Finally, found time to use computer, and find dongle which was floating around the house - dd keeps taking it.
Extremely tired, achieved very little, except catechism class, and buying a new picture (of a duck 
for the kitchen wall. Children taking turns to be boorish and dreadful but I suppose we have got through the day, justabout!
Lots of walking around in rain though...
done
swept kitchen floor
emptied food compost
wiped table
dw on
washed up saucepans
folded up sheets and pillowcases to put away in airing cupboard (usually I just stuff them in 
or make the beds as fast as possible with stuff on bannisters)
got ds1 off to orchestra at 8.15
forced dcs to do the occasional "chore" successfully, dd helped dh cook lunch 
ds2 went to a sports party hurrah, (present already in dh study, again unusually organised for us) Dh wrapped, dd made a card for ds2 to sign 
remaining dcs went to spend money in Waterstones with Dh
Ds1 refused to buy any books off his "medieval" reading list, and insisted on buying more Mr Gum...he really prefers books for 9 year olds although he is 12 
SC No need to rush unpacking, at least it has all arrived safely, and so much work must have gone into sorting it out beforehand in last few months that you may to take a break. It is up to you how long you leave it, no-one is going to call you to acccount except you! We have quite a lot of dh's parents' paintings which use to hang in very familiar (to Dh) places like dining room, and he has adjusted fine to their new homes; but I agree it is odd to see things out of natural context. If they could only speak! It is a bit Narniaish, these pieces of wood/canvas/print that have absorbed so much for last 50 years.
P.S. I think London would not necessarily be the same place for you now (if you lived there, can't remember?) with dd, life in London changes utterly with dcs, as do jobs and careers, and London fun in general
Toffee I remember someone telling me the teens were so much worse because you can't make it alright for them any more; when they are little you can kiss them better. It is very hard, but you are doing such a lot to help him and support him, you can't really do more, perhaps the rest has to come from within him. A holiday sounds such a classic example of something that would make you anxious, whatever people might think about holidays being relaxing exciting wonderful things - I think as I said before, I do sympathise Not much fun for you and DH though when you are looking forward to the holiday.
Do you think it is still linked to fear of being asked to go back to school if he shows signs of being better? Do you have someone professional who has an overview of Ds - I mean the CBT lady for example and can advise what is likely to happen re: holiday anxiety? Whether you should jolly him along or accept it I mean?
Carpe very brave of any child to eat anything remotely new, please don't worry about ds not eating...
Whoknows Dh finally put my sprouting potatoes in the compost...I think this year is a complete write off gardening wise; I've been told the raised beds are off, as they still need to play football in the garden
better go, Still drowning in clutter, still wrangling eternally with my husband over solutions/systems - in fact I can't find a solution except to do little bits of tidying here an dthere which make me feel mildly better 
PA I think help is not the pejorative thing it is here, it means you are giving someone a job! Anyway, there won't be other comforts which I suspect we pay for here. Enjoy the helper[s] So soon! How is the language bit going?