December 2011: They're one Jim, and highly illogical!

[LittleMissFantabulous]

I went with Gary's suggestion, as it was quite awesome and indeed factual!

:o

Onwards?

BTW, with regard to the tenants in aethel's chain, probably someone has given notice, and that was never communicated to the chain. Very poor communication, though.

Our own notice was probably given because the LLs wanted to sell at a certain time of year (spring). If it doesn't come on rightmove to let in the next fortnight or so, that will probably be the reason.

Thanks Plu . I do have sympathy as an ex-renter, but the nature of chains is that a bit of compromise is inevitable. We'll see. (it may be that there's a natural delay anyway, as if the exchange is delayed at all, there will be a certain time delay for completion too.) ultimately we all just need to stick with it, and hope it all carries through.

for Mother-in-law picked cakes!! And extra on standby for all who need them...

Both kids here today. DS said he wasnt very well last night and went to bed v early. Was sweating and a bit shivery this morning so put him back to bed. He has now woken and feels fine but stuck in with both of them all day now! Might drag him out for a short walk for some fresh air for us all. Freya very snotty and not great either today but have no childcare alternatives but nursery tomorrow so hope she perks up.

Another DH who believes in the housework fairy here - or more to be point doesnt see the need for housework at all!

Sleep wise she still woke about every 3 hours as is now her habit (which I am trying to break). I left her to settle herself at 8 and 11 but gave her some milk at 2am (she went to sleep before having any really at 7pm) and brought her in with me at 6am. So next step is too allow self settling (or screaming!) for 3 out of the 4 wakes ups and then all till she decides its not worth crying.

Another one with a DP who believes in the housework fairy! I can't even get a cleaner because he has some ridiculous paranoia about strangers in the house when nobody else is home.

Sorry to hear about the housey woes Aethel.

hi all, sorry to hear about all the pox, teething, crying etc. It seems like it comes in waves, we have an okay spell, then a knackering spell, then an okay spell. But the okay spells seem to be few and far between at the moment! Minimopsy actually slept well last night, I think those two evil molars are finally through because it's been weeks of upset, crying, broken nights, tantrums. The poor wee baba, I would cry too if I had molars coming through.

I just got yet another post-doc rejection. That makes at least ten so far. It is SO disheartening. The one I just got had over 800 applicants, for about 2 or maybe 3 spots. So it's just so competitive. I just feel so disheartened. How will I ever manage to get a job in academia? Coming 2nd in that interview before Christmas was a boost, but I am just back to despondancy again. I guess I need to get real, and start looking for jobs outside the academic sphere. Now I have submitted I really need to start earning again.

Thank you for being kind, aethel, although I wasn't actually fishing for sympathy , just trying to suggest where the problem might be so you could target it with a suitable compromise.

mopsy, was the statistical linguistics work you did at all applicable to areas like search engine optimisation, forensic IT (clues to identity according to use of language)? Any kind of aggregator which is sensitive to influence by trolls, sock puppets, cf. US gov't infiltrating Islamist forums, to de-radicalise and de-escalate: it makes sense that radicals would try to do the opposite. Similarly, youth networking sites could probably do with identifying posers, likely using language)

There's always tutoring, to get some money in?

I've been for my smear - that was uncomfortable!

Gone round with the cif anti-bacterial bleach spray in kitchen and its my type of clean now. Dustered everywhere and just about to tidy up the mess of lunch and run the Hoover round. Our room is clean & tidy just need to change the sheets. Sky's room was cleaned & moved around by DH for me on Saturday so don't need to go in there and Darcie's room , no point in tackling as she has a friend around for tea later.

Time for tea soon as I've hoovered & put sheets in wash x

Hello :) I'm about 3 or 4 threads behind but I thought I'd pop in & see how you all are < waves> so catch me up then; what have you all been up to since August last year lol

Looking at the post above mine I thought, ooh wonder if that's someone new or a namechanger...by the time I got to "cif anti-bacterial bleach spray" I knew it was dsm PMSL

Got it in one!

plu forensic linguistic work is highly specialized, and I am not in that field, unfortunately. Tutoring not so much an option, I mean unless I taught French/German to school kids and I have no idea of the curriculum. I would rather just go back to my previous job and earn lots of money than do that, but I really don't want to go down that route, given that I have worked so hard to get this blooming PhD!

haha made me laugh with the flash! I would like some of your cleaning vibes SAHM!

hi Honey how are you?! been ages! what is new?

hehe...you know me...MrsCleanFreak! Love a nice clean house and one that smells clean too. I love walking into a room and getting the clean/bleach smell :)

Trying to find a childminder for Darcie after school is proving difficult. No one on the Hampshire CC Childcare site seems to pick up from her school. Going to head over to the childcare board for some advice!

