Dec 08 - tears, tantrums, giggles and piddles - and that's just the mums!

[traceface]

Or maybe piddling whilst giggling is just me?
It's so sunny here I feel Spring has sprung - where's that daffodil emoticon gone? Had a friend round this morning for a natter and cake - muchos snot and tears but all good. Think I might go for a little bike ride now to blow the cobwebs away.
And no vag - not a chance!
rubs don't you dare spend all your time tweeting - your first loyalty is here!

Arti: I like it, it's nice and simple.

I'm not sure who to sell first. DS2 or DH. DS2 was up all night screaming his head off and then DH had a go at me this morning for being Manipulated By My Children, i.e. actually going in when he cries. Grrrrrrr. Feel like tipping his coffee over his grumpy head.

Urgh, hiding out in bed with the tummy bug. Scary part is that I am not sure if its the one DS had, or one I picked up from my colleague in the office. Hmm, not sure I like the idea of new round of D&V in our house. DH has kindly taken the DCs off for their round of amusements - swimming and then 2 parties. Still oddly quite nice to be able to stay in bed and read the trashiest thing I could find.

Arti - I think combo of modern light and less modern room can work quite well - we have a fairly modern looking cylinder shaped pendant in our sitting room which otherwise has fireplace, lots of cornicing etc.

Jolly - sorry to be late to this, hope all is going well with J at home.

Pingu - congratulations, that's lovely news.

Poison - you are definitely nobody's grandma!

LadyT - its funny, Cold Comfort Farm and I Capture the Castle sort of sit in the same box in my head - I read them both around the same time and I guess they are both quite lightweight but reassuring coming of age novels.

Oh and Beans - you sound like you have a lot on your plate. Glad the news on MIL was good, hope the same for your parents. Still waiting to hear on what is going on with my MIL. We may go up next weekend as its FIL's 80th birthday, but all seems a bit overshadowed somehow - no one has planned anything poor chap (not that he likes much fuss at the best of times, but still).

Sorry you aren't well Invis. I hope it's not a new bug for the family. Get better soon.

And Effie I hope your day improved. Who got it in the neck first.

Rubes, are you still reordering and ignoring us? Don't make me cross young lady, get back here.

Lady, can you share your cheap lighting websites? I've decided vintage opaline might be the answer. Something like this this or this.

hi ladies,
it's quiet on here again - I blame rubs and her silence! Where are you?
arti I'm afraid I can't help on the lighting front. I think I'm one of those people that just doesn't notice things I couldn't even tell you what our own light fittings look like, never mind any in my friends' houses. The ones you have linked to all look amazing, but then again if you'd linked to a £10 B+Q one, I would probably not have been able to tell the difference in terms of quality. I'm a bit ashamed of my ignorance. It kind of spreads to most areas of my life though - I wouldn't know designer shoes or jeans or handbags from supermarket ones! How are things now? Are you feeling any more settled than you were last week? Do you have TV yet?
Invis sorry about the tummy bug. Yak. I prescribe dry toast and plenty of fluids - no medical reason for the dry toast - it's just what I always want when I have a dodgy tum!
spot how is the weekend? I hope it's going ok for you. Don't put pressure on yourself - what you're going through is tough so go easy on yourself.
effie I really feel for you, battling between a 'hard' dh, who may well be right, and your compassion for your LOs. We often have the discussion about me giving in to easily in the night - not an easy one.
zj how is E's ear now? Is she sleeping better now she's had the ABs?
wg how are things? Is she still there? You could have written this book I'm reading - the MIL sounds so like yours!
jolly how are the Jolly Family Of Four doing? Thinking of you x
I'm totally pooped. Not sure why, because I've been sleeping quite well - just getting up once to settle P usually (Effie's DH would not be pleased with me!), but for the past week I have just felt completely drained. I thought it was the after effect of my little visit to work, but it's not getting any better. I'm already on iron, so I don't think it's that. Hopefully I'll spring into life soon. I could just sleep the whole time! DH is watching some motor bike racing thing so I think I'll read a bit more of my book then head to bed for another early night xxx

Morning all, it's a gorgeous day here today - fortunately, as DD woke up uncharacteristically early and I'm flagging already! I tried and failed to post twice yesterday, so here I am, third time lucky, hopefully

Effie did you sell anyone? And more importantly was last night more peaceful?

