Crepey Corner

[DukesOfTripHazard]

Where the cool and the discerning hang out. New one.

Chat now, innit.

Oh MI

My friends DD was diagnosed with leukaemia (the more aggressive type) at about 5 year old. She went to hell and back (I got some inkling of this when I had to have a bone marrow take myself), but thank God she is still here and well, aged 15 now. I so hope for the same for your friend's DD.

MI - so very sorry about your friend's dd. What a terrible thing. One of my oldest friends' brother is dying of lung cancer (and not through smoking) and although it is a very different scenario from losing a child, I see her veering between resolve/strength and anger/helplessness and my heart just aches for her.

Morning, Hags. So sorry about your friend's daughter, MI. The Mum of one of the boys in DD1's class at her last school died from a brain tumour. She knew her life was limited and was determined to live life to the full - could often be found propping up the local bar being the life and soul in the small hours. Not that I was ever there with her sucking on a cocktail at 4.00 am on a working night. Oh no.

On a more positive note, my aunt had one ten years ago - they operated twice and she is now fine. She had to give up teaching, but she said this was no loss. She also had some fairly aggressive chemo after the second op. Her prognosis wasn't good when it came back, and she still has annual check ups, but has made a full recovery.

We have the joy of the school Christmas fete today, with DD2 singing in the school choir, which is wittily named the OK Chorale!

Sad news, MI. Everyone's darkest fear, isn't it?

I don't want to know about spiky eye amoeba, thank you very much. I am a serial abuser of contact lens hygiene and consider ignorance in this field to be bliss.

Have fun at the school fair, MrsS. You might get lucky on the Bottle Tombola .

Ours was after school yesterday; as a result it was like the first day of the Sales for about 40 minutes, wedged with people, then the crowds thinned to nothing as everyone got bored and went home for their Friday night glass of vino. I noticed the Exploded Jam Tarts DD1 and I made on Thursday were still sitting untouched on the Cake Stall when we left.

We went to see DD2's dance class performance this morning. DD1 is still not the full ticket (especially in the bottom department, she kindly informs me) and I have a sinus migraine. But we dragged ourselves out...

....only to find DD2 had got the week wrong. It's next week. Along with their last swimming lesson of term, the skool fair at which they are both Performing, and then I have to zip out to sing (oh god must practise, practise, practise) all afternoon and then evening concert

We have the joys of the gym disco tonight. Yet again it is me that has to go. I have to stay because of the "presentations" - DD has won a cup every year so far - hopefully she won't be disappointed this year. Luckily Some friends have DD's who will be there too, but still.....

Ruby, the gym compstoo require lycra and hairspray (usually with glitter in!), but not make-up. Cheam gym comp tomorrow. At least 5 hours door-to-door.

Glad to hear you are keeping the jacket.

CV at exploded jam tarts!

Ooh. We have got a head start (ha!) on Christmas; pens I ordered from Baker Ross, for painting on glass, arrived yesterday, and DD2 and I purchased many cheap glass dishes and cups in the charity shoppes emporia of Forest Hill, and she has painted some and they look gorgeous. Can recommend for rellies. Child-free ones, for preference.

We had an emergency research trip after gym (finished early for disco tonight, Oh joy!) - DD has agreed to a new bike for her present. So of course she now wants the one we saw, but DH will be looking to see if he can get a better bargain....

Meanwhile DS keeps adding to his list. Admittedly everything is sports related and will get well used, but I think I'd better put off a trip to Decathlon until the last minute!

MI, the glass painting sounds lovely

And DD2 has made a folder for her teacher too all off her own bat.

Folder? What is it like?

It's recycled cardboard from a delivery from Amazon or suchlike, which already folded round, and she has made it a little fastener so you can keep papers in it. And written on it with the paint pens (which you can use on most surfaces) and now she is lining it with wrapping paper. But as we are about to get our Strictly fix, she'll probably stop there

Awww, sounds lovely

Survived the disco, even got out early

And DH has decided that we should get the more expensive bike for DD This is not at all like DH, but he has got heavily into cycling as part of his mid-life crisis......

I am hoping we can buy it in secret next week and keep it in hiding till Christmas, but I'm not sure we will succeed with DS around!

Very productive morning. Put the vanilla and rhubarb mincemeat I made last week in jars, finished ordinary mincemeat and put that in jars too. Made six jars of Chelly and have a jug full of Christmas pudding vodka (can't find large jar to put it in). Also made a quiche for lunch and was about to sit down and write Christmas cards, but DH has Tidied Them Away and I can't find them, so will have to tidy the kitchen instead (I am a very messy cook).

DH has taken two friends to Ikea, which is his idea of hell.

Good grief, Mrs S, that's absurdly active. I'm having a frustrating day. Was supposed to be going to visit an old pal with two-year-old twins in Sheffield and stay a couple of days, but DS was sick five times in the night, and twice today. Don't want to spread the bug, and don't fancy a three-hour car journey on four hours' sleep and the risk of a projectile vomit down my neck at any time. Hadn't planned for this extra time, and don't know what to do with myself!

MrsS, rhubarb and vanilla mincemeat sounds lush - recipe? Don't worry about decanting your Christmas pud vocka - I'm sure it won't last long in your house

Survived the gym comp - got a lift with a friend whose DD was in same group as DD and we had chance for a long catchup, while watching, of course!

MrsS, you are scarily domestic-goddess-like. I can't even make a jam tart, FFS.

Well, Christmas shopping is pretty much done, apart from miserable-git-brother (who has no hobbies beyond his job), and my dad (will be happy with something from the garden centre, to be purchased nearer the Big Day, so I don't kill it). I have even wrapped a few!

Herbs, get cracking on your Christmas cards if you have some spare time. Mine are hanging over me like the Sword of Damocles - my least favourite task of the year.

Ds has just produced his letter to Father Christmas. Luckily, I managed to predict correctly on at least one of the zillion things on said list, but I fear that this year may be the one he remembers as "the year I learnt to deal with disappointment". I am cruel and Not Bothered. It will be character-building.

I am not feeling all that splendid. Today is the 7th anniversary of my ex hanging himself and next week brings the 6th anniversary of my dad popping his clogs (not that this was in any way a tragedy, just unfortunate timing). Dd is being an utter cow. Tbh, ds is the only one in the house not feeling weird, because none of it affected him. We don't talk about it, but it's just ... there. Dd's grotty behaviour is probably just mostly normal teen grot but with a layer of something else on top to do with her dad. However, I am pretty sure that we will have resumed normal service by next week. I would kick myself up the arse, but have learnt in previous years that this doesn't work. I don't really understand what psychological gubbins is going on, but It Will Pass. Well, at least it will for me, but I'm not sure what is going on with dd. I always used to think that people who got maudlin around these kinds of anniversaries were self-indulgent gits. So it now really pisses me right off that I don't seem to have any control over what happens with my emotional crap.

For information purposes only. No sympathy required. Just had to let it out somewhere. Dh is quietly having his own weirdiness about it. And our visitor this w/e was my cousin, who was the executor of exh's will. So.... blahhhhh.

OMG Strops At least you know that the feelings will pass for you.
Did you or your DD have any "counselling" at the time?