Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

"On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me...." (hides)

Welcome to the December chat thread. It is less icy here today so I hope everyone will be able to get on with what they want to do Laughing

PQ hope the status quo with the girls will last, you are doing so well, it is really hard work. As you go along, you will develop that art of rising above it, it takes a lot of practice Wink

Sparkling are you managing a weekend away from work? I have a case study to draw up for one of my work projects but it won't take long and it interesting anyway.

Hopeful are you still basking in your birthday celebrations?

Hazeleyes how are you? Is the tooth pain better?

Youngest has lost his key for the 300th time. Have told him I am going out at seven and so he needs to be back before then or be locked out. Am going with some friends to Cafe Rouge in town, five of us, should be fun. Hope the staff have ear-plugs Tongue Out

Posted on: December 1, 2012 - 9:11am
hazeleyes
DoppleMe

First day of December!! Oh my Word, just cannot believe it's nearly here, and still I have done nothing. Cries in the corner

Have a lovely time tonight Louise, I sincerely hope your son returns on time, and isn't locked out!! In this weather toCool Toothpain is fine thankyou.

Well, C had a wonderful time at the school disco last night. There's a girl in my year, that has a thing for him, but she'd eat him alive!! She was there, said hello, and then ran off giggling. C is now trying to persuade the Head to have a disco every month!!

Lots of frost here, but sun is shining. I'm staying put anyway, catch up with all the washing, and maybe prepare dinners for beginning of next week. No money to go out Christmas shopping eitherCry

Posted on: December 1, 2012 - 11:11am
Hopeful
DoppleMe

Haha Louise, We SIGN The Twelve Days of Christmas! Great fun! :-)

What has happened to the weather???? It's sooo cold. Please, can it be summer?

Posted on: December 1, 2012 - 11:36am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

What, in December Hopeful? Ah yes it is one of the carols you sign. I imagine that is great fun Smile

Oh Hazeleyes it is all beginning: girls and discos Surprised Good idea about getting ahead with the meals. I have been rooting through the freezer seeing what I can use up.

Posted on: December 1, 2012 - 12:21pm
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Good morning, hope everyone will have a good day.

I had a lovely time last night with friends. One of the chaps always tells rude jokes once he has had a few drinks so I was ready for that! And one of the girls gave out her Christmas cards, eek!!!

Hoping the sunshine will melt the ice on the car this morning Smile What's everyone up to?

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 9:42am
Hopeful
DoppleMe

Essay!!!!! Aaaahhhh!!! Need to reference 2500 words. Will be up all night I reckon. 

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 10:14am
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

I'm sure it will be brilliant Hopeful.  Have to say referencing was never my favourite bit!

Children off out for lunch with The Git and Gittess.  Makes a change from the cinema as it means they will actually have to speak to each other (meow).  As eldest is working later this afternoon, they didn't have time for the cinema Cool

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 1:14pm
kiera

hi well put tree up ,nice got 3 sets lights on it, all siver and blue balls, and nice gold star on top tree,my little girl asnt touched it, surprised,x

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 1:34pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

That sounds very pretty.

I'll have to put hooks in the wall if a tree goes up here, I know at least one cat will climb it!

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 1:56pm
kiera

hi well spoke to soon my little girl playin with balls on tree, il keeep eye on er,  soo cold outside, is it freezin where u arex

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 2:17pm
Hopeful
DoppleMe

For all of you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDWrZiqR46M

(sorry, my thingy won't let me do a hyperlink?)

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 2:35pm
hazeleyes
DoppleMe

That was lovely Hopeful, and just what I needed, thankyou.

Hi to everyone. Just sat down for the first time today, but it's literally for minutes only. Got the dinner going, and have prepared some for tomorrow and Tuesday. C wants the tree up, but I'm not nearly ready for it, and not in the festive mood to be honest. Weeks ironing done, homework completed (without any fuss, or nagging from me, yessss) His bedroom is a complete tip, with lego scattered everywhere, and I cannot bear the mess. I do think it's made worse for me, as we're in a flat, so I have to walk past his door to get anywhere!! Message to myself, must learn to ignore it more

Louise, your evening sounded fun. Christmas cards, well, I've not even got them in yet. I love people that are so organised!!

