h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Simon

Sometimes you do make me feel old! first you are too young to remember Mary, Mungo and Midge and now you are appearing anxious about leaving your twenties

Us old farts have decided on terribly sensible pressies for each other this year - no, not matching tweed hats, driving gloves and zimmer frames. I've got Tony a Gore-Tex jacket and I've asked him to get me a DVD player for the telly in the bedroom. Wait till you hit your late thirties/early forties and you have been married for nearly 13 years! Tony still wants to buy me nice clothes and underwear but I'd rather have the DVD - far more practical

I hope you find the skirt that Clare liked, I think it is a good idea to ring around and see if it is stocked anywhere else. Have you tried the internet? It's surprising how many designer clothing outlets are online that have no connection to any shops at all but still stock the same stuff (but you probably know that already).

Thanks for the book recommendation, I'll give the Gruffalo a go, Charlotte is in need of more books. I got a nice board one about called The First Christmas from Marks and Sparks as I felt she ought to know a little more than just santa and reindeer, but other than that we are still on nursery rhymes and daisy duck stories. If you have any more recommendations, please pass them along as if Charlie has enjoyed them, I'm sure Charlotte will.

It's hardly surprising Charlotte already has an ear for music, she was leaping about to records whilst still in utero! I balme her father - Tony was a quite successful semi-professional musician a few years back. He still plays music, but does not gig anymore - we have a baby instead! Despite and album and radio airplay, they never made it - otherwise you could be watching us instead of the Osbournes on a Friday night, and lets face it, no-one is going to sign a band where anyone has talent these days - god forbid - we just want pimply faced youths lip synching to total crap (rant over)

Oh well, good luck in the search for glam pressies - I think a new wardrobe for Clare is an excellent idea as she has lost so much weight - good for her!

Lol, so sorry to make you feel old!
I am actually quite keen to leave my twenties, I may finally feel like an adult then, rather than a little boy playing at being grown up.
I doubt my feelings will change at all, but 30 just sounds more respectable doesn;t it.

Lol at you and your terribly sensible presents, I have actually asked for a pair of driving gloves! I did toy with the idea of getting Clare a DVD player, but she has so many films on video, we couldn't afford to rebuy all the ones we like on DVD.
We haven't been married 13 years, but that is how long we have been seeing each other, so probably just as stuck on inspirational ideas as you two. The only thing Clare has asked for is a bread maker, I mean seriously, how un glamourous is that?
I've got a number to call to try and find that skirt, and I will give the other internet places a try if that doesnt bring results. Failing that she can just wear her bread maker!

Did I tell you Grace said her first word the other night? "Dadda" she hasn't stopped saying it since either, I am on cloud 9
Oh and Charlie astounded me last night be reading his first ever word. I was reading him that very Gruffalo book we talked about, and rather than pointing at the pictures, he pointed at the words and said, look dad ABC's. He can recite hos alphabet and knows about 10 letters by sight to so far. He knows a G, because it starts his sisters name, and he knows an O, cos circles are easy. So I asked him what word that might make, with a G at the start and an O at the end. "Gruffalo" he shouts out, and then went on to find the same word every time it appeared in the book. I was so amazed, it's magic when they learn new stuff like that isn't it.

Oooh sorry to whitter on, I had to brag to someone though

Nice that Charlotte loves her music, I find the tweenies excellent for dancing along to, we have both of thier music vids. Sorry to hear Tony never got the break he deserved Know what you mean about modern artists, can't think of any with any real talent except David Gray. All these pop idol programs get right on my nerves, people should have to work to get into the bisiness, not have it handed to them on a plate cos they look cute on camera.

So back to xmas pressies, apart from the DVD, what one glam item do you most desire from santa this year?

Speak soon
Si

Hi Si

Grace's first word! how exciting... we are still waiting for Charlotte to identify either of us verbally when we are within earshot. It seems she will only call us mama and dadda when we are individually out of the room! She is burbling with great relish and I keep thinking I am hearing words, but it may be wishful thinking, still she is only sixteen months after all, maybe I am comparing her too much with too my friends kids who are all two and upwards!

Well done to Charlie though - feel free to be proud - he really does seem to be making leaps and bounds doesn't he? One minute they seem to be babies and the next they are little people.

