Jan '07 part 25: Tell our families that they may take our social lives, but they'll never take our FRREEEEEDOMMMMM!

[2Happy]

Now paint your face blue, and stick your tongue out at the world - end especially the half-wit-mid-life-crisis-lacking-common-sense-PMT-suffering-eejits we otherwise call men.

eandh, ratbunny, susie, UD - this one's for you

Wilkie - diet details may be of interest. It is pretty hard core though.

OMG - There is a due Jan 2009 thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

me thinks Lizz's multiple posting was just an excuse not to start the ironing holiday sounded lovely, my IL'S go to portugal every September to a friends villa, we thought about hiring it but apparently it is in the middle of nowhere, we'll probably go back to estartit (near barcelona) we went there when I was pg with Hattie and it was lovely, we went with Eddas & family so expect we'd do that again. Did I tell you about my fab new iron (was recommended on promtion/bargain bit on here) its one of thsoe base/steam ones andits fab literally glides over and decreases everything

So far not much of a childfree afternoon, I popped to Sainsburys and E tagged along, had some wii games reduced to £15 so got one (had some sainsburys vouchers) and E bagged herself a £3 dvd but its keeping her quiet and H 'palying' wii with dh

Lizz can I ask you your opinion on buggies, does your shop sell quinny zapp or petite star zia, if so which would you recommend?

WW-EAH(!) - Yes M/care sells both Quinny Zapp and the Petite Star.
Petite Star are a bit shoddy imo. I've had a couple of people bring them back with nuts and bolts having fallen off. Also, the suspension on them is very lightweight so they are extremely bouncy. They would be ok for H but not if you were planning number 3. A little baby would bounce around all over the place!
The Quinny is very lightweight and compact. BUT It would require a Quinny parasol & a Quinny buggy board. Both of which are quite hard to find. I am not totally sure its that great value for money. Unless you really need something that folds up tiny I'd spend the money on a lightweight Maclaren. A Quest or Triumph. The Quinny doesn't recline, and H is still liable to sleep in her buggy occasionally (?maybe?!). Another bug bear of mine with the Quinny is that there is insufficient space in the shoppng basket below it (which is £15 extra). And they recommend that you don't hang anything off of the handles as that would make it unstable.

There you go. That is my opionion of the day!

BTW a mate of mine got a nearly new quinny zapp on ebay for £60 (rrp is approx £140 ish) She has a Quinny Buzz for everyday use and the Zapp for holidays! She was going on about how it was good because the logo rubs off quite quickly after you get it but she could tell hers had hardly been used as the logo was clearly visible...which we all know is very important!

BTW - there is 20% off the Zapps at Mothercare at the moment, but its been on for a while now so could be ending soon. (we don't get told when they end)

£119 for Zapp
£2.99 for parasol clip
£19.99 for Buzz/loola parasol

Just realised, the Zapp doesn't have any space underneath it at all for the basket. (thats the Buzz or the Loola I was thinking of)

PPS - I'm not being tight in offering you my discount but I brought 3 buggies on it this year so far...! My manager told me to be careful that Head Office didn't look too closely! Oops!

Thanks lizz - no worries about discount am looking to buy 2nd hand one.

Probably wouldnt bother with parasol/clip as I find parasols a faff and H good at keeping a hat on and loves having suntan cream on [weird child], there is a mnetter who replied to my wanted advert and she is selling one thats 2 years old but hardly used (she has 5 buggies) its in steel blue which is like dark blue/grey think she wants around £50 (I am being pathetic and reallyt want a black or pink one but they are going for £80+ on ebay at the mo) I have read good reviews of the zia but also lots of reports of wheels falling off etc. Seen that you can buy net baskets that fit underneath and special bags that fit on the back, but my Dad (the inventor ) reckons he could adapt something to fit. The only thing that put me off a bit was the non recline but she hardly sits in a buggy and walks 85% of the time now.

Thanks for all your help

nets/bags for the zapp!!

I have a mclaren but H doesnt like it she yells and moans because she wants to sit upright and the mclaren doesnt sit up enough for her so am selling that one now!

How about the iCoo Plasma? We had one for Z and it's rear and forward facing (just in case you were planning no3! )

Can't find you a cheap one of those, but the Hauck strollers here are pretty cheap and look new!

Ooh ooh look at this one EAH

Can anyone tell I wanna new buggy!?

Lizzz - i know what I was going to ask you! I have the cheap as chips Mothercare stroller, how much would it cost to get a hood and raincover for it? I do have a raincover i keep in the car but it's for my big Urban Detour 4x4 tank buggy and i think it'd probably swamp the little stroller!

Sub-UD: Do you have the Jive? (£34.99) The accessories pack for that inlcudes a hood and a seat liner, & a rain cover and thats £19.99

Each set includes:

• Reversible seat pad/liner
• Mothercare lie-back Weathershield?
• Hood
• Duffle bag to hold accessories

Or you could get:this one
Which is fine and is only £12.99

OH SHIT.
DJ ate a whole bowl of brocilli and grapes for lunch (throwing his pizza on the floor the weirdo) and its just exited his arse. Fun. Must be off...stinky nappies are calling me! x

Whilst we are talking buggy-porn. I'd love a Jane. They are so sturdy and lightweight and groovy. But, I can't quite bring myself to pronounce them correctly. "YANE".
Or there are some nice Hauck ones too.

