DEC 08 - Barely into toddlerhood and already at our tit's end

[MomOrMum]

Tit's end...had to be done.

Hope this works!

Spot I'll tell you my literary secret if you tell yours. Oh and I've just finished Reading Making History by Stephen Fry. Was not what I expected but I quite liked it. That's not my secret though.

Invis glad to hear you had a good time, the upgrade sounds exciting, though not the bassinet. I love when tears work.

Rubs sorry I didn't add earlier I took DS1 to appts. He actually got quite protective of me, when they did stuff. He came to a scans too.

I'm listening to the last Twighlight book on my ipod at the moment - ashamed to say it. But it's quite fun. I even cried on the bus on the way into work at today! Saves lugging a book around with me.

I too, though, have a £1 from Asda book on the go as well. A Kathy Reichs one. Total crap, but I love a good death book! Nice.

x

Veg it's by David Baldacci and it's called Saving Faith. Can I add that I read the Road to Wigan Pier and Down and Out in Paris and London over Christmas and needed some escapism?

I at one time had a subscription to Mills&Boon- nurse doctor romances! Oh my god I have only ever admitted that to my DH. It was my Nan's fault I used to study at her house often and in her study she had loads and I used to put them inside my physics textbook pretending I was hard at study. But when her collection ran out I found I somehow needed them, was quite addicted so I subscribed they sent me 4 a month. However I was so ashamed at myself I cancelled the subscription after 2 months and went cold turkey. They are very addictive, and very saucy, almost pornographic, I still can't believe my nan owned them.

I'm on Wolf Hall here too, but supplemented with many, many magazines of highly variable quality and zero literary value.

I have been enjoying an American magazine called Brain Child: the magazine for thinking mothers.

I must be having a bad week at work because I am now thinking it is time to TTC #2?? I must be insane because #1 still doesn't sleep and DH is away so much with work.

But I was waiting to see how my work year was going to pan out (i.e. any glam trips/projects that I wouldn't want to miss) and it's not looking terribly inspiring. So may as well skip out on another maternity leave! Now have to convince DH plus decide if I wouldn't mind being pregnant for our holiday in Italy in April.

STOP POSTING AT WORK MOM!

lol at nurse doctor romances - I too have read many M&B in my time! There is a chick-lit equivalent called Little Black Dress books, worth checking out for a quick escapist read. But I rather like romance books - DH v scornful and calls them 'housewives porn'. I can beat the M&B subscription: I once had a subscription to the People's Friend. It was a gift from an elderly relative, but I got quite addicted to the serial stories and cake recipes... to embarrassed to buy it now!

How about wait another couple of months and start on the holiday in April. That way you get to enjoy the fantastic vino and unprotected sugar!

Omg Effie I didn't know what peoples friend was so I looked it up and have neatly wet myself Reading the description. "this is very attractive and women who have leisure time can make this magazine a true friend. Just do all your house chores and sit with a coffee and enjoy the catchy, tempting & interesting fictions". LOL

Snurk at M&B porn .

Effie, that is hilarious about your People's Friend subscription. It's what Maw Broon (character in the Broons, a scottish comic) used to read

Effie, I quite often read The Lady. It's for Hyacinth Bucket types in nosey villages, who put their anger into making jam. Hmm, maybe I have got more in common with my neighbours than I thought I had

Although I don't make jam.

MOM I would say go for it. But I think Veggie's idea is a good one. Wait until April and then start trying so you can have a really good holiday.

I would be trying now if I wasn't such a fatso.

It is the elderly scottish lady's magazine of choice . But I still have an excellent recipe for buttermilk pancakes (and entirely too much knowledge about Willie Shand's travels and the doings of Siamese cats)

The Lady is a LOT more cosmopolitan than the 'Friend'. If the editor had his way all ladies would be a) at home with the kids or b) working in teashops...

Just found this for you writers who might want to contribute

www.jbwb.co.uk/pfguidelines.htm

I have seen People's Friend as my BIL's granny used to give it to my sister to read. Even at the age of 10, I suspected that the world view of said 'Friend' was a little...circumscribed

Actually Rachel Johnson edits The Lady now (sister of Boris) and it's still a bit Jilly Cooperesque but with more of an urban edge.

This is the best part by far:

"They range in age from about thirty to well over eighty. They like being entertained ? and dislike being depressed. They like realistic material, but not so realistic ? with sex, violence, drugs, drink, etc ? that they are frightened or saddened. They still believe in the sanctity of marriage and the importance of the family."

I don't think I should submit and writing to The Friend for fear I might "sadden" someone!

Oh my goodness veggie and effie, Mills and Boon and the People's friend! I used to work in a newsagents as a Saturday girl and used to enjoy trying to guess what magazine people would buy by their appearance. I haven't actually let you in the flesh so to speak Effie, but I would NEVER have put you down for a People's friend .

You could get over the embarrassment factor by hiding it in a newspaper and just revealing it for the checkout assistant. That's what respectable old men did with their top shelf mags. A copy of the telegraph was often opened up to reveal 'Plumpers' or 'Real life 50+' or similar!!

I'm prob going back a bit but..

rub Re teeth brushing. I give DD the brush and let her have a go and then try and do a bit myself if she'll let me. The dentist told me a bit of toothpaste and some chewing action would do a reasonable job. It is better to get them to like the idea of brushing their teeth I think.

daisy Hope you are OK. I agreed with what veggie said about your DH. It might help him to take comfort in the happy little events like DS's first shoes.

zoe Congrats to Mr Sprout! I loved your description of DH's drunken evening. It sounded very familiar .

trace What a time you are having with P being poorly and the CPN. Would a comprimise be working 3 days instead of four for a little while? Hope you get it resolved.

ladyT Any news on your slip up? . Is it testing time? I'm reading my way through the all the Sherlock Holmes books at the moment and have also bought the box set of the 80s television series . Jeremy Brett is very dashing as Holmes.

mom We're thinking of when is best for number 2 too! Veggie's suggestion is good although April would mean another December baby! I think we'll start trying in the summer and see what happens. It took 5 cycles with DD so I'm not expecting instant results.

Anyway, back to work....

Thanks Effie, I'm there!

(Actually, it reads like a pamphlet from the Third Reich)

IT WAS A GIFT!

I have never bought the People's Friend in a real shop. Give me a few thirty years...

I'm not responding to these posts in order and need to go back but Jolly, since you ask I am not testing until at least the beginning of next week. Although, last pregnancy, it took 21 days to show up on a test so even if it's a negative I will do a test a week after that...But I am starting to feel less like I am pregnant now, I must say.

Babies are a blessing as I said but much like Kayz above I do need to get this fat off, or a chunk of it anyway, before I start thinking of that.

Mom why don't you start not trying to not get pregnant? it might not happen first go around, and then whenever it does, you'll be less stressed as you won't have been concentrating on "trying" (like I was)

Lady, yeah, when are you testing?

ooops lady x posted - yes I bet anything you are not too.... it would be amazing if you got pregnant 1st time both times!

Yep, it hasn't even been a fortnight since Norwichgate.

Rubes, yes it would but drama follows me around like a bad smell.

mom I meant, why don't you stop trying to not get pregnant!!

I can not read anything by Jilly Cooper anymore. I've just got the new Cath Kidston catalogue and there is an interview with Jilly. She says she writes her books naked!! It burns my eyes.