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

Dad's going into a hospice on Thursday. Hopefully just for a couple of days while they sort out his medication so he's not in pain any more. Then he's hoping to come home to die. God, that sounds so terrible. Fingers crossed he makes it for that. But he is in such agony, it's really no life for him at the moment. They don't have any room til then and no Macmillan nurses available at the moment, as it's a charity! Bloody hell!

Got this nanny starting on Monday, which is a relief. Am going to see Mum on Saturday, then onto Dad in the hospice. Then my sisters and I are all going down there on Tuesday together and hopefully Dad will be home by then. I bet DD1 has the pox by then! But I'll have the nanny ensconced, so can relax a bit. She's doing 9-5 every day and longer if I need her to. Until DH can relieve her.

A lovely Mum from DD1's school is taking her to the wildlife park tomorrow with the rest of her class, and keeping her for me until 2ish, so I can go and get the puppy if I want to. I sort of want to as it'll be a lovely lovely distraction and I need something to cuddle as DDs getting a bit bored of me clasping them to me!

DD2 is absolutely fine, which is hilarious. She is just like her normal self, but covered in little pustules. She doesn't even seem too itchy yet. I foolishly let her sleep for 1.5hrs this afternoon and she is not even remotely tired!!!! Bedtime soon and she won't want to go at all! She doesn't normally get a sleep!

I feel a large glass of wine coming on. Tomorrow I might even treat myself to some Prosecco!

PS Vag, I used to love The Wonderstuff. Is the lead singer still strangely handsome? They were my only eclectic taste!

Oh no I could have gotten him to sign something for you, would have been my contribution to brighten you up. I always had a bit of an attraction to him too. He looks a bit more jolly now, but i wouldnt kick him out of bed. I've seen them live loads, but this was such a cool small gig, loved it. Also just bought tickets to see madness at the end of the month so happy about that.

So glad the nanny is properly sorted now Beans and lovely that friend is taking DD1 tomorrow. How old is the puppy? Are you sure you will be OK to take it? Though it will be definitely be up for lots of cuddles.

Did they do welcome to the cheap seats???

Puppy is 8 weeks. Rubes persuaded me what a good thing it will be! BUT, DH is so very keen to collect her on Saturday, that I will permit him. I love the smell of puppies!

I have terrible periody back ache. Can't be up the duff yet!! X

Hello lovely ladies, just back from hols with in laws in scotland - survived, and that's the main thing... Have just read back the last couple of pages as you all gas too much to keep up! (plus we were in a flat with no interweb apart from dh's phone, it's amazing how much you come to rely in the www for everything from train times to maps. Our kids surely will just have an iphone implanted into their brains like some crazy Tomorrow's World story. And wear silver jumpsuits)

Anyway. Beans darling, so sorry about your dad's illness getting worse. Will pray very hard for you all - do you mind sharing his first name so we can all send him big vibes? Lovely news about puppy, our neighbours got a pair of utterly lovely kittens while we were away so can get cute animal fix that way.

Oh in case anyone isn't familiar with this, check out cuteoverload

Can I ask a stupid question? Who is Hunsandrevels? I should check back to read their posts and work it out but have had long day at work and feel a bit thick.
Meet! Yes, would absolutely love to. Will check the thread.
Gah. I wish my work was less frantic but we're so understaffed. There's one lady who has been on sick leave with anxiety since late Feb (yes Feb) who is just starting to do a couple of hours a week, but basically we're all picking up the slack and it's horribly ironic that we're now all overworked and stressed because one other person is off. Makes me much less sympathetic than I should be
tea time. Catch up again later my loves.

Jump, Hons is Jolly.

I doubt anyone remembers but when DS2 was little there was an old lady who called DS1 Freida. Despite driving me batty as she never ever called any of the DCs by their actual names, she was a really lovely lady. She died a while ago and her daughter has been round today and this lady left £100 to be shared between Freida, Daniel and Rachel.
I feel a bit funny about it as we aren't family, just people who used to walk past her house on the way to work, my Mums and recently school and we'd stop and have a chat. Her daughter has refused to take it back. I think I will put it in their trust funds.

