The Budget 2012: Changes That Will Affect You
Tax
Income Tax
Personal allowance will rise by an extra £1,100 in April 2013 in addition to the increase to £8,105 already scheduled for this April.
This means you'll be able to earn £9,205 before you pay any tax.
The 50% 'high earner' tax rate will be lowered to 45% from April 2013.
National Insurance
The plan to merge Income Tax & National Insurance is still likely to go ahead.
Tax for pensioners
The age-related additional personal allowance will be phased out to leave a single personal allowance that applies to all.
This will be rolled out from April 2013 and, according to Osborne, no one receiving a pension will lose out because of it.
VAT
Loopholes in the VAT system will be closed to reduce tax avoidance.
The current VAT exemptions on food, children's clothes, books and newspapers will not be affected.
Tax statements
Personal tax statements will be sent to all taxpayers.
These will set out your average tax rate for the year, how much tax and NI you've paid in total and how this has funded both public spending and public debt.
Corporation tax
Corporation tax will be cut by 1% today in addition to the 1% reduction scheduled for April - together this will take the UK rate of corporation tax to 24%.
Two further cuts are scheduled for next year so by 2014 UK corporation tax will be reduced to 22%.
To ensure these cuts don't benefit the banks the bank levy rate will be increased to 0.105% next January.
Other tax
Capital gains tax on residential properties owned by companies will be introduced.
A cap on tax relief for high earners will be introduced in April 2013. This means anyone that claims upwards of £50,000 in tax relief will be limited to receive a maximum of 25% of their income.
A general tax avoidance rule will be introduced to tackle tax evasion, details of which will be set out next year.
Benefits
Child benefit
The child benefit cut for higher rate tax payers will stay but changes have been made.
Those earning less than £50,000 will get to keep child benefit.
Those earning more than £50,000 will have their child benefit payments reduced by 1% for every £100 they earn over the £50k threshold.
Those earning more than £60,000 will not receive child benefit payments.
Housing
Affordable housing
The Get Britain Building scheme that extends funding to companies that build new houses will be upgraded to encourage affordable property development.
Stamp duty
Individual-owned residential properties worth over £2 million will be liable for 7% stamp duty.
The stamp duty rate will increase to 15% for residential properties that are bought by a company.
The government will investigate retrospective stamp duty charges for residential properties already owned by companies.
Armed forces
An extra £100 million will be used to improve accommodation for those in the armed forces.
Members of the armed forces serving overseas will also benefit from 100% council tax relief.
This will be funded by a £2.4 billion saving on the cost of operations in Afghanistan.
Planning permission
Next week the government will publish an overhaul of planning regulations that should make applications for planning permission far simpler.
Alcohol & Tobacco
Alcohol
There will be no change to taxation on alcohol.
Tobacco
Duty on all tobacco products will rise by 5% above inflation at 6pm tonight.
This will increase the cost of an 'average' pack of cigarettes by 37p.
Transport
Fuel
There will be no additional changes to fuel duty.
The Fair Fuel Stabiliser will still apply so fuel duty will go down when the cost of fuel rises and increase when fuel prices fall.
Road tax
Vehicle Excise Duty will increase by inflation only.
Trains
Rail links to the North of England will be improved.
The London underground and train network will be extended.
Flights
Additional airports may be built in the South East of England.
Employment & Education
Employment
Local authorities will be given the flexibility to introduce local pay rates for civil servants whose pay freezes end this year.
This is to bring public sector pay in line with wages available in the private sector.
There will be investment in manufacturing with the aim of doubling UK exports.
New Enterprise Zones will be introduced in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Education
A scheme that extends Enterprise Loans to young people to start and grow their own businesses will be piloted later this year.
Pensions
State pension
A single rate, contribution-based pension that pays a minimum of £140 will be introduced for future pensioners in the next Parliament.
Plans for an automatic review of the state pension age will be published this summer.
Entertainment
Sunday trading
Sunday trading laws will be relaxed for eight consecutive Sundays from 22nd July to coincide with the Olympics.
Broadband
Ultrafast broadband will be rolled out in 10 of the UK's biggest cities.
A number of smaller cities will also benefit from ultrafast broadband speeds.
Improvements will be made to broadband connection speeds in rural areas.
Entertainment industry
UK companies that produce video games, animation or high end TV programmes will be eligible for tax relief.
