Dec 11: Not tonight dear, I've got a haddock.

[PerilousStiletto]

I liked this one. :)

[Figgygal]

I'm figgy again

Anyone tried vibrating plates for toning? 10mins equivalent to hours gym workout need to tone up don't have money for gym, introducing more aerobic exercise and sorting out my diet too should do it.

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

I'm currently scoffing way through a big bag of minstrels, so it's safe to say that no, I have not tried the vibrating plates. They do look fun, though I would worry about the wibble effect on my stomach/arse/boobs.

[QueenofClean]

Never tried and don't intend too lol.

[mopsytop]

Nope but would be interested to try except it is mega expensive isn't it? Welcome back figgy particularly as I was incapable of remembering your other name!

[GaryBuseysTeeth]

My best mates mum has a vibroplate. Makes the house shake!
I've used it before and it's not something I'd recommend.

I'm doing Bob Harpers kettlebell workout atm and thats helping me (its free on fitnesstv, sky channel 25something), i started using a 1kg handweight so no needto buy the 8kg kettlebell yet...still got 6lbs to lose and a stomach to tone!

[Aethelfleda]

Figgy, I understand the scientific claims and "evidence" behind the vibrating plate things are pretty ropy....

For about a fiver you can have this, it's a few years old now but the best exercise DVD ever...

[Figgygal]

Blimey sent DS passport application away on Friday come home to a brand-new shiny passport today so some parts of our government are obviously very efficient!!

There is a local centre which has these plates I'm going to go and see about them on Sunday just out of interest. Tonight DH is out So commences an attempt at home bound exercising I find if I'm leaping around the house to my various just dance Wii games I can barely breathe by the end much better than a DVD where I actually feel like I am exercising

[mopsytop]

That looks ace aethel! Might have to give it a go

Do any of you remember 'Girls just wanna have fun', that movie with SJP and Helen Hunt when they were about 18? One of my fave movies along with other slightly earlier in the genre (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club etc.). The DVD cover reminds me of their 80s style!

[jigglebum]

Thanks for your sympathies all. I really dont want to go down the single parent route and we have been doing well for a few weeks but it is only when I am on good form - ie no complaining from me or expectations of him. My parents visited today. We see them about once a month , whereas we see the inlaws most weeks. Apparently I should have left F with them and done the Tesco shopping for the weekend away then rather than spending my evening doing it. I wanted to spend the day with them so went 730 to 9pm when both kids are in bed. I had no problem with this. Come home to find no dinner - he has eaten for himself and gone back to work. He will never accept he is being unreasonable because I could of course gone in the day and could also have cooked dinner for us both in the day too. He is jealous of my life as a part time worker/SAHM and thinks it is a doss option so I am not allowed to complain that he does nothing to help or if anything is difficult etc etc. All based on the fact his mum was a full time SAHM and never expected him, his dad or his brother to do anything and never complained about it. If it werent for F and DS I would be out of here. Financially it would be tough but I would nt care if it were just me.

I think of BJR too and wonder how she is doing.

We are down to no naps some days and short naps other days and she is getting better at getting through without a late afternoon breakdown.

[OctopusWrangler]

Many of you have my have my sympathies. There's no way I could do cohabitation again.

Sorry I'm quiet, tired and grumpy. Might revert to zombie name for Hallowe'en:)

[NorthernChinchilla]

It's your right to be quiet, tired and grumpy Octo, it's not like wrangling three on your own is a walk in the park! Are you going to be a zombieoctopus?

Am up North at the moment, so have not checked in for a couple of days, plus the work shenanigans, soooo....

I too hope all is well with you BJR, it sounded like things were a little better last time you posted a few weeks ago, barring a few unreasonable demands...

I'm so sorry that it's gone off for you again jiggle, the 1950s is no way to live. Being at home with children, and being in formal employment is both work. If he genuinely thinks YABU for wanting him to help with work round the house, I think you do need to have words- a DP/DH is not a 'D' if they're only good when times are good... It's a slightly different matter if both kids are school age and out the house, but you're wrangling a baby at the moment!
I have sympathies as DP came from a home like this, and sometimes can be very self-centred/thoughtless. TBH, if you do feel you'd be better off alone, then I'd start taking him to task on his shit behaviour- if the worst that could happen is that you'd split up, and you're OK with that, then it gives you a lot of power.
But do keep posting here, it's what we're here for!

I think hop's suggestion for a thread title is AWESOME, and should definitely go forth with that one We need to catch up on True Blood too, and get the new series of Misfits recorded, missed this week's so will need to get it on catchup.

GBT I don't know how you cope with no nap at this stage, I think DP and I would keel over if we didn't get a break from DS at the weekend! Sounds like it'll be a couple of weeks to adjust, barring the bloody clock changes that I join you at wibbling about. I'm going to be up at 5 am on Sunday if I'm lucky

Your DD's teacher is officially a FOOL, in a BA Baracus way. I can absolutely promise you that (and I say this as the daughter of someone who has five degrees, four of which are in this subject and who has spent all their life teaching in everywhere from prisons to universities) she is best off just reading. If she loves books, wonderful, that's the main thing, and the whole point in developing reading is that kids work out what new words mean from the context of the text, and they can discuss it with you.

