March 2013- the one where plonk gets married!

[Gerrythetootallgiraffeswife]

Perilously close to filling the old thread suddenly!

Eco good news on the period. It's funny isn't it, how much you can dwell on these things that never come to pass? Hope EcoTod lets the bubble do its job without prodding and bursting it, or I think she'd have a very sticky out bottom lip indeed. And the millionaire lady...well she's probably just as aware of the difference as you are, and trying to rise above it. Obviously if she's one of those "Joffrey's gilded cot has Egyptian cotton sheets" types, run for the hills! (Do you have hills in Beds?)

Yummy am now imagining you chasing DS with a large fishing net. A la Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote.

Christmas. Feck. I think they're old enough to get excited by all the noise, toys and chocolate this year. We're having a self-imposed austerity Christmas, just DH, DS and me, in our hovel with a good roast dinner and a nice bottle of wine (cider for DS, obvs). A few small pressies but nothing stupid. The following day we get the joy of journeying to PILs so DH can swan off to the footie with his dad, and I might sneak over to DSis' because....

SHE'S IN LABOUR! Well. She might be in labour. She's in the very early 'are these contractions or gas' bit, but it's looking positive. Being 8 days over and all that.

Stormy are you referring to the Norman era (I think) division of Great Britain? So several kingdoms being East Anglia, Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria etc?

Mainly that, Trumps. But also meaning we've been invaded that many times and generally from the south, with colonisation spreading out from the south east purely thanks to the geography. So animosity between south and north has a long and bloody history.

eco I saw you on the Christmas threads! The magpie tip was a good one, not seen that before. And yay for your period yummy I've started thinking about Christmas too because we are hosting!!! not going to go overboard on presents for DS though as he will get loads from family anyway.

I was pleased Scotland voted no. With everything going on in Syria etc etc we are definitely stronger together. I also read that North Korea were hoping we would separate so that confirmed my thoughts!!!

doli how was the heart scan? Or is it coming up? Is that because of dolitod's murmur? Hope all A-ok anyway. I thought of you earlier when I are a spoonful of peanut butter!!

trump any more baking? The oaty crumble sounded very nice even If it wasn't quite to plan. Thanks for the cookbook tip I'll have a look.

zeds I'm at your treatment from your work colleagues. How juvenile! Fingers crossed the new job starts well, by the sounds of it things can only be better!!

shattered I hosted last year and will be hosting this year. I love being at home during christmas. How many are coming? My tip is to do your shopping list a couple of months before and add as you go along. There is something that seems to be forgotten. Last year I forgot to make the stuffing but no one was bothered. A lot of the preparation i.e veg and dessert can be done the night before. If you are cooking get the others to do the washing up.

stormy the history of Cyprus is a whole other thread. Just like all history different countries will explain things differently. When dh did the life in the uk test he was surprised about some of the history that we were being taught in the uk.

I think our toddlers are still at the having fun with he boxes and wrapping paper stage. I mean who here can recall Christmas when they were 21 months? So don't stress about not being able afford Christmas. Teenage stage is worse I think.

I think trump is going to have the best Christmas snuggling a newborn and being able to give back the baby when it's bedtime.

gerry are you ok? If you are lurking and don't have time to post just post a smiley face.

Name changed, but hopefully obvious...

No didn't resent anything in London at all Trumps I loved it, I was just illustrating a point, and my point was supposed to be we should all, where ever we are, appreciate what we get from other parts of the country. The South East provides economic stability, the North many many other things, you Northerners are best placed to clarify those. In my idealistic little brain I would like people to to a bit grateful for what the country gives us, and not resent others. The whole Scots v London thing really riled me in a way nothing in politics ever has before or probably will again. Not helped by the fact we are trying to start a business venture up North at the moment but are being thwarted at every turn by protectionist local government policy. Can't buy x, or sell to y because we are not local. Can't get planning for z, because we are not local. Never mind that no one local has any interest in setting this up. Never mind that it would provide jobs for locals. Bloody ridiculous.

