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

Oh lord yes, I only want Dom to be happy and healthy and there the expectations end (but I would like him to say 'mummy how delightful to see you' when I go and see him in his cot in the mornings. He's usually cross and wants to come out!)

The book doesn't preach, it just sort of tells you about how parents have different roles and shows you what kids get out of your relationship with them. The basic message is spend all the time with them that you can I like doing that bit!

Charlie sounds like a real sweetie

Dom is friendly and will wave and smile to new people with a little introduction, which then leads to charm and playing games. One morning a man on the bus, reading the Financial Times, pinstripe suit and everything made the mistake of handing Dom a flyer that had fallen out. So Dom handed it back to him. And Dom held out his hand for it. And then Dom gave it back to the man! This went on for three stops (when we got off!). He laughed all the time at the joke He is definitely independent. For ages he's wanted to feed himself, brush his own teeth, and you know if he doesn't want to do something. He's an all round super chap

Awwwwwwww You really do love that little man dontcha

You and me both, about spending time with your kids. There really is nothing I'd rather be doing. It's just so rewarding when you see something you do have an impact on their lives. When you play with them and you see them get so much out of it.

Ahh Charlie is just growing out of that 'talk to everyone' stage. He's just starting to get a little shy around people he doesn't know. Which is all part of growing up I guess, and long as he's not one of those painfully shy kids, it's probably not a bad thing that he's wary of strangers.
I think all the recent house viewing has helped alot though, he's had so many stangers fussing over him, he's growing to like the attention lol.

Going to see what looks like the perfect house tomorrow, at least on paper. Got everything crossed though. It's got a 200 foot garden! How cool would that be for the kids?
What you upto this weekend Anna?
Speak soon
Simon

200ft!!!!!! Big WOW! I thought we were the luckiest people in the world moving to a house with a 90ft garden. Will you even be able to *see* the bottom of the garden?

Skipping out of packing again on Saturday I am going out into the countryside to see a friend who is moving to Malawi in a couple of weeks - understandibly she's in two minds about it (she has a little boy) so I'm not sure how long she's going to be there for.

Anna

I think that's the general idea, when Clare can't see what the kids are upto in the garden, she won't have to worry about them so much.

It would be brilliant to have somewhere safe where they get lots of space to play. Hey 90 foot is plenty mate, you just wait till you have to mow the lawn! Did you say you don't have a garden at the moment? You are gonna love it, so is Dom!

Ooooh you are such a skivier, how does your hubby/fella put up with it?
Good luck to your mate, Malawi is a long way off! Gotta be better than here though, if only for the weather.

Clare's out with her girls today, up town for a fancy meal, so I'm in mum mode tonight with both kids to care for Can't wait, lots of naughty food for tea!
Clare deserves a good night out too!

I am so looking forward to having a garden - being able to hang out washing is going to be a high point of my new life! (really!)

I have my other half well trained I've been doing my share in the evenings. Honest (well, perhaps not quite as much as him )

Clare's day sounds brilliant - so does your evening ahead!

Have a good weekend

Anna

I wish Clare would take a leaf out of your book. She still hasn't got to grips with washing lines and bungs everything in the tumble dryer, even on the sunniest days.
I think she's just paranoid of the neighbours seeing her knickers.

Lol at you thinking you have the other half well trained. Us men are like cats, we only hang around for the food and strokings.

See ya

I was listening to the radio the other day and there was a feature on about everyone in the world using a whirligig washing like specifically so that they can hide their undies behind all the other stuff

Food is definitely a way to a man's heart. I don't trust skinny men - no way of keeping them under control!

See you next week!

Anna

Ahh that explains alot, we currently have a straight washing line, meaning no way of hiding those saucy knic knocks or embarassing grey granny pants. lmao.
I'll make sure the next one is a whirlygig (thats a great word btw) and can probably double our mortgage payments on what we save in electricity bills.

Hmmmm Food is the way to a mans heart. Well my wife is the best cook I know, and there's no one I love more. But I hope you'll make an exception to me being skinny and still trust me. I just seem to have a high metabolism or something I've actually spent the last 4 years trying to put on a bit of weight!

