I've just made my first ever batch of home-made Christmas mincemeat! (Well, I say first ever... I distinctly remember making some at school when I was 5 or 6 because I didn't know what suet is... but this is the first time I've made it under my own steam). This process started several weeks ago with a trip to TFM to buy two preserving jars, then a trip to Lakeland in Shrewsbury to buy waxed discs. I've been stock-piling ingredients (suet, peel, currants, raisins, sultanas, almonds etc) for weeks, and finally bought my cooking apples, oranges and lemons at the weekend. It was quite a task to work out how to organise the logistics, as the ingredients had to sit in a bowl for 12 hours, then be cooked for 3 hours, allowed to cool, and be transferred into sterilised jars. I plumped for doing my preparation last night, chopping my apples while watching Coronation Street (there must be an easier way - note to self: next year try food processor?). By 8.30pm the bowl was full of a strange brown concoction, which I covered with a tea towel and left. This morning it went in the oven at 8am for 3 hours before we went swimming, and I left it to cool, so that by the time we got back it was just on ready. I left the bowl in the porch to cool further while I sterilised the jars, then spooned it into them having added the brandy. Phew! It hasn't been the easiest of tasks, but I feel like a 'proper Mum' and hope that it will be one of many new Christmas traditions that I can introduce for our family.
Speaking of which, Monky is, we reckon, even stronger than Elizabeth. I'm 24 weeks now and am fairly being booted about. I'm feeling generally ok - better today than the earlier part of the week when I was having problems with my lower back/hips. It didn't feel like SPD but as a precaution I wore my support belt for two days. It kept 'locking' in position when I'd been standing, and was incredibly painful, but miraculously seems much better today, so I'll hold off going to the chiropractor for a little longer. I've been reading up on aromatherapy oils/bach rescue remedies etc, with a view to preparing in every way possible for the birth. I've started assembling my hospital bag, thinking that the earlier I do it the better. Not necessarily because I think I'll go into labour early, but because I think the longer the pregnancy goes on the less likely I'll be able to get out shopping. So - I've stockpiled maternity pads, breast pads, a new button-down nightshirt, soap, toothpaste and new toothbrush, nappies for the baby etc. I feel that the 'important stuff' i.e. birth plan is still to come, but perhaps once Christmas is out of the way I can turn to that.
Yoga re-starts next Tuesday after a two-week break so I'm looking forward to that. Elizabeth says more and more each day, and although still an absolute handful is generally lots of fun as well. She can say "Church mummy daddy married pretty dress" when we drive past the church we got married in, and can do her jigsaw puzzle on her own. Her friend Rebecca came over to play on Saturday and they made cakes together wearing aprons which was lovely to see. I can't believe it is nearly her birthday - only another 4 weeks to go, so really need to put some thought into that!
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Nearly half-term - phew!
The 20 week scan came and went - all was ok, or 'looked ok' as the sonographer somewhat un-reassuringly put it. She also reviewed my notes and suggested that there had been no problem with shoulder dystocia with Elizabeth, and that Shrewsbury was a long way away, and if I was in labour I could head straight for Telford. This started a thought process about booking in to Wrekin, the midwife-led unit, which is as yet unresolved. On the one had it is nearer, has no negative associations, is lovely and comfortable etc, but on the other hand if things fail to progress I know I won't be able to cope with the pain endlessly so should I go to where the pain relief options are straight off? Or would I have coped if I hadn't been given the syntocinon drip? Or would I have been unable to deliver Elizabeth without intervention? Arghh!!!
Work STILL haven't let me know which date will be my final date, and every day I feel anxious as I check my work emails about this. I plan to finish on Friday 21st November, so I'll be finished by Elizabeth's birthday and have the whole of December and January before the 'birth month' arrives. Not knowing though is stressful as if it turns out I have to work up until Christmas it somehow feels worse (although writing this and rationalising I realise that it will only mean perhaps another three days of work, and shouldn't be too difficult!). I just wish they'd get in touch and confirm the arrangements for me leaving.
Husband's job is still 'up in the air' - well it is and it isn't. HBOS has been taken over by Lloyds TSB and on Monday was partly nationalised - the Government now own a 40% stake. As the merger hasn't 'gone through' it will be some months before anyone knows anything about which jobs are going and which are staying. To this end he has been in touch with all the recruitment agents again and has had one telephone interview for a job that had too much of a technical focus, but now has another iron in the fire with a local company offering slightly more money - might be ok?
