We've been talking babies this evening, now that the last of the difficult calls have been made announcing the news. Trx has finally managed to tell her older sister and, of course, was really worked up about it. Thats why she's been putting it off. It helped a lot to tell her Dad at the weekend. He laughed, and made jokes about coping and general madness, but didn't seem to be negative about it at all. To be honest, hardly anyone has been. We do worry, but prayer and general openness with people has allayed those fears and I think we are beginning to settle into a period of calm.
It seems she's beginning to get over the worst of the crappy feelings too, though the emotional instability is still causing some rather delicate moments around here.
She's sleeping early (in bed just after 8 tonight!!) but tends to wake up about 4 and is then exhausted by lunchtime! Convinced (this week) that its a boy.
We're throwing names around at the moment and have come back to Frederick (one of Trx grandfathers).
And there is a good chance that we will use my family name John this time around. I wish we had with Stan really, but its great to perhaps have another chance. Walter is in there (after my Grandad), and others not ruled out yet are Monty and Dennis. I'd go for the latter - would be very touching, and really cool, to have a son named after one of the most innovative artists of our generation - but I think I have some work to do.
Girl-wise, Connie is front runner at the moment. Bessie has been and gone I think (again very cool after the Empress of the Blues) and Minnie has a nice ring to it. Too many "ies"? Maybe, after Elsie.
"Is that Kelsey? Or Chelsea?"
No. It's Elsie.
"Oh. Right. Anyway, like I was sayin…"
I think, as this really is going to be our last child (please?) a one syllable name works well. Like Fred.
Actually, LC is beginning to develop some nice tantrums! It's the Terrible Twos of course, but she's proving quite a handful and is more deliberatey naughty than any of the others have been. She's as bright as a button and has a really strong character - typical of a small person!! She is not afraid to fight her corner, and being the youngest of four is certainly all there when it comes to making her presence felt and getting her own way. Stan especially is such a big softy and adores her to the extent that he just gives her everything she wants! Not ideal of course, but that's just him.
They play together really nicely now, and I think she's going to miss him when school starts again in the morning. Which might make her more of a challenge at home, of course. Oh joy!
AND she is at the age now where a daytime sleep is becoming unpredictable. She still needs it, but more often than not goes without because life is just too much fun! Then she's tired by teatime, kicks up during our meal and generally doesn't eat anything. Then she's grumpy when she wakes up until breakfast...
They all eat so well at breakfast - Stan esp becomes an Incredible Eating Machine. At least three bowls of cereal and often four. And toast if there's time.
There should always be time for toast. It's as important as sky.
We're nearly up to two supermarket trips a week, but at the moment still resisting and filling in with local shopping. But the quality of the greengrocers stuff has gone down a lot since it was taken over last summer, and now most of their organic stuff comes from Europe.
Choose your issue. Organic - or local? To get both, we have to go out to the farm shops (mainly at Beaulieu, or Lymington) which of course involves a drive and some organisation.
And unfortunately, price is still an issue for us. The bread machine is working over time, and the Bursledon Mill flower is fantastic
We also discussed the allotment at the weekend. Growing our own fruit and veg hasn't been very successful. My heart isn't really in it, and Trx finds the time difficult to come by. Especially now of course, when this was to be the year she planned to make a real go of it. We have only been up once this year, so that proves we can't make it work!!. Kate and Paul will get first refusal to take over the whole plot, but I doubt they will as they go even less often than we do. The kids have never been very bothered about it, so we are going to put that down as an idea that didn't work and I'll talk to the Council about giving it up to someone who can make a better job of it. Shame really because its a great plot. Run by the same guy for over 40 years before us so the soil is in fantastic condition.
I wonder what we should do with the apple trees Dad gave us?

The office.
Surprisingly only took me until about 2 pm to catch up with all the paperwork - it was releatively quiet week here last weekit seems.
Quiet today too, which was a relief (mainly as D is now off sick) So how come he phoned in twice for phone numbers and other information???
Don't ask.

you bump into a friend you haven't seen for a long time

Had a good long chat with Athol this morning (I know - not in the office, but hey - a man's got to have some distractions!!) and offered my praises on her last couple of songs. I know have five to put an EP together with (under the title "Lovesongs to a Dalek") and she has also sent me a live set which I can start pushing round the pubs and venues I have contacts at.
Her dad is managing her and is OK with this, so it will be interesting to see what turns up. The most recent material has a lot of maturityand depth - I really think there's genuine talent there. Think Eva Cassidy and Nick Drake. Elizabeth Fraser and Pink Floyd. Add a slice of early Bowie and stir with Kirsty MacColl. She's now adding strings and a few samples of Indian chant.

On my way to the bank I note with some frustration that Essential Music in East Street is closing down!! The only place in town to buy independent, non-chart "weird shit" music. OK we have a new Fopp which isn't amazing for range but good on price - they have a new branch in the same street. Hence the closure of EM.
Of course I had to go in because EVERYTHING is only a fiver.
Picked up Bowie's Low (only had it on tape), Nick Cave's last albums The Lyre of Orpheus and Abbatoir Blues , and Bill Nelson's Quit Dreaming from 1981.
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