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

Poor little thing. Hope she sleeps well tonight and feels better in the morning.

Hons How is she today? It is indeed horrible out and I hope you are all snuggled up on the sofa.

I had another delightful dentist trip this morning. Just regaining the feeling in my mouth now. Been desperate for a cup of tea but didn't want to drink it while I couldn't feel anything in case I burnt my mouth or osmething stupid.

Vag I meant to say a proper well done for your run! Brilliant time. What's your next one? It sounds like there are loads of races around you - and interesting/ different distances too? I've got my half marathon in - gulp - not quite 2 weeks. Then doing a 10 mile race called the Cabbage Patch two weeks after that. Then need to find some more to enter.

LadyT which paper was your piece in? I want to read it (and especially the photo caption)

It's just gone all end-of-the-world-is-nigh dark and started tipping down. An afternoon of sewing I think!

Thanks for advice. J is so much better today. Like a different child! She woke up happy babbling!

My mum has come up to look after her this aft so I can work. Am thinking of getting "I'm part-time" tattooed on my forehead.

Oh good, gad she is better :)

ds2 is screamy McScreamy again all full of cold. This child does not like having colds.

It has not stopped raining since Sunday night. Roads are interesting. Dh went to Leeds today. I think. Last I heard he was at York and his train was terminating but since I've not heard form him I assume he made it. Goodness knows how he plans on getting home though.

Woke up this morning the fire had gone out over night. Lit it again huffing and puffing as I was sure I had set the controls right for overnight. Smoke filled the room. Interesting. Swore. Threw pan of water over fire. Took throat plate out of stove and it was filled with soot and lumps of brick. Oh. Can't get sweep to come til Thursday.

Then as we were getting ready for swim walk to school we were treated to a light show with sound effects from the electric cables leading to the house and the electric went.

Today has not been a good day.

But we have electric back.

Must go to school. Will take 15 mins to waterproof dd and ds2 up.

Ds2 screaming.

Fun.

Oh Indith - poor you. Not a great day. I hope it picks up.

And Hons - glad DD is much better - hurray!

I'm just back from an emotional day with Dad. Happily my DSis was there too, so we had a nice time. Mum went out for lunch, so we looked after Dad. I fear he is going downhill fast. He hardly eats a thing and is very out of breath. Now sleeps for 17 hours of the day, which is great really. He is so very very brave and I cannot believe how much I love him and admire him. Me, not so much of the brave!!!! He was asking us to help him choose hymns for his memorial today. My sister had to leave the room. I managed to stay til we'd chosen, then we all had a big sob together!

Off to Grandpa's funeral tomorrow. DH coming too and ladening himself with hankies as I suspect I will weep copiously. Not so much for Grandpa, who could be a bit of a bugger, but as it's really a bit of a hideous dress rehearsal for Dad and a bit too close for comfort. I suspect many tears will be shed. Again. Oh dear.

Right, must go and attend my lovely little birds who are just a fantastic distraction. Thank God for them.

xx

Beans you are amazing. So strong and loving. Your dad is a lucky man to have such a wonderful family around him and I bet he is very proud of you all.

I know it isn't a hymn but I would like when I die. I think it is just lovely.

Well I got dd in full waterproofs. Screaming ds2 in pushchair under raincover. Myself in waterproofs. Then couldn't find a bloody key. reallised dh had taken the back door key and couldn't find the other one. Only key I could eventually find only half works so thought I'd test it and locked the lock with the door open. Then couldn't unlock it so had the door stuck wide open. By now running late so grabbed dd's hand and legged it to friend's house and knocked as I figured she'd drive due to rain and could get ds1 for me rather than leave the door open (not that it matters much around here but if something did get stolen I don't think insurance company would take "but it is a doors open sort of village" as an excuse) but no answer so thought she must have decided to walk even though raining as her car was on the drive so dragged dd at 90 miles an hour down the lines through super deep puddles pushing ds2 who was still screaming. Half way there phone rings and it is friend asking if it was me who knocked and suggesting I go home and she will get ds1. Phew! Dragged dd home again. Of course I have now found 2 other keys which both work so the door is secure at least! And my lovely, lovely friend brought some biscuits she had baked today round when she dropped ds1 back which has gone some way to improving my day.

I have texted dh to ask how things are going but had no response. Now I know no response is fairly typical for dh but I am a bit as it is hideous out there with loads of roads flooded and impassable, I mean loads. I have never seen it this bad. Plus the train info says the mainline is flooded between York and Darlington.

Blimey Indith, what a crap day. Maybe DH is out of signal? Hope ds lets you put your feet up tonight. Could it be teeth?

