Dec 08 Mums - still biffing on

[LadyThompson]

Yes, yes, it's a bit lame. I wanted to say: "Still fucking on!" but wary of causing offence....

I know 'biffing' is a bit PG Wodehouse, as well. You'll just have to humour me

[McKayz]

Same as Sybs here. I won't let them walk on walls if they are part of someone's house/garden.

[McKayz]

X-post. If they've said it's ok then that is different.

[Rubena]

Nah, I wouldn't allow that, or crossing into someone's garden etc. if one guy says it's ok, problem is ds see's a wall as a wall, and probably doesn't understand why he can walk along Mr Smiths but not Mr Browns wall.

[JamInMyWellies]

Bugger does that mean I am going to have to apologise to DH and tell him he is right?!?

[KiwiPanda]

Sybs fantastic thanks so much! Will message you now

Jam No idea on the etiquette of wall walking I'm afraid. DD is far too much of a total wimp sensible little thing to walk on walls. Getting her to walk at all is the challenge.

God I am knackered. Random insomnia at 3am is not a good combo with a 5am baby and 5.30am toddler. Did a run this morning too, across my lovely local park that has been reduced to mudbath by the bloody Wimbledon queuing hordes [grumpy local face]. At least the Olympic tennis going folk won't be queing ..

Talking of which has anyone who has tickets been getting those increasingly sinister texts and emails? Talk about sucking all the joy out of the events. It's like something out of 1984... Except without the security, obviously

[Beans36]

Just to let you know that Dad's scan was ok. The cancer hasn't spread to his arm, it's just arthritis. Not nice, but not lethal, luckily! He has got a fairly busy tumour in his leg and they're going to start radiotherapy on it a week on Monday for a week, so fingers crossed that'll blitz it for a while!
Gosh, been waiting for those results and they didnt come in til 6.30! Torture.

We don't really have any walls to walk on. I try not to let them walk into peoples' gardens, but it's not the end of the world if they do and I call them out pretty fast.

Why??

[traceface]

Hi Ladies.
Thanks for the new thread LadyT
First (because I read it last) - jam yes I strugle to keep her off walls, posts, or anything that's climbable. There aren't many garden walls near us but she will happily start to wander down any drive that looks appealing and I have to call her back or go and retreive her. Why what has happened? I don't think it's a terrible act and it's only because they're so inquisitive.
This will be a terrible catch up because I've missed so much again. Sorry.
But Lady - congrats on the vaginal dimensions That did make me laugh! Beans how did your dad get on?
Kayz - Wow on dd's weight gain! You sound like you are doing a most wonderful job. We should call you Kayz the Amazing*
I'm impressed (and a bit disheartened if I'm honest) by all the super fit speedy runners. I am very slow and still find it quite a struggle some days. My 5k time is about 33 mins - not far off kiwi's 10k time I have a long way to go to reach my half marathon - and not much time to do it in. I find it hard to find a time when a) I am not at work, b) I've not got children with me, c) I've have not eaten within the last few hours, d) I'm not hungry and e) there isn't a torrential downpour.
Lady you asked about my house sale...well we were aiming to move in the last week of July and our buyers rang on Friday to say they're not sure if they can afford it any more . We gave them till Monday to decide if they're pulling out - they rang monday and asked to have until today. They rang today and said they can't decide what to do. they really want it but are not sure about the money. they have one more option which they are will discuss tomorrow with mortgage people, but we've said we're calling it off on Monday so they have till then. Flippin annoying. We accepted the offer in February and it's taken them till now to go flakey. I've already got Lu into a new school for September which she is really excited about (she spent the day there on Tuesday and made 3 new best friends!) so we really want this move to happen. We are so powerless.
I'm feeling a little stressed with general end of term busy-ness; school concerts, french club assembly, school trip, nursery trip, recorder club recital, sports day, birthday parties...and I feel like I can't quite keep up. Having said that I'm pretty stable and doing well on these meds - I even got semi-discharged by the CPN (no more appointments but I can ring her if I need to).
Anyway I'll stop waffling.
I really will try harder to keep up better. New thread, new me!

[traceface]

ooh crossed posts with loads then!
Beans that's good news abot your dad. What a relief for you. Hope the radiotherapy is not too horrid for him.

[traceface]

did I break the thread?

[JamInMyWellies]

Beans thats good positive news xx

[VagolaJahooli]

Beans that is wonderful news. Sorry it took so long to get to you, we were all waiting with you.

Trace, that is a decent time, anything under 35 means you are running at a good pace. I know what you mean about fitting runs in, I've started getting up early a couple of days a week and 8 am on a Saturday. I know it sounds a bit evil to get up early but I'm starting to quite enjoy it and have way more productive days when I start off with a run.

That sounds like a nightmare about the house, you don't think they are trying to get you to drop the price do you? Well your doing really well if all that is going on and you are also being discharged by the CPN. Know what you mean about all the school and after school stuff. I don't know how you do it and work. I find all the getting around to afterschool activities like DS's violin, gymnastics and swimming quite tiring. He loves it but I think even he was a bit tired by the last week of school. Poor thing. DS2 will be starting all that soon. Crikey. I'm going to be cycling all over town.

