June 2008: New Year, new thread, new names, new words, new goals, but no resolutions!

[abdnhikinginawinterwonderland]

New thread since the last one's at 997 posts...

The poor woman with pork products and no pants will be reunited with her case tomorrow as it's in the Tyrol, a couple of hours from here!!The woman in the Tyrol will be reunited with her furry hat and 2 bottles of Calpol - I had to look for identification!! We had English sausages for tea and they were lovely.

Neenz - no, people don't know to bring things, the current guests have been here twice before so we could ask them, 1 American expat drove over from the UK and I did a Tesco order to her house as she had space in the car and understood about missing stuff from your home! I usually ask any UK guests to bring something if they can fit it in, like teabags, jelly essentials like that, if we know them really well we ask for sausage and bacon!!I have a friend coming next week to her flat nearby, she's bringing some Cathedral city cheese, she said she'll ski over with a block in each pocket of her ski coat!!

Spider - your time in the West end sounds great and just what you needed. My trip to the UK isn't looking good, sil and bil can't get anyone to look after their horses, and neither one of them wants to come on their own with mil, mil can't look after all 3 boys on her own so I might be staying here instead of having 2 nights in London with dh and no children.Hey, maybe just as well after our recent mishap!

Abdn - hope you have a great time in London though, I'm not at all.

Tedi -spill about Argos

Poppy, glad Edie's on the mend and hope the results are OK.

Goddess - my Nana did exactly the same, and kept on going for ages!!

Ktpie - how's J and his pebble - bless

Bugger - what a horrible experience for you in the car park,

I will always associate garlic with Rolf

Thanks for all of your messages about the car park. Just an awful man - but hopefully his little visit from the police will at least give him a bit of a surprise (can't imagine that anyone like that will be really bothered) and he'll be banned from Sainsbos.

Goddess, wow at your super granny - that's great.

Intrigued by potato masher flipping of pancakes Biscuits. I almost always make pancakes at the weekend, I thought I'd ruined them today as I got carried away with the baking powder, but they were so much better - so I'll be using the double the normal amount in future. Mmmmm. B can eat more pancakes that either me or DP.

Loving the see you jimmy Burns smilies.

C'mon Tedi, we all want to hear your Argos story now! Why don't you agree with Burns night? What's not to like about haggis and whisky and poetry?

Deb, shame about your trip.

Oh, Sponge, hours in bookshops... I miss that too...

I don't like whisky, I'm vegetarian, and Burns was a fraud who supported highland clearances.

Abdn I x-posted. Hee hee, I'm planning on being in London that very week! Can't you magic a child and join us in a meet up?? (Actually, I think Sponge has a spare one, right Sponge? )
Second what Sponge said about Charing Cross Road. On wool, I'm still new to this lark but find John Lewis to be superb. There's an amazing craft superstore near us in Tooting, but Tooting might not be the right kind of cultural otherwise...Fabulous curries though.

Argos, yes, well, I have had bad experiences in several branches, but the Balham one asked me to leave and not come back. (But I went back recently and they didn't notice so maybe it's not a lifetime ban.)
It was all very stupid, but I got there (to buy a stopwatch), and there was a massive queue to pay. So I filled in my silly little form, and queued for over 15 minutes at the collection counter (that was functioning as the main till - Argos in Balham is truly shite, and that's on Argos levels!) After I got to the counter I was told to go to jewellery to get my stopwatch. I went there, and lo and behold, there were 20 people queueing there, half of them with their stupid little slips, trying to jump the other massive queue by paying for their item at the jewellery counter and then waiting at the other collection point. Seeing this, I edged forward. There was a woman standing next to me (queuing with her slip) and she stood in front of me, so I stepped round her, and she gave me a dirty look. Then the server called next, and I stepped forward, about to say 'I'm only here to pick up my item' (which I had seen arrive) when the woman started shouting and said she had watched me trying to jump the queue. I then () started arguing back, ahem, perhaps a bit loudly, and saying how I'd been queuing for 20 minutes, and that the queue to pay was over the other side, and I was collecting an item, etc etc, she called me 'the rudest woman she had ever met' and I said things along the lines of that would be quite an achievement in a place like Argos etc etc... and so they said 'here's your watch, please leave, and don't come back'... or maybe not, maybe I'm secretly proud of this!
My other strange claim to fame is that I was once thrown out of a nightclub for fighting. Anyone who's met me will be amused at that because of my size and stature.

