Author Archives: HHaricot

quick question – car seats

Posted on March 3, 2005 | 23 comments

any ideas for really safe ones for 16 kg tall 4 year old to take her to about 11, SI protection a must, like the backed versions? Anyone any idea on which the safest?

23 Comments

Posted in General

chill out [a command to self!]

Posted on March 3, 2005 | 2 comments

C’sPs left this morning for an easier drive down. Chris didn’t have work – which was nice – so we were going to have a nice family day. A combination of me and the post managed to scupper that.

The post contained stuff about moving house.

Our buyers solicitors want us to spend ?200 on an indemnity policy, as the extension put up in 1965 had building permission, but not permission frm a restrictive covenant in 1938, which said that builders had to give permission. Although they think it is unlikely that there will be a problem. FGS unlikely!!!!!!!!!! We didn’t put up the extension, and our solicitors on buying were obviously crappier as didn’t mention this to us. Chris of opinion we should pay up, and my glowering bad temper is spilling over from other areas – OK.

The next letter also from our solicitor, saying our buyers solicitors want to see the building regs OK for the carport. This also put up in 1965 by previous owners, and we have sent in the planning permission, so WTF????? I not paying for any more bloody indemnity policies, it has stood quite well now for 40 years FFS [I am quite grumpy today aren't I? Maybe Chris has a point]

then we also get from our solicitors the bits from the vendors of the house we are moving into. Fixtures and fittings as we expected – they are basically giving us everything bar one chandelier, and a mirror with attatched light thing which we thought was ‘unusual’ so no problems there! However, on the what do you know about the property bit, they ticked ‘no’ for alterations, extensions etc, and there is a definite loft conversion in the hayloft – which we believe predated the listing, but change of staircase didn’t. SO………. we are writing to solicitor to get hi to chase this up. ? did it have planning permission if they’re not saying owt about it. And their carport. Budger

At least we got the mortgage OK

SO instead of going to park, we wrote letters to solicitors, and then it rained.

i thought I would have a short nap while SB had her lunch, and woke up 3 hours later. I guess I have been so bullish, chris was happier with the peace, but it did mean no go for a family day. And I am still oscar the grouch.

no actual Ed, though we have read books and painted together and made up stories and songs. We did try watching the history prog, but SB not really interested. I finally remembered to give her back her birthday pogo, so she was much pleased by that.

added later: oh, did do some ed in the end with supper- german from usborne first 1000 words book. BB troughing all day and v grizzley – please do not be pox precursor!!

2 Comments

Posted in General, moving house

snowing again……….

Posted on March 2, 2005 | 7 comments

……………so fed up.
C’sPs staying as dont fancy the hideous drive.
Hope SB’s gym not cancelled.
I want the sun!!!!!!!!!!!

update SB gym not cancelled, but drive certainly unpleasant, and still snowing! ? tots group or snowmen this afternoon????

AAArrgghhhhhhhh. Didn’t go to tots group because C’sPs wanted to play. So they are now asleep [snoring loudly], I am knackered, SB and BB both feeling demanding so have escaped to change BB’s nappy! [which I am obviously doing] SB doesn’t want to go out in snow as too cold. but whining as didn’t go to tots group.

1642 update. well, have read lots of phoncs books, and BB now sleeping. SB and I made a bean and sausage hotpot, and rice pudding. Chris came home and told me it would take too long to cook, so now in strop as well. Honestly, I had even texted him to say I had had enough and need my house back!! Think I heard the kettle go on, so if that is the case, will forgive him

1933 and some peace! [well here, not in historical terms] SB and BB in bath – they both adore them. C’sPs doing it, with chris supervising. The sliced potato on the hotpot was apparently too thinly sliced [only setting in our food processor] but the rice pudding went down well. Think from SB point of view the day was fun. I’m just too bone tired to see wood from trees. Constant reference to my twin insecurities of going back to work/abandonment and my weight [as multiple alleged jokes] just does not help.

good news that buyers happy with survey. they are getting married on sat and have 2 weeks honeymoon, ant which point I hope we are ready for exchange of contracts and complete mid april.