Back to the christmas pressies - well we've got the breadmaker already - Tony's parents got it for us last year (Tony has two brothers in Australia and they got breadmakers sent to them too!) and it has been terribly useful if a little unglamorous - Waitrose do some really good mixes where you just add water - how lazy tart is that?

Something glam from Santa... hmm, how about complete body liposuction? that'd make me feel a bit more glam even if the experience itself is far from it!

If we are talking reality, then there really isn't any glam stuff on my wish list, I'm more than happy being at home with Charlotte and Tony for the festive season. However, in the fluffy dreamworld where we have squillions in the bank and I can completely indulge myself then I'd quite like santa to pop an Audi TT in my oversized stocking

So what about you? I know time with Clare and the children will be top of your list but are more of the unmentionable racey pants on your wish list or are you hoping for an extension to last years scalextric (I don't know how to spell it - it's a boy thing) alternatively, would you be happy with your very own tweenies cd for the car?

Hiya Missus,

Lol, well I'm pretty sure Grace saying Dadda wasn't in recognition of me, Charlie still forgets my name from time to time and calls me mum!
'Dah' is just a nice easy sound to make, probably why us men jumped in quick and nicked that moniker.

I don't think Charlie started saying words properly till he was 18 months or so, and he was much quicker than alot of his little friends. We had a book that told you all the different sounds they learn to make at different ages, it's quite amazing how much stuff kids teach themselves.

I got taught a lesson by Charlie last night, I was reading that book with him again, seeing if he's recognise the word 'gruffalo' again. But he just stared blankly at the page. I pointed it out a few times, but he still looked a but confused. He made a little C with his thumb and forefinger and said 'No Dad, thats a G'. The page I had open only had a lower case g on it, and I forgot he'd done it all on uppercase ones yesterday. Doh!!!!!! one step at a time simon!
It's so embarrassing when your kids pull you up isn;t it.

Glad you like your bread maker, I'll order Clares soon then, sound a nice stainless silver one that will go in our kitchen. Ohh she will like the lazy tart bread mix, that's right up her alley!

Lol about the liposuction. Me, all I want for xmas is to get to play with all charlies new toys. Fancy pants wont go amiss though. I wouldn't mind a few new books to be honest thoughh.

Clare bought me one of those santa outfits from woolies, I cant wait, getting all excited.

Have yourselves a great weekend
Si

OK, hang out the flags, stop the presses - Charlotte actually came up to me and gave me two kisses today! This may not seem much to those parents whose babies have been kissing since birth, but to me it is a true red letter day. Her kisses have, so far, only been bestowed upon another little girl (the same age as Charlotte) who has been kissing since she was a foetus apparently.

Then, just to really make my day, she said mummy - she likes to play with the reins we put on her when we are walking near roads (just in case!) and had caught herself up in them. She looked up, said mummy and motioned to her predicament I am one really happy little bunny now!

We had a great weekend, we had chums over for dinner on Saturday night and did a proper grown up three-course meal with candles and everything. This is the first time we have entertained like that since Charlotte came along - we've had people over for pasta and easy stuff like that, but this was proper cooking - it was really enjoyable. Charlotte behaved impeccably (as usual ) and batted her eyelids outrageously with our guests - she is going to be such a flirt one day. I can see Tony is going to have to be a very protective father!

So how was your weekend? Has Charlie picked you up on your reading errors again or have you learnt to do it properly?

Ahhh Fantastic news about Charlotte I remember the first time Charlie called me 'dad' properly, it's heart melting isn't it.

Chaz was always a kissy toddler, he'd get very upset if people he knew didn't kiss him goodbye, but he's just reached that age where he gets all shy of someone asks him for one. So cute

Wow a proper 3 course meal with candles! It is nice to do grown up things once in a while and take the parent hat off. It sometimes slips over your eyes and you forget theres other life out there.
How did the candles taste by the way? Did you roast them, or just shallow fry?

