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

[spongebrainmaternitypants]

Welcome to our new thread .

I've had my eye on the evolution triclimate for a wee while now, but I can't bring myself to spend that much money on something sooooo darn functional! But I really do need something, especially for family days out in rainy sunny Scotland! I do really fancy the showerproof biker jacket from Boden though - looks luvverly, but I suspect that it wouldn't be as warm as the triclimate.

I have a real thing for jackets but don't have a single one in a wardrobe-full that is particularly suitable for Edinburgh weather

Get the triclimate - you won't regret it - brilliant for pushchair pushing!

Allnew- good thing from waterproof perspective. And surprisingly warm. Little heavy after a while but I mind not a jot- am aspiring Dulwich Mum!!!!

My DH just got a new rainjacket in event fabric www.eventfabrics.com/ and it's really light and totally waterproof.

I bought one (on an amazing sale) by Barbour that's gorgeous but perhaps only showerproof. But I love it and for horrid days I have an older ski-style on that's brilliant. I like the look of the Boden rainhat though - might ask for one of those...

I have been drinking away some more brain cells over the past couple of days and celebrating my birthday. I'm feeling the pain today, I can't do two nights out in a row anymore. Looking forward to getting B to bed followed by a restorative takeaway curry and the X Factor. Oooh, and a lovely box of Godiva chocs.

Essie very interesting, I enjoyed reading that.

I don't have much to add on the waterproofs front - I have two functional uninspiring ones, a goretex shell thing for summer wear (hah is all I can say about summer in Scotland this year. Hah.) and one warmer one for winter wear. They are both dull and black and do the trick.

In fact, I don't have much to add full stop. Hope you're all having a good weekend.

On the waterproofs front, I have a Boden raincoat from a couple of seasons ago and it is brilliant. I have been in a couple of torrential downpours and it has never let in a drop.

For winter I have a Five Seasons ski jacket which is also brilliant and which again is a couple of years old but still going strong.

Today I got my period for the first time since having J . I could have happily lived without it to be honest. I have been sore and grumpty for most of the day.

Hello all Have skim read yet again

Firstly Debs loved the programme the boys are lovely

Secondly Fleur is also not walking yet and she is one of the oldest as Essie says Ieystn does, she will walk holding on to things and holding one hand but as soon as you let go or she gets fed up she sits down!!!

Reason why havent been on as some will have seen on Facebook Ive been chasing a job several interviews later and I teaching at a Uni here English for the international courses, very chuffed also been busy sorting childcare

At mo SIL looking after Fleur but she is not sure if she wants to do it forever, so we are interviewing childminders as nurseries are all full. Any tips greatly appreciated

Paro - congratulations on the job

Neenz and Paro - thanks for the comments re the programme, Neenz, I am very torn about whether to go back to where we moved from, I have some very good friends there but I hate to agree with the presenter - would it just be taking a step backwards?

Abdn - I'm curious about what was in your survival pack? What a lovely thing for your friend to do.

I've been lurking here, yesterday was the performance at circus camp and both boys did really well - acrobatics and magic this year. Stefan also introduced their piece and he's normally very shy so I was so proud of him, there must have been at least 200 watching. Ethan managed to remain on our knees for about 1.5 hours which was quite amazing, but then couldn't cope anymore so I took him out and just got him in the pushchair before the heavens opened and it was torrential. I made it into another tent and within about 5 minutes there was a river running through the big top - it was a very dramatic end to the show!

We've also had another viewing on the house today - a local family who just knocked on the door, so fingers crossed!

And we're off to Italy this week but we've still nothing booked - AARGH. At the moment the shortlist is
a.a big villa on it's own in a small village with 1 shop - cheap for 3 bedrooms, garden and pretty centrally located, a taste of real Italy perhaps
b.an apartment on a marina with shared pool, restaurant to walk to, free bus to beach
c.even cheaper place in a big seaside resort - basic, but lots of money left for theme parks,meals out, walking distance to beach.

So, what would you do? (that's if any of you are around and not away enjoying the BH weekend.)

Thanks

Go cheap, Deb! But (a) rather than (c)? That's my personal thing though.

Just a quick update of things before bed here.

I've apparently stopped breastfeeding! Mixed feelings - it happened so quickly. Yesterday, I had a falconry day (Christmas present from Tim) and had to get out before I could bf Iestyn, and so I tried it again today - so far, so good. But weird because there was no ceremony.

