Sticking Together Crew

[AmaryllisRed]

Wow... Remind me if I ever decide to become an international businessman-- er, woman-- that there's a market for ice cream shops in the UK!!

Well, if you're out shopping or something and want a treat, where do you go? What do you have? I think ice cream is the big thing here... I know in cities they have frozen yogurt and smoothie places, and cupcake places are just starting to open up... Mmmmm we have this local place called the Blue Iris Bakery. They have SUCH good cupcakes. All different varieties. Very tasty. I think we might have to go there soon. They're really expensive, but they're pretty big and pretty yummy.

 

[Traskey]

Err, good question. We have a few tea shops, but they don't open late. A few coffee houses Nero, Starbucks, Costa or the lovely KFC, MacD and Burger King. No Taco Bell. Lots of local restaurants but not the type you just go in for dessert.

You really could make a fortune over here doing something like that!

 

[AmaryllisRed]

Wow... I would miss Taco Bell... Do you have like real Mexican restaurants? Or is Mexican not very popular? I know you all have Chinese, right? And Thai?

Haha I don't know why I talk about food so much...

 

[Sun_Flower]

We have chinese, and italian restaurants, and a Mexican chain called Chiquitos. We don't really have Thai or Sushi or anything like that... not outside of the big cities anyway... xx

 

[AmaryllisRed]

Honestly we don't have a lot of Chinese or Thai or Mexican... I guess more Mexican than the others... An Indian restaurant opened up not long ago, and it seems like they're finally getting some business. There are maybe five Mexican restaurants within five miles of me (not counting Taco Bell!) and probably five Chinese, too.

Maybe that does seem like a lot.
But we have like ten McDonald's within five miles. And I don't even live in a big city!

I forget that not everyone has so many options so close... When I was in college, we lived in a town of like 1000 people, and we didn't have much at all... We had a Walmart, KFC, McDonald's, Burger King, Dairy Queen... Pizza Hut... and that was pretty much it. Oh, and an all-night convenient store with a giant chicken out front that we affectionally referred to as the "cock mart."

 

[cranberry987]

Thing is if we're shopping we do tea. So we have tea and cake. But tea and ice cream? Just doesn't work. I think there's less reliance on chains here too.

 

[AmaryllisRed]

Mmmmm cake. Now, when you say cake, you mean cake, right? I mean, I used to think you all were very sad with all your biscuit-eating until I learned that biscuits are cookies!! Now I'm jealous whenever someone is having biscuits...
So cake is the same, right? I could go for some cake... mmmm I'm such a cake-lover!!

I think you're right about the chains... It's so hard around here for a non-chain to survive. It's sad, really. But from what I've heard from ladies on here (and seen in movies!), you all have a lot more little shops in the UK. Never mind that my impression of the UK is based mostly on Notting Hill, About a Boy, and Bridget Jones.

 

[cranberry987]

Yes normal cake. So sponge mix with guacamole or cheese sauce inside and topped with gravy yum ^^







Hehe. just cake yeah

Also thinking about it our evening entertainment are focused around drinking. If we went out in the evening we would go to the pub for a pint rather than ice cream. And if we weren't drinking then we'd be the driver and sit there being grumpy. Or just stay home.

 

[AmaryllisRed]

I could go for a pint... of ICE CREAM!!!! I didn't buy any last time I went grocery shopping because I knew if I bought it I would eat it. Too much of it and too quickly.

Man... now I want ice cream... Mmmmm you know what I really want? A frosty from Wendy's. Think I'll have to settle for some chocolate milk.

 

[lilrojo]

I love learning all about the food differences.. as well as just differences in life in general.. so interesting..

 

[cranberry987]

I couldn't sleep so just ate biscuits in the bath. Hehe. Not bread rolls!

 

[Traskey]

Oh yeah biscuits = plain scones/cobbler for you! When my sis (not my real sis but close enough) said I had to have biscuits and gravy when I went to see her I was like ewww. I wasn't too keen on grits either, grit to me is tiny stones

https://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss20/adhall09/Sedimentary/Grit.jpg

I did however love Dairy Queen, monkey bread *drooooooooooooool* and diners!

 

[QueenVic]

Hi Ladies,

Home at last - sorry for worrying everyone but went into hospital the Friday afternoon and didn't have Harry until the Monday morning, def wasn't up for txting anyone during that time!