Every fathers nightmare, having a pretty daughter. As tempting as it is to never let her see a boy until she is 38, I'm going to try and let Grace make her own choices in life, hopefully she'll inherit some of her mums common sense and not need to be fitted with a chastity belt

We had a great weekend thanks, babysat our nephew on Saturday, and Charlie was a nightmare, never seen him that naughty before, but Sunday he was as good as gold, so hopefully it was just a one off.
Grace hasn't been sleeping well lately, teething we reckon, so we juggled her routine around a little bit and hey presto 9 hours solid sleep on Saturday night. I love it when a plan comes together.
Not quite as sucessful last night, but still an improvement.
I actually get quite a kick out of trying to work out what's bothing babies, they have so many ways of telling you, but you really have to look hard to work it out.

My reading ability still hasn't improved, got chastised for skipping pages last night! Reading him winnie the pooh, the AA Milne not disney one, he loves it.

Bet you feel so proud of your little girl for calling you mummy and for the kisses. You are a lucky mum

Hello Si

The candles were very tasty thank you - actually I sauteed them with a little garlic and some tarragon. It always works for me.

I'm glad to see that Charlie and Grace are getting to know the real Winnie the Pooh as opposed to the Disney version - BTW - did you know that Disney still pay millions every year to Milne's descendents to continue using the character? (I read that in The Week this week).

I much prefer the EH Shepherd drawings of Pooh, Charlottes bedding and cot bumpers have those versions of Pooh on them - I couldn't have her thinking that the Disney one is how the characters should look. I loved "The House at Pooh Corner", but I remember reading the verses in "When we were very young" and "Now we are six" more for some reason. I aim to get Charlotte on those ASAP, along with the Beatrix Potter books. I did have the whole set, but my mother gave them away to some needy child somewhere so I'll have to replace them!

Another fave of mine are the "Cautionary Tales" by Hillaire Belloc - did you read them as a child? I have various copies around the house along with a German tome called "Shock Headed Peter" all great stuff for children with a slightly macabre take on life (such as me).

So how is Grace doing? teething is such a horrible time isn't it - you desperately want to take the pain away, but there is little you can do apart from the usual calpol and cuddles. Tony and I empathise as Charlotte is getting back teeth through at the moment which seem very painful.

If you get really good at reading babies (as it were) you should put your pen to paper, I'm sure there are gazillions of books out there on the subject, but they all seem to be written by people that have a degree in psychology / were Queen Victoria's midwife but still practicing in 2002 / left uni a week ago having studied how lab rats relate to their offspring... but have never had a baby or toddler of their own!

Well, have a good week, I hope Grace is more comfortable and Charlie remains the little angel he usually is (despite saturday night's shennanegans).

Morning Mrs,

Yummmmm, garlic and taragon candles, sounds very tasty indeed. Any leftovers?

Nice to meet a Pooh bear purist, We also prefer the E.H. Shepard drawings, we have them adorning various parts of our house actually, proving what big kids Clare and I really are.
I'm not against the disney verion, I think they got pooh bear and eeyore off to a tee, but some of the other characters are a it too animated (isn't that a good pun for a cartoon). The heffalums and woozles song from the disney film is Charlies absolute favorite thing to watch.
I've actually skipped to the verses in 'when we were very young' they seem to suit Charlies age perfectly now. His favorite is 'binker' cos he has a little imaginary friend of his own too (called 'snappelarley', don't ask, kids imaginations!)
I was never really into Beatrix potter, that seems more of a girlie type book, I hope Grace will get bought a copy for her birthday.
I think Charlie has your morbid take on life, his new favorite story is Bellephon, Pegasus and the Chimera. Nothing like some Greek mythology to send a kid to sleep. I got no idea what this story was doing in a puffin bedtime treasury, but he loves it. Behedding 3 headed monsters is every young boys dream.

Hmmm nice idea about writing about reading babies, I did actually contemplate it a a while back, but my writing skills are naff, as you've probably noticed, and I dont think sucess with just my 2 kids qualifies me, especially when Clare does all the hard work.
Perhaps we'll writea joint entry for h2g2 sometime, she registered yesterday What's it like having a spouse on here too?

Morning Simon,

Sadly no leftovers on the candle front, our guests took home doggy bags!

