La Creperie - Home of the Hags!

[QueenLush]

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

Limescale in your crack, Strops?

Sorry! That was me!

It's like a Carry On film here this evening.

Evening, Hags.

Not having a good week - too much work, too much reinventing the wheel. And stressing a bit about only having 18 months left here and what is going to happen about DD1's school when we leave.

Is it cold in Gay Paree, MrsS?

It's brass monkey weather here, but the newsreader told us this evening in a
Very Serious Voice that we should "spare a thought" for those in mainland Europe, who are apparently experiencing a new ice age.

(OK, so Paris is only up the road; just thought I'd check )

Sorry you are stressed. Where are you going when the 18 months is up?

Yes, it is unbelievably cold. I am grateful for your thought. Snow is forecast for the weekend, so I may not venture far.

In 18 months time...I don't know. I can either: go back to London, extend here for a year or go somewhere else. The first option does not appeal at all. The second would be good, but would spectacularly mess up DD1's schooling if she had to go back into the UK system, as she would be going into what we used to call 5th form (where you sit your GCSEs - I cannot remember what year it is called in new money). Mind you, going back a year earlier won't do her much favours, as my friend informs me that her son (who is also in 2nd form) has already chosen his options for GCSE, which seems quite mad to me. I am half wondering whether I should put her in for a few here, early, as a private entrant and see if she can do English, maths, French and maybe art, just to get a few under her belt "just in case."

MrsS, isn't she in an American school? Surely the system/curriculum will be the same in all? (Knows nothing about American schools!) I know she would have to change teachers, etc, but not courses - same boards? If you moved her for Y10, then she will have 2 years here before GCSE's (apart from any taken early, but this is NOT necessary - friends children at grammar/private do NOT take theirs early and come out with obviously sparkling grades)

I know other children who have moved in the state system in Y10 and have done well in their new schools - don't panic! Find out what the school thinks too?

I moved schools half way through Year 3 (old money) of Secondary, so essentially had two clear years at O'Levels (shows age) - I was fine academically (other things were monumentally crap, but that's another story). I think it ccan be done.
Oh MrsS what a jetsetter you are :)
It is bloody nippy here this morning, and I was lying in bed thinking 'I would love to be in a house where turning the heating on actually makes a difference' :) Large houses are all very nice, but a money pit on the heating front.

Ain't you all hungry though, girls? As soon as it gets to freezing I need a crumpet between each meal plus usual unnecessary snackage just to see me through.

Mrs S I hadn't considered your considerations for the nearish future. Discombobulating. Have watched the trailer now. Excellent. Congrats to all involved. Really strong, concise and good visuals (travel agency pic etc). Must check out garageband with dd1.

This arrived yesterday.

www.isabellaoliver.com/womens-clothing/uk/600/dresses/DR484.html

Was £57. Is darker in flesh and lovely. Tried on Spanxless and was gobsmacked. That's some clever tailoring. Has sleeves and covers knees. I am overcome with joy because I have not much in the dress department.

Today I bought a lovely blue top with dots in Sainsburys. It's also cut on the clever to be kind to the tummage. Well done clothes making people.

Anyone watch Modern Family? Today, for lunch, (had my crumpet ) I am making the sandwich Mitchell bought Cam when he was doing the show at the school: pear, brie, ham. Specifically proscuitto.

I have no paid work. Why am I living like this???? ()

Blackduck, as an O'level girl, you no doubt remember that British Gas ad for where it's snowing outside and the family in inside with their central heating on and all doing a conga round their house in beachwear. I used to watch that glued to our gas fire thinking . There are some lovely warm rooms in our house when the heating's on. Unfortunately none of them are the kitchen or sitting room where we spend most of our time.

Warmest room in our house is the downstairs shower room...I guess you could sit on the loo and read a book.....
Fab dress CV - you clearly do not have the lumps and bumps I have...

Sorry Dukes....! (I was thinking of CV and he calf-less legs in those M&S skinnies..)

Dukes, I was just thinking about that ad as I lay in bed last night!