at 'see you jimmy' suburbia

it's probably q very un-mn-etty thing to say but WWC is mad as a box of frogs.

Thrown out of a nightclub for fighting?!!!!!

Had a hideous night - A has picked up a horrible cold and hacking cough so has been up loads in the night doing a passable impression of Darth Vadar . Poor little thing. I'm now going to drag him to Tiny Talk cos can't contemplate a morning home with a grumpy toddler .

Morning all x

Deb, really sorry to hear your trip to the UK might not be happening .

The Sainsburys I used to shop at had a number to call if someone was using the disabled/P&T spaces, I nearly called it a number of times! However if no disabled spaces are avail I would always give up a P&T space. TBH I think disabled spaces are a necessity and P&T spaces nice to have.

Sympathies on the hangovers. I haven't drunk for about 4 years but weaning off my meds is actually causing me to have hangover style mornings. All the pain with none of the fun. However I am soooo glad to be coming off them, hangovers aside I am feeling much more alert and like my old self already.

Goddess - Your Gran reminds me of the Eddie Izzard stand up when all the old woman keep telling death to F off and keep going and going and going. Wonderful news though, esp for your Dad.

I got myself in trouble on a pregnancy thread when I called the OP a troll in so many words. 6ms pregnant and smoking, she has tried to stop but is scared she'll get fat. Her DP also is worried she'll get fat if she stops and he smokes too. I seriously thought it was a wind up, turns out it wasn't.

Tedi - Glad everythings ok. Doesn't sound good that you've just got to put up with the pain though.

Biscuits - I'm impressed at your pancake flipping with a masher! Wouldn't be possible in my house, Ry considers the masher to be one of his toys and gets v upset if I try to use it when cooking.

Deb - Shame re your UK trip, hope you get to go afterall. Could you be cheeky and see if MIL wants to bring a friend to help out?

Burns night celebrations off here as can't find a good haggis. My FIL got his from the brit shop, in a tin!!?? Apparently it's exactly the same as they have in Scotland (My mum is Scottish and I spent every suummer holiday there for about 15 years)...I just keep quiet now, it's not worth the hassle! I realised that after trying to explain that no kilts weren't 'invented' in the 1900's and no I don't think a kilt made in Taiwan and bought in Singapore passes for authentic...

Tedi - 'scuse my ignorance, but what were the Highland Clearances? Loving the Argos story! And waiting patiently for the nightclub one.

Deb - at the english sausages. The London Pride sausages are bought here were rubbish and don't get me started on chorizo 'flavoured' sausages. No parma ham here either...

I actually spent far too much of Ry's early life in Books etc in Wimbledon as they had a cafe upstairs where I could read whilst he was happy in his pram. It had a very paperchase design style lift that he used to love. Have all the Books etc's closed down now? Shame as they were always better value than Waterstones. Oh, speaking of which, the Waterstones just off Picadilly is pretty big and they have a wonderful bar/cafe on the top floor, that's my London recommendation for a solo Mummy. (I seem to recall that Puree had an early date with her now hubbie there too).

Morning all. Stinking cold here! Am feeling quite proud of myself as I have a bolognese in the slow cooker already (I've never actually cooked an evening meal for DH remember). Worried there's a bit too much stock in it though . Also made some rustic cheese and bacon bread at the weekend which was a hit!

Thanks once more for all good wishes about granny. Like the Eddie Izzard reference. Haven't heard of haggis in a tin PP but it wouldn't necessarily surprise me!