7 Comments

Posted in General, moving house

Museums and Friends

Posted on March 2, 2005 | 6 comments

We went with C’s Ps to The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds today. I hadn’t really thought of going there, as felt it was a bit old for SB, am a pacifist, and did’t really want to explain the concept of war too much. chris’s dad was keen to see though. SB actually liked the museum, and it ash been really well thought out, and the layout is good – well worth a visit, but for an oler child I think. As you go into the war section, there is a display showing a child crying behind a bookcase with her room vandalised and a military type holding a gun threateningly – so I started crying and moved on, confirming this museum not for me! The bit on jousting v good though – even for me – and I like looking at the armour, also the japanese samurai etc. [less realistic for me I suppose]. i thonk I would like to return when SB quite a bit older, and we have discussed wars, the alleged justifications and looked at them in more detail [this was touched on in the museum, and as I said, I was impressed].

The new webland also came, and SB and I looked at all the new bits to see. Never heard the song before, and thought it was a bit weird?

This evening I went to CLOGS. this is a sort of women in obs and gynae who like to eat in restaurants group – and I have known some of the people all my training. it was the chinese new year celebratory meal – late, as the organiser tries to spend chinese new year in singapore with family. We had a great laugh, nice food and a bit of wine. I will be really sad to say goodbye to these friends – as my work support people. they think I am a bit odd, but don’t try to change or judge. Another one of the sad things about moving on.

got back to find SB ravenous, so now hopefull zonked out, and I will go to bed too. C’s Ps go home tomorrow.

6 Comments

Posted in General, Out and About

happy St Davids Day

Posted on March 1, 2005 | 5 comments

technically welsh I guess, and have Welsh birth certificate – however cannot speak it [before I am asked pronunciation advice from parent 1 or 2!!!!]
My daffs in the garden not quite flowering in time
Also, have fallen off chocolate wagon, by eating 3 creme eggs in very rapid succession. Oh well!
Bedtime!!!! [a supplication to morpheus]

5 Comments

Posted in General

Catch up blog – birthdays, meals, guests and HE

Posted on February 28, 2005 | 4 comments

Sat was lovely. We went girly shopping with Chris’ cousin, as SB being her bridesmaid. SB v good at girly changing room shopping [i really hate it, but then am not a twirly girl like her!] She got a bridesmaid outfit. The nipped to ELC, as was going to buy her those insect bits that you stick in playdough/soft stuff. However, they stopped making them in nov. prob the only thing that would get me to enjoy playdough. A digression – the reasons I hate playdough are the mixing as well as the fingernails I decided.

Officially 4
When we got back, chris’ parents were there, and we opened up SB’s presents. They had found the ELC dolls house for knock down price of ?20, and we had ebayed look alike furniture to go in it and also gave her a leappad book[ebay]. Chris’ cousin gave her an art set. My parents gave her a junior pogo and a pink barbie princess [princess and pauper series], my sister gave her a leap book as well, and her godmother gave her an indoor/outdoor croquet set. She loved every single present and has played with them all. The pogo is at present confiscated though as she threw it down the stairs at me, and I realised my other thing against barbie, apart from the americanism pushing outrageous ‘feminine’ ideals, is the fact that there are bits to be lost, hair to go all scraggy as SB doesn’t treat too beautifully!!

After an afternoon of playing, we went to local restaurant for a meal. they are an italian franchise, greast with kids, so always loads there. V well behaved. My Aunt and Uncle joined us, as live just down motorway south of Wakefield. SB made her own pizza, sweetcorn and olive! yummy food, some wine for us adults, and got away with only 1 feed for BB. Aunty M bought 2 lovely ooks, an Angelina Ballerina and one about hearts of glass [which I might try a before FIAR thing with][hope chris adds some photos at some point]

Sunday, and we abandoned family to C’sPs as 1. no food in house, 2. closing down Allders sale. Although we have NO spare cash, we plastic fantasticked a sofa bed for new house as 65% off – not bad really! the did a v hurried shop for food. We were both exhausted as 1. we hate shopping IRL 2. SB woke up at 4am and didn’t go to sleep again. [see I am a listmaker, even if they are short - in fact, if we have to go for a nom de plume, I might ditch the somewhat derogatory broadbean for Queen Listmaker!]

