March 06 *#* all around the world

[UniS]

sorry couldn;t think of a funny title. but here goes.

Anyone with Dcs born March 06 welcome to come on in and introduce yourselves.

best wishes to all in Aus, look after yourself too.

Uni meet was very poorly attended, I think the format has had its day and we will not being another for a while, have a hockey tournament booked in the new year which I expect will be OK attended. so while the club acc has money in we will use it to fund some hockey practise sessions.

Uni sorry to hear of poor attendence, hope the hockey goes better.

Astro, {{{Hugs}}} sorry dd1 is having bother adjusting at the moment, I guess new houses and sisters must be a lot to take on, particularly with dad getting a job and suddenly not being around after nearly a year of having him to play with eh? You feeling a little stressed by this is TOTALLY NORMAL! you know where we are to talk to anytime (even if we're not in person and are rather far away)
I hope as the markets pick up your dh can swap to a job he wants to do and you guys can get more settled, its never fun, not knowing if you should put roots down or not and I'm guessing you expected to, once you got home, as that was the plan, so not to be able to must be extrememly fustrating {{{Hugs}}}

Been to see Gran here today, she's doing good and is now aware that she'll have to go into a home, but seems ok with that too

astro Take care of yourself. You have way too much on your plate. One day at a time and take it down to one hour at a time if need be.

Search MN for my posts 4 months into Vienna and see how 'well' I coped with similar chaos. The only answer to your question is badly!

Well done on no more kindy. The commute and the personality differences sounded insurmountable. Hopefully you will start to feel more in control once you have established your own routine.

Uni Sorry about the poor attendance. It must be discouraging when you have done so much work to organise something.

Friz I am glad your granny is making progress. Any more news about the shops?

LL: Rest and drink plenty of fluids. We all have the lurgy this week but thankfully, it does not seem flu-like.

Cadclan update: DH has been offered the post in Cambodia 'on mission' meaning that his job here would be waiting for him should he want it back. Watch this space to find out if we are packing up again...

Oh wow caddy! Is it just for a year? And will you visit Aus, seeing as you will be in the neighbourhood (well, sort of)? I am totally in awe of you that you are even considering this - I mean, great adventure, but it must be unsettling...or do you sort of get used to it?

Hope you are improving LL, and that Granny is too Friz. How goes the new shop?

I am doing ok - some days and some hours better than others. We are in the process of visiting all the local churches and choosing one, which is a big thing in terms of community for us...and so hopefully once we do that in a few weeks, and have some kids activities going in the new school term, I might feel a little more settled.

DD1 had a major malfunction tonight - kicking, screaming, hysterical, wouldn't be calmed...and all because she wanted to go to stay at Nanny's tonight rather than Thursday night. She has never been a big one for tantrums in the past and so its even more distressing and unexpected that she has started now She is not herself at all - I feel like I've screwed up royally

Astro - how have you screwed up to make DD1 have a tantrum??? She is same as Tilly right? Awful little cretins.

Good news from caddy and Friz....changes, changes in the air!!

I am over the flu but cancelled a trip to London today and tomorrow as just couldn't face train/tube/night out with aunt scenario and wasn't getting paid for work either!

Now wish I'd gone as things are horrible here. I am only posting this on this thread as I do not want a whole load of MN 'opinion' - I know you girls are sensible and live in the real world.

Our builders's son and next door neighbour to my mum and dad was arrested for child abuse on Mon eve. It has obviously devastated his parents (he is 24) and also he says that his gay cousin has abused him since age 4 so they have to deal with that too. The girls involved are 9 and 12 (plus a cousin I think) and spent time at the farm all summer as the family have a pony there. The son is in Strangeways prison but has admitted doing it - not rape as far as we know.

Anyway it has really got me down. Mum in tears on phone as doesn't know what to do apart from cook meals. Selfishly we have no builder and no house. I have got raging PMT and am struggling to keep it together. Was in bed til 11am but have got up and put washing out (on rack as have no line/no back garden!!).

