Dec 08 - three is the new two.

[Vagolajahooli]

Well it seems appropriate you cheeky breeders.

Rubes has DH thought of using google docs for his reports? It saves automatically as you're writing, is also accessible from anywhere and is easy to share. I use it for all my spreadsheets & documents these days as a) I'm too stingy to fork out for Word, Excel etc. b) it means I don't have to back my files up or reinstall software every time I reinstall Windows (which is fairly often as my PC is a piece of shit).

So who's starting school this week?

PD, he just really prefers to not, as it's all Medical records and he worries a lot about accessibility etc and data protection and all that. Fortunately he's managed to retrieve said report so panic over, and he will think, next time dcs are around and he has work open

RE XFactor. I love it. Preferred it with Simon. I do cringe sometimes when they are mean, but figure it's all for ratings, and so much edited and planted etc, and I'm sure most know what they are getting themselves into. I do sometimes feel for the older ones who get a ribbing, but the younger ones, come on, they must know they are crap, or have at least seen the show before.

I have a teacher meeting on Tuesday (we all picked a 10 min slot to meet the teacher / ask q's) so I will touch on the at home prep of zero and hope I get some predictable reassuring feedback!
And bloody heck - first parent teacher proper meeting is on my birthday, so there goes my drinks at the Shard and Dinner at Gaucho Tower Bridge plans
Urgh, it's pissing down, and I was planning to test out my knee tonight... although dh says give it a few more days....

Oh and Lady, I'm excited for you! And standing by for positive clackered news!
Why is there a emoticon?

Jam, I didn't like that American singer on LN of the Proms last night but Nigel Kennedy was indeed ace.

PD, I think interest only, esp in parts of the country where property appreciates (and esp in London) is totally fine. I would do it. As to ovulation sticks etc, I think I will just see how it goes for a couple of months and then see how if that has crystallised how I feel before I start being more dedicated about it all. At our school, those born bef Christmas started on Tues, those born after started on Weds although it's straight full time for everyone from then on in. Although DD1 had been doing 9-1 four morns a wk at pre-school so 8.50 until 3.10 is not much different.

AH, and I know a brilliant and cheap conveyancing solicitor who has done two lease extensions for pals in London if you want his details.

Phewy, Rubes, that DH retrieved his work! Shame about your birthday being a bit scuppered. Actually we are thinking about getting a secondhand iPad for me, but which can also be used by the girls for educational stuff. However, if it was theirs too I feel I'd never get on it.

Oh, and most parents at our school didn't prep their kids (or so they say). Actually Jam, knowing what they are supposed to know at the end of reception is useful. I know there is that national phonics test - grr.

Lady I'm not too bothered about the birthday thing. I think at least with the parent meeting on, if we get a babysitter anyway, we can both then go to the first meeting, and then eat out locally. There's a Thai I've wanted to try for ages so not all bad, and with dh shifting to London next month there'll be plenty more opportunities to meet him after work! Assuming we can afford to with buying the house!

Is the house a goer Rubes? Oh I do hope so. That actually sounds quite good about your birthday. We have a parents' evening around half term or just bef Christmas, I can't remember.

Waaah, I have my usual travel yearnings.

National phonics test is end of yr1 not reception.

Yes! It's looking good for the exchange fingers crossed.
I just interrupted toy story and produced flash cards. He not so happily responded, only after I paused his movie and said "thats W - for wine"
.....I don't see a problem I do see a current theme though

The phonics screening check is not till the end of Year 1 LadyT. What don't you like about it? I think it's a good idea. DP and I went in to help in class regularly last year and there is a massive variation in where children are up to in Year 1, from free readers to those who are still sounding out 3 letter words. I've seen how the phonics test has made the school focus on particular pupils who are behind the others and I've also seen how much progress those few children have made as a result. Although some parents would not be happy that others are being singled out for extra work I think this kind of intervention ultimately benefits the whole class in the long term.

DD did similar hours at preschool and she was in morning & afternoon on a Monday, but she's still been exhausted every day this week (and has been uncharacteristically grumpy this weekend). She's staying for lunch this week and then starts full time a week tomorrow.

Oh and yes please to conveyancing solicitor detail. Our neighbour is doing most of the work so I'll pass the details on to him.

Oh good one on the house Rubes.

Love the wine comment - reminds me of this blog post I saw the other day (near the bottom).

Right, off to buy some tiles. Yawn.

Brilliant PD! Ds could have done that!

That is super news on the house Rubes - really crossing everything.

PD - my broad dislike/mistrust of phonics is fairly well documented but yes I can believe it's beneficial for some pupils. I just think, amongst other things, it's a poor fit for learning to read English as a language. As far as the test is concerned, I deplore the fact that it tests knowledge of phonics and not knowledge of reading, with the nonsense words etc. I don't require my kids to be able to 'decode' bloody nonsense. I want them to learn to read, which is much more fascinating, rewarding and complex because English is a fascinating, rewarding and complex language.

