40+ Yummy (or not-so-yummy) Mummies, Come and Eat Cake

[ladymac]

Have taken the plunge, hope this is acceptable to everybody.

Grapes, mrsb? Should that be cake or bon bons?

Oh right, diet. I guess it has to be grapes!

BTW, morning all! Off to the physio today, thank god, because my leg is killing me. Hopefully he/she will be able to sort me out. Its my first time going, so no idea what to expect!

I cannot believe they made Obama take the oath again. Just a sop to the Right Wing I'm sure. Total CYA move and not really necessary.

lol@governess. Very Bronte-esque. Only wish mummy could recline and eat toblerones. Still working although must say that orders have died down. Totally expected it to after the mad xmas rush and credit crunch time.

Good luck at physio tee. Any news on the triple test result yet?

Morning all.

What time are you phoning Tee? I really need to start uncrossing things soon.

Someone in my office has lost 7lb in two weeks with weightwatchers . Really wish that I coud stick to a diet like that, or that I had a bit more self discipline.

Glad K is doing well with her purees JW I remember that look on their littel faces when they taste something differnt

lilibet just been looking at the article on DM website saying that the slimming drug Alli that mrsb mentioned is going on sale within the next few months in this country. Not sure if I'm right but it states that you can get it from your GP already if your BMI is over 29?

Yeah, K's doing really well with her purees. I'm going to start her on 2 meals a day today and see what happens She really loves the food and even opens her mouth for the spoon when she sees it coming. Fab! Like her dad really

I've lost 6lbs in 2 weeks lilibet without going to WW's. I'm going to see how well I do without WW's and if I fall off the wagon then I'll join. Otherwise I'm saving myself a fiver a week doing it this way.

What's your vice then?

Well I just rang and apparently there are a whole bunch of tests that haven't come back. And I was told to not call them again, they will call me.

Nothing like the brush off on something like this!!!

At this point, I am not even sure I care. My 'big scan' is in less than 2 weeks at this point. I am sure any issues will be picked up then.

But I will complain to the antenatal clinic if I haven't heard by my appointment there on 3rd Feb.

hedgepig- I haven't changed my surname either. I was signing the chit in Sainsbury's about a month before getting married, when it suddenly occurred to me with a flash of shock that I'd have to change my bleddy signature too. When I told my intended that dumping the signature that I'd been honing since I was 7 was just a step too far, he was fine about it.

Hardly any of my contemporaries from university have changed theirs, and my husband, who is a research scientist, has loads of colleagues who don't change theirs. In Quebec, women always keep their birth surname, and add their husband's if they really want to. I really can't see the point. Even in Britain, it's becoming so commonplace that schools etc do not bat an eyelid.

I've only had a few people referring to me as Mrs DH by default, plus my father and one of my sisters, merely because they don't believe it's right for a woman not to change her surname. I've been married for 15 years now, but they still even misspell my husband's surname. I've given up pointing it out- it's their problem, not ours.

hi duchess how is it all going? are you feeling a little more secure yet? It is interesting, this name business I some friends who have not changed their names but they don't have children, all of those with children have changed. I think I will stay as I am I just have these moments when I wobble.

Tee big poo on the results delay. I will keep everything crossed, helps with the pelvic floor too

my Wii fit has arrived ~(sorry JJ) it is fab fun when I can get B off it! I tried the ski jump while holding O needless to say we had a big crash

Not feeling particularly secure yet. I keep dropping into the August antenatal thread and dropping out again sharpish as more people announce miscarriages- it's just too unsettling. I won't feel hopeful until after my scan next week, particularly as the only sign I have of being pregnant at the moment is a heightened sense of smell (despite the constantly streaming nose) which is a bummer because everything stinks- the dog, my poor teenaged children, the kitchen, the entire house, most food; also I have a little indigestion/nausea in the evenings. Apart from that am essentially symptom-free, which worries me most of the time.

on one hand you don't want to be throwing up but on the other it does give reassurance. Is it a 12week scan or a early scan you have next week?

The 12 week. I angled for an early scan but they didn't give in... The last time I had a 12 week scan, I discovered I'd been hoiking a dead baby around for over a week. Understandably I'm a little jittery this time...

