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.

I'm going to try to go down to see her, but apparently a lot of police stuff going on tomorrow. the repercussions are just unthinkable with work etc. awful awful.

With am allegation like that over him I imagine he wil be suspended pending trial etc. how terrible. Stay strong. Much love xx

Vag, well done to DS, great work xxx

Oh beans what awful news. Your poor friend. Sending you lots of love. Xx

Oh Beans that is unspeakably horrid. I hope the guy is suspended and kept away from your friend until the trial.

Happy birthday to little Nolda. I hope he is enjoying his birthday in his new home.

And we'll done to Vegster son number one.

As a light diversion I will tell you that my girls found out today that adults get naked and kiss in order to make babies. DD2 screamed "that means you and daddy have got naked three times... and kissed!" She looked utterly horrified. Then she had a little think and said "I hope Miss P (her much adored teacher) doesn't have a naked body under her clothes, and I hope she never kisses daddy."

Love that, Arti xxx

Oh Beans I had a little tear for your friend. I have bad yukky words going around in my head about him. I don't know if it would help but maybe you could contact a women's rape survivors charity and ask them how you can help her.

RT, how did the girls come to find out how babies are made? Hmm? Did they walk into mummy and daddy's room at the wrong time? Also I notice you often refer to me as Veg, is this harking back to old times or is removing the 'e' & adding an 'a' a little too rude?

Super happy with DS1 today he follwed up his gymnastic success with a great afternoon ice skating with his mates and then took part in the violin Christmas music which was lovely. However, because we joined groups for the concert there were loads of parents we didn't know who go to the other music teacher. It is a different teaching style, non suzuki anda bit more formal. Anyway, dh and I were surprised how grumpy, pushy and snooty many of these other parents seemed. After one of the carols DS2 quietly kept singing the carol and this mum turned and glared at him. He was barely audible and I wasn't going to tell him to stop he was enjoying his singing. Grumpy trollop.

Oh beans. There are no words. I'd second vag about asking for advice from a rape charity. You need support yourself to be able to support her. without someone watching your back you'll be as useful as a chocolate teapot. No offence meant to you, you are wonderful. But you need to look after yourself too if you want to help her through this. my sister, much as we disagree on many things, works for a charity that provides support after rape and sexual violence. If you would like her details then just yell.

I'm in the bath. ds2 is the most unsettled sleeper in the world yet again. me and dh seem to fly between arguing all the time and being pathetically needy with each other and counting the days until our weekend away in Feb.

vag your boy is a star. Your came was fab too!

dd is another one enamored with the idea of being 5. She can't quite believe how grown up she will be and is counting the days.

love the naked thing dd once declared that daddy only had 3 seeds because we had 3 children.

What else have I read?

vag how are the assignments? I was on target. Now not sure, Christmas and birthday prep and lack of motivation getting in the way.

My "came"...um...thanks???

I have completely lost motivation too. I keep thinking "oh I'll just do my assignment when I get back from Christmas holidays" but that will only leave me a couple of weeks to finish it and DH is away on a boys weekend the weekend it is due. My own fault that one as I've been at him to get away with his mate in London who has a baby due mid Feb. I figured if they don't go soon they'll never do it before we leave. But forgot the ass was due then. Poop.

Beans if you type "how to help a friend who is rape victim" into Google a couple of pages with advice comes up.

Saddened by your news Beans
Just shocking. And the second time? Have no words. Sick bastard.

Had ds's party today for 20! He was beyond excited. Was exhausting but kids had so much fun. The boy has had a good week!

The house situ so complex and off and on by the hour. Fairly sure the vendor may have Alzheimer's, 80% sure the financial advisor is dragging his feet & 100% sure the estate agent is a wanker. As you can imagine- not a good combo. Will no more early next week, then I think by Friday will go one way or another. Am fed up. Looked at 2 houses yesterday and today as we need plan B in place.
anywho. Shattered. Night all.

