December 08 ers still going strong.

[Vagolajahooli]

Hello ladies, can you believe we will be entering into a 6th year of this thread this year?

argh I'm emotionally exhausted from having to deal with our stupid mortgage provider. If you see that a Australian women has travelled across from the Netherlands, walked into a building society branch of a bank in Chelsea and screamed hysterically at all the banks staff before headbutting each and every one of them...that'll be me.

anyway squishy baby talk is lovely, but contemplating husband snippage, do we snip or don't we snip? That is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the hassles of condoms and withdrawal methods. It's a tricky one isn't it. I don't want anymore but it's kinda nice to have the option. I feel menopause might be a tricky time in the Vag household.

DH refuses to snip as feels unmanned. plus he's terrified of needles. I'd keep your options open Vag....

I don't like the idea of the snip. I always think the worst, like what if I die and he meets someone else. That's very morbid.

Too funny we have had the same conversation in our house. DH has made an appointment to talk to a GP as they do it at our surgery.

I'm on the mini pill. yawn. just eaten 3 lamb chops. yum. no wonder I'm a bit chunky...

I've never explored the snip thoughts of dh in any detail. I touched on it and he agreed with me as I'm weird about it myself. Only for far fetched reasons, but hey ho. I watched one of those "having a child to save another" documentaries, and it stemmed from there. Mini pill was shocking for me but tbh I think it's hormones in general.
Vag. If there's any head-butting by an Aussie psycho woman in the uk anytime soon, I can assure you it will be me! Perhaps we can join forces!
Dh working but we've had a nice pub meal. Got to grab the chance while we can.
I have more to say but need to get on with phone calls back home. Things have gone tits up for my poor bro. He's a good guy with terrible cards dealt. I want to check in due to Aus waking hours now.
Back soon x

Rubes I just had a mental image of you and I walking down the Strand, you, immaculately dressed, me, a bit shabby, we are side by side randomly headbutting passersby.

Vag ha ha!!! I would say that is quite an accurate depiction! Apart from me being immaculately dressed. Right now I've got 7 year old trackie pants on, an old jumper which I'll probably sleep in for comfort factor, red wine lip stained marks and tragic black circles under my eyes. I'm prepared to confront Scottish widows, nationwide, abbey, woolich, and I'll throw in any/every estate agent as well at this point.
When are you over?

Just recovering from a sickness bug so violent I've managed to get a burst blood vessel in my eye and just around my eye on the skin at bottom. Lovely!

I've thought that kayz about the snip. I must be morbid too. I'd like dh to get it done though as we're not having anymore. I keep thinking about the coil but there are stories on the wider mn of endless bleeding, pain and pregnancy .

Oh Hons, I had that burst vessel when I was pregnant and was poisoned by Goji berries. Grim grim grim, glad you are over it.

Sorry I've been off for a bit, girls. Still lots of admin to do re: poor FIL and been feeling a bit flat generally. Anyway, catching up on a few general points of chit chat, I don't think DP would ever have the snip. He hates the idea I think he also feels it would be emasculating. And is very squeamish generally. But contraception is a massive pain in the crack isn't it? The coil scares me, condoms are rubbish, the Pill is problematic. If anyone find a perfect solution, let me know. To those using the withdrawal method...beware (cf: my DD2!)

Rubes, what is happening with your poor brother? What is the latest on the house saga? And presumably you are unaffected by the floods? DP is having probs getting to work as Oxford and Reading are bad, but we are ok here. It's just muddy.

Beans, I am glad your friend was nicer when you spoke to her. I think not being thrilled when someone asks you to be a godparent is really off. I hope it was just a miscommunication. On the friends from Uni thing, I am in close contact with one person, and in intermittent contact with someone else. I have a few school friends but they are far flung and we keep in touch via email etc rather than seeing each other much. The friends I see are probably from the last 15-20 yrs. I have lots of friends round here but quite often I find it a bit much and avoid everybody I am a strange combo of social and anti-social.

Vag, there are two veggie restaurants in Madrid that I know of. I will send you the details, they've both been going yonks. Are you in London now?

Which brings me on the next thing: Fri 28 Feb was mooted as a date for an evening meet up for London/southerly ladies. It's still in my diary, I have told my book group I will not be attending that evening and I will be in London in the afternoon, which neatly segues into a night out with you lot. SO, who is with me?? Will start a thread.