Afternoon all. tee that stinks about the results I Too will cross everything for you

Hi Duchese SOrry that your children and dog stink Ugh I remember taking the green food waste bin out when I just found out I was preggie.....I wasn't sick but just totally overcome by the smell that I had to lay down! It's all just one day at a time in the early stages - quite nerve wracking.

hedgepig am at your purchase. But LOL @at you skiing with Baby O tucked under your arms!!

jw that's brill about K giving the thumbs up to solids. Can I send Verity round for dinner? She just snarls at the grub I give her..Ggrrrr

My tummy is all distended and period still hurting. I'm wondering if it's something to do with the c-section? It's my first 'proper' period since V was born...MMMmmmm.

We went to a playgroup today and met lots of lovely people and even got invited round to someones house for a playdate Was really refreshing not to be the one extending the arm of friendship....and this lady is a 'harpist'...she said she'll play for the kids - how cool is that?! So we're feeling very happy

Afternoon all

Good news on the playdate jj -see that New Year's Resolution is working!! If it's your first period in that long its no wonder its a nasty one - have you ever carried on taking the pill continuously over 2 months without the break in the middle - similar results!

Tee that sucks about the results - let us know as soon as you hear but of course you are right - the scan is the biggie really.
Have they announced that Obama had to take the oath again? I believe that's happened twice before - I don't think it a sop to the right wing though - just making sure that no-one can challenge him later. It was a shame he fluffed that bit when he is so cool and confident and such a good orator.

mrsb I think Obama's already taken it again. According to BBC he has.

JJ well done on getting a playdate on an away fixture 'Bout time too.

As mrsb said, if it's your first period after such a long time time then it's usually a corker. Your hormones will up and down like a tart's drawers.

Duchesse I'm sure all will be well at your scan next week. I'm like you after I had a MC but simply paid for one at 7 weeks as the hospital said I couldn't have an early one. It didn't guarantee I wouldn't mc but it did offer me some reassurance Still, fingers and toes crossed you dear.

tee how very insensitive of them to tell you they'd let you know. I'd ring them everyday now just to piss them off! I'm sure you'd get your results pretty darn quick

I see Kate Garraway has announced she's up the duff and due in August - is that when you are due duchesse? I'm sure she's over 40 as well

she's 41 jw - we might get her coming on here incognito! Didn't she get slated by the Mail last time for getting caught having a sneaky fag while pregnant?

You are indeed lucky btw that Katherine likes her grub - I doubt D will be the same if his face when I gave him a spoon of Calpol is anything to go by! It all came straight back out again amid shrieks of horror. In the olden days (well, not so olden) we'd be well into weaning by now at nearly 5 months.

duchesse I was exactly the same as you and aid for a couple of private scans as I couldn't stand the not knowing and the waiting and I would be the same on the due date threads - its scary just how common miscarriage is.

JJ, how lovely to have an invitation and from a musician! I've just been writing about a harpist, oddly enough.

Duchesse most units only scan early if there's a symptom like bleeding or pain, or a history of more than 1 mc or m/mc. I was in the same position as you with my 3rd pg, having found no heartbeat at the first scan with my 2nd pregnancy. It's heart-in-mouth time for those early weeks, but not long to wait now and I'm sure all will be well. Even though you don't have extreme pg symptoms you still have some symptoms, and I keep meeting people who have none at all, which makes me very , as I'm still getting nausea every day and occasional throwing up. Feel a bit sick now actually but it's because I've eaten almost a whole pack of Liquorice Allsorts. Oops.

JW 6lb in 2 weeks is excellent!

Yeah it's a start isn't it ermintrude? Only half a ton to shift now!

mrsb K hates calpol but loves porridge. I always thought calpol smelled ok...kinda strawberry flavour, but she spits it out, gags for a bit, cries and in the end I give up. Have you tried D yet with some food?

It was Ms Garraway caught having a sneaky fag with just weeks to go to the birth of her first one. Tsk tsk. That's not good at all.

I meant to ask you mrsb do you have a date yet when you're back in the land of the living (work)?

First veg box arrived before complete with spiders and half the field stuck to them Still, gave DH a laugh at all the ugly, malformed vegetables. He's easiliy pleased. Now I've got a lovely big red cabbage and DH won't eat it pickled. C'mon ladies, any ideas?

