Crepeys Not Crêpes

[Cremolafoam]

Oi over here hags

[CointreauVersial]

Strops - you are not alone - I find the idea of having people round stressful. I wouldn't have anyone for dinner for about a year after we bought this house, because of the ever-present renovations (whereas, in fact, our friends wouldn't have given a toss about a bit of mess/disorganisation). And our old house was too small, particularly where little people were involved. I just like it all to be "perfect"when I'm hosting, and worry it won't be; I feel that I will be judged and found wanting, even though that is irrational bollocks.

DH is always keen to invite people round, but as he doesn't cook or do the cleaning he can't see what the problem is. Wafting around pouring wine is pretty stress-free, it would seem.

Of course, whenever I do bite the bullet and entertain I have a great time and wonder why I don't do it more often.

Anyway, DH has departed for a week in Berlin, which means I'm in sole charge of child-wrangling for the next few days. I've just been doing battle with the sticky-back-plastic for DD1's homework; her art book now has more wrinkles than my forehead, and that's saying something.

Get well soon, Ruby.

[bigTillyMint]

Don't even look ruby - just think of all those poor people whose houses have been ruined with the wierd weather we now seem to get.

Good luck to all with no DH around (though mine seems to have any number of late meetings, leaving me to deal with the fall-out after school, etc. And to you MI - I guess your DD2 is still young so no option of home-alone

[bigTillyMint]

Even if it's the best value house of your dreams, just think of the heartache if it did get flooded, not to mention the cleaning up, etc, etc.
Keep looking for houses on hills!

[TheReturnOfStropperella]

Ah, I feel better knowing that not everybody is hosting lavish bashes every w/e.
Dd volunteered to cook lunch today and then rather wonderfully created her own recipe for chicken breasts roasted with some kind of herby, crispy coating, dug the potatoes out of the garden and generally was impressively helpful. I am now considering the possibility of entertaining whilst getting her to do the catering . I'm sure it would cost me, but still.
I also cheered myself up by having a 2-hour bonfire and burning HUGE mountains of hedgeclippings. This was very satisfying. I am considering building a brick fire pit on the bonfire site.

[TheReturnOfStropperella]

Don't do it Ruby!

[bigTillyMint]

Stropps, I am impressed with your DD.

We could do with a bonfire as we have mountains of garden/wallpaper/other crap refuse, but it's a bit tricky in a teeny London garden.

[CointreauVersial]

Fire pits are fab, Strops. We have one, and we sit round it of an evening, quaffing vino, mesmerised by the flames, while the DCs roam around the garden looking for anything remotely flammable to chuck on it.

[bigTillyMint]

Arf at the thought of CV's DC roaming round our garden

What exactly is a fire pit?!

[TheReturnOfStropperella]

They are giant bbqs BTM. If I build the one I have in mind, it will essentially be a large, brick-lined hole in the ground which I can then put a metal grille over. CV's description of her family's enjoyable evenings has convinced me! I have a new project! I have loads of bricks. And a spade.

[bigTillyMint]

Oh OK! Sounds like it would be the size of our "patio"

Maybe we could work out a miniature version - the garden needs "relandscaping" since a large circular bed was removed to make way for the trampoline which has now been taken down... But we are stuck waiting to see what will happen with the back wall due to a hopeful developer.

[CointreauVersial]

You can make them out of brick, but ours really is like a giant BBQ, a big wide metal dish thing on legs. We don't cook on ours (use the Weber for that), but you probably could. And it can be moved about/put in the shed for winter.

Last time it came out the DCs ran out of sticks and ended up raiding the paper recycling bin for burnable stuff. I guess it's recycling of sorts.....

[Blackduck]

Hi all, BTM your garden sounds about as big as mine!
This weekend was sock buying for residential (gulp)... Snail racing and boules down pub on Sunday - which is very civilised and sells the Sunday papers/does breakfast. Ds's snail won! Then met up with someone I have been emailing for 6 months in her massive house/garden - made me feel quite , but dp pointed out we have a better view!
Also did the local veg and craft show - lots of competitive cake baking and veg growing
Meanwhile we actually cleared the dining room and can have dinner round the table - so we are slowly coming together.
Wilber - about dress - let rip today that is just appalling.
MI hope the childcare works out, it is such a pita. We have to drag Ds with us every morning when Dp drops me at the station at stupid o'clock because I am not happy to leave him.

[TheReturnOfStropperella]

Wow BD, that sounds like a busy w/e and it also all sounds so positive. Very nice to hear that things are all coming together so speedily.

MI, I hope a cost-effective childcare solution presents itself soon. Will you be having to hire a nanny-type person otherwise?

CV, I am at the vision of your posh and shiny fire pit. Mine is going to be ... rustic - to fit in with the rest of my garden.

[herbaceous]

BD - your weekend sounds ace. You seem to have moved to some kind of social paradise. Just you wait, though - in a few weeks it will be revealed that you've been drawn inexorably into a swingers' circle.

[herbaceous]

Oh, and I also meant to say that I doubt I can make it on the 12th, unless I can conjure up a babysitter. DP has a work do. Even if he's back at a reasonable time (eg 8), I wouldn't make it to the South Bank (or wherever) until 9. Though maybe that could work...

[Blackduck]

@ swingers......there is, apparently, a coven!!

My garden is tiny teeny, mostly steps, and backs onto a hill... I suppose I should be grateful there is no great expanse of lawn to mow.

Yes, I keep thinking this is the fag end of summer when there is the final outing of various clubs etc, and then everyone will hole up for the winter and I will go slowly mad ;) (I am hoping not, dp and I are working on the 'turn up at everything you possibly can' at the minute - he wants to do the pub quiz tonight, but we have no babysitter)

[CointreauVersial]

Wow, BD, you've done more socialising in the last week that I've done in 3.5 years in my (not so) new house! I wish I had more local friends. The problem I have is that we didn't move the DCs to the village school (as we only moved eight miles) so I haven't tapped into that school-gate network.

I am planning to join something local at some point - a Book Club would be nice, but there doesn't seem to be one. All I can find is Pilates (been there, done that) or Drama (have enough of that at home, thanks). There is always the annual Village Pageant and Procession which I could get involved in, but I don't want to be landed with too much stuff to do (lazy cow).

Ruby - hope you're enjoying your gastro-pub lunch (with or without Ben). Sounds more enticing that my miserable desk-lunch anyway.

[TheReturnOfStropperella]

I have a little aibu for you, my crepey friends. Today ds came home from school with (I must not be too specific) printed matter produced by his school which has been issued to three year groups and must obviously have cost a fair bit. It is something he/we are expected to fill in with various bits of info every week - so a substantial doc as it has to last all year. My gripe is "Aaaaaaaaargh, FGS why can they not proofread???". Mistakes all over the bloody shop. Not sure how serious I am being here (as I am raging, but well aware that making yrself unpopular parent no. 1 in the staffroom is not useful), but aibu to get my red pen out?