A new gambling duty on games machines will be introduced
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Maternity Wear
Was your wardrobe Glamorous or just Grim?
Did you spend your pregnancy in PJ's and Jogging bottoms or did you look like you had been Gok Wan'd everytime you stepped out the door?
I have had 3 pregnancies and have felt frumpy through every one of them but people always commented on how nice i looked.... or were they just being polite??? (Probably!!)
I didn't even look pregnant for the first 5 months when i was pregnant with my first daughter, i managed to use most of my normal sized everyday clothes during the first few months. And being in my twenties looking good was essential before i stepped out onto the pavement, i always had my hair done and make up on - however i was feeling. This was quite an effort when you are battling with morning sickness, but the key was to go to bed early and get up that bit earlier (not that i slept much).
I spent most of my days in black trousers and a fitted top because of work and this meant i really didn't need to think to much about my wardrobe!
When i was pregnant with my boy, i gained stones, not just looking pregnant with a belly but a definate expansion in the bum area and boob area. There was no way i would have fit in my 'normal' clothes. i had to be creative, luckliy fashion was on my side and it was winter, YEEAAAHHH!
So i opted for maternity jeans, bootcut, boyfriend fit and skinny fit, all teamed with some not so glamorous knit wear and some long sleeve maternity tops in black, white and grey. Boring you may think, but this was a cheap way to look great (after raiding the DP and H&M sale rails) and using accessories(that i already had) to put the colour back into those rainy days.
The third time round after piling back on the couple of stone that i had struggled to lose the second time round and giving away all my maternity clothes after saying 'i am never doing that again!' I had to go out and buy maternity clothes, with her being due in October i had the summer to contend with. Once again i opted for skinny jeans, bootcut jeans, linen trousers, a selection of short sleeved tops (some from the sale rails and others from next online) and an elasticated boho type skirt that i already had, teamed up with flip flops and the fit flops i invested in and accessories i felt fab up until those last few weeks when not even a £5,000 dress would make you feel attractive!
I must say i sold all the NEXT bits i bought on eBay and made back some money and when i bought them i bought the multi packs which were better value so all was good and it stopped the OH from moaning! :-)
Have a look at eBay to see if anyone is selling there old maternity bits, as you know they are only worn for a few months and some people spend a fortune so you may grab a bargain!
Make sure you pop on that necklace or bracelet, who would have thought something so small could make you feel so much better???
And when people comment on how you look, smile, say thank you and walk away with your head held high!
Rachael x
Please leave your comments about your capsule wardrobes, your fashion tips and fashion disasters!
Did you spend your pregnancy in PJ's and Jogging bottoms or did you look like you had been Gok Wan'd everytime you stepped out the door?
I have had 3 pregnancies and have felt frumpy through every one of them but people always commented on how nice i looked.... or were they just being polite??? (Probably!!)
I didn't even look pregnant for the first 5 months when i was pregnant with my first daughter, i managed to use most of my normal sized everyday clothes during the first few months. And being in my twenties looking good was essential before i stepped out onto the pavement, i always had my hair done and make up on - however i was feeling. This was quite an effort when you are battling with morning sickness, but the key was to go to bed early and get up that bit earlier (not that i slept much).
I spent most of my days in black trousers and a fitted top because of work and this meant i really didn't need to think to much about my wardrobe!
When i was pregnant with my boy, i gained stones, not just looking pregnant with a belly but a definate expansion in the bum area and boob area. There was no way i would have fit in my 'normal' clothes. i had to be creative, luckliy fashion was on my side and it was winter, YEEAAAHHH!
So i opted for maternity jeans, bootcut, boyfriend fit and skinny fit, all teamed with some not so glamorous knit wear and some long sleeve maternity tops in black, white and grey. Boring you may think, but this was a cheap way to look great (after raiding the DP and H&M sale rails) and using accessories(that i already had) to put the colour back into those rainy days.
The third time round after piling back on the couple of stone that i had struggled to lose the second time round and giving away all my maternity clothes after saying 'i am never doing that again!' I had to go out and buy maternity clothes, with her being due in October i had the summer to contend with. Once again i opted for skinny jeans, bootcut jeans, linen trousers, a selection of short sleeved tops (some from the sale rails and others from next online) and an elasticated boho type skirt that i already had, teamed up with flip flops and the fit flops i invested in and accessories i felt fab up until those last few weeks when not even a £5,000 dress would make you feel attractive!