Oh Beans and Indith, in different ways you have had harrowing days. I hope your respective DHs are home soon prepared to give lots of TLC. Hugs for tomorrow's funeral Beans.

Glad DD2 is better Hons.

I'm running out of ideas for amusing non mobile DD2. Luckily I have ever resourceful DD1 on hand. She is a total star.

I am going to list my first thing on EBay tonight. Never sold before but we have loads of stuff and I want to try and pay for Christmas this way. No idea what I'm doing though.

Well dh managed to get on the first train that was venturing North of York again s o he got home :)

I've given up on ebay, last thing I sold went for 99p. Can't be arsed. I sell on a local FB parenting related group and on gumtree. If it doesn't sell locally like that then it gets charity shopped/tipped.

RT you've got to love older ones for entertianing the littlies! I find the sitting up/crawling but not able to do things stage so hard, they need entertaining but cna't play lego yet. What's with that? Bloody boring. I adore the baby of course, he is my lovel snuggly squishy boy and he is fab but entertaining him without the others around is boring.

Morning ladies -

Indith, what a rotten day you had yesterday. I am glad DH was ok and also that you friend collected DS1. As to the chimney sweep, I do not know what we need to do to get ours to come and give the chimney the once over. We haven't used the stove in the kitchen yet, just the open fire in the living room. So no radiators. It's a flipping pain.

Beans - I am so sorry you all have to go through this. I found out my Dad's diagnosis on the Sunday and he died the following Friday, but although the shock was hideous I think having the anticipation spread out over a longer time might be harder in a way. I don't know, but at least you can make sure nothing is unsaid. He is surrounded by love though - I KNOW that helps people face anything. I hope your Grandpa's funeral passed off ok today. Thinking of you, of course.

Hons, I am glad J is better. O had this weird bug in the end, whereby her temp was high and she had diarrhoea and she was listless and grumpy, and it all stayed like that for several days. On Monday night I think she woke me up basically every hour in the night. Zzzz. But she is fine today.

However, I did leave her in DP's hands on Mon to meet Rubes and we had a lovely catch up in Reading. If you're reading, Rubes, Happy Birthday again for yest and you looked fab as always.

So the cake piece is now online, KP and others I will link to it but the piece itself is a shadow of the original because, as usual, any gags or interesting vocab were surgically removed But that is fine, I understand how it works. So, you are all welcome to read it but it is not faine wraiting. Actually, now I can see the photo more clearly it does look like a cake stall. But they were mushroom flans. Honest guv. here

RT, I am an Ebay convert and 6mths ago it was all a stressful mystery to me. I have been making at least £100 a month, sometimes more than twice that. It's been a lifesaver. Basically, I never sell anything for 99p because it's not worth the hassle. Ebay encourage you to sell things for 99p as you can list things for free that way, and people bid up the price (hopefully) but it's too risky so I tend to set a minimum price for what I would be willing to sell it for and sometimes I just get that and other times it gets up a lot higher. Of course, sometimes I don't sell the item at all but then I relist it and quite often things will take two or three goes to shift. The knack is setting a price that attracts people (everyone is looking for a bargain) but yet isn't too low that you feel resentful or that it's a waste of time. I have had the most success with ladies clothes. Maternity clothes go well. Kids' clothes don't unless they are Boden etc. I have also sold jewellery, shoes, ornaments, household stuff - all sorts. All sorts of weird things sell (like half empty bottles of perfume)! I think the golden rule is that if you have something that is a well known or sought after brand, it will probably sell. Good luck!

Vag, what's your next race going to be? What's your training routine these days? I have been the the water rower the last couple of days. It makes my neck ache, which suggests there's something wrong with my technique

So sorry to hear that so many of us are having rubbish times, RT, Beans, Indith, Hons.

RT Have you looked on Pinterest for kids crafts/activities? However, if you're feeling nauseous and tired I'd be tempted to go with reading lots of stories while you have a crafty lie down.

Beans, hope the funeral goes OK and that your DH has brought sufficient hankies.

Just remembered that pre-school is finishing early today. I'll be back later.

Beans, I hope today has gone well. Thinking of you.

RT, I hope all is going well with DD2. Cbeebies is your friend at times like this.

LadyT, I love the article, you made York sound brilliant!! I think York is absolutely amazing and feel very happy to live so close.

Indith, I hope today is better than yesterday. Are you at flood risk? The school told us this morning to try and keep an eye on the flood warnings as they will shut at any sign of flooding. Which is good as we live on the other side of the river to the school so I'll have to rush there.

