June 08 - if your name's not down you're not coming in!

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

Welcome to our new cliquey thread !

Oh, and Iestyn went into the sea naked. I did consider putting that on the thread Eddie but they might hunt me down and make a kebab out of me. I read the thread until I got fed up of her, and I had a fab childhood like that. My parents have a river in their garden - yes indeed, folks, a real river - and we used to play for days there. Alone! Building dams etc. Shocking really - but none of us drowned, or caught weil's disease, or whatever... We live amongst fields and used to go wandering. My friend Becs once opened her hand on barbed wire; and one of my brother's friends needed stitches (but that was due to my brother throwing a tray at him (they were sledging) so it doesn't really count). Still, we explored and were confident and independent. No other children to play with though.
Iestyn gets to play outside by himself quite a bit - I watched him yesterday morning from the upstairs window. My garden is enclosed (and can be locked) and there's only fields to the sea out the back of my house; so I left him to it. At one stage he looked like he was going to climb to the top of his slide-house (5ft...) but thought better of it.

Also (full of useful hints here!) Bugger I'm vegetarian, and did wonder who was arsey - non-veggies? Or veggies? (Veggies can be a crusty righteous kind of bunch but usually grateful for people making the effort, I'd have thought). I'd recommend Cordon Vert recipes.

Thanks Dewin - I have tasked DH with sourcing some tomorrow when I am out on a jolly in London ALL DAY!

Dewin, that does sound idyllic. One of the reasons that we're moving is to enable the kids to play out easily in the garden - but it's not a big garden by any stretch of the imagination, but better than nowt.

The point that silly woman kept on missing was that the activites she was banging on about were all accompanied and supervised - the childhood I enjoyed, and that is lost to so many of our kids, is the childhood of being allowed out alone to play only with friends/siblings. No adults to tell you not to do that, or don't touch that, or don't climb that, etc, etc. Yes, we got stung, bitten, scratched, fell out of trees, broke limbs, bumped heads, got lost (and ended up on a motorway !) but we survived .

Anyway, off to tidy the house while all is quiet .

spider, enjoy London .

I always love the idea of a barbecue and it never matches up to my expectations - lots of preparation, lengthy cooking and frazzled parents!

Sorry about my earlier random post - boys are in bed and I'm much calmer now!

Hope you're all OK and enjoying sunny weekends, today was the 1st day here without rain for days and it was glorious.

Aw Deb, hope the BBQ wasn't too bad!

The weather was gorgeous here yesterday - a bit overcast today, but then I'm stuck indoors while dh goes on a looooong bike ride . I do miss the days when we could do those things together .

Talking of which, can anyone recommend a good bike trailer for the bambinos?

Hey, just marking my spot. Have only skimmed the latest page but will try and catch up properly later!

Have been on hols for a week, but you've not missed me have you, you buggers!

Did have lovely time, but have come back with painful red bite and swelling on my leg which other mnetters are now worrying me is lymes disease. Must step away from google...

You have to go away for longer than a week to missed around here sybil!

I would recommend a trip to the chemist tomorrow morning (or tonight if you can get out and have a late chemist open) to see if they can give you something for your leg. Sounds unpleasant .

So you didn't miss me or Neenz either!

I've just read your thread Eddie - very interesting.

Forgotten just about everything I read from over the last week. Lots of poo and vomit though I think?

Lol DG! I flounced for three weeks earlier this year and no one noticed so I feel ur pain!

Yes, the thread has become a v interesting discussion, lots of food for thought.

Dh has just bought me a world cup wall chart, v exciting!

Oops, now I've killed the thread!

Just marking my place - in case you all forget me!

Its nice in a way though, it shows the 'clique' is still big enough for a few voices to disappear for a week and no one to notice. Given that we are all around the 2 year mark I think that's pretty good going.

The worse thing about going away is the amount of washing you have to do when you get. It is nice to be sleeping in my own bed again though.

Where did you go Sybil?

I won the second Isla bike on eBay. Collected it this morning, and now have to resist giving it to P before next week. It looks good though.

Well done spider! That's what we're getting A too - look forward to taking them both to Wisley with their bikes !

