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Spring has sprung! (well, almost)
Welcome to the March chat thread 
Hello to everyone, I have just been reading the February thread to find out what you have all been up to.
PQ glad the scan went OK, well done you. A seemed to be doing so well with her knitting and then she has had an outburst about her sister. I know it is no consolation but it is normal for siblings to be awful to each other sometimes, I remember doing it with my sisters. All you can do is insist on no violence! But A is feeling she wants to be all grown-up. Is there anything you can do to ease this? I am thinking in terms of being allowed to do something on her own or going somewhere with a friend. I am an oldest child and used to get sick of the assumption that I would look after my sister all the time, my eldest said the same about his brother.
Sally glad you had a nice few days off, it is strange when they do their own thing all of a sudden, isn't it?
Anna, no Thai food for breakfast this weekend?
Sparkling, a trip to the cinema, that sounds good. And I agree, it is sad when they don't want to do anything with us anymore but they do come back in time, my eldest is much more Mum-orientated these days. How did you get on at the Housing Association meeting? Sorry to hear about your son's store.
Skyflower, at last the end is in sight with the boxes! Good luck with having the cupboards built this weekend.
Kiera I was just reading on the other thread about your little girl wetting the bed, sometimes it takes a while for them to be dry at night, my youngest was 6. Have you thought about those pull-up type nappies?
What are you all up to this weekend? I have finally finished the urban novel, it was huge. Have also had a day in York, a posh coffee with a friend, a check-up at the doctor, did my accounts, lots of chores really, and I had a stye on my eye but it has gone now, it was enormous! I was thinking of auditioning for a part in Monsters Inc. Youngest got his work bonus so he and mates went to Pizza Hut last night, a couple of them are moving out to share a flat but think my boy is too keen on saving up for a holiday.
You have been busy Louise.
The housing association meeting is on Monday.
Rugby's next week pq. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I've woken up feeling a bit out of sorts. I have to play taxi today as the eighteen year old needs to catch a bus to take him for a night out with college friends in the Lleyn Peninsula. I will worry! Not that he'll know. It's about an hour and a half away from me, so if there is a problem I'll have a trek to get there. That's if he gets a signal to his mobile to contact me. I just hope his friends a good ones...
Not a bad morning here.
I hope everyone has a good day.
Sorry to hear you are poorly PQ, hope you soon feel better, there are a lot of nasty bugs around.
Fingers crossed for the transport situation tonight, sparkling. It is always worrying when our children go off somewhere on their own. I know C has an extra tendency to wander off but they are all pretty random in my experience anyway.
Who is watching The Voice tonight?
Thanks for the rugby info sparkling. I've really been enjoying the 6 nations this year. I used to watch rugby all the time but once the girls came along it got hard to be able to concentrate on a whole match so its been great getting back into it again.
Had our trip into town. The girls have been arguing ever since we got back so I've given them both a time out to calm down. Hopefully they'll be in a better frame of mind when they come back.
Morning everyone
How did last night pan out, PQ? hope it was not too stressful.
Hope C got on Ok last night, sparkling?
How are you all today? I watched The Voice last night then heard from eldest, who was arranging to come over for dinner with his girlfriend. As she is on a gluten free diet, I checked the menu with him and I think she got a bit upset as she feels embarrassed at having to have special arrangements, bless her. I must learn more about it all so she can feel cared for.
Morning
Last night was okay. The girls calmed down. We were going to watch the hunger games on H's xbox but there was a rental payment to make and as we'd just payed for gold membership i didn't see why we had to pay for the film as well! So we watched ant and Dec instead followed by the cube. I've recorded the voice so will try and watch it later.
It must be hard when you have special dietary requirements. My friend had a boyfriend once who needed a gluten free diet, he was too embarrassed to tell her so ate the food she gave him and put up with the problems it caused him. Eventually he was so unwell he had to come clean!
What's everyone doing today. It's a bit grey and wet here so might just have an indoors day. Was going to do roast chicken tonight but i forgot to take it out the freezer again....doh!
I know he arrived Louise, but that's about it!!
I have a lot of food allergies, and completely understand how your eldest's girlfriend feels. It means I tend to have extras when we go out to eat rather than food from teh main menu. Possibly why we go to the pub up the road a lot, as they're used to me.
It also has made things a bit awkward - in my eyes - with my friend, as he enjoys eating out. As I tell him, I'm cheap to keep! He enjoys cooking though, and I've possibly never had so many omlettes in my life as I have in the last couple of months..!