Hmm, so you think that having EH Shepard drawings all over the house makes you big kids eh? I think it shows an enormous amount of taste! Our home is stuffed to the gunnels with Disney videos and sketches (prints obviously) not to mention Tony's comic (sorry, 'graphic novel') collection! We owned a Teletubbies video five years before Charlotte was born and went to the Oliver Postgate day at the NFT a couple of years back just to watch Noggin the Nog on a big screen - I can't even claim we are having a second childhood, we never left the first!

A guide entry on your experiences with children is probably a good idea, Clare's hands on experience and your enthusiasm will make an excellent read.

I am currently writing a short story for Charlotte (getting less short by the page though). Writing factual stuff isn't really very enjoyable for me as I do it for a living - so don't expect any guide entries, on any subject, from me in the forseeable future. I doubt my short story will be as good as Bellephon, Pegasus and the Chimera though... still you never know, the little world under the weeping willow in our garden might make me the new JK Rowling (I wish)

So is Clare getting hooked on H2G2 too? When does she get the time? if she's anything like me it means chipping in your four penn'th during some very odd hours. It's good having Tony on here too, we compare notes on what other people have been saying on the various threads we subscribe to, and if anyone is particularly irksome we can trash them without getting spammed

Well I hope Grace does get a Beatrix Potter set, they are beautifully illustrated with lovely stories - and after all every girl needs to know who Jeremy Fisher and Mrs Tiggywinkle are!

Lol, you are even worse than us! Glad we aren't the only people in tune with our inner children

Aww your short story sounds delightful. I wish I had the imagination to write something like that. Charlie asked me to read him a story from my head last night....*stumped look on dads face* I got no imagination at all

Clare seems to like h2g2, she convinced I spend all my days flirting with all the women on here now, which probably isn't far from the truth, but I'm happier now she can keep her pretty eyes on me. I did feel abit guilty making all these new freinds without her, and like you say, it will be so cool to talk about people in private *evil laugh*.

Speak soon

Ooh er! I'm on here at the same time as you - Charlotte is having a nap at the moment which gives me a bit of mummy time! But it rather begs the question - do you do any work at all or are you just on H2G2 all the time? No wonder the economy is in the state it is in if all you big important city types are doing this all day

Next time Charlie asks you to tell him a story from 'your head' why don't you see if you can come up with something together - When I was little, my dad used to tell me the best stories - all from his imagination - but we used to work on them together. I would tell him what characters I wanted, and in what setting, and he would fill in the blanks. I still remember snuggling down in bed and having him tell me what was happening in my imaginary world. Charlie's imagination is so fertile, he should be able to guide you through. If in doubt however, plagerise... think back to stories you enjoyed and put his characters into those situations. He will love it, especially as daddy has thought the stories up especially for him.

I later found out that my dad made notes on what had happened in the stories so he could keep abreast of where we were in the tale and I couldn't catch him out if he forgot something.. canny huh?

Let me know how it goes anyway, and don't worry, everyone has an imagination, even accountants apparently

Say hello to Clare for me, and if she ever fancies a chat, I'd love to hear from her.

Hey there
You caught me just in time, was about to put on my coat and pop off early.

Hmmm I wish H2G2 was the only thing I had to do at work everyday. There is money to be lost, clients to annoy, lunchtime pints to be drunk. Oh and wives to phone and disrupt A busy life I lead.

That's a great idea about asking Charlie to help with the stories, blatent plagerism has been my.only escape so far. But I do change the character names as you suggest. I actually do that in some of the books we read too, use his cuddly toys as characters, makes it alot more personal.
That's a cool idea your dad had, with my memory I'll need to keep track too. Talking of dads, Clare wrote a lovely entry about her dad the other day. Pop over to her space and take a look if want to. Feel free to say hi to her, she's even more chatty than me normally.
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Have yourself a fine evening, Clare out with a few of her mates for a girlie night, and I got the kids all to myself Can;t wait.

Speak soon, and sorry if my post was a bit turse this morning, for once I was actually busy at work. I had loads more to add, but didn't have time.

And now I gotta dash for my train, ho hum.
Goodnight.

Hiya

Well I'm back, burning the midnight oil as usual... I had to finish a quote for an illustration job I'm not sure I want to do (for the vile charity that I used to work for) and they have the cheek to ask my advice on another part of the job and I might not get offered the first bit! Hmmm, maybe I'll charge a consultancy fee

I popped by to say hello to Clare, so hopefully she'll say hi back at some point. Don't worry about the short reply earlier yesterday - I used to work in an office too!

