The Crepe Escape

[Cremolafoam]

We were getting to the end.

Ruby - I love prawn crackers - have to say hadn't thought of the champagne combo - I'll have to give it a go.

BD - so glad to hear your mother is doing better.

DD2 is going to make MI/Nigella's cake - she's assembled all the ingredients and will make it tomorrow morning or so she tells me.

DBoyfriend all good - apparently there had already been 5 faints today chez H&M.

Cotentin peninsula near Portbail apparently, wherever that is.

We have taken advantage of DD1's absence at a party to eat meat (in truth rather tough casserole cooked by DP) and I must stop drinking the very nice and also very strong red wine someone brought last week. Though contrary to usual practice we haven't ended up with more booze than when we started: he thinks it was all the parents of young kids who arrived at 4 and fell on the cava like famished warthogs (and we've all been there)

Ruby I think it's too late to claim it back

Mass fainting in H and M?! Is it that disgusting sandalwood pong they pump into the store that makes your eyes water and your stomach feel distinctly queasy perhaps?

Father's Day presents bought (both selfish: season 4 of Breaking Bad and a bottle of Aperol)

Falafel and salad here for supper. Hadn't thought of drinking but reading all your posts makes me fancy something now...

Ds1 in a post GCSE strop and slump. Ds2 generally provoking... nothing unusual to report...

Just been watching Horrible Histories karaoke. - fab - Charles dickens/morissey particularly inspired

Having a lovely day today, spent it on the beach where ds was doing a beach rugby competition.....spent most of the day sitting in the campervan, trying to contain two dogs, enjoying the sunshine....

Now home and having not heard from dd1 since Thursday, when I dropped her off at the hovercraft for the Isle of Wight festival, feeling slightly strange! Guess she's left home! Admittedly I did take her phone off her, as I knew it would run out or get nicked....

Tomorrow, my 84 yo dad is coming for lunch at our local pub (just about 3 miles over the hills - he'll love it )

Pork stir fry in front of Transformers here. With v nice pink wine - might have to buy more from Majestic as its on offer. And followed by (since I sent dh to the supermarket today and he always brings back something random) Viennetta. We are sooo classy .

I have been freecycling today, giving away a bunch of stuff including kids booster seats which is bittersweet - no more ghastly toddler car journeys, but no more unquestioning love and sticky hugs either. Although, one of the tropical fish died today and ds2 lay sadly in my arms for quite some time, mourning Bubbles and her (his?) short but brightly-coloured life. I realised it had been a while since ds2 has stayed still for long enough for me to hold him, and then I wondered what I will do when none of my children will let me touch them any more. I might have to get one of those real baby dolls. Not.

Sang with my choir in our, very windy, town square this morning. Songs included 'The Water Is Wide', which I sing to DS as a lullaby, car journey pacifier, etc. DS and DP came to watch, and I could hardly sing the song for emotional wobble, just looking at his little face.

DP has now departed for Sierra Leone for five days, so no doubt ice got a few nights of DS in my bed. Which is quite nice, really.

Sausage casserole and a couple of glasses of leftover red.

Ok the verdict is( acc to dd)
Glasgow 8/10
Stirling 6/10
Edinburgh 10/10
Dundee 7/10
St Andrews - a definitive No

My verdict: campus Fatigue

We are in our lovely rented apartment in Edinburgh . We have had Thai food and now have pink wine and a salsa dip. Dd h is out in the town with her stepbrother .
An early night and marshmallow bed beckon. I will be q glad to get home tomorrow.

Hattie is the bf ok after his collapse in H et M? Dd will be applying in 2014 too, so they must be similar in age.
Apparently dd wants a big 18th birthday party( this summer). < feel weak>

Pass the

Herbs for wibbly moment.
I cried at the soppy bits in Despicable Me yesterday .
[ fool emoticon]

Crem - I love Despicable Me, and we are counting the days until the sequel comes out.

Wilbur - re sticky toddler hugs - I still get plenty from my grunting teen DS. When he's not being a moody git, that is. He has gone to a mates for a sleepover this evening, and quite frankly I was glad to see the back of him; he had a total meltdown because I asked him to empty the dishwasher before we left, with much ranting and slamming of doors, then promptly fell asleep in the car. Clearly still catching up after his school trip.

He's not playing in the football tournament tomorrow, on account of his slightly bruised toe but DH has committed to an hour on the BBQ, so they have to go anyway.

Meanwhile, DSis is rocking up at 9am tomorrow to drive us to Aunt's party, and I haven't a clue what to wear. I spent three hours wandering around Epsom this afternoon, and couldn't find one solitary thing to buy. Dismal.