I'm sure you will make her feel very cared for :-)
I watched the voice, but for some reason the volume went on the TV, so I ended up watching it on the laptop. I left the TV off for a while, and it has been ok so far... It couldn't have appreciated someone's singing.
I've had my phone on loud since I dropped my son off. Just in case. I did make sure he'd met his friends, that they'd caught the bus and that he had arrived. I have left him in peace since. The scenarios going through my head though are awful. I've always been the same.
It's raining here today. We've had a few dry days though, which has been lovely. The field is still waterlogged though, and the dog is so not impressed.
I hope everyone is having a peaceful and enjoyable weekend.
oooo forgot about the Voice, but have catch up tv now :)
My children are both gluten free, my eldest in particular gets very ill if it goes wrong, as the hairs that absorb your food to bring it to the rest of your body, die off and it takes 6 to 8 weeks to regrow, so they are starving essentially all that time, even if you eat.
Most lovely foods are at Tesco (lovely sponge chocolate cake, muffins, Genius bread, pasta, breadcrumbs, cereals etc also the big Asda's have products but not as many and Ocado has very good breadcrumbs to make chicken fingers) It is not just the food you need to know about, but also the cross contamination by using the same frying pan, utensils or toaster they get really ill. Gluten are used everywhere to bulk things up to make the product cheaper, watch out for gravy, ice cream, white pepper, chocolate milk (barley)
My son, 13 now, does not want to eat his lunch anymore at school and waits until he gets home as he feel embarrassed. Wish they wouldn't feel that way as we all have things, like someone is wearing glasses or something.
Sorry to hear about your son, sparklinglime, as you can't relax at all being so worried. Awful for you.
PQ indoorsday sounds good, hope you find something else that is nice, it sounded very good, roast chicken,
I seem to have totally lost all energy am so tired of it all, at least the alarms have stopped going off and are fixed now and Monday they will fix the heating. Most walls had big cracks in them as the heating wouldn't switch off they have filled it all and Monday it will be all painted again.
Lots of grout is still missing between tiles and the walls, a big gap at the front room behind the radiator and maybe then finally no more stranger walking in and out all the time. Hope everyone has a lovely day, here everything seems to look grey today
I'm not surprised your tired. You have had to deal with so much...
Son is home. :-)
so glad your son is home :)
yes maybe that's why ...
*memo to self....remind PQ to take the chicken out of the freezer next Saturday morning* Actually what I do here is put a huge notice on the fridge to myself when I need to defrost something, and attach it with fridge magnets. Glad things settled down yesterday evening anyway. How is the knitting coming along?
Sparkling it is horrid to be worrying about them, I always get dreadful mental pictures of them in awful situations when they go off. Glad you have had some meals cooked for you 
Some of the contestants on The Voice were a bit raucous, I do like the programme but it is too drawn-out for me so I read as well as had it on.
Skyflower thanks for the information, I will have to be careful about ice-cream as I was going to do that for pudding with fruit, I got some GF Yorkshire puds today anyway. Not surprised you are tired, you have hardly stopped. Just think, every day now is a day nearer the house being totally finished.
Well I have been to church this morning and done battle at the supermarket for the week's shopping this afternoon, I had vouchers for £8 off, and going today instead of tomorrow meant I got another £10 voucher to use next week, hurrah! The cashier pointed out a very innocent little old lady to me. Apparently she arrives a few minutes before closing time on Sundays, for the reduced stuff. Good idea, I have done that myself...except that she then follows all the other shoppers who dare to get things from that section, and takes things out of their trollies to keep for herself!
Have a good week everyone and look forward to chatting with you in a few days
I really am at the end of my tether. I'm not sure i can cope with much more
ooo big hug PQ was the weekend that bad? It is so hard with arguing teenagers and so tiring. Poor you xx
Just wanted to say hello. hope everyone is doing ok.xx
Just wanted to say hello. hope everyone is doing ok.xx
pq - iPod, and turn it up so you can't hear them.
I think it comes to the point they need to sort themselves out and just mop up the fall out. While I know I have things easy here, when they start arguing I have started to leave them to it rather than be referee. Loads of hugs.
Have a good week Louise. When I used to work in Tesco, there were customers who did the same...
Good morning all, happy Monday!
sparkling, glad C got home safe and sound, did he have a good time?