Thanks also for all the bday wishes on fb!

Sorry your London trip might be cancelled Deb

Gah, just lost a big message

tedi have you seen Michael McIntyre's sketch about argos? also, MacSween's do a lovely veggie haggis, you can drink Scotland's other national drink (Irn Bru) - problem solved - well apart from the highland clearances bit...

Deb hope you get your trip sorted out, I can tell how much you have been looking forward to it!

ktpie you can't have too much longer left now - I insist you you a big slice of cake right now!

Goddess how lovely that your Granny has made a recovery - is she SuperGran ?

BOS So impressed you actually did something about the P&T space - I usually moan about it and do nothing! Have you been to the new Sainsbo's at the Ninth Circle of Hell? Much nicer than the previous one, and lots of P&T spaces!

C learnt about thumbs up this weekend, she has her own special version, which is thumbs out to the side and index fingers up!

neenz I'd stay away from the AN threads until 12 weeks if I was you, Lots of anxious hormonal women whipping each other into a frenzy of anxiety about things you can't do anything about! I'd stay here with all us wise old Mums, we're full of shite great advice and support!

Very quick post - firstly good for you Gran!!!! Gawd bless her - old people are fecking amazing aren't they!

Tedi - I was also throen out of a club for fighting but probably less of a shock gien my size! (It was a blocke I was fighting)

Neenz - I am going to my scan today to see how many/few follicles I have developing and to assess whether I start injecting drugs today (please please please be OK)

Biscuits - love the thumbs up!

Healthy vibes for those who are ill and good news for those getting better (Edie)

Luke stayed at his grandparents on saturday night. The fecker woke up at 7.50am! Why is that???????????? I missed him so much though only for one night! I miss his cuddles and when he gets on my back

What does everyone think of the devil brothers? I don't know what to think. One one hand I think they are monsters and on the other they must have had a terrible upbringing and will 5 years in borstal help to rehabilitate them? A woman on TV (James Bulgar's mum) just said loads of kids have been brought up in the same situation but don't go down the route of trying to kill and torture other kids. Makes you think...

Having my day from hell with teaching, but HAD to come on to say that I screamed with laughter at Amber fighting a bloke in a nightclub!!

Also, why does the burns version of have a tongue? Look:

Hi Amber, good luck with the scan - I hope you get the result you want.

The devil brothers - how horrid for the tabloids to call them that, irresponsible IMO. I don't really agree with criminalising children that young, it was an awful awful case and unthinkable what they did, but they wouldn't have done it if they had been brought up in a respectable middle-class household, so is it really their fault? They should be put in detention but I would rather their names were never made public and I am sure borstal is the best chance they will get to actually make something of their lives. I don't believe the Bulger killers are evil and I don't believe they are a threat to the public now. Both cases are shocking cases of neglectful/abusive parenting.

Biscuits, you are so right about the AN threads - I think I will stay away till after the 12w scan. Was feeling really positive yesterday, thinking if I get to next Wed and still no bleeding or anything than it is a really really small chance that anything will be wrong. But then i logged on to the AN thread and there is yet another woman saying 'I am only 10wks and heard the hb with the doppler straight away!' So they are either having MC which stresses me out or hearing a hb which stresses me out! But I know it's fine to not hear it at this point and nothing to worry about. I am still trying to wait till the weekend to try again. But probably shouldn't even bother then, but it is very tempting. Whatever happens, happens, and reading An threads or using the doppler is not going to change any of it, so I will just have to wait till next wed to see.

Debs, so sorry about your trip. Isn't that a bit that they won't leave their horses? Didn't they think of that before they offered?

Tedi, loving the Argos story - I would have done something similar, it really winds me up to queue in one queue only to be told to go to another and find there's another queue! I have never been chucked out of a nightclub for fighting though

Bugger, if it was the last p&t space that man was really out of order. Can they really not be arsed to walk for 60secs to the store door. Lazy gits. I had a fight with a woman you might remember and it wasn't even the last space. But it was the point of it. I usually don't bother now cos they only give you abuse.

