June 08- the shoes, the food, the glamour!

[pureeandpearls]

Struggling to load pages these days and saw we were over the 900 so took the liberty of starting a new thread.

oops! I didn't make the costumes, DS1's godmother did! I'm a decent seamstress but I can't approach that. ktpie I've all 36 4-patch squares sewn together but now I need a solid no-kid chunk of time to lay them out on the floor and set up the 'random' pattern. I've tried, but the boys just run across the room and kick them with their feet. sigh! That nappy bag is gorgeous - I like how the straps just extend from the body.

deb we've tons of flooding! not right in the village but all around us and some of the trails are washed out. Driving east during or right after heavy rain isn't a good idea, but it seems the road to the west is always clear.

I walked 11km today because my insomnia was back last night. I cannot wait for bed now as at least I know I'll sleep.

Hi all, things a bit better here - mainly due to a gigantic thread I started on here. I'm so glad I posted it - there are so many people with skills and experience on here - there's quite a lot of power really.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and support. (Just an update - job application is going in - it's inevitable, I have to apply; but I'm now starting a campaign in the university to see what they can do for me. Meeting 1 today, with the deputy head of Arts and Humanities, also Welsh medium representative. Some good results.)

Anyway, I'll keep cheery!
[Sponge] I'd suggest the Lin and Leo bag - it has 3 pockets, opens all the way across (IYKWIM), has a changing mat; also 2 bottle pockets. I manage to carry 3 washable nappies plus other paraphernalia, and usually lunch etc; and also my purse, diary and mobile. And the other day I put Richard II in there (that's the book, not the actual king - how useful would that be, though?). If it helps I can measure mine. Other pros: it's leather, and doesn't look like a baby bag. But it is expensive...Lin&Leo but I didn't pay that much either.

Alternatively, ktpie, you should just make the big bag for Sponge and sort everyone's problems! I too have a massive stash of fabrics...and I keep buying ones to make quilts because I sort of don't want to mess with the pretty fabrics I have. My Mum made a fabulous patchwork bag - it was great; I might try to get a picture of it Ktpie. It was all squares cunningly arranged and they turned into the handle I think...hm, can't explain it.

Abdn the costumes are amazing - I was just off to delete any pictures of any sewing done by me in case you saw them, but then you confessed it wasn't you. The quilt looks great - and I love the JCB in the shot, it sums up the quilting situation here too! - but here's a thing, I know those fabrics! A stash, and I'm also a total nerd...

Deb hope you're better soon. Spider great news on the nap (yours and P's!). Sybil sorry the holiday is now just a memory...the laundry is always awful after a break, isn't it? Will you get any time to yourself this week, to just have a cup of coffee, a biscuit and read a magazine?

A humorous note: I have an article in a journal which has been pending for years; it's a delicate situation because the main editor, well, had a baby with a research student blah blah blah (!), but just as I was about to pull it, there was some action. However, the editor is in Aberdeen, and his village has just been flooded! My mentor (co-editor) is in despair and we have visions of crucial articles on medieval Welsh history and literature floating out to sea...

Essie, good to hear you're feeling brighter - and lol at the L&L bag, I remember you bringing that along to one of our meet ups and everyone getting v excited! No way would dh agree to spend that on a change bag! I think I'm going to invstigate P&P's suggestion on my other thread - we've just sold our old pram () on ebay and a couple of breast pumps, so maybe able to persuade him to put the £ towards this instead.

AH, funny you and ktpie talking about stashes - I have a massive stash of wool and was telling spider today about all my knitting projects that I want to get on with but I'm just too tired! Your comment on your blog about it being an antidote to all the maleness in your home made me laugh too - funnily enough I'm such a tomboy at heart and my friends are very surprised I knit and do tapestry but I find it so relaxing and love creating things.

spider, fab news about the nap - do you think P heard us talking about his sleeping habits and he felt sorry for you?!

Hi to everyone else .

essie which village and yes, it's just a selection of moda fabrics. I don't get time to individually pick fabrics these days so I'm buying the made up bundles .

sponge I'm a tomboy too but somehow that just doesn't compare with actual boys It is lovely being surrounded by them isn't it?

essie I found your other thread - are you going to pull it? and I'm glad you got some good advice and support. I don't think I'm much help in your situation as faced with crap problems at my work, I eventually just gave up and quit. I know DS1 was unhappy but I still feel a lot like a failure for not making things work out. Still, I fought hard for a while and it did take my situation from horrible to manageable. The one thing I learned is that when you fight, you get a reputation as a trouble maker. It took a long time (2 years) for me to put that reputation behind me and have people saying they liked working with me. (Lesson learned, taking the high ground and not saying why you're making an official complaint can backfire. I was protesting against bullying, sexism, and homophobic statements - but I got branded as the trouble maker).