There, I just needed to offload. I just feel like that's 3 families immediatly torn apart and countless others too. My cousin is a police officer in the Abuse section (not sure of right name) and she has been to visit the parents which is good as she is very matter of fact about it all. What a mess .

Oh dear LL, what a terrible situation for all involved

I think you should rest up as possible and take it easy - of course you feel horrible. Get some takeaway to take 'round to your mums maybe? Not much you can do but some company for youi both might help?

Re DD - its not the tantrums I feel bad about - its the whole thing - that her personality seems so changed and she seems so stressed and unhappy.

Oh LL that's a horrible thing to have happened {{{Hugs}}} I can't imagine how you must all be feeling, or the people involved, it sounds as though abuse has begetted abused, which is very Grateful for the children involved that the police have stepped in though and that all involved can get the help they require. Good advice from Astro re takeout and talking. Sorry its affecting the house issue too though Could you get another builder onto the job, if they decide not to come back soon? you need a house before winter.....

Astro, if it helps dd1, also same age is being a right PITA sometimes at the moment, last night she lost all her 'points' for the week (which = prizes) due to her having a mega screaming fit, because I used conditioner on her hair, to nitty gritty her with (no nits present!) she went straight to bed afterwards and still screamed for about half hour, who knows what the neighbours thought, dd2 had her hands over her ears!
She was very sorry this am and has been mega good all day!
Hope you have a good time looking around the Churches and find one that is right for you.

Caddy, cripes, are you ready for a move? Cambodia does sound like fun though, but I'm thinking more for a few weeks, not a year or more.....on the plus side, Thailand is close by and nice for a visit! and you're in popping distance for Astro

Hi Uni!

So we have a store, its all official as of yesterday! all hell will break loose next week, as all the orders/deliveries come in, very busy, but very exciting hope to be open by next Saturday! cripes...watch this space!

LL - re builders son, its grim situation BUT its not your fault, nothing you did or did not do caused this situation. If your feeling crap and headachey take some parcetamol. I think I may know what your going tho, the world may feel like it fallen apart at teh mo. but it will come back to more like it old shape in a bit.

Hi to all.
have parents visting over weekend, will call back next week.

Evening ladies,

Feeling much brighter today and thanks for your wise words. Obviously I know it was nothing to do with me I just struggle when family are teary and down etc. Latest reports are of more possible abuse by the late grandfather....hopefully end of a cycle though??

Reckon builder will be back Tues - think he's gone sea fishing (as was his original plan before all this happened) - maybe will clear his head. Him and his wife do not have good marriage at the best of times. Best thing is my mum seems better about it all and is amazingly planning a trip to Tanzania next year (has never been on a plane at 60!!). She wants to go and see a woman graduate who we have sponsored though uni....

DP and I had day off and went vinyl floor shopping and had a curry - we know how to live it up!!!

Uni, have a jolly family filled weekend....

Friz - the shop is happening so quickly!!!

Astro, hope you decide on a church this weekend...was thinking of you earlier as BIL came out for lunch in his 'vicar uniform'. Felt a bit odd! I didn't mean to be off hand about your DD1...it's just that I think it is a difficult time for them at 5/6 and perhaps they just have to go through it? Tilly was very grumpy for a while but has really picked up lately and got all cuddly again - nice to have her back. I'm sure Clemmie arriving will have upset the apple cart too? My friend who has 6 yr old and 10 week old is having a day out with daughter on Sat...has expressed milk enough for the day and leaving baby with Dad. Can you manage even a couple of hours just you and DD1 to do something really special?

Hello again.
LL I am glad that things are calming down and resolving themselves. What an awful situation for everyone.

Uni Have a good week-end with family.

Friz: Congrats on the store! I hope it stays very busy.

It is interesting that you all mention grumpy older ones as I seem to remember similar with dd1 at that age as well. Less so with the dss.