I hope you enjoyed looking after the little 'uns this evening and Clare enjoyed her night out. We are in the midst of a rather nasty bout of teething at this end and I've had a very unhappy little girl to contend with today, hopefully tomorrow will be better

Oh well, Thursday to get through then only 8 hours 'till the weekend... hurrah!

Speak later

That's a bit mean of the charity you used to work for. You'd think if they weren't paying you, they'd only give you the good jobs to do

Thanks for popping by and saying 'ello' to my little angel, not sure when she'll next get time to pop online, but I bet she'll appreciate all these kind welcomes.

I had a great time looking after my sprogs last night, they were both so good for me
Oh and I followed your advice and asked Charlie who he would like in his made up story. You ready for this? "Mummy daddy me grace, grandma grandad nanny grandad a green dragon, but only a small one that doesnt breathe fire, my invisible friend, the cat in the hat and that glass on the table daddy." Hmmmm a few characters to work with there then With that sort of imagination he can make the blimmin stories up himself too!

Clare had quite a nice time, I wanted her to be out on the town letting her hair down and getting nicely drunk, but her friends weren't in the mood for it, so they ust stayed in and gossipped.
Clare has an appointment at a beauty salon today, having an all over something or other, that should keep her in good spirits

Sorry to hear Charlotte is teething, the back ones are always the worst, they are the only thing that has ever woken charlie up at night. But it wont last long. Plenty of bonjella or calgel helped us through. So good luck!

8 hours I wish, I do about 10 a day, plus the hour each end travelling! The weekend still seems along way off, but getting closer
I am in a good mood today, so I don't mind what day it is
Hope you are just as happy.

Well, hats off the Charlie, that is one helluva story that daddy is going to have to make sense of! I particularly like the small green dragon

Just to help out - how about a small friendly green dragon who doesn't breathe fire (unless in an emergency cooking situation) and is a strict vegetarian (no eating princesses). He trots around helping his friends out (various scrapes can be dreamed up involving the rest of his chosen characters - i.e. a hungry lamb stealing Grace's bottle or the evil bossman imprisoning daddy in the kingdom of EC4) until one day (after all the characters have been involved) a rather dashing (but hapless) knight comes along to slay him. However, the dragon is saved by all the friends he has helped and smuggled into a magic land where all the other nice dragons live and everyone lives happily ever after.

Well, the teething was awful last night, we are using calpol, nurofen and the calgel but she was still fretful all night I have just got her to sleep again now and hopefully she will be refreshed and rather less grissly when she wakes up.

I don't envy you your ten hour working day. When I was in the city those seemed to be my usual hours too (or longer when some snotty lawyer wanted a presentation ten minutes before I was due to go home) and I don't miss it all in the slightest (though the cash was nice)

Well, I'll sign off here, a tired, but happy not to be working in the city any more, full-time mum.

Hi there,
Sorry for the lack of reply on Friday, I had a day off sick, upset tummy Feeling back on form now thankfully, and the long weekend did me wonders
Got a short break scheduled for this weekend too, short family holiday, so another couple of 4 day weeks on the cards for me. If work let me take the time off (I forgot to put it in the holiday book doh!)

So how was your weekend Mrs? (I can't believe we been chatting all this time and I still don't know your first name, you may have told me before, but my memory on a monday morning just isn't upto speed)

We had a fun one, saw my nan and grandad on Saturday, both kids get spoiled rotten, but that's fine by us, and yesterday we went to visit some friends who have just bought a new puppy. It was a bit too boisterous for Chaz, kept nipping him and chasing him around, but it was as cute as anything. I love dogs, so annoying I'm allergic to them.
Charlie went to stay at Clare's mum and dads on Saturday night, he spent the night with his 9 year old cousin and got approzimately 30 seconds sleep all night They had a whale of a time though, and Clare and I got to spoil and fuss over Grace without restraint.
I also cooked Clare a nice meal and we had a very romantic evening together

Thanks for the ideas on Chalie's story, very inspiring, why doesn't my mind work like that? In my adhoc version, the green dragon just flew around all the friends houses looking for Charlie and Grace to play with. Charlie had already corrected me that it didn't breath fire "Daddy, only red dragons breath fire, you silly old boy". We couldn't settle on what it did breathe, so I think it ended up as slime, unless it got angry, then it could do a little bit of fire. lol. I am so glad he has enough imagination for the both of us.

