JUNE 07.........PSSSSSSSST over here :0)

[LackaDAISYcal]

came to talk and the thread was full.

Sick leave sounds reasonable to me T.

Ria, I don't think buying a shirt and some face wash is too much. But IKWYM about interfering, and imagine it's a delicate balance.

where are you Storm? I have it in my head that you are way up North.

tallulah, I was signed off from 14 weeks (when I was meant to be back at work after DD) until starting my leave and felt really guitly about it, but this lot here convinced me otherwise . Your mum sounds like a real star tallulah.

I'm now 32 weeks....and one day . It was about this time with DD that the BHs got bothersome and I've read that they get worse with subsequent pregnancies.....foxy? ria? storm? can you confirm or otherwise?

jammy,there was a thread about wedding nights a few weeks ago and something like 95% of posters said they didn't consummate their marriage on their wedding night. and something like 50% of posters (me included ) said they had had a huge row! We got married on a Friday and didn't make it "legal" until Sunday lunchtime...which is when we woke up!

I only really suffered from BHs with DD2 Daisy. WHEN-I-REALLY-OVER-DID-THINGS.

T, just be careful that being on SSP doesn't affect your maternity pay. IME dr's are pretty good about signing off when PG. Not an illness my fecking arse ! Right off to bed to read some of my book. Reading The Cloudspotters Guide and it is lovely

I believe I can be on SSP up until 4 weeks before my due date when if it's a pg related illness I have to start mat leave. Of course am not really expecting to get to my due date , will maybe have more idea nearer the time just how early I can expect to be. Not sure whether doc will happily sign me off for extended period of time though. Joined new practice, 3 female docs, all been v. nice & helpful whenever I've had cause, lovely HV too but never had to do this sort of thing before. Feel like I'm considering 'playing the system' when I've always suffered from a strong 'protestant work ethic' before.

Anyway bed & book sounds lovely. Off with an Ovaltine & 'Holy Fools' by Joanne Harris. Now that DD has her own bedroom, I can finally read in bed God I've missed that luxury. Shame it'll only last another few months before I'm back to room sharing with infants.

Evening!
Anyone still about or have you all buggered off to bed?

I'm just going to bed - as I've just remembered I have no small children in there (as far as I know).

I am watching BBC3 Dawn Porter does Childbirth (doesn't actually do it, just talks about 'me, me, me').

Bad news about Manchester, DPs work have said we should go together. I think I will have more fun with you in Harvey Nicks so will work on it

Oh well ............ I suppose they have a point Foxy - We'd not get around to seeing many houses!

Thanks for the comments on FB about my new dress btw (for those that have seen it!) need to get some shoes to go with it so I'm going to scan the web now!!

I anticipate many opportunities to stagger around nightclubs telling anyone who will listen "I've got 4 kids. I don't get out much"

lol foxy, I get it

tallulah, the qualifying weeks for maternity pay are weeks 17 - 25. If you are off after that then you will be on full maternity pay entitlement. Or if you can make it to 29 weeks (around the october half term hols), that's the earliest you can take your leave.

G'wan play the system. I'm sure like me you have been a dutiful player all your working life (I even used to declare and pay tax on the cash in hand pub job I had when I was earning a pittance just out of Uni). If you can't take advantage of that when you really need it, then it is truly a shoite system. And remember that your health and that of the babies is paramount here.

Am off to bed too....for no doubt another night of tossing and turning and not sleeping.

Yes, you work hard, you aren't playing the system, you are giving yourself a break!

Eurgh, I think I can hear some scratching ... hope its not rodents ... I think I will go to bed now.

Night x

I've just checked to see if we were on a new thread. Is it only me who has nothing better to do today

DH has taken the biggest three off to the forestry to walk several miles. Baggins and I are tidying up and doing masses of laundry, thank goodness it's sunny.

Not playing the system T, perfectly entitled IMO.

storm, sorry for appearing to ignore you yesterday. DH is temping now and still looking for work. One of the places he temps at he is really regular and if they would just give him a perm PT contract we could get more mony from tax credits, but they won't. I think the bone scan is the last test they can do, so in a couple of weeks we should know if he has to have nasty operation (in denial as it's nearly chrsitmas) or if he will just have to learn to manage the pain.

I have a new moan I need to get off my chest. DH had his CRB check for school and his ex (and probably everyone she knows) knew about it because her sis works on the force that did the check. I think that is wrong and I am mighty pissed off about it. Don't the police force have to adhere to data protection/privacy?

blimey, it's gone seriously quiet here - is it always like this?

I am having a fairly peaceful day with baggins. I finished reading my book while he was asleep and we've been for a gentle walk and bought some milk (because some prat - DH - left the new milk out with the lid off and there were drowning flies it it. YUK.)

suppose I'll have to do the ironing now - DSS is out of undies (how can a person only have 4 pairs of boxer shorts?) Hope they don't come back yet!

I have been asleep

actually got quite a bit done today. We harvested the rest of our tomato crop which is now on the kitchen windowsill trying to ripen, the last of the carrots, courgettes and spring onions and two of our mystery gourds..which we think might be some sort of hybridised courgette or squash.

I've also planted the garlic for next year (about 15 cloves, but will get some more planted later in the year), and some spring onions for overwintering and planted out the last of the spring cabbages and purple sprouting brocolli. they have been heavily got at by cabbage white caterpillars though so not sure how well they will do.

DCs are driving us fecking nuts today. DD is into everything and has eaten several things she shouldn't have, including at least one slug, at least one holly berry and several green tomatoes. She also has a bit of a taste for spring onions. weird child!

Hi Daisy - or should I say Barbara- all that lovely home grown produce sounds fab. I just got mt Tesco home delivery, fine for bog roll & tins of beans but supermarket f&v is shite.

Do you mean that you have to be working during those weeks of your pregnancy to qualify for paid leave? No matter how long you've worked for them? I just thought it was a certain number of weeks of employment (26 in mind though not sure why). Crap - that means I'll have to wait till after the goddam inspection to go. What if you get the flu on one of those weeks, surely that wouldn't disqualify you from SMP.

bloody baggins just deleted my post.

I can spend all day here posting to myself if you would like the thread to be busier

What is Gary Rhodes doing on Strictly??? Don't know what DH will say. He was his first chef-idol (before DH developed more in common with Gordon!)

Bloody SMP - I missed out by about a week I think with baggins. It's not as if we get pregnant on purpose to claim the money.

well done on a nap daisy

Dh amd the nboys had a good time. Walked nearly 5 miles on a tough walk (will have done them all good). DS2 bought me one of those polished gemstones in a heart shape. They are just watching Dads Army then we're having takeaway.

We are going to get DSS a Go Ape voucher for his birthday/christmas.

Told you I could talk to myself for AGES