I must say i sold all the NEXT bits i bought on eBay and made back some money and when i bought them i bought the multi packs which were better value so all was good and it stopped the OH from moaning! :-)
Have a look at eBay to see if anyone is selling there old maternity bits, as you know they are only worn for a few months and some people spend a fortune so you may grab a bargain!
Make sure you pop on that necklace or bracelet, who would have thought something so small could make you feel so much better???
And when people comment on how you look, smile, say thank you and walk away with your head held high!
Rachael x
Please leave your comments about your capsule wardrobes, your fashion tips and fashion disasters!
Breast or Bottle Feeding
So the million dollar question......Are you going to breastfeed your little one when they finally arrive.
With the pressure on from the professionals and media that 'breast is best' what should you do............?
All i can say is, according to research breast is most definately best.
I have had three children and they were all so different.
Child one (9lb, 8 days late, normal delivery)......
i managed to feed from day one with ease, she latched on after birth and fed until she was 6 months old, every day was like a dream, those perfect bonding moments when we just sat and gazed into each others eyes for hours where like nothing i had ever felt in my life before.
Yes for the first 2 weeks i had to battle with sore nipples and those labour after pains but just to look at her eyes and watch her grow made it all seem worth while! And no sterilising was wonderful unless i had to express and not having to go downstairs and warm bottles in the night was probably what kept me sane!
Trying to wean her onto formula milk was a tough job but we got there after a few weeks, she was already use to suckling onto the bottle because of the expressing.
She was weaned onto solids from 16 weeks as recommended at the time (2003)
Child two (8.5lb, 12 days late, normal delivery)......
He latch on straight away after birth, i knew i would have to deal with the sore nipples and after pains so this wasn't a shock like with my first baby. I breastfed everyday and used the feeding on demand like i did with my daughter, there is 4 years between them so the demand for attention was not as bad as it would be with a younger child, i had the time to do both which was fab.
After 6 weeks i felt like the little man was still hungry after being breastfed, he was still waking a lot during the night and obviously needed 'topping up' i was tired from 2-3 hourly feeds and opted for a bedtime bottle. After a week and half of these bedtime bottles he started sleeping from 11 until 7 and 2 weeks after that from 7 until 7. A Mummy with lots of sleep was most certainly a happy mummy!
I continued to breastfeed until 11 weeks during the day and eventually changed over to formula milk with ease as he was used to the teat already. Back to washing, sterlising and making bottles!! Luckily i did not need to get up in the night to make and warm these bottles!
He was weaned onto solids at 16 weeks but did not take to it, i left it for another 2 weeks and was more than happy with food at 18 weeks. (2007 - recommended weaning age was 6 months)
Child 3 (7.5lb, 1 day early, induced)
Once again breastfeeding from day one was perfect and once again looking into those eyes can not be described in words.
Those after pains with baby number 3 were far worse than the first two.
She fed with ease for the first 16 weeks, she fed quickly and was satisfied, no sleepless nights from 7 weeks. Weaning started at 16 weeks because of the interest she showed in food even though this was against the health visitors advice (2010). I continued to feed until 6 months along with her meals and this suited us as a family, no sterlising and making bottles. I never did much expressing because trying to find the time when two other kids are running around the house was not possible.
When it came to switching to formula it was very hard, baby didn't know what to do with a bottle, nor did she know what was in this bottle. I trawled the internet for advice, i spoke to the health visitor and the midwife and found no quick fix.
I then went on a forum and found one lady who explained that she had this problem and she kept trying, every feed time she made the bottle, checked it, and offered it to her baby, after 2 weeks the baby just latched on drank the whole bottle, she was feeding in the morning and at night time and offering bottles during the day with no breast milk.
After trying many things, spoon feeding formula, adding it to breakfast and foods, nothing worked, i also opted for the above.
I shed many tears during this process, but she was right, eventually this did work!
If i had have had the time i would have expressed milk and fed this from a bottle, but life takes over and this is not always possible, but this would have made the transition from breast to bottle so much easier.
I do not regret breastfeeding but every baby is different and i came to the conclusion that maybe it is just the difference between boys and girls? I cried for a number of nights feeling like i had failed when giving my son bottles, if you read the research even if you only feed for a number of days there are still health benefits for your baby, along with that flatter tum you will notice every day! But saying that, in 2003 i was back in my jeans in 2 weeks, after baby number 3 i have decided that it is more than likely that i will never fit back in those jeans again!
