Heartbeats & Half-Bloods

Because she has still been feeling extremely unwell, on Monday Hid was told to leave work early and take the rest of the week off. Today she went to the doctor who told her that everything was fine and that with twins the sickness often lasts until the 15/16th week. Then he busted out this little Doppler thingy and they had a listen to the little heartbeats (if you want to listen to the heartbeats, you won’t be able to by clicking here).

**Publisher’s Note**
The following bit of rubbish does not necessarily reflect the attitudes or opinions of the entire Board of Directors, namely, the H in M & H.

Hid finished the Half-Blood Prince in a dazzling 12 hours time, but I’m a lousy squib who can’t read for crap, so it’s taken me a bit longer. I am right at the part where,

Hermione discovers that Draco Malfoy is the father of her unborn child and Harry has been admitted into the Council Rehab for Addicted Persons while Ron is like, ‘Blimey!’ and Hagrid is all, ‘Shoudna’ been messin’ abou’ wi’ all da’ ruddy magic, Arry.’ Meanwhile, Gryffindor’s Quidditch hopeful, Kikenum Inacrotch, has been transfigured into a pile of bat guano by a mischievous Peeves as Dumbledore and all of the third years are passed out in the great hall after getting soused on the headmaster’s homemade Butterbeer. Needless to say, the loveable wizard’s behaviour does little to encourage the secret crush that Mrs. Weasley has on him and she scandalously apparates to Bulgaria with the former Minister of Moral Legislature, Woodby Wanklebottom.

That’s about where I am at the moment. I’ll let you all know how it finishes!
-m

Britain, East Anglia, Norfolk, Norwich, the McDonalds

Those who know us will probably remember that we have certain favourite, or at least regular, eating establishments (Burger Supreme, anyone?) as well as preferred menu items (‘The Regular’, Translation: #4, minus onions, minus tomato. Although I rarely have to actually say all of this because, when the dude behind the counter saw me pulling up outside, he had his buddy already fixing my meal. Quality!). You may also remember that McDonalds was never really one of those favourites… So, I wouldn’t be the only one slightly concerned that Hid has been getting The Craving for a Big Mac. Of all the things, she craves the most generically American thing in the whole of East Anglia – possibly Britain. I do have to say that the fun part is ordering, which goes something like,

M: ok, I can never remember what they have.
H: I just want a Big Mac.
M: yeah, ok, we’ve sorted that. Where’s the menu?
*stares at some huge pictures of the world’s greenest salad*
H: It’s our turn, what are you going to have?
M: I don’t know. Where is the freakin’ menu? All I see are huge adverts for salad, and something about a chicken curry sandwich, but no price.
H: We’re holding up the queue.
McD’s worker: Oi! Can I help?!
H: 1 Big Mac, no onions.
M: Uh…
*why isn’t the menu posted anywhere?*
M: … Can I have a 59p ice cream?
McD’s worker: Machine’s broke.
M: Right. Hmm. Is the chicken curry sandwich any good?
McD’s worker: S’arright.
M: Sorry? What?
McD’s worker: S’arright.
M: Ok. Yeah. Do you have a menu anywhere?
McD: S’ova theah.
*points to the farest side of the place*
M: Oh.
*unable to read font size 4 from 50 ft*
M: I’ll have a Big Mac.

Fortunately, we were given some vouchers, so we don’t brake the bank… eating at McDonalds. I don’t have much of a problem dropping 20 quid at a place like the Wafflehouse or somewhere, but McDonalds? Ok, that's probably the most unfair comparison I could have made, but on a relative scale, I would rather spend £20 at the Wafflehouse than £5 at McD's. I think this is the part where Hid presses her lips together and sticks her finger in my ear. It's all part of her diabolical plan to make me squirm. It’s working.

They took our favourite chip shop (the blue one with no sign) out of the market while they are refurbishing, so I can’t even go down there to quietly sulk either.

