August 2008 - I wish it could be Christmas every day, with the TV rows and the ILs you'd like to slay-ay-ay.

[steaknife]

Hmm might be a bit early for a festive thread title but thought we could get in the mood.

None of that tasteful two colour decoration scheme in my tent - oh no. The gawdier the better.

Hi everyone
I can't think what to buy for my Secret Santa present.
I'm still trying to decide whether or not to go to the meetup. Money is tight, but I'd love to go. I'll have to look at how much it'll cost to get there.
pert I reread a lot of my old kids books. Anne of Green Gables - definitely, and Steaky I also get all teary when Matthew dies. Narnia is one of my faves. Also A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett. And The Hobbit. Diana Wynne Jones too.

QOD I meant to say before about your neighbour. Having been the wailing woman next door it is very nice to have someone ask after you, but can be abit embarassing too. I am sure she would welcome an invite for a cup of tea.

Oh bums, there were blue skies half an hour ago so I was going to go out along the beach with Iz and pop in for tea with mammysteak. It is now peeing it down. grr.

miamla ooh can i come and help look after izzy on friday???!!! sa adults to 3 babies. easy peasy .

miamla tell me if you need any sleeping bags/airbeds/pillows and i can lob some in the car for sat. Obviously i won;t be staying over as i live so close, but dh is on the early service next sunday (boo hiss) so will be up and 6.15, thus needing me o site! I can offer spare beds (3 atm cos of lack of lodgers) but I may not stay uber late at the meetup, plus you'd be subjected to dc noises in the morning.

Afternoon all. Hoping mums and babies are all well? All is fine in the cave-household, af missing in action . Rubbish random periods.

Its raining again here but thank heavens we live on top of a hill.

Have abandoned dh with O so i can mn and fb they can spend some quality time together

ah excuse me with the part time Green Gables lovers - I'm the only one who named their child Cordelia

I have them ALL on box set too if anyone needs to borrow

TS I'd bloody better not be [meep]

oooh dizzy Mr Miamla might need his pink square of knitting after all . YOur af must be off partying somewhere with mine!

I have seriously threatened to divorce dh 3 times, each time at about 5 weeks pregnant. The last time, he laughed his head off and suggested that I should get a test.

Steaky-a good idea to think of a work from home option, I think. How wonderful to get a boost like this. Make sure that you have this woman as a referee for other jobs if this doesn't work out.

It's tough isn't it having to make all the decisions and strike the right balance by yourself. V. unfair.

Hotter - ds has had multiple tests for this kind of thing and it seems to be viral arthritis. A dose of nurofen (paed at hospital gave ds a vast dose!) will reduce any joint inflammation. I dropped up to school to give it to ds after his knees went funny last week.

Got to run ...

Afrernoon all.

Very of meet up.

And of books - most of mine have been lost in the many many moves we made during childhood. My faves were Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, What Kay Did etc..

Yesterday was a bit of a write off day - I felt like rubbish and DH slept in until 11 then dissapeared to do DIY etc befroe reappearing 2.30 to watch rugby, I tried to nap but concentrating on rugby and DD was proving too hard so I was yelled for 10 mins later as she was apparently being stroppy and mummyish. BUT he redeemed hmslef today and took us out to breakfast and then came home and offered me naptime and left me for 2 WHOLE hours him and DD did gardening, watched Ratatoulle at japaleno tortilla crisps and generall had a lovely time, which they haven't done for ages. RoastiePork and trimmings here later and apple and blackberry crumble with cream.

My secret Santa has kinda thrown me - I knwo her interests but think I might diverge slightly so need to think madly and get it posted!

I haven't ever read anne of green gables - well maybe the first one. must do!

am not sure what to get my secret santa recipient. don;t want to get it wrong as she deserves something lovely.

Hey everyone.
I have caught up but forgive me for not replying to everyone, will try. Been busy,also not big window of opportunity as ds bit whingy and clingy (no suprise really) as he still not better. Seems he is snotty again today and a bit warm.
I have offered lots of different things to eat for tea, but he keeps throwing it all on the floor.

I am also undecided about the ss gift,will get it sorted.

sazzles glad to here the party went well

Hotter what a scare with the wobbly legs and not been able to walk, I hope everything is ok now.

dizzy take it easy and rest whenever you can I know that is hard though.

Big vote for Narnia too.

steaky sorry can't give any advice re work, but I chose to be at home with dcs. Lucky that I can,but do miss work alot sometimes.

qod Hope dp gets it sorted at work.

miamla how kind of you to offer somewhere for everyone. would really love to come. No idea how much a train ticket would be though.