Monday, and Chris went to work. Sleep de[rived this time by BB, who fed 3 times in the night – AARRRGGGHHHHH! i was told I was a good girl by dentist [new noisy toothbrush a good thing] and we did some home ed.
With C’sPs we finished a clock making activity bought for a fiver from sainsbury’s as someone elses b’day pressie! [photo please chris] SB v impressed that it actually works. How long for is anyones guess as she keeps twiddling the hands round, so not actually reliable for time!
She impressed Nanna with Webland, and how good she was at the activities on it. She got far more scaffolding from Nanna than me, possibly cos I can see how far she has come on with letters and sounds since their last visit.
We also tried some of the Exeter maths from the webpage.The 1a, and SB whipped through the first 5 pages. Since recently she has been messing about with Singapore maths – redoing ad nauseum some of the pages, and not moving on – I thought I would try a change of tack. [Sarah, all the patterns have a blank middle line - are we supposed to invert the line 1 and 3 paterns, or leave blank?] Anyway, I will continue to use them for now.
Our word sounding is finished for now, as SB says she doesn’t want to read at the moment. However, still keen on reading books together, so I imagine only a short break.

We mostly played lots with new toys. oh, we also got her some switches for tesco/ELC wooden train track, so have a complex pattern of track on the floor to jump over. Barbie has been singing her song all day, and I have memorised it to SB’s satisfaction. I really think this was a succesful gift giving.

Update on June list [see below] in that I got from ebay 2 of the explorer CDroms for ?8 including postage to try out, so even if not too good, we can prob ebay on for not much loss.

4 Comments

Posted in General, Out and About, Stringbean's HE

not celebrating

Posted on February 25, 2005 | 6 comments

actually as grandparents coming tomorrow, we have deferred the event for a day. SB excited by bday tomorrow, so OK

SB HE
today we did lots of rpg together, with me making up most of the stories and SB correcting them – I am storied out! Also read far too many thomas books and half her new testament.

did my least fav thing today = playdough. i hate messy fingernails. i also hate he impasse over putting it away. i explained v clearly that if it wasn’t done the playdough would dry out i would throw it in bin and not get any more. we actually did make lots of things with it, but the 2 hours to put it away drove me up the wall. we also played with straws, and she made some good number shapes with them.

Samosas and bhajis for lunch, and when i got a phone call, she got out blasted farmyard plasticine -arrrgghhh. we measured our heights and various doors and windows etc, deciding bigger and smaller along the way – this was quite good fun.

jigsaw play and then chris home. spaghetti hoops and home made scones for tea. now having a bath.

no overt 3 rs activities, but i spy, sounding out words, counting etc were all part of play.

BB
Well I feel I gave her a better deal today. SB not so impressed when I am talking and laughing with BB though – nothing overt, just attentiony. she is a smily baby. heavy though. she is lying on my arm as i type and i have pins and needles!!

RL
solicitors letter asking me if we had built on the sewers threw me. rang to say we hadn’t built anything. he said i had to identify sewer manhole – threw me in a panic. chris reminded me that it was our drains he was meaning, and the manhole on drive. so rang back wih best useless female impressionthat i had found it!
prospectus for new nursery came – looks v nice. more expensive though.
still on tenterhooks re the buyers survey.
i need some peace and quiet. feeding BB with SB bouncing all over me atm. has been a long pause in the blog. def some green eyes. Timeteam on to duscusss archeology. first question – what is that digger…….a digger……….no what type is it……………a yellow one….SB grumpy as chris and i explain we dontknow subtypes on diggers. i guess we should have done internet search……………

ps SB just asked if they have found a chocolate button – ever hopeful – it is a roman coin!