But I'm beyond boring. Feel free to confirm this any time you wish. Shut up me

Trumps keep us posted on the labour front. How exciting!!!

Eco good news on the period front... bad body for freaking you out like that. Who'd be a woman, honestly. The things we have to deal with! Although I don't really mean that, obviously, there are upsides.... like toddles. Toddles are a definite consolation for things like periods. Mine is being especially cute today. I took her to the park to play on the swings and made the mistake of saying 'Ugh yucky' when she started throwing dirt at me. Ugh yucky is now her favourite phrase, ever, and throwing dirt her favourite activity. Oh well...

Did someone say Xmas????? Surely not. I am in denial. I plan to stay there a while.

Eco the play date issue.... it works like this. You meet first in a cafe or park, and if you get on well it ceases to become an issue. Most people are happy to make a new friend, those who get weird about where you live have issues of their own you probably don't want to have to deal with. That's a lot of issues I've said there. Stormy proof reader in chief. Red pen. Away now!

Shattered the scan is next week, after which I can relax and coast hopefully to the end with minimal effort. The best news on the scans front is dd's nursery have juggled to fit her in on Tues, so DH can come to the 20 week scan with me . It was really lovely of them. I think they felt sorry for me going on my own. Helps that the admin lady is just back from maternity leave so very tuned into all things baby.

Bad night last night - we had snot, and coughing, and midnight water requests. I can't hold that against her though, as I get very thirsty in the night when I have snot too. Goes with the territory.

Zed I'm rubbish, I keep meaning to say well done on the new job, and two fingers up to the old one. So WELL DONE and two fingers .

Night all. I have nothing to rant about today. It has been remarkably calm chez moi. I can't even get riled about the French. BIL is French, and parents live there (and love it). I even speak a tiny bit of it. Vive La France

Like I said Worse, I think it's crossed wires. I am absolutely not disputing what the SE does for the rest of the country. By the same token I am not painting myself as a northerner (having lived in the midlands all my life, I'm neither here not there). I just get sick of our national press being so London centric, and as a result I'm probably in the camp supporting devo max for many uk cities. As an aside, I'm quite in awe of you for putting up with such a bum deal in London, and managing to remain positive during that time. No one should have to live with yardie gunfights on their doorstep! Especially when, as you say, you're getting taxed to buggery and not seeing where those taxes go.

Hope your scan goes swimmingly. No reason why it wouldn't, obviously, but these routine tests are always a bit hmm-worthy f you catch my drift.
Anyway. I am at my parents tonight and absolutely stuffed full of fish cakes and apple crumble. And white wine. Oh I meant to say... I feel like a candidate for the most brain dead parenting award. Having suspected DS's crack of dawn wakings have been more to do with an empty tummy than anything else, I decided to completely follow his lead food wise today. I think I got so used to an old routine that he outgrew way back. Anyway, tonight just before bathtime we were in the kitchen, him sat on the work top beside a punned of raspberries and some tomatoes. He began to inhale the lot, despite having had dinner a couple of hours before. Twenty minutes later and he'd eaten 6 cherry toms, god knows how many strawberries, 3 Doritos (thanks mum) and a crumpet wight jam. He then drank 6 flozzes of a Jersey cow's finest.

Ladies, my name is Trumpy, and my child has hollow legs. little bugger best sleep through now

Scuse typos. All this posh food has rendered me thick. With fat fingers.

Is it growth spurt time again Trumpy. Hollow legs here too. Yesterday she ate a portion of fish pie that would have done me, then pudding, and was still hungry enough for an extra half bottle of milk before bed. V odd. Anyone remember the days when I could not get her to eat, anything? Seems so long ago now!

I'm all in support for devolution, but full fiscal devolution. I strongly believe that if local government are able to vote preferential treatment for their constituency, such as free university education, free prescriptions and better and free care for pensioners, then they should pay for that themselves. It is basic equality.

