catmag

We've been fucking spineless overnight.

Car on its roof outside the hospital. Got summoned to A&E for a trauma call so left late. They'll have reporters right on the scene though!

BBC breakfast news are broadcasting from a hairdressers opposite the hospital right now. Some poor woman has had to get up at daft o'clock to pretend to get her hair done at 6.20am. Might pop in on my way home and wave

Tip them all into a designer carrier bag? And then recycle the cardboard, obviously.

Stop buying so many! Why have you got 4 boxes of one type??

My mam used to bring me food parcels when I was at Uni but they consisted of stottie & ham and pease pudding mainly. I'm not convinced that CT would even know what to do with that!

Anyone who banks with Natwest just a warning - you might find your card is classed as 'invalid' or rejected if you try to buy anything in shops or online tonight. there's a computer problem at their end so don't panic like I just did as I was trying to buy a Christmas present. They're trying to put it right but they better get a shift on. Apparently it's the same for some RBS cardholders too. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/10489654/NatWest-in-technology-meltdown-on-Cyber-Monday.html

Happy birthday tooo yooooooooooo

Sounds like you've had fun. Happy birthday pet

I was so proud last night. The bairn spent the night at his 'other' grandparents as his dad was at the match. Said grandparents are dead canny but they're Mackem through and through - go to matches, live in Seaham, say things like "eeee it's bee-yew-ti-ful" etc etc. I rang the bairn before I went to work to be told he'd just gone in the bath as he'd insisted on watching the whole of the first half of our game before he went. He then came on the phone and excitedly announced "Mammy! The Toon Toon are one and zero! I think we are winning!!" He then proceeded to give me minute by minute commentary including "Uh-oh mam, the red team have just scored so it's one and one which means we've got a draw" and then "WE'VE SCORED AGAIN! It's two and one and the Toon are winning! Wooo-hooooo!" Possible one of the proudest moments in the last 4 years. In theTyneside vs Wearside battle it looks like we've won this one. Poor bugger

Just watching the live news reports now. People still trapped inside the pub

I've bought the Leap Pad Ultra after all. I've also ordered the Leap Reader which looks like a canny little gadget to help with the bairns new-found reading and writing skills. My mam is going Old Skool and has bought him a load of Ladybird books from years gone by. The Elves and the Shoemaker, Billy Goats Gruff, Enormous Turnip, The Magic Porridge Pot etc.

Lush!

Zumba! I would pay real money to see that

You can absolutely imagine him doing that

Aye watch it, or I'll spill the beans about you throwing your toys out of your pram

I'm at home actually, shithead! And I don't work on a ward

Early morning insults. Part of the reason why I love this place

It sounds just about right

I'm sure he's a lovely bloke, but he's a FREAK!

Give over with your filthy mince and dumplings man! Put a bit of syrup on them

Aye I think I probably could. And Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. There are no end to my woodwind talents. Oo-er..

Oh dear god. No need

I can play hymns on the recorder. That is the limit of my instrumental talents, despite being able to hold a tune.

A tablet is absolutely no substitute for old-fashioned play and I'd never let it be so. The bairn can't get his hands on my iPad unless I actually give it to him, and whenever I do it comes with a stipulation that he can play on it for x number of minutes or half an hour etc, so he knows the restriction from the start. And that's what he gets it for. He's got a phenomenal imagination, we have a house full of imaginary creatures and people living with us and since he's started school is even happy to sit and go through his reading books/homework letter sounds etc so I don't think removing it from him after an appropriate length of time will be an issue. He's nearly 5 so understands those boundaries and (thank God!) is a placid, well-behaved kid who doesn't kick off at the drop of a hat if I tell him it's time to put the iPad away. I know that a friend of mine has been asking around for tablet recommendations for her daughter as she wants to get her one for Christmas. Her daughter is 2 1/2. I was horrified Also to add that it's only one of his gifts and the only 'technological' one. The rest involve good old-fashioned books, super-hero bits and pieces (and costumes - no doubt I'll have to be the baddy again) Transformers etc, so there's very much a balance there.