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Original poster

Class of '18 Best foot forward through the autumn leaves.

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/10/2018 21:08

old thread was getting big....

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HesMyLobster · 29/12/2018 12:47

Hello you lovely lot!
Sorry for disappearing for weeks - I somehow managed to lock myself out of mn at the same time as my email account froze so I couldn't get back in!
Took until now to get the time to sit down and sort it all out!
Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and the students are all enjoying being home and looked after!
Off to catch up on the last month!

Have really missed you all xx

LoniceraJaponica · 29/12/2018 15:14

I have always made DD's friends welcome. We have such a small family and live a long way from the family that we do have, that DD does place a bit more emphasis on having friends.

As we live rurally DD often has friends over to stay because public transport isn't plentiful and taxis are expensive. So far over the Christmas holidays she has stayed over at a couple of friends and had three stay over with us.

TheFirstOHN · 29/12/2018 17:31

We have good friends who host every NYE. We jointly choose a theme each year (with fancy dress) and they kindly invite us to stay overnight.

For the last couple of years DS1 went out with his friends instead, but this year he and his girlfriend have decided they want to come with us (despite them having invitations to six other parties).

TheFirstOHN · 29/12/2018 17:36

DS1 told me that today he dipped into his overdraft for the first time. He was hoping to do some shifts at his old workplace (he's still on their books) but they haven't had any extra work available. The next installment of his student loan is not arriving until well into January.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/12/2018 17:51

There you are Lobster - welcome back!

I'm feeling very grrrr and narked with everyone and everything today. It's all annoying the pants off me. I seem to have spent the day achieving precisely nothing while making people irritable.

dd has been looking at summer placements but she is really struggling to find anything suitable for just finished First Years.

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starfleet · 29/12/2018 21:20

Thank you for the kind words re my Dad. You're a lovely lot. He is home and improving daily.

DS and I managed to do absolutely nothing today. He was tired from working - he has a few shifts left
and also revision to do for his exams mid January. He has another trip to London next week to watch our local team play Fulham in the FA Cup draw (is it still called the FA Cup?) and then he's heading back and I will be back at work. It seems like he has only been home two minutes.

Nettleskeins · 29/12/2018 23:08

six other parties

oh dear, I don't think we have mustered more than one between us, and that has just been cancelled cos hostess was feeling very ill. Neither dd nor ds1 have found any alternative in the offing.

I wonder whether we are turning into your dd's boyfriends parents lonicera..we have been known to get very tense about limited nos of breakfast croissants and I hate sleepovers, partly because there doesn't seem to be anywhere civilized for guests to sleep. Dd does have them occasionally. Another NY resolution! I also hate giving parties. Two big lunch events this Christmas has finished me off. I was wondering what the terrible smell in the utility room (which backs onto tv room)was, and it was some cabbage I had cooked on 25th, eaten half of, and then stowed away..oh dear

Ursula puppies did I hear you say?

Kitten hope tomorrow is better. tomorrow I am going to put on my bamboo running leggings again hopeful of personal growth . There have been a few arguments today, never ending task of soothing ruffled feathers

LoniceraJaponica · 29/12/2018 23:20

Nettleskeins We live so far from our families and most of our long term friends that when we bought our house we made sure we had enough room to put people up, so we have two spare bedrroms. We also keep bread in the freezer, so a lack of croissants could be turned into toast for unexpected guests.

I need to start running again. I joined a local running group back in April and managed to do several 5km runs in under 40 minutes. Not bad for a nearly 60 year old.

I hope your DD manages to find a placement next summer Kitten

HesMyLobster · 30/12/2018 00:29

We were almost hosting NEw year's eve this year (our turn out of the 5 families we celebrate with every year) but managed to sidestep as one couple just moved and offered to combine with a housewarming party - phew!
DD2 has just dropped the dreaded request to "have a few friends round" though so we'll be coming home to a houseful of 16/17 year olds.

DD1 is going to a nye wedding - feels strange that she's reached an age where she's invited to weddings that the rest of us aren't.

We were all a bit grumpy and on the verge of bickering this afternoon so I dragged both DDs out to watch the new Mary Poppins - we've returned in much better spirits Smile

UrsulaPandress · 30/12/2018 04:42

Dd is a bit disappointed in her 'home' friends. They've always been an odd bunch (to my mind). Not much socialising is done during normal hours.

Yes I am awake in the wee small hours. Just had the text saying she's staying out followed almost immediately by another saying she'll be home soon Xmas Confused.

marmiteloversunite · 30/12/2018 08:39

Well you are all very busy with NYE plans. I will be on the sofa. I am a bit grumpy about Christmas tv this year. It seems a bit rubbish. I have resorted to box sets instead. I don't think DD1 is planning on going out on NYE. She has a stinking cold which I am trying to avoid!

Lonicera I am sorry about your DD's job. That is disappointing as she liked it so much.

Kitten I hope you have a better day.

Lobster nice to see you back!

Ursula we will need puppy photos!!

Sorry if I missed some! Quite a lot to catch up on.

I have had quite a tough Christmas. My Dad passed away on Boxing Day. It was expected as he was very ill and we spent a lot of Christmas by his bedside. I am glad he is not suffering and in pain anymore but he was a great Dad so it is very sad. On top Of that had my fourth chemo on Friday.