Hi flowers! I just suggested on your thread that you pop in here, didn't realise that you already had! I hope you had a good weekend?
pq, how are you this morning? I hope you got a good nights sleep. What did you think of sparklings suggestion of leaving them to it?
Skyflower, you are sooo close to the end of all the house stuff. Now that courts are done and the house is done, what is next for you? Some sitting back and smelling the roses I hope.
Louise, lovely to see you as always! I was in a new supermarket recently and the bargains in the reduced section were unbelievable. I joined the mob and baggsied loads of stuff and filled up the freezer! Everyone loves a bargain, although I don't think I would dip into someone else's trolley!
My weekend was nice. I went to a gypsy folk gig! I didn't think it would be my kind of thing, but my mate fancies the singer so begged me to go with her! It was really fun (and my mate had a drink with the singer, so my job was done!) Yesterday I went for a long, muddy walk with daughter and her boyfriend, it was raining, we got soaked and I fell over! Great Sunday afternoon all in all!
Lets see what this week brings 
Thanks everyone for your support. I have tried everything. I left them too it yesteraday and it ended in them physically fighting and the tv remote getting broken. I am exhausted by it all. My mental health is suffering. I cry all the time. I just can't cope anymore.
ooo PQ big hug, so sorry to hear that, it must be awful all the time. Are they going to pay for the remote with their pocket money or is everyone asuming it will be you again? Really feel for you...
Yes Anna and Louise, I am nearly there, it sounds like a good plan to have a rest for a couple of weeks before doing something new. :)
On which thread is "Iam doing this" because all of a sudden I get "access denied" ?
Hi PQ sorry to hear that you have had a weekend of it with the girls i know how difficult and frustrating it can be and how you can feel like your going round and round in circles and nothing seems to be working. You could give the Family Information Service a call as some of the local services offer some one to one phone support for parents that are going through a tough patch, sometimes just talking about it to someone can give you a boost.
Skyflower it sounds like things are still rather busy your end i imagine you will glad when it is all over. Did the painting get finished today?
Did you get the carpet finished sparkling?
Hi Louise, whens your son and his girlfriend coming for dinner?
Sounds like you had a good weekend Anna.
I got the shopping done and the girls wanted to watch the Lego Movie so we went to the cinema to see that on Saturday and had a lazy day on Sunday.
Hope you all have an enjoyable evening.
Good Morning, It's a bit chilly here!
Hope everyone had a good evening?
I went and did a few laps at the swimming pool last night 
Work today, then popping to town once i have picked up L from school to get some bits.
Morning all.
I've managed to get on top of things at home with the girls but I'm feeling very unsettled.
I opened the link you gave Sally, it seems in my area they only give information about child care options and ways to get extra money. I couldn't find any info about offering support.
Hi Sally, yes the painters did come and did mostly a good job, it just seems every time I discover something new to fix. Hopefully they will fill the grout soon and the heating still not fixed, got a doorbell now. And yesterday when I parked my car, I saw one of the major bricks under the window sill had a different colour and is broken
The school of the youngest had told me I needed to keep them informed so they could pick up on changes of behaviour at the time, but when I actually informed his teacher I had now full custody and that the youngest would not need to visit anymore, they just didn't even look at me and walked to another parent to talk. At first I just thought he might be just busy but at parents evening I was now told that the youngest would be taken off the SEN register for writing as although he had improved with 4 points they now feel writing is not important in life and he should do his work on the computer as it is more important to get his ideas across. Writing doesn't score much anyway they said.
I have told them I disagreed as next year in Secondary he will have to write so much more ( ihave seen the eldest ) and then they will just disregard his work. They did that to another boy in my eldest class, who is now rockbottom with all subjects just because no one can read his handwriting and his work is therefore not looked at.
Last summer holiday his handwriting was so much better before and during the holidays he lost so much of it, so I had already told him we had to practise during the holidays. But he writes so much slower as he is not holding his pencil right, and he says his hand hurts.
I am so home sick and so tired, I just want to go home.
Hi pq, if you clicked on the Big blue button for your local service and they didn't offer you anything, you could also try Family Lives. They have a helpline, online chat and more. Glad to hear things are a little more settled, but not great to read that you are still feeling unsettled. Have you had a discussion with them? How did the fight end? Did you get involved?
