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]

I ordered that Dorothy Perkins dress yesterday for £16. They have 20% off all dresses today so it would have been £12.80. I can't cancel it though. Bums!!

Beans, I hope DD2 gets better at sleeping. Last night doesn't sound too bad.

[KiwiPanda]

Kayz if you could be bothered, you could always return it and buy a new one today at sale price.. But if they charge postage I guess you might not end up saving that much.

Re the phonics conversation of a while ago, I listened to some of the Michael Rosen thing on BBC Radio 4 about it and can see the pros and cons, but DH bought this at a book sale for £20 (bargain) for DD1 and she LOVES it so far. I think it's so fab at this age how if they like writing/reading/letters they just have no concept that it's what we would call "learning" - DD just loves drawing, writing letters, writing words etc all equally. She regularly announces she is going to be a journalist like Mummy and Daddy. I did give her a lecture about falling advertising revenue and the death of the traditional media but she just didn't seem to get it

Today is wednesday which means art class. Hooray! But today is last one before lovely Anne who runs it has stop for summer holidays. Boo! Darn her childminder for wanting to spend time with her OWN CHILDREN. How selfish. I'm going to invite some of the mums and babies to have our own little class at my house instead. Won't have the childminders (they help entertain the babies while we do art/ chat/ eat cake) but I shall miss it so much otherwise.

Beans That sounds like progress on the night front..Fingers crossed it's a new pattern!

Urbs Hope you made it make from your NostalgiaFestIkea trip. I can never escape Ikea without buying a few things which seem to add up nevertheless to £73. Though since they stopped selling the pickled cucumbers I have less desire to go.

I made hot cross buns yesterday and they were really very nice, but they tasted a bit more like scones, too dense really. Lovely straight out of the oven and lovely toasted this morning but really more cakey than bready. Wonder what I did wrong. Any top baking tips?

[spotofcheerfulness]

Oh that's so annoying when that happens, kayz. Can it all count as part of your epically rubbish day yesterday and then you can start today afresh in the knowledge that things can only get better?

kiwi that art class sounds fab. Great idea to recreate at your house. No worries here re- T wanting to follow mummy and daddy into journalism. It's chef, train driver or town planner all the way, here. Still, I suspect people's eyes will light up at dinner parties when your DD tells people what she does, whereas here...not so much .

Sorry madge was disappointing, jam, maybe it is time she knocked it on the head. Glad you had a good night all the same...

Still exhausted recovering from holiday and trying to engage brain to do work. Talking of the holiday, I'll probably post some pix up on FB but please no mentions of its crapness as the people I went with will see it!

[McKayz]

It's getting a little better. I've managed to persuade Vodafone let me upgrade my phone early and I didn't have to pay for the phone.

My Dad is having a pacemaker fitted. They've decided the reason he was having blackouts is because his heart doesn't beat properly or fast enough. It's a bit worrying but he doesn't seem bothered by it.

[Beans36]

Kayz - Dad had a pacemaker fitted about 10 years ago and it really revolutionised his life and gave him a whole new lease of life - he loves it! still! Fear not, it's a good thing. He just can't stand too near magnetic things!
x

[VagolaJahooli]

Wow that's great news on the phone up grade Kayz, when was it due for renewal? I can understand why your worried, but really the worst bit is the post op recovery, otherwise as Beans says, he will have a new lease on life.

Shame about old Ms M being a bit naf Jam, but at least you got a night out.

Urbane ds1 gets very nostalgic about cars, he still gets a bit misty eyed whenever a Prius drives by and we had it in Derby. Worst though is when it's time to take the Christmas tree down, he sobs and often tries to hug the tree. Not easy with a big pine tree with very dry needles.

Speaking of Christmas my 18 year old niece is coming to spend 3.5 weeks with is over Christmas this year, we are all so excited, I adore my nieces and this one is a particular sweetie.

We are off to Rambouillet just south of Paris tomorrow. Very excited, I hope the weather improves esp for the final day of the Tour on Sunday.

Went for a nice run around the city this morning, it was supposed to be an evening session with the group but a couple of us are preferring morning runs so we have a rebel morning group now. I really can't believe how well I've taken to early morning exercise, I was very much against it. Apart from the obvious early waking thing, I also found I wasn't very effective in the morning, but now I really like it and love the energy i have first thing. I wish I'd been like this years ago, I think I would have lost the baby fat a lot quicker. Lady I have become obsessed with my BMI I have an app for it and my waist to height ratio. I am currently 25.33 that .17 loss is important.

Right gotta go we are out for dinner with friends tonight so have to get the boys fed and watered before the sitter arrives.

[McKayz]

September Vag. The button on my iphone isn't working very well so I decided to ring and moan at them and it worked!