Dd2 has been an absolute horror show for the last couple of days BUT she has finally slept through in her own bed for the last 6 days. I think that I can officially say that this is an established habit. (Didn't I read somewhere that it only takes 6 days for a child to make a new habit, PLEASE?) Now if only I could get used to the idea of being in bed all night. 3 /12 years of broken nights has been harder on me than on her I fear.

I feel ready to move because dh and dcs are not happy here. There is no way in the world that I will even consider a move back to Vienna and NYC has not come through with any options despite many, many applications and interviews so Cambodia it is. Dh has one more year before his pension is vested and at that point he can look for an academic position.

In the mean time, we will all get to see a part of the world that we could never afford on our own. My dcs could use a reality check about how very fortunate they are since their biggest complaint is that we don't own a plasma screen TV or any hand-held video games. It will do them the world of good to see that there are children much less fortunate than they are who still manage to smile everyday.

Astro: How are things with dd1? Is it just a matter of needing to decompress after so many changes? I am sure that it is not your fault so much as down to circumstances. Let her shout while continuing to be her soft place to land.

I have promised ds2 that we will get to see Australia. He is currently obsessed with Australian animals and plants. My mum has a cousin there and our minister's son is spending a year in Sydney as an intern so there are two more compelling reasons. I can't actually believe it. It is all rather surreal at this point!

I just hate sorting out move details.

Caddy, I love your reasoning behind the move! I agree that it will be great for the kids to see a different world - and what better adventure playgrounds than those temples?? My girls would be on their element. When my cousin lived there she sent some pics of the local kids after a downpour swimming in the muddy road. Very .

We are still planning on living in Tanzania for a year at some point for many of the same reasons. Maybe when both the girls are in junior school...my sis and BIL are taking their babies out to Tanzania next year so bet they get the urge to move back....

DP just back with takeaway...naughty but very nice (food, not DP)!

Hoorah for the shop Friz!!! Did you say where this one is? Must all be very exciting and stressy for you all.

LL, glad you ar efeeling a bit better...must have been such a shock though, and so sad for everyone. As Friz said though, so good for the kids involved that some help is at hand now.

Glad to hear both your DD's are being little... darlings too, and glad yours was like it too Caddy. Well, not glad for you, but glad its not just me! Spoke to a friend who has teenagers too, and she said 5-6 years is like the 'teenager' year of childhood, when they think they know everything and are bolshy and objectionable...and then they tend to settle back down. Phew!

I'm sure the poor kid is still reeling from the changes - she is not the words most relaxed child as it is (firstborns?) and finds change tough. Even after the week without kindy she seems a little more relaxed though...think she needs lots of chill out time at home.

Caddy - wow - exciting news! Are the kids all happy? And DH? Does this mean this can be your last move then, if DH can get an adademic position after this?

Can't wait to see you in Sydney one day!!!! Email me your address and I will post some Aussie things to DS2 for his collection (cunning ploy to make sure DS2 remains obsessed with Australia, and hence you will have to come and visit!). Where is ministers son going?

Lovely weekend visiting friends who's first bub is due in 7 weeks...remember that excitment of being preggers with number one? Seems sooooooo long ago!

x

Astro, so glad that DD1 is chilling out a bit. Me and Tilly went for a couple of mile hike after school today and it was great fun. Sun shining, muddy paths and a bag of Wotsits = one happy 5 yr old . Was good to spend some quality time with her and see how pleasant she can be!

Friz, was talking about you yesterday as wandered into a game shop in the Arndale...do you have castle mock ups about the place in a constant state of invasion!!!?? The girls showed a bit too much interest so I quickly whisked them away to the art gallery.

Had a day away from the PC today and stripped the wallpaper in the dining room ready for skimming. Builder back tomorrow so it's all systems go! Windows and doors are delayed again and not here til Friday now. One day, one day...