Kiera, I'm glad you've got your tree up, sounds lovely. I'm sure once your daughter gets used to seeing it, she won't be so tempted to touch it. Saying that, I used to put the tree up high, so C couldn't reach it.

Heating on, as need to dry the bedding. Doesn't seem too cold here, but then again, I've not stepped outside the door.

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 2:59pm
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Thanks Hopeful, I will have a hug too. I just can't get warm today, very unusual for me, hope I am not coming down with son's lurgy BLEURGH.  Hope your essay is progressing.I always used to type the references at the end of the essay as I actually made them in the text, now logically that did not take any less time but it sort of spread the horror Laughing

Hazeleyes, you are doing well with all your chores. I have got a casserole in the oven. Lego is the worst! especially standing on it with bare feet.

Sparkling at least you wont have to cook (looking on the bright side Wink) I have booked my Christmas online delivery as all the supermarkets have released the slots now, I just booked it and clicked on a load of random stuff. Hope I remember to alter it later otherwise Christmas lunch this year will be 10 Cornish pasties and a selection box, haha.

Kiera, bet your tree looks nice, I never have a tree these days but have a Christmas pudding doormat and a Santa for the loo Laughing it was supposed to be a loo seat cover but it kept pinging off (rather inconvenient Embarassed) so I made a wall hanging thing from it instead.

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 4:19pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

I had a home delivery today - so knocked off the chicken and veg that I had planned on cooking.

I booked a Christmas slot on Friday - it's for the 23rd.

Organising crafty stuff into boxes, as its on the kitchen table.  Easy enough to shift it all out then - in theory, of course.

It is cold here Kiera.  5 degrees outside.

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 6:49pm
Looby
DoppleMe

Reads posts, waves hello and frantically rushes off to book Christmas delivery slot!

 

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 9:30pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

Hahahaha!! 

Waves back...

Posted on: December 2, 2012 - 11:50pm
Anna
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Good morning all! Wow Christmas is really in the air isn't it! I am no way near and don't plan to even contemplate it for another couple of weeks! 

I've got my last day of my course tomorrow, have to do a micro-teach on Parenting after domestic abuse - looking forward to that, just now looking forward to cramming in the last of my assignments over Christmas (do you see why I am avoiding it now!)

Hi looby, I hope you are well Smile

hazeleyes, I guess you are all prepared for the week ahead, your weekend sounds very proactive!

sparklinglime I hope your crafty stuff is sorted now, or is that job continuing today?

Hopeful, loved the tune you put up! Earlier in the year I went to Barcelona and there was a guy at the arrivals gate, with a sign offering free hugs! My daughter and I ran a mile in the other direction - however he was quite dishy! If I was 20 years younger and without my daughter, I might well have taken him up on it!!

kiera, your tree sounds lovely, does your little one gaze up at it. My daughter used to, I have a lovely photo capturing the fairy lights twinkling in her eyes Smile

Louise I hope your son managed to get in and out of the house without interrupting your evening!

Hi pq, I hope your weekend was a good one and the girls are well.

I hope everyone has a good day, whatever it brings.

Posted on: December 3, 2012 - 11:13am
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Food shopping at xmas must be one of the worst experiences I have to endure (apart from one of A's rants of course Wink) I might get on the tesco website tonight and see if I can reserve myself something now.

It took me 1 1/2 hours to get to work this morning as the M1 was closed after an accident overnight, 2 young men died which is tragic so I'm trying not to moan about it too much.

My parents came down this weekend which was lovely. Cooked one of Jamie Oliver's 15 minute meals.......it took me 45mins to cook Laughing, do you think I should get my money back on the book????Wink It tasted nice so might just forgive him!

Posted on: December 3, 2012 - 4:20pm
hazeleyes
DoppleMe

Me thinks Jamie Oliver liesTongue Out Pleased you had your parents for the weekend pq. Have just replied in your other thread. Do hope all is happy in your household nowSmile

Anna, you sound busy. Assignments over Christmas? You poor thing.

Hope everyone is okay, and had a good day. Am not happy with school again today. All to do with C being pushed down stairs by the BOY. Teacher has made me so cross. In fact I haven't done anything about it, but have written it down in my notebook. Makes no difference if I act on it anyway. So ruddy angry.

