its friday night again.... hows everyone?

[signandsmile]

Hi all... not a bad week at chez sign, have recovered from my 'why didn't they interview me' grumps . dh has sorted out three boxes of his crap precious possesions! and I am nearly finished my last marking for the year.
ds is (nakedly) happily playing lego and I had a huge cooked brekkie this morning at the new local restaurant. (doesn't take much to make me happy)

How was it for you?

lisad, glad you have got someone.Enjoy some time out.

Going back to camping, the first time I took Dd3 she was 3.8 and a runner and I dreaded it. I bought some of those ID braclets and wrote my phone number on the back, I made her wear it and threatened her with all sorts if she took it off.

I also had about 20 Guides to watch out for her so that helped.

She loves rules so now I can give her boundaries on the campsites and she sticks to them which is great.

Star, I am glad your Ds went back to your tent, I think that is what Dd3 would probably do to now, it is horrible when they run off isn't it.

Hi all. Just got some Internet access at our Forest of Dean w/e. Bit late as everyone seems to have gone to bed.

Chundle, got here and found it is Forest Holidays! We booked through Hoseasons and they are very cagey as they want your booking fee. But we're very happy, it seems as good as you described.

Glad most of you are happy, pleased Lisa got her babysitter.

sadly, yes unpaid - does that qualify us for gransnet? Have a good week in Norfolk

Morning Aunt. Glad I'm not alone and yes I would defo qualify for gransnet! Being a nanna is great though eh!

Morning all, had a bad night one of my older ds is in Blackpool with his mates and I had the most awful vivid nightmare that he got hurt that I've been awake since. Have texted but he'll not be up yet I suppose. Bloody kids they still keep you awake when they aren't even home
No real plans for today might take dd to the playcentre whilst dh and ds enjoy the football.
What's everybody else up to?

Morning all.
We were meant to be going on Joliet with forest holidays back at Easter but mum had a stroke so had to cancel are you in a lodge?
We are camping with them in a few week can't wait

Morning, Insanity. Just up in our lodge in the Forest. We're going to Symonds Yat today. We've had 3 very quiet weeks up until now.

I'm sure your big DS is fine, just your subconscious playing tricks on you.

Hi Lisa. Sorry to rub it in but, yes, it's a very swanky lodge with huge glass windows and a hot tub! We're going to try the night vision tour tomorrow night. It's a lovely location. The campsite looks nice, I'm always jealous of the kids all playing together, mine keep themselves to themselves. Great smell of BBQ's last night. Hope your trip is fun, and your mum is better.

Ellen it will be my subconscious I'm sure but I know how he gets when the drink's flowing, loses all common sense and we're really close so I think I'm extra neurotic about him
Your holiday sounds lovely I'm going to have a look.

Afternoon Ellen your lodge sounds lovely! and the night vision trip sounds exciting. Hope your DS has text you back by now insanity its horrible when your mind plays tricks on you!

Well I am preparing DS for a trip to the MIL for tea. Its SIL birthday and DD has already gone over. DS was invited as an afterthought But I would have to come as she wont be able to handle him. (3 fully grown adults there mind) Told them we will come round at tea time as it will really be no good for DS to just sit whilst they chat all day. (not my idea of fun either ) It just wont happen and its raining now so cant even get him out in the garden there.

DS was pleased he could go but at the same time is jumping around all over the place and has just said "oh its raining so we cant go now" and just dropped infront of the TV happy. Not sure its going to go well but at least I got the excuse of having to get back to the dog.

Trips to the inlaws...aargh!

Symonds Yat was very impressive, but DS2 had had enough of looking at a view after 2 mins! If anyone goes to the Forest of Dean, Puzzlewood is amazing! We had an hour of exploring the most spooky, interesting maze of a primeval wood that has had Merlin and Doctor Who filming there. No good for buggies or children that will run off fast, never to be seen again.

Well done Justa
Ellen............it was hell.......
The dinner went ok as I timed it that we would arrive when the fish and chips were being collected so that meant two less people. What I didnt know was there were another two adults there who he hadnt met.

He cleared his plate as DD had picked the meal as his favourite so that was thoughtfull of her and was playing a nintendo quietly but all of a sudden everyone was laughing and he then asked why and one of them jokingly said we are laughing at you. They werent of course but he put his hands over his ears and screamed that he hated his family! Silence fell as you can imagine. Then obviously due to visitors MIL chose to FORGET DS's issues and just as I came in from the other room I took him for a bit of quiet she comes out with "why you doing that with your eyes?" which directed everyone to stop and stare at DS :( even DD tutted at MIL. When DS was out of earshot I point blank spoke up infront of all the people and said "its a tick, it wont go away, its due to autism so please dont emphasise on it as it makes it worse" I dont give a shit if she wanted to hide DS issues or not so thats me in the bad books AGAIN

Needless to say his tick got worse and his arms started going so I said we have to go home for dog and made an escape. He is now cuddling me watching TV with ice cream in his blanket so alls calm

who says I am not?

Actually I got a baileys in my coffee I NEEEEEEED IT

Oh God coffeepot it makes me grateful I don't have any family reading that. My MIL was a nutter tbh but she did try her best with ds which made her far more bearable at the time

Bloody hell, coff33pot. Actually it takes being angry sometimes to be brutally honest with family. Hopefully she'll either prewarn people or at least be a bit less horrid next time. (If there is a next time )

I'm feeling guilty now for having such a lovely day. We just don't let it bother us anymore that DS wants to come home five minutes after arriving anywhere.

Night vision thing was already fully booked. I'll be a bit more organised next time.

How's your DS, insanity? Has he texted you, yet?

There are somethings you cant swap and that is an MIL

Luckily my mother is the opposite.

She is older, had sheltered unproblematic upbringing and just point blank doesnt know how to deal or accept that something could possibly be wrong with her granchildren! DD2 to her is perfect (she is to me too but so is my DS) My eldest DD always gets it in the neck as she is mine from previous marriage........irrespective of wether DH loves her and has brought her up for the last 15 years she is always treated that little bit differently. DS was always classed from birth as not at all like DD2.drives me bats.

Its...........life as we know it as the song goes

Second baileys methinks!

Ellen......dont you DARE feel guilty about having a good time! Make sure you have LOADS of fun

I am fine.........it happens twice a year.......birthday and xmas (xmas to go.....shudder) The rest of the time DS doesnt get invited and to be honest I am glad now as I havent got to go either

Shame about the night vision thingy was dying to find out what that was all about! You will just have to blow bubbles (straw not fart ) at each other in the hot tub instead!

OK, I won't feel guilty then. I don't have too much trouble with my mum or FIL. Mum is quite easygoing, had a cousin who was 'a bit slow' and FIL just doesn't comment at all. My sister is the pain, our family is perfect, of course, and she keeps going on about how 'normal' we were and how sociable her grandson is. (He's 8) Like I can do something about it?

Ellen I texted him, he's ok, hungover this morning but having a blast. Ten lads in total staying in a guesthouse with 14 girls on a hen weekend so plenty of raucous fun he says. He's spent a fortune he says and wanted to know if I'd sub him when he gets home tomorrow, I will of course because I'll be so glad to see him back in one piece Now you know why dd 8 calls him goldenboy

You probably don't want too many details about his w/e, then! Just glad he's not met the fate of your dream.

Oh god no but having said that out of the ten that have gone ds is by far the most restrained particularly with the ladies I've brought him up proper Some girl is going to be very lucky if she can cope with me as a MIL