Hi all. Spider I already caved and gave luke his scooter but he fell over and doesn't like it! He has got a wendy house too which well save.

Had a horrid weekend. Been having spotting the whole time so I'm worried sick. Got my scan tomorrow so I'm praying everything is ok.

Glad you got your bike on ebay Spider. We really wanted to get one for S, but he's such a wee shorty we decided to get him a micro scooter instead and will think about the balance bike next summer.

Sybil I feel your pain re the washing. I sorted out about 7 loads yesterday on our return (and still have a load of towels and bed linen that really needs done). I managed to get 4 loads done yesterday but it's so wet and miserable it's all still hanging wet around the house. Have another load done in the machine but nowhere to hang in.

Eddie - where does one purchase a world cup wall chart? DH loves such things but managed to miss them all in the papers over the weekend 'cos we were away. There's one in the Sun today but we won't buy it on principle, so I'd quite like to buy him one - he'd be very excited!

Does anyone know who PenquinNZ is btw? No idea.

Amber, good luck for tomorrow - sorry to hear about the spotting . Early pregnancy is so shit . Fingers crossed all will be fine, early bleeding is very common and often nothing to worry about.

We are back from our hols, I am sure you all missed me (and Sybil and DG) . Just skimmed to catch up (and got side-tracked by Eddie's HB thread - fwiw I think round here you can let your kids have a lot of freedom, but agree it is traffic that is big problem. I hope I will be relaxed about letting them play out.) Our camping trip was great - I was so sad to come home but once you are home there are some home comforts that you appreciate (like having a toilet within a few metres at all times, esp when 7m pg!). The weather was fab and the DTs were great. They played/stayed near the tent so we didn't have to chase round after them like last year and they slept well too. We got ITNG ready beds for them and put them in little tents underneath the trailer beds (the trailer folds out so the beds are about 4ft off the floor) so no need for cots which was great for space in the awning. Shame we can't book another trip this summer with baby due mid-Aug but we might go to Centerparcs in October once the baby comes and all settles down. If we get a hot Sept and Dh can get time off work and if baby is ok we might get away camping again but not holding my breath.

We have decided on Dan if the baby is a boy, and I like Anna for a girl but DH is not sure. He likes Sarah and we both still like Hannah but I like Anna more as it is not so common. The ONS website has the full list of boy/girl's names for 2008 in ranking order and also how many of each - there were 8,000 Jacks and also 3 boys called "Torres" . See here for the spreadsheet!

Sorry to hear about the spotting Amber. Fingers crossed for the scan.

Do you think you can take bikes to Wisley Eddie? Not sure I have seen any kids on them there. If not maybe we can think of an alternative place to meet up next time. Will FB you.

Dewin - still looking for the fake Pimms. Tescos and sainsbos no luck. Waitrose is next on my hit list.

AH - as official thread bike expert what policy did you have regarding helmets when your boys started out on their balance bikes? There may be some hope on this front as the only hat P has worn so far this summer has been his friend's bike helmet. All sunhats are instantly rejected.

X post Neenz. Glad your trip was fun. I am already v familar with that spreadsheet (nerd alert). There were something like 81 Iestyn's in 2008, and one of them was Dewin's , and IIRC a similar number of Ryders.

X posted with you earlier Amber - hope all is well with your scan.

Glad you had a good time on your hols Neenz. I'm trying to mentally prepare for going back to work tomorrow

Have had a fairly lazy day though today.

Oh, started this post about an hour ago and just spotted I never finished it!

Fingers crossed for you Amber. Hopefully all will be well. What time is your scan?

Fingers crossed for your scan Amber, let us know how you get on.

So we've all heard about Neenz camping trip - sound's lovely, Sybil and Goddess there must be more to say than the washing!How was S on the the flight Goddess?

Been keeping away from the internet until we'd watched our downloaded Britains got talent final I know who won now so I can return!!

Nothing to report here, no news on the house, poorly Ethan today with high temperature and this morning he slept until 8 which is unheard of and by 11am he fell asleep in my arms which he hasn't done for months and months. He proceeded to sleep for 4 hours! This afternoon he perked up a bit, ate a tiny amount and drank lots. Fingers crossed that he's better tomorrow.