Sorry, in a rush so posting and running. Just need to quickly say at tedi and Amber though for their nightclub escapades.

Also, sympathies for the poorly mums and toddlers - and big cheers for Goddesses fighter of a nan.

Good luck with your appt Amber, have you been injecting drugs already to stimulate your follies or is this just a check to see what they do natually?

Thanks everyone! sil is trying to get a friend to come with her as she doesn't want to come on her own with her Mum!!

lol at your sil not wanting to come on her own with her mum! It's a real shame when people have strained relationships with their mums. Hope she gets over there and gives you the hol you deserve Debs.

I have officially hidden the August 2010 AN thread - so no more getting stressed by what is going on there, whatever it is!

I am having a real battle at the moment with E - she refuses to wear a bib. I tell her wear a bib or don't eat. Well she is mostly not eating. Sometimes she does but she is having a real paddy at other times and it is really exhausting . I think she might be a bit poorly though as well (cold virus or teething) so hopefully she will perk up soon. Just given her her tea and she put a bib on no problem . Maybe its when she doesn't fancy what I offer her to eat.

Good idea re: hiding thread Neenz.

We gave up on bibs quite a while ago, but am quite lucky that S isn't a particularly messy eater. He's also still happy to let me feed him when I want to which is handy for potentially messy stuff like soup.

Am feeling VERY sorry for myself because of my cold.

I know Neenz - I have a much better relationship with mil than sil does!!

No tips about bibs, E still wears his and I can't remember when the other 2 stopped, he's picky with his food though. Tonight he wolfed down sweet and sour chicken with noodles, yesterday he turned his nose up at sausage, chips and beans. He loves all sweet things and other weird things like coleslaw, cottage cheese, salad cream, cranberry sauce and branston pickle!!Not all together though!

Goddess, can dh and I join you in the feeling sorry for yourself group, we are both sniffing in unison, whilst the boys seem remarkably well(at the moment)

Sniff.

Luke always refuses a bib when he's not hungry or doesn't want what I give him.

Spent 3 solid hours at the hospital today waiting around - even private hospitals have mega waiting times too. The scan was to check the thickness of my endometirum and to check for any cysts on my ovaries. Thought it was to check follicles but she said she could see something but can't tell anything at this point. I have a carrier bag full of drugs and a carrier bag full of needles. I start injecting on Thursday in my tummy and then a week later I have two injections a day for another week and then another scan to see what's happened. it's really horrid and made me feel very depressed as I have a feeling this isn't going to work out (probably not a good feeling to have embarking on something like this).

Yuck- Lemsip is disgusting. You must all be really sick. Send big hugs.

Thanks for advice about bed-exiting Debs. We seem (fingers crossed, touch wood etc) after a few nights of getting her back in bed and one of her actually falling asleep on the floor, to be over the worst. I just kept tellingmyself that it only lasted a week with you and it seemed to calm me down!!

Neenz- the Pocket Dictator and I have a regular battle of wills over many things, oncluding the wearing of a bib. If it's tea I usually let her off. If not, she probably didn't want to eat what was on offer anyway and was looking for an out. As they keep telling me "It's probably just a phase" I'd like to know when all the phases stop. Is it some sick computer game where, when you get to level 100, you are declared 193rd on a Leaderboard???

Goddess, glad it's only virtual lemsip - I'm allergic to paracetemol and it makes me itch, I'm making hot lemon and honey instead.

Amber - sorry to hear you're feeling down, but it must be pretty daunting at the start, I'm sure Sponge will be along soon with words of wisdom.

Puree - I read that as bed exciting!!I was very confused - doesn't take much.love the idea of the phases of childhood being a computer game!When I had Ethan it was like I'd forgotten to save the game and had to start again from the beginning!

The suitcase sage has come to an end - our guest now has clean pants and bacon for her breakfast!

suitcase saga!