Dec 08 - three is the new two.

[Vagolajahooli]

Well it seems appropriate you cheeky breeders.

Yeah black plimsolls seem to be the thing. DD leaves her PE kit in school. When she was in reception they just did it bare foot.

Plimsolls here Rubes.

Ah ok. Thanks. Wanted to make sure it wasn't some kind of mil memory from 50 years ago. All foreign to me!

We were plimsoles now school have said trainers as plimsoles are useless. We have had to buy a pair of cheapo trainers for school and a pair for home.

Interesting Jam. I thought they looked useless too when I was shown them. Don't remember the school mentioning footwear type for PE. Or perhaps I had glazed over after the lectures about labeling.
Must ask.

We've gone down the cheapo trainers route as well. On advice of teachers.

Why is there nothing on the telly when I have no social life?

Just on way back from fantastic weekend in Scotland. Fri night bed at 2, last night bed at 4. Feel tired but very happy.

Plimsolls - or daps for those of us from West Country - are best if cheap and easy to get on by yourself. Much of reception PE is spent getting dressed and undressed. If you draw 2 halves of a smiley face on the inside of the shoes, there is a possibility they might get on the right feet. They will get lost at some point so 4 quid from asda is the best choice.

What on earth is a plimsole? Sounds like some sort of shipping term "Man the plimsole!" Is it like converse volleys Rubes? My boys gave white gym shoes if they have sport in the gymnasium or trainers if it's outdoor sports.

Gave! Have. Deids yours 'using' made me giggle. Rubes I used to always go commando at the gym but my latest gym tights don't have anti camel toe stitching to I undie-fy now

Gosh, so after a snooze yesterday, I was awake half the night fretting because there is no room for a laundry basket in our new bathroom. Seriously. How was this even close to being a) something important and b) something to have insomnia over!!! Girls both v tired as they haven't been to bed before 8pm in 10 days and really need a good early night and I'm horrible due to sleep deprivation too. Early nights all round. How will I cope with the new one!?!

I also am trying to remember what labour feels like, but suspect its probably best I forget that train of thought, or I might shot myself!

DH got home last night and used our spare key to get in, but it snapped off in the lock! He had to break in the back and then borrow a neighbours car to go to his nieces christening today because our crappy station car had died, despite his attempts to charge it up and jump lead it. Hee hee!

Just took the boys to Ekka Rubes, I'm completely shattered and broke but have introduced the boys to the great Australia tradition of agricultural shows which have a teeny bit to do with agriculture.

Hi dec08 girls, so nice to see you are still going strong on your thread. The clueless Aussie was searching for the low down on plimsolls and found you again. DS starts school in Sept too and slack mother here is just starting to get his uniform together. Are these shoes comfortable? They look bloody awful, although I see the attraction in using them when trying to get 30 4+5 year olds changed quickly.

Congrats on all the new babies and pregnancies. How lovely!
Sorry again for crashing the thread.

Hi Snowwombat, nice to see you!

Just dashing on and readin' up - am just on way to meet Rubes in Reading which is reasonably close for both of us. She is sans children and I am not! So Rubes, you might not be able to organise your pants but at least you can organise your kids!

Plimsolls - or 'pumps' where I come from - are banned at the school DD1 will atten as they are deemed 'dangerous' indoor PE is done barefooted and outdoor is trainers only which need to be kept at school. I guess it just varies. Our lot have to have full wet weather gear (trousers and jacket and wellies) to be kept at school at all times. For when they go pond dipping and all that country stuff.

I have enjoyed reading about everyone's trips, and I also enjoyed ZJ's catch up. Re: 3 - I am slightly erring towards going for it. Only slightly.

Must stop as feel a bit travel sick! Off to Poland on Weds.

I'm going to locate some velcro trainers. DD1's not up to laces that's for sure.

Hello all,

I need to post a catch up but THANK YOU for the sports kit discussion. I'd completely forgotten about it. Pumps and trainers to buy. Eek!

Lovely to see Shady, and the mini lady's yesterday, all looking stunning as usual. Have a lovely time in Poland and lets get a meet up planned soon! Anyone else up for one?