[JamInMyWellies]

fabric for beans

Vag lovely pics on FB of your fab growing garden.

Kayz yay for new phone.

Am so lazy today have done bog all as it was my last Wed of no children till Sep so have watched some telly surfed the internet and ate chocolate. House is now a frigging mess.

[LadyThompson]

Hellooooo, loads of posts again! Yay! I haven't been checking - was at Mum's for a few days, then really busy, then took the girls up to MIL's last night and we are not collecting them until SUNDAY. I am not keen about this ONE BIT. But DP has booked time off and we are trying to tackle all the shit in the house a bit and that sort of thing is just impossible with the girls. We are Skypeing a couple of times a day (well, we will be - we did one session this morning and will do another before bedtime tonight).

Rubes, I was so sorry to miss you on Monday, it's such a shame. How are you today? What a dose you've had

Loving the three talk. Still vacillating here....

Vag, am in Belge Thurs 26 to Sun 29. But we set off next Weds.

When we collect the girls on Sun, MIL and her DH are following us down and then staying for a couple of days. Not really what I fancy, but hey.

I have rudely blahblahed on about myself because I need to get back to tidying the kitchen, but I will be back for a catch up.

[Beans36]

JAM - LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT! BEAUTIFUL! WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Vag, think I will start doing morning exercise in the holidays as well. Need to keep going or else will stop over the summer and the thought of doing it in the new term will be horrific!


DD2 is currently charging around with her pushchair with various treasures she's found around the house secreted in it. With her big dangly nappy and filthy leggings and t-shirt. It's a sight to behold. And her Boris Johnson hair do in front of her eyes! Strange little beast. She shows no sign of tiring, despite having only recently given up her daytime sleep and having been on an hour's walk this afternoon and another 45mins of scootering in the close we live on!

DD1 is watching telly like a good girl. She's more exhausted than Pru! Such a good bear! Lucky me.

Lady - I insist you don't wake up until 9am tomorrow. You lucky lucky thing. I know you'll miss them, but the bliss of being able to get up when you wake up will be gorgeous! And it'll go so fast! I'm rather jealous. We're doing a Friday morning to Sunday afternoon next weekend and I can't wait! I do miss them, but I do love a bit of time off, so I can remember how much I love them! It's strange how quickly I can get back into the swing of not having children. Perhaps I am a terrible mother. Probably!!!

Hey, maybe you'll conceive number 3 in this time off!!!! Heh heh!

Right, must do bathtime.

[Rubena]

Bummer about Madge Jam. Hers was the first ever concert I went to back home - shame.

Hi Beans, Flu symptoms going but eye infection had spread to other eye briefly however that settled but the original eye infected doesn't seem to be getting better and it's been antibiotic drops 2 hourly for 2 days now. it's like there's sand in it along with soreness and looks like I've been in a chlorinated pool too long according to dh. If not improving by morning I'm getting a sit & wait appt tomorrow. After saying the dd's do nothing but fight they have bee great today. DS teaching her loads of stuff and trying to teach her to say her stuff all day I think dd's sleeping sounds promising Beans- def stick with it. have been trying to decide what to do re dd waking at 11 for milk. Decided to wait a bit until she's solidly / consistently sleeping through after that one then drop that one as well.

Vag, that's great you have someone coming for Chrissy how nice. Always exciting. Haven't a clue what to do for our new found time off. Worried about getting on a flight post Olympics so that might be a factor, but could be worse
Would love to grow brocolli - never had luck at old house and haven't tried here. mil smuggly brought over her home grown stuff at the weekend. That reminds me - better give them a heads up I'm not better as many family decending on us tmrw for the dh's gm's birthday..... OK must go get bath on...

[Rubena]

Cross posted with loads as that took me an age. Hi Lady - see above - I'm bummed about Monday too. We're quite busy now for a bit as well but hopefully we can squeeze something in. I need to learn how you just go with the mil plans - I get myself so worked up and then plan with dh about what to do / say way too much.
When my full health returns I'm thinking of doing morning exercise too - the thought pains me, but I think that's mainly becasue I'm a "night person" but who really IS a "night person"? isn't that a pattern we've all just acquired after staying up later to watch certain TV programs? Or stress about things? I'm thinking surely if I was physically shattered I'd be asleep earlier therefore would naturally become a "morning person"! Hows that for waffling.....
I've wanted to rey it ever since Jam said she gets up and does all the coffee in the morning.... Right must do bath, and dd smells like a sewer....

[Rubena]

rey it? Try it I mean

[Beans36]

I seem to watch 24hrs in A&E every week and it's so sad.