Trace is it that time if the month? I feel completely drained for a couple of days before my period arrives and for the start of it. E's ear is loads better, thanks, the ABs seemed to work within about an hour of the first dose. And she's eaten and slept for England the last few days, catching up

Arti I love those lights, you HAVE to have one for me as we have low ceilings so it's wall lights or recessed spots only for us and I'd love to have an amazing pendant. My favourite was the Swedish one. How are you settling in to your house?

Well done on the weight loss LadyT, maybe the trick us to take lots of holidays to keep those energy levels high and insulin resistance low

WG have you got your house to yourself yet? How's your appetite? As long as you're having lots of fluid, I think your milk supply will be fine, it's you who will suffer, not DD2

Right, washing needs hanging out, see you later

And Jam, you can't possibly need to do anymore cleaning? It's only a couple of weeks since your house got the most thorough clean ever fir the PIL visit. If it was me, I wouldn't feel the need to clean again for about 6 months!

Morning all :). The boys have redeemed themselves - DH cooked steak and chips yesterday and bacon butties for breakfast, and DS2 slept straight through and didn't stir until 8pm. So everything is looking a lot brighter this morning. Trace: you're right, DH does have a point but ranting at me before coffee is unlikely to get results!

Trace: hope you're feeling more energised soon.

Arti: I like the opaline lights as well, but I think I prefer the Conran one.

X-posted Zoe: glad DD is feeling better. And now I need to get moving - half an hour to clear up and get us all dressed and out of the door!

right just off to nursery and gymboree

Hoep everyone had good weekends.

I too would be interested in lighting websites we have lived here for 3 yrs and still have bare bulbs.

Feel sick as a dog today and got sore boobs. Might have to do a preggo test will not be HP about that as have just booked our Summer hols. Anyway prob fine will report back later.

Effie apparantlyl tis going to be a cracker of a week. You still ok for the park on Wednesday?

Hello all,

Glad DD is getting better zj.

wg I hope peace is restored in your house and MIL has left the building.

effie have you forgiven DH yet? Did DS2 sleep better? Does he often sleep badly. I HATE arguing about things like that. DH and I used to, the argument would go along the lines of "I think we should leave him to scream", "I don't", "well you get up and deal with him then if you won't do it my way"

We had an argument this morning, all my fault, he had decided to help out by writing a shopping list last night (tidying the house would have been more helpful but hey), and I criticised it. I am such a twat but I can't help myself, as he is sooo crap at food. He either suggests cooking some elaborate meal, or says we should eat premade quiche or pasta, never anything practical in between! So the elaborate meal was paella, for which he had listed so many expensive ingredients, that it would have cost about 20 quid for them, and he would either have used half the ingredients and buried the rest in the freezer never to be seen again, or cooked the worlds most massive paella of which we would waste half. I am such a dick to get so annoyed by it though, I guess it is quite sweet really.

I am also massively worried as MIL is seriously threatening to move nearer to us, probably about 40 mins away rather than 3.5 hrs. Joy, and solely for the reason of being nearer to us. Wonderful. Latest arguments have made me realise that I REALLY REALLY don't like her, and actually don't particularly want her looking after the kids (she says she is moving up to see more of them, and so she doesn't have to travel all the way up here to see us, which on paper makes sense), as she is so horrid to DS, and also she ignores them a lot which worries me with her dog around. There is nothing I can do about it though, but I can just imagine her passive aggressive, "I moved all the way up here to be near you, the least you can do is see me twice a week". Oh fucking god. What am I going to do??? I makes me want to cry just thinking about seeing more of her.

Has rubes really buggered off to twitter??

jam step away from the housework!

arti I really like the modern pendant. The others I think would look good but would be more dependent on fitting in with the rest of the decoration, i.e. I think you'd want to do the whole room in quite a non-modern style for it to fit in well. Mind you I am crap at this stuff! I also think that they are not too expensive for a light fitting in one of the most important rooms of the house, and especially as I think you have a pretty expensive house! But then I guess it depends on current budget. Oh we have I think engineered wood floors, they are very nice and do look nicer than laminate. Our house is v modern though and reclaimed wood floors would look nicer in an old house I am sure. Though I think they are pretty pricey (our floors), the previous owners had v expensive taste in everything (which is nice!)

x posts. there, glad DH redeemed himself Effie.
jam you just slipped that in there quietly, how exciting, have you been trying or just not being careful, or would it be a freak occurence as you have been being careful?
Oh I must sort out contraception, I am going for the "no shagging" method at the moment, and I think the potential for accidentally getting up the duffer is putting me off.