Wombat, lovely to hear from you! I'm glad I'm not the only one confused about the footwear! Vaggie too - had never heard of them before all this school talk. Have found ds's school booklet and it actually says not to worry about PE footwear until Summer term phew, panic over. Guess it's barefoot until then, then I'll buy cheapo trainers and expect them to get lost.

I've broken the thread.

Ah Vag! Didn't see your other post! Aaaah the EKKA!!!! Fond memories! I saw you've sorted schools for your official return home. I reckon I'll actually see more if you! (If you're there before my parents get their house sold) when do you go?
So good that you are thrilled about moving back. Our friends went home to NZ 4 years ago now and still aren't happy so are planning a move to BNE also! Although he wants to come back here and she wants Aus, so I know that's where they'll end up. So weird, I meet all these friends around the works then they all end up back near where I grew up!

DO you think you'll ever go back, Rubes? Presumably DH could work anywhere. Would you want to go back?

I am being driven beserk by DD1. Is there a hormone surge at the age of 8? She is so moody and stroppy at the moment, only alleviated by a TONNE of exercise. I can take them to the park for about 2.5 hours and DD2 is dropping, but DD1 can keep on going and still have energy to argue with me later on (but much more gently than she does if we have a quieter day). Am looking forward to our hols next week when she can spend days on the beach running in and out of the water. At least, that's the theory.

We may not even get there, however. My car won't go at all. The garage is coming to take it away and fix it ,but Lord knows how much that will cost. My dear Mum has offered me her car if it isn't mended in time, but bearing in mind that she loves 80 miles away, I'd have to go and get it. Grrr. Never simple.

I have so much work to do as well. Last day before hols. I haven't packed or washed anything yet either. Better get a wriggle on. However, the place we are staying has a washing machine so I could always wash stuff there. I have got in the habit with holidays of doing a load a day when we are away so I come home with hardly any left to do. Result. One day, if I ever get to stay in a hotel again, this won't be possible but in the meantime it's working fabulously.

Right, had better get the kids some breakfast and then wait for the nanny to arrive and spirit them away. I want her to stay out til 5 so I can get on. At least it's sunny. God bless Brockwell Park.

Love to all.

Sybs, for dh it sort of puts a cap on his career and earning potential if we moved back. We def will at sort of retirement age, but before that unlikely. We'd both like to buy some property back home though before that and sort of rent it out part of the year etc for a holiday let and spend more time there in the future, however not permanently until later years. I'm happy with that as I can see the logic, and am also very happy being here so far. Things back home have changed so much since I left and I'd probably struggle to adapt! My best friend from school lives just outside Brisbane though, and my friends that moved home to NZ (from here) have regretted and don't see NZ as their final place, so are going to try Aust in about a year they say - as their best friends (from SA but also living here) are in final stages of also moving to Brisbane. So weird! But I suspect I'll see our Vag when I visit them all so happy about that!
Another coincidence, my bil proposed to his GF at the weekend, and unknowingly so did his cousin in California! 2 weddings yippee!

Sybs where are you off to on hols?

Must clean up a little as surveyor coming today......

Am off to croyde for a week then down yo Cornwall for a second week. 3 more sleeps, car permitting.

Shall we try for a September meet up?

Sept yes. I'm in.

I'm here just busy trying to organise DDs party for the weekend. Madam turns 7 on Sunday and is having a 'pamper party'. Seriously!! Sybs I feel your pain DD is a real stroppy mare at the moment. In fact she is quite hideous at times. Like your DD she seems to have a ton of energy. Even when she's been out all day she's still bashing round her room at 10 most nights. Seriously driving me mad. The lack of routine that the school hols brings doesn't help much either. The girl needs more stimulus than I offer most days.

Sadly I am too far away for a meet up otherwise I'd be there in a shot

Deids, shady and I talked about the cottage idea again and think we should do that even just an overnight thing half way. It's just getting people to commit.
Surveyor is here. Surveying Family friend so thankfully mates rates as its going to take a small miracle for this house purchase to go through....

Pamper party sounds nice. What do 7 year olds get pampered with?

Surveyor all positive. Even extension doable easier than thought. Phew
Now to neg on a deal.