No hollow legs here, Fartypants will still only eat small quantities, and only about four different things. This morning she was experimenting with eating weetabix with her hand. Presumably the squelchy sensation is pleasing, if the excited flapping and subsequent weetabix everywhere is anything to go by. Comforting myself with the knowledge that I was just as fussy at that age, whereas now I, for example, see a plate of cabbage and think yum!

Has anyone got steps or a stool or similar for their small person yet? Looking for recommendations. For the first time ever, Fartypants washed her hands at the kitchen sink this morning. Had to stand on a chair to do it. Immediately afterwards she started dragging said chair over towards the front door. I fear age may be plotting escape.

New words since my last count: zebber (Zebra), monkey, Mickey (as in mouse), and a fair attempt at Octonauts.

Ooh quick tip for those considering removing the side of a cot - Aldi are selling Lindam bedguards for £15. We will be road testing it tonight!

Good luck, Trumps. What's the plan for ensuring you don't spend five hours going up and down the stairs and putting him back into bed non-stop this evening?

Umm.

A big run around in the park this afternoon and a mahoosive supper!

Well, it could go either way. He could be an absolute bugger to get to sleep for months, like my eldest niece. Or he could be like my middle niece, and not actually realise he can get out of bed for several years yet. Fingers crossed for the latter!

Yep, absolutely hoping for the latter. He doesn't nap in a cot or pushchair at nursery anymore - he's on a trundle bed thing that they pack away when it's not in use. So hopefully the groundwork's already been laid. He's shockingly bad in his travel cot, and I don't blame him. It'll be sooo much easier to visit folks once he's capable of sleeping in a normal bed.

For those who are interested, I've had some success with Hugh FW's rye grissini breadsticks. They're delicious and these non-standard flours don't seem to bother my IBS. Happy days!

Trumps have you tried wheaten soda bread? I used to make it with wholemeal spelt flour during my IBS days. It's delicious toasted, much much nicer than ordinary bread, and I found it really easy on the stomach as if you make it with spelt it is wheat and yeast free. Plus soda bread takes minutes to make, so you can have a loaf on the table less than an hour after getting the mixing bowl out of the cupboard.

Worse and Trumpy I'm coming to end of a wheat free and dairy free week to help get my tummy back on an even keel. Your recipes sound lovely;I'd love to see the recipes if possible please. I have been having spelt and feta scones with soup and stuff but it's nice to mix it up.

And worse, it's nice you're back as worse Easier on my brain!

Worse I will give it a try. I've been eyeing up those tiny really dark brown brick like loaves in the shops and wondering how well they'd suit me. Knowing that I can probably make something suitable for a poached egg is good!

Eco how about coconutty curries with rice? Or rye flatbreads? I've just had a very yummy pearl barley risotto with kale, mushrooms and leeks. And half a pig thrown in for good measure.

So ds went up to bed 20 mins ago. Not heard a peep yet. We did let him play on his "new" bed for a bit earlier and he seemed quite chuffed. Still asked me to lift him up instead of just, you know, getting down. I'm hoping his natural lazy streak plays it's part in this transition.

Eco it's nice to be back. I feel much more me in this guise.

Wheaten soda

450g wholewheat flour (or wholewheat spelt flour)
2 tsp salt (I use less)
1 teaspoon bicarb of soda
10floz buttermilk (or 5floz sour cream plus 5floz water)

• Preheat oven to 220C/425F
• Mix dry ingredients in a bowl
• Add wet ingredients, quickly stir together lightly. You need to use a bit of judgement on the amount of liquid to form a light not too wet dough. Add a little extra water if needed.
• Knead very lightly into a round ball to get surface smooth.
• Cut half way through with a sharp serrated knife, both ways, to form a cross
• Bake in top half of oven for 30mins, covering with foil for last 5 mins if crust is getting too dark. When cooked it should sound hollow when tapped underneath.
• Cool on wire rack for at least 15 mins before cutting.

Best served hot from oven or toasted.

My only tip is don't over handle or it will be very heavy - treat as scone dough, and use judgement on baking time as if the dough is a little wet it will take longer.

