"Oooh" the Wise & Avid sing, "could we want another thing? Joseph shearlings, Maxmaras, handbags covered all in stars..."

[LetThemEatCake]

following on from bunny's festive lead ....

I am off to bed. Night, all.

DH bless him, is sitting in his room in the Academy waiting for midnight, so he can place my food order to arrive on the 27th December.I have done the list for delivery on another day, and now it needs moving. The delivery slot may not be there by 6am, as they are snapped up. Yes, I am a hard taskmaster....

are you implying that we seem, ahem, less fabulous than your Saturday night peers???

Saturday 12th March good for me.

Hell no. But it feels more difficult to go from here to rl. You might all go, o nothing like I imagined then!

It will be fine. Champagne and I'm good

March sounds good, and evening definitely better than a day for me.

I stopped wearing a watch in the lead up to my wedding (17 1/2 years ago) so I didn't have a tan mark, and haven't worn one since. But I do like to keep the holes in my ears filled; I think they'd close up if I only wore earrings when I went out!

marsha how wonderful!

Morning.
Went to the Christmas Fair last night - the one which I couldn't get a table for as they already had several tables of baked goods apparently....but there was not a single one there so I was a bit miffed! I could have raked it in! Brought DH a silk tie and that was it. Some nice bits of jewellery but the rest was v disappointing.

Bloss - it really needed you and your lovely wares there too! Sympathies re DS being difficult - I'm feeling v challenged with my two at the moment. The mornings are such hard work as they need to be told 20 times to get dressed and I end up doing the school run feeling all stressy! I had a complete meltdown on Fri afternoon as had cleaned the downstairs ready for family party and DS2 finds some polystyrene in the bin and runs around breaking bits off - it went everywhere and stuck to every surface! I actually called DH and sobbed down the phone for 10 mins out of sheer frustration.
Bunny - so pleased the twins are doing so well. I thought the video clip of them was memorising and a joy to watch.
Vin - good for you re packing P's stuff - like you say its a step in the right direction. Keep staying strong.
Pickled I loved One Day. Have chosen The Slap as my next Book Club choice but just recieved it and its huge - 483 pages! Some of the Book Clubbers are such slow readers, they won't make it past the middle!
Mrsjuan - I've been a long time admirer for Cakes dragonfly necklace!
LTEC - really feel for you re Christmas arrangements. Its that whole thing of having to please everyone else that really bugs me. Sure you will think of something special - maybe your gorgeous kids could do some kind of play/performance?!
Carciofi - I really laughed at the thought of you popping into Harrods for a security tag!

We've already booked our summer 2011 hols too (booked it last August which is just as well as by September it was fully booked from June til Oct!). Its the same place we have been to for the past 3 years but its perfect for our needs. Bit of a staggering leap price wise tho - this is the first time we are going in the school holidays!

Off out with DS2 - quick trip to a nice book shop for DH's xmas present and then to a museum - preferable with muffins for sale in the cafe!

OWW lol we read The Slap as well. Interesting portrayal of life down under. IIRC it focuses on one character at a time so that somehow makes it easier to get through (for those slow readers). I loved it! Get ready for lots of sex and swearing .

All this talk of a March meet up is making me yearn for the Spring.

Morning all! -13 here this morning and the heating has failed at work. Am here dressed in all my normal clothes plus scarf and coat.... Quite a stylish long black caot with faux fur collar (think cossack style) and aquamarine chunky knit scarf. Set off very nicely by my blue hands...

Beautiful day, but bitterly, bitterly cold. Verity - hope you have dug yourself out! I have friends in Glasgow and the Penicuik (outside Edinburgh) and they are both completely snowed in (2 foot drifts in the East!)

DH came through for me last night, and I have a food order arriving first thing on Dec 27th, in time for my influx of guests. Hurray!

Oh, books - I want to read The Help - my mum has just finished it and enjoyed it. Am reading something called The Owl Killers at the moment which is good.

Yes the slap is brilliant!

Stay warm everyone. My chest is now so sore that it hurts to drink tea and coffee. What joy!!!

