DEC 08 - Welcome to the house of ill - We're riding a poonami

[MomOrMum]

This was the only thing I could remember some saying should be the next title!

Oh and I am sure you know this, but you can bargain with the carpet shops, so don't accept their price without haggling.

I know what you mean. I have a nice parquet floor all the way through my flat in London and have never been a carpet fan/expert. But because the stairs rise out of the living room and they need carpet, and also because I am worried this house is going to be a bit cold, I just quite fancied carpet in the living room for a change (also on a budget...this house renovation is going to have cost three times what we'd originally set out to spend as it is, and we have not been extravagant )

Sorry, last post addressed to Rubes.

Yes, Summer, think the ufh might be more trouble than it's worth especially as I am now looking to save money where I can. I mean, we will have a wood/solid fuel burner in the kitchen so it should be plenty warm enough really. And we are low enough on height as it is.

Mmm, I wonder about carpet. I have had to make so many decisions about this and that I have reached 'decision fatigue', that's the trouble! Also, living room will have an open fire. That might make a right mess of a new carpet. Mmmmmm.

Hello everyone

Am at work and have spent last 2 hours fannying around on birthday presents so needs must be quick.

Carpet - LadyT, have you thought of a digestive biscuit colour? It sounds yucky beige but we had one in the house we rented after L was first born and it was brill. Really neutral, hides lots of dirt, can be jazzed up with nice rugs etc. You sort of don't notice it's there after a while and just focus on the decoration and the furniture. When we moved in I did think I would never like it, but it's fab and I would buy it for our house.

I had cream once in a flat and it would be trashed with children. In a year or so when O has friends over, it will be so much more forgiving. Plus if there is a young fellow in there as well, you may have extra outside dirt brought in when he has been playing in the garden with his friends. I assure you you won't regret it.

Lady T - carpet is a tricky one in living areas. I am quite a fan as it is lovely just to be able to sit on the floor etc - but downsides are spillages and people with muddy shoes (although a shoes-off policy is fairly easy to establish). But it is a good value floorcovering - and if you get something with some variation in the colour it can be quite forgiving.There are lots of nice carpets that aren't plain beige (indeed the trend has moved away from that now, although its what I have in my upstairs).

Re; the fire - you will need a firguard anyway because of O, so that should keep any sparks and smuts from flying. But I guess you would need to be careful when cleaning it out. There would be no porblem though in having carpet on the stairs and finishing it on the first riser - and then going onto wood. But you need a good subfloor for wood and as you say carpe is cosier (I am sure I haven't help clarify the issue in anyway).

Yes, Syb, you're right. Mmmm. I wonder about seagrass or something naturally like that. Actually coconut matting would be very practical I could probably do with something like that. The entrance to my cottage is down a longish path then through the back garden, so MUD is a distinct possibility (although one then has to traipse through a little quarry tiled entrance hall AND the kitchen.

Summer I agree with Turnip when we sold our flat we had nothing laying around everything including toaster was shoved out of site. God forbid anyone opened any cupboards though.

Turnip how exciting in my head I dislike kelly Brook immensly she is far too good looking fro my liking and I have a bit of a crush on her ex. But would love to hear that she is as smiley as you see on the telly.

I am sooooo over the D&V. Archie is still pooing all the time DH woke at 5 this morning and vommed for 10 mins. I still dont have it but its only a matter of time am so looking forward to getting it and having to still look after the boys, clean the house, cook meals....

So I decided after beung up about 5 ties last night to little Lord Fauntelroy replaceing the dummy that we are going cold turkey. I really wouldnt mind him having it if he would just find the blessed thing at night. So morning nap 30 mins of crying for 45 mins of sleeping not good he normally has to be woken after 2.5hrs. This afternoon 10 mins of crying so far still asleep. This better work as its the only thing I can think of that makes hi wake so much at night.

Is anyone else doing/done dummy removal?

We went to an independent carpet place, and had a l

ong chat with the chaps who worked there. I wanted a lovely cream carpet on my stairs landing and bedrooms. But was persuaded on a taupe-ish colour with flecks in which I thought hideous but infact although not the most stylish thing in the world is vv practical with the children, dog & DH.