LL one day you will be living in a palace, and it will be soon (ish) by building standards....its just taken two weeks to get the back of the store secure, but our new fire door is in and 2nd skin bricked into place! bit of inner cosmetic stuff tomorrow and its sorted....
Your walk with Tilly sounds lovely its great to get quality time, dd1 is still pestering to go away with just me again (remember when I took her to Paris, she's after a repeat!)
Oh and no, sorry no random castles here the dd's would love that though!

Astro, glad dd1 is seeming a bit more settled, agree, lots of chill time sounds good.

Caddy that sounds like a great move then, where will you get to go after there then, if dh goes into academia, would it be a UN sponsered post? can he stay in one place? or is he still at the whim of the UN?
Hope dd2 stays sleeping soundly through for you and you get yourself back into a pattern.

Uni, enjoy the family!

Still hectic here, store ready by end of Friday I think, I'll mail you all before and after photos then

Friz, the store is steaming ahead - how exciting. Pics would be good...might inspire me to post some of the house on Facebook. Not sure I could spend more than a day with Tilly on her own!! You were very brave to do the Paris thingy.

We are nearly all plasterboarded so looks a bit like a ROOM!!! Went and bought a cooker hood (Screwfix for £90 if you ever need a bargain) today as instructed by DP so thinking maybe I will have a kitchen before the year is out.

Tilly is a poorly bunny and went to bed without her warm milk - this is a serious sign!! She started Beavers today and even that couldn't make her feel better. I see this as the start of the next phase of my life...Beavers on a Weds, swimming on a Sat...I am a mummy taxi.

Astro - I wondered what your DD1 would think about doing a low level penpal thing with Tilly? I know T would love to post off some pics and a letter....not sure I want her to get into email just yet. What do you think?

Uni, what crazy bike are you riding this week then???

Caddy, do you know where in Cambodia you'd be?

LL, very exciting! New kitchen - you will soon be cooking up a storm!

DD would love that, I email your address. Will be lovely for them both. Yes, low key as you say, as she is only semi interested in writing to her old Derby friend (goes in fits and starts - 3 letters in a week, then none for last 4 months...!) but I just asked her and she likes the idea!

Trying to do jobs quickly so I can go back to bed with migraine. (its 9.45 am). Tried to feed DD2 before the codine, but she isn't interested, so she will have to have a dose of it too in half an hour or so. Hope the kids are interested in the telly for a couple of hours...

LL Thanks for the FB link. I am on there far too often lately as it is the only connection I have to dsils. I refer to it as FaKebook as all I ever hear is just how fabulous my 'friends' lives are. (I suppose that it makes for a positive change from my whingeing!) Looking forward to seeing photos of your palace.
Kitchen by year end=luxury!

Astro: I hope that your migraine passes quickly. I wouldn't worry overly much about the codeine since they prescribe it for new mothers in Canada to ease the afterpains.

Friz: I hope the shop is in full swing. Send some photos my way too (if you remember my email address).

Uni: Are you still recovering from the week-end with your parents?

Never enjoying a dull moment at Cad headquarters, I have yet another BFP this morning. (Man I am a SLOW, SLOW learner.) At least this time it was semi-planned. Now I wonder what in the heck I was thinking. Moving to Phnom Penh would probably have provided enough excitement for one year on its own.

Dah hah, I'm back.
We had my parents followed by DHs little sister and hubby. then one home day one work day and now its friday and DHs birthday ( a big one).
Thankfully Inlaws have delayed by a week so we are just a family of 3 this weekend. Boy needs a break, I think he is sickening for something. So all we have planned for saturday is
a house viewing - yet another one we are going to give serious consideration too after 1st looking at it a year ago ( its back on teh market). And in eth afternoon/ evening Carnival in a nearby town and a trip to teh fun fair ( or not if boy is sickly).

Cambodia sounds interestin! quite a culture change from Europe. SiL who moved to Uk less than a year ago is now hankering after moving to Africa.