Steaky and Albs Just a suggestion but if Albs has rooms to rent at a do-able distance from central London...

LOL at Cordelia - such a positively romantic name. I always wanted to have red hair since reading AofGG it was slightly more achievable than being an orphan.

Anyone else watching the Railway Children. I had never seen the very beginning before, but welled up just thinking about the end.

I always thought Bernard Cribbins would be an ace dad him or Johnny Ball, but seems you can't just swap your dad for someone elses. Funny old world.

Was telling mum about our book chat and she reminded me of the Shoes books - Ballet Shoes etc. Also The Pheonix and The Carpet.
All those ones that were made into BBC Sunday tea time dramas. We used to have our Sunday tea sitting on the table cloth infront of the TV.

I have to dump before I leave. We are heading over to my Aunt's & Uncle's house(use to be my Grandmother's and Grandfather's house) for Sunday lunch (late). This is a whole family affair. Father's side of the family. I'm doing my darnest NOT to stress but am secretly caring a load of anxiousness. My casserole is taking it's own sweet time to heat thoroughly which is what I'm blaming the stress on. Seriously though I just hate the judgmental attitudes that flow during these "family" get-togethers. No idea if my brother will be there. Last I heard my father was "aggravated with him" so I'm going to guess that means he's NOT coming. I swear his wife is tearing our family unit to shreds!!!! Why can't men see when this is happening. I'm sure he thinks (or is being told) that it's us ostracizing her. She's not the first crazy addition, we do adjust. She's just not allowing for any adjustments to take place. ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

okay. i feel better. just needed to get it out. thank you.

Oh i love the railway children (daddy, my daddy )!!

love noel streatfield too!!!!!!!

Just heard the news form a friend that mututal friends of ours were expecting a baby but lost it at 6.5 months. Poor poor them No idea why it happened. It was such a fear of mine when preg with ds, i can almost feel their heartbreak

Home at last!!! We have base units, worktop and a kettle and microwave on an extension lead. It'll do for now. Have just put a big tub of adhesive on the counter to hint to my dad that it's time to do the tiling (then all the electric stuff can be activated.) He is great and all that but can get distracted by other little tasks and doesn't always see the big picture eg where real live people fit into kitchen fitting. Such an Aspie.

DD in with Kurt this week, really hope his yodelling doesn't recur or that she sleeps through it as we don't have a spare bed for DH to crawl into for the 5am co-sleep ritual.

Good luck with your evening TS.

I was a Little Women fan too; my mum found me weeping at age 8, not because Beth had died but because I hadn't wanted the book to end.

welcome home Buckets

Little Woman was my mum's favourite - would have been her 70th tomorrow am hoping the hot mamma's will grant me a pardon for chocolate consumption tonight - missing periods and maudlin moments so its either that or I'm ploughing into the bevvy

ALBS what a horrible loss for your friend - what a distressing and sad time. I do hope they have time to grieve and have plenty of support. I know its no consolation but my friend who lost her 2nd baby at the same stage has just celebrated the 1st birthday of her ds so as cruel and awful as it is, there can be a healthy and happier outcome at a later stage. Hold J & H tight and give them a big sniff

TS good luck, nothing like a fraught family affair to keep you on edge

thank you VG

DH now hates you though, sorry we were desperate for tkts for March but the flights and match tickets were just stupid money shall have to stick to every second year at murrayfield - anyway, I digree - I hope you had a fab night and that the squad were pished off their scones after a great match - although he wants to know exactly HOW pished they were as they've not to forget they've to face SA next weekend

mmmm Brian O'Driscoll mmmmmmmmm

ALBS that is very sad. We've been on pins and needles since last Tuesday because my cousin's baby arrived early (37W) via Csec and after 24 hours was rushed TWO HOURS to a more advanced pediatric facility due to complications. It was only just yesterday that she was moved from the highest level of NNICU to the next level down. The hope is they can travel home with her next week. Gastric Issues and I think a few other complications are the cause. You never know and there's no changing some things that are truly NATURE.

Dizzy (((hugs)))

Buckets YAY!!!

VG I need to take a page from your play book. I soooooo need a weekend of fun!

I survived my family gathering. I also found out my brother wasn't there because of his wife's FEAR that I will have another outburst. Good Grief! Ya'll remember my 37W blow up after she for the 100th time pushed me to my limits. Seems that is what she is using to drive my family out of my brother's life. He's such an avoider of conflict that he will never do anything to change the situation. Would be fine if she were a tame, withdrawn, poorly person but she's not and her temper rivals Napoleon's. FAMILY! UGH!!!

VG please stop - you've mentioned the beloved Brian and pancakes in the same sentance - DH is now weeping