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[BonzoDoodah]

Hi All
If you're over "that age" and want to chat to similar mums - join us here for gossip, slander, oggling, dieting, cake, chocolate and more ... get on here and join in hte gossip .. we don't hang round ...

hi all, hello from longleat centreparc. have not got time to catch up on all the posts! quickly scanned and CONGRATS tee jw i remmeber you wanted to know if centreparc is any good? well, we are loving it! the 3 bed villa is perfect for our little family. the tropical swimming paradise is around 30 deg C and so very nice and warm. i felt like i was overseas! there is a huge rapid, water slide. DH and DS1 are loving it. me too! this place has everything for families. staff are friendly. yum food! the spa is great. had pedicure yesterday. today have facial and massage. DH and I are going together. DS1 going to kids club, DS2 going to creche! what else can i say? well, the only downside is whole family got the lurgy! stuffed up noses, but no fever thank God. so LO was unsettled the other night and so DH and I were like zombies. but DS1 slept very well in his own room so was not disturbed by DS2 crying. of course, first thing in morning, he wants to go swimming!

this place is great for families. the other day, DH, DS1 and I went for long bike ride. some real steep hills.

routine for LO was a bit off kilter. but back to normal now. actually i was quite upset yesterday that i felt like going back home. cos i was worried about LO cos he was so bunged up. poor thing could not breastfeed, luckily i got a breastpump so been expressing milk for him to take using bottle. a lot less work for him. the poor thing would be sucking away then realise his nostrils are blocked so he could not breathe. would get so upset!

hope everyone is well. back to london and smog on friday! also missing home and friends.

jeez. JJ, I'm with mrsb, that playgroup sounds hellish. Can't believe there are mutterings about Iris . The playgroups I went to were full of bumptious boys knocking newly-walking toddlers over and little girls tearing dollies in half in a jealous rage whilst the mummies studiously ignored them unless lives were actually at stake, and chatted amongst themselves . Are all of the others compliant? Are they drugged? Is it Stepford?

Wow heron posting on the hoof - good girl....a live update from centre Parcs!! I think you win the roving reporter award. Sounds fab - we're very tempted. I don't know anyone who's had a rubbish time. Enjoy the time away x

erm i'm really surprised just how many children of two can sit still for such a long time. Seriously - they all sit there listening to a story or singing...they're even forced to sit and play instruments to music at Jo Jingles these days because of Health & Saftey It's the one thing that really marks Iris out as 'different' and it really gets on the nerves of people runnning the playgroups

Oh lovely play group jj makes you want to tell them all to stick it (right up).

MrsB - I think they all go through a clingy/wingy phase. Tilly did - even though I knew she loved it at the nursery - but I found that as soon as I left the room she'd stopped crying (first day 15 seconds, second day 10 seconds) ... do you wait outside the door and listen? I'd really recommend it - they do stop crying quickly and if you don't listen you drive all the way to work feeling miserable - and they are happily toddling round having forgotten it all.

jw grrr at that article

Well I survived the toddler group - although it was mayhem and I nearly puked in the car on the way (and it's less than a mile) - fortunately made it there but then had all the other mums pulling into the carpark watching me chundering onto the verge. I blame the parmesan foot scraper stories
M is now in bed having a very early nap (taken up to screams of "noooooooo, PLAY!!!") - was asleep in about 5 seconds.
And relax .... (Drs not seen mum yet so twiddding thumbs).

jj hello!
mrs thanks for the link to pictures of Adam, Mr Tee and Tee chunky boy!

mrsB If it's any consolation, Verity stopped even wanting to be held by her Nan at around 9-10mths. Even now she's still really clingy...apparently it's a really healthy sign. He'll be fine - just you that'll be in bits x

Okay, let's hunt down the writer of that article. What a bunch of bullsh*t.

Well my mum is safely here. She's already started to clean the kitchen and now she's folding laundry. My slave labour!

JJ your playgroup is full of ar**les! My DD2 never sits still at school and the teachers are constantly trying to contain her! Some are just like that do not panic mine has just performed the Good Samaritan at school and remembered all the words and did a real Oscar winning performance. She is an utter pain at home due to hyper activity but it's normal. What's the matter with your child? Absolutely nothing!!!

I read article too- shall I write to her and tell her about the two I'm hatching soon? Perhaps they are just a case of middle aged wind?