I'm aware of not wanting to scare anyone who hasn't had their babes yet but I'm sure knowing u girls that u want to know the story so just rmb this was my experience & I know 3 ppl who recently had babies and their births were fantastic

SO had pessary for induction when I arrived at hospital, bad period type pains started couple of hrs later whilst being monitored got stronger so was taken to labour ward, checked and only 1cm dilated, eek..
Pains turned into contractions coming very very close together.. was struggling with the pain, checked again.. still no progress.
Started on the gas & air, then advised to have pethidine & paracetamol as I wasn't progressing but seemed to be in agony! Senior midwife said it felt like I had some scar tissue around cervix which may be making it harder to open so started me on the drip.
Managed to relax for an hr or 2 until pethidine wore off.. checked again STILL 1cm.. they were getting a bit concerned at this point and advised epidural & which I really didn't want but my pain was alike to being 10cms apparently!
Epidural didn't work.. they tried 3 times !!
Doctor said it looked like I would have to have a C-Section & I was so upset.
Sucking on gas & air although my life depended on it, I really have to say I was in AGONY like I was being tortured.
Doctor who was lovely and said obviously they were missing something & he needed to have a look at my cervix rather than a feel (used smear test type thing) said it was def the scar tissue, he did something like manually push it out the way & said hopefully that would do the trick!
This was after already being in pain for 2 DAYS !!
Poor Steve we were both absolutely exhausted by this point & very scared.
Just when I wanted them to kill me I got checked for the last time before being prepped for c-section & I was 9 1/2cm !!! YAAAAAAAY
WELL when the Dr said it would take about half an hour from then to push baby out apparently I refused saying NO, no way I can't do it I honestly felt like do they did not understand how much this hurts !!!!!!! But I know now from talking to them that there wasn't any other option, epidural hadn't worked, too late by then for c-section so I just had to do it, the hardest thing in my life.
Dr had to use ventouse & cut me then finally after 3 days baby was out, I was a wreck but it was over.
Had injection to deliver placenta, left for 3mins then Steve cut the cord.
Bad bleed and got hooked up to drip to contract uterus back down. Given bed bath, tea & toast and wheeled round to our room.

Had to have SO many blood tests in the following days as the count came back very high although I had an infection somewhere, on antibiotics now.

Traumatic is not the word & def won't be doing it again but he is gorgeous !!!!

Harry Michael Dunford
8lbs4oz

 

[Traskey]

Awwwwwwwwwwwww, Harry, what an absolute cutey
Lovely photos of him.

I'm so sorry that you had such a painful birthing experience and that all their interventions didn't work. I hope that you heal up quickly.

Giant

 

[Sun_Flower]

Oh honey that sounds so traumatic You've got such a beautiful baby boy to show for it all though Do they know what caused the scar tissue at all? sounds like it's really something they should have noticed before you got into labour. Hope everything is getting better now you're at home *big massive hugs* Well done, you obviously did absolutely brilliantly dealing with all that xxx

 

[sspencer99]

Awww vic what a beautiful little man and Harry is a beautiful name like Geogous prince Harry hehe
I'm very proud of you having to do all that I would have been a mess it just goes to show how stong woman really are

And don't worry you have not put me off what will be will be
And your ok xxx


Once again he is a beauty xx

 

[lilrojo]

Thanks so much for sharing your birth story Vicki.. We all know all births are different.. and i have been through it before as well as Jen, who is getting a csection.. I am not though so hope this time goes as well as last time.. but im so sorry to hear how painful and scary your experience was.. and he is absoultely gorgeous.. Congrats.. Happy your home and can heal and rest..

Cant believe how fast time has gone.. already gonna be full term on wednesday.. hope i can get the sweep and see if that will set things off.. as im starting to be in more and more pain.. ugh oh well about done..

Have a great sunday everyone..

 

[sspencer99]

Good morning all
So today is my first day back at work after being off and my bloody back gave me worse jip last nite I'm sooo tired
I'm going to have to take m leave early I think which I don't want as I'd like to spend more time with my bubs when she's here

Omg Tracy it's testing time soon what day are you planning on doing it ??

Vic n sarha hope ur both well

Jen Logan can't beleive the time has come around soo quick

Sorry if I'm not making sence I'm sooo fricken tired

Huhs to the rest of the group

Have a good day all xxxx

 

[DrGomps]

Vicki, thanks for sharing. He is absolutely gorgeous. Sorry it was so rough. sounds long and exhausting and PAINFUL! Love the name!

Stacey, hope your back feels better.

Eeks, Jen...happy full term!!'

 

[sspencer99]

Omg happy full term Jen xxx