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.

Early June is good. I'm always up for a meet-up with you lovely lot.

MI - sorry to hear about the boiler - nothing, and I mean nothing, is more stressful and depressing than a lack of hot water. Hope it isn't too ££ to sort out. Our boiler famously packed up two days before we completed on the house, in temperatures of -7 degrees, and was replaced on the day we moved in, so hopefully that is one thing we won't have to worry about for a few years yet.

Talking about waterproofs, I have once again been blindly influenced by the recommendations of random people I've never met, and have bought myself a Merrell Wakefield (as per the looong S&B thread last year about the perfect coat). It was half price (being the end of the waterproof coat season - excuse me while I laugh out loud), and I'm hoping it will be one of those coats I can wear for years. Mind you, I didn't get much use out of the box of Oven Pride.

I'd love to meet up too, but mid June onwards would be better for me unless you want me to turn up with a packing box and make you all help unpack glassware. Dh and I have an alarming number of glasses, I am discovering, for every conceivable alcoholic emergency, including some of those long green-stemmed ones with the small bowl on top that the French use for some kind of aperitif, I think.

CV - I also want to get a good raincoat as my Lands End winter coat is too much at this time of year, but I really want something that is mid-thigh length, not long. And as we have already decreed on this thread, trench coats are a no-no and I also do not wish to look like I am off on an outward bound course. If anyone comes across anything that might suit, let me know!

MI - v sorry about your boiler, that sucks. At least a new one will be efficient and more reliable. When our last boiler died, after 18 months of us keeping it going with whispered words of encouragement, pleading and stroking, it was bliss to suddenly have reliable heat and water that reached the sink less than an hour after you turned on the tap. And our gas bill went down too .

ruby - good question. I hope she is working hard on her script and about to launch herself as a new voice in theatah.

Or maybe she didn't find the new thread and is wandering around the S&B board being given random advice about Nanoblur and GHDs.

Oh, and ruby - I'm sorry April has been ghastly for you and that so many folk are using you as a box of tissues. Hope better things are on their way for them all.

Ha - but then you probably look like Jean Seberg in yours, whereas I look like Humphrey Bogart and then I lose the belt. It's the belt-loss issue that is my main problem with them.

Yo. I too would love a meet up, and seem to be free for most of June, as I have no discernible life.

Went to see my dad yesterday, who's out of hospital, and was on good form. Bit forgetful, but not totally confused, as he was in hospital. Nagged him about getting his cataract operated on, but I fear it fell on stony ground. Naturally, couldn't express any emotion regarding medical situations. We don't do that sort of thing.

Re waterproof coats, I fancy a stylish, parka-type garment, with removable warm innard, for next winter. I'm thinking now's the time to buy. If you spot anything, let me know!

I currently have an ex-army parka, blinged up with jewels and gold paint. But it's getting kinda daggy, and weighs a ton.

Hmm, yes, I have also been missing Dukes.

Not sure if I will be able to make it to a meet-up in June as the first week is half-term and we are busy both Saturdays. Also not sure what is happening re: dh's treatment, but will know more after the appointment with the oncologist this Friday. Anxiety levels running high again round here.

Anyway, whenever the meet-up is I will try my best to make it if at all poss.

MI, sorry to hear about your boiler woes and hope the complete boiler transplant will be a successful operation with only positive results and no unfortunate side effects.

Dd is suffering major trauma (cried herself to sleep last night) about going on the French xchange next week. There is only one person going that she is really friendly with and last night on FB (how I hate it) said "friend" (who has been the bane of dd's life on and off for 10 years) announced that she didn't want to sit next to dd on the coach and will instead be sitting with a group of other people. dd says "I don't know anyone else, they are all in groups apart from me, none of them like me and don't want me hanging around with them and the Y10s that are going definitely won't talk to me and I will be left out of everything all week." I do understand why she is upset and it makes me sad, particularly because this is clearly to do with a deep-rooted lack of self-confidence on her part, but I am also exasperated and feel she should have been a bit more proactive in sorting out getting to know some of the other people beforehand - although I am very well aware this is not easy for her, to put it mildly. For me at that age I didn't really care about all that guff with the other English people and just wanted to go and speak French. Dd's priorities are clearly v. different.