DH is getting a pack of profiteroles for Father's Day.

Woken up this morning realising we don't have any fathers day presents here! But there was a happy outcome to the watch in the bonfire saga- the insurance company have bought him a lovely new one, so I'm kind of assuming that is the present...

I've also defrosted some bacon for obligatory breakfast in bed

Thanks Crem - what was wrong with St Andrews? Although I think I can probably guess. Hey we'll be in Edinburgh appart's in Drummond street in July. Uni will have shut by then but we'll wander around empty buildings.

CV - I reckon when boys get to age 10 they won't let you hug them anymore - especially in front of the school when they accelerate away from you and disown you.

DD2 - Has risen and about to start on cake.

Beachy - DD1 going to rock festival in July - will be very relieved when she's back home safe and sound.

Morning all!
Well St. Andrews looked lovely in the sunshine yesterday. The wee town city is picturesque complete with castle and fabulous beach but contrary to how we imagined it , the uni is really a series of fancy pants glass buildings on the edge of town. As a result it felt a bit disconnected and campus like Stirling really.
Clearly a fabulous university - no qualms about teaching or brilliant research done there , but it felt like the end of the earth after city centre vibrancy of Cambridge and Edinburgh etc. got the impression that your whole social life would be via clubs and societies as opposed to RL city fun.
Just not for her.
And there was a lot of golf

Yes, sounds like a fab break, despite al the uni visiting - not heard one complaint about rain

No Fathers Day presents here either - the DC have decided that they go unappreciated (mileage gadget that DD bought for DH at Christmas still sitting on shelf) and no plans yet. DS is going to make some croissants (in a tin-type) for breakfast

Full cooked English here. And a mug with 'I'd rather be on the Malvern Hills' (to go into work) and a bar of Black Pear Beer soap......

But he still walked the dog.....

Ruby, that wine is fabulous. Thank you!

I have been swimming. And am contemplating the 5:2 again - it's only a few pounds that are bugging me but I would like to abolish them and return to my own fighting weight. Is it truly awful? It does sound a better idea than constantly trying and failing not to eat things I would like....I am in truth capable of being quite disciplined (hence three-weekly swims and my return to an Hour of Writing six days a week) but food is my downfall.

MI the main thing (for me) is work out when you are going to eat (I can't save up my 500 for one meal - I'd be suicidal) and second work out exactly what you are going to eat. Keep busy.... :) I don't think it is too horrific, and I actually feel better the day after. I do Monday (as usually over indulged at the weekend) and wed or Thursday depending on what we have planned.

Had fight with DD1 today - she nicked my eyeliner yesterday for a sleepover and when I went to search in her handbag for it yelled at me for rummaging in her bag. I informed her I would not have been rummaging if she hadn't taken it. She does not see the logic of this and thinks herself perfectly justified in yelling at me. the youth of today. Have had a chat about entitlement and personal boundaries.

On the diet note - I just want a flat stomach - all the rest of me is skinny. Cannot seem to shift it. I'm very disciplined at going to gym. Not so disciplined at the biscuits and coffee when I get back.

There was an interesting set of features in the Saturday Graun about 5:2ing the rest of your life - two alcohol-free days a week, two screen-free days, two days of exercise - with the theory that if you know it's not for ever, it's easier to keep up. I think there's something in it.

The first day of fasting, MI, is pretty grim to be honest, but you really do get used to it. And the hunger pangs don't actually get any worse the longer you leave them. You realise it's not the end of the world if you're hungry for a bit.

I've lost a bit of weight on it, that amount varying between 4 and 8 pounds within a few days. Mad. As with most diets, it seems the more overweight you are to start with, the more you lose. And, it appears, you can't just stuff your face on your 'feast' days - you have to eat your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). About 2,000 calories, in my case.

Don't mention food - I have eaten my own bodyweight today. Gorgeous lunch in a posh hotel with Aunt, cousins, DSis, DDad and DSM, followed shortly after by birthday tea, with scones, jam and clotted cream and a huge pyramid of macaroons. Washed down with several glasses of fizz (as DSis was driving, in her swanky new BMW X3).

I have a day off tomorrow; DS and DD1 have an Inset day so DS and I are off to Ikea to choose bedroom furniture. I'm strangely nervous about going because the last time I drove there I had my nasty prang on the way home.

I am home. Flop.
But news flash! Can tell you now as I have security clearance! Am gonna meet Obama in the flesh tomorrow . Have been invited by American Consul. Vvvv excited