What works for one baby is not always best for another and what works for you is not always right for another mum. I would tell everyone i know, to try to breastfeed after birth, it is the most amazing feeling and a vital part of bonding!
And not having to wash those bottles and make them before going out was great to. Breastfeeding is the most convenient way to feed, that is for sure!
Have a look at my review on the review pages of the Faye and Lou Breastfeeding Butterfly.... perfect for those of you who are shy, like me, i envied these women who walk down the street feeding!
With the pressure on from the professionals and media that 'breast is best' what should you do............?
All i can say is, according to research breast is most definately best.
I have had three children and they were all so different.
Child one (9lb, 8 days late, normal delivery)......
i managed to feed from day one with ease, she latched on after birth and fed until she was 6 months old, every day was like a dream, those perfect bonding moments when we just sat and gazed into each others eyes for hours where like nothing i had ever felt in my life before.
Yes for the first 2 weeks i had to battle with sore nipples and those labour after pains but just to look at her eyes and watch her grow made it all seem worth while! And no sterilising was wonderful unless i had to express and not having to go downstairs and warm bottles in the night was probably what kept me sane!
Trying to wean her onto formula milk was a tough job but we got there after a few weeks, she was already use to suckling onto the bottle because of the expressing.
She was weaned onto solids from 16 weeks as recommended at the time (2003)
Child two (8.5lb, 12 days late, normal delivery)......
He latch on straight away after birth, i knew i would have to deal with the sore nipples and after pains so this wasn't a shock like with my first baby. I breastfed everyday and used the feeding on demand like i did with my daughter, there is 4 years between them so the demand for attention was not as bad as it would be with a younger child, i had the time to do both which was fab.
After 6 weeks i felt like the little man was still hungry after being breastfed, he was still waking a lot during the night and obviously needed 'topping up' i was tired from 2-3 hourly feeds and opted for a bedtime bottle. After a week and half of these bedtime bottles he started sleeping from 11 until 7 and 2 weeks after that from 7 until 7. A Mummy with lots of sleep was most certainly a happy mummy!
I continued to breastfeed until 11 weeks during the day and eventually changed over to formula milk with ease as he was used to the teat already. Back to washing, sterlising and making bottles!! Luckily i did not need to get up in the night to make and warm these bottles!
He was weaned onto solids at 16 weeks but did not take to it, i left it for another 2 weeks and was more than happy with food at 18 weeks. (2007 - recommended weaning age was 6 months)
Child 3 (7.5lb, 1 day early, induced)
Once again breastfeeding from day one was perfect and once again looking into those eyes can not be described in words.
Those after pains with baby number 3 were far worse than the first two.
She fed with ease for the first 16 weeks, she fed quickly and was satisfied, no sleepless nights from 7 weeks. Weaning started at 16 weeks because of the interest she showed in food even though this was against the health visitors advice (2010). I continued to feed until 6 months along with her meals and this suited us as a family, no sterlising and making bottles. I never did much expressing because trying to find the time when two other kids are running around the house was not possible.
When it came to switching to formula it was very hard, baby didn't know what to do with a bottle, nor did she know what was in this bottle. I trawled the internet for advice, i spoke to the health visitor and the midwife and found no quick fix.
I then went on a forum and found one lady who explained that she had this problem and she kept trying, every feed time she made the bottle, checked it, and offered it to her baby, after 2 weeks the baby just latched on drank the whole bottle, she was feeding in the morning and at night time and offering bottles during the day with no breast milk.
After trying many things, spoon feeding formula, adding it to breakfast and foods, nothing worked, i also opted for the above.
I shed many tears during this process, but she was right, eventually this did work!
If i had have had the time i would have expressed milk and fed this from a bottle, but life takes over and this is not always possible, but this would have made the transition from breast to bottle so much easier.
I do not regret breastfeeding but every baby is different and i came to the conclusion that maybe it is just the difference between boys and girls? I cried for a number of nights feeling like i had failed when giving my son bottles, if you read the research even if you only feed for a number of days there are still health benefits for your baby, along with that flatter tum you will notice every day! But saying that, in 2003 i was back in my jeans in 2 weeks, after baby number 3 i have decided that it is more than likely that i will never fit back in those jeans again!
