Dec 08 Ladies welcome to the new Bean, next stop, Summer.

[Veggiemummy]

Sorry very boring had to think quickly, not my best feature

I'm hoping it's teeth here as well, ds2 woke up screaming at 2am and wouldn't settle until we brought him into bed, then he was wriggling and kicking all night. I was in that state where I was to tired to do anything other than hope he'd settle down, if it happens again tonight I'll be reaching for thebaby drugs. Ugh.

Beans: that's great news on the one waking! Isn't Pru doing well?

Aargh I nearly reported Veggie's post by accident! Bloomin phone. Of course posting about Crocs is a bit much, but it doesn't warrant a complaint!

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the congrats on the interview. A challenge to be enjoyed, I'll try that ladyT!

beans That is fantastic. Pru is putting on weight beautifully and sleeping well. If I have another I'll have one like Pru please .

veggie The DvO thread was getting really out of hand when I last peeked at it. She was being called really vile names . Whatever her choices, even if she was giving the child chips at 6 weeks even, the language and name calling isn't justified.

ladyT What about getting salt and shake crips and not putting any of the salt on? I saw some in Sainsburys the other day and thought wistfully of childhood picnics.

My favourite cream/neutral is Pavillion. I think it is Crown Period Colours or maybe Dulux. Erm, one of them anyway! The colour changes depending on the light and it is neutral without being too dull.

It is tipping down here. It is so dark it is like winter. Anyway, work to do. DD woke up at 8.20 today and we were relying on her to be our alarm.... oops.

Quick post from me on phone at work.... Big congratulations to all the newly clackered ladies! I've been trying to keep up with everyone's news but just haven't got round to posting. Congrats also to spot on the book launch, invis on the new job, JB on the interview, ladyT on the diy, beans on the arrival of little Pru and to everyone I've missed for their general fabulousness! Phew....
Someone asked about beanbags a while back - I can recommend bean bag bazaar (sorry can't do links) I got DH a giant beanbag from there and their children's ones look great.
General toddler unsettledness in the Pingu house too at the moment. DD is also being super clingy and it seems that only mummy will do!
Meet ups - count me in for a London one. I'm also up for venturing to Brighton, Cambridge,Essex or Oxford for a day out but my only day off in the week is Mondays. Right, enough from me.....

Dammit JB now I feel like chips!!!!

Effie please don't dob me in I promise I won't mention crocs again.

I haven't been back to the thread, my post was quite benign so I doubt anyone would even hade noticed it. I think it originally touched a nerve amongst the BF in public & proud types (of which I'm one) as it does often feel like 1 step forward 2 steps back when all we want to do is feed the little beggers. But it's now defended into the usual women who have ishoos and are taking it out on the opposite number. Either they BF'd & never felt comfortable in public so are a bit mad about it or they FF but felt guilty so are also a bit mad. If only everyone had a thread like ours to make them feel ok about the way their parenting styles have panned out (I didn't say parenting choices because really do we actually choose).

I agree with you veggie. We don't always choose the path we end up going down, it is just a shame that people can't respect how other people do things.

I wonder how spots's launch went?! I was going to say she's probably got a hangover but she's clackered isn't she?! Hope there was cake. Cake is better than cheerfulness anyway.

summer I meant to say before, good luck with the move! Hope you get nice and settled before DC2 appears.

Hello pingu, it is hard when they are clingy. DD will push DH alway if she tries to hug me!

He even. DH is not a lady!

Hello Pingu! Lovely to hear from you.

Tbh Veggie if prospective parents are taking any notice of slebs' parenting decisions I give up. Read the headline, thought 'Don't care'. Actually that prob goes for most of MN at the moment. You lot are obv a top crowd of people but I get so irritated with the wider MN esp since the election. MN is not that important. When Justine was on Any Questions I suddenly became Disgusted of North Essex.

Really quick from work, but Lady avoiding pinky beige cream paint is a personal crusade of mine! White Tie (Farrow and Ball) and Subtle Ivory (Dulux) have worked for us.

Really boring sole post, so I'll try to do more later!

Ooh, Effie, when was Justine on Any Questions? I listen to that quite often, as I do Any Answers, or whatever it's called (the Saturday one) but I always end up shouting at the wireless. I find the callers a) so small minded and b) take SO LONG TO GET TO THE POINT. The art of being succinct should be taught in schools. I mean, I know I ramble on on here but if I was making a killer socio-political point on the radio I would make sure I did so with economy and elan!

