to be forced to marry into the house of Dracul-Palanquin?

[Hullygully]

Goodo, Jins though shocking you have to be a tough old bird (er, as you put it, I wouldn't dream of calling you tough or old. Or a bird come to think of it) to get an appointment.

I was feeling decidedly old this morning as Master Fid1 is on a week's work placement. The place he had was rejected by the school (one of H's crappy ideas) so we were stuck. Had bright idea of sending him to the kindergarten he attended many years ago, the manager and staff are delighted. The manager put him in his old group, one of his the teachers is still there.

Funny though having cool Xbox boy being texted day and night by girls, spending hours combing his hair into perfection, fussing over his clothes (wants me to teach him how to iron) coming home yesterday and telling me he'd had a great time building train tracks and Lego towers with the 3 year-olds.

Odd and old feeling came as I shrieked told him to "Get out of that bathroom or you'll be late for WORK." I remember his first day at the kg.

DS1 starts his first day at The Finishing School for Young Gentlemen today. DS2 returns to school a giant amongst his peers in size 10 shoes and a 16.5" collar size. Where will it end - he's only 13?

Might be under MadameDefarge....

back to Mimi!

Size 10? Lawks. Master Fid2 wants me to ask his school if he can go barefoot to school. Academies in Freedonia don't have uniforms but I doubt they'll allow that.
Admit to a certain wistfulness when in Albion at seeing the uniforms and imagining dd in a summer dress and the boys with ties and blazers.
I fully admit this is loopy and fuelled by nostalgia and homesickness as am generally v pleased that the children chuck on any old thing for school and that's there is little brand envy bollocks here.

What a lovely picture :)

I've failed yet again on the maternal front by not taking a photo to record first day in sixth form. In my defence I wasn't out of bed when he left. (Early because he knew that I'd have something to say about the brand new white superdry hoody!)

DS2 has grown like a weed in the last 6 weeks. He was in a size 7.5 in July - size 10 now. 30" waist trousers - 34" now, age 14 shirts - size 16.5 now only because he won't be doing the button up 17" otherwise. He's going to be tall as well.

This is my first day to myself since DS1 went on study leave in May which coincided nicely with being made redundant. I am absolutely loving it.

Oh Mimi! He's so sweet. Love his red blazer.

Just catching up... Mimi, your boy looks lovely (though I imagine an 11 year old boy might squirm on hearing that word). Hope he loves his new school, red blazer and all.

Jins, hope you are feeling much better now. And gosh at the thought of your beanstalk boy.

Fids, hope you are doing better now too.

Hully, how were the hullydays (copyright Cheerful Yank) - apart from dog-at-the-Channel-crossing shock horror, of course?

Mimi, yes, such a lovely picture.

Princess, thanks for asking. Am acerbic tbh with h, faced for example tonight with his assertion after 2 weeks of stomach bugs, sore throats, D and V (not as I once thought a department store), all 3 children off school, my juggling work, that "They always seem fine to me".

Adjusts pince nez. My what handsome children. A credit to their mothers. The orangery grape vine is ready to harvest, off with those wooly socks now and to the treading tubs. Tuck the skirts into the bloomers and to work. I am sure we can engage some muscle to help. Mr Rochester's leg is very willing.

Am pleased to report that this wing of IPOAT Hall has finally proved bounteous with red grapes after 3 years of neglect careful tending. We shall have plenty of soothing wine this winter, a veritable tonic for the Heart.
Also the figs are ripening, they make a vile lovely tisane, most efficacious for problems of the Bowels.

That'll be for me then Fids! I'll be first in the queue

Well my GP has taken some action today albeit limited to blood tests for thyroid problems and coeliac disease. My storming on the beaches is not very effective but I will be returning in a week for further assessment

How do you eat an elephant?

One mouthful at a time.

Good start, Jins. Not a storm, perhaps, but certainly a thrust!

You know, I must needs tend to dear Rochester, his leg turns greenish and gives off a sharp and musty odour. I cannot be sure if it is the poultice or the rot.

Mr Rochester's green and malodorous leg should be kept away from the treading tubs. There's quite enough rot around here.

Hmm, Mr Rochester's leg is indeed giving off a strange and pungent odour. I spent a few minutes in his company yester eve and left with shortness of breath and chest palpitations < although that may have been from all the running around the sofa - the leg is not slowing him too much, in the end I had to trip him with Dr P's tatting>

Glad to hear action is taking place at last Jins.

I think I shall apply leeches to drain the infected blood and maggots for the suppuration. He'll soon be up and dancing again.

Surely Rochester's leg could only have Noble Rot, and thus turn our grapes into the finest Tokay?

Am in agreement with mme Umami. Maybe we could put the leg to good use in the dairy, an IPOAT blue cheese woud be most er distinct. My how respourceful we are.
Off with m' truc to gather raspberries.

Respourceful......hmmmm. definitions on a postcard...

Perhaps we could scrape the suppuration off for the cheese and then stand him in some grapes for the wine? I am sure he would be most glad to be of use, he has been so sad, confined to his room these past months.

And then there's the wobbly piano in the music room. Mr Rochester seems to have really found his niche.

Poor Mr Rochester. It's not much fun for a man of his reputation and standing to be confined to quarters like this.

Maybe we should admit defeat?

It's raining again :(

I'm liking his broodiness, but the t shirt and nipples are a tad on the lady side, no?