For the record, the chicken curry sandwich is pretty good, and it’s 99p – a pound-saver value deal.
-ms

July 16

Hid’s reading Potter six with a big grin. A friend from UEA came by tonight and brought gifts! Cheers, Steve.
I had forgotten that today is also the big day for the Llama Fest.
This is short.
-ms

movement

So here we sit on the day before Potter six, me studying Buffy’s parental progressiveness, and Hid reading The Biography of Jane Digby: A Scandalous Life (and no, it’s not porn… I asked). Can it get much more fun than this? We’ll let you know after we pick up the Half-Blood Prince tomorrow - not before, people, don't you know you'll get sued?

Hid has noticed a bit of movement from the babies – especially after a big sneeze. Mostly they just spaz out from the box of Cadbury Roses that we have been pounding. Come to think of it, I spaz a bit from that as well.
-ms

Wowies and a Scan

So last evening, after a bleary-eyed day of being cooped up in our flat, I decided that I needed a drink. I left Heidi asleep on the sofa, and proceeded out the door with the new Bruce Springsteen pumping through my headphones. As it turned out, what had the makings of a nostalgic, soul-searching montage sequence was cut short as I was met by the bishop (Coley, aka, Bish) and Margaret (pronounced, in Norfolk, Maagret). They were just popping in to check on Heidi and bring her some wowies, like the lovely people they are. Coley and I went down to the happenin’ Budgens local so I could get that drink I needed, while Margaret and Hid mingled at the luxurious Chez Smith au Clarendon. We had a nice visit and appreciated the gesture, although we are beginning to wonder whether all of the concern is because we look really pathetic… *eek!*

We had another look at the little-ones today. Apparently things are going well (they gave us the statistical report saying that the odds of ‘bad things’ happening is now up to something like 1:3500). The ride to and from the hospital was a bit rough though. The weather has been warm and humid the last day or so and as we assumed our places on the top floor of the double-deck bus, we realised it was going to be a warm ride.

One thing I learned today: as soon as the back of your neck starts to sweat, it’s time to get a hair-cut.

One thing Hid learned today: always keep a urine sample on hand… just in case.

-ms

sick and tired

No, this isn’t a smack-laying rant. I’m actually sick. Just sick. As a result, I am a bit tired too. It’s an interesting turn, me feeling extensively crappy, and Heidi having a rather good day. She would tell you it’s poetic justice. I say it’s just the Lord's sarcasm. Probably one in the same, really.

Our friend Annette came over to our place today to help about. That woman came in like a hurricane and then… was gone. I’m actually not really sure any of it even happened, except that our place is tidied up a bit and has a funky smell from our lame vacuum. I just kind of sat here while she was going at it all, trying to muscle a thought into my dissertation. My head feels like somebody filled it with a bucket of mud, so I didn’t get very far there.

Last week was the Lord Mayor’s procession in the city centre, which includes a carnivale, samba, food, and a big fireworks display. Just as we were getting ready to go, Heidi hit rock-bottom, so we stayed home and listened to the windows rattle instead. Apparently, our bishop was seen partying like a rock star in front of the samba at nearly half-past ten. Although, if you were to question him on it, he would just say that it was “Rubbish. Not like last year’s.” Go, Coley, go.

I am reading Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity at the moment (nabbed it for a quid at a second-hand shop) and anyone who is familiar with it will remember that the narrator, Rob, reorganises his record collection whenever things are going badly. If you want a bit of a laugh at my expense, just imagine me sitting in front of our computer trying to make an itunes playlist that will sort all of our music autobiographically… then have pity on me.
-ms

The first

Hi.
We figured that it was time to start sorting a few things out. With the gentle aid of 21 century technological advances, we humbly invite you all to join us. The plan is: We post things on this little website, and you can tell us what you think. That way we have our own little virtual community of friends whose minds are being turned into a fluffy pulp from staring at the computer too long.

Our goal is to post frequently with various bits and bobs.
Enjoy!