June 08: I see it, I want it, it's mine!

[spongebrainmaternitypants]

Welcome to our new thread .

UDC thanks for asking about the long days. P is sleeping marginally better, but although this doesn't make too much difference, I am feeling better about it. I certainly had post holiday blues a few weeks ago. I was also having my annual issue with August . It is my least favourite month of the year. I know that is weird because it is summer etc. I will try and explain. The countryside is all drying up, and has lost the vigour of May and June. More importantly, nothing happens in August because everyone is away. In the office this means that no decisions get made. As a SAHM even with a one year old I have found that lots of the regular stuff we do has stopped. I am perking up at the prospect of September being just around the corner though, so all is well.

Whinegums well done on the house negotiations. You must be excited. Fingers crossed for it all going smoothly.

Systems forgot to say the other day that it was great news on your house too. Have you started looking at houses yet? I keep on looking at houses on the internet round here, but I want to finish the last few jobs off on this house before putting it on the market. The outside of our house needs a lot of work doing to it. We have lots of levels between the house and the back lawn and they are all falling down. Not great with a one year old. Even when this is done, we may not move. DH is convinced that our house is the perfect house to bring up a family in, despite the steep steps, small garden, and the third bedroom being in the basement.

Hi everyone, had a very busy weekend so just catching up. Whinegums I would have gone for November - purely because I desperately wish we weren't overlooked! I really fancy getting a new new build at the moment - good time for negotiating obviously. Might have to see what new developments are around! Nearly moved to Fife on a whim earlier in the summer.

deb I have lots of nice things to say about living in Scotland too, but will need to come back later.

Oh, big news - S has really found his feet and been walking lots over the weekend!

Another plus for scotland - all our schools are back so August is an okay month in my book! Playgroups start this week, although we'll have to wait and see what our weeks are like before I commit to anything. I think I'd like to take them swimming once a week too.

Amber yes, there's quite a few mountains by me! It can make for some tough uphill walks with a pushchair though and we're really barely in the foothills.

Deb I'll watch you online then

whinegums congrats on the house! good for you.

poppy how is E this morning? We were visiting friends and their daughter was having poonamis - I am hoping it wasn't catching but it's not like we can live in isolation.

BDQ cross-posted - good for S!

I think the BRAT diet is banana, rice, applesauce and toast. Its meant to 'firm you up' so coversely if they are constipated these are foods which you should avoid. I know this only because Jamie was constipated when weaning. Honest.

Also, I forgot to say fantastic news Poppy on your nephew's uni result, and commiserations Neenz for yours. Is he going to go through clearing or take a year and redo? I also really hope that our kids go to uni. We have five degrees between us so have spent more than our fair share of time at uni and we both really loved it. I think it is the life experience that is the most important thing though. Its leaving home but you have all that support to help you and, its just so much fun!

Morning everyone!

My Mum and Nan are supposedly coming to visit today, although they just rang and haven't set off yet. Only staying for the day so hopefully won't be too wearing.

Well done Whinegums on the house, great news!

I'd not heard the NewcastleGateshead thing either, how silly, lots of DH's family are up that way so will have to ask them about it when I see them.

Ali - we've been out blackberry picking, that is one good thing about August!

BDQ - glad to hear about the walking, wish J would hurry up, sometimes he does quite a bit then none for ages.

Sybil - five degrees! There is only me and my uncle in my family who went to uni but all of DH's family did, his Dad worked in universities for his whole career and now DH works at a uni, they are obviously more intelligent than my side!

My nephew is going to redo the year and take his A levels again, he wants to do physics at uni so maybe he should go for something a bit easier. I obviously want my kids to go to uni but there are so many nonsense courses now where you are no better off than you were after A levels, and you have £15k of debt. So I will be trying to persuade mine to go for a good degree at a good uni or just go to work. I am a bit of a uni snob but DH went to an old polytechnic, got a first and now he's a partner in his firm so I shouldn't be really, I just don't agree with uni for the sake of it.

S is having a snooze so I thought I'd come and say why I think Scotland is a fab place to live and raise a family.

Deb, by way of background I grew up in Glasgow but left at 16 with my family, did my A levels in Yorkshire, Uni in Lancashire, lived and worked in Liverpool, the Wirral and Cheshire, before heading South to London, Berkshire and Bucks before moving back to Scotland around 8 or 9 years ago and have lived in Edinburgh, West Lothian and Glasgow since being here.