Sponge,the link for the change bag won't open. I managed with a regular Graco bag for ages and it was good, lots of pockets etc but the lining started to split so now I have one of these and it is very good - lots of space although when it is full it is like a weekend bag. And I have always had to carry a handbag too, but then I carry round lots of stuff that I never need 'just in case'. I just have a handbag with a strap long enough to go over the pram handlebars so put both bags on the pram (although the new change bag's strap is not long enough - so I pin it on with my handbag strap iyswim)

Essie, have you considered quitting work altogether or is that just not on your radar at all? I know you love work but it is making you very unhappy and that can't be right. Is having Iestyn making it more difficult or is it just the workload and arseholes in your dept? A baby and a full-time job is bloody hard work.

Sybil, know what you mean about the washing! It's a down side of coming home from holiday for sure!

Rolf, interesting about the Easter bunny, it is not something that we have come across a lot but it doesn't offend me as much as halloween, cos I see halloween as actively celebrating ghosts and ghouls and in effect the devil (sorry, I don't mean anyone who does halloween is celebrating the devil only that that is its origin). It doesn't offend me when other people do halloween but it is not for me. I don't really get the point of it .

essie sorry to hear things are so shit at work but glad you are getting some advice on here (and counselling). it really is the pits when work is getting you down as colours your whole life.

well done to all the other new walkers (Viva essie). PP hope move plans going well.

sponge gorgeous photos on your site.

controlled crying attempted and work tonight after 15 minutes which is good as between fretful child, no luck in ttc and too much work its been a bit much so its good something went well.

AH, absolutely! But then you are talking to someone who chose her uni on the basis that it had a ratio of one woman to four men!!

Neenz, thanks, have just bid on a Skip Hop Duo bag that puree found for me on ebay. Will see how that goes .

Ktpie was it you who referred me to that cashback site in the summer? Just got my £50 cashback on S's child trust fund so thanks for that! I'll consider it my reward for the maternity allowance

neenz there's a thread somewhere debating Halloween and whether it equates to devil worshipping

abdn - enjoy your sleep.

On changing bags, DH has the baba bing one (and I think viva has it too) and it's quite roomy. Fits a lot more than mine!

Hm, yeah, Abdn don't know what to do about the thread. Pull it, I suppose? But basically I am quite easy to trace. What damage could it do? (Sorry I can be quite naive.)
Also worried about being a 'troublemaker' (although is it me, or do men not get that label as much??)

Poppy glad the CC went well - I know exactly what you mean about one thing going well in an awful day. See - you're supermum now. (I count things like successfully doing the laundry - so Sybil, you're up there, top of the class! )

Sponge LOL at tapestry. I do cross stitch, and I do it under a cloud of shame and self hatred because of the anti-feminist nature of it! God, I love it though!

Neenz I don't think the origins of Halloween are really pagan/devil worshipping. All major Christian festivals were timed at pagan festival times (Christmas - midwinter; Easter follows the moon - make of that what you will!). But Halloween was celebrated throughout the middle ages, when people were genuinely scared. Scared of the dark (and boy, was it dark at winter) and everything in it. (Think of the prayer 'lighten our darkness' - when you put it in the context of living before street lights or electricity, there's such a desperation there; people were waiting for the sun to rise because there was nothing but darkness until it did.) And Halloween was at a dark time of year, and it was a chance for the people to admit to their fears, and kind of be defiant for a night, and light up the darkness (with lanterns, and bonfires - Nov 5th is Guy Fawkes now but there were bonfires around Halloween). A sort of 'we'll make fun of the things we don't understand and which scare us for one night'. And belief in God was all they had - November 1st is All Saints, and 2nd is All Souls to remember the dead - another inescapable fear.

Oops, a lecture. It doesn't show that I'm frustrated at work, does it?

New thread title needed!

Poppy - pleased the CC went well tonight, especially with other things not going so well at the moment, hey maybe this will be the start and next month there'll be the BFP you're waiting for which in turn will solve the work problems too!