Anyhow, another day nearer to the big day. Did buy wrapping paper, so maybe need something to wrap in it now, hehe

Posted on: December 3, 2012 - 7:39pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

Son is 21 today and having a lie-in.

MiL has phoned telling me how lovely Git and Gittess are again as they called in to see her over the weekend.

Son has had a lovely gift (which I'm relieved about).  The fact he's not had one for the last five years forgotten. 

Have made him keep the lovely bag it came in, in his memory box... 

 

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 9:23am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Happy Birthday to your eldest, sparkling. Totally typical that his dad and partner are the bees knees and you have to tolerate your MiL going on about it, very insensitive.Deep breaths!

Hi Hazeleyes there MUST be something going on with The Boy, it is not normal that he gets away with such a list of misbehaviour. The school is so not doing him any favours and he will come up against a very hard brick wall at secondary school. Hurrah for getting the wrapping paper.

Hi Looby, it was great to see you, how are things?

Hello PQ yes I agree that supermarket dash is always dreadful. Now the boys are older I  have tended to do mine at 5am the day before Christmas Eve, just to avoid hordes of OAPs from the free bus and gawpers who cannot make up their minds, and so block the aisles just.......gawping Yell. As you can tell, I am a sweet-tempered angel when shopping! Innocent

Anna ooh I did not realise you had assignments to do over the holidays. Hope it goes well today.

Hi Hopeful, kiera, how are you?

Had busy day off yesterday. PC of course (posh coffee) then WH Smiths to use a voucher, bought an extra hard drive for computer, did click and collect at Asda,son did not serve me as he was loading the delivery vans so I hid behind the crates and made him jump shouting BOO! Tongue Out Then in the evening I saw the new Great Expectations film at the cinema, I am a big Dickens fan, it was pretty true to the book which was unusual. Today I just have one counselling client and this evening the church housegroup is having tea together, jacket potatoes with various fillings, so no cooking, hurrah!

 

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 10:27am
kiera

hi everyone, kept my 11 yr old son off school today, he wasnt well yesterday but didnt want him to b off, but hes worse last nyt, got really bad cough and full cold,rang school this mornin and told headteacher e off,hes hardly off,rainin hard today, ad my asda shoppin delivery today, did av tesco but find asda cheaper,got cough lozenges for my son and lucozade,hes liein on couch now, hes ad 3 farleys rusk for breaky and my little girl ad 2, pleased as ive plugged in my 3rd sets lights now onntree, my 4 way extension lead as cum,really nice tree, my little girl fascinated,shes 2 so 1st exmas she as notice it propa,im ouit tomoz nyt at men at jingle bell ball, loads singers b there cant wait, my mum watchin kidsx,got 3 rows from front, excited, and got big nyt out sat, my mates birthday,so busy lol and plus derby sunday, im city fan so watchin thtxand plus my eldest daughter bk thgis weekend cant wait to see er,xx

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 10:56am
kiera

hi louise and hazel eyes and looby and pq and anna, if ive missed any1 im sorry x ive booked my shopping for the 23rd dec, so thts dunx

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 10:58am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Ooh we are all booked for 23rd, heh heh. You have some nice social things coming up, kiera, do you feel a bit happier about the money business? That is good that your daughter will be back, you did not think you would see her till xmas eve did you? My eldest will not be here till Xmas eve, I think as he works in a shop.

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 1:23pm
kiera

hi  louise well my daughter worked extra shifts so she cud cum ome this weekend,so gladxxthen she bk exmas evexx

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 1:42pm
Anna
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Oooh everyone is getting sorted! For me, I shall wait until I break up from work, might even bury my head in the sand until assignments done.

College went well, really enjoyed the micro teach.

kiera the jingle bell ball sounds fab, what is it?

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 6:20pm
kiera

hi loads singers go, rihanna ,jlsolly murs one direction pixie lott, jls, loads morex

Posted on: December 4, 2012 - 9:36pm
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

That sounds exciting, kiera Laughing How is your son, now?

Sparkling how did the birthday go ? What news re work?