What works for one baby is not always best for another and what works for you is not always right for another mum. I would tell everyone i know, to try to breastfeed after birth, it is the most amazing feeling and a vital part of bonding!
And not having to wash those bottles and make them before going out was great to. Breastfeeding is the most convenient way to feed, that is for sure!
Have a look at my review on the review pages of the Faye and Lou Breastfeeding Butterfly.... perfect for those of you who are shy, like me, i envied these women who walk down the street feeding!
What to do on a rainy afternoon
What do you do on a rainy, windy, miserable afternoon?
Do you venture out all wrapped up or stay inside and find something fun to do?
We are lucky enough to live near the beach, we have an endless cycle path to walk along or ride bikes but this all seems like so much hard work when the sun isn't shining!
Last weekend the sun was shining, the temperature gauge in the car showed 27 degrees, it was just like the perfect summers day ( like we should have had every day during may, June, July and august!) But we weren't that lucky!
We visited friends for a BBQ, had a paddling pool out for the kids and visited the beach for a play in the sea! This weekend came the rain, meaning snuggle up my poorly children or spend the day at home entertaining! So we baked, played on the wii, super mario and mario kart is a favourite in our house having a little boy who is mario and yoshi mad! We watched dvd's and snuggled on the sofa! The perfect cosy, low cost family weekend!
Do you venture out all wrapped up or stay inside and find something fun to do?
We are lucky enough to live near the beach, we have an endless cycle path to walk along or ride bikes but this all seems like so much hard work when the sun isn't shining!
Last weekend the sun was shining, the temperature gauge in the car showed 27 degrees, it was just like the perfect summers day ( like we should have had every day during may, June, July and august!) But we weren't that lucky!
We visited friends for a BBQ, had a paddling pool out for the kids and visited the beach for a play in the sea! This weekend came the rain, meaning snuggle up my poorly children or spend the day at home entertaining! So we baked, played on the wii, super mario and mario kart is a favourite in our house having a little boy who is mario and yoshi mad! We watched dvd's and snuggled on the sofa! The perfect cosy, low cost family weekend!
Thursday 6 October 2011
Reviews coming up soon!
We have some very exciting reviews coming up soon from Philips AVENT, Skeanie & Tommee Tippee!
Watch this space x
Watch this space x
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Guest Blog Post from Hannah - Due 18th November 2011
My OUR pregnancy journey
Just trying to find the words to tell another person about the last 7 months is overwhelming in itself – it has been emotional to say the least! I want to start by saying this has by no means my own journey but one I have shared not only with my partner but everyone I love. It has been and is the least lonely experience of my life and for that I am truly grateful.
I found out I was actually pregnant on 16th March 2011 – I had suspected for a week - I would have been 7 weeks pregnant. We were not planning a family but I was certainly broody. Ed (my partner) had just left the army and we had dropped from a comfortable income to struggling to pay the bills. We had handed in notice on our beautiful home and had unmanageable debt coming out of our ears. The idea of facing the fact I was pregnant was far too much in the midst of this – I felt terrified and like I had already let our little person down before he/she had even formed its first heartbeat. But equal and almost more powerful to that fear was sheer delight. We were going to have a baby and we knew we were in love with her or him already – and if we couldn’t give it material items we could give it all the love in the world.
From then on I learnt the first major lesson of pregnancy – everyone tells you what you know… no one tells you what you don’t know.
You are sure to be told: You will never sleep again, it will cost you a fortune, prepare for the mood swings and you will get fat. And yes many of the clichés are true but you never really appreciate the depth of those ‘when I was pregnant stories’. I had morning sickness, tiredness all the usual. I coped by eating what I wanted and keeping cereal bars in my bag and by my bed. I hate cereal bars now but they got me through.
But for me it was all the things I felt no one had prepared me for… I don’t know if it is that no one tells you this or it’s just that this is my story and so it is different for everyone but in my first trimester I swung around a vast variety of feelings from excitement and being so content that life could not provide me with anything more but the contrast or panic and wondering if I was ready, able, old enough to be a mother – to care and be responsible for this tiny person and what no one ever said is that it was totally OK to feel all those things and that it does not make me a bad person or a potential bad mummy… because the day I went for that first scan and we saw our tiny little creation on the big screen all those doubts and fears vanished instantly. Right there in that cramped dark hospital room was my family, the new unit that would now define my very existence. Both Ed and I cried and watched in silence and awe.
