June 2008: birthdays, bunting and bumps make mummy a little bit tired!

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

5 ooh, I wish we'd got a wine cooler.

We've gone for granite worktops and window sills each time we've done a kitchen (this house and the last house). Also a franke triflow tap so we don't need to have a filter jug taking up space. If we were doing it again we'd get one of those ones with a shower hose thing - good for rinsing vegetables etc.
We've had a waste disposal too, which is surprisingly useful. We have a counter-top food waste bin as our council composts it, but it's useful for rinsing plates and getting rid of stinky things out of the fridge!
Magic corner cupboards give you loads of extra storage space that would otherwise be wasted.
Little drawers on either side of the cooker. Useful for spices if you don't have toddlers pulling them out. Otherwise useful for general crap.
I'd like to have got one of those tambour shutter things so I could leave small appliances out on the counter, but keep them covered. I tend to leave them out for a few days after using them and it makes everything messy.

2 sinks

2 cutlery drawers

Don't forget to plan somewhere for spices, somewhere for bread/onions/potatoes etc. Somewhere for dry goods.
Research the quietest extractors.

Inegrated dishwasher is more expensive but looks much more streamlined if that's the look you want. Ditto with microwave, and it frees up counter space, too.

Lots of plug sockets.

Not up to date on the new or the old thread. Sponge texted me asking to post to say that she can read MN, but can't post from their holiday cottage due to a dodgy internet connection. All is well with them though.

Officially up to date, but too tired to retain any information.

We had a lovely birthday today. Peter was so thrilled with his ball pit and tent: thanks for the suggestion whoever it was. However although Peter got a letter, he didn't get a cake . This is making me feel very slack, so don't feel too bad about the lack of letter Amber

Ethan hope you had a lovely day too.

Really must go to sleep now.

Poppy and 5 - thanks for confirming that it is 13 months for the MMR. Anyone know which one they get on the NHS? Where I used to work we made one of the components of Merck's MMRII, feels kind of weird that he might be injected with something I had a hand in making, but at least I know how carefully they make it.

Paro - hope you get the passport in time, are you moving to Holland permanently? (I've missed a lot!)

Ali - glad Peter enjoyed his birthday!

On the kitchen topic I would make sure I put in a decent sized sink, our new house has a big kitchen with a ridiculous tiny sink with hardly any drainer space, I really miss my old sink.

I think I found Neenz on FB, stupidly didn't say who I was when I sent the request, and Sponge and Abdn you have both found me!

just popping my head round the door- completely floored yesterday by the announcement that NCT friends, who are celebrating their daughter's first birthday, are expecting number two. I was so upset I had to leave. How embarrassing.

Paro- hope you are coping with your empty house- I grew up moving around and remember the spartan days very well. Good luck!

Lost track of thread somewhere between old and new, so confused bu kitchen debate (though taking notes for when we get one after our build is done!)

Essie- would love to meet next week. Friday would be super-fab as I work Thursdays. (I'm snowed under at the moment and one of my clients has really upset me so I'm trying to build up the courage to sack him. ) Plus you can give me pointers on bondaweb and fabric purchasing!

Debs- so glad you had a good trip and Ethan had a lovely birthday. I do know that I need to video carseat for you but waiting fir DH to get his sodding arse in gear. Thinking of putting him on eBay!

Oh, and my daughter decided to climb the stairs (finally0 yesterday. Three times. Point made: stair gates went up last night. Oh, and she slept through........hurrah!!!!

Hi to everyone. Sorry- sure I had so much more to say.

Hello, hellish night, want to kill my husband as well, but I might die first through lack of sleep. Having major work anxiety too - i.e. not getting enough done.

Five we had a new kitchen in January and would second Rolf's comments - we got a magic corner unit which is the best use of space ever, and a tambour unit (but I didn't know it was called that) which is great for hiding clutter. That would be my suggestion - cover everything up, avoid open shelving etc.

Puree I feel so sad for you . I really hope your turn comes soon. Sounds like the stair climbing did your dd good!

Puree don't worry about leaving the get together. If they knew, they would completely understand I am sure.

Essie spill the beans. What has DH done/not done? Sorry you are worrying about work too.

Kitchens I would recommend a Belfast sink. I love ours. They look good in modern as well as traditional kitchens.

I am in Austria next week, so wont be able to do a London meet up.

Oh Puree, so sorry you felt so upset about your NCT friend. I remember how hard it is to hear about other people's pregnancies when you are desperate to get pregnant yourself.