But you just wanted to get me up on my soapbox again didn't you?

DD1 hasn't been too tired but she is always ravenous when she gets home! Which is lovely as she is never usually hungry or at all enthusiastic about grub.

In fact I'm not going to write about phonics again because it makes me feel (and sound) like a octagenarian reader of the Daily Telegraph

Ah phonics... I foolishly downloaded a Ladybird "i'm ready for phonics" app as S is very keen, and I thought well if she's going to insis on "a game on your computer mummy" it might as well be useful. Apparently amongst the "tricky words" that can't be sounded out are dad, not, can and on. ??? Anyway apart from a bit of letters I've done nothing with S re numbers. She knows about the water cycle as she keeps asking where the rain comes from, but that's it really! We did getting dressed practice today and I'm proud to say she could do all of her cardigan buttons so that's good enough for me...

Lady how super about O, both getting a certificate and being hungry, you were always worried about her not eating much so it looks like school will be good in lots of ways :) how super exciting about going for number 3!

PD lovely to see you again me old mucker.

Re proms, well Marin Alsop is pretty much the only female conductor there is :( DH (who knows about this stuff) called her a trailblazer, once orchestras realise that female conductors will not collapse in tears if they have to do a piece in a minor key, there should be more. We were listening so didn't see JDD's Viv dress, from experience they're not the easiest things to breathe in so v impressed that she chose one to sing in!

Rubes hope all goes smoothly with house.

I suspect DD1 wins the prize for the least prep for school! Honestly, I've done zero apart from writing her name and copying a few words I've written. She can sound blend, but only because that's what she's been taught at nursery, nothing to do with me. I've been very remiss and lazy. Every time I try to do anything with her, DD2 barges in and tries to take over or throws a fit because she's bored. d1 has been given some books to take home this week. First one called 'Sid Did It'. Retry pants, but she had a go today, but Barbies were calling, so it didn't last long. Think will try to spend 5-10mins with her at bedtime after DD2 has been tucked down. That way we can have a bit of time together and I can praise her and try to make it fun.

Lady, I know what you mean re reading rather than phonics, but I think they all end up being able to read in the long run; its just up to us, as parents, to instil a love of reading into them. As far as numbers go, no surprises that my accountant husband is trying to enthuse DD1 about them. She is so desperate to impress him that she's really giving it a go. But I'm not sure she has really got the hang of it. Hurts my heart a bit.

We've just had the most amazing ad hoc lunch. Had a few sausages, which we BBQed, then I found some old courgettes in the fridge about to go of, so I cut them into strips, tossed them in some chilli,olive oil, s&p and then BBQed them too. Then after dipped them in lemon juice, basil, mint and a bit more olive oil. Deeeelicious! And we had tomatoes from our garden, cucumber and bread. And this morning, we went to the fields behind our house and picked tons of blackberries. Last weekend the DDs picked lots of cooking apples at their aunt's house, so I boiled them all up with loads of sugar and then the girls and me made a delicious crumble for pudding. Feeling quite "Good Life" at the moment! Not like me at all. As we brought in the last plate, the heavens opened. Perfect timing!

I watched the X Factor too. I didn't enjoy it at all. I missed Strictly, which I was gutted about! Iplayer here we come!

The nonsense words are presented as names of aliens I think so the good readers shouldn't be fazed. English is hard yo learn to read because it isn't all phonetic but knowing basic phonemes is one of many useful tools. I was sceptical with both girls but they have both flourished and can read freely. Dd2 is only 6 and already enjoying easy chapter books, whereas dd1 (8) reads voraciously. She read the diary of Anne frank over the summer, which I was a bit worried about, but we has lots of useful chats about history and religion as a result. We have also had many

Many chats about Tracey Beaker, Alesha's street dance stars and Junior bake off, in case we sound a bit rarefied or wanky.

I must go and do some work. Everyone watching their gadget of choice and I need to update myself for this week.

Preparation is lacking here. Poor M is a lefty and struggles to write his name. Can recognise it though which is helpful. Can recognise numbers from Thomas the tank but that's it. I figure school will have a lovely blank canvas on which to work its magic. He was more interested in playing, running and trains to get into letters etc so is a bit behind others. Dd2 could not hold a pen or write her name at the start of reception but is really keen on both treading and writing now. They all get there in the end.

That's amazing that your DD1 read Anne Frank's Diary over the summer, Sybs. I really look forward to chats about books like that. I know the nonsense names are called monsters or aliens or whatever but I can just never think kindly of kids being tested on phonics and not reading. But it matters not what I think and I can fulminate all I like, cos we're lumbered with it. But I do agree that they all end up reading in the end so I should prob stop grumbling.