Morning all!
Brighter here today. I'm thinking of wearing stripey janice for teaching.
Sorry to hear of your ds troubles oww. Mine is so well behaved everywhere but at hone where he still screams and rants and has tantrums. He's 6. He's always been determined and obstinate and contrary though.
How awful does that sound?
Have you been to the doctor with your chest ltec? Hope you feel better soon.
I have diamond studs from Boodles. I've had them £ years this Christmas. Never take them out.

Hey girls

Just popping in to wave at you all and say hello. Am busy in rl atm but will be back soon.

Mwah to you all.

NY so pleased you got your delivery slot - liitle things like that matter so much It's snowing again here

Vin I had a quick read of thread last night and nearly jumped for joy when I read your post. Keep strong, you are heading in the right direction and life will only get better for you and ds. I am thinking of you all the time and willing you on

Bloss thinking of you this week and sending you hugs and industrial quantites of salmon. Do you think ds is acting up because of the anniversary? Sometimes little boys express their emotions in ways that are hard to deal with. Hoping you have a better day today.

Marsha that champagne really unleashed your inner social butterfly Well, my birthday is in March, so that could be a good excuse for a trip to London. I would love to meet everyone, esp Cake before you go home. I'll see what I can do, although the Budget today is going to be awful and single income families with 3 children (ie us) are going to be hit very hard apparently I would love to know who decided that 2 weeks before Christmas was the appropriate time for tax hikes and spending cuts. The budget used to be in January when everyone is miserable anyway.

I can't wear earings anymore, they make my ears red and itchy, even gold and platinum for some reason. I love the idea of bracelets, but in reality they drive me nuts!

OWW how anoying about the fair, you would have sold out I'm sure. Tidying up is utter misery with boys in the house, you have my sympathies

Bunny your babies are so gorgeous, you lucky, lucky girl

Major spring clean of sittingroom yesterday, kithchen and bedrooms today. I am heartily sick of this lock-in!

God, I must be the worlds slowest typist, grr.

Poor chest, cake wear more cashmere to keep it cosy.

Glad things better Bloss, enjoy teaching today!

MM have a lovely day

Dd hassling me to get off the computer so she can play a game, wouldn't usually let her, but anything for a quiet life.

Verity it was the first time I have been out of the house for more than 2 hours at night for a year without ds.

Of course being with my bfs, new lovely people all saying lovely things helped

Is good to feel free again.

Ds Christmas play today, Woohoo!

Feel warm everyone!

Marsha - your post re Saturday night party was delightful - you really did sound free and light and witty and happy. Certainly v well earned after 2 years of pg and bf w sleep "challenged" DS2. I love that giddy feeling that champagne gives me, although my true love is a rose petal martini or a lychee martini.

I would love to come to a March Sat eve meet-up. Nice challenge to be back in shape by then! Re dates, the weekend of 12 March may be tricksy as its the weekend closest to DH's birthday. Does Sat 19 March work? Although if 12 March is best for everyone else, am sure can shift DH's celebrations (he is quite relaxed about that sort of thing).

Cake - oh, ouch, do take care - such a tender chest sounds a bit serious. Vicks? Unhelpfully, I find cold air the worst offender for setting off a cough (well, that should be easy to avoid in this weather ).

Re earrings, I wear diamond studs and don't take them out. Although had to for hospital and then cleaned them in the John Lewis diamond and gold jewellery dip (£3.50 and v easy to use) and they came up nice and sparkly again. In case anyone is looking for a DIY cleaning solution.

Challenging DCs? Bloss - think your DC1 and my DC1 may be kindred spirits - they sound v similar temperamentally (am wondering how much of it is nature ie their personalities and how much nurture ie too much pandering to PFB? I may never know). OWW - the domestic vandalism is so so hard to deal w isn't it?!

Enjoying a cup of tea to restore my energy levels - had a tough night last night w DD1 - poor precious was actually in distress w pain from ear infection coupled w hand, foot & mouth virus (am sure she has mouth ulcers, but the 3 Drs who saw her yesterday were unable to get a look in her mouth). Prob our hardest few days to date (esp since its falling on DH's shoulders to care for DD1 - I can't hold/lift her due to post C-section and he isn't used to such lack of sleep + big week at work for him). Will be glad when DD1 recovers and poor DH can sleep and get over his cold. I bet so many of you are reading and nodding - its the same for every family at times, isn't it?! Salmon all 'round!