Sorry, mopsy. Thought it was worth a suggestion...

yes thanks for suggesting plu, I need some inspiration so everything helps!

haha I know what you mean about playdate, that's when my house gets the biggest clean!

I've been sorting out in the office-come-new nursery today. Got the desk cleared ready to go to the tip, and loaded up with more rubbish to go with it, plus been taking photos for eBay selling purposes. DH is emptying the garage tomorrow so the builders can get in there and start work.

Only 8 days until my 20 (21+5) week scan, then we can hopefully find out what we're having!

oi go and book that smear lady, now you've mentioned it I remember you saying you we're going to get round to booking one when I had mine in April last year!

Well all I can say is thank god I dont have two at home all the time! Ds could well have gone to school, after his hour sleep he was fine and has been bored and a pain this afternoon. We went out to the park, a short bike ride and a cafe which made things bearable. Freya is so whingey at the moment. I know she has a cough and cold but with the lack of sleep I dont have much patience and have told her to shut up several times today - not helpful I know. I have sent them both to the play room for 5 minutes peace!

Hello all - have not read to catch up. Just checking in to say that we had an amazing time in Kenya, truly FANTASTIC - highlight was a wild giraffe eating out of DS's hand

Unfortunately on the penultimate day he got something called rotavirus which he could have caught anywhere (most common cause of D&V in the UK) and he got dehydrated, we were admitted to the Nairobi Children's Hospital who were wonderful and got him hydrated and back up to speed. We flew home, all was well for about 4 days and then he started having all kinds of terrifying symptoms - nosebleeds in his sleep, waking up covered in unexplained bruises, a pinprick rash that came and went, spiking fevers, spots that are not chickenpox and finally blood tests showing abnormal liver function (we are still waiting for hepatitis test results).

We're pretty sure now that he developed something called ITP where his immune system mopped up the first D&V virus and then instead of ramping down, started attacking his red blood cells. Nothing to do with travelling to Kenya, nothing they can do - he just needs to get over it on his own. Doctors have been pretty useless - every scary symptom they treated as something on its own (kids get bruises, kids get nosebleeds, kids get rashes/spots, kids get fevers - yes but what about ALL AT THE SAME TIME!) Low point was when the pediatric consultant told us he needed to be tested for leukemia - DH and I had to then have The Chat about what we would do, who would quit their job etc.

Anyway he's made a definite return to health - still tiring easily and is very pale and still bruised, but eating like a horse again and running riot through the house. Today's my first day back at work - last two weeks I've had off as compassionate leave taking care of him as he literally would not be put down and was so sad and listless and sick that it was heartbreaking.

It's been the most terrifying two weeks of my life but every chortle and belly laugh and mouthful of food that goes down his little throat is like the best thing that ever was.

Ok, now to read and catch up with everyone!!

Xiao I'd been wondering how you all were! I saw the rotovirus, and was wishing him well. So glad the health is flowing back, but you mut have been so scared!

How do!

xiao that sounds terrifying- I'm so pleased for you (and him!) that he is eating again.

xiao gosh your poor DS, that must have been terrifying. Really glad that he's making a return to health now.

Very cute moment in the bath a few minutes ago, DS gave DD a wash for me and helped wash her hair.

Xiao That is so terrifrying. Glad your son is getting better xx

Bloody hell xiao that's awful. So glad it wasn't leukaemia, though That sounds like one hell of a bout of ITP, I really hope he get his beans (and blood cells) back soon.

Hiya Honey, good to "see" you.

Oh xiao you poor things, that sounds terrifying. You've really been through it between you since he's been born haven't you? I'm so pleased to hear he's on the mend now.

Hi Honey. Welcome back!

Kat I just looked at the forecast for tomorrow and it's looking less than bloody freezing all day in our part of the world . Time for you to pull a sickie?

DC's tucked up in bed, everywhere clean and tidy, and now (Oi don't read this part!) just waiting for DH to arrive home with fish and chips