That is LOVELY Kayz. Definitely take it and put in trust fund.

Dad's name is John. He is the best of men. Thanks, Jump. Just wish him no pain and a peaceful end. Thanks xx

How are you this morning Beans? With my comment about the dog, I meant whenever you bring it home it will be a great thing for you all - hope I didn't make it sound like it's better to collect it early -not what I meant.
Was awake most of the night with dd and a sore tummy (no doubt the chocolate mil was feeding her yesterday) Any way, was thinking of you and the family overnight. Hope you are holding up ok. Wow what if you are clackered! Are you trying then?

Vag, hope DS1 is feeling better!!

I have had awful period symptoms ALL month. Major mood swings, lower back pain, bloated, sore boobs etc, but there isn't a remote chance I'd be pregnant - I ran 2 packs of together and am just coming to the end of the 3rd month (though I've had one period since doing this) which I think is the reason (mainly as I have no other explanation) DH says it shouldn't be as things should have leveled off after having the last period, but I've googled and people seem to report similar but only in the 2nd month (ie before having a period again) I've ran pills together before but it wasn't this brand. Jump would you mind asking your DH if this could be the reason? I'm due a period in the next couple of days so just took last pill on this cycle. Really hope it goes back to normal after this week!!

Oh and Kayz, what a nice story -yes do keep it & put it away for them

Soooorry. It appears my period rambles have broken the thread

Ooh Rubes are you SURE you couldn't be preggers. No stomach upsets etc that could have weakened the pill over the last three months??? I hope you feel better soon.

Speaking of pregnancy I feel rubbish: nauseated, weak, shivery. I also have a strange pain in my pelvis which is scaring me. Have decided to fork out for a private viability scan tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Hope DD2 is OK Beans, and that the hospice helps sort your Dad's pain. The hospice my mum went to was amazing, it sounds odd but it was an inspirational place. I hope your family finds the same.

Good luck for tomorrow RT. I think aches and pains are common in early pregnancy, esp when your body has done it before and knows the way! I was convinced ewith M for weeks that it was all about to go wrong, but clearly all was good.

I'll be thinking of you. Take care

Rubes - just checking, months 1 and 2 ran packs together, stopped pill, had bleed, then month 3 back on as normal but terrible symptoms? Dh says wait until you have next bleed in the next few days and this will hopefully resolve things like a ctrl alt delete.
However, he also says "any unusual symptoms on the pill, do a pregnancy test just in case".

RT all the best for the morning. Hope the strange pain is just needing a good poo, or similar.

Kayz what a lovely story! I huess it goes to show that what for you might have just been a casual chat really meant a lot to that lady. There's a 50p in Sarah's piggy bank that a random Irish chap gave me for her, I had stopped off to feed her in church on my way home one day when she was v little and he came over, i got all nervous but he said oh how lovely, what a good place for a little baby to have its tea. Ended up telling me this huge story about a friend of his who had picked up a miraculous ability to heal people after a pilgrimage to Fatima, then gave me 50p and said it was a traditional thing when you first meet a baby.

Hello Hons, nice to meet you

So the schools thing... Are you meant to get a letter from the council reminding you to apply? I know ours wants you to apply online but surely they ought to be sending letters out as not everyone's a) online or b) going to know about the procedure. Rather intriguingly I got home today to find a slip throug the door frolm the local Educational Welfare Team saying "hi, i came round today to talk about [semi illegible child's name], please give me a ring". But not the name of any of the kids who used to live here. Am hoping it's just the wrong house number...

Guys, if I unfriend someone on Facebook, can they see that I've done it? None of you!! But a girl who keeps commenting on anything i put up and I really don't know/like her!

When can we apply for schools?