LTEC - Do hope you haven't got a chest infection. Temperature?? I am paranoid after my pneumonia a couple of years ago.

Bunny - That does sound hard. My DH is working with a guy who has new twins (the couple who left with the MIL when they were just born - brave lady!) At the moment they are doing lots of lectures, followed by managing 'scenarios' and writing papers/speeches etc. Poor guy falls asleep in every lecture, no matter how charismatic the speaker. The rest of the group are taking it in turns to photocopy their notes for him.

Really hope DD1 feels better soon - sounds so uncomfortable for her.

Sorry to hear that bunny. It's hard enough with one new baby. I think it is difficult for dhs too with their work stresses. I know my dh suffered.

You may be right about the anniversary verity. it's the nativity today and tomorrow and of course he remembers the headmistresses taking him aside last year and telling him how I couldn't be there.
Everything is made worse by the fact that he wakes up so early: any time between 5.30 and 6.30. This morning he had typed a prayer for dc2 inside a Christmas card he'd also made. All before 7am!
It nay be making him worse, but he has always been like this.
I do hope you can make the meet up verity.

Oh and OWW mornings always very stressful here. DS1 told me off this morning as apparently I wasn't being polite enough when I asked him for the 20th time to clean his teeth [deep breaths count to 20]

Thanks tracey. It's good to know we're not alone with this. Have a word with the teacher. We have something not dissimilar, and the urge to go up to the child in question is sometimes overwhelming!
Class rep. Never ending and thankless. You're doing a great job.

I?m at work today and getting so wound up by hugely annoying things that I just had to come on here to cheer myself up. But only momentarily as I really must get back to it.

Jewels ? diamond studs, Cartier watch (wag styley), engagement ring, wedding ring.

March is good for me too.

NY ? no heating?poor you! Lots and lots of snuggly jumpers and tea prescribed.

LTEC = that doesn?t sound good?get thee to the docs.

Bloss/Tracey? snap with DC behaviour. DS just got the most wonderful school report?truly ?lump in the throat? type comments but it seems like he saves all that behaviour for school and when he gets home turns into a sullen yet shouty teenager (he?s 7). I agree with Tracey that this drive, energy and goodness knows what else will be wonderful when they are grown up (just feels bloody hard right now doesn?t it?!).

Tracey ? that is awful about this bullyboy ?but it?s interesting that Henry is calm about it so perhaps he knows all will be well? Is the teacher a good one? She won?t blunder in and make it worse will she? On a completely separate note - I've pm'd you.

Bunny - why does it always all come in one go?it seems to be a rotten rule doesn?t it?! I hope DD gets better quickly and you all get some rest.

Right I really must go

For those of you who liked LTECS dragonfly necklace, found a cheaper version in silver which looks nice.

www.silverandsand.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=44&products_id=239

Will now read thread but quite behind as usual!

Aww, Bloss, that is lovely about your DS making the card and prayer for his sister. Is he going to the school disco?

NY, lots of hot tea for you!

I am reading Vogue instead of packing, lots of lovely summer clothes.

PickledSiblings, DH has already pointed out that our DC will probably leave Ireland at the first opportunity, like we did. Emigration is an Irish tradition!

Most days I wear diamond studs, wedding ring, my engagement ring, my mother's engagement ring, a necklace and occasionally a watch. My mother left me some lovely jewelry but I don't wear it much.

tracey - I know the feeling!!! DD tells me off when she thinks I am not polite enough when asking her to do things that she ought, IMO, to have done already. Last night she was being particularly bolshy and I ended up marching her to her room and making her sit on her bed in the dark. I forgot all about her until I got up to make supper and DP reminded me she was still there . I was obviously enjoying the peace and quiet... Was also somewhat amazed that she sat there for half an hour without coming out. It did wonders - she behaved beautifully all evening.