Start your runners (talk) and your new jars of Jam, 'tis the season-almost.

[Vagolajahooli]

Here we are ladies, time for all that talk of christmas table runners and chrissie deccy colour combos. And will we be getting some new Jam in this thread! Maybe not quite.

Ah see I'm the opposite indith. We are having soft play party and many in the past when youngish parents have always stayed so assumed it was the same for school, then someone at the gates said they didn't trust themselves hosting a soft play party when they start school as all the parents bugger off and host is responsible! Cue slight panic at my ability to watch that many however I have had most parents saying they are going to stay. And if any parents bugger off they'll all help out watching them. Have confirmed 19. Only one can't make it and they said siblings can be paid for by individuals as and when. Otherwise I think it would get out of hand!
Agree Sybs. Pressie for us

Rubes we had 20 at soft play for DS birthday. Fortunately most if mums stayed and just had coffee & a chat. I never invite siblings (unless it's a family friend). I think a few turned up and the parents paid them in seperately. So I never did them party bags but did give then cage to take away. Seems to be the norm here.

I'm knackered too much to do pre Christmas and DH seems to working constantly (stupidly short staffed to the point it's dangerous). I feel like a single parent. The house is a shit tip, ironing up the wall and I've just spent hours wrapping presents. DH is tired and cranky from working so much, thankfully he's off Christmas Day but not much else . I'm rapidly losing my festive spirit!

Shall we say a tenner each (plus postage)? You can get quite a lot for a tenner.

Sorry you are overwhelmed, Deids. Can you get someone in to help you with the cleaning so you have a bit less to do?

tenner it is.
Yes deids the only sibling I have coming is an outside of schooler. I've only done extra party bags as most of the party stuff came in packs of six so I needed two more to make it 20 {originally} so I def don't want that noisy crapola hanging about plus dd was in floods at a couple of parties when she didn't get one.
Get back your spirit deids! We can discuss table runners if you like? I still don't have one......

Just gone a little postal at dh as he swapped his on call tomorrow so he's be back for ds's "actual" birthday and a bit of cake, and to put together the bike, but he's saying now he swapped it, but has clinic from hell which always overruns anyway..... [sigh] HATE that hospital.

Rubes we had a soft play party for DS1 for his 4th. We knew we were moving at that point so it became a kind of farewell for school also so all the parents came and we bought them tea & coffee but that was it. It was handy having them but for the food and cake cutting it was a bit hectic as it was in a little party room and it got a bit packed with adults. This year it is a soft play of sorts as it's a big blow up play area but they have supervisors so we can actually go up and have a coffee in the upstairs cafe. RSVPs are a problem here as parents only RSVP if their child is not coming. I find this really hard as I need definite numbers for the play center so I've had to go ask parents. For all I know their kid might not have handed over the invite. They seem completely surprised.

Oh and Hons forgot to say thanks for the terms. I found the first but not the meta. I just needed to get me to the right area to start looking at how I will write the proposal. I still need to check with the lecturer to make sure she is happy with this. She may want something with juicy interviews or actual subject contact. But I'm hoping she'll be ok with it as it will kill two birds with one stone as I can use the assignment to apply for a special assessment unit for next term where I carry out the analysis between UK or NL and Australian data.

ds is on such good form - largely to do with the upcoming birthday and Christmas situations. Bounded out of school when I picked him up after my trip with a running hug and "I missed you mummy" at the top of his voice. Then today, Impeccable behavior, and asked if he could help me "manage" dd On the other hand, dd has been an utter minx, and for the first time ever at nursery, I was ushered aside before she saw me when I collected her, to have words about her behavior.
Planned a big ole, plotted a bedtime wind clocks forward plan, as I believed it was largely due to sleep deprivation, and she asked me to go to bed at 630pm - clearly haddit.

Vag, I keep meaning to say, I'm loving your drop ins of spewin etc! Do you have an official move back date? And what's happening with a meetup before you go? I think it would be criminal not to do an overnight kiddie free night away - thinking about it - a pub with rooms would be better as I don't think you can get a cottage for one night, then it's less pressure on the organizer.