Oi, I'm channeling you- I have seen a coat I fell in love with and am ferreting out my savings to buy. This happens about once a decade so I don't feel too bad!

[QueenofClean]

Jiggle I understand you don't want to split up your family but you need to consider your happiness too. Your 'D'H is being very unreasonable and you need to pick him up on it.

We are going to book our holiday to Majorca tonight/tomorrow. Who's joining us?!!

Darcie got a friend to stay over night tonight so DH has got them Despicable Me to watch and lots of popcorn, hopefully that will keep them quiet for a bit.

Northern I wish we could afford for me to channel my inner Oi which I will be able to do in the January Sales :)

Enjoying the peace whilst the girls are at school/nursery. time for a cuppa.

[Figgygal]

Qoc I'm really hopeful for a holiday next year had sort of ruled it out in hope would be pg but as that's up in the air I'm having a bloody holiday and he will just have to like it!!

Off to drop DS off with PIL won't be back until tomorrow night have left him loads before but not for quite this long feel all wibbly about it ......stoopid cow

[mopsytop]

Oh dear jiggle . As usual I've no sensible advice (I'd make the worst agony aunt ever) but keep talking on here if it helps.

Northern really need a nice wool winter coat but can't find a nice one. I want it fitted at the waist to flatter my curves. What's the one you saw like.

In other news I am GIVING UP DIETING . I've been going up and so down the same five pounds for months. I'm sick of the self loathing when I go up. I'm sick of judging myself negatively based on my weight. I'm sick of constantly thinking about food in terms of good and bad. Enough. I am now going to just eat 3 times a day during the week, indulge a bit at weekends and stop agonising. If I pile on the pounds obviously I'll have to rethink but stopping dieting isn't an excuse to stuff my gob with cake. It is an attempt to change my negative relationship with food and my body. I really don't want Minimopsy to inherit that. I'll let you know if I feel more positive about my body as a result. Buying the new dresses at the weekend was a first step. Instead of continually waiting until I'm a 'nicer' weight I've decided to buy fab clothes at my current size that look lovely and fit well. And feel fabulous right now instead of waiting for a mythical skinny me to show up. I tried some quite figure hugging dresses in phase 8 which actually looked lovely but not ready to flaunt my curves that much so bought more flared skirts. But I'll get there! I'm a size 12-14 at the moment. So I'm going to learn to love that.Well I'm going to try...

[mopsytop]

PS figgy if it makes you feel any better I'm going to a conference next week and will be away mon-sat. Massive wobbles about leaving minim for that long

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

So. Tired. Might. Die.

[OiMissus]

Love the thread title hop. Perfect!
Boi didn't have daytime naps last weekend at all, but still did 1-2 hours at the gp's and cm's. aw! It's just for us!
Went to an evening at bennybenbear's last night. Looking at Arbonne products - paraben-free, botanic lovely beauty/cleansing products (a baby range too!) very nice. I was signed up to have the tummy wrap demo, but then wasn't allowed to - due to potential pg. so I'll have to stay size 12-14 for this weekend too!
Off to the caravan as I type. (DH is driving.) sunny lincs here we come!

[jigglebum]

Trouble is he genuinely cannot see that he might even be a tad unreasonable and any "discussions" we have end up with him just justifying his behaviour and making out that I am expecting far too much and that he does more than most dads (what comparison that is from I dont know)

Truth is most of the time I can just get on with my /our lives and ignore him and his behaviour, which most of the time seems preferable to the upheaval of separation (and he can, at times, be nice!) I will reassess over the next year though and see.

Have both kids off today - we have done crafting, fed the ducks, been to the park, I ve done the washing, hoovered the house, started packing for the weekend and we are about to make cakes..... none of which will be noticed or appreciated by (d)h - it all just happens magically you know!!

[mopsytop]

God that would drive me mad jiggle!

[Aethelfleda]

Is it holibobs yet?

[QueenofClean]

Jiggle - DH drives me mad sometimes when he doesn't realise what he says can't be fecking hurtful/annoying but he is very supportive indoors wrt housework and looking after kids, since we had that big argument at beginning of the year... I think you need to pick your DH up on it and make him aware younbare thinking of leaving if he doesn't buck his ideas up.

Aethel - Half term has started here. Darcie had a friend to stay last night and been as good as gold

Sky has decided she no longer wants a bottle YAY so they have been packed away.

Have you all battened down the hatches ready for the hurricane tomorrow?

[mopsytop]

I'm supposed to be flying to Germany on Monday... hope the storm doesn't cause flight to be cancelled!

[Aethelfleda]

Hmm, don't want a hurricane!

[mopsytop]

What's quince cheese aethel?

Having take out sushi tonight. Nom. Can't wait!

[Figgygal]

Home from London epic time had, DS basically cried since picking him up he was so exhausted. Wind is blowing in Bristol eek very paranoid about conservatory roof.