Essie, what happened? Knackered here too but self-inflicted, cos we went to watch Britney Spears last night, had a lovely meal, a few glasses of wine and late to bed (and poor DH had to do a couple of hours work when we got in at midnight). The show was good and we had a lovely time but she didn't sing live much and that really spoiled it - it was like watching a dancing show. Off out this aft to buy DH a father's day pressie so no you're not the only one so disorganised. Could really do without it but should have got my arse in gear earlier.

Going, meant to say earlier, it seems like a good idea to have the coil out if it is making you so anxious. I don't know why doctors are so obsessed by the coil, they think we are too stupid to be able to use condoms properly .

Paro - how annoying about the passport! Grr!

Oh, and I shared a room with my sis when we were growing up and it was fine. Eventually the oldest one moved out (six years between four of us) and then we all got our own room.

Purée I can't blame you for being upset- I got upset by one woman talking about having another in much the same way I talk about ordering a take away- which was particularly tactless in light of fact my other friend who had real trouble having no 1 had just been worrying,
re kitchens second the tap with shower bit and long thin spice cupboard. Waste disposal things waste of time.
Paro fingers crossed re passport.
Ah your plans sound good re volunteer work.
Neenz our shop about that although includes shopping for fussy step son who only likes about three foods!

Thanks all...clearly the week for it. Just found out my CM hasn't vaccinated her DD (who is two and therewfore at home during CM hours)....and mum has dysentary!!

Neenz- glad you had a good evening.

Going- Can't contribute to coil talk but think if you are unhappy than you should get it taken out.

AH- good idea about voluntary work. I did it when I first got out of uni.

Oh, and totally love those shower-head tap things. Had one put in our last house [sighs wistfully and wonders why she laft it behind!]

Puree - I am very sorry about the news that you had, it must be very difficult for you.

Thanks for the hints on the kitchen, we are indeed getting a corner cupboadr thingy and a thin spice cupboard, and as before a wine cooler, we have opted not to have the showery tap only because I don't think it will fit in with kitchen, we are also very lucky as we have a mahoosive utility room which holds all our electrical equipment, storage for everything else shouldn't be a problem as we have 3m along one wall and 4 along the other and an island unit, and we are looking at polished concrete as a work surface as cheaper than granite.

Now wish me luck tomorrow as I am going to cook a salmon in the dishwasher.

Wow, good luck with that Five! I have heard of that before vaguely but would never consider doing it - how is it done?

agree re coil talk that seems more hassle than its worth -had friend who passed out when hers was put in so its always put me.

and I'm intrigued too re the dishwasher cooking method 5.

Sod the bad stuff, Five- how is it done? I was sure it was an urban myth that you could cook salmon in the dishwasher. Make sure you take pictures!!!!

Have also been meaning to say that I love your pics, Five- how cute are your kids??????

Thank you, willadd more once I have got organised.

OK my aunt used to do this, have also seen it done in a sink, but basically what you do wrap it up in 2-3 layers of foil so that it is fairly leak proof and bung it in on a normal cycle.

Going to do it om Saturday now and have plenty of pther food aswell, so will take pics and let you know the outcome, Libralady is coming over so she can be my indpendent adjudicator.

What pics? Have you sneaked onto FB Five?

I have

Five - going to be on tenterhooks waiting to hear about the salmon, I think the event should perhaps be televised.

We also have a stair climber here, he is so pleased with himself and can't stop giggling as he climbs the stairs, we have a stair gate at the top but now need one at the bottom.

DS loves stair climbing but thankfully like DD has discovered the way to go down them. We have 2 steps going down from kitchen to utility room and he crawls up very quickly, turns around and then backs down them.

Ditto, stair climbing here too. He is soooo pleased with himself. Not worked out going down a whole flight of stairs yet though, can manage the one into the bathroom and that is it.

Morning All,

I have given Peter his first haircut after months of gentle nagging from MIL. It looks ok actually. I am relieved that I didn't completely butcher it . See results here

Beautiful day. I am meeting a friend and her baby for lunch and a walk later in the Surrey Hills. I hope she doesn't want to walk too far. Her baby is a tiddler so probably a bit easier to carry than Peter.

OK, well you know my name so find me on FB Five (if you want!)

E is getting really good at walking now - I am trying to upload a vid to FB [boring but it's for my family honest] but it is taking ages. And a vid from Britney too.

Enjoy your day Ali. I have a friend coming too today which is good because I get really bored now if I don't have something (which involves grown-ups!) planned for during the day. DH is on a night out with work tonight too so it will be a long one.

Didn't Bf the DTs at all yesterday. After their bath they had a beaker of milk each then went to bed. Theo didn't murmur, just went straight to sleep and E cried for about 25 mins but that has been the case most nights for a week or so .