La Creperie - Home of the Hags!

[QueenLush]

Are you all nursing hangovers or just clearing up the post Christmas mess?

I take great delight in paying NY's Eve no attention whatsoever. I am v. bah-humbuggish about it and am more likely to hang out with the local druids and celebrate the solstice, tbh. (No, that didn't happen either). We are all invited to my mum's for a big lunch on Jan 1st and she gets grumpy if we don't turn up on time to entertain the cousins, so we'll probably go to bed early on NY's Eve. I am always somewhat smug about having no hangover on Jan 1st - as if this somehow balances out all the mid-week, work-day hangovers I have for the rest of the year.

Oh yes, I have been in bed by midnight on NYE more often than not! Do recall walking the dog in the snow whilst pregnant with ds some nine years ago......
I am currently decluttering and have discarded two bags of clothes for charity and one for the bin......it has been very theraputic - I have chucked out stuff I suect I will never fit into again.

Found you!

Have read both threads -

Wilbur, like the shoes and I must confess to being a "not very evolved person" at times However, I passed on virtually all of the baby/toddler clothes (apart from a tiny baby babygro that DD wore for her first 8 weeks, and DS for about 6, plus a couple of other things....)

Huffy, no-body in their right mind would wear those shorts And you need a Nitty Gritty comb, not Hedrin!

MI, I don't have maicures (my nails break ALL the time ), but I do
have the odd pedicure in the summer

QL, glad to hear your DM has gone - does a drink or two not loosen her up at all?

Herbs, so sorry to hear about your DDad - he sounded like such a top guy building all those houses, etc. I can empathise with the feeling cross - I feel like that with my mum and she's only getting old and doddery ATM.
Actually, I have always felt a bit cross with her for being a bit weedy in some respects

ruby, let's see the boots (not that I'm into boot porn, of course!)

BD, Goa sounded fab

We are just back from a fab few days at a hotel in Bristol with our BFF's. It was very relaxing apart from this morning having to deal with the fallout from "Flicker Wars" between the girls last night Also the traffic both going there and coming back was HORRENDOUS. Do NOT on any account try to use the A4 at Hammersmith - DH made the mistake on the way back, which explais why DS had 3 bottles filled with wee to empty on return, and DD and I did an emergency stop in a random pub.......

Helloooo!

I did check in a couple of days ago, but finding two threads was more than my poor brain could cope with, so I thought I'd wait and see which evolved!

I'm typing this on my new laptop (a bargainaceous £279 from PCWorld); we finally came to the conclusion that one PC and five members of the household didn't give me nearly enough MN time really wasn't working.

I'd like to know when the Christmas "break" starts. I have been flat out every day since stopping work on 22nd December, what with Christmas preparations followed by successive waves of relatives, trips to London (Matilda was fab), party preparation, sales shopping....... As if there wasn't enough going on, DH had a weak moment and ended up booking a double glazing salesman who turned up today. I'm not sure why; it has just joined a long list of demand for our cash (and it's a long way down).

I am happy to say I intend to do absolutely nothing tomorrow. We originally planned to stay home for the dreaded NYE, but have been enticed to spend the evening with some close friends, luckily it is just chilling with a takeaway.

Then we have our annual festive bash on 1st January (just to be different and awkward) - a sort of "open house". No-one tends to be caning it on the 1st so it is usually quite laid back. I am very lazy and have stocked up on canapes from Costco (as someone once said - Shirley Conran, possibly - life is too short to stuff a mushroom)

Oh BTM, guess you missed the traffic reports of recent days.......bottles of wee.....nice!

Ahh bottles of wee.. Ds's fav trick is to decide he needs the loo just after you have passed motorway services and when ds needs to go.......dp is a coffee drinker so the cups come in useful. But dp does get all prissy about it. On toilet issues I did have to laugh when ds was having his 48 hours in goa, he really did smell unpleasant and was wailing 'I smell like the dog' :)

Meanwhile I am looking at the house and wondering how the hell I am going to pack it up without having a nervous breakdown, and having the most hideous cold feet about the whole thing.

Happy New Year, Hags! (My Grandmother always used to call New Year's Eve, Old Year's Night, which I quite like.)

DH came back last night in a foul mood, largely ranting at the state of the house (kitchen, hall, guest loo and sitting/dining room all clean and tidy, floors washed, bathrooms clean-ish, rest of place needs hoover pushing round and a quick dust, but to hear him, you would think it looked like Mr Trebus's place). He is still ranting, largely about what we are going to eat tonight, as we have six of his friend descending on us. We are having curry - the lamb tandoori is marinading nicely in the fridge, and the chicken curries will shortly be prepared (by me). We do need some shopping, which I suggested he does, but this idea has Not Gone Down Well. And I should have Been Better Prepared.

Hence I am lying in bed, not shopping and not cooking. But may open a bottle of Champagne shortly...

Am going to make chicken dopiaza, but crank up the chilli content for the heat freaks, and do a chicken and coconut milk job for the pussies. A dhall and maybe spinach paneer as well. I think that should do. Will make a lasagne for us tomorrow and stick in fridge as well.

MrsS, I am that your DH is panicking about the food for tonight (and the state of the house) when he is clearly married to a Domestic Goddess. The curries sound lush - wish I was coming!