[traceface]

hello :)
It's been busy on here!
Well our buyers pulled out :( But we are hatching plan involving us selling our house to my parents at a reduced price - all rather complex and not ideal (they live in Manchester and would rent out our house in York) but it means we should still be able to move. And parents are fabulous things. I feel very blessed to have mine and I hope I can do amazing stuff for my girls in the future too. I've been trying to stay cool and calm about the house thing but I am feeling quite anxious. Also I have a snotty cold. And a very busy week. And this evening I went out for tea with my work colleagues, as one of the girls is leaving, and decided to cycle there to save the hassle of parking the car. Anyway, I locked my bike up then realised I had forgotten my keys! I had to ask DH to drive down with my keys so I could unlock the bike to come home - doh! Which meant he had to ask someone to look after the dds while he came to my rescue - so really it would have been better to take the car! Then at the end of the meal I realsied I didn't have any money with me My boss paid for me and I will pay her back tomorrow. My head is just so full I'm about to pop!
We break up for the hols on Friday, and on Saturday I'm going away with 40 kids (one of them being my Lucy) on a church activity camp. I'm one of the leaders (eek!) and am looking forward to it but also haven't got my head around what I need to take or anything yet. I need some extra days this week!
Sorry for blahing on about me me me.
Kayz how are you feeling? Sorry you had such a crap day yesterday.
Nolda please don't be too harsh on yourself. like others have said, maybe a special trip out for a cake and a drink or something might help? And we don't always enjoy our children - but I'm learning that it comes in phases - sometimes dd1 is a delight and dd2 is really hard work, then other times they swap. There's nothing to gain from looking back and feeling guilty. Just take each day as it comes and some of them will be ok xxx
re the blue dress - it's nice :) But I'm one of those people who would have no idea of the value of clothes - I would not be able to tell a £20 frock from a £200 one!
rubes you poor thing - your eye sounds very sore :( Hope it mends soon.
Ah I just saw the time - must get to bed.
We've not seen jb or zj on this thread yet have we? And is wg still around? Anyone on FB still in contact?

[VagolaJahooli]

Rubes, DH has had an evil eye infection that spread. If the drops don't have an effect within 24 hrs of starting them then you need to go back. The fact that it has spread is an undication that the ABs aren't working. Go back women. You need a more specific AB. It may come as an eye ointment, but will still work. You need to go tomorrow ASAP, you can do permanent damage if you don't sort it out. Babe you sound really worn down any chance of a rest for you? I'd love to come take the kids off you, but a bit tricky really. What with the distance an all.

I really need to sort out meeting up with you ladies. Anyone doing anything the Tuesday after next? I think it's the 31st.

Had a nice dinner with friends but man alive I'm tired. Watching TDF highlights, I've missed a couple of days.

Rubes, I am still a night person.

Trace, that all sounds like it will work out nicely. It is good your parents can help, but it is also a good investment for them. Your brain sounds like it has gone on the same holiday mine has. I'm am really dippy lately. When we go for a run in the morning I carry a bag and put everyone's bike keys in my bag. We have those locks which goes through the back wheel and is attached to the bike. When the lock is unlocked the keys stay in the lock on the bike. Anyway I collected the girls keys and off we went on our run. When we arrived back, I couldn't find my keys, where were they, of course still on my bike. They had sat there completely unattended with not just the bike key but all my other keys on it.

Right gotta go to be, nuff ramble from me.

[McKayz]

Vag, I've got nothing planned for that day. Would really love to see you. It's been years!! DS2 was about 6 months old I think!!

What do you think about Frank Schleck? I couldn't quite believe it!

[McKayz]

Trace, really sorry about your house. But it's good your parents can help you out. Will you still be able to get the house you wanted or has that had to stop because the others pulled out?

I have a keys story too. We got home the other day and DH got DD out of the car and I unlocked the house. About an hour later someone knocked on the door. I'd left the car keys in the outside of the door and the car was unlocked. Doh!! I felt very stupid.

[KiwiPanda]

Vag Tuesday 31 sounds good to me too. Here is what it says on our calendar at home:

DD1: Nursery, play with toys
DD2: Crawl around, eat stuff
Me: Crawl around after DD2, remove stuff from her mouth
DH: Live blog Olympics women's gymnastics, swimming.

I think DH wins that one, eh?

Where were you thinking? Would suggest maybe not too central given Olympics mayhem, possibly Waterloo/ South Bank as that's worked quite well before??

[McKayz]

Ah Vag, if you are in London I can't do it. But will certainly see you when you come over to Hull on ferry.

Do ignore me, I am struggling with DD and not making any sense. I think she might have colic as evenings are a bloody nightmare

[Obergene]

I am officially pathetic. Am crying on the Tube because I just dropped the DDs off at school and nursery and said goodbye to their teachers for the last time. I love both their teachers this year and both are leaving the school. Last year DD1's teacher wasn't great which made me appreciate more this year's kind, attentive, energetic, encouraging but firm teacher even more.

