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

[MomOrMum]

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

Hope this works!

LadyT - oh no! I did know about the Eric Gill thing, but E Nesbit ! Maybe the awfulness is Byatt (says me hopefully...). Mind you, victorians are extraordinarily odd.

Going back to another era, I was reading yesterday about these Scottish obstetricians from the late 18th century who are kind of revered by doctors as pioneers in the field. Someone now reckons they were commissioning murders to get their data.

DS has recently got much more interested in books, but mostly to shred them. He and DD spend a lot of time squabbling over a book about airports that has lots of wheels to turn and pop up bits. It is definitely the worse for wear. What do you all do about library books that go through the mill? Am currently feeling embarassed about the havoc DS is wreaking and we're debating whether to replace books or offer cash or something. Mind you, some of the things we borrow aren't in the best of shape either.

I have no idea what you lot are on about! Hee hee.

I have read Shantaram - quite enjoyed it but a) it went on a bit b) I know what you mean about the ego invisible!
Also read Making History, I read it years ago and can bizarrely still remember it quite well so I must have enjoyed it.

Where's Rubena I hope she is not still upset over overhang-gate!!

Invis we saw that on 'A History Of Scotland' about the obstetricians. It was a really good series but missed 2 episodes. Hoping it will come out on DVD so I can add it to my love film list.

Is that programme "one born every minute" on tonight? I fancy watching it. Although on at same time as Vampire Diaries. Total load of pap, but am slightly addicted. HA! Proud!

I tried reading Shantaram and gave up - just too much for me.

Yes Beans, I was on about it this morn. I haven't read Shantaram but it was beloved of my last backstabbing assistant at work and it really puts me off

I just found Shantaram a bit "me, me, me". And the main guy wasn't really endearing enough for me to want to read on. I'm shallow, me.

Brill, thanks LadyT - will be watching it and recording my drivel.

Gosh the Scottish were a bit goulish when it came to obtaining resources for research weren't they? That's brilliant that you can get series on love film Kayz.

Rubs come out of the dark, come on, I know your there.

Gosh I just remembered glad you got a diagnosis but bummer it's dengue. I only know a little about dengue fever from a tour of the virology and trop medicines researcg labs where I worked in Brisbane. One thing I do remember though is that he needs to be very careful not to catch it again as if it is a slightly different strain (I think there are 5) is can be bad news bears, would he be going back to that region again?

Just getting ready to go out. It's so nice to be able to go out without the boys. They were invited and they know everyone very well but it's nice to just be us for an evening.

Excellent, have a lovely night Kayz

Sounds like just what you need Kayz, have a lovely but of grown-up time.

Lady are you thinking of Burke and Hare ? Or are there more murdersome Scottish doctors (my DH aside )?! The reformation was such a fantastic time for music, a lot of the stuff DH and I sing is from that period. What fascinates me was people like William Byrd who was a Catholic and carried on writing music for the mass but to be sung in people's living rooms rather than in churches, that's kind of how we sing it in our choir with just a small number of people and it gives me a real tingle to know that we're doing what would have been originally done. Plus he wrote things like the phenomenal Ne irascaris which was a massive apology to God about the state of England under the Protestants, and how the holy city had been deserted. And got away with it because he could claim it was just religious music and not having a go at the new regime. Oh and Quomodo cantabimus - how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

Oooh I tell you if we had to get rid of all the English composers and save only one, I'd probably save Byrd.

But meanwhile will have to go and hide under a rock, I foolishly confessed to DH about the crush on the music director and he's only gone and told him... We see him a few times a year in quite intense situations (the stuff we sing can be pretty heated) and I will now feel a right twit.

I'm just writing a piece about Delius - I'm not sure I'd save him, but he had a very interesting life. (I suppose there aren't all that many English composers of note - Purcell, Byrd, Elgar, Holst, Delius - do Vaughan Williams and Britten count as major? - so you could put them all in a hot air balloon and push 'em out one by one ) That's extremely interesting about Byrd though. I dimly remember studying a bit of him for my A level Music, many moons ago. I think it would be exciting, singing what must have been at the time incredibly subversive stuff. No wonder it arouses such passions

I am fond of Percy Grainger but though I thought he was English for years I believe he is actually Australian.

It was Invis who started it about the murderous docs

I have driven everybody away with my infernal yammering.

Right, going to watch that thing on Channel 4 at 9, the baby thing. Hope it's not going to be upsetting...

haha, jj your DH sounds about as subtle as mine. That's EXACTLY the sort of thing he would do.

Might check out this baby thing.

Oh, also, you are a well travelled lot. DH and I are going to Barcelona for the weekend. First weekend WITHOUT DS. Hurrah, sleeping and staying in bed all day, but anyone got any recommendations of stuff to do or places to eat?

Oh, and this may be Too Much Information, but I had forgotten when you are up the duff that you can get, ahem, orgasms in your sleep. Ace!

Lady classic FM seem to think VW is god!

SL I feel quite miffed I didn't have any 'wet dreams' whilst preggers!

JJ I'm at your DH, how could he. You need to get him back somehow.

I went out in the freezing cold tonight to yoga and they told me the wrong start time, it's 8, but I went at 8.30 bugger! So cold trip for nothing.

Oooh SL I heart Barcelona, had a fab weekend there a few years ago. Some friends lived there for a bit, will ask them about some of the lovely places we ate and went.

Finally got the stairgate fitted tonight after a couple of very near misses. On Sat morning I just managed to catch DD as she toppled backwards off the top stair, lucky she was wearing a dress otherwise I would have had nothing to grab hold of and the results don't bear thinking about. Then tonight she decided to try and climb the stairs when I was cooking supper and fell off two steps up, DS managed to catch her that time, bless him. I'd forgotten what a nightmare they are when they start to get around.