Firstly, Scotland generally is fab for lots of reasons and particularly because of the amazing scenery and the education system. Kids start school between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 as opposed to between 4 and 5 in England, and having been through both the Scottish Higher and the English A level system I definitely prefer the former. The central belt of Scotland probably isn't the easiest place for a teacher to find work at the moment, but my understanding is that rural schools can struggle to fill vacancies so better opportunities.

On the weather - I think the never ending rain view is a bit of an urban myth, however the last few weeks have been pretty dismal! On the flip side, I think our winters are milder than people expect, and the country doesn't come to a standstill with a bit of snow unlike our Southern neighbours

Edinburgh itself is a fantastic city for raising a family. It's got loads for children, both indoors and outdoors and plenty of classes, culture, activities, toddler groups etc for kids to enjoy and parents to make friends. It's surrounded by countless country parks etc, and the north of Scotland and all that it has to offer isn't too far away. The mainline railway station means that London is a 4 1/2 hour hop skip and a jump away and we will eventually have a high speed rail link (I hope!).

Edinburgh is a fairly small city so not too hectic (except when the festival is on, but its kind of worth it).

However, if its still just too much city - Perthshire is also very nice. Good transport links to the rest of Scotland and pretty beautiful. You can get more for your money than in the Edinburgh property market.

Ok, S is awake and on a destructive mission so I'd better go and sort him out!

Scotland's looking good BDQ!!

Ktpie - we are both the first people in our respective families to go to uni, but then they couldn't get us to leave!

Neenz, I agree that you have to think very carefully these days before you take a degree as the old 'academic' ones don't seem to help you on the job ladder. The main reason I have two degrees is because i did an arts based one and then realised it didn't really fit me for a specific career, so I did a vocational MA. If I had realised that in the first place I would have saved time and money.

Oooh, come and join the Scottish contingent Deb!

So far so good on the house stuff - we've got a solicitor and an agreement in principle on the mortgage - all pretty straightforward, which I wasn't expecting. Have been up there this afternoon, choosing kitchen, tiles, etc. And waving to the builders working on 'our' house. Very exciting! All being well, it will be finished mid November, and we should be in December at the latest. Oh, Christmas in a new house, I can't wait!!!

We want B to get himself a proper job, not like his arty farty parents, so we'll be encouraging him to do a 'proper' vocational degree, not anything like us (performing arts, English, drama, psychology) or alternatively get a plumbing apprenticeship .

It's all very exciting whinegums! I am quite miserable at the lack of new build developments in Edinburgh - I'd love to move!

We'd def like S to go to uni, for the experience if nothing else. I studied at a former poly myself and suspect the very existence of polytechnics will be long forgotten by the time our lot go. neenz didn't you do your post grad at a former poly . Someone mentioned Napier - in these recessionary times the ex-poly vocational focused uni's are having significantly higher employability rates. I don't mind where S goes if he goes as long as it's not Edinburgh!

I would also like our boys to go to uni, but again more for the life experience than anything - I loved uni and met the love of my life there, so two big plus points!

I think former polys have a lot to offer and often do more useful courses than the red bricks. I went to a red brick but did a thin sandwich course which meant I did work experience every year. When I graduated in '94 our uni was way ahead of alot of the more 'traditional' ones in employability cos we had this experience in the work place to offer.

Tbh, I'd be more than happy if they wanted to train to be a builder or something - we have a builder who's done loads of work on our house, loves his job, keeps fit, has loads of variety and earns a fortune! I appreciate that alot of the builders have been hit by the recession, but our guy is going a roaring trade at the moment cos he's so good .

Anyway, must stop rabbitting and go and help with bathtime .

Nothing to offer on the where to live front Debs since I spent most of my life abroad. I went to school in Yorkshire and had a failed attempt at uni in Scotland and whilst I appreciate that they both have their lus points I try never to stray that far North. I love London, although strictly speaking I am in the suburbs. And I love the Kent coast.

Despite my failed attempt (room mate almost drove me to suicide, I hated the course and hated Scotland) at uni, I did go back. I still ahd a harrowing time as my dad was shot, my nan died, my fiance left me and my dad then left my mum all in the first year and I struggled emotionally to recover. I also struggled financially and had to work four jobs (as it turns out my dad is a completely selfish wanker who stopped all funding and acted like nothing was his fault) just to finish my degree. But I woudn't change anything. I firmly believe that everything I've done, good/bad right/wrong has led me to where I am now. I have the most wonderful husband a person could hope for, a gorgeous little girl, mad dog, fabulous house, great life etc. But I do think that had I not had the education I had, I wouldn't have these things. So I am very much in favour of runningpearls going to uni. Plus she appears to have her father's brains so could well go to Oxford or Princeton!!

