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.

No Rubes, they did break a child and didnt tell us until they randomly mentioned it as they left. Ruined freshly painted walls, put dirty clothes back in the cupboards loads of stuff actually.

Well done with MIL.

Omg Jam I don't remember that. I thought one of the monkeys had a temperature and you were worried about going away. Who was that then, must have been someone else on here.

Had such a lovely day, lots of giggles a delish aperol and prosecco lunchtime treat. And finished the day off with a massage before catching the train home. DH had cooked a yummy tea so feeling quite relaxed. Missed the boys a teeny bit.

Good God, don't remember that much detail either! I totally understand. Makes my mil sound like passive aggressive Mother Theresa.
In a dilemma about Christmas plans, and also planned to take dh to work next. Anywho, bit wound up and full of bubbles, so must sleep on it. I know I'm also upset about ongoing db situ. Wish I didn't dwell on things so much [sigh]

good nights all x

Have you survived the weekend without popping Jam? When does your DH return (& when is you EDD?)?

Rubes, sorry to hear things still aren't great with your brother. What is happening now?

Rubes my MIL is saccharine sweet passive aggressive. Normally doesn't ever make comment about DH going away. When he did the 3mth 7day a wk thing never once contacted me to ask if all was ok. Never mentions getting in touch if I need help. Then on Fri eve neither of our reg babysitters could come so had to ask them to sit. When she left all sweetness and light I will be in touch over the wkend see how you are getting on and don't forget to call us if you need anything. But DH was there so it was a real show for him. Then walking out the door said cant help if you go into labour though. And surprise surprise not a dicky bird from them all wkend.

Whats happening with your DB, is this all from when they visited ages ago?

RT how was your sleeping last night, any better?

wow Jam - how crappy. Just don't bother telling them until a bit after you've had the baby. Evil me.

Oh I don't know. Brother and I have always been quite close. ie calls on Skype, messages every other day or so just about nothing really. Since the post holiday fall out it's all changed. He would say he's talking to me, (and does to Mum) but it's only if I ask a specific question, and then it's one word answer text. He thinks I need to apologize, but I know his GF (and he) overheard incorrectly / misunderstood / only heard part of it so I refuse to when I don't think I should. Mum agrees (she was at end of phone) but won't get involved. I'm sure it'll mend in time, but makes me sad. Been going on since Beginning August. Stupid part is, his GF screamed and swore at me in a drunken rage one time when I was in a posh kids shop at Westfield, and I got ushered out of the shop. Not one word from her or him about that. It was so bad I refused her tickets not long after, then it just sort of blew over.

that was years ago but point is I never got an apology from either of them. And even if I did say a few things about them that fateful phone call -gate night in Summer - it was all stemming from my disappointment with their focus of holiday with us etc. Nothing sinister. Anyway, too long and complicated and multifactorial to explain on here. Just gets me down. Probably just all need to get together again, except not sure when that would be.

Thats crap Rubes. I can only sympathise I fell out with one of my sisters and it took several yrs to get better so I understand your pain. Have some and a and of course

It's really sad when disagreements rumble on Rubes. I can imagine you feel sad. Any chance of a trip to Oz next year.

Thanks for asking about sleep Jam. No better I'm afraid. This morning I decided to try getting DS to nap in his cot (I normally feed him to sleep on my bed) and he screened for 45 mins with me going in every two mins. I eventually gave up. He starts nursery in two months and they aren't going to breast feed him on a cosy king size bed every time he is tired. Every time I do any kind if controlled crying our au pair is so visibly distressed that I feel like Cruella De Ville and give in.

Talking of nursery my work have today agreed to my bid to work a short Thursday and work from home Friday. So I will be home after school two days a week which will feel so different to my old hours. I will work v l

Oops

... V long hours Mon-Weds ('til 10pm on Mondays!) but DH has negotiated a short Monday so he can do school pick-up then. I feel so good that the girls will have one or other parents at home with them after school three days a week for the next few years. Plus DS will only do two long days and two short days in nursery. I feel we may have cracked this work/life balance thing AND DH will be really involved.

Rubes sorry that the situ with your DB is still rumbling on. It sucks big time.

Jam, your MIL sounds like my sisters MIL. My BIL is in the Navy, used to be away 8/9 mths at a time and her PIL never once picked up the phone to see if she was okay, how she was coping with 3 boys all under 7, never visited or anything. It drove her mad because as soon as BIL came back they were phoning up, all pleasant on the phone, when can they visit etc etc. My sister actually stopped speaking to her MIL completely. Think its been about 5 years now

Arti glad your working hours are looking good - when are you going back?