No wonder my girls are bad with change. They clearly take after me. Must. Stop. Snivelling.

[McKayz]

Obes, I will be in floods tomorrow. Especially at DS2's play school. He loves his key worker and she is absolutely amazing with him. I am dreading it and I cry thinking about it.

[LadyThompson]

Chin up, Obes, you might strike lucky with the girls' teachers again next year I have to say, a lump is never far from my throat these days. It's since I had the girls.

Trace, I am so sorry that your buyers pulled out. But a massive round of applause for your parents! Wow! I hope it all works out. And 40 kids - jeepers creepers! Bet they'll have a great time. I know you're not a drinker but you will be needing a hip flask - maybe put squares of G&B in it?

Vag - 31st sounds ok for me. More or less anything after and including that is good.

Rubes - I am a night and a morning person! That's to say - I go to bed late most nights, as you probably know. But I do love the mornings as well. But only after my first cup of coffee And not before 7. How are you this morning? Vag is right. You are v run down and need to get proper stuff from the GP. Will text you with dates for cheering Reading lunch later.

To which end - Beans, I got up at 8.30 today, but I'd set an alarm as we have such a lot to do! Sleep is not the big luxury for me with the girls away as they are both big sleepers, and DD2 is only still in our room as she doesn't wake up until 7.30 at the very earliest (don't want to go on about it because I know so many are on their knees with lack of sleep and I am hugely sympathetic and also a bit sheepish). It's just the GETTING STUFF DONE without constantly having to attend to their needs. But I miss them horribly. And I think this is too long a stretch for them but am so desperate to try to make the house a little better, am putting up with it. Yes, I am sure DP will be expecting a little bedroom action I have been neglecting our relationship in many ways over the last few months. I ought to make more effort. But that's a whole other story and I STILL haven't done my proper catch up as there were loads of people I wanted to respond to, such as Nolda - good to see you back!

Oh, and Trace - WG does the odd FB post, I think she is totally fine if a little busy!

[Rubena]

Thanks Vag, Lady and everyone. Rang GP this morn and got an appt 45 min later she isn't sure if viral or Bacterial but probably not allergy. Has given a different antibiotic (which thankfully is twice a day rather than bloody 2 hourly) and said it may well just take 5 full days to clear up.
I'm feeling ok-ish with the other stuff and the flu symptoms almost gone.
Gotta run as everyone coming over (handy with contagious eye infection!)

I think I'm around that Tuesday Vag.

Sorry for the me-ish post - gotta a few things to do

[Nolda]

Beans - With all the exercise she had yesterday, I hope your DD2 slept through.

Kayz - Good news about your phone and I hope all goes well for your dad.

Kiwi - It's so sweet that your daughter wants to be a journalist like her mummy and daddy. My DD has announced that she does not want to be a solicitor because you have to work at the weekend [DH take note]. Her pre-school teacher predicted that she will be either a teacher or world leader. We would be happy with either of those! By the way, I'm with you on the Ikea pickled cucumbers. My mother was always trying to get me to take her to Ikea for those. When we asked, we were told that there is some kind of cucumber famine! On the buns, it's a long time since I did any yeast bakery but I would guess they didn't rise properly (why? I don't know.)

Jam - Loving the curtains. Shame about the house being a mess but you're definitely entitled to make the most of your last moments of child-freeness before the summer holiday madness starts!

Lady - Hope you had a good time at your mum's. Sorry that you are missing your lovely girls but hopefully you'll get all your jobs done and feel uplifted.

Rubes - I'm glad that you got to see the doctor so quickly. Fingers crossed the new ABs work.

Trace - So sorry to hear that your buyers have pulled out. But hopefully all will work out with your parents buying your house. I'm not surprised that your head feels full up. Moving house is so stressful! Have a good time at the camp. I bet you'll have your hands full.

Obes - I'm like Kayz, anything sets me off and I don't have a baby as an excuse.

I think I may have to start with the morning exercise too, otherwise I'll never get a run in over the holidays. I am still doing Jillian Michaels work outs in the evening and have a press ups app on my phone. But definitely need the running too if I'm going to lose some weight. My BMI is 24.4 so just in the OK range but would like to lose about a stone. I was very shocked to discover that DH has a BMI of 27. He seems to carry all his excess flesh on his back (yuck) so would guess, as that's near his heart, it's not a healthy way to be. He says he can soon cycle that off but would cycling do that? He has not an ounce of spare on his legs, unlike me! Maybe we should swap and he does the press ups and I do the cycling?

Thanks for all the kind comments re DD and me. I'm planning to take her out for lunch followed by a trip to bubbles and beads (a shop in here where you can make necklaces etc that she's been bugging me to take her to for ages).