Sorry- TMI about my former life there Been lurking for a while as didn't think I had anything to contribute...appear to have made up for it.

Debs- will be Sky plusing ads have booking in tomorrow.

Whinegums- so excited about your house.

Amber- don't think I've congratulated you on your house.

Hello to everyone I've forgotten to mention [waves and wanders off to watch University Challenge in hope she has a few brain cells left.]

puree sorry to hear your story; even such an abbreviated version sounds pretty harrowing (and sorry that you hated Scotland). I do know what you mean about your not changing anything because it led you to where you are today. I have a wee demon or two stashed away myself but I know that without them I would be with DH and have S and work in a job that I love.

Am off to try and fix S's blog. Bloody links to photos keep not working. Grrrrr.

Gosh Puree, sorry you had such a hard time - hopefully it makes these happy times even happier though?

lol, yes I did do my post grad at a former poly! But there was only three places in the country where you could do it, UCLAN being one of the best of course

I think my last post came across a bit wrong - nothing wrong with former poly's, I just think sometimes they offer courses like Law where you don't need great A levels but which you shouldn't be doing if you didn't get great A levels iyswim. Again my DH totally proves me wrong here cos did law at a former poly after getting crap a levels! But he really struggled to get a job after graduating, I think he had three interviews out of more than 100 applications and he knows that was cos of his A levels and the uni he went to. He turned out ok in the end though I think if my kids really wanted to go and were happy to get into debt etc even if the course wasn't great I'd be happy as long as they were happy.

puree, that was some post . No wonder you struggled at uni .

Neenz, I do think it depends on the course you want to do and the career you want to pursue. Law is a terribly elitest profession and your dh has done bloody well to succeed with (in your words!) 'crap' A levels. I have a number of friends who are lawyers of one type or another and they are constantly frustrated by the old boy/Oxbridge network . I encountered the same thing during my short political career - elitest and misogynist like you wouldn't believe!

SPD bad tonight - can't muster the energy to get off the sofa and make tea but starving hungry . Dh is out so can't fall on his mercy either!

Apologies for self-centred rant!

puree, don't apologise! We all have our rants from time to time - nothing to apologise for. Hope it was cathartic .

Hi all,

Lottie is on the mend now, after vomiting up pretty much anything she ate all weekend have caught up just about, but have to do some studying tonight so will just say well done on houses amber and Whinegums so pleased for you, I know what a tough time you're having in the flat, so pleased you've made a decision!

Deb I had thought you were on today, was confused when I watched the beginning of the programme! I'll try again tomorrow.

sybil what a horrid trip to tesco - I've had similar ones, no fun at all!

puree what an awful time you had, glad that it has all worked out for you.

Ooops, Amber, have been so obsessed with my own house stuff, I forgot to say well done on yours too.

puree hugs - it sounds like you had a horrible time there for a few years.

I agree with all the comments about practical university degrees. I actually really wanted to study history and didn't, because I knew that it would be very difficult get a good job without a PhD. Of course I went and got one anyways but it worked out in the end as I've found academia so non-family-friendly and am switching to industry - which I can do with a physics degree. I'm not that passionate about any one subject and for me the big thing with work is to find something that's intellectually challenging. I guess it's different if you have a real passion for something.

University is a great life experience too - sort of a half-way stage between real life and childhood. You still have rules to do with attending class etc and parents tend to help pay for things so you're not just thrown into the deep end.

DH did a course similar to sponge, it's called co-op in Canada and was a five year degree instead of four years to accomodate all the workterms, and as an engineer is really important to have work experience before graduation. Another plus was that he earned great money on his work terms and managed to put himself through school, tuition fees and all.

However the trades are probably the best way to earn money and have a good work-life balance. And to start earning at 16 instead of 27 (in my case) adds up over the years!

BDQ send S up to Robert Gordons and I'll send Fraser down to Napier!

Deb I agree with BDQ about perthshire. If I could pick a place in Scotland to live, regardless of DH's employability, it'd be Perth. I love the area and the city and you are right in the middle of everything (including the highlands).

whinegums very exciting house stuff! Yeah!

Oh, yes, Perth is lovely.

Are we all ready and waiting for Deb's starring moment??!!

Yay! I've put back A's nap time to make sure he's asleep!

all very nervous here and NIgel can't get our live ITV through the computer thing to work - you might all see it before we do -