We agreed that in a few yrs when the little ones were older that we would invest in a more expensive lovely carpet but until then we would go with practical. It does actually look quite nice.

Jam - did dummy removal at 6 months for exact same reason. Did it the 3 day cold turkey method that my friend called it, and it really was only 3 days! (nightmare for 1st night - second getting better and 3rd barely woke!
Ditto re - the dog - that's another reason I like the wood floors but don't think Lady has that problem so would be much easier to manage We have a thick pile rug in the living room and I have a carpet washer which I use quite a bit on it - the water comes out black but it's really theraputic

DD is driving me potty. Still won't eat anything that I feed her with a spoon, so I have decided to give her finger foods only. Cooked her some penne which she used to like, and she swept them all onto the floor. Ditto kidney beans which she used to love. Is now pecking at some chopped apple. She won't eat cheese, eggs or meat as finger foods. She now has two acceptable solid foods -

toast fingers in very small quantity (ie, give her six soldiers and she will eat one)

certain fruit - which, again, she will eat little bits of.

Aaaaaaargh!

Hellooo ladies was just about to post earlier today but didn't have the time after lurking. Cannot remember for the life of me what I was going to say. Looking forward to hearing from Turnip about her brush with celebrity. He she still going out with that Zane man?

I have never had UFH (hehe) but I stayed in a hotel that had it with DS1 when I went to mamaheaven and they were having trouble with it so it was either off or on fires from hades level hot. Was ok for me but poor DS1 was in his tent style travel cot which sits low to the ground and the poor little bugger nearly ended up cooked. He slept with me most of that trip.

We are going to Bruges next week. DH is working there mon tuesday next week so we are going down early on Sunday so DH can have a look at the town then the boys and I get to mop around Belgium style. We are staying at the Crown plaza which is not just posh for us but get DH HI points! Will have to pull out my nice jewellery and our good clothes for check in and make sure the boys hair is brushed and green snot fangs removed.

Oh Lady re the carpet. Both our houses have stairs coming off the livingroom and both have carpet despite the livingrooms being woodflooring (ok laminate in London). The Derby place had a cheap carpet on it's stairs and hallway upstairs. After we slipped several times & DS1 fell down twice we decided we needed better carpet. We went to allied carpets and they weren't very helpful really but we decided on a thick pile cream coloured (possibly beige) carpet which looked lovely and is nice to walk on and will hopefully last through several tennants. It is very stain resistent. It was really expensive though and was probably unecessary, I think going to an independant place would be better so you can speak to someone who can help you fit your needs. Also depending on the size of the areas you need to carpet you can get end of roll and off cuts cheap. This might be useful for stairs and narrow areas.

DH still has a back ache, I have to told him off about it a little as I have been badgering him for ages now (years and 3 diff employers) to sort out the desk & chair he gets, or lack of on the sites he goes to. He generally works in the server room and is rarely given anything so either put his laptop on a shelf and stands at it or sits on the floor. I have told him each workplace he goes to is responsible for his H&S and should provide an appropriate workplace. Finally he has contacted his HR and I'm sure they will sort something out.

I have also been waiting for a package from my niece it's an old violin she used to use. DS1 wants to play, desperately so she is sending it so he can have a go (without us having to buy one!). About a month ago I got sent a tax assesment form for the package so I filled it out explaining it's a gift with no real value but a has a postal insurance of $100AUD. I haven't heard anything for a month and have been a bit worried it was lost. Then suddenly today the postman turned up with the package and wanted us to pay €24 in tax to recieve it! We refused and now I have to go to the main sorting place tomorrow to talk to them about it.

Jam - Same here re: dummy removal. Around 6 months old. Cold turkey. Just shhed or whatever instead and he caught on quickly (a few days).

LadyT - There are some really nice carpets that are a mix of sisal (I think) and wool? Some kind of natural fibre stuff and wool anyway. Or I have seen nice carpets like Sybil says in a digestive biscuit colour in a really tight weave - same tone as wood floors and you could put area rugs on top. We were just looking for a stair runner and ended up going with a dirt cheapy coconut thing (bound with fabric on the sides) because it is hard wearing and not slippery and doesn't get wrecked by the cats. But I definitely wouldn't want it for more than a stair runner!

