Crepe Expectations

[Cremolafoam]

Will this do?

Have a good one, CV!

(sorry about the vacuum cleaner talk )

CV have fun! (Where you going?)

Oh Ruby - international spy?!
Apparently the way to go is to fly to Dublin and do immigration there and then go onto the states - quicker and easier so I was told last night.
How's house move going? (Being nosey can you pm me link to what you are buying - missed seeing photos at MIs birthday bash...)

Dp said we will talk re his globe trotting - probably next week when ds is away at grandparents.

I have so much admin to do before I leave, it's crazy. To cancel a direct debit in France, you have to write to the organisation, asking them to cancel it, and send the letter by recorded delivery (the more expensive method, whereby you have to pay for a postcard to be sent to you confirming receipt). I cannot believe how clunky and antiquated the banking system is here - in Belgium you could sort out direct debits and send money overseas at the hole in the wall, and they helpfully provided a little seat for you while you sorted everything out.

You are clearly dodgy, Ruby, and they will mark your card for any future visit to the US!

Ruby, are you in league with MrsS to be an International Woman of Mystery?

DP and DD2 go off to do hippy t'ai chi today. DD1 and I are going to have a pleasant overnighter with friends in the country. Before that I must try and finish writing about bones, finally. Have not heard from client who received emollient email.

I am tired. I have been looking at jobs and find it difficult to feign enthusiasm for anything on offer. "I have always been fascinated by XX" "I would love the opportunity to work on YY." I just don't give a shit about any of it.

And DH is being an arse, and "doesn't fancy" anything I have suggested for dinner (salmon, peas and new potatoes or egg and lentil curry with spinach or quiche and salad) and doesn't want to go out either. I'm not running a fucking restaurant. What is wrong with these options?

Oh Mrs S . Sorry things feel so crap.
Tell dh to choose an option / suggest a restaurant and if he continues to be an arse cook what you fancy most and let him lump it. Doesn't he know you have an arse at work to contend with and don't need more of it at home?

We went out. The DDs were exceptionally annoying and conversation not stimulating. DD2 was intent on telling us a long and convoluted story about when she dropped her hat down the slide in primary school and it sort of went downhill from there, with me snapping "And this is interesting, why?" Food was good though.

On style and beauty news, DD2 has had six inches cut off her hair and it is now just below her waist. It looks a lot better. She has had some long layers cut into the front and looks like Crystal Tips because the curls have gone mad.

Oh and the cat has deposited a small turd in the hall in our absence. He is much embarrassed and distraught by his misdemeanour and very miaowy. I have cleaned it up, as usual.

I'm in Devon, Crepeys - in Exeter, to be precise. Just one night here, then off to a farmhouse B&B on Dartmoor tomorrow, a small hotel near Truro on Friday, then finally arriving in Penzance for a week with our friends.

Today we went shopping; tomorrow DH and I will be gritting our teeth for Crealy Adventure Park (whoop whoop). What the DCs don't know is that this will give us "credit" to drag them on a nice, bracing bike ride along the Camel Trail on Friday. Give and take, give and take.....

Have waded through tbe hoover talk...

Yes Ruby, go for promo! BD, good luck with your DP and his hol. And wishing you strenght MrsS.

In Turkey with crap wifi, but it is all blue skies and sun (and a nice breeze!) The hotel is MASSIVE and v busy, but we seem to have got an upgrade which is great. Kids on a different time zone to us and being particularly annoying so am hoping they will get into their stride today. Of course, they will be wonderful once our friends arrive...

MrsS at that point I would have pointed dp at the breadbin and said 'make you self a bloody sandwich then'. Seriously you give him choices - sod that - dp might get its x or a take away if he's lucky.....

We will talk about this mad globe trotting nonsense next week when ds is not around (just in case in descends into all out war ;) )

I am a tad fragile this morning - lovely cocktails with a frined, but maybe one too many?

CV - I was looking at cottages in Devon/Cornwall for a long weekend as I am very much in the holiday mood :)

I have to say I am loving this summer :) (partic when I think of last summer)

Ruby ha ha :)

Link???

Dp actually seriously suggested we hire a van and do it ourselves...... (we have in the past, but have rather more stuff now)

Christ, Mrs S. Your DH is worse than my DS, and he has the excuse of being four. I say 'dinner is fishfingers and peas'. He says, 'I don't like fishfingers'. I say 'yes you do. It's that or nothing'. He eats it. I suggest you adopt the same attitude. Or, indeed, point him towards the bread bin or take away menu.

Currently composing stinging letter to head of DS's new school, re the fact that we have had no information about the start of school, such as timetable, curriculum, uniform, lunch arrangements, what he needs to be able to do, what he needs to bring, or even when the school day starts. Their website is two years out of date, and thus useless.

We met his teacher for a grand total of ten minutes, and there was no chance to meet other classmates or for him to look around. It contrasts so starkly with some friends' experiences of home visits, information packs about stuff, organised picnics for new parents, etc etc. I just feel we're leaping into the void.

I hope MrS got cold baked beans for supper. With a teeny bit of 5-day old baguette.

I dunno how all you lot from the eastern side of the country have the patience to drive to Cornwall. I don't have the patience to drive there and I'm already more than half-way there. :)

Wah, Ruby, good luck with getting ready for your move. A bit of pressure on there!

Herbs, that's pretty damn feeble of the school not to have issued an info pack by the end of last term. I don't think there are any home visits or organised picnics etc here at any of the schools. I personally am v. glad about that, but then I may be a bit atypical as I'm a bit of a social phobic and the mere idea of a new parents' picnic gives me the willies. We have a day during the summer term called "Transfer Day" when AFAIR everyone moves up to their next class/school to see what it's like and this includes the children who will be in Reception in September and the ones moving up to middle school. Did your ds not even get a school visit?

He met his teacher for 10 minutes, glanced at his classroom, then we were out. I don't particularly want to meet other parents at a picnic, but it would be nice for him to at least know one other child. All his nursery friends are going to other schools.

Now getting embroiled in Facebook row with SiL re sugar. On holiday, we tried to only let DS have a couple of bad things a day - an ice cream, plus a biscuit, or similar. But as his cousins were constantly carting about a bag of sweets, or eating crap, we had to say 'no' whenever he asked for some of what they had, and consequently looked like joyless lemon-suckers.

So, a picture of him on Facebook of eating a bright blue ice cream has started a bun fight.

Just tell her you've seen the error of your ways after seeing her dcs scoffing endless crap for a week and how happy it made them. That'll shut her up.

Can really understand your disappointment re new school... but,
perhaps your inevitable anxiety about your baby going off to school is getting mixed up with what the school could have / should have done? I do think the only way you'll get a feel for whether it's going to be OK or not is when he starts. You can have all the show in the world (picnics etc) and have a bad school experience. I do remember you saying his teacher seemed lovely. THAT is really important. On the other hand of course they should have let you know what the arrangements are for the first day etc...

Well we've finally started packing and bikini lines done so good to go.

Mrs S. you are too nice too your DH - Mr Mattie gets what's put in front of him - no choice.

D.Sis-in-Law visit went remarkable smoothly. Turns out she finds her mother really annoying as well. DD's have both shamelessly exploited her and have now fabulous prom dresses - I've given them a good talking to.

Herb's - that sort of thing is really annoying - I was always the mean mother who didn't buy enough sweets for her kids.

I may tone down the diatribe, but I still think its pretty shitty. He's already asking questions about what he'll be doing/eating etc, and I feel I should know the answers as I'm supposed to be his fount of wisdom.