Aww Skyflower, you are home..... This sounds like another stress though. Try calling the ACE Education helpline to see what they say. I know they have had massive funding cuts recetnly, but there are other numbers on that page too, that you might find helpful. Let us know how you get on.
Sal, hope you manage to get some bargains this afternoon with L (you always do!)
I am meeting a friend of a friend tonight who like to house sit for people! I want to go away soon but I need someone to look after our cat. I mentioned this to a friend and she said her friend lives in a shared house so often offers to housesit, just to get some space! Free of charge too!! As the saying goes, if you don't ask, you don't get! Right I am off to go and clean my flat from top to bottom, so that she definitely wants to stay!!
Have a good eve xx
Hi Anna, Hope she will stay ! My brother did that, house sitting, for some people and really enjoyed it, I so hope you will have a lovely time away.
Anna I lived in my own country when I met my ex, who is English. He lived in my country since 9 years when we met and it was never the plan to leave at that time, as my country is such a nice country and where we lived, the village I was born, is a sea resort so it was so nice living there. Because he was already running several factories in different countries, as I was pregnant with my eldest, he got offered to run a factory in the States.
He really wanted this opportunity, because it would bring so much money we could buy a house in 4 years time and it was only for 6 years. I did not want to go as I was just pregnant and also I had never been to the States, but he told me we would move back if I was homesick.
I was very homesick and when we finally could leave, he told me we could not go back to my country anymore, as there was no work for him at that moment. The only place available he said, was the UK, though I had been there only a weekend when I was 18, in London and did not know the UK at all.
I did not feel I had a choice. He lied, because I found out later that he could chose where to live. And now, because of the children and parental responsibility, I am not allowed to leave.
They say I should be grateful, as now I have the passports back, so at least now I can visit my family again, which I couldn't for 3 years. So it is a step forward but not really, as my eldest now feels he wants to live in England, the youngest still remembers all the times there and feels, as both were born there, that this is not his country as when they were young, I travelled there many times with them.
But I am so very homesick and I now have bought a house here, just so I could keep the children.
I will try your link Anna, thank you xx
It's a lovely morning here the Sun is out I hope everyone else has some sunshine today.
Hi PQ, sometimes the local service don't include that information on the website if you contact the number about childcare they should be able to tell you about Family Services in your area or you could try the Family Lives as Anna has suggested. Big HUG.
Skyflower I'm sorry to hear your feeling homesick, are you going to go visit your family now you have your passports back ?
Did they agree to the house sitting Anna?
Did anyone do Pancakes yesterday? I made some the kids love em with fruit or chocolate spread, i'm more of a traditional kind of girl and like the sugar and lemon!
Hope everyone else is o.k?
We did eat pancakes yesterday :) my eldest asked for pancakes and bacon as his French teacher said it was so nice to eat, I said ewww, but he didn't believe me. Fair enough he did eat it all but said I was right.
Yes I have booked the next few holidays, as we have not been able to see my father and he is very poorly and won't live long. I think it will make it worst Sally, as I will have to come back. But I will 
have to accept that and be grateful I have a house and my children.
Hi all
Skyflower, thank you for sharing a bit of your story, it sounds like you have been through an awful lot of upheaval. So I do understand that you want to 'go home', but aren't in a position to properly move back. I am so glad to read that you have some holidays booked to visit and be with your dad.
Where is the PANCAKE QUEEN!! I want to hear about her pancakes!!
I'm the same as you Sal, I only like lemon and sugar, although when I was in New York we had one breakfast that consisted of bacon, pancakes, scrambled egg, strawberries, fried potatoes and blueberries with lots of maple syrup, it was DIVINE! So I would have quite happily joined your son Skyflower!
So the housesitter was lovely and she said Yes! Hurray! So pleased!
Hot yoga for me tonight, gonna have to push myself tonight as not really in the mood. PQ - pilates yet??
Have a good evening everyone
We had pancakes yesterday evening, and then we made some in Scouts this evening.
Very nice they were too.
Good Morning
Sorry to hear about your Dad skyflower, glad your able to go and visit... bacons good with the american style pancakes as they are sweeter and more cake like.
Hey sparkling, how are you?
Good to hear your friend is going to house sit Anna, did you make it to yoga?
