battery goes

Three Men in a Boat such a funny book, my Dad used to read it to me when I was young and we used to laugh until we couldn't breathe to the description of the Uncle putting up the picture . We have never tired of it. We got a tape of it once, to listen in the car on a long journey, and Dad was laughing so hard he had to pull onto the hard shoulder as he actually thought he was going to crash the car. I've made a note of Diary of a Nobody

Vag well done to MrVag on the award. And running 10k at the weekend - I'd be proud of myself if I could walk it without sitting down every other mile! Good luck with it

I love your travel diary LadyT, such a good idea. When we were children Mum always made us write a holiday diary, I think to appease the teachers for taking us out of school. Our early ones were just a picture every day, then moved onto one sentance per day and then whole pages of teenage musings in later years. She'd kept them all and it was a lovely record to look at them again, at least she still had them before they moved last year - I must ask her if they survived the move. I still keep a holiday diary now, but it is mainly filled with detail of the yummy food I've stuffed my face with . The last 2 episodes of Episodes were good, I still think the opening episode was the best one, but it all ended ok ... and typically very open for the future. DH and I were just saying the other day that the downside of digital recording boxes are that you can't lend someone the video tape if you recorded something they'd miss. Ahhh, the good old days ...

That all sounds pretty good about your MIL Beans, I'll keep my fingers crossed for when the results come back. How is your Dad doing?

Sybs so sorry to hear about your friend, her DH must be worried sick about her. I hope the Priory does the trick

I had a lovely weekend (although that was days ago now, I've been lurking on my phone, but the more I think I'll post later, the more catching up there is to do!) On Saturday night we went to a dinner fund raiser for the breastfeeding support centre I used when DD was little - it is a charity funded centre with some (but very little these days) support from Surestart and gives so much to new Mums, so it was lovely to go and splash a bit of cash to help them out, as they never charge for their advice or baby groups or cups of tea or anything. Since they opened 6 years ago they estimate they've had contact with some 2,000 babies, isn't that lovely? The BF counsellou is a sweetheart and on 24/7 call out for new Mum's with feeding problems - I don't know how she does it as she's the only one so is on permanent stand by. Although I hope there weren't any new Mum's hoping for a home visit at midnight on Saturday, as they would have received a slurred 'I love you, you're my beshtesht friend' along with a check of their latch . And then on Sunday morning DD and I were doing a bit of crafty stuff. I've bought her a pair of kids scissors, to try to stop her running off with my sharp ones, and so I was trying to teach her how to use them to cut out Peppa Pig. It was so sweet, us sitting together going 'open, close, snip, open, close, snip'. She couldn't coordinate her pudgy little thumb, but I don't think I've actually tried to teach her something before and I loved it. I'll be intorducing her to quadratic equations before you know it!

Right, talking of miss, she's just warm now rather than hot, and sleeping - although coughing and muttering every 20 minutes. I suspect sleep won't be on my agenda tonight, but I must try. Night all x

ds clearly napped too long yesterday. (had to wake him after 3 hours) so today will be back to a strict 1.5 as he was up again at 3am wanting milk then up for the day at 530am. dd not too sure what day it is either but at least I can shove a bottle at her and she knows if she's in the cot it means go to sleep after!

I meant to say thank you all for your concern when I was over in NZ around the time of the Christchurch earthquake. Was so nice to get the texts of concern from Vag and Lady
Also thanks Vag, I am feeling ok, in fact I am always a little down after leaving get togethers with the family, and as my parents are a little not so normal in the grandparent department and other areas to say the least, I am much better after this time I think due to now having a family of my own to be with wheras before, i'd get a bit lonely leaving, especially before dh when I lived in the US. Heck I should be a pro at it it's been so long I've been away! Good thing is I have the ability to see them at cheaper rates, however not as easier anymore with the littles in tow.

Sybs, at the moment no plans to speak of. I'm a little miffed at dh as I asked him specifically when his next weekends on were and he assured me not the one after we get home. the dcs have missed a couple of swimming lessons already, so i went a bit postal at 3am when he informed me that his Fri shift is an on call one through until noon Doesn't sound like mil is around Sat either but I guess I will have to check. Anyway, I digress... At this point I'd be up for any evening but like before Wed's are easiest, then after that Mon's or Fri's, but Tues and Thurs can be a bit iffy - doable still but could be a later arrival although I could just drive to the hossie and get train from there so it's probably safe to say most days except Tues's but again that depends on which week as he's only on call on every 2nd Tues give me some dates which work for you and I'll lock dh in
Oh and I'm the same. Hate to leave the house without mascara - somtimes do, but usually only if I'm going somewhere for a second and no chance of running into anyone - and then of course I always do

Zoes hope dd feels better soon