6 Comments

Posted in General

The First Birth

Posted on February 25, 2005 | Leave a comment

My pregnancy was long awaited for, and TBH, I had given up hope of children. however, although long awaited, it took me 8 weeks to realise I was pregnant, as was having severe probs with gallbladder, and v unwell. In fact, I ended up having my gallbladder removed by keyhole surgery when I was 18 weeks pregnant – not fun!
i started to feel better at around 24 weeks, when I was back at work. unfortunately by 28 weeks I had severe symphysis pubis dysfunction and on crutches, by 32 weeks barely walking and by 28 weeks bedbound. It was a lesson in humility.
At my due date, I eventually, reluctantly, agreed to an induction, as i was in a bad way. Didn’t think much was going to happen so sent Chris home after the gel at about 10pm. i started contracting pretty uch straight away, but thought they were ‘prostin pains’ and that i was being a wimp. Was very annoyed by incapacity to read a book. It had started to snow heavily, so I leant against the window watching the flakes come down to settle – this was v relaxing! All the pains were in my back, and v uncomfortable/painful.
At about 2am, I decided to come clean as a wimp, and ask for some painkillers. The midwife [whom I like and have worked with on and off for many years] inisited on examining me, and I was delighted to find I was 6 cm- so not a wimp! Labour ward was full though so was told I may have to have baby on ward – OK. Chris was called in. Typically he had only just gone to bed, so was exhausted.
A bed became available on d suite before he got there, and I was whisked round to find an anaesthetist had een called to give me an epidural. To my eternal shame, I was so embarrassed that she had been got out of bed, I let her, even though I didn’t want one [what was I thinking of????]
By 8am I was fully dilated, but OP position [back to back] and the contractions had died off. I then had a row with the midwife about getting a drip to get them back again and breaking my waters – she didn’t want to, but I did. Eventually, after threatening to call the consultant, she rang consultant who said yes. took them 45 mins to find the pump though! We got pushing in the end, and 3 hours later, with nothing doing I asked them to call the consultant for an operative delivery. Emma came, but no anaesth to top up epidural for trial of forceps rotational delivery. While waiting, i felt something give, and then pushing had more effect, so at 12.30 Elinor was born. Unfortunately I also had a 3rd degree tear.
She was gorgeous, and cried straightaway. At 8lb 1 she was one of the smaller babies for our family. She was covered in vernix and looked a bit like a snowman – matching the weather. Chris and I were overjoyed to see her. The birth wasn’t what we wanted, but the result was. Breastfeeding took about 3 weeks to get right, though she gained weight in all that time. Sleeping took about 2 years!
typed 4 years later, and look what a gorgeous girl we have!! She has sent us down a path of discovery that we had never considered. Thankyou Elinor

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Posted in General, Stringbean's HE

Great Ed Day + Birthday Boy

Posted on February 24, 2005 | 9 comments

more snow, on ice, so daren’t actually go out and slide to bottom of hill! [ed note – these posts are getting too long, will precis tomorrow]

SB HE
Anyway, we did the vikings section of the time traveller book – looking at the pictures and spotting things, while I read some of the paragraphs according to her interest. Followed this with some of the pages in the DK Viking book – lovely pictures in there – and discussing how we could make her a Viking outfit, and which style she would like. Also where they lived, and the difference with us, and what they ate and the differences. [this was all in bed snuggled with BB, so very nice!]
When we got up we gave BB a ‘baby massage’ of unique technique. It is amazing just how big a bottom and thighs BB has got. SB was a bit unsure whether we had enough massage oil to cover them all!

A weetabix breakfast and the we got down to serious business of making Chris a birthday cake – so it was a carrot cake of course. SB getting v careful with the weighing and measuring. She shows good understanding of the bigger numbers, the tens, and which order to read the numbers in. She stands a much better chance of being a domestic goddess than me!

We then read together some letterland books, and although she can’t read, she understands what reading is, and makes a good stab at reading letters and blending them into words even if there is a lot of ‘scaffolding’ at the mo.
While I was getting card things out, she traced letters -totally her own idea. She definitely seems to be on a roll here. The maths type things I had put out stayed ignored.

I thought we were going to make Daddy’s card, but she said she had got one from nursery, and there it was, so we made cheer up cards for Little Nanny and one of her sisters. It was a planet theme- not sure why. Had Venus [well, the volcano one near the sun, so a good description], Saturn, Jupiter and Clanger planet. Then space dust from sand sprinkles. Our home page is the NASA astronomy picture of the day, and she always thinks the dust louds are beautiful. I’m not sure they are traditional condolence type cards, but I think they will be very appreciated. Beans on toast for luunch. SB confused as to why I was upset at her putting sand in mine – sigh. Had nearly finished though.

Then, a la trivium we had about 20 mins apart, she doing cbeebies, and I cleaned the dining room [ok, just a little after dinner party, but I am still only nearly semi domesticated!]

We read another 2 letterland books [her choice] and started on Viking casserole. unfortunately, as an unplanned activity, probably Barley and garlic the only reasonably Viking ingredients, as was more like a veggie cassoulet with dumplings in the end! She enjoyed thinking it was Viking though, pretending the veggie sausage was rabbit!

[addtition - I forgot that we made popcorn for the first time. I was a bit worried cos it took a while to pop, but v exciting!]

She then did some playing with a toy racing car, while I got to check mails etc. chris came home, collapsed into chair and watched clangers wth her. And then had birthday viking tea and carrot cake with candle on the top. [not the correct number though!] I must of thought I was in Melrose, as at least 6 more portions than required. On the card front, she told Chris that her friend Bridie had made it for him, so after all that card making, chris didn’t have one made by Elinor. i just give in sometimes.