Glad the various building projects are coming along.
So Friz- what graffic novels/ comics are boys of about 10 reading these days?

hi is it too late for me to join 3 and a half years later .

i have a ds who was born 17/03/06 and am 15 weeks pregnant at the mo. dh is a bricklayer and i am a sahm.

hey nic...etc. Welcome

I have DD 5.5, DS 3.5 and DD2 12 weeks. I'm a SAHM, DH does something in an office (" consultant").

We lived in Derby and now in Sydney Australia.

Can't do a proper hi now as DD2 has just started BELLOWING v v loudly.

Hello nic!

I am SAHM to four. Ds 12, dd 10, ds 7, dd 3 (and 6 weeks along with a potential #5). We currently live in Switzerland but we were in New York City when dd2 was born and have lived in Vienna, Austria in between. January will find us in Phnom Penh, Cambodia if all of the plans come through.

Uni: Sounds like a very busy week. Hope you are enjoying the relaxed Saturday as planned. Any feelings on the house?

Ds 2 had hockey this morning Nothing on the go here this afternoon as birthday party plans for with friends have fallen through because their children are sick. I shall enjoy the quiet afternoon but now I have to think of something to make/serve for tea...

Hi nic, I'm in Derbyshire, with two dd's

Caddy, no 5 and moving by Jan, wow that's packing it in!

Uni, good luck with house viewing again then and Happy Birthday to your dh

Astro, {{Hugs}} hope the head is better now.

LL you had me laughing at mum taxi, my Wed's are like that, leave work, pick up dd2, take her swimming, get dd1 from school, then both to ballet, whew! dd1 is abandoning ballet in favour of modern or tap in Nov, she's trying both to decide which she wants to do

New store opened today all went well, although I was in Ripley looking after the guys here, will be over there with the kids tomorrow kids were in store with me all day today and were really well behaved, played games, did drawing and ds'ing on Mario and were just great all day, am expecting backlash tomorrow!

Friz, glad the kids are helping you out with good behaviour as you get the new shop organised. Very exciting! You'll be selling fnanchises soon!

Caddy - how I missed it I don't know, but I did miss your BFP news in your last post, until I read FRiz's comment and went back to check! WOW!!! Great news, and I will pray that the little one hangs on and stays healthy. How are you feeling (physically and emotionally)?

How was the house viewing and how is your lad feeling Uni?

chilled weekend here - did nothing yesterday as DH was feeling sick and slept on the couch most of the day, but we had a nice day today, visited some friends at their church then had lunch with them, then DH washed the cars with the kids (hurrah - made up for sleeping on couch yesterday!) and I gave DD2 a bath (which is comment-worthy as she doesn't get many!).

School goes back for term 4 tomorrow - so its our first day of DD not being at Kindy, and sort of the beginning of our Home Edding.

Hi all. hello nic.
I'm a part time SAHM & self employed person in the south west with one DS and a large collection of cycles about which I bore on for hours.

Thans for asking Astro- boy seems to be fine ( we have been forcing persading him to drink more) apart from the tiredness that has built up, he really NEEDS half term. Possibly not helped by it being carnival season here in teh south west. We went to local town carnival yesterday, boy had a fantastic time, went on the dogems ( bumpycars)for 1st time with his dad. Had a hot dog, watched the parade, waved at all teh tractor drivers, was thrilled to be given sweets by some of teh charity collectors and generally had a fab time. Next weekend is out village carnival so he will be in teh kids afternoon parade and watch the evening one.

Today we went geocaching again, in local woods. boy does like a good walk in teh woods, he got rather muddy. It was cool to get back to our start point and hop on the tandem to get home. So much nicer than having to drive.

Do you have carnival where you live? and does your carnival include tractors and young farmers.

No carnival's here Uni, we do have the Matlock Illuminations close by, which are not on a par with Blackpools, but the firework display is quite good Are you doing the lighting at that fabby firework display again this year?

Astro, sounds like a lovely chilled out Sunday

Flame might be having a birth thread on the main pages at the moment if anyone wants to pull up a chair and get the tea n bickies out