We are, infact, going to be very anti-social and stay in just the four of us. DH is hoping to pack us all off to bed at 10, and ATM, that looks like a very enticing idea! I will be having a quiet day as DS is at football training and a match and then DH will be taking the DC to see the local team this afternoon

BD, when are you moving, and did you do a linky to your new house?

MrsS I'd open the champagne and leave him to the curries....
We are out at friends so about about to knock up broccoli and Gorgonzola pie curtesy of that nice Mr Ottolenghi.......it has a cholesterol warning plastered all over it. However, am feeling tres rough so won't be drinking tonight.

Haven't got a date for move yet. We have done survey on one we are buying, but our buyers haven't done one on ours yet. Strangely after having a 'mare to find a buyer we now have three on hold in case it falls through. I just can't make my mind up if we are doing the right thing. Dp is of the we're started so we'llfinish school. Trouble is I love my current house (just not the location and the secondary schools are shabby) so I think it's probably a 'not ready to move' feeling IYSWIM.

Oh nice boots, but weren't you doing the not buying anything thing ;)

ruby, they are lovely - they actually look long enough for my legs and far too good for dogs or footie. Infact I am feeling so and our local shoe shop has a sale on so I am going to dash out and take a look - It will all be your fault ruby......

Ruby, you are saved They didn't have anything that fits. Since when did it become so hard to find a boot that actually comes to near my knee and doesn't have the most enormous calf-fitting
I want some that are 17" long and about 15" around my calves - looks like I'll have to peruse the Duo site.

Nice boots, ruby. And well done for getting them before your no-buy regime starts.

Overall, I have had a very relaxing time for the last week. And I have had more decent nights' sleep than I can remember having for a very long time. If only this could last. I might even manage to not shout at anyone for, oooh, 2 days.

Blackduck, moving is such a trauma, I can't imagine anyone is ever really jumping with joy when they get down to the practicalities of packing up their life. But tell us more about House C :)

BTM, I have Hedrin AND the NittyGritty comb. :)

MrsS, hope you're enjoying the champagne. I am in total awe of your culinary prowess. And bewildered as to why your DH is not more appreciative. May I suggest a husband-swap? I am sure that your DH would appreciate you much more after a week or two of cheese and salad sandwiches for every meal.

Now, is there any news as to where we are meeting on the 20th? If I'm going to come, I need to get myself organised, as will have to find v. cheap hotel and book train tickets shortly.

MrsS, I suggest you drink some more Champagne and leave him to it

We appear to have no NYE plans, which is surprisingly jolly. We do have a couple of extra people to supper but one of them is a mate of DD1's, who is here this afternoon while her recently divorced mum goes to the football, and the other will be said mum (who is delightful). Have additional child here as well this afternoon. I should be writing my Great Book but don't feel like it (again). Also I have to go out to buy spices for dal (to accompany a chicken curry which has been in the fridge for ahem some days) as DP gets all worried about sell-by dates and chucked out my asafoetida that was supposed to be used up by the end of 2005 .

Oooh yes Huffy - have just got my new calendar organised and saved the date before DH can slip in a footy match or something.

Is this the right list?

Jan 20th
MrsS (has to be top of the list, but no hangovers allowed this time)
Cointreau
BTM
Huffy
Herbs
MI
ruby ?
wilbur ?

Where is convenient for most people? BFI was great the last time, but I'm happy to go wherever!

Am feeling very about all these lovely curries - I have no idea what we will have, but maybe a Thai prawn curry????

Christ on a bike, Mrs S. Your H needs to stick his ranting up his dopiaza. His friends? You cooking? Him complaining? I recommend one of those MN strikes I keep reading about on the relationship boards.

I am definitely on for the 20th - I shall be in London that day, anyway, so no problem to stay another night.

I'm really tired at the moment, and have been looking aimlessly through cookery books for a quick pudding, but think I shall despatch DD1 to the patisserie, as that is one thing less to worry about then. Chicken curries done, now on with the chickpeas, carrot, potato and pea curry (couldn't be arsed with making paneer, and have Veg That Need Using Up) and possibly some dhall. Must also get DD1 to get some more milk and yog.

Have suggested that DH iron table cloth, but he appears to have disappeared...

Pretty sure Blackduck should be on the list for the 20th too, BTM!

We are having a family film evening, which should be starting about now, but open warfare appears to have broken out between the offspring. I'm going to open the Prosecco. And if things don't quieten down, I shall retreat to the bath with the bottle of wine and a nice new book (The Face in the Mirror by Jane Shilling).

Happy New Year everyone. May we all remain (cough) astonishingly well-preserved throughout 2012 . Will be drinking a toast to the Crepeys' health and happiness shortly (because I am still set on going to bed early :)).

Righty Ho - put my forgetfulness down to the crepiness

Jan 20th
MrsS (has to be top of the list, but no hangovers allowed this time)
Cointreau
BTM
Huffy
Herbs
MI
ruby ?
wilbur ?
BD!

We are also planning a buffet-style eating and drinking and TV/film-watching-fest, (till 10pm of course) but my NDN has just popped in to invite us round, and I'm beginning to think that sounds more appealing.....

My pie looks nothing like Mr Ottolenghi's - let's hope it tastes okay. I have spent the afternoon with oldest mate hearing tales of his love life (very funny) and would now like to go to bed as I feel shite. Will do a couple of hours and then come home, bloody cold.......
Yes, should be able to do 20th.
Happy New Year crepeys - looking forward to putting faces to names (do we call each other by our MN names?! )