How is everyone else? it is a bit frosty again. I have asked my neighbour, who is an electrician, to fix me up an outside light in view of the street lights going off at night, I did buy a battery sensor one but it has gone wrong already Cry Re the street lights campaign, support is gathering. The MP is on our side and has offered to do a survey of this part of town to compile the results for the county council.

Youngest has day off yesterday. He had a night out last night, was home and snoring away by 1am, which was the first time I stirred, however when I switched my phone on this morning he had sent a late night text saying are you still up? I had switched my phone off at 10.30 when I had gone up to bed. Wonder what all that was about?

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 8:14am
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

Son enjoyed his birthday - but then he's not opened his cards yet and seen that I've only given him £10...  I'm afraid after my birthday and recent behaviour, I wasn't in a giving mood - and I did spend a fortune on his 18th.  Took them all out for a meal, including fetching his girlfriend and taking her home (he's sold his car, so car-less), so figure that counts towards a gift too Laughing

My colleague isn't too happy with the new girl, and boss has decided not to call her "clerk" but tenant liason officer.  Probably no further forward for me and colleague, but yesterday was a calm day and I was able to leave only 40 mins later than I should have.  New girl was out with boss measuring properties for heating.

Other houses on the estate have had their heating systems intalled.  There are a few of us sticking with economy 7 - strangely enough those who's lives were wrecked last year with disastrous rewiring expriences Laughing

The skin has cracked on my athritic knuckles where I hold a pen.  My index finger is so lumpy its horrible.  I used to have such nice hands (as per my Mum).  I don't think any part of me is nice anymore!!

Very cold here.  I shall need the mini-crampons on my crocs this morning.

I'm glad that support is gathering for your campaign Louise. 

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 9:19am
Hopeful
DoppleMe

It's snowing here!!! Yikes!!!! That means the roads are going to be full of lots of English people who don't know how to drive in it and are getting stuck (no offence intended, just a bit of exasperation). 

Tongue Out

 

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 10:08am
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

It snowed early this morning but has now melted.

Where are you from hopeful? I agree with you about people not knowing how to drive in the snow, I think it should be part of the driving test, especially as we seem to be getting snow most winters now.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 10:17am
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Sparkling, your hands sound painful, is there something you can put on them to prevent the skin from cracking.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 10:19am
Hopeful
DoppleMe

PQ, I am down in Kent - I had driving lessons in worse than it is here now! When I took my test, there were heaps of snow on the sides of all the roads - here the roads wouldn't even be cleared..... :-)

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 11:16am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Agree that we do not know how to drive in snow, and moreover, it seems to bring everything to a halt. Ridiculous. My friend is on the Surrey/Hants border and woke up to snow this morning.Nothing here yet.

Sparkling, sure your son has had big treat from you already with the meal out! What has caused the skin to split? is it that the knuckles are swollen? Is it your hands being cold and chapped? Have you got anything like E45 in the house? The ends of my fingers split regularly, very painful, it is eczema and my doctor gives me a sellotape-like dressing called Haelan Tape, I stick some on threatening splits and if bad, cover the splits first with the tape then an ordinary plaster on top. Don't blame you shying away from more upheaval in the house!

PQ as well as having driving in the snow in the test I think there should be a safety type test at a certain age. "Boy racers" get criticised so much but I reckon some of the oldies are pretty dangerous on the roads.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 1:46pm
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Yes good idea louise. Sometimes you see a car up ahead going so slowly they are causing a tailback, when you get passed there's a little old person sitting behind the wheel, their nervousness can be just as bad as a young persons recklessness! My grandad gave up driving on his 70th birthday, he said his reactions weren't quick enough anymore and he didn't feel safe.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 1:54pm
hazeleyes
DoppleMe

A very Happy Belated Birthday to your eldest Sparkling. I'm so pleased the Git got him something nice. I wasn't around yesterday, upsetting day here.

My neighbour, that used to live right next door to me (known her for 42 years) died yesterday afternoon. I knew something was wrong, as when C and I came home, the first thing I spotted was lots of cars, which belonged to neighbour's family. So upset here, as she was lovely, never heard her say a bad thing about anyone. She was so supportive to me when my mum died, and when I moved in here, gave me cuttings from her garden.

Will catch up with posts later on or tomorrow. Hope you're all well.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 2:47pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

Hazeleyes, I'm so sorry.

