Summertime...and the Crepeys are easy

[motherinferior]

With much love to BD.

(We are going to county cork btw in frugal manner.)

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

I'm here.....

[bigTillyMint]

Me too

[Blackduck]

Checking in..... Reading up on funerals ... I want direct cremation....

[hattymattie]

Here too - hope you're doing OK BD.

[magimedi]

Also here - thinking of you, BD.

[NUFC69]

Signing in - and what's a direct cremation, BD, if you don't mind me asking? I was glad to hear that you and DDad have got some support.

DH has spent what seems like hours filling in our ESTA forms, but at least we know we can go to the US now. We let our old ones lapse as we went to Canada instead last year,: big mistake from the point of view of time, unless they have changed the way they do them now, which is always possible. CV, have you sorted yours out?

I have been doing some preparatory cooking for DSis and BiL who are coming on Wednesday to stay for a couple of days.

[bigTillyMint]

Sending strength, BD. How is your DDad doing? Is he able to engage with the funeral arrangements, or are you having to make the decisions?

[MontserratCaballe]

Thank you for new thread, MI.

BD, thinking of you . Hope you get some rest later on.

Have been a close pal of Brian today, alas. I don't know why but only just easing off. I am lying on sofa with squash trying to eat a hula hoop and watching a re run of grease. Did we really believe Olivia NJ was plausible as a 17y old? Was John travolta really that handsome? Kids out with dh so I can reminisce without interruption.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Hic

[hattymattie]

John Travolta was handsome but I never, even in my teens thought ONJ looked 17.

Hope you're feeling better Monty.

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

Dh has just cracked open the 5 litre (V, five) wine box I purchased for 9 euros (IX, nine) and declared it 'not bad'

[Rosebag]

Thanks for the new thread MI. Cork sounds lovely.

BD you have been in my thoughts all day. It's hard to have to do research and make arrangements, deal with finances when you are so recently bereaved. How is DS taking it?

Are you ok monty? Was it something you ate? I have a very soft spot for John Travolta. And Grease.

mrsS what are you up to now?

I am very tired. Got back last night after an hours delay at Geneva due to storms. We were the lucky ones as loads of flights had to be cancelled. I have been slow with the unpacking uncharacteristically and haven't done any food shopping yet. The house is rather hot. I ran away to the chiropodist this morning as all the walking whilst away has left me with an ingrown nail and then celebrated being pain free with a new pedi, and gels.

Crepeys, I have a quiet week next week. as DS is going away with friends and DD is on the support team at the theatre for the summer workshops. Is anyone up for a north London meet up during the day? I was thinking in GGGs neck of the woods?

[Blackduck]

NU - direct cremation - no one is there, it's just done, then you hold (if you want) a memorial service. All comes down to do you want the body there or not.
It's all a personal choice. Talking to dad and he's thinking a humanist celebrant. I pointed out you coul book the cremation and do the service yourself (dp would be a good contender for masters of ceremonies)

[Blackduck]

Rose - ds very conflicted. Hasn't seen her in a while as I felt it best, but very much missing her. Next couple of weeks/months will be tough

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I've been at a 95th birthday celebration. With the last two native German speakers in my family. Had a nice lunch with DH as well.

Have just booked a week in Margate for us...

[Cremolafoam]

Marking place.
Thinking of all the lovely Crepes who've lost loved ones this year.

[NUFC69]

Ah, BD, I know what you mean; just never heard it called that. It's a very personal choice, isn't it? Whatever you choose, it's got to be what you, DDad and DB want. I hope the DC are coping ok?

Monty, sorry Brian is in use. Take care of yourself.

MrsS, I have no recollections of Margate whatsoever, bar being told that I left my much loved teddy on the train when I arrived there in the 1950s - sob.

It's quiet here at last: it's the Sunderland Air Show this weekend and the skies over Northumberland have been full, including the wonderful Red Arrows.

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Oooh Yes Rose, I could pretend to be a lady what lunches!
Am free Wednesday lunchtime / afternoon and Thursday c 2pm onwards.Any good?
Who else might be persuaded to Norf London?

I posted this on our old thread... and wondered why there was a deafening silence... doh!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

BD - direct cremation sounds the way to go. Although I think it can be difficult to move on until there is a funeral. I always hate the dragging on, limbo period between death and funeral.

My uncle (whose birthday it was today) goes by three first names - the one he is known as to his family in UK, the one he is known as to his friends and he has another German name that I didn't know about until today. His cousin was the same - her English name was Ada, she was known to the family as Aydel and Adelaide was her formal name. I think she may have been Adelheid on her birth certificate. She also had a stage name...

I could potentially be free to meet up next Thursday...

[Lalsy]

BD, I am so sorry. Thinking of you - you have been a truly wonderful daughter. .

Home tomorrow - we have had a lovely time, especially once we accepted quite how small the gaps are for teens between meal and sleep times.......

Not caught up properly, crepeys.

[CointreauVersial]

BD, so sorry to hear about DM. So many crepey bereavements recently.

DH is home! Exhausted but pleased to be back, bearing a variety of tacky gifts for the DCs. DS's solar-powered waving cat was probably my favourite, but the DDs were more excited about the Etihad travel toiletries.

NU - yes, we have done the ESTA thing, and yes, it took bloody ages!

[bigTillyMint]

I did the ESTA thing for DD and I for NYC last October and that was bad enough, but the Vietnam Visa applications truly take the

Had a lovely impromptu evening out in the garden at friends last night - managed to make a chestnut and amaretto roulade for it which was actually pretty simple. And no hangover so far.

I need to think of a tiny gift I can get for DD (birthday on Tues) - she is getting money, but it would be nice to have a little surprise I should have thought of this at Westfield the other day

[MontserratCaballe]

BTM, can you swing by ED on north cross road and pick her up a little something?

CV, hurray for Dh's safe return. I hope that there was a glorious gift for you too though?

Good news - Brian has been stashed in the cupboard. Hurray! Bad news - dh needs me to go to ikea yo pick up a desk for the book room. Am slightly pissed off that he couldn't clear away his piles of books, CDs, Lego etc when I wanted him to but as soon as HE needs the space he has found the mojo to do it.

Mustn't be bitter. It is v ageing.

[bigTillyMint]

Monty, that shouldn't be too much effort for me!
Glad Brian is back out of sight.

CV, I am that your DH managed to bring gifts - would not be on DH's agenda at all

[herbaceous]

Hello there my lovelies. Glad Brian is back under the stairs, CV has gifts, and there has been a general air of good cheer.

Still thinking of you, BD. It's not too early for a gin.

Visit to Aged Ps yesterday was surprisingly non-traumatic. Met and installed the new carer, who is LOVELY. Much nicer than the strident one with the Talk Talk business. I found the bites shed written about mum, for handover, and she evidently didn't like her very much. As new carer noted, they ve both got strong personalities, and in that situation the carer has to take a step back.

Had v honest discussion, initiated by mum, about what to do next, and she even raised the possibility of a care home. Now that elephant is officially in the room,, it's going to be a whole lot easier to deal with. She even suggested going to visit a few, just to dispel any 'circle of high-seated chairs round the edge of a telly room' conceptions.

What helped the most, however, was a micro-epiphany that happened in my head as I drove there, that kind of switched my thinking to the next stage. Instead of feeling anxious and in denial, I started accepting the sitch and feeling genuinely that my role was now make them as happy as possible. Within reason, obvs.

Re meeting up this week, I'm free! Though depending what DP is up to, I may have DS with me. Which could cramp crepey style.