I've started making him a table for xmas, to put his train set and scelextrix and other stuff on in his room. I'm not being a tight arse for not buying one, I get quite a kick out of building stuff for him. Nearly finsihed now, just needs a coat or two of paint. Not the most exciting of presents, but practical and I'm not upto making anything complex.

Grace is teething too rosy cheeks, white hard gums, dribbling, chomping anything withing reach and waking us up every 30 mins. You feel so sorry for the poor dears don't you .

Anyway I've whittered on long enough, off to see if you've written any journal entries yet!
See ya
Si

Hi Si

Sorry to hear you've been under the weather... stomach upsets are really unpleasant aren't they? A couple of months back all three of us had gastic flu - now that really was revolting, somehow a cold seems so much more bearable!

So, skivving off eh? where are you all off to this time? We had a good weekend, saturday we test drove our potential new car which was great fun, and sunday we lolled around watching the lightening that accompanied the huge thunderstorm we had. Sadly, we have to buy a new car as my lovely little Fiesta Zetec (the first car I've ever had from brand new) with its turbo nutter engine but only two doors is distinctly unsuitable for a little 'un, so instead we are looking at MPVs - God I feel old, still at least it isn't a volvo estate It's a shame we've got to get shot of my car though, it's only got 10,000 on the clock! That'll teach us not to say "but why would we ever need four doors?" so this time we are trying to think of everything so as not to be in this situation again in another two years!

What a pity you are allergic to dogs, they are such fun to have around when you are little. We agreed not to have a dog as when we were both working full time we thought it wouldn't be fair on the little critter, instead we had a couple of cats - very self sufficient - but we have just the one now though as two died. Having said that, it's a pain keeping the cat away from the baby as I don't feel it is fair for an old lady to be held hostage by a boisterous 17 month old!

Glad to see you and Clare are getting some time together, it makes all the difference doesn't it? Sorry to hear about Grace teething already though, Charlotte started quite late, but seems to have loads coming through together, funnily enough a couple of the molars have come through before some of the front teeth or any of the canines

She has also started having tantrums particularly if I try to stop her doing anything to harm herself like climb the bookcase or jump from a chandelier still never mind, it's nothing that a stiff drink won't cure (for me that is)

It's really nice that you are making a present for Charlie, it is much more personal that way, and I think that Christmas is so commercial anyway it is good to give somehing from the heart as it were.

Your dragon story sounds great, hurrah for Charlies imagaination eh? I didn't know red dragons blew fire and green ones slime I hope you didn't mind me offering some ideas to help out, I just thought it may help.

Anyway, I'm off to write something journally, perhaps.

speak soon


(that's Karen to you)

Oh No, not another Karen!
I'm not saying it's a common name or anything, but that's 3 Karen's I have met on h2g2. Think I better stick to calling you Mrs, or you are all going to merge together and cause lots of confusion.

We are off to a farm in Suffolf for our little break. We went there in the late summer this year and had such a fantastic time that Clare's sister decided to book up a weekend for her sons birthday. Unbeknown to her, we are all tagging along too for a nice extra surprise
Not really holiday weather with all this rain we been having, but the company will be good

Ooohh MPV's We bought one 2 years ago, best thing we ever did! It is just so handy to be able to chuck whatever you want in the back and still have loadsa space for car seats and passengers. We looked at the VW Sharan/ford Galaxy, but that was just a little to unigainly to drive, fine if you have a family of 5 or more, but we just wanted something inbetween a normal car and one of them. In the end we went for the Toyota Picnic, I think it's now called the avensys verso or somesuch, but worth a test drive before you spend all that dosh.

Lol cats and babys just dont mix, even now charlie still likes holding thier tails to have a tug of war, so lucky he hasnt run into any spiteful ones yet.