Marking my place on new thread. Although not that new any more!
x

no! Haven't been back to Twitter (except reading tweets on phone) Been busy and will explain the rest later - but Jam!!! Answer SL please!!!

i also did a pregga test today but it was negative. Didn't really think I could be, but tiredness, leaky boob, spots, weight gain... after vaggie's comment it got me wondering, but now I know. We last 'did it' on 28th feb (DH's birthday!!) so it would have shown by now wouldn't it? My cycle is anything from 4-8 weeks really, so period could come this week or not for a while.
Jam have you tested yet?
SL can you put MIL off? Tell here a power station is about to be built where they are thinking of moving to? What does dh think of the idea?
rubs glad to see you've not abandoned us
urbane has been quiet for a while - are you ok?
Deids how are you feeling now? Big hug x

trace sadly not, she is pretty computer literate and would be able to research it. We have told her there is every chance we don't want to stay in this area for ever and she says that is fine, but DH doesn't believe her and thinks she will go nuts if ever we say we are moving. I would like to move nearer to MY parents at some point and we were planning to move between the two of them, maybe Bristol eventually, so that will be out the window . DH was pro it and saying he thought it was a good idea, as there would be less travelling involved and she would help with childcare, but I think the latest argument has made him realise how she really actually is quite annoying and will be a complete nightmare. I am also upset because at the moment if we need emergency childcare, eg for a day, my parents would come over meaning I got to see them. If she lives nearby we'll end up with her instead or her throwing a moody cos we've asked my parents. The thing is if I outright say, I really don't want your mum to live near us, he'll make out I'm a cold heartless bitch. Which maybe I am!

Both DCs asleep in the bike trailer in freak early nap coincidence for DS. Brilliant. Should tidy the house really. Particularly as dishwasher is bloody broken so have to spend ages washing up. AND coffee machine is broken. Nightmare!

jj, what about this property. I know your DH doesn't like the 1930s houses but it looks like it could be massive! off street parking and big garden too. Am sure you've seen it though (online I mean)

I've just had the estate agent on the phone, saying they are a bit concerned that there has been very little interest and no viewings on our house - it's been on the market for 3 weeks now. She offered for us to have an audio tour done, and said that generates lots more interest usually. We would have to pay £150 extra for it, payable only if the house sells. TBH I think that's a bit cheeky - I mean what is the other £2000 for if not to get it sold? Anyway I asked if they could do some more pics, as our house looks lots bigger from the back (dormer upstairs at the back) and the girls' bedrooms are lovely, so they are coming on Wed to do that. But I thought I's ask you guys what you thought!this is my house - what do you think we could do to make it more appealing? You can be honest (but not too mean!) I've also pit some pots wioth flowers out at the front since the pic was taken, so if it's sunny on Wed I'll ask him to re-do that too.

eek terrible typing
Oh and my dad has made a new over the door thingy to replace that vile plastic one you can see on the photo!

I've just realised you can see on those pics that we have those globe paper light shades!!! Arti - avert your eyes

I does look quite small from the pics trace, so if it is bigger than it looks definitely get them to add pics to maximise that. also the view out the back, could you get them to shift it further up the photos, as i didn't realise it was there (as it is the 6th phots), and it is quite a selling point. I think the photos you do have are really nice. Potentially you could take literally everything off your worksurfaces (just bung in other room while they are doing it and put back after) in the kitchen and redo the photo? Might make it look a bit bigger?

Also re the tour thing, I guess it is fair enough that they ask extra if it's an extra service. Not sure whether it's worth doing though, not really seen any houses with that added so don't know if would make it appeal more.

Just looked, you can't tell it is those types on shades from photos I don't think trace!

Wow what a gorgeous view from your house trace. Glad you had a -test. Maybe its the change in seasons makig you tired??

So not tested am a bit scared too. Am on the pill (jasmin) and take it same time every day. But have had sore boobs for a couple of weeks and just feel vommy and smells are making it worse. Plus have had a weird itching thing for the last 2 months in my fanjo (which I got when preg with DS1) just before my withdrawle bleed. But am on the pill so am sure its just random or hormonal. But am on my 7 day break now and normally start bleeding on the first day and nothing yet. I cannot be preggers. I will give it a couple of days then test if no bleed happens. I reiterate I cannot be preggers!

Back to you lot now.

SL fuck a duck you must persuade her not to move.

Invis hope you are feeling better.

Arti how is the worms? Oh and I like that light I dont think you need to do old fashioned with old house. I think a mix of old and new looks fab.

Oh god jam i think you should test NOW! Sure you haven't had any little cock ups (pun not intended) with taking the pill?