A funny thing, though. Postman came this morning, and was chatting to Tim and started asking him about law (does T know about liability etc). Postman explained that the reason he wanted to know was because he's about to start a business, based on a hobby of his which is...falconry! Totally creepy - I'd just got back from my day, and my postman randomly explains how he has 20 Harris hawks at home!! But he's a great guy - and I won't be paying for falconry days again as he's trying to get a qualification and needs to show he can train someone to hunt with birds, i.e. ME! Totally amazed at the whole weird coincidence and the strangeness of life really!

Will respond nicely to everything tomorrow! Hope everyone is well, well done Paro, and sympathies to sybil on the period. (Although, may I say, - like, how old is Jamie?! Mine were back on from September!)

Morning everyone,

DH has gone out cycling and J is having a nap so chance for me to sit down and have a catch up.

Essie, I felt like that when I stopped BF, it just happened with no real drama or ceremony. How weird about the postman, funny how things like that happen.

Deb- I would be inclined to go for a for just us but how do you think your boys would get on? b or c might have more to keep them entertained.
The circus camp sounds great, well done Stefan!

Paro - well done on the job!

J does the same sitting down thing if you try and encourage him to walk. He is doing more and more walking on his own but only when he feels like it.

Whinegums - happy birthday, sounds like you enjoyed yourself!

I could do with a new raincoat as well but we are skint at the moment so will have to make do with my cheapy decathalon one with a bright orange hood and velcro on the sleeves that sticks your arms to the random velcro all over the front, nice!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one struggling with keeping order in restaurants. We once went to lunch at a place with low cream fabric seats, this place, you can sort of see the seats in the tiny pic, and no high chairs, luckily I had J's booster seat and they managed to find a regular chair for him. Every time a scrap of rice hit the floor a waitress leapt in and cleared it up, we haven't returned (although the food was nice!).

I'm with you on the 'hah' about summer whinegums. I heard on the radio yesterday that August has been the wettest month of the year so far in Scotland this year. So wetter than February and March . It's all wrong. But don't let that put you off Deb - its just a blip

Actually Deb DH knows about all things teaching in Scotland, so if you are thinking seriously about coming north of the border he'll email some links about teaching etc. We finally managed to watch your programme btw - it was great! DH thought after watching it that the Perthshire life would suit you also... People in Scotland very welcoming and friendly too btw!

Whinegums I feel your pain about two nights in a row - I did it last weekend and had to write off Sunday!

We were out last night on account of our impending wedding anniversary. Nothing fancy - we went out to the festival. There's a good outside area for drinks and food so we had beer and burger and chips! We hadn't had the opportunity to just sit out and have a few drinks to soak up some festival atmosphere this year so it was really good. We then went to a very late show to see Rhod Gilbert and because we were so tired we BOTH kept dropping off . Thankfully we were nowhere near the front. He's very good though, I'd really recommend him. He's about to go on tour I think. (Hopes Essie doesn't come on and tell me he's the scourge of Wales )

Abdn great news on the 'gainfully unemployed' btw. I really hope it works out well for you.

Congrats on the new job Paro that's great news. How are you settling in to your new home?

Deb on the holiday, all three sound great. We'd probably go for a) but then, I don't have two older boys to entertain. What have you decided on?

Essie how random on the falconry. Great for you though (and your postman!).

Well, I should really think about getting dressed (yes, it is 2.30pm ) but I might make some muffins instead. Am feeling domestic goddess like as have already made a batch of soup and a frozen dessert thingy for S.

yes please BDQ re the e-mail about teaching, you can e-mail me through the website

if it was just NIgel and I, I think we'd go to a lovely place I found with canal view in Venice but there are 3 other considerations We've now also been offered another apartment(3 bedrooms,2 bathrooms and 3 balconies with sea view) in the seaside resort but much nicer and still cheap, 100m from the beach ,water parks, restaurants, shops etc. We've never done a beach holiday before apart from Northumberland (when Stefan was a toddler and hated sand) so it's going to be different!

got to go , E is screaming

No problem Deb, will do that.

Holiday sounds good! Am very

No, I find Rhod Gilbert very funny indeed (but somewhat shouty!) and he does the tourist ads for Wales. Good man and patriotic too.

