radical cross stitch, theological debate, Easter bunnies, changing bags,and a baby brother...it must be June 08!

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

neenz wow, congratulations, that's lovely news!

essie Sounds like things might work out - that's amazing news, fingers are crossed for you, and great job on the korknisse, you're putting me to shame, I need to get on with some more. tell me you're not drinking the wine to go with them at that rate though?

abdn well done on getting through the interview either way!

sybil hooray for sleepage!

ktpie WOW on the bargain from M&S, and thanks for the wool link!

whinegums I know that dig was at me, but I can't think of another Christmas name!

Lol, glasvegas, that would explain my work problems...

Thanks BDQ! I knew you would have some good ideas.

Essie - hope the job works out and welcome to the world of knitting!

I made a gnome last night, although I crocheted his beard, didn't cheat with felt! I think I am going to try and make some Santas in the same design, they are about the right size to hang on the tree.

Hope some more of my deliveries turn up today so I remember what I have bought!

For dog lovers check this out, just £2.65 postage, they had a horse calendar the other day which I have ordered for SIL. They change the offer every day.

Argh, really stressed and tense here. Where are you people?

I'm here, how's it going, have you heard anything yet?

Well, finding it very hard to concentrate on anything. The meeting has taken place; my head of department (before the meeting) was less keen on splitting my fellowship (that pays my wages) but was going to argue I got teaching in history. I'm expecting an e-mail from him shortly, and then I'm to go to see him.

Argh, argh, AAAAARGH. Still waiting for this e-mail. I need to leave at 4pm.
But at least he's going to put something in writing?
This is agony!

Did you get the email Essie?

Congratulations Neenz, what lovely news.

Glasgvegas - ha ha ha. It's a good festive nickname, which is why I remembered it from last year!

The Korknisse are lovely, but I've never tried knitting on round needles - is it easy? Ktpie, I love the gnome, but can't crochet. Who am I kidding anyway - my knitting stuff is still all in a box somewhere, along with so many other things!

Argh indeed Essie. I hope you got something from your HoD.

Sybil, excellent news on the sleep front, hope it's not just a one off. I'm still waiting to make that particular announcement. Maybe in 2010...

Essie, did you hear anything? Is the jobshare you working FT between two departments or are you going PT? Being poor but happy is definitely the way to go. I took a couple of grand pay cut to go from working Tues-Sat to Mon-Fri a few years ago (cos didn't want to work weekends anymore) and it was life-changing, it made me so much happier I never noticed the money. And it's not like your DH is short of a few bob either I bet! I don't know where you find the time to knit! You are like superwoman

Abdn, good luck with the job!

I am fine today - still PG . I have told loads of people, I am totally rubbish at keeping it secret. I don't know how people wait till 12 weeks. My sister (the other one who is PG a week ahead of me) is a teacher at her kids' school, and she obviously doesn't want anyone to know. But I already told my best friend, which is fine, I hope she won't say anything to anyone, but then I was ta her house today and her MIL was there I let something slip while she was there so now I am really worried because it is such a small town. My friend's MIL works with the mother of another one of our friends whose DD is in my sister DD's class! My sister will kill me if it gets out . I am so annoyed at myself. My sister even text me today to say 'my PG is a family secret' and I text back 'of course, no problem' . It will probably be OK but I feel a bit shitty, I really hope it doesn't get out cos of me! I don;t think it will cos my friend's MIL doesn't really know my sister so fingers crossed

OK, emotional rollercoaster slowing down now I hope.

The e-mail came. HoD came up with, not a jobshare, but an arrangement - my current teaching is also used by History, I get some courtesy title such as associate or somesuch in History, and this is for the remaining 18 months of my fellowship. I also get a salary topup, and History is finding the money to jointly do that. I am to develop a certain MA course, jointly with both depts; and I can do bits and pieces of teaching for History.
So, right now I have: Law keen to keep me; History keen to have me (but can't just create a job especially in this climate) and willing to stump up cash for me.

This is good.

In the future: at the end of my fellowship law have to advertise a post I can apply for. (No guarantees; I know that.) When that happens, and if I get the job, History will look to co-fund a position for me, and make further use of me.

Also good - I have this on paper.

The negatives - it's not as good an offer as Aber, it's not secure, and I've now turned down Aber. I cried on the phone telling the HoD there , and he told me he was gutted. But he's a lovely man (argh! Why couldn't he be a shite? There's loads of them in academia!), totally understood my reasons, wants to work with me asap, and will be on the lookout for me in the future.

That's the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire career. I am totally and utterly shaken and emotionally drained, but I'll bounce back and be a nice mumsnetter once again. (Btw, I'm aware it's pretty minor in the scheme of things, but just for tonight it's my big thing.)

LOL neenz, your excitement really cheered me up!

My new position is still FT, still officially at law but linked (with a financial commitment) to history.

Whinegums I didn't do it on round needles - I just did it on straight ones and seamed it. All very amateurish! And no, not superwoman Neenz - each one is under 20 lines of knitting, and only 15 stitches on each line. It's teensy! A fast knitter (Ktmincepie (love the name!), Sponge, Viva can probably rattle one off in 10 minutes or less. Me, it's nearer 45 mins... It's bizarre, I kind of needed to keep my hands moving and I felt I 'achieved' something through that awful weekend.