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 5:29pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

I managed to knock my knuckle and scrape it.  The lumpy bits get in the way at times.

Left work on time again today.  Boss not impressed!!  :-))

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 5:31pm
Anna
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Good for you sparklinglimre for leaving work on time! Not good for you - re knuckles, ouch they sound painful, i hope you have them bandaged up or creamed up tonight and no cooking or doing anything other than letting them rest.

hazeleyes, what sad news, you have mentioned this neighbour before, she sounded like a lovely woman.

Hi everyone else, I hope that everyone is coping with the weather in their own way. Today has been beautiful here, blue blue sky, sunshine, bit nippy though! Cool

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 6:17pm
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Got the morning off tomorrow as taking A to the orthodontist, hope it goes ok and they don't recomend any tooth extraction....eeek!

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 10:55pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

I hope it goes well pq.  If she does need any teeth out, however, my thirteen out had four out (over two visits) with the help of sedation has and a wonderful dentist.  He recommends it to everyone Smile  He even gave me a thumbs up in the middle! 

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 11:29pm
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Thats good sparkling...A has missing teeth and big gaps so I'm hoping tooth extraction won't be necessary...but the dentist said it still may be necessary as the gaps are so big it may not be possible to 'move' the teeth along. Its all so new to me but we'll find out tomorrow.

Any one want a kitten....he's driving me mad!!!!!

Posted on: December 5, 2012 - 11:35pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

One of our cats is batty.  I'm trying to work out where to put the tree - by having the most string tying points to various non-movable objects. 

I also have visions of the cat being electrocuted like the one on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  I'm thinking of putting the rabbit run fencing around it, but think the cat could still leap of a piece of furniture on to it... 

As if children aren't challenging enough Laughing

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 8:55am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Hazeleyes, sorry to hear about your neighbour, I know she was kind to you and you will miss her. Big HUG to you.

As for you two, PQ and sparkling, I am not taking any cats or kitten from ANYONE. Even my goldfish was too much responsibility!

Good luck at the orthodontist, PQ

How is your hand this morning, sparkling? you need to protect it somehow, even if you wear a fingerless glove?

Seeing counselling supervisor today. It is very frosty with snow expected later. Book club tonight but will see what the weather is like.

 

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 9:08am
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Really cold here today, but no more snow thank goodness, I really hate snow Frown.

I'm not sure our tree will survive the kitten. I've agreed to put the tree up at the weekend without the decorations to see what he does.

Sorry to hear about your neighbour hazeleyes. Have you told C? How did he take it?

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 9:39am
Hopeful
DoppleMe

It's soooo cold here. I really want to hibernate.

Going to have a tidy up in one of the rooms of the house (seeing that I have all that time off now) and then going for a posh coffee. 

Won't be booking a slot for grocery, but will take daughter out at midnight to do it. (having nightmares about this already).

Wishing everyone a fab day!

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 9:55am
kiera

hi everyone ope ur all ok, well ad amazing nyt last nyt, leoana lewis was singin,jls,flo rider,mcfly,example were fantastic,little mix, quite few on, i ad 2 glasses champagne 7quid a glass lol and went for summat to eat got in midnyt, sooo cold tho cumin omex

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 11:30am
Louise
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

That sounds great, kiera Smile

Posh coffee, Hopeful, that sounds like my kind of outing!

Glad you have no more snow, PQ

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 12:53pm
pancakequeen
DoppleMe

Sounds like a great night kiera.

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 2:22pm
sparklinglime
DoppleMe

That  sounds such a treat Kiera

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 3:26pm
Anna
Parenting specialist DoppleMe

Wow kiera! Mixing with the stars!! £7 glass of champers eh?!

I hope everyone has had a good day? A bit of frost here this morning, but no snow, oh I want to see snow! Sorry pq.

Hopeful did you get your room done? Did you have a good posh coffee, what is your favourite coffee type tipple??

sparklinglime your cat sounds bonkers! Mine tend to nibble the angel hair then I find it deposited in the litter tray - very festive!! Wink

hazeleyes, I imagine your neighbourhood feels very quiet today, I hope that you are bearing up.

Hope you get to book club tonight Louise....what book are you discussing this week?

Posted on: December 6, 2012 - 6:19pm