Thanks Jump, yes that's exactly it, backache has gone today, and I'm almost feeling a little better / happier. It's been vile like one long period for a month. I'm not going to run these pills together again if these are the side effects for me! Seriously no need for a pt though - have barely seen each other recently, let alone had time for that! (plus with my mood swings )

Likewise RT - Good God no, Not a chance, I'm obsessive about making sure that would never be likely even when we barely see each other!
I am sure everything will be fine with your scan tomorrow, but good luck anyway.

With schools, you apply online here and can put a maximum of 3 (Surrey) but I think some counties can do up to 6? I haven't heard that anyone comes over to speak about it all. They're barely on top of routine injection reminders etc.... although I did get a letter from one school telling me to apply online. Maybe they are just on the ball over there where you are Jump?

Beans they don't know you unfriended them unless they notice that you are no longer friends when they go to your page, as I didn't notice my sil had done that until about a month later!
State school applications online opened Sept 1 and close Jan 15.

Yes if they look at their friend list, you could block them so that it appears they are still your friend but they cant post or see any of your FB stuff.

BTW love that pic of your DH and is it whizz doing the grass - priceless.

Also Beans your dads name is my DHs and my Grandpas its the name of two men I love and who are amazing. Its a name I always associate with fantastic men who are loving, funny and just all round great guys. So I will add your Dad to the list of awesome blokes with that name.

RT good luck for tom.

Kayz what a bonkers woman who clearly had a heart of gold.

Rubes yuck for aching periody stuff. I could never run my packs together as I just ended up bleeding constantly. Oh and will FB you my flight details, fingers crossed you are on the same plane, you could always come shout at my DH as he runs around Manhattan.

Vag how is DS1 after his tumble yesterday?

HOns are you feeling better?

Am exhausted such a busy day, dog walking, gym then a quick lunch then off to school to teach the reception class the 2 x table am sure they have picked the wrong woman for the job. I did tell the head teacher I took Maths twice and failed it worse the second time around Then back home and a million jobs have only just sat down to supper as I am beginning the stock pile of food for the freezer. Lentil soup and greek meatballs made tonight. DH think I am bonkers but I think I live in a kind of siege mentality when it comes to Winter and living in a village. I dont feel ready for the colder months unless there is loads of food in the freezer. Yes I am a nutjob

Rubes - glad to hear DH's online diagnosis has helped get you on the way to recovery already!
The schools, we've not had a letter or anything, I've been looking because pretty much every school in C is over subscribed. They keep approving the construction of x number more homes, but failing to take into account the increasing number of kids that this brings. I'm pretty certain that the child welfare thing is nothing to do with S's application, just a coincidence and the wrong address for an actual child. Blimey, if they came round to speak to every parent with kids of reception age they'd need a whole new council department!

Yes he's pretty good Jump!
Schools are over subscribed around us too [sigh] neighbours had probs and only just got their dd into the school closest (0.5 miles) and with all that possibly moving malarky I wasn't sure what would happen. Alongside that there's mil in my ear banging on about where he should / shouldn't go.... Jeez!

Hi Jam! I'm the same - and not even in a proper village! I think mine stems from where I grew up and not ever experiencing 4 seasons until moving here! We have a big freezer but it's in the garage and not been used since we moved here so just had the convo with DH that we have to get the man tools off the top, and stop using it as a work bench it so we can use it as a freezer again! I like to stock up with a big Costco trip for Winter but mainly as I worry delivery people won't come (like last year) and worry about the kids food - not really worried about us starving, although i do panic at the thought of running out of wine, so the wine rack will be stocked plus an overflow also

Beans, I am hoping the hospice get the balance of the pain meds right. I bet they will, and things will be a lot better for him (and those of you around him). Sending you all much love and strength.

Lovely lovely ladies, I am not going to do a catch up cos I am just back from whizzing the girls to Lille (and then I had to rush out to my Italian class). They were very good on the trip but were little ratbags on the journey back today. They were particularly evil on Eurostar - thanks heavens it was only an hour so into London. Also, passport control were quizzing me about the girls having a different surname to me (they have DP's name) and the fella asked O if I was her mother. Answer: [short pause] "no". I knew she was going to say no. I just KNEW.