I've never had a 2 year old that could sit still unless they were ill. And the woman who told you off Ohhhh don't get me started!

tee well done on your mum for doing the chores You get your feet up and eat some more choccies When Adam gets home (sooner than you think) that'll all go out of the window and you'll be his personal pacifier Really, you will you know

K hates being held even by me. No, actually that's not true but she's not a loving kind of child. She won't even look at my SiL or anyone else apart from me, DH, DSS and my older 3 and even with DS#1 she's not that sure yet. They all go through it. Another phase.

heron Centre Parcs sounds fab! I'd best get saving my pennies for next year. Brilliant news that the children are enjoying it. That's half the battle

mrsb the article is about experiences of having a say in life or death situations involving a child. Such as turning off a life support machine or in my case, being told that my baby would not be rescusitated if she was born and unable to breathe on her own. It's in conjunction with the GMC and they are aiming to draft a new paper which takes into account the thoughts, experiences and up to a point, the opinions of parents and carers. The guy who is interviewing me thinks that K's story is relevant, I'm told, and would like to use it. I've opted for naming myself as opposed to remaining anonymous but it's not the aim to name and shame either. I think he is writing a balanced article. We'll see anyway and when I know, if I get to know, when they're running it, I'll let you all know

The yank and the manc are coming around this afternoon so we'll see what DH makes of him. He's not used to 'strangers' so will probably sit quietly observing from afar but not saying a word.

Haahah jw your DH doesn't sound at all intimidating Really freak the poor yank out - pop a headscarf on DH and get him to say "you're not from round here are you...this is a local house, for local people..."

neddie that's good to know...that my Iris isn't the only fidget-arse about. I mean she can sit still but usually only on a one-to-one basis especially if it's her fave book of rhymes, the Cat in the Hat or The Tiger who Came for Tea!

Obviously neddie you shouldn't even be seen reading articles such as that....they wouldn't want the likes of you associating with the DM! Mind you - you do work with horses and they'd probably let you off for that....thinking that you were somehow related to Royalty!

tee HUZAH! for mums. Excellent news...wow, I bet she's getting stuck into the chores and getting ever-more excited about seeing Adam....bless

Hi All xx

So sorry I have been AWOL, its been quite hard ( an understatement to say the least!!), moving in with inlaws applying for benefits ( thats a very long and very annoying story that I wont bore you all with!!), coping with feeling like crap with PG then hayfever and on top of that my DP gave me his cold and cough, so nice of him to share

I just haven't felt like talking or felt much interest in anything, sorry iv been so unsociable.

Last friday I went for 12 week scan, everything is just great and have a new due date of 22nd Dec now, was originally 27th Dec.

I have been a bit worried about the amount of stress and worry I have been under and how it will effect the baby, but feel a little better after scan was all normal, does anyone know how stress etc can effect PG/baby?

I am going to now read back a little and catch up, could be gone a while lol you lot chat far too much lol

Love to everyone and I must say have missed you all

Ah ww I was going to put out a call for you....but here you are Blimey, it's a lot to cope with. I do remember only too non-fondly all the paper-work and the general feeling of shittiness (is there two 't's in that word?!) in sorting out benefits etc so you have my sympathies. What you have to keep in your mind is...you've paid in for this so it's your turn to take help x

Lovely news that your scan was all fine...and think...when LO arrives things won't be as horrid as they are now. BTW - good luck if you try and catch up on the thread - I was only away for 3 days and it blew my brain just trying to keep up

So much for the potty success....been wiping down the rug - wondered why my feet were wet

jw how's the yank then??? [overly nosey emoticon]

JJ I've had The Yank here this afternoon and we've had a wander down the aisles of Tesco. He was enthralled. A real education looking at all the shit lovely stuff us Brits eat. Mind you, he did mention he was 'not sure if the peanut butter would taste the same as it didn't contain any hydrogenated fats'. They've now both gone into M/cr to La Tasca. That good ol' english establishment

Hey ww. Was hoping that you'd call in. I should think that baby will cope just fine despite all it's mummy's stress. Don't go getting guilt ridden on top of everything else! Cor, you're right on top of xmas for your EDD aren't you?

Welcome back WW. Sorry things have been so rubbish, but you seem to be sorting it all out. In terms of stress affecting LOs, they are pretty well protected in there from both physical and emotional side-effects so I don't think you need worry. As a MW told my sister, who was worried about having been extremely drunk whilst conceiving her LO, 'skinny crack-whores with multiple STDs give birth to healthy babies, relax.'

All these articles telling us we can't get pg over the age of 35 - why don't they come and speak to us?
I knit as well, by the way.

welcome back WW it's great to hear from you . Good news about the scan and a Christmas baby too.

JJ I am shocked at these other mums at the toddler group, they sound horrid.