I did the swim, was lovely weather and the water was quite a pleasant temperature but man alive it was rough. They considered calling it off because the current was so strong and I wish they had. It was really hard, and I'm a strong swimmer, some of the people swimming it didn't look particularly fit. Tomorrows dunes 5km is what I thought would be the hard race, this evenings swim was mostly just for a bit of fun, but it really was not fun. I hope the water has settled for the triathlon races on Saturday.

[LadyThompson]

Beans, I am SO relieved for you. It's been nagging away at me today. Haroo!

Smashing to see you, young Trace! Your list of what you've got going on sounded somewhat punishing. And a big poo on your buyers. That is mega infuriating. I hope they can pull something out of the bag, you must be so fed up. As for the running - keep at it. The health benefits make it worthwhile, who cares about the speed?

Rubes, I TOTALLY see why you would want to buy your house. spacious, lovely lay out, gorgeous views...and it just has a very nice feel. As for your DH, of course, the fellowship. I was being thick. Hey, I think that's promising that your DD is loo aware! I was told girls are easier to TT but if DD1 is anything to go by, I wonder! As for conceiving - I'm an old giffer now, 'twould prob take me years!

Obes - I meant to say, super excited by your TTC plans. Wowzers!

Vag, how did the race go? And how is DS1?

Oh Indith, you have already convinced me that phonics isn't all bad, I promise you . But to me, it shouldn't be the be all and end all, as it appears to have become in many schools. And talking about 'decoding' instead of 'reading', it makes me want to hit something with an axe. I don't like the fact that this new compulsory test has nonsense words in too. Cos that's testing understanding of phonics and not reading and I find it incredibly misplaced and depressing. But I am probably just going to have to suck it up. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised, who knows. Incidentally, Vag, I think your DS1 is a little superstar with all he has to learn with the whole Dutch 'n' English thing.

Jam, my Mum used to let me walk on other people's walls in the manner you describe. I only let DD do it on the school wall, though. But thinking about it, I think someone else's wall is probably ok. But I wouldn't allow them into a garden, I reckon.



I don't know...come on here, all proud that I FINALLY have a 'normal' BMI, only to be told that I have nether regions in which I could carry the weekly shop home

I have more people to say things to but I am at Mum's and me thumbs are getting tired, typing on the phone...

[VagolaJahooli]

Oh and meant to say, I let the kids walk on peoples fences if they are an ok height. There aren't that many front gardens here and most have gates so I don't think it would occur to the boys to go in. Personally I don't think its that bad though, their kids, so what, if my boys wandered into a yard I would call them back but its not bad behaviour. It's not like they are causing damage. In London people, as in adults, used to walk past our house and drop their crisp packets into our front garden, now that is disrespectful and annoying. Kids exploring, I think that is fine. Esp if the garden owner says its ok.

[LadyThompson]

X-posted with you, Vag. You're turning into a bit of a superhero with all these frightening sounding challenges, you know! But agree that -sadly - getting up early is the key to getting more stuff done.

Not as early as you, perhaps, KP! Seriously, though, I hope you can get rid of the random insomnia at least. I am well versed in that, and it's vile. Certain visualisations do help me with that, though (and help to clear my mind). My latest one is that I imagine I am in a sleeper on the Orient Express. I think of all the sounds I might hear and silly as it sounds, it helps me nod off.

Night all xx

[KiwiPanda]

Oo LadyT that sounds so soothing I'm going to try that. Though last night's lack of sleep was caused by an insomniac baby waking up every 20 minutes. I am so tired I could weep

Beans brilliant news! I hope the arthritis doesn't trouble him much?

[McKayz]

Beans, that's great news!! I hope the radiotherapy doesn't make him too sick.

[urbanewarrior]

Great news beans and hurrah for you Kayz. On feeding I am v simplistic and think you should do whatever makes you happy. And know you wanted to do this do well done for persevering.

Just quick drop in from me - slightly nightmare week and children are being painful. So to improve on situation (dd is already 1 penalty down for her mucking about this morning) am going to ikea. Our normally ace nanny keeps forgetting to put the mattress protector on the beds an dd's mattress has finally died thanks to a spectacular accident in the night. Oh and we unexpectedly have to find £5k for a new car. Sigh.

Loads more I wanted I say will try and be back later. Fingers crossed on your house trace. I think you and I would run well together.

[spotofcheerfulness]

Can I walk at a firm but respectful pace behind you and Trace, Urbane, and bring you water and sweeties and otherwise make you realise you both are about a million times fitter than myself?

Bummer about the mattress, upside is that you will return with about 25 assorted little trinkets you didn't want, and that will leave you around £4K for the car...

BEans I am glad that it's "just" arthritis (although I agree that must still be very painful) - I hope he can find some effective medication that doesn't interact with the other stuff he's on. Poor fella.