No? Know.

Oh Beans how terrible for your friend.

Oops vag that was your cake that was fab .

rubes that sounds hideous. I'm sorry it is all so stressful.

Indith your mum & dad must be so proud a midwife and a working for a rape charity. I would be so chuffed if my boys got into areas like that.

Rubes that really crap that you have all that uncertainty at this time of year. Winter can be long and dark but the Christmas period brightens it up. Having this going on is a poo.

We have a small affair for DS2 today. After having all class do's for DS1, DS2 only wanted to invite a select group (shows the difference between the two, DS1 wants to please everyone, DS2 doesn't give a 4X who likes him, and he's not inviting kids he doesn't like). So I think after a couple haven't been able to come we onky have 5 kids coming plus DS1&2. However DS1 will have to go halfway through to go to his friends party. I'm so glad it's a small group. Kids parties here traditionally last 4 hours and it's quite exhausting.

Enjoy your party Vag. I love the idea of Arti being too delicate to call you vag. I suppose I think if Peolple with their original names. Arti isn't called Arti now, nor is lady or indeed several of us but I suppose we have all got too far in yo be blushing flowers.

Still got my blooming virus. Kids look a bit ropey too. Didn't go out in the end last night as I fell asleep while strictly was on! Oops! Got to defrost freezer now as we can't currently open it! Xxx

Urgh sybs, bugs are evil. crappy time of year to feel ropey, so much to do!

dcs both half way through doing Christmas cards for their classes. taking a break to ice biscuits to take in for teachers. I'm printing out photos from yesterday of dd and the class bear so she can stick them in the diary and write some sentences.

honestly, I must be about due on (given up counting, still all over the place). I'm so bloated, amongst over delightful symptoms, that I look about as pregnant as jammy. Thank goodness for comfy jumper dresses and leggings.

speaking of the jammy one. Where is she?

Am at the birthing center. The baby hasn't really moved today so came up to be monitored and of course he is jumping around all over.

Glad all the parties and bdays have gone well today.

Sybs eurgh to the lurgy. DS1 seems to have had something for the last half term.

Shit Jam I very nearly wee'd myself when you said you were at the birth center. I thought you must be in labour. Well anyway glad everything is alright and they got you to come in to be sure.

Blurry hell I'm shattered. We had nine 4, 5 & 6 year olds in the end (clearly I forgot who I'd invited). They were all brilliant and fantastically well behaved but spending 4 hours communicating in Dutch is quite tiring. But they all had a great time and loved my volcano cake (we went back to the old faithful). There were lots of "lekker taart" which is a good thing (though sounds a bit rude) & they played in the bouncy kidzone until they could barely speak they were so tired. I sent them home tired & well fed on chips, dodgy dutch fried food and vanilla volcano cake.

I promise to not write any more preg related posts until I am actually at the pushing stage. Have bored myself with it all

I am about to murder DH. He's stopped taking his maleria tablets as he thought he only had to take them for 2 weeks instead of the 4 he actually needs to take them.

Hopefully he won't get maleria. Dipstick.

I wouldn't worry too much Kayz. Most people I know who regularly work abroad/worked abroad for long stretches get to the point they just don't bother taking them. I remember when my friend came back to the UK after a few years in Rwanda, she had long stopped taking anything. She just worked out with the travel clinic what she was likely to have and took the cures for everything on her list .

Jam you are on the home stretch. Won't be much longer whichever way you look at it. Glad baby is well and bouncy.

Jammie I enjoy a good build up to baby set of posts. Post away. My friend had her third last night and it came a whole month early after her others were late.

Why is your DH coming off the malaria meds Kayz? Does he have a good reason or just can't be bothered?

RT, he has to take them for 4 weeks after coming home but he thought it was 2 weeks. So he last took one on Friday as that was his 2 weeks.

Not sure why he thought 2 weeks. It's always been 4.