O is defiantly off colour he is not eating only drinking milk, wa-wa-ing when I put him down to do an important thing like going to the loo. He did perk up when I pushed him around Waitrose flirting with all the other ladies in the checkout but has not been him self for a few days now.

Ermintrude you don't want a baby yet! wait until my birthday next week and then you can name her Hedge . Yes another crabby cancer I'm afraid JW Tee fab your mom is here and I hope Adam is doing well, well done on being off the O2.

Right must clean up the kitchen debris

welcome back ww was wondering about you last night. Good to hear you are getting through it and the scan went well.

hedgepig sounds like teething to me. We've had a week of it now .

Mr D went straight to sleep at 8pm thank god!

will look out for your article jw sounds interesting and a good thing for the medical profession to be doing

jj am still agog at the carry on at your playgroup. Am amazed that something designed specifically for the entertainment and enjoyment of children requires them to be still and quiet and even more so that they are actually still and quiet. Not like any 2 yr olds I have ever met.

Evening all. Wow jw you took the yank to Tescos...showing him a good time eh! He'll be applying for a visa asap if you keep the excitement level peaked to that extent

tabitha I think the Daily Mail doesn't talk to us cos we're scary old bats and we smell of wee.....and poo...and vomit....and bits of old weetabix...!!!

hedgepig hope O gets some kip and is feeling better. Good to hear he perked up for a spot of flirting though.

mrsB I love the word 'agog'....yes, I'm still a bit I was telling DP about it...he just rolled his eyes and said "why do you go?" Why indeed? But I fear I may never leave the house if I don't do something!

MIL has Iris tomorrow...all day....what a treat....for all of us!

JJ he wanted to come see how us peasants live. I fear he's in league with your FiL.

Naw....he's fascinated about all things Brit at the mo. Still, it's only day 2 so that'll wear off. DD#1 has told him off again for saying 'hello' to everyone that walks by in the street. And for talking to a pair of smack heads on the tram and a man with a kitten up his coat. Apparently she took him to the chippy last night (wow, big night out) and he dropped them all over the floor. Methinks this was a clever ploy to get rid of the greasy fat potatoes and make it look like an accident!

mrsb glad to hear that D went to bed like a good little boy that he always is...away from his mummy who makes up lies about him, telling all and sundry he wails, never sleeps and is generally naughty

JJ hope you're painting the town red tomorrow sans LO's. Or at least magnolia.

I'm off to bed. Period arrived. I feel shit and I'm covered in spots. I've eaten almost a full lemon drizzle cake today and I fear I've put on over 2 stone in the past 2 days. Fark.

Evening all.

Wetted the baby's head tonight with a bit of Champers. He is doing so very well. Off O2, tummy line out, eating 50ml every 2 hours. Just need to get him sucking a bottle or the breast and he can come home!

WW good to hear from you. Sorry you're having such a rubbish time. YA on Christmas Baby!

JW tell him the peanut butter does taste different. From one Yank to Another.

jw god - that period crappyness is horrid - poor you. LOL@yank off-loading grease-laden chips onto the floor. Crikey, my FIL would finish the poor bloke off. A man with a kitten up his coat..............random.

Funny you should mention painting the town red...was thinking of popping into Marlow and having peek at Fat Face & White Stuff...tee hee! Oh and there's a lovely park I can take Verity to...oh yes, I've convinced myself!

tee bottoms up dear girl....."TO ADAM" falls over drunk from too many bubbles x

jw aww how sweet - him hulloing at the natives

I have been *treating" (if such is the word ) to some weightwatchers lemon drizzle slices. They fool my tastebuds for about 2 seconds - then they're gone.

However I fitted into a skirt today that I have had for ages but couldn't zip up and that was v pleasing.

tee great news! sounds like he should be home very soon!

I see they are searching Claudia Laurence's local again...

ermintrude time for popping!

and jj WhiteStuff has new summer stuff in I believe... have the plastic at the ready..

Just my usual - nope, no baby here - message!

Tee hurray for your mum, did you do the hoover trick or was there no need?

JW whereabouts in the US is 'the yank' from? I don't remember lots of New Yorkers saying hello to us last year - unless they were smackheads or people with kittens up their jumpers. We're working our way thru 'The Wire' at the moment, and since my only other Baltimore reference is Hairspray, it's all a bit distressing

JJ and MrsB, there's a White Stuff shop in Nottingham that I plan to visit in a few months when normal clothes will fit me.

hedgepig yes, funnily enough, Hedgepig is on our list of names so you never know .

Oh ermintrude the Wire - fantastic - the absolute best thing ever. We watched it all years ago on ahem..download... Love it.

I mean to ask where the American gent (won't keep saying Yank in case tee gets the hump) is from.