I had P's parents evening last night she is doing very well....feeling tired this morning, will need extra coffee i think!
hi everyone ope u are all ok, well tried pancakes in wok lol forgot i threw fryin pan away, gona do pancakes friday instead il buy new fryin pan, got honey, icecreaM, lemon juice, chocloate sauce,make it up to kids, my little girl as gon as snow white today as its world book day, looks lovely, lovley outfit, my son asnt ad any siezures in 6 weeks, which is gud, he revisin hard for exams, had parents evenin for my 12 year old son, all brilliant commnets from teacher, got my 16 yr old parents evenin next week x
Hi kiera, great to see you, it seems like an age!
Did the pancakes not work in the wok then? I guess they wouldn't, Friday sounds like fun! Aww, I bet your little girl looks gorgeous in her snow white outfit. If you feel like it post a pic up on bubblegums thread: How to take a picture of your child, would love to see her :) Brilliant news about your son not having a seizure in 6 weeks, I hope the medication manages to continue to do its magic and I'm impressed with him working hard at his revision! Good news about youngest son's parents eve, fingers crossed for eldests
Hi sparkling, how was your tummy eating pancakes 2 days in a row? I have to be honest on Tues eve, my tummy wasn't very happy, think I overdid it!
Yoga was great Sal, thanks for asking, really didn't feel like going, but trudged there anyway and had a really good session! Glad to hear that P is doing well at school and I hope your day picked up!
I am going to finish early this eve and get home and curl up in front of telly as I am feeling pretty tired this week. I hope you all have a good one :)
Hi everyone.
I cheated a bit on Tuesday as I'd made a large batch of American pancakes on Sunday and had leftovers in the fridge which we heated up. I had Nutella on mine, plain old sugar and lemon for the girls.
Working really hard at the moment and feeling really tired so off to bed now.
Hello to all One Spacers
Hope you're well this morning and looking forward to the weekend.
Just been reading everyone's news. Hope you are feeling more on top of things, PQ, you are having rough time of it recently. Did you ring Family Lives? it's hard for us when we are the only ones doing it all and don't have a partner there to share it with. I wish you could come on one of my teen groups! have a look at The Book as well, to reassure you.
Sparkling, a pancake treat for you, not a million miles from omelettes, heh heh. The weather is getting better and you can look forward to another walk on the beach perhaps?
Kiera I am hoping so much that things have settled down for your son, your boys seems to be doing very well at school. How did your pancakes go?
Skyflower, it feels as if you have fought so hard and for so long for the children, that the emotional impact is just hitting you now, ie that you will need to live here while they grow up. So glad you can go back for a visit now and at least these days the world is small enough for you to do that and not have to go on a ship for three weeks! I agree it is worrying about your youngest. Could you ask for an appointment to see the Head? It sounds as if your boy would be helped with some extra input. How old is he now?
Anna well done for going to yoga and that's good news about the house-sitter. My eldest and girlfriend have got a new kitten this week, they have a cat already, I started making jokes about him getting 80 cats and teaching them to sing in harmony so they could win Britain's Got Talent.
Sally, parents' evening went well for you, I have to admit I was very gleeful when I attended the final one of those, I used to hate them, I always seemed to get the appointment after the person who wanted to talk about their little treasure for 45 minutes 
It's next weekend I am doing the gluten-free dinner.
Busy week for me here, done some training in York and had some social things as well including book club, dinner at a friend's house and a church group met here one evening, which was weird because someone sat in my favourite seat. How very dare they! Do any of you have a favourite chair or place to sit that is just "yours"?
Tonight some friends are having a cheeses and wines of Europe evening so that should be fun. Youngest said he would like to go if it was Jagerbombs and Edam, haha!
hi hope everyone is ok, pancakes went very well, we ad 3 each quite filling, new fryin pan good, ad toffee sauce, honey, nutella on pancakes, lovely, my little girl not keen tho, doin spag bol for tea today, its windy here in north west, said it was goin b nice this weekend, sunday meant to b lovely ,
I'm not too bad Louise. I guess I feel very alone sometimes. I'm not good at asking for help either! Things have settled down here. I've had a back to basics week. No screens other than TV. Only kind words and behaviour. Lots of helping each other. It seems to be working. We'll see if we can keep it up?
Girls are out with their dad for a couple of hours later. I'm going to go to a coin shop! I have a sovereign I was given as a baby. It sits in my jewellery box doing nothing so I've decided to sell it along with some other bits of gold. I've always wanted to buy something from tiffany's so my friend and I are planning a trip to spend my money! Not sure how much I'll get but it will be an adventure!