I love soda bread, especially toasted. If I had to choose a last meal it would be this, toasted, buttered with proper Irish butter, served with poached eggs, grilled tomatoes and spinach. Food of the gods.

Trump I'm very impressed with the transition to a proper bed. We haven't braved it yet. Given her climbing skills we really must. We need stair gates first though as the back stairs are very very steep. Break your neck steep. I'm such a light sleeper I wake when she so much as rolls over in her cot, so I'm hoping I'll hear her if she starts any escapology tricks from the cot.

Those brick like loaves (I've tried pretty much all of them) are variable. I like 100% rye ones toasted but they are very very sticky as is. The gluten free ones are hard and dry and really quite horrible. I've heard Genius is better, not tried it though as my stomach is fine these days. I personally found yeast more of an irritant than wheat.

A variation:

Walnut bread

275g wholewheat spelt flour
175g white spelt flour
1 teaspoon bicarb of soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon each sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pinhead oatmeal, oat flakes
25g butter
75g walnut pieces
425ml buttermilk

• Preheat oven to 220C/425F
• Sieve flours, soda and salt into a bowl. Add seeds and flakes. Combine.
• Rub in butter
• Mix in walnuts
• Add buttermilk, stir slowly until mixture is a smooth consistency
• Pour into a well buttered loaf tin, and bake in hot oven for 10mins. Lower heat to 190C/375F and bake for a further 20mins, or until it sounds hollow when tapped underneath and is browned on top.

Ooh I'll try the wheaten soda then Worse. It does sound delicious, and far preferable to eat something made by my own fair hand.

With the bed, well it's kind of a halfway measure. He was already in a cotbed so with the side off and a guard on it's like a toddler bed. Have posted a pic. He's had a stair gate on the door for awhile now, in preparation for us leaving the door open of a night, should he feel he wants to come in with us. Door stays closed right now though because our cat is quite shouty and surprisingly amorous come 11pm.

Eco my breadsticks go thus:

250 grams rye flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp olive oil
150 ml water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Add the oil and quickly mix. Slowly trickle the water in while continuing to mix.
Once it's all together in a stodgy dough, separate into balls the size of cherry toms. You should get about 30. Roll each ball out into long sticks, and get them onto lined baking sheets.

Bake for 10 mins at 220. HFW says they may start to go soft after 2-3 days, and if so just pop them back in a hot oven for 2-3 mins.

trump we have the same drawers. Lol. Hope ds has a good night in his new bed. I am looking forward to your update on how the night went. We have a cot bed too but not brave enough to take them off.

I am really loving these recipes. Can't wait to try them out. I love sourdough bread too. Is that hard to make?

After 18 months I have finally finished ds' baby book and photoframes. I know I am being very pfb. Looking back on the months feels weird. It only seems like yesterday he was newborn but also feels like an age ago too. I don't know how to describe it.

The Sunday night blues have hit me again. One day I will enjoy going to work. something sorry can't remember your new name you are my inspiration.

Welcome back worse.

I'm back too. I didn't feel right!

yummy glad to have inspired in any way! And I'm. Also envious of your perseverance with the books, I wish I'd done them but we were given so many, I just never got round to it.

trump so brave with the no-side! We've got a similar set up but I don't think DS is ready yet. He's shown no signs of wanting a change but DP is keen to do it. I've suggested the start of the Christmas holidays (I get 3 weeks off at Christmas with the new job, did I mention? ) and then we'll go for it. Hope toddletrump loves/doesn't notice the change.

Oh, forgot to add, I think we may be in HFM territory

Something oh no . MIL has it too, probably caught from us when she was visiting the day before DH went down with it. I'm feeling pretty bad about that, as it's much worse in older people.

Good to see the old names again! My head hurts when there are namechanges to keep track of.

Nothing much to add, except: littlest niece can stand up in her cot (when did she get so big?!) as I discovered while babysitting this evening; and there is a mushroom growing in my bathroom. Anyone got a recipe for mushroom bread?