Nov '05 Toddlers plus baby bro's (& sis)

[Rodeo]

Here we are!

Hi Diege - yes meant to say, sorry ChaCha, CONGRATULATIONS to little Y on 1st steps how outrageous, isn't he just 10 months old? Loving all your sweet stories about the boys btw, they sound so close already.
And also, Hello To FH! Really good to see your post.
Right, back soon.......

I have put a message on the yahoo group and I think you will all receive it as an email anyway. Its just everyones addresses for secret santa, Londoner just needs to add and also need to try and contact Rodeo and Nova to see if they want to be in this yr.

Once I know whos in Ill text everyone!!

Diege Thur 13th would be much better for me got nothing on that day (miracle) just name a time for the meet up in the food court
Twinkle

Right Rodeo is in! Just waiting for Nova Hope her mobile number is the same!

Cool Nova is in too!!

So final list is:
L&S
Nova
Feetheart
Diege
Twinkle
Brownie
GG
ChaCHA
Rodeo
Londoner
Beks

Hi just a quick one to help Diege out, will post properly later. I now have a SureStart number, but it took a lot of persuading to let me in. In POrtsmouth there are 5 SS centres and you are supposed to live in a catchment area to be able to use them, all these catchment areas are on the council estates, so yes, they are right that they are only for the use of people liing in deprived/underpriveleged areas, but if you're sneaky enough (or cry enough down the phone at some poor lady (as in my case)) will tell you about a group that you can attend. I now go to about 4 SS groups a week & have been on a trip with them this week for only £5. SS ar howeer, in time, going to be ipening up centres all over the city so that everyone has access.

Just a quickie as off to Wales for niece's birthday. Thank you GG, that's brilliant on the info front. I'll update the students next week, who I'm sure are all anxiously awaiting the answer of my research [hmm. Am (tentatively) in talks about a book proposal (about poverty and the under (and over) class, and would be intersted in haering everyone's opinions on various things at some point - if you don't mind me dropping things in at various points? I'll put you all in in the acknowledgements section .
TWINKLE!! Yah, 13th it is then! I will have to be leaving Salford at 2 at the latest, so a lot more flexible, and loads of time for shopping . Shall we say 11 in the foodhall?
Right, have just interrupted 'muppet babies' video to take piccy of dds for yahoo site . Speak later, diege xxx

Diege,
11am in the food hall sounds wonderful.The weather here is awful freezing and raining at the min but supposed to get 3cm plus of snow later!!! kids will be happy
Im having a lazy day today its great.Got to go to a Judo xmas party with the kids tonight
right off to have a nice bath
Twinkle

Hi all, thanks so much for organising the Secret Santa L&S and sorry I didn't say Hi to you in my recent post, I meant to - 'Hello!'. Have sent you my details now, thanks.

Diege, the surestart thing puzzles me, seems like a great thing on paper but I wonder how it works too. I was told with latest dd while having my 28 day post natal sign off visit as she was doing her check list of things to talk about 'hmm, post natal group, of course you don't need that, and it's full anyway' as she ticked it off as something she'd discussed with me! I would really love to have attended and met some local mums tbh. A friend told me about a surestart playgroup nearby and I was really pleased but went and although it was practically empty was told 'it's not really for mums like you but you're here now'. So I wonder what their brief is/guidelines are. It didn't seem to be means tested just based on 1st impressions of the mother. The way I have met people has all been through nursery and school. That's been one of the best things about getting a computer, having access to so much info and also you lot! Anyway, hope that was of some help and didn't just sound like a rant.
Lots of love to all. Now, I must get to it on dd's costume. Have great weekends all!

Hi LONDONER! Yes, it is confusing I think, esp in terms of formal 'admittance' - ie, do you have to have evidence 'at the door' of postcode etc, or is it, like you imply, by more subjective criteria of those 'in need'?? Think from what GG has said, it's now moving from 'Action Zones' as part of Social Exclusion Taskforce to 'mainstream' (though that denies whole point of targetted action in the first place...hmmm..)Anyway, as you can no doubt tell, not much going on here! Party good if hectic with lots of screaming kids, and DJ borderline losing it with them , and lots of sweet stuff! DDs enjoyed themselves anyway, and are now awaiting the '
funny clips' (Harry Hill thing) that they seem obsessed by. Another party tomorrow...

Oh meant to say, had a dream last night that you were pregnant LONDONER, and very pleased about it you were too

Just checking my new nickname . Ok, it was a struggle...