Your cheese and wine evening sounds fun Louise.
hi hun how are u, sorry to hear bout ur dad,i remeber when doctor said there was nothin they cud do for my dad, he ad brain hemorage , but then 10 min later they agreeed to rush him to another hospital for an operation, he ad a stroke as well, btu bin 2 years now, hes on, but stil not same dad, hope ur all okxx
Kiera that sounds like more yummy cooking at your house. It is indeed a good forecast for tomorrow. I need to do a big shop as The Locust Who Lives Upstairs has eaten everything again (well not just him...me too)
Back to basics, PQ, that sounds good, have a bit of fun together if you can. Good luck at getting together a little bit of cash for a treat
I had a strange experience today, tidied out a cupboard and found some old cassette tapes. Most were rubbish but one was of my eldest singing some little songs when he was about three, what was strange was hearing my parents' voices as they had made the tape with him. Of course I have a memory of their voices but it was not totally accurate.
Who is watching The Voice tonight? I am recording it and will watch it when I get in later
I will Louise, I enjoyed it last time.
Thank you for understanding it Louise, I was fighting so very hard for years and now I will have to come to terms with needing to live here. That was it exactly.
Over the last few days the idea of it just made me feel ill, but I have to look at all the positives of living here and enjoy the moments and see the fun things again.
Hi Kiera, my dad had a brain heamorrhage and learned to talk again, but his brain is really going and often thinks I am my mum, many times he does not know at all who I am and hangs up on me or says he does not want to buy anything or he doesn't make sense at all and can't pronounce any words...and my brother said he is really going down now.
How amazing Louise you found the tapes, what a treasure...do you think the tape has distorted their voices somewhat? I find that sometimes with voicemail? Or do you think your memoriy wasn't entirely correct ?
Must feel very strange to hear them all of a sudden...xx
Hope you feel less alone with your friend PQ and hope you get something back for your coin !!
Here is a lovely day Kiera it started really rainy but now you can walk outside without a coat on xx
I did phone the ACE Education Advice line (thank you Anna) and had a long talk with someone. She was trying to say the school was right in trying to see if his work would improve with the computer and when I said that my son had improved his handwriting slightly but that their answer was that he didn't need handwriting anymore as such as everything was now computer anyway, and if he didn't improve in all those 6 years it was a bit pointless to keep trying, she agreed that in secondary school one needs to write a lot more than in primary and he might go down a lot if stopped.
She then suggested they could accompany me to a meeting with the school to "help me understand" why they took my son off the SEN.
Don't really know what to do about it now, but help my son myself ? Or should I still do this meeting? I have spoken to the Head Louise to aks about it as I was informed by the teacher, and she told me she would have a word with the teacher but never came back to me.
Evening. Just got back from my friends. Had a lovely time. It was nice to have someone cook dinner for me.
One of the reasons we did a back to basics week Louise was to try and reconnect as a family again. We've been doing some nice things together, but also doing our own things but in each others company. Tomorrow we'll go for a walk somewhere and then I'll give the gadgets back as promised. It's been really nice this week without them so I feel a bit reluctant but a promise is a promise.
Not sure what to do for dinner tomorrow. Maybe a tray bake?
Morning everyone, how are you?
Skyflower, it sounds as if you do need a meeting, with the Head and the SEN lady, sadly we as parents have to push things along and be a bit persistent, otherwise things don't get done. There was no Edam at the party but I had some olives and tried some italian cheese (dolcelatte). Nice to catch up with friends. My parents' voices, it was their accents that were stronger but this does come over more on the phone or on recordings than in real life, so I think you are right. When do you think you will be able to have a visit home to see your family?
PQ that sounds so good, what you have done. Maybe the gadgets could be returned with the proviso that they will go again if there is trouble? What you have done has been so successful not only because of the quality times you have spent together but also because you took control. Teens and nearly-teens kick against authority but it makes them feel safe. Even now, my son of 19 cannot boundary everything (mainly when to come home from a night out and stop drinking!) so I still have a curfew, which is ridiculous really but I have said to him once you have learned this last boundary yourself then the curfew will go, it is only to guide you as to what would be OK, so he more or less complies. Your girls are starting on the path that will enable them to take decisions for themselves, small at first but getting more significant and it's about doing that gradually. Well done, you!
What's a tray bake? is it a pie or a pasta type thing? I usually have fish on Sundays if it is just me. Eldest is coming next weekend so will do a roast dinner then.