She was in such a state last night that I felt compelled to email the trip organizer and tell him that she was highly anxious (but I just said this was because of the stuff going on at home and because she doesn't know many other people in the group) and would he please keep an eye to make sure she didn't get too socially isolated, but what can he do really?

Jeez and she was supposed to enjoy this

Good news about your dad, Herbs!

And yes, Ruby, what wilbur said about your April. I hope that things will brighten up for you this month and that you will not get rained on too much in your new job!

Re: winter coats - I bought a half-price ski jacket from Muddy Puddles last year for dd but she doesn't like it and tbh their age 13-14 seems a better fit for me so I guess that's what I'll be wearing this autumn/winter, but not for skiing.

Awww Strops, your poor DD - mine would be exactly the same. I don't think it's about lack of confidence necessarily - it's about wanting to fit in and not being perceived as a loner and is totally understandable. Hopefully the trip organiser might be able to organise some sort of meeting before they go and get her into a group of more friendly girls.
And I was exactly the same as you - just dying to practise my French I am really keen for DD to do an exchange, but her school just seem to do poxy visits to a French town At least she is going on the gym club trip to France in October where they actually get to train with French gymnasts and spend a morning in a French school as well as a few trips.

Herbs, great that your dad is doing better Did you see that Louis Theroux prog? It made me a bit worried that my mum is heading down the slippery slope to dementia, gulp.

RE the meet up,
1 June - start of half-term and 8 June - last Fri of half-term - would 15th or 22nd June be better for people?

Maybe Dukes is drumming so furiously that she has forgotten us?

I am on leave from around 14 June (when the DDs break up) for three weeks so no can do after that date.

Strops - DD1 (who is 13) was exactly the same when she went on the school ski trip - no other girls in her year were going, and the 8th graders don't speak to the 7th graders. We had meltdown the night before and on the morning. She had an absolute ball as a couple of 11th and 12th graders took her and a 6th grader under their wing - took them shopping, to cafes, all sorts, apres ski. It was great for her confidence, and she still sees quite a bit of these girls (one is helping her with her art). She also palled up with one of the boys and played chess with him in the evening a few times.

I am exhausted, and have 6 people coming for dinner tonight. Had hardly any sleep last night as DH and I had too much to drink and, err, didn't go straight to sleep when we finally got to bed.

Does that mean Fri 15th is out, MrsS? You have to be there - you are the star lush

Thanks BTM and MrsS - that has made me feel better about the whole thing. Also, the trip organizer (head of languages) has been very supportive and helpful. dd went to see him at breaktime today and is now much more positive. I have to say that I was pretty damn impressed to get an email from him at 9.30pm last night and then again at 8.15 this morning. He certainly puts the hours in.

It's the fifth which is my 429th.

I am going to bed now, with a gorythriller good book. Am knackered, hormonal and bothered about Inessential Work Stuff (burst into tears at the subs today ). Will be much better tomorrow.

That's good news Strops - hopefully it will be a great success!

429th, MI, you don't look a day over 428

Eeeurgh. I went out wiv da girlz last night to a new bar in Tooting. Key Lime Pie martinis, very yummy, but not feeling so yummy this morning. And now I have to go to work. And then I'm going to do it all over again tonight as it's dh's birthday and I'm taking him out to dinner.

Stropps - glad to hear the languages teacher is being nice and helpful, it sounds like your dd will be fine and have a great time.

SHITSHITSHIT

dd is not alright. she is has been threatening all sorts at school and they called me in this afternoon because her friend had alerted a teacher. I have just spent an hour chasing around trying to find her - she was supposed to be at an afterschool club but had buggered off. Have tracked her down to the friend's house. thank god. Looks like no France trip and a referral to Camhs instead. Fucking hell. I think i will have to give up coming on here as this is all getting too hairy and i can't really talk about it on a public forum any more.

Why does this stuff all come at once, eh?

Oh Strops, that's terrible

Remember you could name-change or PM us if you want to talk. I am happy to listen and offer any advice/support if you want.

Oh Strops, you are having a tough time.

You are right - the exchange is supposed to be fun, but if it's causing DD this much anguish it really isn't worth it.

You don't need to give us chapter and verse, just let us know you're OK, and have your head above the water. We can always chat about crepey clothing and make-up tips.

Oh Stropps sorry to hear its not going well. No advice but {{{}}}

Sorry Strops - what CV says though, no trip is worth this sort of angst.