Deids, I am so thrilled DS is getting on well at school and not at all surprised. That is lovely. His pre-school had demonised the poor child, pure and simple, and now he is in a normal environment he is of course prospering.

Kayz, there are things your DH could try to boost his credit a bit (ironically like spend money on credit cards but pay it back almost immediately). Is it worth seeing a financial advisor at the bank or something for general advice? The house looked very spacious. I am sure the boys would adapt at their ages.

Indith - please can I just reassure you that my house looks like a 'before' off 'How Clean is Your House' mixed with one of those hoarder programmes. And I don't have half the things on that you do. I am just crap at it. I try, and it just eludes me (probably because we have too much stuff). I get rid of bags and boxes of stuff constantly. But still the clutter. You are doing so much. Things will get easier in time but you know that.

Right, more to say but I have lost my bit of paper and I don't want this to disappear before I move on to the next chunk.

Grest to hear from you, Lady. I love your monster posts.

DH has just rung in the midst of a meltdown from all 3 girls. was quite spectacular and he rang off fairly quickly. Can't say I blame him!!! all calm again. I had to prepare dinner with DD3 attached at the hip. my arm aches! all ok now though. Nudity cheers DD3 right up. she just gave herself a fantastic surprise by doing a huge fart. I was astonished and highly amused by it. Yes I am 38. find nothing more entertaining than farts. heh heh. probably why DH married me.

right. very early bathtime tonight. I was lonely last night and so I moved DD1 into bed with me. was lovely. will probably do the same with DD2 tonight! so unlike me to want to share with my children.

now we're just missing Sybs... are you there my love?

What else? Ah yes, was amazed about the slagging washer driers got We have always had one though so I have never known any different. They don't get the washing completely dry unless you put really small amounts in though, that's very true. But we haven't got the space for two items so I will suck it up.

Arti, your hols sound very nice. I am counting the days until we go to Spain in April. How is your au pair these days? And are you settling back into the rhythm of your long hours or still feeling a bit frazzled? I'm hoping it's easing...How are you getting on with DD2? My DD1 is still full of tears, rage, grumpiness. It is honestly like living with a teenager. I spend my life trying to please her and it is nigh on impossible but I have to keep trying as she is so vulnerable at the same time. I worry about her. I worry she is going to have an unhappy life.

Invis, your poor DS. What a worry. However, it is true that the treatments for such things are superwhizzy these days. Are you biting your nails for the results of your interview? Certainly a long wait if you won't know until the end of March. Have just started reading an Elizabeth Taylor book for the first time. Like her style. She's an author I have been meaning to get to for yonks.

Oh, and Beans, re: your sister and the thread - there is a help group called Co-Dependents UK. Google them. If you could somehow get her to go to that I can't help but feel it would be more positive than the navel gazing with a psychiatrist. Sorry, should have put that on the thread

Cracking tv last night - did anyone see Line of Duty? If you didn't, it's on the BBC iPlayer. It's series 2 but you don't really need to have watched series 1 as it's a new story. It's about a special unit in the police force that investigate police corruption, and it's REALLY GOOD. I also watched Inside Number 9 after, which are half hour stand alone comedy dramas. Also very good.

I made an avocado and spinach soup last night that was out of Saturday's Times. It grew on me. Have knocked off the booze as I had so much in Dec and particularly in Jan. However, will have a spot of cheerfulness tomorrow night in honour of VD. I don't care for Valentine's Day...but I try to show willing and not be a total curmudgeon.

When's he back, Beans? Crumbs, I wish I was in India (though I suppose he is working and it's not the same!)

Can't believe I have got over another year until DD2 starts school. I am in no rush though. She is such a ray of sunshine. I feel for DD1. DD2 got the positivity gene.

Can I ask what, if anything, you would do about this?

DS1 has been doing a football club after school since October on a Thursday. It is at school but a man from the local team comes in to do it.

3 times now DS1 has been elbowed in the face by the same boy on purpose, mainly because DS1's team has won. His nose was bleeding this time. Tonight the boy shoved one boy, elbowed DS1 and then shoved another boy. He gets asked to say sorry each time. Tonight he was yelling he hadn't done anything despite the coach and parents seeing it happen.