What's everyone up to today?
I've had a lazy day today. I went to see my friend who lost her Boxer dog a few weeks back. She has now rescued to Boxers. One was so quiet and has clearly been brain damaged by abuse, but is so sweet and couldn't have found a better home. She has now given a home to a second, whose owners felt they didn't have the time to give her. The owners were devastated leaving the dog.
I hope everyone is ok. Your week sounded busy Louise :-)
I will visit my family in April and May, obviously the school holidays, unfortunately as all is so very expensive but so be it. We had a lovely day walking in the park and playing football with neighbour boy, really fun.
My other neighbour is nearly moving in and showed me her (still) empty house, so much fun to see different houses and kitchens.
Enjoy your evening, all.
Yes I will see what I can do for my son. What a nice friend you have Sparklinglime :)
Thank you Louise. I had a great chat with the girls this morning. They want to be self limiting with their gadgets so we've decided to review progress once a week. You're so right about the boundaries. I struggle sometimes being the 'bad cop' but I can't be their friend I have to be the parent.
It's been such a beautiful day here. We've been to the park. Took the fishing nets. It always amazes me how A loves to play still. She was on the slides and climbing frame next to the 5 year olds!
The tray bake I make is a Jamie Oliver recipe. Chicken thighs, peppers, tomatoes, red onion and whatever other veg I have in the fridge. Mix it with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and paprika and bake in the oven for about an hour. Its delicious.
Happy Monday everyone 
I've got my shades on as the weather is so beautiful out there today! It sounds as though the weather has lifted everyone's spirits and we all had a good weekend
kiera your pancake session on Friday sounded great fun!
pq, how did it go with a sovereign, can you start planning your NY trip?! Your Saturday evening sounded good, always lovely when someone else does the cooking! I find that washing up is never a chore if I am doing it at someone else's house (but always even better if they do that too). Your gadgetless experiment had some really positive outcomes, it can be soo easy to just let everyone get stuck into their i-pads/mobiles etc for the afternoon. It is harder to rally everyone up and DO something, but it sounds as though both your girls are up for it, yesterday was a great example Do the girls help with chopping veg or washing up when you cook? Team effort in the kitchen?
Skyflower, I am so glad that you got through to ACE and found it useful. Will you consider having someone come with you to talk to the school? There would be no harm in it and it sounds as though you need some closure if they are going to stop his support? Your weekend sounded lovely, being able to stop and enjoy your sons and the neighbours boy play in the park together
sparklinglime, glad to hear that you had a lazy day! Gorgeous! Nice to visit the dogs too, your friend sounds lovely.
Louise, I bet you went through a whole mixture of emotions hearing those tapes, was the quality good? Will you get them put onto CD so that your son can have them?
Louise you mentioned about your favourite chair.....I have my 'yoga spot' and two weeks ago a new person was in it I must say I was quite put out, the whole session just didn't feel quite right, so last week I got there earlier than usual and made sure my towel was territorially placed on the mat to mark my spot (ridiculous isn't it!)
I had a good weekend. Went for an impromptu lunch with my brother and his wife, tapas and wine. We ended up staying there until supper time ordering more and more bits and pieces! Lovely afternoon and to top it off, they paid! Loved waking up this morning and having the sun shining through the curtains, long may it last
I hope everyone else out there is enjoying this season change.
Morning everyone, it is looking a bit dreary outside hopefully that will change and it will brighten up later
How are you all today?
Good to hear that your son has not had anymore seizures recently keira, how are things with your little girl, have they settled down now?
Glad to hear you have had a week of peace PQ, Happy Shopping
How are things in your household Skyflower?
Sparkling is it work for you today?
Louise, Anna i'm with you on the favourite spot thing, i thought it was just me and my odd tendancies.
I had a busy weekend, i was looking after my 3 little nephews, thankfully the weather was so nice we were able to go the park.
Send to friend
Morning all.
A decided yesterday that she was sorry for her behaviour so we had a good evening. Payday take away and a movie. However today she is back to being her difficult self :-( I'm not feeling very well so not sure I'm going to cope well today.
Sounds like you've had a busy week Louise.
Your night out sounded good skyflower. I was supposed to go out last night but it was cancelled.
Hope to have a quiet day today. Need a few things from town and H wants to go to the library. Is England playing rugby today? Must watch that.