Not only did I fall in love with our little creation but I fell in love with Ed all over again. I was so glad to be next to the man I love and to have created this together. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
By the 2nd trimester the word was out to all – I had shown everyone who\ would look - my scan picture - our babe, made a list of everything we needed and had decided names. Our situation had improved dramatically, we had found a new home, consolidated our debts and Ed had a stable job. Things were still so tight for us though with the big drop in income but somehow it made every relationship in our life stronger. Friends and family rallied around us and gave us what they could – we inherited a travel system, bags of beautiful clothes, toys and books. We knew this baby was going to have a lot of love in its life. I am telling you this bit because I always thought that these sort of out comes only happen in the films – well they happen in reality and I look up every day and say thank you, I know the ‘happy ever after’ doesn’t happen for everyone but whatever the universe throws at you, when you know you have another person to be responsible for then you somehow find a way out
.
Physically the morning sickness had eased and I had a new energy! I was also glowing. I had been warned about the mood swings – but here I was again unprepared for quite how much pressure goes on a relationship. In 2 years me and Ed had never rowed – we have squabbled and bickered but never a row. Here we were 4 months pregnant screaming at each other at 2 a.m.! Ed had no idea who this woman was and I had no idea why he didn’t get me. The next day we sat together and laughed… that’s all we could do because it had all been so pointless. We identified that what had made us such a great couple is that we both loved to party - socialising and having a few drinks was how we had fun. We recognised that we couldn’t do that at the moment. We needed to find new ways to have fun. And we did! The most important lesson from this was that we knew how to communicate and if you ever have to invest in your relationship now is the time because – if anything – only going to get harder once she arrived.
Physically the morning sickness had eased and I had a new energy! I was also glowing. I had been warned about the mood swings – but here I was again unprepared for quite how much pressure goes on a relationship. In 2 years me and Ed had never rowed – we have squabbled and bickered but never a row. Here we were 4 months pregnant screaming at each other at 2 a.m.! Ed had no idea who this woman was and I had no idea why he didn’t get me. The next day we sat together and laughed… that’s all we could do because it had all been so pointless. We identified that what had made us such a great couple is that we both loved to party - socialising and having a few drinks was how we had fun. We recognised that we couldn’t do that at the moment. We needed to find new ways to have fun. And we did! The most important lesson from this was that we knew how to communicate and if you ever have to invest in your relationship now is the time because – if anything – only going to get harder once she arrived.
Everyone was and is so supportive and tolerant of me all the changes I was facing where as Ed kinda got forgotten. No one had spotted how much his life had changed in 2 years. From never having had a relationship, disposable income, complete freedom, girls falling at his feet – to being in love, with bills, working weekends and every hour available, with his own family on the way. It was time Ed was cut some slack and I think verbalising that helped. And him knowing that I missed our old life really helped too. So there it was; find a new way to have fun, laugh at the ridiculousness of the arguments and talk – never hide your problems under the carpet most importantly be prepared to look at life through his glasses.
Ed was really hoping for a boy – I tell people it is because he wanted to call him Jack Daniel after his favourite drink – he denies this! Everyone kept asking me what do you want... easy… ‘a healthy baby’ I wasn’t at all bothered. The 2nd Scan wasn’t as emotional as the first – but still hugely exciting because it would make it so real for everyone. The lady told us our baby has no boy bits – we can only assume that means we are having a girl. We had our name picked already – Sophie Elizabeth and she is due to arrive 18th November. We bounced out of the hospital and rang my dad and Ed’s mum. It’s my dad’s first grandchild so I don’t think it had really sunk in. When I told him it was a girl I heard the shift in his thinking – he went out that afternoon and bought her some gorgeous outfits.
My body is now changing dramatically – but what I didn’t expect was how much I love it! I have always had a curvy figure and always hid my tummy but now I loved wearing tight clothes as my bump shows more and I look pregnant rather than over weight. I also now love cleaning I seem to hate mess. I have always been a messy person – in fact one of the first times Ed told me he loved me was after he found a random onion rolling around my bedroom. Having been in the army he was always the tidy one – now I drive him mad with the hoover! I believe they call this nesting.
