The Phoebe Marlow Academy of Trumpery Novel Writing at the University of Milton Northern

[LadyDamerel]

Welcome to the new faculty.

Selected classes available in:

Running Away
Setting of broken bones
Seafaring lore
Care of Small Boys
Humouring of Dangerous Lunatics

Our patroness is considered rather taking when she is animated

and the Vice Chancellor would like to remind you all of the importance of the wearing of a correctly tied cravat.

I thought of you and your trip when I read all this, Twigs. But London is a big place, after all

Right, must call it a night, now. I hope everyone stays safe out there, and good sense is quickly restored

I would wait and see how it is in the morning and then make the call. As I said on FB I would be inclined to think it will get better rather than worse from here (hopefully ). It seems to be in the poorer residential areas rather than the centre so you might be ok.

If you don't go it might be worth phoning round the other places you've booked and seeing if they will exchange tickets for another date under the circumstances. You could perhaps do a few day trips or reschedule for half term maybe.

DrTwigs has no more leave left now so can't reschedule :( I worked in London all through terrorist scares and didn't bat an eyelid but turned into a worrywart as soon as I had kids. Will see how it is in the morning.

Night all.

Night - will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Morning all, hope everyone's families are OK. I see it moved to Ealing last night which is not a deprived area but is full of shops with nice goods hope it doesn't spread further west.

Twigs have you decided what to do?

No, Small. I was up half the night, stressing about it. DH wants to go but I just don't feel comfortable. WWYD? We have to get on a train in 2 hours so have until then to decide! I suspect we will still go and just come home if it looks like it's going to get worse. I thought of you when it mentioned Ealing - you don't have family there now, do you?

My gut feeling is you would be alright to go to be honest but if you aren't going to be able to relax with worrying about it then there's not mch point in going as you'll all be tense and miserable. Try phoning the places today and see what they say about postponing?

I have family in the next borough Twigs so very close.

Also most of my friends are still around there.

Gosh, hope your family & friends are alright, Small.

And ye I'm really resenting that I'm going to be nervous all the time if we do go. As if I'm not tense enough with the kids anyway, I dont want to go on holiday and be even more so! :)

I'm sure they're fine, it's just worrying watching the news and seeing mow that they are setting fire to homes and attacking people. One woman was car jacked yesterday and pulled out by her hair .

Decision - we're not going today but will see how it is tomorrow and think about going then instead. I'm so angry and upset - we decided that we couldn't really afford a proper holiday this year so did this as the cheaper option but because we can't get our money back on anything and we have the extra expense of having to take the kids on other days out instead, it's probably going to end up costing us more money than a proper holiday would have!! So much for saving money :(

Though I know I shouldn't be upset about that when you guys know people in the danger areas and people are losing their homes and businesses...

Morning. Hope you've managed to make a decision you're happy with Twigs - let us know how you're getting in if you can.

Small hope your friends & family are ok. It's really upsetting seeing it on TV so close to familiar places. The huge fire in Croydon last night was less than 2 miles from our old house.

X post Twigs.

It's still affecting you - I'd be really angry & upset too. How's Dr T & the kids about it?

DrT is ok. DS has no concept of when we were going anyway, he won't care as long as he gets a day out. DD would've been upset but I explained what was happening (in mild terms so as not to scare her) and she said she didn't want to go. So they're all ok - I can't stop crying though :( We'd have been better off booking a blinking holiday in the first place :( I worked really hard trying to save up the money for all this and it's just gone like that

And what's more - I bloody hate the places we have to take the kids to instead! I was really looking fwd to having something different to do.

Oh Twigs. Hope it improves so you can still get a couple of days. Perhaps you can wear the kids out & have a nice takeaway & a bottle of wine tonight (better than a kick in the proverbial).

(And some Twiglets?)

What a pain, Twiggy, I am so sorry
And too for everyone affected , and those worried about loved ones.

Twigs, I'm so sorry you've had to cancel your break, we all know how important it is to try and do something nice in the school hols and these bastards have ruined it for you. I'm so unbelievably angry at these people I cannot begin to express it.

I hope that you have a good day and maybe you can head into town tomorrow. x

How is everyone doing? Any news? What about your uncle, Spiro?

Hi Massive, I'm fine, lots of rumours going around about different areas including where my mum lives .

Hopefully Twigs had a nice day today depsite not being in town.

How's the island?

Hope your mum is ok, Small - have you heard from her?

Uncle is stuck in Peckham as no buses or trains. His fridge is well stocked though, so he's just staying indoors til it all calls down.

On a happier note - I've just been for our office restructuring meeting and I will still have a job in January thank goodness. A few less hours but easily manageable.

The Island is hot, Small, but otherwise all is calm here. How odd, it's usually the other way round, isn't it? Furrin parts a-boil, and the good old UK quiet and orderly.

I do hope everyone stays safe.

Pleased to hear about your job, Spiro, that will be one load off your mind.

Huge weight off my mind, thanks Massive.

Evening ladies, not heard from Mum but I'll try and call her again later.
Wise move on your Uncles part Spiro. And I'm really pleased to hear about your job

Massive will it cool down or are you stuck in a heat wave?

It's always hot in summer on the island, Small, so it's not really a heat wave. We are stuck with it till October. And I have known it a lot hotter than it is now, so I mustn't complain but I am doing so, all the same

I hope your mum is okay, she's probably gone out for the day and has no idea.