Actually Kayz, my enthusiasm was 100% genuine so yes, you are lucky to live near. I know other 'heritage' cities quite well (Oxford obviously, Bath, Edinburgh etc) so I thought I knew what to expect but I think York is nicer. Lots of amazing stuff to see, compact size, slick tourist machine, genuinely charming. ZJ, I hope you are reading this Bet it's lovely at Christmas.

Gosh, sorry to hear about the frightful weather in the North.

RT, just had a thought - I mentioned Yellow Moon before but their inexpensive craft ideas might be just the thing for DD2. Well, some of them are inexpensive. They have plain white porcelain coasters at the mo, something like £3.60 for 8, which you can decorate. Admittedly you need to buy a pack of the special write-on-porcelain pens but they last for ages.

Hello,
Lady, thanks for the birthday wishes (and again for lunch!) Lady you look fabulous, and I forgot to ask, but I wanted to know what you walk in (on your feet not the ground condition) as I'm getting quite depressed about this weather and am in the midst of sorting out Winter stuff for all. I'd love a pair of those expensive lined wellies, but wondered if anyone has them thinks they are worth the money? I suspect they are as I'm firmly in the camp of you get what you pay for, after past experiences with trying to save money then end up paying twice.
Great article too by the way!

Had a very low key birthday as dh was really stressed about his assessment on today. Thanks for all the FB wishes too.

Feeling really unmotivated today but will snap out of it when I get out of the house in a bit and come back later....

Happy birthday, Rubes. I hope your DH's assessment goes well today so he can catch up with making a proper fuss of you.

LadyT, sorry, I cross-posted with you. I enjoyed your York piece very much.

RT Did you get your Ebay item on? I love Ebay and have found that Sunday evening end of auction gets the best results.

News from the Forest: well weather is rubbish, as it is in most of the UK. I've had a horrid chest infection which is almost better but now I have sinusitis (lovely) so much exercise regime has gone to pot. Touching wood madly but DD seems to be much less of a handful at the moment. And DS actually let the dentist look at his teeth yesterday!! My sister recommended 'Harry and the Dinosaurs say "Raaahh"' in which Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs go to the dentists. It worked a treat. Luckily, our dentist is a very good sport and didn't mind DS roaring at him, once I'd explained. Just thought I'd pass on the tip if anyone else is struggling with dentist visits.

Hey Nolda, that sounds like a great book. I will make a note of it. Sinusitis - yuckety yuck. That was me last year, trapped in an endless hell of chest infections followed by sinusitis. I do hope this is your last bout for a while...

Rubes, really hoping your DH does ok. Bet he does. Listen, I still haven't posted your present cos the post office computer in the village shop is down, but they hope to get it fixed before the weekend. (Hope so, I have a stack of Ebay parcels to post). Footwear - when I go walking I have to wear trainers on tarmac country roads. I did wear walking boots the first time but my shins were agony so I need the shock absorption. I have Hunter wellies for taking O to pre-school but they are hideous flowery gardening ones, not the smart kind . I wear them with fake Astrakan fur welly liners. But I am going to invest in a lovely shiny pair at some point hunters Ideal for Surrey dog walking Are those the ones you meant?

I've got my Italian class tonight and I have done boff all prep. Damn.

Yes! the hunters, but was wondering about the neoprene lined ones also.
DH is home and went well. It's not the exam though, which is coming up.
Doubt I will get showered with the birthday love that I didn't get yesterday though, as I've just gone postal about dd drawing all over the couch in his office in pen and spent the better part of an hour removing it. I also resurrected dh's log book this morning which she dismantled while he was in the shower, and I'm fuming as I constantly tell dh he needs to keep the kids out of his office / and stop leaving things lying around, and I bought a lock specifically for that purpose, which he has now lost
I still haven't been out for a walk. DS been atrocious too (no doubt as we've been indoors) and his latest thing is to wet his pants on purpose if he is put in time out - twice today.
on eBay - yes I agree with Lady, not worth selling anything at 99p etc. Agreed clothes get zero unless Boden or sometimes the little White Co. I have just made, ooh, about £20 selling a few dresses of dd's as I thought I'd give the baby clothes another chance, but only one was Boden which went for more than £10 and the rest was Zara (about £3) and Baby Gap / Pumpkin Patch which weren't worth the effort.
Am going to sell a couple of high chairs though, and a few other baby related products in the near future. Travel cots etc which should get a bit as one of them didn't come cheap new, and has barely been used.
DDs cot though, isn't even fit for the charity shop as it's so chewed along the edges!

Just dashing in. I have neoprene lined hunters and practically live in them during the winter. When it gets proper cold I wear them with fleecy socks.

Beans hope today wasnt too traumatic.

Cautionary tale from the Jammy household. Don't have the local ministers daughter round for tea and inadvertently play Eminem when they are playing musical statues.