What was the baby programme like? I forgot to watch it.

Oh, and I don't get orgasms in my sleep when I'm pregnant ,just incredibly horny, which is how I know that I am not pregnant at the moment .

A quick catch up and post, as we?re going away on Friday for a week and I?m supposed to be packing and getting stuff sorted.

Firstly, Daisy I will be thinking of you on Friday. Have your parents come back from their holiday yet? I?m sure a big hug from your Mum will give you some strength for the days to come

Happy belated birthday Urbane, your day sounded really lovely

Aubi I hope your DD2 is a bit calmer for you now? If it is a personality thing, is she like your DH? That struck me as why he can be more patient with her (or maybe she?s the exact opposite of him, I know I have very little patience with people who are too like me). Maybe he feels the same about DD1 and you as you do about him and DD2, as you two are so alike? Completely letting my imagination run away with me here and I?m rambling, but I wondered if their personalities are more compatible

Effie I couldn?t get DD to eat meat for ages, so I asked the HV for alternatives with all the same good things in. They said oily fish, especially sardines as the tiny bones have lots of good things in them ? DD loves sardines on toast, and also tuna. Also a friend suggested I try chicken liver, in case it was a texture thing ? and again that went down well. There is a chicken liver and vegetable recipe in the Annabel Karmel baby puree book, if you can get a copy, which was yummy (I think I ate as much of it as DD !)

I am v impressed with babyJolly?s signing of ducks. A friend took her DD to signing, and one of the first signs she managed was ?more cake? ? I?m quite sure DD will pick that one up too

Kayz sorry to read about your worries, I hope you enjoyed your meal out tonight and it gave you and DH a chance to relax and have some fun

Jump what an awful situation for your DH, it would drive me mad too

Blimey, you?ve all lost me with your fancy books. I have Len Goodman?s autobiography (lent to me from my Gran) and a Marian Keyes sat on a shelf waiting to be read. However they will have to wait a bit longer, as I am thoroughly enjoying a fabby book about penguins and cricket

SL I didn?t know about orgasming in your sleep whilst pregnant, I may have to re-think how soon we have a DC2 now

Ok, must go to bed now, night night everyone. I?ll be back in 10 days after our holiday (hurrah!)

Have a lovely time ZJ.

Summer...I think it's just you

Barcelona: I would say -

1. bar called the Four Cats (will look up the Catalan name, it is really cool imo, Picasso used to hang there, nice tiles, coffee, brandies....

1. Picasso museum (it's not too big, from memory)

1. Main thing - lots of walking and gawking at amazing buildings. There is the famous Gaudi cathedral (forgotten the name of it) though it was festooned with scaffolding when I was there last.

Are you going this weekend? [jealous]

Baby programme was a bit weird. One of the husbands on there was oddly horrid and unsupportive, and the same poor woman had her teenage son in with her too

cool bar though this is an iffy review

I think Rubes knows Barcelona.

I love Barcelona. We went there for our honeymoon. Second the Picasso place, the Sagrada Familia, walking - also the Park Guell in the N of the city is incredible, Las Ramblas is bonkers, bit tacky but good for watching the world go by and the food and drink are both AMAZING. Yum yum.

Very low brow here at the moment in terms of reading. Brain is mush. About to re read Love in a Cold Climate for a bit of escapism.

How are things now Kayz? THinking of you.

Have god a rotten cold from the kids. They are very chipper but I feel like death. And I've got work. Hey ho, tis all good for the soul. And the diet.

Thinking of you Daisy as always.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning,

We had a great night out last night. It was just so much fun. Our friends are all mad so it was a real giggle.

DH has been really good the past few days so I am really hoping that he is changing. I think the tablets are working plus him actively trying to control his temper.

I am going shopping on Friday. Debating if I should get the train to Leeds for a change or just stick with York. Leeds does have Harvey Nichols and I do like to have a look at how the other half dress.

Hope everyone is ok.

SL - don't feel alone in your sweet dreams - I have them too - hurrah! Which is just as well as rarely have them in reality!!! HAHAHAH! Embarrassingly, mine seem to involve David Tennant when I'm pregnant. Although Robert Pattinson made an appearance a couple of weeks ago! Hurray!

Kayz - so glad you had a good night out - so need one once in a while. We're due to go out on Friday night, but DH wants to change it to them coming to us to save on a babysitter. I am so SICK of cooking for his friends that I have refused - I want to go out!!!! And have food served to me in a restaurant and not have to wash up or lay the table or cook or anything like that. BRAT!!!

Daisy - how are you doing? How is your DH? Is the funeral this Friday? Are you getting on ok? Thinking of you.

I missed One Born Every Minute last night, but recorded it - phew.

My favourite composer is Gary Barlow - hee hee!
xx

Beans I have just watched One Born Every Minute and it is really good. But it didn't help the broodiness.

Morning ladies!

Glad you had a nice night out, the shopping trip sounds good, go to Leeds.

SL I love Barcelona, it is completely impossible not to find enough to do, just walking around the city is amazing. I 3rd the Picasso gallary, it's small like an independant gallery but just happens to hold all this amazing Picasso work! Also that area around the gallery is lovely lots of little cafes and bars, very non pushchair friendly, just what you want when you are sans DS! If your a Juan Miro fan there is a gallery for him up on a hill, it's got a brilliant mercury fountain, Juan made it. All the Gaudi stuff is brill. Best of all really there are lots of bars that you can just sit in and drink and eat tapas together aaahhh so jealous. Where are you staying. I've only ever stayed in cheapy places around the cathdral quarter (or is it gothic quarter). When are you going, when it's warmer it's just a quick train ride out to Stiges(sp) beach area.