Moos

Why Azul, do bins get frisky in the spring time? 'In the spring a livelier iris changes on the burnished bin In the spring a young bin's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of.. er... sin?' Falcao, I liked your puns, don't be discouraged

Cherry cola is just tragic. But if you nip over to the quiet room, I've got a chilled glass of Billecart Salmon waiting for you.

If you're doing that without moving the chair, then Mockney has got his wish.

Do you know, Kel, it's a bloody disgrace - I haven't got a drink at all. Something is seriously wrong. You?

That must have been doubly exciting for you, Steve! Did you try to catch some? (eughwwwhsdlghhag;gj)

Very loud snorty-type snigger How adult.

Poor PGC, fingers crossed it wasn't your cat, and hopefully he or she will come strolling in looking for a nice bit of scran before you know it.

Snorky, you naughty naughty man

Hee hee, yes I know. (that we've mentioned Jimmy before, not that I'm very funny)

Spadetownboy, are you trying to wind everyone up? The original poster made it clear that s/he is trying to understand both his/her current neighbour and the previous neighbour, and is trying to be reasonable and flexible. When you say 'i doubt that this noise goes on constantly day after day' and similar comments, what are you basing this on? Have you been to OTE's flat? I also think it contributes nothing to a previously polite and neighbourly thread to start name-calling, show some manners.

Yes, Steve, but you've admitted to liking being dribbled on, so not sure whether your opinion counts for much! ::o;-) To keep this on topic (ahem), er, I saw James Nesbitt on Lordship Lane. Has anyone mentioned him on this thread before?

You are dot alone... for we are here with youuuu... (nice game, guys)

Thanks, Scruffy, for your sensible advice and reassurance. And yes I am quite excited about going into a situation where it may be hours before I get dribbled on! And thank you, too, your DMumesty, I shall muse on your wise words over a glass of chilled champagne. Which I will of course have to nick from the local offy, so as not to drive up household costs. Night, all.

Could you ask them to come downstairs and hear it for themselves? They may not understand how much noise he makes.

Hi Steve, and thank you very much for your creative reply - I will be working part-time (initially 3 days, then 4 days per week) and may be able to WFH from time to time, which will at least cut out the commute. And at least I will be home every day in time to play with Mooschen before giving him his supper and bath and tucking him up in bed. But leave the area!? Goodness me, and from a regular forumite, too. :) As for Macca, the ungrateful git won't cough up. I guess I should have got that lawyer after all... Seriously, though, it's not that I would like to change the circumstances, I guess I was just wondering how it's going to feel, how hard/easy it will be to swap hats back and forth, that kind of thing.

I'm going back to work soon after almost a year of maternity leave. Although I'm looking forward to it, I'm also quite nervous and concerned:- - that my son will miss me, and that I know I will miss him hugely - that with rushing to work early and rushing home early I won't be able to balance doing my both my jobs - that after such a long time away I'll be rubbish at work, which I used to take pride in being good at - about being regarded as 'a mummy' by colleagues, with all the stereotyping and discrimination that goes with it - some other things as well, but I won't wibble on further Any good tips from people who've been in this position, or who are sharing doing a paid job with being a parent? Goodness knows I'm grateful that I can have both a career and my darling boy, so don't get me wrong, I know how lucky I am - but your good advice would be welcome.

Well, at least you ARE cool. Still, much better. 2 Hail Marmoras for you.

Just tried skipping over the salt and lemon and fell flat on my face. Am sitting on the floor wounded, sulking, and now drinking the wine through a wide straw.

Father O'Connor is reading this thread?! He's going to be busy! Some people just have stinky feet. It's tragic but true.

Crank it up, chilluns, most of these so-called confessions are actually thinly disguised assertions of how cool you are or have been. Um...I have stinky feet.

Call me conservative, but I'm sticking with the red wine: am sitting on the sofa feeling pleasantly tiddly and typing unsteadily. Tequila would have me bouncing around the sitting room finding the Mooslet's toys too challenging to play with.

Ooh, could we have a secret handshake?! Neh heh heh.

Thanks everyone for this really interesting and considered post. My two-pennorth - and compared with some of the excellent advice we've already had, that's all I'd pay for it! - is don't underrate the way you feel. Yes, try to recognise when your feelings are irrational or destructive but give yourself a break and say I DO feel angry or jealous or unhappy, and don't get into the cycle of hating yourself for having the negative feelings. Instead try to treat yourself with the kindness and nonjudgemental support that you'd give to a good friend and address the issues behind the feelings. I hope that's not just gibber.

Blimey, Anna. Although, come to think of it, this IS the ranting thread. Pax.

*catches at least some of the rum in her coffee, finds it improves the taste mightily* Fank you very much! :))