Essie - I did cross stitch and loved it too but I don't seem to find the time now, in fact I have one that I started when pregnant with Stefan(10 years ago) and never finished

Abdn - hope you sleep tonight

I am feeling so much better , just stomach pains now. thanks for your messages

Essie - I like your confidence in my sewing skills that you think that someone else might appreciate a bag I'd made! I'm not so sure that anyone other than me would be seen dead with one of my creations.
I like the sound of the patchwork bag. I'm similarly precious about lovely fabric and wool, I have to reach a certain amount (ie a house full) before I am happy to actually use any.
Glad the work situation is getting sorted. I once inadvertently had a lot of success in getting a better position when my employers found out I had an interview somewhere else and suddenly lots of strings could be pulled when before they had just made excuses.

Sponge - I have a queue of things to make on Ravelry that gets longer by the day. If I spent more time knitting and less time planning future knitting projects I would get a lot further!

Neenz - I thought Halloween had Christian origins, that probably shows my shaky knowledge of religion!

Poppy - glad the controlled crying worked, we have had a lot of crying here today, change of bedroom and I'm not sure if he is teething (wishful thinking).

BDQ - yes that was me with the cashback! Glad it came through OK.

thanks- yes ktpie we've had a lot of crying so could be a phase but there were no other signs (she wasn't teething) nad is just being willful.

deb glad you are feeling better and know what you mean about the simple things - on some days I think pat on the back for loading the dishwasher or simply making it into work.

essie cross stitch very very therapeutic. Wish I could find some nice christmas cards to make that weren't too bleurgh.... loved your lecture - have you read wolf hall?

X posted there, Essie knows a little more about Halloween than me!

What about some radical cross stitch Essie? Is that a Banksy pic at the bottom?

Debs - glad you are feeling better.

LOL Ktpie! At the radical cross stitch, and also the comment on Halloween. But it does have Christian origins (in some ways) - it's a final fling before All Saints and All Souls. The name means All Hallows (i.e. Saints) Eve. Being a medievalist (but not a historian of religion - not at all) I could happily slide into a Catholic church and act normal; I'm au fait with many saints. Poppy agree, the christmas cards. They're always so twee, somehow. My aunt once made some ones with a robin on, and they were fine, but not very me, IYKWIM. How about holly? Is that a safe bet? With maybe bead berries...or oh, dear, I'm sliding into dodgy territory there...
This is a company with designs I like. The Christmas ones are quite tasteful (IMO!) - perhaps you could select a motif for the cards? I also like the idea of a sampler just for Christmas!

hey, on changebags We do have a bababing which was very good and much used, but i recently succumbed to an oioi bag that I found in TK Maxx, total bargain and very roomy!

stashes I have a wool stash and a smaller fabric stash. I have at least three projects on the go at the moment, I much prefer starting them to finishing . I am also on ravelry ktpie I am hoitytoity.

abdn hope you didn't walk 11km in the floods. I have visions of you parting the red sea as you plough through the floods with a buggy!

deb hope you feel better soon.

hi everyone else x

it was this oioi bag

essie seems like only women get that label unfortunately. It's a bit ironic in my situation that I fought and fought and ended up quitting work just when everything was sorted but... Oh, and the silver lining was that back in 2007 I was so devastated by my lack of promotion (pushed through by the union eventually) and the behaviour of a senior manager when I went to him to complain that we decided we had nothing to lose and would try for another baby a year earlier than we'd planned. He's hammering on the furniture right now. (p.s. can we have a picture of the bag?). But I know that I've been emotionally unstable about this whole decision to stay home and you're probably more attached to your research than I was (honestly, I think yours sounds more interesting anyways since it related to people!) so I don't want to sound like I'm saying I've got stuff sorted. I keep crying about how we've not made it work...

Actually one of the worst things about quitting work is that to be honest, this field of research I'm in was a second (practical) choice. If I'd have known that my PhD could have ended up not leading into a career, then I could have done anything I wanted...

hmm, not sure I meant to discuss all that...

how is tapestry anti-feminist? It's creating, and that should be all that matters But I tried cross stitch once and my eyes ended up really hurting from the strain. I don't think they are good enough for it, whereas the handquilting can be done using mainly my sense of touch.

neenz I've been a member of churches that have recognized All Saints and All Souls and discussed how Hallowe'en is all part of that. Rolf and Essie you've given me food for thought about the easter bunny though. I'd not ever thought about how I want to handle that with the boys.

I slept so well last night deb hope you're feeling better! poppy hope the CC worked well with E, are you okay? It sounds like you need a spell of easy times...

poppy i've read Wolf Hall (twice) and I love it, it's such an amazing ideas book. But I suggested it for my book club and only one other person even finished it and most of them hated it.

viva no floods on the roads yesterday (or at least nothing deeper than ankle height and I was in wellies), but there will be today again. It's calling for 8.6mm of rain between 9-11 and we have outdoor playgroup at ten today .