Yep you ain't kidding, getting some proper adult time together makes all the difference in the world, Clare must often feel that her life revolves solely around kids kids kids, so any escape from that is well deserved.
Graces back gums seem to be alot sorer than the front, so she too might be getting the molars first She's been so upset the last few nights she has ended up in our bed. Not something we want to make a habit of, but when they are unwell you do whatever you can to help.
Charlies and Clare have picked up a cold again Hope they get over it before the weekend. Better than Gastric flu, but this is the third time its come back.

The story advice was much appreciated, I love any advice you can give, it does all help
Don't worry about the tantrums, Clare has two friends with daughters Charlies age, and they both went though exactly the same at 17 months. Girls are far too independent minded. I would say that the mum who was the firmest got her daughter Brooke back on track the quickest, so be as tough as you can now, to save tears in the future.

Hi again

Suffolk sounds lovely, any break away from grimy old London is always fab no matter what the weather. We trot down to Brighton fairly regularly just to get some sea air and a walk along the front. (The Lanes being a fantastic place to shop helps too ).

Do feel free to call me Mrs, after all it is my chosen name here on H2G2. The only other things you could call me are the nicknames friends and family use and they take a lot of explaining!

Well, great minds do think alike - well nearly. The car we test drove on saturday was indeed a Toyota, but the Yaris Verso rather than the Avensis. It's like a tardis inside with masses of space despite its diminutive appearance. Even if we do pup another sprog, we will still have anough room. The other option was a Renault Scenic which is about as big as we would want to go. Either of these will fit in our driveway and be able to pass down our road (possibly the narrowest anywhere) without too much difficulty. We also have a really tight turning circle to make to get in and out of our drive so anything too big causes problems. I have to say the Yaris is looking most likely as it is the spec we want - must include ABS, Air Con, Alloys etc (all that we are used too with the Ford) but Renault do not fit them as standard without charging you the earth... also our local Renault dealer is terrible!

I'm sorry to hear you have a poorly Charlie and Clare again, and that poor little Grace is still suffering with her teeth, I'll keep my fingers crossed that she won't pick up the cold too as that would really be a nightmare. We've had two teeth through in the last three days so hopefully we will have a bit of respite for a little while, having said that, there are two angry looking bumps on her top gums opposite the two molars through so...

I'm glad to hear Charlotte is not a total freak having the terrible two's at 17 months. I am doing what the books say, leaving her to it when she throws a hissy fit and not allowing her to get her own way, but it is really hard not to a) laugh or b) yell at her (depending on my mood). Still I'm doing my best and can't do much more than that. Thank god my mum comes 'round to give me a break most days. even half an hour with someone else saying NO! makes it a bit more bearable.

How are you getting along with Charlie's storytime? Has the green dragon slimed anyone yet?

Morning Mrs,
Yep we can't wait for our little break, it's nice to go away just before all the stress of xmas too
Brighton is lovely, we used to go there regularly too. In fact Clare had her wedding dress made there, so it was weekly visits for about 4 months at one point. Her and her sister would go get fitted, while me and the brother in law would wander the town.
It was only afterwards that Clare let on Brighton was Britain's GAY capital Grrrr! We are still the butt of jokes about that. We did wonder why we got so many odd looks when we took his son with us.

Oooh you can't say you have lots of nicknames then not list them! come on tell me the most embarrassing ones.

Good call on the Toyota, we really can't fault ours. Saw one of those Yaris Verso's in the showroom and they are like a tardis aren't they. After driving our one, I would never go back to a regular car.

We all have our fingers crossed Grace doesn't catch the cold too, she had a bit of a cough last night, but seems in good spirits. I had a bit of a breakthrough too, I've noticed that she's been kicking her covers off at night lately, and waking up alot more frequently, she also likes something snuggly next to her face to drop back off. So I've been on at Clare to buy her one of those baby sleeping bag things, she got one yesterday and we had a completely uninterrupted nights sleep, well untill 5 am, but thats pretty good going for a teething baby

Charlie wasn't good enough to get any stories last night His cold is making him grumpy and short tempered and he misbehaved all day. A bit harsh I know, considering he's ill, but I can be a tough dad when I need to. It takes the pressure off Clare if I have a way to punish him for being bad. Like you, spening all day saying NO does wear you down.
He'll no doubt have forgotten all about the green dragon by tonight.

Have yourself a good day.

Si