It was his Nan picking him up tonight and she muttered the annoying line of "Well he's a boy", which I bloody hate.

I am thinking of seeing DS1's teacher in the morning or the head as they aren't in the same class. But they don't usually play together and today was the last football club as after the half term they swap clubs and do something else.

I am just fed up of DS1 being bashed for no reason.

Should I leave it or have a word in the morning?

He's back late tomorrow Lady. yay! well, hopefully 8ish. I have fillet steak with peppercorn sauce. suspect I'll be eating both myself if he's delayed!

am having a take away curry tonight because DH won't want curry for ages after this trip I think. he's going back in a couple of weeks. bleugh.

Kayz, I'm afraid I wouldn't know what to do in that situation. maybe speak to the mother? did the teacher get involved? or speak to DS's form teacher?

Beans, the 2 previous times his mum was there and she just smiles and says "Oh I don't know what to do with him"

I know, because she's told me, he watches his Dad and older brother play 15 and 18 rated games and he gets into a lot of trouble at school for fighting and pretending to shoot people. But his parents are very much of the opinion that it is ok as he is a boy and that is what boys do.

But because they don't usually play together I don't know if I should just leave it.

When Will they be playing football together next?

They won't. It swaps round after next week.

I'd be inclined to leave it then, Kayz x

Hi Lady! Lovely to hear from you. It's nice you have so many local friends now (even if you prefer to ignore them sometimes!). Why is DD1 so upset in the evenings, is it specific things or just her general mood?

DD2 is actually being lovely at the moment, it's change she hates so last summer/autumn was really hard with the arrival of DS, loss of her nanny, start of school and the au pair moving in. Now all that has settled down she is being lovely and funny. Her tummy is still a worry though, she's in crying pain several times a week, we've been referred to a paediatric gastroenterologist but its a worry.

Beans, well done on surviving so long without your DH. Good on DD3 for keeping you amused with some naked farting!

Kayz, if probably leave it too but if there is another incident with the same boy I'd have a word with the school.

Vegita, I saw on FB that you've told the boys' schools you are leaving. Big step! Have you started Aussie house hunting yet?

Hons, I hope your poor eye recovers quickly. Stomach bugs are hell aren't they?

Rubes, what's up with your bro? Are you to back to being close again now?

Lady I forgot to answer your question re work. I'm getting used to it thanks, it's lovely having two days of picking the girls up from school and it makes the long hours early in the week easier to bare, I do wish it wasn't financially necessary for me to be full time though. I guess that's the price I pay for living in this house (which I love). The au pair is working out brilliantly at the mo, the girls love her and she is very good with them, I quite like having her around the house too.

Happy VD, ladies. Looking forward to a curry tonight for a treat, mmmm. DP amazed me by buying me a new pair of Prada sunglasses. I feel quite bad, as we don't usually go overboard today and I got him a couple of silly things and a card.

Kayz, if that lad won't be crossing paths with that boy again I'd leave it. I know it's very upsetting when someone hurts your child, though.

Arti, it's great that you are getting used to your routine a bit and that the au pair is working out. Actually, DD1 is worse in the mornings, generally, but also when she gets in from school. She is just generally grumpy and a worrier. In fact, he is very like DP in that regard Anyway, at least you have now got a referral for DD2. Will it be soon?

Thread for evening London meet up here

Funny you should ask Heartyista I am currently wasting possible study time looking at rentals in the Fig Tree Pocket area of Brisbane. Really no point as we aren't going to be needing something until possibly the new year. We could easily stay with family until the boys school starts or DH gets a job, whichever comes first. And really I don't expect anyone to let us rent their property until DH gets gainful employment. But it's fun to look. My mum and I keep looking up a property that has been for sale for sometime now down in an area of Fig tree pocket which is closer to the river. But really it would be silly to even contemplate as a) we have no money b) buckleys and none chance of getting a loan. We would like to rent something initially with the view to getting an idea of where we want to live and would like somewhere that our niece can come stay with us. She is currently in Brisbane doing a BA and will be starting her Dip. Ed next year so would be perfect for a extra help with boys, with school pick ups etc, as long as we don't have our prac placements at the same time.

we are doing a romantic indonesian take away tonight Lady, bit of a treat. And watching a movie at home.

OMG I've just discovered a sweet little rafting river near to where we want to live. yay will be able to get the kayaks out.