Alan3

So, its been a long time since my last post, in fact it was the birth of our first child. So, here's an entry for me (and others should they wish), to look back on to record the birth of our second.

They say all births are diffierent, and this one really was. Sharon had been in a lot more pain for a lot longer and she started early signs of labour weeks before she actually gave birth. She'd had her show some time before, but no sign of waters breaking.

On the morning of the 19th August at around 8:30am she decided that she was having contractions. Only about 30 seconds long, but pretty regular, as expected the midwife told us it was too early to go to hospital. Called the parents who came and got Nathan.

We decided to use a nice hot bath for pain relief, but the issue was that she didn't want to get out, even when here conractions were over a minute and still very regular. Must admit, I was a bit worried and its not easy to get a pregnant woman out of the bath who didn't want to! Managed to assist her out, quickly got dressed and set off for hosptial.

Upon arrival we were seen quickly (mostly because Sharon could only walk about 10m before having to stop and take breaths). The examination showed that Sharon was 6 - 7cm diliated and that her waters had broken (we still have no idea when that happened!). So, we went straight to the delivery room where she was fully dilated and ready to go.

Bit of gas and air, but she was in a lot of pain. This time she felt the urge to push, something she didn't feel last time, but after nearly 2 hours of pushing things weren't going well. The baby was moving down, but stopped at a certain point and would not move. No alarm this time, but she did ring for a consultant and we had a couple of other people turn up too. It continued the same for a bit longer, but in the end they went for the vanteuse again and the baby was assisted out by suction pump! Born at 14:08, 7lb 5ozs the same as Nathan (and over a pound less than predicted! Due date was 24th). Lucy Rose Percival.

Very emotional experience, did not like seeing Sharon in such pain and was plenty of crying when she came. This time she got skin to skin straight away (Nathan was taken away due to worries about his heart beat) and Sharon got pooed on! Turns out her umbilical cord had wrapped around her body and that was why it was so hard for her to come out.

Very proud of Sharon, she did an amazing job. Nathan and mum came to visit, but again I had to leave Sharon and Lucy over night. At least this time Sharon was more mobile, she had been cut, but it was intentional rather than a tear so no bleeding. Still in pain, but she could move about so she could cope better. I came home and let Nathan sleep with me only to go back in at 8am. Once again, we were finally able to leave after 6pm to finally have all our new family back home.

It's been a long time since my last post, but I've just had a monumental life event that I would like to record.

I'm doing this for me, as a record for future me to look back on, but if anyone wants to read all the details then so be it.


( All about the labor and birthCollapse )

Ok folks, anyone near Exeter (looking at you Cardiff folk) free 13th - 15th May to monster? Nice little system, website is http://www.threekingdomslrp.co.uk/ and you'll get a chance to wail on me :)

So, just as a litmus test, if a monthly linear style LRP were to start in and around Peterborough UK would there be much interest?

It would have a full and rich game world, a simple and effective combat system and be run by experienced LRPers.

As far as I know there's nothing for miles around, and lots of LRPers within 50 miles or so.

Two updates in one day, it's a miracle. Having read other people's census memes these have been very insightful, I've learned things about them that I never knew, so I thought I'd do my own.

March 2011: See below post. Am a housing officer, married to a wonderful woman and about to but a 3 bedroom house where we can start a family. Will be renting our current flat out, have 2 cats, 2 nice cars and feel content with my lot. Still lrping, socialising and enjoying life. Don't see some people as much as I'd like, and ought to reconnect with people I haven't seen for years.

March 2001: I am a lawyer in Lincoln, getting paid peanuts and not really enjoying the job. I am living with my fiancée (not Sharon) and am about to start a new job in Peterborough (which pays better and I enjoy more). Have a great social circle in Lincoln with some great people. We own a new 3 bedroom house with 3 toilets, but will soon move to a lovely 3 bed converted coaching inn in Bourne. We have 2 cats, I still LRP, and I think I'm relatively happy. I am unaware that I have little in common with Sam and that we are just drifting through life aimlessly. Within 2 years we'll have arranged to get married and then split up 2 months beforehand. Definitely the right thing to have happened.

March 1991: I am in the 2nd year at an all boys Secondary School.I am doing very well academically, being that the school is a Grammar School and that I'm in all the top classes (except languages) and near the top in each class. I have discovered RP and am just about to discover LRP. My only "friend" is someone who gets picked on nearly as much as I do. I really do not like school, and leaving for college is the best choice I make. I will ace my GCSEs without trying which puts me in a bad stead for A-levels, because it turns out they are much harder! I live with my parents and 2 brothers in a large bungalow. I am lonely.

March 1981: I am 3, we live in a small house near the river. I very competitive with my older brother who is 2.5 years older than me, my younger brother is not yet born. I will do many things at the same time as my older brother including learning to ride a bike. I love He-man, the morales of which probably help shape my morale compass.

Hello Livejournal, it's been a while.

I still read LJ daily, but must admit when I feel like posting something it tends to be on facebook these days, despite my initial view that facebook was a waste of time. Funny huh?

Just thought I'd post a little about life at the moment. Work is extremely busy, but am still enjoying it. I think I really suit being a Housing Officer and the role fits much better than my previous career in law. I feel I do some social good is housing those that need it, but also I'm pretty damn good at it. My colleagues seem to find the job stressful, but I don't get it. I guess I'm very organised and pretty efficient so I keep my paperwork up to date, whereas other seem to spend more time running around complaining about how much work they have, rather than actually doing it.

