Fab Feb 2009 bar: toddle on in, grab a pew: mummy's in need of a drink or two...

[dinkystinky]

New thread for us to natter on about our toddling terrors... complete with some virtual booze. Mine's a french martini....

Must have been the night for A and Danny to play silly buggers Tulips - Danny only let me get 3 hours sleep last night too the monkey!

MoS - well done on sorting the school. Fingers crossed all is ok on that score now.

mos That's great news that you've managed to sort the school out. Kicking some arse mos-style. Like it! Lol

tulips Thanks
This morning I sent off my cv and a covering letter asking for voluntary work to 21 schools in the area. Someone's gonna take me up on it aren't5 they?
I wrote that I was keen to become a teaching assistant and wanted the opportunity to gain experience in a classroom setting and did they need someone to come in for a few hours and help the children read (not in those words obviously), so we'll see what comes of that.
I've also got some more info from the volunteer section at local council and there are some interesting bits there that I'm going to enquire about.

Job centre didn't go well, Jacob was being a right shit and the point where he wet himself was the end for me and I had to leave.

Lovely day though isn't it? Summer must be back for another few days

evening all, I'm back!(ie me again!) just had a nice night out shopping and treated myself to a beautiful handbag that I'd been coveting. I'm always buying stuff for everyone else and I loved it but thought I couldn't justify it. I then realised it worked out at approximately 2 days at fuckwit juniors school so thought sod it

SM sounds really positive about the cv and letter to all those schools. They'd be mad not to snap you up.

dinky we've been having bad nights with H. Have to wonder whether the ABs I'm on are affecting him.

TITS glad you had a nice time with DD. Hope hospital appt was ok. I'm planning on taking DD to a coffee morning on Monday. One of the large compounds holds one once a month and it will be the last time for me to take her before she starts 'big' school in september (assuming she passes her assessment on Sunday)They have all sorts of vendors there selling a variety of tat so I'm sure she will love it.

Right, off to bed now, am knackered x

mos Good for you for treating yourself, we all deserve it once in a while.

Morning - another disastrous night with Danny here. His separation anxiety is getting worse, not better. Today started at 4.30 (having finally got to sleep at 12.30). Sigh.

MoS - good on you for treating yourself, esp after all the stress you've had recently. Hope you had a good night sleep.

Tulips- sounds like you girls had a lovely day.

LittleSez - glad you had a fab holiday. Bumps - sounds v hectic in your neck of the woods!

SM - sorry the job centre interview wasnt so great, but hey youre taking the initiative now so am sure something will come of everything you're doing. Enjoy the sun today.

Crikey Dinky, what a dreadful few nights you have had. How are you managing to function? Sam is being clingy too at the moment, but thankfully mostly during the day. Thank you so much for the Poo in Pooland publication. I need to print it out at work so will be hitting the key then running to grab it from the printer before any of my colleagues get a shock... Thankfully we've had no more smearing, but still no poo's in the loo. At the top of the slide, on Sam's bedroom floor, behind the sofa.... but not in the loo!

MOS glad you are sorting out DS's situation - but what did he do to get suspended? Sounds like it was out of character so a shame for them to react that way.

Good to hear from you Spotty - have been following your exploits on FB, sounds like you are doing well.

SM I can't keep up with you!!! You've been soooo busy with your applications etc and I really hope someone snaps you up quickly - you'd be a real asset.

I'm busy selling off baby bits on ebay and am amazed at the interest in some of the crap stuff. A tiny Little Tikes slide which is rubbish has got 32 watchers .

Feeling good at the moment as AD's have kicked in (I think - maybe it's just the sunshine!) and we start with the portage sessions for DD next week. I think she is generally improving a bit anyway, although perhaps it's me that's improving at coping. Someone said to me in John Lewis yesterday while we were having lunch "what lovely, well behaved children you have. It's because you are a calm mum". If only she knew LOL. After she'd left DD wet herself and had a meltdown... Ho hum

Hope KBN is having a lovely holiday - am very . I must find out what happened to my brother and the running caterpillar...

dinky Am sorry you had another rough night. I'm sure he will get better soon.
STW Hope you make a good few £'s from ebay. I've wanted to do that, but really can't be arsed with it all.
Pleased you're feeling better and that the AD's are helping.
What day is O's first session? Make sure you let us know how it goes.

I got 2 job rejections today. One from Monsoon for store manager and one from Bhs for department manager. I didn't even want those jobs so not sure why I applied, but still a bit gutted that they have replied so quickly with a no. I've trained to manager in retail and was a manager for 5 years! Oh well. Something will come up.
Today I put in a call today for the position of advice support and clerical receptionist at a sure start centre not too far from here, I need to chase that up on monday, and I also put in a call for home visit carer so waiting for application pack for that too.

