Crepey continuum

[Cremolafoam]

Over here!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I am not sure that I could, MI, as he has a great working relationship with another female manager who is a huge drip and does as she is told. (She is new.)

[Cremolafoam]

Jeez mrs S BD is right about AB being a bully, especially if others now fear the same behaviour being applied to them..
HH is clearly acting as an enabler/ facilitator of his behaviour. It's all very toxic. Sorry to hear ydd has Delhi belly as well. Right now all you need are some unnecessary visitors init?

We have snow - again. Getting bored of it now. Also I visited my dm today and managed to broach the subject of her 70th birthday . Spent much if the time trying to convince her that throwing a party herself means she'd be doing all the work. Her control-freakeryknows no bounds. I think I've persuaded her to think again. Dsis has offered her house but mother says no( on account of fuck knows whatnoisy sticky grandchildren)
I feel a whole new level of stress coming on.

[Stropperella]

Bloody hell, MrsS, if yr colleagues know this why don't they stick up for you? What is the point of AB? Does he actually do anybody any good? He doesn't exactly sound like an asset to the organisation.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

They don't stick up for me because they fear for their jobs - most are on one or two year contracts. It's in their interest to keep their heads down. What is the point of him...good question.

I have to do something about my mother's birthday (it's her 80th) soon. This is difficult - none of her siblings will leave norf London, none of them would be willing to host a party. She has upset most of her friends - I was suggesting I go down for the weekend, and we have the neighbours round, and the few friends she hasn't upset, for a few drinks. And then up to London for lunch with my Godmother somewhere nice. Was thinking Claridges, or possibly the Fortnums restaurant - any other ideas for somewhere to be a bit of an occasion?

[CointreauVersial]

Blinkin' Nora, crepeys, I can't keep up! New thread, 55 posts and I've barely been offline for 24 hours.

I've been out for the last couple of evenings; nothing thrilling, though. Yesterday was a football committee meeting. Dull, but I have "made it known" that I will be resigning as club secretary at the end of this season, so such evenings are hopefully numbered.

Tonight was parent's evening for DD1, and she's the swotty, bright one, so it was a joy basking in her reflected glory. DS is a different animal; I won't go so far as to call him a "lazy toe rag" but suffice it to say I'm not looking forward to his parent's evening quite so much.

As we were out late, we ended up with a KFC dinner. Classy but, oh my god, I do love a bargain bucket

On the subject of the use of the "royal we" and other such transgressions, DH's biggest crime is saying things like "let's help mummy with HER housework". As if it's my job and the rest of the family is so kindly offering assistance. Or he will go and sit in the car, because he is ready to go; never mind that the DCs haven't been to the loo, got their coats, found their shoes, that's not his job to ensure these things happen, oh no, he's ready.......

[Cremolafoam]

Le pont de la tour
Beaufort Bar at The Savoy?

Need more criteria! Lol

We took dad to Bofinger for his 80th

[Blackduck]

I caught up with the Gwynnie thread this morning - so loving Xenia's raw carrot and sardine meal for the poor and MIs catagoric statements re the attractiveness of said meal.
Xenia cracks me up (and makes me ), she just lives in another word and we are all to blame that we aren't in her position and earning squillions, and we are bad examples to our (female) children.....I did love Bonsoir's comment about her never getting a man if she doesn't learn to cook :)

MrsS - AB claerly has a problem with you - I suspect you are not acting with the correct levels of deference and humility to him, he is after all your boss AND a man. But seriously, this is bullying, he is treating you differently to other staff, that is not on.

[hattymattie]

Yup - I'd definitely go for the Bonsoir approach and as I've added to thread - I will have no truck with sardines - nastly little bones that crunch in your mouth .

I don't think I could feed my family without pasta though. I think I'm just for common sense.

[Stropperella]

I love sardines on toast, but I too am a bit wussy about the crunchy bones. Therefore I can only eat them when I am feeling like fiddling about removing the bones. Which is not often. I have to admit that I have done the brown rice and tinned fish thing, but mixed with lots of tomatoes and parsley and a lemony dressing. But that was a long time ago. I find brown rice not worth the bother these days.

I could comment at length on Xenia and why it's probably her fault that I'm on MN at all (tongue in cheek statement), but I won't. Except to say that I think she speaks sense on some things. Such as women maintaining their financial independence. I think she probably should leave the whole recipes for the poor thing alone, though.

[motherinferior]

The bones are Good For You and will protect your own bones from the creeping threat of osteoporotic snappery

I might try a vaguely Sicilian pasta dish with sardines, pine nuts and raisins soon. I feel the Urge coming on.

[Stropperella]

Yes, I know. But I'd rather just eat more homemade yoghurt. Or cheese. Or green leafy veg. :)

[Cremolafoam]

Where do we stand on anchovies?
I have delicious smoked anchois in my fridge ATM . Might do the Elizabeth David classic:
stuffed peppers

Which would not be the same without THE BREAD oh no

[hattymattie]

Still not eating sardines. I may go for anchovies. I do eat lots of salmon though

[motherinferior]

I love anchovies. And they are now officially Sustainable, I believe.

[Cremolafoam]

[bigTillyMint]

I eat most things and love fish, but tinned sardines is a step too far - do they still come in that oily tomato sauce. Eeeeeuuuuwww!

I am knackered having done an hour and 15 in the gym this morning and then walking about 6miles to various meetings all day. And we are talking of doing boot camp one night after work

[Cremolafoam]

Oh good . Love then but probably contain a lot of salt non?
Very dismayed that mackerel may be on the danger list. I love a BBQ mackerel. Local market still full of them though

[motherinferior]

I have just ordered some Superior tinned sardines - actually pilchards - v nice ones, to do aforementioned pasta dish. Which everyone but me will hate. Natch.

Cremola, if I pitch a feature idea on kinship care, might you be prepared to be interviewed? Say no if not.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Mmm, sardines. And pilchards. And anchovies.

We are having a Meal of Shame tonight - chicken and blue cheese casserole. One of the ingredients is a tin of Campbell's condensed mushroom soup. I am ever the gourmet. Also need to do some tidying tonight for the arrival of the house guests, and make a quiche so that they can have some food when they arrive.

[Stropperella]

Ha, MrsS, if you think that is a Meal of Shame, you need to come and spend some time chez moi.

Actually, no, you'd best not. The Shame would just be too great

[bigTillyMint]

Our fishman does delicious smoked mackerel

DS has been making his English homework - chocolate covered jelly babies. Apparently part of the persuasive writing topic

[motherinferior]

We're having couscous with grilled hallumi. Red peppers (I bunged them in with potatoes to bake the other day) and cherry toms chopped into the couscous. God I love food. Life would be so bereft without it.

"We" and this time I mean DP are going to a session on maths teaching at DD1's school.

BTM, I bet your DS knows some of DD1's old classmates. They are all apparently enjoying the 'social side' of school .

[motherinferior]

FFS MrsS, no quiche making. This is why God invented Picard. Or possibly, of course, Captain Picard did. (Like a Star Trek version of Cap'n Birds Eye.) Remember, the nicer you make it the more likely it is that they will return. Think of it as a guilt-free adult version of controlled crying .

[Cremolafoam]

MI - yes glad to help. Pm me if you decide to do it.

I am at work which means I don't get to eat until at least 9 pm. Food chat making me salivate
Then I will have to sleep on a mattress on the floor due to new carpet being delivered and fitted at 8.30am. Need to dismantle vast Victorian bed beforehand.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Oh this is to feed the Schadenfrauleins too. Quiche, salad, they can eat cold. With Branston and salad cream.