Denise Van O - well, as you can probably guess I just think she is come daft bird off the box and her feeding choices don't really impact on mine and am faintly puzzled as to why they impact on others. Having glanced at the thread it sounds like she's talked a load of guff but then, not quite sure why people feel cheated that she isn't setting what they see as a good example. She certainly isn't a role model for me in any way, ha, although DP tells me he used to fancy her. She is about the only blonde he has ever fancied apart from me. Hmmmm.

Mom - creams are so difficult. The house is festooned with discarded matchpots. The entrance to my cottage is quite dark and the tiles we have put down are terracotta quarry tiles, and I just fancied a nice buttery cream to lighten it up but everything I try looks totally boss. I will check those out, though. I have all the paint cards. I am quite enjoying obsessing about paint, though. It's such an insignificant, abstract and relaxing thing to try to get right. I also have to get the right lavender for one wall of my bedroom and most important of all, the right rich yellow for my sitting room...

Hey Pingu, great to see you! We have a renewed clinginess here too. Don't know what it's all about. Anyway, keep checking re: meet up news!

JB - salt 'n' shake crisps is a really good call.

Rubes - I was awoken at 3.31am by HEARTBURN. So I feel your pain - literally. I had it last time but only mildly and only by day. What IS this mysterious and marauding heartburn by night?

Right, DP will be back from court soon and it's back off to the workhouse.

To return to the question of celeb pregnancies, though, (you see, I can never really resist a contentious subject), I am never sure whether the coverage is genuinely damaging to other, 'civilian' new Mums or whether the public should just wise up and take it all with a pinch of salt. I am really talking about the ones who are 'back to normal' in 8 weeks and say they just did it by 'eating sensibly' and bf, when really they had a crack team of chefs, personal trainers, make up artists, botox and lipo administerers and 24 hr childcare. Hmmm. I think I probably just look on enviously and think "Ah well, that's showbiz" but I suppose if I was less of a hardbitten old cynic younger and more gullible I might be more affected, feel more cheated. I dunno.

Lady - try this one www.dulux.co.uk/colour/almost_oyster - I had it at our old house downstairs and it was gorgeous gorgeous. Loved it! Also, jasmine white is nice too.

Pingu - lovely to hear from you!

Rubes - another seriously kind person - thank you so much for the lovely little outfit - it's absolutely beautiful - can't wait to get Pru into it!

And Sybs - thank you so much for coming round today - laden with presents as well - you are so kind!

I have finally got round ot writing some thank you letters, so fingers crossed you should all get them within the next week or so! Although, Kiwi, I don't have your address, so haven't written - I'm so sorry. But I'll see you on Monday, so will be effusive then!

I am covered in sick - Sybs witnessed Pru shower me in the stuff. Honestly, how does a tiny weeny hold so much liquid in them??! She's finally asleep, so am goggling Come Dine with Me and scoffing brownies. Oink oink. No longer wearing my maternity flappy crow top, so will switch affinity from being a crow to being a pig. They are a nicer colour anyway. And I like their curly tails.

Thanks Beans! Oh no, DD is weeping.

Oh and Lady - I reckon they all have designer vaginas done immediately too, so their husbands don't even notice any difference! That's if they had the baby naturally! If they have a c-section, then I reckon they have a load of fat removed too. I would if I could afford it!!! Hee hee!

I doubt anyone really and truly believes all they read - surely??!

Hey - just read DvO article... I can kind of sympathise with her. I mean, it's surely down to the individual what they do anyway? Ho hum. Some people are so judgemental. And really, who cares enough?!

x

Yes, I think people are very judgemental, on the whole...

As for a simultaneous tummy tuck and c-section, I do wonder about this as you'd need to have a plastic surgeon in theatre as well as an obstetrician. Plus, there are so many layers of stitches for a cs, would it actually be possible to have a tummy tuck at the same time? Well, if it is, I am sure they do it in LA!

I tummy tuck and c-section would be v v painful. My cat once had what amounted to a tummy tuck because she got cancer of her nipples. As the nipples run down the centre of the body they cut out a great section of her tummy. The poor cat was stretched to breaking point. She lived a good few years more though and was much admired by other cats for being so slim .

I am so distracted today. Oddly between Mning and making cups of tea what I am writing is actually making sense. An improvement on many of my working days.