Happy belated birthday Rubes!

Thanks for eBay tips. I've just listed a pair of John Lewis black out curtains that were over £300 new (4 years ago). I've asked for a min of £15 but looking at similar I'm not sure I'll get it. I find estimating postage really hard. Can't actually imagine posting curtains. How do you estimate posting something do big?

My dinner tonight was a whole packet of Boursin. No bread, no rice cakes, just Boursin. All I can way is salty cheese (I had feta and beetroot inventor own for lunch). The joys of pregnancy. I'm going to get huge :-(.

Happy birthday Rubes I have some fancy wellies. Aigle? I went into the shop to buy Hunters which the salesman dismissed as 'yard boots'! The ones I have are sturdy and supportive for walking in. I've got fleece linings for cold weather.

Beans Hope the funeral wasn't too awful. I loved your story about your dad getting caught short on the golf course. Much love to you.

Jam Oops!

My last post takes indecipherable predictive text to new levels.

"All I can EAT is salty cheese." "Ihad feta and beetroot ON THEIR OWN for lunch."

Oh dear Jam. I love Eminem, but not sure that he has written much children's music.

Rubes, I have a pair of boots with a wool lining but that are not waterproof, but keep me warm when there isn't snow on the ground. Then for the snowy months I have a massive pair of nanook of the north style boots which have thick wool lining, fur around the top (fake I think) and big rubber soles and around the foot area. Brilliant for getting around in the snow but difficult to cycle in.

LadyT I love those rowers. My personal trainee used to get me to do a 2km sprint row on it. I am currently running with friends 2-3 times a week, and doing my own strength training, at least once a week, but I try for two. I am also on a very low low low carb diet. I liked your article, I can see where they have sliced it. They have made it feel a bit rushed. But your personality comes through. Blimey, but you did a lot in one weekend. You have done a good job, I think I might bring my niece over to York in December, a good example of a beautiful, historical, English city. Also, we will take her to Cologne as it is only 2.5 hrs from here, so she can say she has seen the two largest Gothic cathedral. I didn't realise, Cologne is the largest. It is a beautiful cathedral, but my other niece, that we took there, & I were more excited that it has the bones of the three wise men!

Very excited, we are catching the boat to Hull this weekend & driving down to a little village called Caistor. We have friends there and are staying over night with them, then catching the boat back Sunday night. DH & I have tickets to see Miles Hunt (lead singer of the Wonderstuff, remember them) in an Acoustic gig at Wroot village hall. I'm going to see one of the singers of my yoof, in a village hall!!! How English is that. And they have a licensed bar, I'm having a Pint! Wish I could have added a coffee with our northern ladies but DH can't take a day off...poo.

It seems the next weekend I am going away somewhere sans kids with DH, but I don't know where. All very secretive.

Also had a parent teacher meeting for DS1, his reading etc is improving, but he has trouble with applying himself in class. They did an observation on him and he spent 60% of the time staring off into space. She said he doesn't talk when he should be working and he doesn't get up and wander around (apparently some kids chatter too much and get up out if their seats when they shouldn't) but he needs to apply himself. We have had a chat to him and hopefully it will improve. We have told him if he improves by the next parent teacher meeting DH will take him to a museum he has been wanting to go to, just the two of them. Fingers crossed. We know he can do it because when he has violin lessons his teacher often extends the class because he is so engaged, and his teacher says she has seen him motivated by work and really get into it. But just most of the time he is a bit, day dreamy. Bless him, he does like a good think.

Hi y'all. Rubes, I have Aigle Welles with neoprene lining. Love em.

Yesterday was ok. Fairly emotional, but was fine. I sat in wrong place as coffin was right in front of me. Yuck!

Vag, DS2 sounds very like I was at school! It'll come. They need to inspire him more, I reckon!!

X

Ohh yes I had a feeling you would own a pair Jam - with all that pooch walking.
I have looked at those Aigles too - crikey, they look good. Cannot believe I am having this much indecision over a pair of fancy wellies. I clearly am getting old.
I meant to say Lady, don't stress about the Post Office - in fact my present from DH is on hold - massively, as I didn't collect it at the airport on my way through last as I was worried about money [bugger] and the family have said when they see me next etc, and dh has began stressing about the exams coming up and the fact that he didn't pass the assessment as well as he should have. See you for lunch on Monday was my favorite part of this turning 38 malarky!
Beans glad it went ok despite your position.
Ooops gotta go

I meant to say Jam - when is your NY flight? FB PM me the details? I don't get me roster for Nov until mid this month but can always do some swaps - we have several flights there so I could try and go on one (if not yours) so we could catch up!