West London chat winter & beyond

[tillyfernackerpants]

Hadn't realised we were so close to filling up the last thread, hope you all find it!!

hello all!
hope all well

well, ds1 got his first choice school (the one next to your dcs' old primary school, dusty ) so he's very happy. feel excited for him as he's (more than) ready for it.
thanks for asking.

yes, read loads as a kid, too. (still would if book didn't keep flapping on to my face when I read in bed).
Seems to have passed on to the dcs which is nice.

Steppie @ the book flapping onto your face, I get that problem too - most annoying!

Well done on 1st choice school - Whoo Hoo! That's probably where my DS1 would have gone if we'd been around - just think they could have been in the same class!

We're in the midst of negotialtions offering on a property.

Asking price is euro 75,000, we made low offer of 30,000 yesterday which was rejected, so will raise it to 50,000 or 52,000 tomorrow.

Any tips on negotiating techniques? TBH we can't really afford more than 55,000. Could stretch to 60k, but that would leave us short...

TBH I think its worth *75,000, but we cannot afford anywhere near that...it has been priced to sell.

He bought it about 8 yrs ago for 85k more than he is selling it for now and refurbished the whole building, new electrics, replastering, damp proofing etc

We have nothing to sell and would be cash buyers, but not sure how much advantage that gives us if he wants more than we can offer

Steppie - you must be relieved! Is ds1 going there with his present school friends?

Am trying to read Henry James' the ambassadors. But brain filled with fluff and now have to read every sentence 3 times before not understanding it ... Must persevere. His finest novel, they say.

Used to read lots too, but always had contempt for children's books. How wrong I was! (Though have read my share of Enid Blyton.)

Also have the problem of book flapping onto face, as well as face nodding into book.

Dusty - don't know negotiating techniques. But the limit is the limit, is it not? Good luck!

Copper, interestingly some of the Enid Blyton books seem to have been changed slightly for the modern world!

dusty I think you want KewC for those kind of tips

steppie book flapping not so much I resist sleep too much reading in bed often means I will be reading for a couple of hrs before I feel sleepy, unlike dh who falls asleep and snore with glasses on and book askew over the face
the school I hope he is happy there and has a great time

tilly/copper I read the famous 5 and the Towers (take me to boarding school now) and was totally oblivious to the dodgy bits, all I wanted was to eat fruit cake and lemonade, put on pantomimes and have midnight feasts, all quite wholesome really

copper Martin Amis views on children's literature here another enormous arse

I must spend my Watermans tokens soon as the business seems shaky, we lost out on £50 worth of vouchers when threshers went under, we had been saving them for a special occasion

that quote was from an interview segment on arse Faulks show on books

Ah yes, the boarding school books. I wanted to be at boarding school as well, for the same reasons. Failing that I wanted to live by the beach in a split level house a la Sweet Valley High

Dusty, no real advice but I would stick to your guns with what you can afford, if he comes back and says no to your maximum offer then you may just have to walk away

sfx - yes I did read the Martin Amis thing. People all too confident of their own genius, forgetting that the judgement ought also to be made by other people. I've only read two Martin Amis books - but they are not likeable. And Kingsley Amis is a record - it's the only book I've ever not finish.

he is one of these people that when the sente3nces are taken out of context they sound great he has enormous easy with language but I just can't care

I shall read another M Amis one day (will borrow from library - not sure can live under the same roof as his books). All I remember about the two books I read was that I didn't care terribly much what happened. That's what comes from reading too many books peopled with characters one likes. So shallow. Must elevate mind to higher plane.

dh liked the book he wrote about his dad, but he has read a few of MA's books and I think liked them

has anyone read house of leaves I loved it when it came out in all its weirdness but haven't read his subsequent books, don't think they are widely available

I am half watching something on BBC3 but it making me cry so I needs distractions, will catch up on iplayer at some point when I feel less emotional

Not read the book sfx.

I've got masterchef on telly. Quails' eggs. What's that all about?

I think I'm going to bed to let my book fall on my face ...

good morning yet another grey day, this Winter drabness is wearing thin
fortunately I am in a mood to tidy and throw away stuff so should keep me busy

dh working from home, helpful to do school run

Lots of nasty work email to deal with. Need a .

Hello all

Steppie - hurray for getting your 1st choice, must be a relief

Dusty - how are negotiations going? If you do reach your limit then amicably make your final offer and then the ball is in his court. You never know he may come back to you in the future even if he refuses now. Good luck!

A house full of avid readers here too. Also read the Towers and SVH, please don't forget about Judy Blume Haven't read any MA but remember not being impressed with interview at the time

Have made delicious choc banana bread, yum.
Off to cinema tonight to watch Rango as my bro gave me freebie tickets, hoping it will be a laugh

Oh yes, Forever was passed around amongst the girls at my (Catholic) school. As soon as the librarian twigged what it was about, it mysteriously vanished from the shelves

tilly - Not read it but can imagine consternation caused.

Tilly - check out the new style cover!

Am eating my packed lunch for tomorrow. So cold and hungry ...

Bloody hairy bikers - banana pancakes for a lazy breakfast? Lazy for whom???

it has been quite cold it is true
I am glad this school week is short

Thanks for advice :)

Still in negs

Bleeding freezin' here this morning too - are you atill scraping ice of your windscreens in sunny west London? We are

SFX/Tilly/Copper my big sis read the Towers/FF and LOVED them - got totally imersed in the boarding school thing

so glad the sun is out I dug out the puffa jacket this morning it was so cold. have been running errands and quite fancy shopping but think it will have to wait

back to running next Monday got a new training gadget so will start from scratch on a 10k programme