Don't know re trip to aust arti. Next year could be tricky as I have a green card to sort out in the US. Alsoa potential US wedding and probably dh moving place of work again (last time)
Just off the dreadmill. No time for primping so guess I'm turning up for school run a disheveled mess again.

Oh and arti that work set up sounds fab!

Argh I feel Bleurgh. After my lovely laydees day out yesterday I feel crap today. Tummy pains and general tiredness. Ds1 has something similar and was off school today. Ds2 is fine but I kept him off as easier than having to pick him up. We mostly watched Animal Planet channel while I dosed on & off all day. Can't believe how much I have slept. I have to be really tired or sick (or on night duty) to sleep during the day. I had to miss crossfit and I'm not sure if I'm going to make Pilates tomorrow.

Rubes, is it the GF who is causing the problem with DB. I mean maybe there was the initial supposed insult that she has continued to whinge about to him so he won't leave it because she keeps at it. DYKWIM.

Arti that all sounds great with the job. Don't worry about the nursery naps for DS. Ds1 would never nap in his cot at home and would only ever feed or be walked in his pushchair to sleep. But at nursery apparently he was one of their best sleepers. He used to happily lay down played with his blanket for a bit then off to sleep. Bizarre

I don't know Vag, I mean, He let rip on my claiming HE overheard me bitching as well, but to be honest, I think they both genuinely believe what they thought they heard, and my mum won't say to them, what she said to me ie mum said " I cannot believe they are reacting like this - you didn't say very much bitching to warrant this" (she was the other end of the phone call that night, and she was also sober ) She says she's "suggested" they are over-reacting, but she doesn't want to labor the point as she has had a bit of a one sided relationship with my db of and on at times. They are going to be with them at Christmas, and she said she will have a chat with them, but tbh I'm fed up, and if she does my db will say "I am talking to her" (but he's not really if you know what I mean) Urgh, I don't know.

Hmm Vag, tiredness, sicky feeling, withdrawl method, Maybe you're clackered!??!!

The prettiest Xmas wrapping paper is ever seen bought from Costco is quite possibly the most messy and annoying ever. Tape doesn't stick, glitter everywhere. OCD thru the roof.

Crikey that reminds me Rubes we've not bought or eventhought about what to get the boys for Christmas. It needs to be ssmallish as we need to drive them all over to Austria. We can get a couple of bigger things and give them those for Sinta Klaus here on the 5th December. I might be cheeky and buy them some new clothes with characters they like on them. They are both really into mine craft at the moment and star wars Oh might also get the lego star wars wii game. Oh and DS1 is right into the beast quest book series so might get a few more of those. Wow I'm answering my own questions. Anyone with older ones (6+) what good chapter books in English are kicking about these days. We have read most of the Walliams books and DS1 is quite into fantasy novel type stuff and knights and Archery. Any recommendations? I might also freshen up their dress ups box.

Haha and definitely not that Rubes. Would have to almost be immaculate conception. Still feeling crap today but feel on the mend at least. I have skipped pilates in favour of tidying the house and getting some reading down for uni.

Am waiting outside Boots for it to open like some kind of addict. Going to get strongest codeine I can get over counter. Perhaps I won't pose the question to pharmacist like that. Dh forgot / had no time to get it.

The answer is, not very strong [sigh]

Dh just said have a good rummage in the first aid kit. Found exactly what I just bought. Pissy strength codeine. Gin and tonic it is then....

sorry to post and run, but in answer to your question vag, Mr Gum series (Andy Stanton) very popular in our house. There is a great audio book set as well, which is one of the few that doesn't make me want to shoot myself after it has been on for the 6th time on a long car ride...

sorry to post and run, but in answer to your question vag, Mr Gum series (Andy Stanton) very popular in our house. There is a great audio book set as well, which is one of the few that doesn't make me want to shoot myself after it has been on for the 6th time on a long car ride...

sorry to post and run, but in answer to your question vag, Mr Gum series (Andy Stanton) very popular in our house. There is a great audio book set as well, which is one of the few that doesn't make me want to shoot myself after it has been on for the 6th time on a long car ride...

aargh not sure what happened there. you can tell I don't do this a lot. stuck waiting for v late colleague. annoying