Cor, yes - it would be agony! I am wincing at your poor cat, JB! Frankly my tummy is the least of my troubles. I see the appeal of lipo but would be too scared to have it in case it turns out all uneven, as it seems to quite a bit...so I'll be dieting/sticking with my fat thighs.

Lipo looks very disturbing and as you say, ladyT can look very uneven. All your DIY must be burning calories like crazy!

Oh a quick question re interview clothing. I have a Next trouser suit which I got from Help the Aged for my last interview over 2 years ago. I've shrunk since then, and the trousers are now quite clown-like. Basically it looks too big all over and isn't very flattering.

I can't decide whether I should buy a new suit or not. I would wear one very rarely even if I got the job, and buying one and not getting the job would be a bugger. Does it matter it looks a bit ropey on me?

Is a suit a must even?

I can't remember what you do and how formal you would need to be (I am used to meedja type stuff where if you don't turn up in jeans they think you are uptight) - but my hunch is that a suit isn't a must for an interview, just conservative and smart. Do you have a dress, for instance? I would probably be wary of baggy trousers as you need to FEEL your best as well as look your best. Could you just wear the jacket with something? Kiwi is our resident fashion guru, maybe she will be on with some tips.

Right, I had DIY stay of execution whilst DP watched Come Dine With Me, now we really are off!

I thought I was just popping in to see what's up, but I think LadyT just summoned me, like a fashion version of Aladdin's lamp.

Anyway JB I wouldn't have thought a suit is necessary in anything but the most formal of professions. I forget, sorry, what is it you do and therefore what sort of environment it'll be but I would think a really nice smart skirt (perhaps pencil one, in plain colour) and a pretty shirt/blouse, tucked in, would do the trick. That would also give you the advantage of two bits of clothing that can then be dressed up / down separately adn that you'll therefore get a bit more wear out of.

Thanks for replying ladyT. I did chuckle at you being off to the workhouse. Have fun!

It is at a university, I used to work in the dept and most of the time people mooch round looking crumpled wearing old cords and jeans, however, when it comes to interviews or being on an interview panel, people do make an effort to look smart and get their irons out.

You are right about me needed to feel like a look the part. I'm out shopping with a friend tonight so I'll have a look at other options.

Jolly - suit definitely is not a must, even if what you do is a bit formal. Much more important that you wear something that you feel good in. I work in a pretty stuffy type of environment and I went to quite a few interviews in dresses (so much more comfortable when its been baking hot anyway).

Spot - totally forgot to say - hope the book launch went fantastically well

Oooh veggie meant to say - I've been meaning to give a mooncup a try for years and years now and your post on here finally got me to give it a go! Much less complicated that I thought it was going to be and great for my ridiculously heavy AF, so thank you!

On the sleb thing I kind of feel its a whole other planet that has nothing to do with me, but that's probably because I am getting to be a grumpy old woman. I think veggie got it spot on - there are a million reasons we parent the way we do and very few of them have anything to do with choices, so there is no point whatsoever in being judgy about it.

BTW - anyone looking for a quality light read, I just finished One Day by David Nicholls and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. There is definitely more than a touch of the Jonathan Coe about it, but that's no bad thing.

Just had a sneaky long lunch with DH - one of the upsides of being about to leave, had a lovely grown up meal out with a glass of wine at our leisure.

Pingu - good to see you here. We're getting a lot more of the "mumee mumee..." in our house as well. Sweet, but a bit wearing, especially when they both decide to do do it.

Ooh thanks kiwi that is a good idea. It would be good to be able to have more wear out of things afterwards. Any mid-priced (or cheaper!) shop recommendations? I'm clueless when it comes to clothes. Can you tell?!

A dress would definitely be a good idea, too. For some reason I always feel more dressed up in a dress, even if it's actually quite scruffy.

As far as chains/ shops to look in, obviously it does depend on your budget but maybe higher end of high street - Whistles, Reiss (though latter is, IMO, a bit crap at the moment) or actually Oasis (having a bit of a fashion moment . I think something floral would be nice. Floral tea dresses - never really out of style. Or a floral blouse with plain skirt. Something like this, maybe, which you could totally wear with jeans later.

I went to my boxing class with DH today and got to spend my lunch break punching him. I think I may market it as marital therapy

ANnoying though, I'm supposed to be going to a tapas/drinks thing tonight wiht a friend, and she's just pulled out. Anyone free in Central London tonight want some free tapas and booze!?