Here's hoping that 2019 is kinder!

UrsulaPandress · 30/12/2018 09:17

I don’t have puppies. It’s my friend. She is coming for supper but heading home before midnight in case they are scared by the fireworks. She can’t bring them here as BastardSpaniel doesn’t like other dogs and he is super grumpy at the moment because of his cruciate ligament. He is off to see a specialist on Wednesday with £3500 in his pocket.

LoniceraJaponica · 30/12/2018 09:20

So sorry to hear about your dad marmite. You have enough on your plate already Flowers

starfleet · 30/12/2018 09:26

Sorry to hear of your loss marmite.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/12/2018 09:28

Flowers marmite. I reckon that when you finish your chemo, you need a New Years Celebration all of your own. I'm so sorry about your Dad.

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TheFirstOHN · 30/12/2018 09:44

marmite so sorry to hear about your dad. I certainly hope that 2019 brings you (improved) health and some joy.

marmiteloversunite · 30/12/2018 10:00

I have been saving money for some nice holidays in 2019. Also got a couple of concerts booked. Decided I need something to look forward to.

Oncologist said I was in top 30% of dealing with chemo which has given me a boost. I have my last one on 8th Feb. Then 4/6 weeks off til radiotherapy. Then I will be done! All ready for DD2 and GCSE hell yay!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/12/2018 10:09

You are a champion at coping :) I'm so glad you've some nice stuff planned. You'll get there and we will all be here to keep cheering you on.

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UrsulaPandress · 30/12/2018 10:33

Sorry for your loss marmite. There’s never a good time to lose a loved one but this time of year seems especially hard. My mum died on NYE 2002.

It’s always nice to have your strengths recognised.

Knotaknitter · 30/12/2018 10:35

Marmite I really hope that 2019 is the year where you turn the corner and everything is sunshine and roses. Failing that, at least a major improvement on 2018.

I have blitzed my bathroom, am holding off on a deep clean of my bedroom in case Friend decides that she's not stopping on NYE. I am guilty of not bothering much with my bedroom because there's only me that sees it, standards have certainly slipped and the level of dust risen. In my defence I will say that at this time of year I only see it in the dark so the dust isn't exactly noticeable.

PandaG · 30/12/2018 11:46

Oh Marmite, so sorry. My condolences, and my prayers too if that doesn't offend you. X
Knotaknitter - I have tidied a large chunk of our bedroom yesterday - I find housework really difficult mentally, it is always the first thing to slip when I am low, so when I have the capacity to do any it is always the public rooms and not my room. Yesterday dh decided to shift a couple of pieces of furniture - DS had got rid of a drawer unit from his room so dh decided it would be useful in our room for my overflowing clothes. Instead I used it as the impetus needed to do a severe wardrobe declutter, while he dusted and hoovered, first time our room has been hoovered in a couple of years probablyXmas Blush. I chucked out loads of rubbish/ items kept 'in case' (we truly no longer have need of emergency shoeboxes for school art projects etc) and sorted out a binbag full of clothes for the charity shop - lots belonged to my mum and dad gave them to me when she died, but I never wore them, not had the heart to get rid of them, but yesterday I did. It means we have been able to take down a clothes rail, making the bedroom look lighter and bigger. Feels so much nicer. The job is not yet finished, but is now manageable!

UrsulaPandress · 30/12/2018 12:30

We have lived in this house since 2004.

I have never vacuumed under my bed.

Knotaknitter · 30/12/2018 15:04

I have plans for my bedroom, new carpet (there when we moved in in 1991 and the immortal words were "it'll do until we get something better"), redecorate, replace the falling apart wardrobes (vintage 1980s Hygena). It needs to start with redecoration and I'd like more daylight hours before I start that. We never fancied moving the bed and wardrobes out to be able to replace the carpet and it's not something I'm looking forward to either.

UrsulaPandress · 30/12/2018 16:45

I’ve just spent all afternoon making a turkey recipe I found on an Aga fb page. Turns out to be the same as the chicken and mushroom I make with a tin of condensed soup for a quick weekday meal.

Oh well ...

Nettleskeins · 30/12/2018 17:16

oh Marmite I'm glad he is not suffering any more but that is pretty miserable for you all Sad Feb is not far away to have got through chemo, lets all look forward to Feb in any case, daffodils begin then at least. Dh is still suffering at lot thinking of his lost parent, there is definitely an element of just hoping the time will pass, and somehow he will feel better eventually.

ursula I knew they weren't yours, that was meant to be my Cruella de ville moment. Actually I am interested in finding a puppy which comes from a happy home, so there is self interest too. we have three cats and I've always wanted to have a dog, but the sort of dog that doesn't chase cats or fear them. just in case your friends don't have future owners lined up, but I'm sure they do..

I was once given a chicken casserole which was chicken portions heated up in condensed cream of tomato soup. Nothing will convince me that anything homemade can taste as vile as that..I'm sure your turkey dish tastes very naturel (les?)

I've abandoned the children and went for a long trek by bus in search of a local but only recently engineered beauty spot in North London, which was surrounded by motorways and underpasses. so surrounded tht I never reached it before night fell, so then I came home again, but at least I know now how to get to it, if the others choose to leave their bedrooms...It is a bit of wasteland round here. cars and endlessly stretching ugly streets. winter does not help.