Rubes - Yep, you read that correctly. We moved from the UK to Canada for just 15 months and then came back. Major oops but I don't regret it at all!

Dinner burning. Must dash.

I would advise against seagrass with young children as if it gets food stamped into it or if someone is sick on it (sorry) then it is virtually impossible to get out. Far better to be able to get the vanish and the rubber gloves out than have really expensive flooring trashed.

Turnip, how was Kelly Brook? I have heard from my celeb pal Matthew Cutler that she was a bit painful. I am sure she is teeny tiny in RL as well, but with enormous knockers. Wow. Jessica Rabbit in the flesh.

Veggie, how lovely for DS1 to be a fiddler! I used to play and am debating taking it up again but alas don't have much time at the minute. Your posh hotel trip sounds very grand. I love Bruges. Great place esp for kids I should imagine with the canals, and very walkable as it's so small. Hugely envious.

Oh why won't my Matthew stop crying and go to sleep? Back in a sec.

Oooh, Bruges is heavenly, lucky you!

I would love DD to play the oboe if she turns out to be interested in playing a musical instrument (as we both do) but you can't really learn that until you are 11 or 12 as you don't have enough strength for the intense breath power. Anyway, she will probably have other ideas! It's great your DS1 is so keen though.

LadyT, we had our wooden floors carpeted. I hated them. No mater how often I cleaned them they looked dirty within an hour. It drove me potty. We now have a beige coloured carpet on both the lounge and the stairs (the stairs run off the lounge). I much prefer it. Plus when DD learned to walk she was constantly banging herself on the wooden floors. DS has had a much less painful few months finding his feet

And sorry to hear O is still being a pain. I know its hard to believe but 'they wil eat when they are hungry' and all that.

Oh veggie, I used to play the violin when I was about 8. Well I say 'play' I could do the theme to Take the High Road, The Frog Song and Twinkle Twinkle. Not quite Vanessa Mae....

Oh and Lady I would 3rd the 'don't go with seagrass' call. A friend had it in on her stairs rception area and livingroom. It was a nightmare to clean and not really that nice to walk on, she hated it but it was there when they moved bought the house. They removed it pretty quickly.

Oh, and thanks so much for tips about carpet etc. I know it's a dull topic. We popped out this afternoon and saw some nice herringbone coir but maybe it would be a nightmare with littlies. Actually the living room will have one of my nice persian rugs on whatever is down there anyway. Decisions, decisions.

Hope the shoot went well, Turnip. Come and give us the lowdown!

Heard on the news that Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes have separated, how sad.

It's Cheltenham Gold Cup week. I'll be having a bet or two. Where's Urbane? She likes a flutter.

Hello everyone,

daisy Sorry mothers day was a let down. Glad you got something in the end.

Hope you all had good days. I chose my own present but did get a lie in, breakfast in bed and a homemade card. DH drew Mr Pusskins and some ducks but refused to let DD colour it because she was too messy! Controlling parent alert!

ladyT I did chuckle at the tit talk! When I first started seeing DH he was talking to his brother on the phone.
BIL - she what is she like?
DH - She's got big boobs
BIL misheard and thought he said, she likes her food! Very rude indeed. You are right about the boundary thing. DH told me that story cheerfully and couldn't see the offence in it.

Re the carpet. We have a lovely stripy carpet on our stairs and landing. It is in muted colours and looks really very nice indeed . We choose a cream carpet for the bedrooms that toned in with the stripes.

Have you tried leaving O to it with her own spoon? DD hardly ever lets me feed her these days. I just have to cover her as best I can, take cover and have a good clean up afterwards. What about something really plain like porridge or baked potato? I think sometimes when teeth are coming through, some foods sting the gum. DD tends to go on foodstrike if we've got one cutting through.

Spot We've never given a bottle in the night since she was little - I must be mean! I tend to dose her up with calpol and dentinox and try and get her to nod off. I'd do whatever makes life easier though, if a bottle helps go for it. I'm not sure about the goats milk thing. Does T like the taste?

Jam Re dummy removal. DD is still firmly attached to it for sleeptime but doesn't wake up if it falls out thankfully. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

veggie OOooh lucky you! Make sure you go to The Chocolate Line. It is one of the best chocolate shops in Bruge.