Actually Beans, Strictly was the one where the dancers were all paired with he celebs. It was thin on dancing content and a bit of a drag. DD1 was so disappointed. It's back for good at the end of the month.

JJ, I did smile at the idea of female conductors collapsing in tears when conducting a piece in a minor key

Beans, I'm starving after all your talk of food.

I'm giving the girls an early bath so they're all done before DP collects us all this evening. They're both wearing bubble wigs We also have the weird fakey US accents when they play with dolls sometimes even though they only watch CBeebies and films. It's come from pre-school and one friend in particular. They ran up to some awful schlocky Gothy zombie dolls in a shop the other day, shrieking 'Monster High, Monster High!' Seeing as they don't see ads, no idea where they have seen these monstrosities before but they both want them from Father Christmas.

Ah I managed Strictly, XFactor and Big Brother last night
Yum Beans. I've started picking at the kids shepherds pie now after reading about food.
Planned to go to a party of a neighbour - def nothing rock n roll, but dh has too much work to get through and I'm filing tonight- such fun.

urgh and dd does an awful fakey American accent - all Dora's fault. I constantly correct her saying "I caaaaant do that" - awful.

Subs, I love that idea. Will pledge DD1 as a blank canvas also! She's got her first ever school lunch tomorrow. I went with her for one at the end of last term, but she won't remember a thing. I lie, she remembers the jelly. But couldn't believe she wasn't allowed apple crumble AND jelly. Then I pick her up at 1.15. Most irritating.

Monday and Weds I pick up DD2 at 12 and DD1 at 1.15. Tuesday and Thursday I pick up DD1 at 1.15 and DD2 at 3 and Friday just DD1 at 1.15. Roll on normal hours!!!!!

The boys do the accents, no surprise with all the Disney and dreamworks films they watch.

We did no prep with ds2 but he started school 9 months ago and was doing a little stuff in nursery, he was dressing himself and washing hands and face etc well before he was 2.5, though more due to a lazy mother. Ds1 went to nursery in the UK so started doing loads of maths before 4, but he wasn't much for letters so they left him to his numbers. He is definitely more into numbers than reading so we just let him get on with it. He can read well in English and is not bad in Dutch either so we're happy.

School here said not to do any prep as if they don't like it you can cause a block to learning which is hard to get around so we did what we were told. We do a lot of home ed style stuff anyway, following subjects they are interested in. Currently ds1 is made about archery so we have been using it to introduce history and a little physics (dh does that bit). DH teaches him Mandarin on Sunday mornings now and we all found out about Chinese archery and how the Mao cultural revolution nearly whipped out the families who make the old style bows. Very interesting.

JJ just the other day I was lamenting not having done enough with the boys before they started school and I'm with them all the time. Your damned whatever you do, just enjoy them now and don't beat yourself up. I hate the Cherie Blair style bad example thing. When dh was working from home it seemed like neither of us worked. Maybe we were showing them there is more to existence than work?

PD we used to do gumtree and always found tenants but only usually got 3 genuine enquiries. It just happened that one always wanted the place. By order of the bank we have to rent through an agent now. Still waiting for dh to get all his paperwork together to finish the new mortgage app. I've relented and am checking with the estate agent in Derby for how much it will cost to do all our property tax returns since 2009. It's doing my head in. I also need to apply for new non resident tax numbers for the London place as we can't use the same as the derby place. Grrr. I need to get my assessment done so can't be faffed with all these forms. I'm all for outsourcing at the moment.

Arti how are the norks?

Lady, your mums agoraphobia must be hard for her. Well done on her getting out.

Went out on Friday with some girl friends got happily tipsy. Then yesty arvy and evening, dh's boss put on a bbq for all her staff and their families. Met some of dh's team which was nice. They are IT security types so some proper geeks, but also some very sweet boys and girls and was nice meeting their partners. The boys get on well with the big bossss kids (it was at her house) so didn't see them all night. JJ that reminds me she has 3 kids and her and her hubby work 50+ hr weeks and she is always stressed and run down but her kids still adore her. She has the loveliest hubby, just one of those super lovely people. However, one of the techie boys made a white wine sangria, one of the partners who is American and I got stuck into it. She and I got quite pished and were a little too giggly and maybe being a little too outspoken about things that annoy us in NL. Oh well we had fun.

Oh and Rubs dh did something to Word so it automatically saves every few minutes as I type.

Beans we have a bitsy week too, except now am glad dd is in for full day, but I've got to get ds at 12 all week and dd at 1 on Wed but then I take her to swimming at 2 then next week normal hours except I get to have sample the school lunch with ds on his first full day (with school lunches)
I'm going to try them for the 1st term. What is everyone else's thoughts on school vs packed lunch etc etc?

Vag - yes he actually did have that set (but wasn't sure he did at first when he melted down) so it had auto saved it anyway. Phew.
Gosh yes I bet you have SO much to get in order before you leave. hate all that stuff.