So, work is good, I get on with most people, though I'm beginning to feel that unless I start complaining more and pulling my hair out, complaining about how busy I am that I won't fit in fully *sighs*. Maybe I'll bring my LRPing to the fore and RP Stressed Eric or something?

In more recent news, we've made an offer on a house and it's been accepted. We're both over the moon, the house is pretty much exactly what we wanted, it's in a location we wanted and frankly its a bargain at the price we paid. Add to that, the couple we're buying off of are lovely and we get on really well with them, they're leaving us loads of stuff which will be useful. Their purchase has fallen through, so there may be a delay, but still looks good.

We have been unable to sell our flat, so we'll be renting it out, not something we're particularly overjoyed about. We've found a tenant, though whether he is prepared to suffer a delay we'll have to find out.

After finding this:-

http://www.medieval-arms.co.uk/act… £255 I finally decided to give planet trading a go.

So, I've ordered:-

http://www.planettrading.co.uk/pro… £85

http://www.planettrading.co.uk/pro… £24

http://www.planettrading.co.uk/pro… £28

£176 total including postage and packaging.

Now, since I'm not 100% convinced of how legitimate it can be bearing in mind the crazy low prices I've paid by credit card (also, they may not fit me!). If nothing comes of it I can claim a refund via my credit card so I should be protected.

Wish me luck, and if the stuff arrives and is good I'll let you all know since it could save everyone a small fortune on armour!

Am looking about for some armour for my next character.

I'm going for a greek, troy, 300 type look. I have the helmet, shield and sword and am now looking for body armour plus legs and arms, preferably in black to match the rest.

I found this site http://www.planettrading.co.uk/ind… and the prices are just incredible. I mean really really cheap, but that makes me worry. To be honest I'd rather try stuff on before i buy it anyway, but the prices just seem so cheap it makes me worry about the legitimacy. Anyone had any dealings with them?

Was looking at something like http://www.planettrading.co.uk/pro… but that is about half the cheapest price I've seen equivalent stuff.

Is too good to be true really too good?

So, as you all know, I am very anti party but I have always been happy to vote independent if a suitable candidate presented themselves. Sharon found details of our independent who's manifesto is here:

http://johnswallow2010.blogspot.co…

I like about 95% of what I see, he makes a great start with making hunting with dogs legislation even tighter and goes on to make alot of sense. He recognises the importance of immigration and Europe, and whilst I support the Euro I do agree that now is not the time.

I disagree about Trident, I think that we cannot uninvent nuclear weapons, and whilst they exist we need our own deterrent, we cannot rely on others.

I am very strongly considering voting for this guy, which will be the first time I've ever not spoilt my vote!

Whilst back on politics I'm getting increasingly annoyed at tactical voters. This is your chance to have your say, if you believe in Green or the Liberal Democrats then vote for them, don't vote to keep people out. Unless everyone actually votes for who they want then no-one really knows what sort of support they have. Who knows, if all those tactical voters voted for the Lib Dems then maybe they'd be enough to win the vote. Unless people actually vote that way, you'll never know.

Also, I'm annoyed at the whole "Doesn't matter, 1 vote makes no difference." That's total and utter bollocks.#

Yes, statistically your 1 vote out of hundreds of thousands is hardly likely to tip the balance, but everything needs to be looked out from a macro basis, not a micro basis. If everyone took that attitude, no-one would vote. If no-one took that attitude we may get 100% of people voting and who knows who might get support that way. Often candidates get in on 60% of the people voting, with 35% voting for them. Imagine what power that other 40% have! If they all spoilt their vote, or voted for a particular candidate then they'd win!

This is our one singularly democratic right and its too important to waste or trivialise.

Its closing to election time again, and never has this country distrusted politicians more.

But what's the answer? Vote for the other party? The party that's just as bad as the party you might want out?

And actually, what about the actual candidate who's name is on the voting slip? What's he/she got to do with it?

The problem we have is the candidate is frankly irrelevant. Whatever they may say, your vote is always going to be a party vote. Their individual policies will also be overshadowed by the party line, a party line which effectively is a choice of one of two. Even worse, with a hung parliament a minority party could get a very large say it what happens with very little support from the country.

I will not participate in this system. I want to vote for the person who's name is on the paper, not some party. May as well have a monkey as the candidate otherwise.

If there is a good independent candidate I would vote for them, but its a drop in the ocean. the whole system needs to change, parties should be abolished.

Imagine a system where they don't exist. The guy you voted for HAS to do what they say they will, or they have no chance of re-election. The prime minister and cabinet voted on by their peers, laws can only be made with consent, give and take would be a normal way of parliamentary life. We would get alot more consistency, none of this swinging back and forth as the parties change. What a waste of time and money, little gets done that doesn't get changed back again. Lack of parties would mean more consistency and that has to be a good thing.

Imagine a system where your MP has to justify everything that they do every 4 years to keep their job, not just relying on the seat being "safe" or the personality of the prime minister.

Ask yourself this. How often in political discussions do the individual MPs get mentioned? The leaders, yes. The ministers, yes. The guy you're actually voting for? Nope. I repeat, may as well be a monkey.

I will (once again) be spoiling my vote by scrawling "None of the above" across it and will continue to do so until parties are abolished. I would ask everyone else who objects to the party system or doesn't know what else to do, to follow suit. Not voting will achieve nothing, you'll be classed as "couldn't care". Spoilt votes are counted, and enough people do it, then it will be noticed. The number rises every year.

You might say "Nothing will change" and you might be right. Does that mean we should just accept it? Or should we use our only democratic right (and it is funny how everyone raves about how great democracies are) to object and seek change?

Anyway, I just hope people think about what they are doing before they vote, it's once every 4 years people and the power is ours.