Yes, I'm due August 9th as far as I know, and just turned 41. But, erm, who is Kate Garraway?

red cabbage- chop finely, gently braise with some bacon. He's bound to like it like that.

bacon does seem to improve most foods I find. .

There is no food that bacon cannot make better!! As my brother once pointed out, bacon even tastes good burnt!

Saw the physio. Now have a brace thing for my knee and a lumbar pillow. Pillow is already helping immensely!

tee I missed you saying you had a bad knee - what's the problem?

sorry jw I am unschooled in the ways of cooking with red cabbages. Which reminds me - does anyone know what I could do with a gammon joint? I bought one the other day in a brainstorm thinking it was pork - aside from Christmas dinner I have not really cooked much with gammon. Any thoughts?

I'm back on he 16th Feb jw D will be five and a half months. Sounds v young but I keep forgetting its only one day a week in nursery - the rest is with family so its not as if I'm whatsername - the French Justice minister who swanned back to work after 5 days. Silly cow.

Bacon - yes I'm snacking on Marks and Spencer cooked crispy bacon slices - yummy!

I think we've had a red cabbage conversation on this thread JW - my, we know how to live! - and a couple of us use Delia's recipe where you just braise it gently for a couple of hours with onion and apple and a subtle blend of garlic, cinammon, cloves and brown sugar I think, with a slosh of wine vinegar. But for a meat and 2 veg type of chap going the bacon route might be advisable

And so to gammon mrsb - I'm assuming it's a large joint rather than those teeny ones you just roast. Check the packaging to see if it needs soaking - v rare these days unless you get it from your butcher - and if not you can just bring it to the boil and simmer it for the requisite time with some spices and have it as it comes, or after that process you can remove most of the fat, glaze it and finish it in a hot oven. Boil it in 2l Coke and it tastes all sweet and lovely (Nigella recipe). I don't do her breadcrumby topping though - too heavy - I prefer Delia's mustard and spices glaze with cloves, but you can slather on any sort of mustardy honeyish mixture before roasting and it will taste nice.

I hope we're all doing as St Jamie tells us and saving our (British) bacon . I'd love to hate him but I usually agree with him, which is extremely irritating.

Tee, glad you've had some physio help; hope it gives you an easy slumber!

mrsb I used to be a ballet dancer. When I was 18 my left knee started really hurting so off I went to my orthopaedic surgeon, Dr George. Great Orthopaedic surgeon, no bedside manner. He did arthroscopic surgery on my knee and told me I'd never dance again. He was right. I cried for a week. But the knee has been a pain (literally) ever since.

My best Dr George story....like I said, no bed side manner. So I go for a consult the day before my surgery, he asks me how I am, I say 'how do you think I am, you're going to operate tomorrow!' He actually cracks a smile. Get wheeled in for surgery the next day, he says 'how are you?' I say 'how do you think I am, you're about to operate!' And the last thing I remember before going under is his hysterical laughter. One of my finer moments.

haha tee good one! didn't realise you were a ballet dancer - how glam but how sad to be forced into givng it up lie that. You'll have to keep an eye on it as you get heavier with child I s'pose.

cheers ermintrude I have done the Nigella version in fact I think I did it with my Christmas ham. Now I just have to figure out what to serve with it that is light on carbs!

Oh stop talking about food - I'm soooo hungry!

I second ermintrude's red cabbage ala Delia - it's the nuts Jot of balsamic and if you like sultanas then pop some of them in too Mmmmm. We have pancetta and pea risotto tonight - that's when I get off sofa and make it!

I'm with you on the agreeing with St Jamie ermintrude as annoying as it is! BTW...you're writing about a harpist...?! Don't tell me - it's a Mills & Boon

tee I strangely like the sound of Dr George. A ballet dancer - that's so much more demure (and demanding) than I could ever stretch too!

hedgepig you are soooo right about bacon...it really does seem to perk up the blandest of dishes. I mean, my butternut squash soup would be nothing without rashers of streaky in there! Mind you, we discovered the joys of chesnuts last night - they certainly added some charm to the sausage casserole

jw what are you going to make with the spiders and the dirt in the veg box? May I suggest you do a tempura batter - make crispy little treats out of them!

Talking of food, what's the chance that Verity will eat my homemade fish pie with cheese sauce and sweet potato topping...? Place your bets...