Essie, it is not trivial at all so don't apologise - it really is a big thing. It's great that the Aber guy is still wanting to work with you in the future. You are still young! You have decades left in your career. Lots can happen in even 10 years, and I am sure he did totally understand your reasons for turning it down. It's great that Bangor are so keen to keep you and keep you happy too. I am still impressed with the knitting tho!

whinegums still waiting for an alternative name suggestion... The korknisse are done on 4 needles, it's a bit like knitting with spaghetti to be honest when you start them, but strangely satisfying! Essie's way is probably much quicker and just as cute - they take me about 25-30 minutes on 4 needles.

Essie wow, what a rollercoaster few days that you've had. Glad you've come to an arrangement that you are at least able to work with, and doesn't sound like your bridges are burnt with Aberystwyth (sp?) as you had feared.

neenz I got a bit lost with your explanation of who exactly it was that you told about your sister's pregnancy - it sounded like an eastenders plot!

Ktpie I couldn't see the picture of the gnome, but a crochet beard sounds exciting!

sybil did you get another night's sleep?

Glad things worked out Essie. Neenz - make sure you keep that secret! If anyone in my family had given the game away before I was ready I really would have found it unforgivable [scold] .

Sky finally replaced our Sky box today which I'm very happy about!

Been faffing about on the computer for ages so I really must go and see what DH is up to. at everyone!

Ha ha yeah the town I am from is a bit like a soap opera! BDQ, oh dear . I really hope it doesn't get out! I don't think she would be that bothered cos it is her fourth and my other sister will probably let it slip to someone too so it won't be traced back to me lol!!

Essie - it's not trivial to us, we've lived through this agonising time with you and I'm glad that Bangor have come to an arrangement which sounds OK, and maybe in the future you'll get that chance at Aber again.

Neenz - you do make me laugh, did sound like a soap opera.

Hello to everyone else - no inspiration for my christmas name - anyone?

Christmas parcel arrived from my dad so I'll have to call him now!!

Still busy here, can you all do a snow dance for us please, guests arriving on Thursday and not enough for the lifts to open yet - aargh! Had no guests for a couple of months so now madly tidying all our stuff which has managed to spread into every room/apartment.

deb DebInTinsel. DebKneeDeepInWrappingPaper. Hmmm quite tricky.

I have done a snow dance. It was special.

Viva I'm giggling at you and your korknisse doing a snow dance. Hope it works!

I can confirm that where Neenz lives is like a soap opera . It's the same where I am (only a couple of miles away - how have we not managed to meet up?). After the thrills of T's delivery I came across several people who had been told about it by someone else. They would stop me mid-retelling to say they'd already heard it from the midwife/priest/neighbour. A mumsnetter e-mailed me to say she'd heard it . When I was pregnant with DD1 everyone knew there were concerns about her, too - less nice to share. Sybil thanks for your post on my other thread . I'm having problems with DD1...

Essie same as what everyone else says. Not trivial at all and I'm glad at how things seem to be working out.

Yeah we have to meet up soon Rolf, a trip to Duke St park maybe? Sorry you are having problems with DD1 - I suppose you have tried the techniques in Toddler Taming? There is also Beyond Toddlerdom for 5-12yr olds (not sure how old your DD is) by the same bloke, Dr Christopher Green. He is not everyone's cup of tea in a Jo Frost/Supernanny kind of way but I like him.

Well I couldn't get to sleep last night worrying about my sister's Pg getting out . I was so annoyed at myself cos it was totally silly mentioning it in front of my my friend's MIL. But I spoke to my friend this morning and she reassured me that her MIL will not tell a soul and she doesn't even work with the woman whose granddaughter is in my sister's DD's class anymore. Phew!

Deb, I really really hope you get snow!

Viva, what exactly is this korknisse thing - I had never heard of it!

Neenz, I linked to them somewhere above - they are little knitted elfin type things on a cork. Christmas decorations really.

Korknisse Neenz!

Hello back again! Neenz - congrats on the pregnancy hun Did you need to take any drugs after all?

I am very impressed with all the arts and crafts on here. I wouldn't even know which way round to hold a knitting needle. Been so busy of late that I wouldn't have the time. Maybe something to take up next year when I'm at home (no chance - I'm completely crap at things like this!)

So I am now officailly in an IVF programme. Eek - bit emotional. Been told feck all chance of concieving the natural way and with my stats we have been advised to go hardcore on the drugs. I have good antrical follicles though (?????? anyone explain?) so that is a bonus. Anyway you'll have to put up with me being a drug bunny now. Got to take the contraceptive pill for a couple of weeks which makes me go a bit mad anyway!

Essie - missed so much but sounds like you are one hell of a popular lady!

Essie, fab news - well done you!

Amber, antral follicles are a good predictor of egg reserves - as we age so our eggs reserves diminish until we reach menopause. It's v hard to measure our egg reserve but antral follicles are one indicator. So that's a good first sign . Good luck. IVF is immensely stressful so plan lots of me-time and treats for yourself - when do you start down regging?

M has been asleep all afternoon in his bouncy chair - fickle little boy - although he did sleep all morning in his sling (thank you again AH) so maybe that helped him sleep this afternoon? Stupid me has spent two hours tidying the house rather than sleeping though - I just reached my tolerance levels for mess, and we have Meridian TV filming here tomorrow!

Went to visit a friend today who has a six day old baby and realised how much M has changed already - her DS has screamed from 7pm til 10pm every night so far and won't be put down during the day either. Have recommended a sling!

Deb, have done a snow dance - is it working yet?

God it's mad Sponge - I can't remembre anything about Luke being that little. Maybe I've blotted it out!!

My last day at work is 21 December and I was going to go the to the Xmas party on 18th but I guess I really shouldn 't be drinking right? I already booked my accupuncture apps starting tomorrow after a double driving lesson! Good about the follicles, she said I had 10 (no idea emoticon)