The Creped Crusaders - new thread!

[wilbur]

New thread for chatting. Oh and swapping S&B tips.

Having a manic day here - INSET day at school and I have 7 kids (inc my 3) over for lunch. While also trying to "work from home" and talk to removal people.

Mmm, pie...

The DDs' current school has a draconian policy on nits - if you have them, your parents are informed, and you are not allowed back until you have treated them and Nitty Nora the Nurse has deemed you to be clean. As a result, virtually no cases. In UK, DD2 sat next to a child who had lice dropping out of her hair onto her exercise books, so we were almost never rid of them. The school was aware, and said that all they could do was point it out to the child's parents (which they had), but it was up to the parents to decide if they treated it or not. That poor child.

Aargh, don't mention the little crawling blighters. Would you believe, it was my nieces who were always responsible for giving nits to the DDs - my DSis used to just wave her hands and say "oh, the nanny does all that", when clearly the nanny didn't, and the poor girls were always crawling. Every time we went on holiday with them we came back with unwanted guests.

Touch wood, we have been nit-free for a long while now. Worms, however, that's a different story.

Now, oh stylish ones, some advice, please. I bought this blouse (the pink version) last week - it is modelled on the website by some bird cavorting around on a beach in half a bikini, but in store it is firmly with the workwear/black trousers. It is such a flattering fit, but is it too va-va-voom for work? Maybe it's the animal print. I see other people looking fab in such things, but always feel a bit wrong wearing them.

I think it would look great with a black pencil skirt. If you don't fancy going in your bikini bottoms

Oh yes. Dressed down, it would look most becoming. Wear a bra, though.

Yo crepeys! I am not lost nor gone forever, just bogged down with RL. And er, there was that hideous hangover that took out a large chunk of the w/e..

Dd went off to France at 5.30am this morning, but we had mucho angst and hoo-ha over the preceding couple of days. Anyway, fingers crossed it will all go well.

Have mad couple of days with work but hope to catch up with thread soon.

PS: for wilbur, in case I forget later - do not forget The Tank Museum when you are down this way. It's very, very good. And is virtually next door to Monkey World, if your family would like to party with the primates. Also has an impressive play area for older children.

And PPS: ruby, my ds will buy your ds's book. Or maybe he could write the chapter about carbonaras of the South Coast.

So Strops Junior has made it to France? You must be mighty relieved. I hope it goes well for her.

Glad to hear your DD went, Strops - make the most of the stress-free time (presuming she didn't take her phone and isn't texting/calling you every 2mins!)

DH is wanting to camp in the New Forest at the start of the summer hols - is that near you Strops? Not that I am too desperate to visit monkey world

I would like to take this opportunity to say: MrsS, you are a genius

In this particular instance, it's for your recommendation of stirring a lump of Boursin into a tomato sauce for pasta. The Inferiorettes, plus a friend, have just snarfed down a plate of lycopene-and-calcium goodness.

I am indeed relieved that dd has made it to France. Phew.

She has taken her (new smart-) phone with her, so I have had a couple of calls but so far it has only been whingeing about not being able to understand anything because "everyone talks so fast". Tried hard not to snigger and then suggested she smile and point at stuff to make herself understood. "Do you want me to look like an idiot?" came the response. I couldn't help sniggering at that point. But have also said in supportive grownup manner that she will start understanding things at about the time she has to come home and the real benefit will just kick in the next time she has a French lesson back in the UK. Jeez, no one had to point this out to me when I was that age. Ho hum.

BTM, the New Forest is not that far from us - although it depends where in the New Forest, obvs. :) The Stroplets are not hugely excited by Monkey World. Ds (age 3, after being there about 20 mins): "Is it just.... monkeys?" Um, yes, the clue is in the name. I am a big fan, though, and would love to work there. See, those orangs, they are just mighty happy to come on long-term exchange programmes to the UK and do not whinge about stuff as long as you keep them well supplied with interesting rope toys and bananas.

Mmm, the Boursin in tomato-sauce pasta sounds like it would be a hit here too

Glad to hear she has safely arrived - good tip about smiling, hopefully she takes that one to heart

Talking of days out, I'm off to the Aquarium tomorrow. Again. Oh well, the children like it

It is excellent the Boursin in tomato sauce, but don't use the fig and walnut one or the walnut and blue cheese one. It has to be the 'erbs and garlic.

I am in quite a cheery mood tonight. I sent two short stories off to Mslexia for critiquing (should that have an "e" in it?) and they liked them both (one more than the other) and they suggested I develop one a bit more and send it to the BBC, as they thought it would work well on radio.

And have been to the theatre.

Ohhhh MrsS, I had forgotten how much I love that Fig & Walnut Boursin. Not sure you can get it in the UK, now that I think about it.....

Well done on the short stories! Feeling quite in the minority not having a creative writing string to my bow.

Ruby - how extravagant; you should be ashamed of your profligate ways.

It used to be a Christmas Special here, but now seems to be available all year, CV, albeit still with Christmas bells on the label.

Congrats MrsS, but I fear your Christmas Boursin may just be out-of-date Christmas cheese if it has the bells on the packaging

How exciting, MrsS - well done on the short stories.

I had a very sad day yesterday, went with my best mate to an early pregnancy scan to find that, yet again, the baby's heart had stopped. It was about 8 weeks, which is furthest any of them have got. This is the 6th time this has happened to her and she is just flattened by it. She's had various investigations, nothing conclusive, but she gets shuttled around from clinic to clinic and there's no continuity of care. One doctor say - "it's just your age" and then the next says "it may be your immune system" but then takes forever to do the test. They were v good though yesterday, very sympathetic and kind. At least this time they should be able to take some tissue samples to see if there was some kind of chromosome problem. It's doubly frustrating as she gets pregnant very easily. Just so for her.

On a happier note, it is dd's 9th birthday today and she is very excitied and happy. She's gone off to school with chocolate flapjacks and we are going out for family dins at our lovely local Italian later.

Wilbur for your BF.

ruby, linkie? You know it will stop raining now, don't you