Cheers STW and SM - am repeating the mummy mantra to myself - lots. Never realised what an incredibly easy going happy placid baby/toddler DS1 was. As MIL says, Danny (while adorable) is definitely going to be the troublesome one of the two, purely because he isnt as placid as DS1!

SM - sorry about the rejections but sounds like you werent really desperately keen on those jobs. Dont take it personally - perhaps they were looking for people with more recent or less experience than you (so they could pay less). I'm sure something will come of all the applications you've made and you'll get a position you really want.

dinky Everyone say the same about Luke. He is going to be the tougher one, the braver one, he is sneakier than ds1 and he will be and is the aggressor!
Thank you re job rejections.
I'm just looking at training courses for social care now. Found one that sounds interesting, the qualification is Level 4 NCFE so now I'm looking to see what job that would result in and what the qualification means.......

morning all,

dinky hope you had a decent sleep last night. H has been awful the last 4 or 5 nights and I have to wonder if its the ABs I'm taking that are affecting him. Still BF but trying to time it so not just after I've taken the tablets which I think are pretty strong. Poor little man is very sore down there but thankfully some new cream I've got him seems to be helping.

STW well done you calm mummy. Very of lunch at JL though Can't believe you are selling Little Tikes stuff already, Does S not play on them? Funnily enough, I've been having a mooch on ebay for LT stuff as don't want to buy new stuff for the garden that will get used for 2 months a year.

SM sorry about job rejections, if you've got the experience maybe its just you've got no recent up to date experience if you see what I mean. I (not sure why) applied a few weeks ago for a job as library assistant on the compound school, just 2 mornings a week and didn't even get an interview!

I'm thinking of asking DDs nursery (where H will start in September when she leaves and goes to big school - assuming she passes her assessment tomorrow) if he can stay for an hour or so a few mornings over next few weeks to get him used to it. He looks longingly at all the toys (lots of Little Tikes slides and cars etc) when I drop G off and it would be good to get him used to it. Am thinking of trying to put him and G into a local nursery in UK for 2 mornings a week over summer so want to test the water.

Right, just doing breakfast, catch up later x

I should have kept quiet about Sam - had a dreadful night last night and up at 5 this morning.... And tonight is next door's son's 21st birthday BBQ that they have prepared us for a few times, so not expecting much sleep tonight....

MOS i really rate Little Tikes stuff but their junior slide is rubbish! Only 2 steps up and then their legs touch the floor before they've slid down!

SM don't be disheartened about the rejections... Hope the sure start one is a bit more positive.

Better dash as DD shouting from upstairs - looks like an early one for us all ... gonna be a long day...

Yep - we were up at 5am too......Lilian wanted to go round and round in the office chair. It was cute yesterday evening but not so cute this morning.

STW you obviously exude an aura of calm even if things are about to go pear-shaped!

SM - don't worry a couple of rejections, you have the right attitude and lots of positive thinking - half the battle in getting a job these days.

(((mos))) glad you're back, names changes confuse me. Sorry you've had a crap time with school but good on you kicking some butt!

Dinky :-O at your lack of sleep. Hope the 'it's a phase' passes quickly!!

Lol @ TITS!!!!! I'll call you tulips if that's ok. Have you started work recently, thought you were a sahm? Hope you're enjoying it if so.

SM - sorry you've had no luck on the job front. Good luck with the trainng courses, social care is an interesting area.

STW - Glad you're feeling good and AD's are doing their thing. V impressed at your calm mummy persona, please give me some tips!!!! We have the next size up slide, 4 or so steps and it's fab. Good luck with eBay, I'm far too lazy but have tons of rubbish things that need to go.

More water soaked fun inthe sun I think this afternoon. Enjoy your Saturdays lovely ladies xx

spotty... not work unfortunately but have been studying with OU. On a break between modules until october but it's been lovely using my brain again

sorry about the rejections SM... I think for managerial roles they want experiance to be quite recent though so don't take it too personally. At least they sent out rejection letters... over here you rarely even get a letter which vexes me no end.

dinky, another odd night with A too. I was out last night (check me out with my new found social life ) and he wouldn't go down before i left but dp got him down at 8.10 and he slept til 12.30 and then wouldn't go back down in his cot, he'd sleep on dp but every time he tried the cot A freaked out, i came in at 2ish and gave him a feed which just woke him up more and it took us dp til 3.30 to get him back down.. can't even remember what time he came in this morning i was so shattered!

Ooooh tulips...whatcha doing???

Morning! I'm supposed to be at the gym in half an hour but after 3 solid hours of thunder, lightening and scared babies I really can't be bothered!! Hope everyone else had a quieter night? Dinky how's danny been?