DH still not home. Has left 20 min ago. have done pulled pork - does that go rubbish if it's not straight from the oven? Oh well....

Right I think all you little secret Santas have your presentees and addresses now. Let me know by pm if you don't.

Not actually booked yet (watching for the dates to go online as we speak) but looking at flying home at the end of November. DH finishes his contract at the end of October so we will have a month to finish up do a bit of travelling then head home. I think we will most likely book the flights out of London.

That is so sweet DS offering to help you manage DD.

I can't remember if I mentioned it but I had the talk with DS1's teacher and they still feel he could be doing better in school. They had a lady who I think is a psychologist interpret for me and she was a bit annoying. His teacher is treating it all as if there is something they need to do to help him and she talks about his daydreaming. Whereas the psychologist/interpreter talked about his tiredness (the teacher kept interrupting and saying "no, daydreaming"). They talked about how he still sometimes uses his fingers for adding and subtracting. I said we had noticed this at home and should we be discouraging it and showing him other ways to do it. His teacher said yes thats fine, but then the psychologists starting going on about if that is the way he does it, it is best to allow him to do it. Which completely confused me. I also talked about how after he plays the violin he is way better at doing complicated sums and doesn't seem to need to use his fingers. His teacher seemed very interested in that, but the psychologist just kind of brushed it off.

Anyway, they seem to want to tick some boxes that show they are trying to do something. So they are sending him for an IQ test and he needs to see the school doctors to check if there is anything medical going on. To br honest I think it's just him. He has always been the sort of kid who likes to be 100% sure he understands something. I think if you gave him and a bunch of his peers an exam he would take the longest to complete it but get the better score. At school he gets reasonable results, quite high in maths. But they seem obcessed with the fact that it takes him a long time to do things.

Thanks Vag!

Have just been to school to watch the musical assembly. It would appear that son 1 has inherited my lack of rhythm if his drumming skills are anything to go by.

Think I may have lost my mucus plug.

Ooooo Jammie, he is coming soon. I lost my

....

I lost my plug while having brunch in The Wolsley this time.

Have never had it before so not sure. It wasnt bloody but was snot like when i wiped.

I had DS2 and DD within 12 hours of losing my plug. Exciting Jam

Exciting news Jam!! My waters broke about 8 hours after losing the plug with both of mine

Crikey. Plug loss. No idea but sounds exciting!!
Ds bday today. He pretty much told everyone at school drop off he was 5 now. Small pressie this morn. Coming home for biggun.
Good luck jam!!!

Happy birthday B!

Good luck Jammy. I am sure you will have good news very soon. Much love xxx

Happy birthday B. Hope he's having a lovely day x

Happy Birthday B!

I have to say I lost my plug long before labour every time. It's not a dead cert sign but it is at least a sign of progress. Come on Mini Jam III!

Ooh exciting Jam. I've no idea when it went with DS1 but with DS2 mine went in the birthing pool sometime during transition.

Happy birthday big boy Rubes! My boy is still 4 & I'm clinging onto that.

Anyone else's birthday boy/girl having nightmares?

The boy is beyond excited. Dh cane in at 630 after hammering through clinic and arranging a deal to leave earlier. But then had to cycle as no bikes in trains before 7. And then I asked him to stop for wine - obviously. And had that weighing down his backpack
The new bike was a massive hit and he sort of rode it in the hall (I know!) and love love loves it!

Vag ds has the odd nightmare. Did while we were away and before that sort of randomly.
Sometimes doesn't tell me at time what it's about although last time did (he couldn't find dh anywhere and they were on a pirate ship full of baddies) not always remembers in the morning.
Infrequent tho - say once a month.

Right must go. Shattered.

DS has the odd random nightmare. It usually unsettles him for the night and I have to go into him a few times to give him a cuddle/reassure him. Prob every 4-6 weeks. Last time he was being chased by a T Rex no one could help him!!

Morning all.

Any news from jammy? Come on baby. I love a Christmas baby. Very excited.