Manic ballet dancing to classic FM, bathtime and bed, with Daddy being the storyteller. I did a collapse in heap from such an intensive day impression! Then rang Little Nanny, who is well, and no snow their today.

BB
Where was she during the day??? Well, in her playgym, in a rocker chair with different playgym, being cuddled and loved, feeding lots and starting to laugh rather than just open mouth. I think on balance she did lose out on attention, as she often does when SB at home and not Chris. Hopefully not detrimentally. Its just that she is a content and happy baby, and can gurgle in gym for an hour while I am doing things with SB, losing track of time.

How do you juggle 2 compteting attentions fairly, especialy when one is vocal, demanding and high maintenance, whereas the other is more laidback, and often just content sitting on your lap while you’re doing something.

ME
Thanks for kind messages. think lack of sleep coming with worrying and I just don’t think about big pictures, just the worries. Arranging visits to nurseries etc doesn’t help. We will prob use for 2 days a week so there is instant group of children to meet – especially as one nursery in the village. Chris will be able to do supply on those days and when I have days off too. That way Keeps in the picture. When SB and us settled in, and hopefully I have wangled a change in working patterns, we will relook at this.

Chris
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

9 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, General, Stringbean's HE

love my girls

Posted on February 23, 2005 | 8 comments

On the edu front, SB loves the Usbourne Time traveller book – so good buy.
For a great change she has been far more interested in letters, and writing, so thats good.
We also used the childrens atlas to work out how you got to athens, and just to play with the idea of countries.
Today was gym – I stayed to watch and SB really confident. How can she balance so well on a beam, turn around etc, and yet fall over ‘invisible worms’ at home? Great snow playing – in short bursts only.
We’ve been doing a bit on healthy living, germs etc, which SB seems to be mulling over, as she was talking to me about antibodies being the body’s armies in the car.
tots group gave a illustrated first bible type, and we read up to Gideon as bedtime stories – so well ahead on my religious studies!

Yesterday had friends round for a meal, and SB ended up staying up for the whole thing. [Not sure that was entirely appreciated, but I thought she behaved really well]. She helped one of them to cut up the fruit salad. A was a bit shocked that she uses sharp knives, and said to SB she didn’t know what to do as she had no girls, and didn’t want her to lose a finger. SB told her not to worry, she would tell her what ‘her grownups did’

Been a bit low/unsettled for last few days
hospital has run out of paper so couldn’t photocopy questionnaires – having trekked in, nor will they provide the envelopes. I know they are millions in the red, but clinical governance – AKA audit is compulsary, AND a good idea, how else do you find out if you are giving as good a deal as poss except by asking? I have been getting this through the various national, regional ethics committees, and local research and development committee [need nhs indemnity] since august. Since i was already aware i needed to personally pay for 160 second class stamps, adding 3 reams of paper and 320 envelopes to this is not on. Thinking how much time and energy i have put into this at a stressful time has turned me into a grumplestiltskin

my great uncle died on monday. he was ready, and has been gradually bowing out over the last year, so although sad for the loss of him, the timing feels reasonable as it were. my Nan is desperately sad though. i again feel increased pressure of time with her, knowing it is likely to be too short.

SB and I were discussing death, and she stated that Little Nanny would die soon as the oldest. So we discussed how sad that would be, but she would always be with us in our hearts. We discussed her sadness that her brother had died, and SB decided we needed to visit her lots, to cheer her up, and see her lots while we could.
When she returned to this theme at bedtime, and noticed I was nearly crying, I explained that I would miss her dreadfully, so she said not to worry, that Nanny would be in our hearts to always give us hugs, and we could teach BB all about her if she didn’t remember, so she would be in her heart too. That has completely done for me this whole evening.

Minor stresses –
house moving, money, sorting out all the bits. The surveyor for our buyers came today, and spent an hour and a half going round it trying all doors etc, and really detailed looking, so i’m panicking now that there was something wrong, they will want to pull out or drop their offer.

Countdown to full time work and all the crap mother ideas. Why am i looking at all the home ed, rather than leaving chris to do it, as all the things that excite me, I just wont get to do most of the time. Can’t bear the thoughts of missing so much. Ok, not so minor.

And still no chocolate. BB had the cuddle of her life – poor thing!
I need sunshine and Spring

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Posted in General