Have you seen the red polka dot Mamas and Papas one which is around at the moment?

Does anyone have a M&P buggy on here?

Yep lizz I have the m&p pulse-rio it is really light and it was a bargain my friend at work her dh works for boots and got me one for £ 40.00 should be £ 100.00.

I have had a M&P freestyler - my 1st ever pram and a lovely pliko (that i really regret selling)

UD - thanks for links and ideas think I am set on the zapp just need to get 2nd hand one at right price and i'll be happy (for a few months!)

pmsl either Lizz is very good at her job or shes cutting and pasting from mothercare site

hello you lot .

been rofl at the buggy talk - what are you all like! Funny though, I was thinking of getting a new one a little while ago - I suppose we have all had ours too long. Maybe we should do a mnet swap?

Shimmer - congrats!!
Lizz - at your holiday. Its now been a YEAR since I have been away (not including Edinburgh, that was only a weekend). I am thinking of buggering off in the summer hols. After all, I could go last minute, as theres only me and S to think of now

LTH - CHICKENS!!!! I would LOVE chickens. But seeing as I dont really eat eggs, and S is allergic, theres no point really is there? But, I would love ot have a goat more....

hmm, babynames. Obv Saul is a great one, but when we were trying, I really considered Gabriel or Reuben.

Well, things have been up and down here. Been climbing again, flirting with the postie, taking S out for the day, seeing friends etc all to keep myself occupied. But the evenings are the hardest part. I should really get some hobbies... Funny thing is I have loads to do - work, music to practise, to do the second coat on the bedroom, take up some clothes, but I just cant be arsed really.

Was pmsl at mum today. She had a picture of a hat with hat written on the back. She turned it round (no pic) to S, and asked 'what does it say' 'hat' he said. So mum now reckons S can read.

We are loving the sunshine too. My step dad filled in the pond, so I sit outside and read while S potters. He seems to be able to potter all day and not get bored if he is outside, but whinges within about 30 mins if he is inside.

So, who do you all think will win the apprentice tonight? I really hope it isnt the mouthy one.

Rat - glad you hear you are on the up and remember its a huge change for you so little steps will take you a long way (hey we need more details of the postie )

Well I have a pink mclaren for sale if anyone wants it

Rats - Don't be its the 1st time ever that DP & I have been on holiday together!!! - and we had to take the baby.
Was talking to a RL/MN mate of mine who is in a similar situation to you and has had a fabulous idea to save up to do a bit of travelling with her DD in a couple of years, before she starts school. How much fun could that be?! I think its a great idea. Could you do that at all?

WWEAH - How dare you insinuate that I don't know the entire features and benefits of every single product which I sell!!!! (am getting there though - currently obsessed totally by cups and various drinking devices) The clear winner in case anyone is interested is the mothercare fun at the zoo straw beaker. One woman brought 3 off me recently, and its fab. The straw is much sturdier than in other makes....trundle trundle chunter chunter, slurp....non spill drinking cups, all the better to use for G&Ts when you are a bit tiddly! - could be the title of our next thread!!!

Holy F**k!!!
Silver Cross
There is a woman in Eastbourne who has come in a couple of times with a brand new one of these heritage prams. I had NO IDEA they were so expensive! That is utterly ridiculous. In fact I think that the actual pram is so out of date and ridiculous now it doesnt fit into modern life at all. Imagine trying to get it onto any form of public transport or indeed into your car, or around a supermarket!!! ...imagine the shop lifting possibilities...

Lizz - I have the childs version of one of thsoe at my Nans house (I got it for my 5th birthday) and bless my Grandad before he died he had all the scratched repaired and new wheels etc, it is immaculate, Ellie hasnt ever seen it so we are thinking of giving it to her for Christmas

Am off to investigate fun in the zoo beaker (have a cupboard full of beakers)

I have decided to take Z to soft play today (as it's horrible weather here and there's not much else to do) Just trying to decided between Zoomania in Aylesbury and Jungle Mania in Bourne End. They both look pretty much the same and would both take about half an hour to get there. Hmm, decisions decisions.

He woke up just before 8 this morning. Sooooo much better than 5!

oooh lizz what a great idea.
I could save up so next summer holidays we can go away for the whole 6 weeks. Maybe travel round Europe of something.
In the meantime, I think I need to plan something for maybe october half term or something. Or 2 weeks at christmas somewhere hot!

tasty climbing guy texted me this morning - we are going climbing on sunday. Sam will babysit.

UD - jungle mania

Rat - sounds good (holiday and climbing guy texting )

I have to post this somewhere because I'm so excited about it, to teh wider MN world I get loads of but its sooo much money posts and I can't be arsed with all that.

Anyway, its ds2 birthday next thursday and being the sports mad boy that he is we've got him this for his bedroom.

He is going to LOVE it, I can't wait for to see his reaction.

It should be here today so I'm housebound until it arrives.

LTH - thats fab (and if within your budget then price irrelevant) I assume it come flat pack, but where are you going to hide it?