Think this'll be a long 'un. Right, had a lovely lunch with Katie and her DD and indeed her dog We had the beer garden basically to ourselves and apart from the English weather it was all very nice. Katie, I got the trains all mixed up so DP came to collect me but my penance was working on the house for a few hours?
JJ ? many, many congrats. How super! So when are we talking, roughly? Next Feb? Will that fit in with your ideas re: work? I am disappointed to hear your DH?s practice aren?t in a position to take on another partner at the mo ? hopefully that will change.
Invis, I am so sorry to hear about your employment woes. I tell you what, they are bonkers not to take someone as smart as you ? a plague on ?em. I realise that the very specialised nature of your work makes it harder, (DP?s BIL works in a specialised area of the law too ? reinsurance, and he?s had some ups and downs ? he works in Bermuda now) but above all, don?t be down on YOURSELF. All you can do is make long lists of practical forays you can make for now, cross your fingers and try not to panic. Any iron you can chuck in the vaguest fire is worth it. Hang in there.
Yay, Beans, you are in. First of the housemovers, first of the clackers?
NJAN ? you mentioned the other day about possibly going for another baby ? wow! You sounded more chipper, which is lovely. I was thinking about the driving again today. The minute I get my hands on a chunk of money, I think I am going to go for it.
Veg ? I forgot to thank your DS1 for the lovely compliment the other day As for DD and her frustration/bad behaviour being linked to lack of words, she actually has about 30 but they mainly consist of nouns like ?key?, ?car?, and ?banana?. Perhaps when she can finally say ?Sod off Mummy? she will stop pinching me. Although at this rate, Mummy will be the last word she learns. Like other tots on here, she flatly refuses to say it.
ZJ, your pics from the meet up were really cute. But where are the camera shy mummies?
DaisyD, your day with your Mum the other day sounded lovely. How is your DH now, after his Mum?s birthday?
SL ? blimey, your DH?s employers have got his nose to the grindstone. It sounds wholly unreasonable. But as others have said, in this climate, one is scared to do anything other than tow the line.
Sybs, your swimming pool deception was straight out of a sitcom I think Mondays and Wednesdays are your good days, but what about this Friday? Alistair is at Kingston Crown and we are staying in London on Friday night as we are at a World Cup party on Sat, so depending on what time he?s on and what time we get there, I might be in town on Fri and coming in from a southerly direction. Rubes (I already mentioned this to you), Kiwi, Beans? Urbane, I think you are free on a Friday? However, I am slightly jumping the gun as not sure about timings yet.
Avo, I am sorry the cuts are contributing to making work so tough. (and you Urbaneski ? must be so dispiriting). I think your DH?s timescale sounds very sensible but I know what it?s like if you have sort of made a decision and want to act on it. How is your poor DD1 now? That sounds so frightening. Oh, and I have tried to contact CD twice about paying her for my share of the wedding babysitter but she hasn?t replied! I hope she is just busy and it?s not that I have offended her. I am envious of your potential trip to Alfie?s Antiques to check out wedding clothes for her, such a wonderful place.
Spot ? great you are feeling more at home in Brighton. And good you are on the list for a counsellor, at least. What?s happening with the house thing ? are you deffo moving? The course wasn?t linked to the ones I have done before ? I am doing them because I just don?t want it to look like I have spent this time rocking a baby and picking my nose in the country?should I ever return to the world of those employed outside the home. As to the book, thanks so much for asking but I am having kittens, puppies and other baby animals about it. It was out with eight publishers and I have had four rejections so far. Now, that?s not too bad (I have sent many a book to lots more publishers than that before it was picked up) but it FEELS so scary. I was pretty confident about it before, and I am an experienced agent so ought to know what I am on about. But whilst the publishers who have rejected it have been complimentary, all their reasons for not buying it have been different! So I am pretty despondent about it tbh. And about my career prospects in general ? have had a few late nights with DP about it recently, wondering what the heck I am going to do. He is worried as I am usually the positive and bullish member of the team. I have got to calm down, think carefully, and just WORK HARDER. It?s the only thing that wins through in the end. But I am just having a wobble at the moment, particularly as the solicitors for my DH?s estate haven?t sorted all that out yet and it?s hugely stressful, and if I don?t get some money soon, in the next 2-3 months at the most, I am going to have a BIG problem. Sorry for that rant! I feel a bit fragile and irritable at the mo - not usual self at all.
Trace, I absolutely love looking at houses, so keep them coming! Crossing fingers P is on the improve.
Jam ? so pleased things are improving for the boys. Gosh, you all had it rough.
JB ? I will check that book out ? thanks. I think it was Effie who mentioned There?s a House in my Mummy, and I may get that too.
Dora?sB ? glad you checked in, it?s good to hear you are ok.
I know I have missed people but I am absolutely whacked and conscious that I have gone on and on and ON. WG, hope you are ok. Oh, and Kiwi?crossing fingers for a better night for you tonight. I have got Big Brother on. Jeepers - it?s the usual freak show, I see?