"Is your house Baltic in the bathroom? Vladivostock on the vlanding?" Still makes me titter.

Our house is warm in the sitting room (good), parky in the bathroom (not so good) and farking perishing in the study, where I am, as a) the window is painted ajar, and b) the radiators doesn't work. I need a crumpet.

Ooh, get you, Dukes, with your posh frocks and prociutto sandwiches. Very nice! (the dress, I mean).

I'm sat at my desk virtuously nibbling on a salad and dreaming of crumpets dripping with butter It's far too cold to go out for my lunch break today. I also chickened out of my run. Funny how there's no frost, though - too cold, apparently (something about dew points).

I lived in a house where there was a large dog shaped fireguard and dp did his PhD in full clothed, plus topcoat and fingerless gloves......and the kitchen floor would have ice on it! So actually things have improved somewhat - clearly getting soft in my old age...

Herbs "Is your house Baltic in the bathroom? Vladivostock on the vlanding?" Hilarious. Had totally forgotten that bit.

CV salad???? too cooooold.

oldqueenie, thanks for recommendation, will try before the concert

Soup, CV, you need soup. Almost as virtuous as salad and much more satisfying. I have just had a combo (2 unfinished tubs mixed together, classy) of butternut and carrot and coriander, was v delish and now I feel lovely and full and fat.

Now, S&B chicks - Nanoblur. I have a tube of this and used it for the first time this morning. While I would say I do not look 10 years younger (nothing can erase a decade of maternal ravages) there is definitely an Effect. Pores less pore-y, brow a little smoother. And so far, I have not got dry tight flakey bits which is what has happened before with "lifting" products. So I am a cautious convert.

House is back on the market today, got a viewing tomorrow. Pics have been taken with such a hilariously wide angle lens that the kids' bathroom looks like a palace - I actually didn't recognise it and thought they'd put the wrong photo in. Also prob didn't recognise it without towels on the floor and toothpaste smeared on the mirror.

Oooh - what's the job Ruby? Have to say the job I am in now came as a complete random chance and seems to have been a bit of good fortune for me. I'm a great believer in serendipity.

If you need a project manager for your extension, I have a great guy who helped with ours, definitely saved us money in the long run and was a brilliant buffer between us and builders. He's a semi-retired architect too, so can give good design input. He lives Balham/Streatham borders.

Ruby! That's bonkers. Tell us more.

Interesting Wilbur. Nanoblur got a right slagging on here couple of weeks ago. Nanobleurgh they reckoned. What flavour of skin do you have?

Ruby, congratulations!

Nice dress, Dukes.

Ds got me up in the night 4 times to tell me about how bad his cold is. Not as bad as mine, I said somewhat unsympathetically. I did appreciate the joys of having a partner who works from home this morning, as I was able to go off to invigilate and leave ds in bed with a Star Wars film on the laptop.

Er, that Shred... I did Level 1 last night. It was EASY. I did everything Natalie-ish bar the press-ups. I did not even break sweat. Not even with 1kg weights. And how could you stand that Jillian for 30 days in a row? I had trouble tolerating her for 20 minutes without punching the TV screen. I shall try Level 2, but I am unconvinced that doing that dingbat's jumping jacks for 30 days would make me look much different than I look now. I would still look lumpy, but the lumps might be a bit harder. I'm back off to circuits tonight.

It's toasty-warm round our gaff, but the rivers of snot are flowing. Nice.

Oooh, bunch of x-posts. Fingers crossed for new buyers for you, Wilbur.

I should just like to report that I am extra-specially happy with the lid&line eye pen thing that I got from Pixi a couple of weeks ago. Very nice indeed and am using all the time (impressive for a non-make-upper like moi).

Is Nanoblur one of these new-fangled BB cream things? I'm using the Garnier one, and have to say I'm impressed. Look distinctly less ravaged once it's on, and even the jowls seem less bulldog-like.

Strops. The shred? Easy, you say? Those circuits have done you praaaaad.