Just on for a sec - I've started a thread in weaning about how I can stop feeding Iestyn jars and get a grip cook properly.

hearing about all that baking makes me want to make something as well - trouble is I'd eat it all and for a change my diet is actually going quite well (now 5 lbs off my pre-pg weight, 14 mths later!!)

debs - new option sounds good, when are you going?

essie - will have a look at your other thread

paro - hi, how are you finding new home?

Been really lazy today, hopefully tomorrow will be more exciting - although weather looks rubbish, again

Well done allnew! Essie will post on your other thread later when I've got a few minutes.

Oooo BDQ what sort of muffins?

Debs the new option sounds good to me.

BDQ - we've not exactly had the best of summers here, keeps raining as soon as I've put the washing out.

Essie - will go and look at your thread but what do you eat? Can't you just give him some of that?

Allnew - well done on the weight loss, feeling decidedly chubby here, at the pre bump just looking fat stage and have been for ages.

Well done on the weight loss Allnew

Ktpie - how many weeks are you now? Has the sickness stopped?

All being well we'll confirm the booking in the morning and we go on Wednesday for a week.

Deb holiday sounds good.

Essie still give edie a mix of stuff (when we are out and i think she can't wait or If she is poorly or tired then it's purée). But she will eat most stuff we have ESP if IRS on dh plate (daddys girl that she is). Nanny is a big Annabel karmel fan so cooks her that. But tbh she seems happy on bits that I eat(like houmiys, bread, veg) or scrambled egg is always a good quick standby.

Whinegums happy birthday. Essie good news re falconry. Allnew that's great re weight loss.

Re macs am big rohan fan as I have said before - you can scrunch there stuff up into pocket pack and shove in pushchair.

Had fab week in France and been entertaining dsd and her chum who are no trouble- crisps, ice tea, ice cream and a wii and they are happy. Edie loves having big girls here- we are another one with loads of assisted walking and standing but no proper walking. Stuipd neighbour saw me carrying her the other day and made some
comment about her not walking yet - will resist saying anything when her Pfb 12 year old goes off the rails.

Sorry for crap spelling - not on usual computer and had horrendous early start with Edie

allnew good for you! Personally my problem isn't the weight, I'm back at my pre-PG weight before DS1, but the jiggle factor. Muscle seems to have turned itself into a strange band around my middle

Deb glad you got your holiday booked. When I first read that though it sounded like you were comparing pregnancies with ktpie... I was a bit until I realized that you weren't meaning a midwife booking in appointment.

We've had a quiet weekend and I'm getting ready for my first day at home tomorrow. Fortunately DS1 has pre-school so i don't have a completely unstructured day. That sounds too intimidating! My list of things to do is horrible though as I've been putting everything off until now for weeks!

Abdn - at the thought of a midwife booking in appointment! Hope tomorrow goes OK for you

Debs - I'm about 18 weeks now, feel generally better but still have to make sure I eat regularly otherwise I am sick. Am hoping this passes at some point.

Abdn - Know what you mean about the jiggle factor, glad I have pregnancy to blame now!

Debs, the presenter made a good point that something about Yorkshire made you want to move away, but now you have seen the other side of the fence perhaps you would be happier going back? Or maybe not going back to the exact same place but somewhere near so you are in easy distance of your friends and family eg 30mins. Enjoy your hol, sounds very exciting!

We just got back from a weekend in Chester, without the kids . They stayed with the PILs and have been good as gold [proud], the PILS have just raved about them every time we have rung to check up on them (which was twice ). We had some spa treatments, then went out for a really nice meal, then yesterday went for a pub lunch, then a walk and then the cinema. It was lovely, but really missed the kids by yesterday. They are still napping at PILs right now so going round there at 2pm to get them up .

Essie that is so exciting about the falconry. You definitely like to keep busy though don't you . Good for you getting something sorted for yourself to do away from Iestyn, For me it is going to watch Man City. I think you need something to do away from the kids because, well for me anyway, even when DH is here, I still do most of the childcare stuff (nappies, food etc), just cos it is part of my routine. So I need to actually remove myself from the house to get a break!

neenz that's great you had a good weekend, sounds fun

abdeen - don't think I ever had any muscle round my middle . Hope you find your first week at home good

Hope everyone is enjoying their BH!