I've just started a book group and our first book was Woof Hall! I'm really excited about being in a book group again.
Essie DH was a historian of religion. He gets very excited about it.

Abdn and Essie you really struggle with these work issues don't you? It must be so difficult to have these experiences over something you love so much and have such a vocation to. Much harder than being shafted when it's just a job.

Rolf that's just it - it's not just a job (which is why Neenz quitting isn't something I'd even consider - well, I consider it and then feel quite ill! ). The buzz I get from my research is really something (funnily enough my research is going well at the moment and I'm working on something totally fab) but it's the other stuff which gets in the way... But AH I do appreciate you being on this thread, having been in similar situations etc.

Your DH could talk at length with me about various matters...does he do monasteries? I'm currently in need of someone with monastic expertise!

Wolf Hall - sorry, failed to answer Poppy's question last night. What is it?

BTW, hope everyone watched the programme on William Garrow on Sunday night. Firstly because it's legal history, which never makes it to tv (you know how everyone laughs at the historians because they're a bit weird and sad (only people worse are the classicists ), well the historians need people to laugh at so they laugh at the legal historians ). But also because it's superb, and the man had such an amazing impact, everyone should know about him!

Desperately in need of inspiration of new thread title, but can't think of anything! Not helped by serious sleep deprivation - AIBU to expect that my nearly 3 wk old son should be sleeping through by now ?!

poppy, x-posted with you last night - sorry to hear everything is getting a bit much but good to hear the CC worked. We're having to go back to basics with A re: sleeping too as his sleeping is nearly as bad as M's at the moment.

I have the bababing change bag! Brilliant for one child but not managing for two . I have a bid on ebay and also an offer for a sale from someone on MN, so will hopefully be sorted by next week.

Totally agree with the work talk and how women are 'labelled' in a way that men are not - which brings me on nicely to the radical cross stitch! LMAO at some of the feminist cross stiches on there - fab!

Essie, thanks for the info on Halloween - very interesting. Although disappointed it wasn't all about devil worship !

What's the problem with the Easter bunny btw? Nothing to do with the church is it? Or Easter eggs for that matter - strictly for heathens only! (Please feel free to forward them all to me if you don't want them!).

ktpie, I'm sure your change bag would be fab, but I wouldn't impose any projects on anyone else knowing how many I have queued up for friends and family!

AH, sorry to hear you're still struggling with the work thing .

Essie, I only caught the end of the Garrow programme (I'm ashamed to say I generally don't 'do'costume dramas ). But the end was fascinating - the bits about not being allowed to address the jury, and the jury considering their decision by all just turning around and having a quick chat and then delivering their verdict! What a difference from today (I hope!).

Essie sorry to hear about your situation, read what was left of your thread. One small thing that struck me was in your OP: why would Cambridge be setting your sights too high, if a job ever did come up there? anyway that's not relevant right now I know but wanted to say feel free to email me or contact through facebook if you want to talk privately about the situation with another tied-to-location academic!

LOVING the radical cross stitch. If I ever get to the point where I have any free time not used for sleep I am so following that up!

Essie - I like the Christmas sampler idea, there are some nice designs on there. I've never done cross stitch but have to admit to being tempted by some of these designs, may be a little complicated for a beginner, now of course I like the idea of the cross stitched Banksy. There are plenty of feminists doing crafts and needlework by the way, Craftster is full of them, weilding needles no less and embroidering pictures of female anatomy, and all sorts of other things.

Viva - I think it was someone on here that told me about Ravelry, I will go and look for you (I don't have any friends on there )

What is wrong with the Easter bunny? Surely rabbits along with eggs and daffodils etc are symbols of spring and new life which fits in with the Christian Easter doesn't it? Is it the giant rabbit delivering chocolate eggs which is the problem? What about Santa/Father Christmas?

Wolf Hall sounds good, did it win the Booker prize?

Essie - just looked up the Garrow programme and it looks interesting, is it repeated?

Sponge - I would happily make you a bag if I thought my skills were up to it but I'm not convinced they are.

How about June08 - for theological debate, Easter bunnies, medieval history, changing bags, feminist cross-stitching and X-factor chat.

Covers most things [hgrin]

Dih, the Halloween smileys have gone - does that mean it's time for the Christmas ones? What do you think Puree?