Lol Deige, perhaps it's you in the dream and you were merely projecting onto me.....
Love the new name, will have a think on mine, any ideas? Party sounds like it went well, that's done for another year then, phew, lol at "DJ borderline losing it with them" can picture it now .
Hope your evening is more relaxing, sounds like you deserve a rest!

...

Tee hee, yes you've got the picture, though if you tell a group of 20 under 7s to sit down cross-legged at the front, and then go off and do something else, return 10 mins later and are somewhat peeved because they've got up, then I'd say it was you and not them!! Said DJ is also the school bus driver, so should have known better . Oh and LONDONER the only festive name dh (who is name-meister) can come up with for you is LONDONElf, which isn't terribly inspiring but quite cute . Right, gearing up for party number 2, so hello to all and speak later

sorry have been crazy busy with new house, only got back to London on thursday (will fill you in with stressful stories tomorrow!)

I will be able to catch up properly when everyone is out tomorrow morning

just a quickie - I have to say sure start is ace in my area, we have a very big divide on the haves/have nots around here, but the groups are open to everyone. They're really well run and a life line sometimes.

Hi,

Lol at dj leaving kids and expecting noone to move - didn't he provide seat belts?
Thanks for the name suggestion, but think I will go for the slightly 'italian' play on 'Silent Night'......
Nova, hi, looking forward to hearing all the latest.
Hi to all, bye!

Twinkle - was scanning and saw your question about Phil & Teds. I LOVE mine and in fact now have two of them (one for london, one for goring). Get the Sport, not the E3 as the double seat reclines so you can get baby out of the laying flat sooner (about 4 months). I personally don't care what it's like for the child underneath (I usually just compare it to being sat in the back seat of a car, you can still look out the side windows), for me it's an absolute must for getting around shops (), it's easy to push with one hand, you can use it as a single when you only need to take one child out, I could go on...Ask me anything!

Hello! Just teting out the new nickname.....what do you think!?

Have put all Chrissie Decks up this weekend whilst T was staying at his grandparents!!! He had a fab time with them, and loved being with his big cousins!
Mummy & Daddy enjoyed it too!!!! but twas nice to have him back again!
He loved the tree, now feel a bit guilty, that we should perhaps have done it whilst he was here, but have feeling it would've taken at least twice as long!
Right, off to watch top gear - love that programme!

Brownie
x

Hi ya girls, sorry to be a bit of a stranger but things have been a bit hectic, spent Thursday night in A&E with my best mate who we thought was having a miscarriage but thankfully baby is fine just the placenta that is having problems. Think this bump is going to give everyone grey hair before it arrives.

Then my parents arrived on Saturday and my brother and his family were over yesterday so not had a spare moment to myself lately.

L&S my mobile is playing up a bit so just wanted to check if you'd sent out the Secret Santa texts yet?

Am sneaking on here to do some xmas shopping while T is being amused by my parents, so best dash

Love to all Beks

Hello everyone,

L&S Mum - I won't be able to do the SS this year, I'm sorry because i know i just mentioned it last week too. Too much going on here and will be away next week - hope i'm not too late.

Beks - Glad to hear your friend and baby are doing okay. Scary times. We also have a friend in hospital, his wife is at home with the kids ALL unwell so I am busy cooking this week trying to help out as much as i can while DH does the hossie visits. You must be pleased to see your folks

BB - Think you were right to do the tree before T's arrival, something nice and exciting for him to come home to anyway.

Diege - Are you somewhat partied out this week?

All is well here, busy, busy week ahead with much going on. Had a lovely weekend though, DH took us up north for the weekend and we had a fairly relaxing time in hotel. His present to me this time was flowers, chocolates and a copy of Practical Parenting, lol - he is a sweetie!!

Twinkle - Am looking into a buggy board for my Power Twin but not really sure if he'll want to actually sit down in pram at 2.7years. No other choice i think.
How are you feeling now btw? No m/s here as of yet, just tired as is the norm.

x

Hi, sorry, I'm going to have to pull out of Secret Santa too I'm sorry, things have gone (.)'s up financially in a big way this morning, not the greatest of timing eh. We'll be okay but going to have to knuckle our heads together to work out christmas now. Thanks.

No worries either of you about SS, things are getting hectic everywhere now!

Hope everything if ok Londoner, all sounds a bit sudden but I hope you find a way through it, there usually is one but sometimes it takes some finding.xxx

Right I'll send the texts out tonight to everyove else log onto yahoo for the addresses and limit of £5 ish.

Am on form tonight!! Txt are sent Diege you have an email hope everyone is happy with their recipients and apologies if you've got the same person as last year!!xxxx