We've bought a people carrier! After spending one weekend looking at the Toyota Corrola Verso, the Zafira and the Mazda 5, we tripped over to Derby to see a 3 year old Mazda 5 with 19,000 on the clock. It was lovely - immaculate condition, and from a main dealer so 12 month warranty etc, fully serviced, MOT'd etc. We bit the bullet, took out a loan, and picked it up last weekend. It is so much easier getting Elizabeth in and out of her car seat because she's level with me when I'm standing up, so no more leaning in. The sliding rear doors also make life a lot more easy, and we're hoping that the estate boot should see us through trips away with the pram/carry cot etc, and eventually when further children come along even seat two in the back! It has a DVD player in the rear, and the main thing is, it is a Mazda so we're hoping for mega-reliability!
We've also bought our sofas - a two and a three-seater brown leather set up from Furniture Village after over 12 months of deliberating on whether to or not. It should be delivered by Christmas, so we've got a deadline for finishing the painting and getting the living room straight. It feels a bit like time is running out though, because we haven't turned our attention to the spare room at all - and it isn't as simple as just painting it pink for Elizabeth, we've got to find a new home for the computer and all the files/paper work/desk contents, somewhere for all of my clothes, and we've got to sort out the radiator and internet connection - oh and buy her a bed/mattress/bedding/curtains etc to get the room ready for her.
I've just finished my first course of yoga - I'm having a two week break then I'm proposing to start again and repeat the course. It has worked well because as well as the useful mental and physical preparation for birth, it has also given me one night a week 'off' the bath/bed routine. I spend all of Tuesday afternoon preparing a casserole, then I leave at 5pm and come back at 7pm in time to say 'night night' to Elizabeth. I definitely feel better for it, and have really enjoyed getting out!
Work STILL haven't let me know which date will be my final date, and every day I feel anxious as I check my work emails about this. I plan to finish on Friday 21st November, so I'll be finished by Elizabeth's birthday and have the whole of December and January before the 'birth month' arrives. Not knowing though is stressful as if it turns out I have to work up until Christmas it somehow feels worse (although writing this and rationalising I realise that it will only mean perhaps another three days of work, and shouldn't be too difficult!). I just wish they'd get in touch and confirm the arrangements for me leaving.
Husband's job is still 'up in the air' - well it is and it isn't. HBOS has been taken over by Lloyds TSB and on Monday was partly nationalised - the Government now own a 40% stake. As the merger hasn't 'gone through' it will be some months before anyone knows anything about which jobs are going and which are staying. To this end he has been in touch with all the recruitment agents again and has had one telephone interview for a job that had too much of a technical focus, but now has another iron in the fire with a local company offering slightly more money - might be ok?
We've bought a people carrier! After spending one weekend looking at the Toyota Corrola Verso, the Zafira and the Mazda 5, we tripped over to Derby to see a 3 year old Mazda 5 with 19,000 on the clock. It was lovely - immaculate condition, and from a main dealer so 12 month warranty etc, fully serviced, MOT'd etc. We bit the bullet, took out a loan, and picked it up last weekend. It is so much easier getting Elizabeth in and out of her car seat because she's level with me when I'm standing up, so no more leaning in. The sliding rear doors also make life a lot more easy, and we're hoping that the estate boot should see us through trips away with the pram/carry cot etc, and eventually when further children come along even seat two in the back! It has a DVD player in the rear, and the main thing is, it is a Mazda so we're hoping for mega-reliability!
We've also bought our sofas - a two and a three-seater brown leather set up from Furniture Village after over 12 months of deliberating on whether to or not. It should be delivered by Christmas, so we've got a deadline for finishing the painting and getting the living room straight. It feels a bit like time is running out though, because we haven't turned our attention to the spare room at all - and it isn't as simple as just painting it pink for Elizabeth, we've got to find a new home for the computer and all the files/paper work/desk contents, somewhere for all of my clothes, and we've got to sort out the radiator and internet connection - oh and buy her a bed/mattress/bedding/curtains etc to get the room ready for her.
I've just finished my first course of yoga - I'm having a two week break then I'm proposing to start again and repeat the course. It has worked well because as well as the useful mental and physical preparation for birth, it has also given me one night a week 'off' the bath/bed routine. I spend all of Tuesday afternoon preparing a casserole, then I leave at 5pm and come back at 7pm in time to say 'night night' to Elizabeth. I definitely feel better for it, and have really enjoyed getting out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)