I make exceptions with men who have healthy appetites! Have you ever tried cheese and avocado sandwiches - there's got to be millions of calories in them. Mmmmmmmmm. And Thai curries with coconut milk. Mmmmmmm

Cheers
Dunno if I like the sounds of cheese and avocado, where's the meat????
But thai curries are a passion of mine. Yum!

You sound like another person who really enjoy their food Anna, what's your fave meal ever?

Hmmmm. It would be hard to make a choice, but the thing that springs to mind right now is roast dinners. You can go wrong with them (in pubs mostly) but a good one is so yum. I like mine with roast peppers as well as all the trad veggies

re cheese and avocado, you could always add in bacon or ham.

What's your favourite meal?



Anna

Ahh with bacon I'd be interested

Snap on the fave meals. A roastie has to be the best. We have at least one a week, and Clare is a bit of a guru at cooking them.
It may sound a bit sexist that she does all the cooking, but I am dangerous in a kitchen! I set everything on fire. I am far too clumsy to be trusted with hot things.
She does the roasted peppers too and little challottes (sp) they are so scrummy.
And the lucky thing is, even tho she's on a diet, she hasnt stopped cooking them. she just has the veg and I get all the good stuff.
Now that is true love! lol.

You are a lucky man!

Am nipping off for my weekend now - see you next week

Anna

Hiya,
How was your weekend? Weather was terrible wasn't it?

We fell in love with that house with the big garden and have put an offer in already. Putting our place on the market today. It's quite exciting all this new house stuff

Did you get upto anything but packing this weekend? Must be hard with only a few days to go, there's certain things you can't pack until the very last minute.

speak soon
hope this finds you well

Simon

All going a bit mental at home boxes everywhere and dashing around everywhere! Glad to hear you're on your way to your dream home see you soon!

Anna

Hello Anna,
Haven't heard from you in a while, how have you been?

Did you pack the PC away in a box, then couldn't find it again?

How did the move go? We got beaten to that really nice house we found *grrr* so are still on the market and still looking for that dream house.

Hope this finds you and the family well.

Simon

Hello Simon,

Really good to hear from you. I've been out of the office for most of August so it appears I haven't been on h2g2 much lately. Just got back yesterday from a week in Dorset and Devon - it was brilliant. I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely love English holidays. They're practically hassle free which is a bonus plus with little ones, don't you reckon?! We ate well, pottered about, had a lovely time with Dom, went on walks. It was sunny and idyllic and not an internet connection in sight!

How's your househunting going?

Anna

You lucky things! I love that part of the country, it's so pretty down there. Everyone is pleasant and polite, makes a very nice change from London life doesn't it.
You were lucky with the weather, it's been a pretty naff summer so far, you probably had the best fortnight of the year!

We have our own little English holiday planned in a few weeks, a week on a farm in Suffolk. And after all the grief from estate agents lately, we need it badly!

No joy at all on the house front. Had 5 viewers since we put it on the market. Two have put in offers, but not quite close enough to the asking price to tempt us yet.
We lost the perfect house we fell in love with *sob*. But we are still looking at everything that comes along. The novelty is wearing a little thin, but we'll get there soon I'm sure.

How's your new home, you didn;t say!

Simon

Our new house is fab. We have spent much of the time in it sitting on the sofa and stretching out our legs a long way going 'look what I can do'. We never used to be able to do that in our flat! It's so big compared to our last place, we're still concentrating on living in one room. I've mowed the lawn and pulled up weeds in the garden. It's a very happy home. Even better there's not much to do to it. The bathroom is perfect, the kitchen is reasonably new (though probably not units I'd choose myself, they're fine for a good while). There is a surprising amount of yellow though - not too bright, but yellow nonetheless... but it's been done well so I imagine we won't do anything about it for about 5 years!



Anna

Brilliant

Gardening is fun isn't it. My wife lived in a flat before moving in with me, and after 6 years she still thinks the grass cuts itself.

Not too sure about they yellow, as long as it's not too bright I guess it's ok though.

Be careful if you do start decorating. It's addictive, once you start on one room, you don't stop until you have done the entire house.

Glad you are all enjoying your new space so much. Make the most of the garden while this sunshine lasts, 'cos they aren't so much fun in the wet and cold!