I had an awful night! Not only was I hot beyond belief, but Luke had an off night too. I couldn't bring him into bed with me coz it was too hot and I just don't feel comfortable with them there in this weather, so spent most of the night ssitting next to his cot holding his hand.
KNACKERED!

I've just completed a certificate in natural sciences and i'm waiting for the results. hoping to eventually get a degree in environmental science.

Sorry you had a rough night SM, this heat is very hard to sleep in alright. A wasn't too bad for once but i stayed up til 1.30 as we got sucked into the Terry Pratchett thing we'd sky+ed

hello all, hope all ok.

TITS fingers crossed for your results.

SM sorry you've had a crappy night too. H has been a little rat the last few nights/weeks. Last night was supposed to be my turn to sleep whilst DH had H but I was woken by crying at around 3.30am and when I went in H was in his cot screaming with DH ignoring him. And he wonders why I woke! Why not pick him up for gods sake!

I have a client this afternoon! One of DH's colleagues got divorced a year or so ago and I gave him some advice and now his wife has issued financial proceedings (which I warned would happen!) and he wants me to do all his paperwork. Luckily its bread and butter stuff so should be able to do it ok. Am a bit annoyed with myself though as I've done loads of freebies over the years and decided to charge. I pointed out that 4 years ago I was charging 150 pounds per hour and now it would be nearer 175 (if not more)but said I'd help him for 25 ph (as no overheads, secretaries etc) Was annoyed when he replied and said that was a bargain so I could have asked for more! oh well.

Have to chuckle about all the complaints about the heat. Its around 35 degrees here by 9am and around late 40's by lunchtime (they never admit it goes over 50 as under Saudi labour law they'd have to stop work so it only gets to 49) I guess you don't have AC inside though which probably does make it uncomfortable.

Right, off to see my client. Hopefully this will provide a little spending/beer money for the summer.

PS. DH hated my new bag! When I got it out of the bag it was in he made the most revolting face. Arse! What do they know, its lovely.

Morning all - another Danny shocker last night. Up from 4.40 this morning (DH took the early slot at 3.50). Sounds like lots of nippers were sleepless last night - here's hoping for a lazy day all round today!

Tulips - hope you had a great night out before returning to A's shennanigans.

STW - glad to hear all is getting better - or at least more positive - in your world.

Went to see some friends this morning who have had their second little girl - she was so adorable -almost enough to make me broody... if the sleepless nights werent ongoing that is...

Tulips Well done for completing your course, good luck with the results, am sure they'll be top.
mos So you should charge too. £25 is a bargain!
dinky Did new baby make you broody?

We went to a family fun day at the local college today, the boys made sure I spent quite a decent bit of money too, but was good to be out the house.
I went back to bed when we got in at about 3pm and left the boys with dp.
I'm trying to work out now how to get a few hours at least of peace away from the boys. It's getting tough again
I'm at that awful stage where everything I do with them is a chore how awful does that sound. My poor boys.
I've been here before and got through it, so I don't doubt I'll do it again

Sounds like you had a nice day out yesterday SM. Sorry you're feeling abit blue at the moment - FWIW I think all of us go through times when having to deal with our kids feels like a chore (especially when you havent had much sleep) - you will get through it and it will be ok. Just be kind to yourself and take each day as it comes.

And yes, baby did make me feel broody. Had better night with Danny last night - only 20 minutes to get him to go to sleep at bedtime and a 2 am wake up (but he put himself back to sleep by the time DH got up to check on him) so feel semi human today.

p.s. Tulips - congrats on completing your certificate. Sending a bottle of virtual fizz in your direction.

think i'll keep the virtual fizz in reserve til i get my results in august... got 90 for the on course assessments but i'm not confidant i've done well in the end of course assessment... shitting myself!

even cute newborns aren't making me broody so i think i can officially state i'm done with babies

we were at my parents yesterday, went to visit their neighbours and A had a ball being licked and snuffled by two huge dogs (odd child, he cries if a person talks to him but isn't a bit scared of an alsation 4 times his size ). Evening went downhill when ds1 fell and banged his head badly though.

mos... at least you know to charge more next time!

dinky Glad you got some sleep, hope it's a sign of things to come.

tulips How's dd and her head?

I spoke to the local college this morning about enrolling onto their Access to higher education couse-social work and they said yes and will send me an enrolment pack and they also said that if I am over 25 and I have less than 5 GCSE's at grade C, then I can sit the course for free!
I told her I haven't got a clue on exam results as it was so long ago and she said "I'm not telling you anything here, but if you tell us that you are over 25 and do not have 5 GCSE's then we will enter you on the course for free"
The only thing is, can't get help with childcare because I'm not claiming any benefits (why when I say that do people say "none?"), but sure we'll manage.
Very exciting.

Plus, just did a test paper for that maths course I've been doing, the pass mark was 24/40 and I got 36/40! Not bad.