Trace that is so annoying about the house, why we have this stupid, archaic system in this country I don't know. They are so cheeky, I hope you win at hardball with them. Also great news on being "signed off" from your CPN. It sounds like you're doing really well at coping with a manic time at the mo.

On the topic of fence-gate (as 'twere), I am the worst kind - T just goes off and tried to walk on the wall. Sadly he has no coordination so will fall off said wall, scream loudly, and alert everyone's attention to our presence. I think make very middle-class sounds, interspersing comforting him in his agonies with telling him off for walking on other people's property.

Kiwi I have to say our children sound horrifyingly similar in their nocturnal habits. I didn't realise other people have the up all night baby and awake at 5am baby/preschooler combo. We may have to form some kind of support club. Or buy a very large building in the middle of a field where we can drive them at 5am, leave them with refreshed 20-somethings, and pass out in a comfy room until 10. What say you?

That pattern has been just one of the reasons I vote my holiday is the Worst Ever. Other aspects include:

• It raining Every Single Day since we've been here. It's an 8 day holiday, where the main activity is going to the beach. We drove an hour yesterday to get to the nearest soft play hell. The kids were so pleased they cried as we tried to drag them out of the grotty shack.
  
  
• My friend's sister being sectioned the night before we were due to come. She was meant to stay in another apartment in the village, her boyfriend and two kids came alone instead.
  
  
• My friend having a massive argument with her mother last week ( we are staying in her mother's house), cue lots of tension, passive aggression, etc.
  
  
• So my friend is exhausted, and also knackered from having to tell her son (T's "best" friend) off every 5 minutes for hitting T, saying nasty things, etc.
  
  
• B is cutting four teeth and has worms. His sleep and general disposition are less than perfect.
  
  I think that's it. Oh, and of course my friend passing out at the wheel of her car from exhaustion and stress, and ending up in a ditch.
  
  We return home on Sunday night. It will feel like a holiday.

[Indith]

That is a rather spectacular holiday!

[LadyThompson]

Great galloping cupcakes, Spot That sounds like one of the most cataclysmically miserable hols I have ever heard of. Erm, but how you will luxuriate when you get home.

Urbs, the new car is a bummer. Hope you came through Ikea ok....I haven't been since the last century. Literally!

[LadyThompson]

Great galloping cupcakes, Spot That sounds like one of the most cataclysmically miserable hols I have ever heard of. Erm, but how you will luxuriate when you get home.

Urbs, the new car is a bummer. Hope you came through Ikea ok....I haven't been since the last century. Literally!

[JamInMyWellies]

Wow that puts our tornados into perspective. infact a whole bottle for spot

[KiwiPanda]

Spot that sounds a bit like a trip we once took to Budapest though at least we only had one DD at the time. She howled the ENTIRE TIME, it pissed down, it was freezing, everything was closed because apparently mother's day is a big holiday in Hungary or something, and we got about 25 minutes sleep a night. NEver been so glad to come home in my life.

Now you will TOTALLY be up for my plan then. Basically I'm thinking giant cage, with food dispensers and water bottles like they have for guinea pigs, a wheel for DD2 to crawl around, a TV for DD1 and an automatic timer that only opens the door at 7am. Oh and soundproofing, naturally. You up for it? I reckon we can get the parts off eBay..

Talking of eBay my usually sweet placid DD2 is a total GRUMPMONSTER today. Teeth? It must be teeth. We shall always blame teeth, right? She is being hideous howlmonster from the howl lagoon

[VagolaJahooli]

I think Spots idea is good, but when you say 20 somethings you mean, recently graduated from a childcare/erotic massage course don't you. Well when I say erotic I just mean plain old full body massage.

That holiday really takes the biscuit Spot. I think you should start a thread on here and see if anyone can come up with a worse holiday experience. Your poor friend. Her DS was probably just responding to her stress, not much fun for T though. Were you able to get her out for a drink?

I'm of out for the run bit of the races at our beach. Think I might eaten a bit too much too late today though.

[VagolaJahooli]

Oops should have added 20something males. Looked like I was wanting some young ladies to look after my kids then lather me up in oil.

Did my run. Flipping heck after last night current and waves, tonight they had epic wind on the run back up the beach. The first three kms was all sandy dune hills which I did ok on and was on target for a decent time then the last 2 km was a run up the beach then a slight hill up to the finish on the esplanade. Bugger me but the last 2km took longer than the first 3km. I ended up finishing in 29.30secs when I am sure I was going to do it in under 27. Oh well it was good for building strength I will def go back and train on that circuit. DH said he thinks a lot of people cheated as he saw a lot of people coming in looking as though they had not been for a run and were on the largish size, then he saw quite fit looking people who were tres sweaty come in well after them. Bit stupid really to cheat unless they really didn't fancy the run in the wind. So placing might not he worth checking but otherwise I'm happy. Having a well earned home made cocktail now. A kumquat & strawberry caprinhia I bought some kumquats to make marmalade again but they didn't deliver enough so this was the alternative. Yummers.