I am now midway through my third trimester. My anxieties have changed yet again. I wake up now in the night panicking – I have never had anything to lose before and now I can’t believe I have everything I have ever dreamed of. The journey over the last few months has been intense, not only because of the pregnancy but realising the strength of my relationship with Ed, how many wonderful friends we have and the fact that we have come through a hugely uncertain period in our life financially and we now have a home we love and will be happy to bring Sophie back to once she has arrived. I have 6 weeks left to go. I can honestly say I am the happiest I have ever been and I am terrified because I can’t believe I can be this blessed.
The labour?…. No I am not scared about the labour – I don’t listen to anyone else’s version of events – the labour will be my own and it will be a long and as painful as it has to be to bring her into the world. She has to come out after all – it’s like going on a roller coaster for me – once the carriage starts to move I can’t get off so just get through it. Speaking of labour I have to go and pack my hospital bag… better get a waddle on!
(I would love to take this chance to say a couple of thank yous to all the people who have supported Ed and myself in particular Jill & Maddie Corfield for being hugely generous and kind and really looking out for us, Amanda and Gary for the hand me downs and all the support and advice, All our close friends Lynsey, Lauren, Koo, Sian, Holly, Ryan, Jo and Beef who have embraced this pregnancy and helped us see how much love our baby girl will be surrounded by and our new friends Lee and Johnny who have been lots of fun and so kind since we met. Lesley and Peter for Sophie’s bed and their abundance of love. Doris – Ed’s mum – for helping us build a stock of baby grows and my daddy who, as always, has looked after me – you will be the best granddad in the world)
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Why Can't the Doctor Make a Decision?
So my poorly little man came out of school yesterday and started crying. When i asked him what was wrong he told me that his ear hurt! So home we went for some Calpol.
Four hours later he woke crying ( He is a very good sleeper so we knew something was wrong) He sat with us for a while then went off, back to bed.
Two hours later we had more tears, so we gave him some Nurofen and sat with him again, this time he wouldn't settle.
I rang our on call doctors number and the GP rang back in 15 minutes, i explained his symptoms and he wanted to take a look at my little man.
We were there and back in 15 mins. Diagnosis, inflamed ear. Treatment, Calpol and Nurofen. Now that is out of hours service you can't complain about!
During the night he slept, i woke him at 8am and there was blood on his pillow which was coming out of his ear. He said his ear was now fine but he felt funny.
We rang the doctors, battled with the nosey receptionist who wants to know all the details, not that it is any of her business, seeing as she is not able to diagnose or offer treatment and booked him an appointment, more calpol and nurofen while we were waiting!
So we finally arrive at the GP's room.
Ahhhh, it appears he may have had an infection and perforated his ear drum! (well i kind of already knew that!)
I will give you a prescription for some antibiotics, it is up to you if you give them him or not, if he is feverish then i would say he needs them but i'm not too sure!
Well thank you, that is most helpful! If i am given this decision to make, why can i not walk into the pharmacy and buy them over the counter? Because i probably would have done yesterday evening! But instead i smile, say thank and leave!
After a few hours of waiting to see how he was i popped to Tesco and picked up the prescription.
Has anyone else had a problem with their GP?
Four hours later he woke crying ( He is a very good sleeper so we knew something was wrong) He sat with us for a while then went off, back to bed.
Two hours later we had more tears, so we gave him some Nurofen and sat with him again, this time he wouldn't settle.
I rang our on call doctors number and the GP rang back in 15 minutes, i explained his symptoms and he wanted to take a look at my little man.
We were there and back in 15 mins. Diagnosis, inflamed ear. Treatment, Calpol and Nurofen. Now that is out of hours service you can't complain about!
During the night he slept, i woke him at 8am and there was blood on his pillow which was coming out of his ear. He said his ear was now fine but he felt funny.
We rang the doctors, battled with the nosey receptionist who wants to know all the details, not that it is any of her business, seeing as she is not able to diagnose or offer treatment and booked him an appointment, more calpol and nurofen while we were waiting!
So we finally arrive at the GP's room.
Ahhhh, it appears he may have had an infection and perforated his ear drum! (well i kind of already knew that!)
I will give you a prescription for some antibiotics, it is up to you if you give them him or not, if he is feverish then i would say he needs them but i'm not too sure!
Well thank you, that is most helpful! If i am given this decision to make, why can i not walk into the pharmacy and buy them over the counter? Because i probably would have done yesterday evening! But instead i smile, say thank and leave!
After a few hours of waiting to see how he was i popped to Tesco and picked up the prescription.
Has anyone else had a problem with their GP?
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