Turnip Wow I'm impressed your house is flash enough for a photoshoot! What is KB like?

We've had a fun day. DD and I went to babysigning and then into Manchester for lunch with DH and a bit of shopping. When we got home we went for a walk down the back lane with the cats. They follow us and DD shouts CAT at the top of her voice. I think the cats secretly rather like her .

sybil - matthew cutler??? bet he's got loads of gossip on lots of people. always thought he was a sweetheart on strictly - hope he is so in real life. just been spying his website - the photos make him look so hunky and bless, but he isn't really, is he? i mean, lovely looking and all that, but he's not exactly russell crowe, is he?

hello - appear to have done my back in. probably something to do with running. finding it very very hard to pick madam up, to walk properly, to bend down. will wait to see what happens tomorrow, and if i am still rubbish will try to see someone - osteopath/physio, who knows?

have been lurking - sorry for all those with ill and non-sleeping babies. we are still feeding madam in our bed at 4.30-5.30ish, although we did have a run of her waking up at 6.10 which was great. and one day when she went to sleep at 7.30 and woke up at - drumroll, pls - 6.45. wow - best sleep she's EVER done.

turnip - looking forward to la brook update - hope danny cipriani was there - want to know what he's like, too.

Jolly, that sounds like a nide day. Talking the cats for a walk, wow! And your striped carpet sounds lovely. I don't think we can afford anything too nice.

Unfortunately she won't feed herself with a spoon. Even if it is something like loves like fruit puree. She's just going through a funny phase She was pinching me in anger yesterday which seems a bit much for a 15 month old. Or maybe I'm naive!

Oh yes, Jam - on the dummy thing, I am happy for her to have it at night and we have had it tied to a muslin since she was 6 months old so she can always find it herself in the night. You have to make sure you get a dummy with a ring, though. Also, you may wish to ditch the dummy anyway, I dunno...

I have just tried to make a Thai green curry and I have really cocked it up. It's awful. DP is going to have a nasty surprise when he gets in.

It's quite strange DS1 has been at us to play the violin for ages, almost since he could say the word violin! I've been a bit about it, I mentioned at the age of 6 that I liked pianos so my mum instantly had me in lessons and I hated them, she kept me at it for years and I always hated it. Now I don't remember a note. I've been a bit unsure of starting, mainly because of his age but also because of my experience. But he hasn't given up and is becoming ever more persistent. He made his own violin out of a ukalele and a pencil. So I've started contacting teachers and we will start him after his 5th birthday. Both DH and I have music & the arts in our families (just not in us) so it's quite possible he will have some talent. I don't think I want him to be a Venessa Mae (clearly) just be nice to hear him play and enjoy it.

ladyTOur carpet wasn't very expensive. We have a very small house though! I should add that the cats are not on leads or anything, they just like joining us!

veggie Learning an instrument is lovely, especially one which means he can join an orchestra. Being in school orchestras and things like that are really fun. I think it is very sweet that DS1 is so keen on learning.

WG Sorry to hear about your back. Have you had any previous trouble that has been triggered by the running or is it a new injury?

Hello Ladies,

Hope you are all well and those that arent are recovering. We've dodged the D&V but not ear infections (burst eardrum X2) and tonsilitis). Was very sad to have to take today off work to care for seemingly-not-very-sick-children

Just from what I remember, re carpets, we have none downstairs and its great. We have cheap wooden laminate in the living room and quarry tiles in hall/kitchen etc. So easy to keep clean and mop up spills thouh a bit tough for the kids if they faceplant.

I hope Kayzr is OK. I gave her some crap advice that would have sounded like I was drunk, though I wasnt, just tired !

I found mothers day hard this year so didnt complain when it passed with little event.

I was solemly informed by DS1 that I wasnt allowed to kiss him goodnight anymore, though DS2 is. The nurse made DS1 cry today and only DS2's kisses cheered him up. They are forming a little gang of their own and its lovely.

LadyT DS2 pinches hits & bites if he too tired. I make sure he gets 2 decent naps a day and to bed on time otherwise I get it!

Sweet on the little gang but sad on the no kisses. I'm loving watching the boys get on together, I know it won't always be this way but so lovely watching them together.

WG hooray on the night of sleep.