More tomorrow afternoon. J'espere.

My Grandpa who dies 4 weeks ago was called John too. It's a great name! I keep texting Dad to tell him I love him every morning. I don't think he's really receiving messages any more, but I just feel like its a good thing to do. Going to see him on Saturday. He's still not in the hospice - no spaces yet. He's down as urgent, but I wish they'd get on with it. Every moment without it is agony for him. And Mum. It's awful. Yesterday was a brave day. Today not so much!

Must take Whizzer to school. That was her with the lawnmower! Sorry! X

Beans your post yesterday about your dads name and him being the best of men made me come over all teary & emotional I grabbed DS2 & squeezed him tight. I then let him go to get on with whatever he was doing when I had grabbed him, he stepped back looked at me like I was quite losing it, then threw himself at me and gave me an even Squeezier cuddle. Oh and just a random fact, in Dutch cuddle is knuffle, and the k is not silent, so pronounced 'Kernuffle', what a lovely word.

Lady, I have DHs surname but we often have trouble if we travel without him, because the boys don't look like me. I think I told you about the issue we had at security when we flew somewhere a few months back. DH was with us but he was faffing about with his bag & laptop at the security xray thing. The boys & I were quite organised, jackets off, toys in the tray thingys, then I went through the security beeper gate thing, and turned to tell the boys to come through, DH was still faffing and had now had several people ahead of him so he didn't appear to be with us. The boys must have suddenly remembered a time a few flights back when DS1 set the alarms off with a couple of cars in his pockets, it had scared the bejeezus out of both of them. The two of them were staring at me like a couple of freaked out puppies and I was tired & needing coffee, so I snapped at them, "come on, boys one at a time just walk through" they just stood there frozen. The security women took one look at them and then me and said "stop there, I need to see all your passports & boarding passes". I then politely (not) asked DH if he could please help, and he produced all our documents and also his presence explained the boys Asian persuasion.

Thanks for asking about DS1, he is fine just a graze on his chest & tummy, poor little guy.

Took DS2 to soft play, he loved it, I ended up getting a headache from shouting to have a conversation with the two friends that were there, and then straining to hear what they said. Then DS2 lost it royally when it was time to leave, good times.

Is anyone else completely astounded that it is October? Where did September go? I know it happened but I'm sure it only had 20 days this year.

Oh and I am big on lots of ready mades in the freezer for winter. I dread coming back from violin/gymnastics/whatever other fricken after school activity, that has me cycling home cold & wet in the dark to then having to think of & then cook something for their tea. I love knowing I can just heat something up that I know they will love or in some cases I use a sauce or gravy that I have put away and chuck in some sausages or meatballs. Easy peasy. Pretty much every meal now I make double what they will eat and freeze the rest. I love those thin ikea containers as they hold just enough sauce, gravy etc for the boys tea. I also cook up loads of onions, garlic, carrot & red lentils whizz them up with a little broth so they make a puree then put them in little containers to use in pasta sauces or stews to boost the protein & veggies cos I know I wont be arsed to cut up freaking carrots for my little darlings.

Knuffle is a lovely word!
Dad's going into the hospice in an hour! Hurray!!!
Sorry I made you cry, vag!

So glad your dad is getting the hospice care he needs, Beans. My dad had the same name too. How is the pox patient doing today?

Lady that made me about O denying you were her mother. HOw did they react?!

i need some interesting stew recipes. Any easy fish or chicken ones people like? I get a bit stuck on beef stew or lentil bollocks.

All this school admissions chat is making me a bit jumpy. Turns out T would probably get into the amazing school at the end of the road. BUT it is also quite possible that we may have to move next year sometime depending on mine or DP's job. What is the deal about applying to schools when the official application period has closed? I imagine people who move around all the time can't always know where they'll be by 15 Jan of a particular year. Do you just have to make do with whatever is left, regardless of how awful? (you can tell I'm panicking a bit). I guess it would be, I was just wondering if sometimes schools kept open places for people who had just moved to the area .