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Original poster

Autumn Term At Crepey Towers

999 replies

QueenQueenie · 05/09/2013 10:38

I did it!

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 18/09/2013 22:11

Well done to all the musiciansFlowers

MI, just you wait for Y10.

MrsSchadenfreude · 18/09/2013 22:23

DD2 says that she gets a fraction of the homework that she got at her last school, and has time in the evenings to watch telly and do some drawing. I quite want to phone the education adviser in my office who told me that the DDs would be "at least one, if not two years behind their peers if you send them to an American school" and tell her that DD2 is managing just fine, thank you, and is one of only two girls in the top maths class and to tell the cow that she is in the wrong job.

Congratulations to the Small Inferiorette! I am not remotely musical. I played the violin for a year and did not manage to get beyond the first lesson in the book.

Stropperella · 18/09/2013 22:38

Dd has just informed me that she has finally realised that it is "boring to have no hobbies". Better late than never, I suppose. Somewhat annoying to have this realisation dawn just at the beginning of her critical exams year. Hmm After all the years (5 - 15) of me dragging her to various things we paid for in lieu of having holidays such as piano, trampolining, badminton, after-school French, sailing, karate, swimming, more bloody swimming etc etc and listening to the endless tantrums and excuses about why she didn't want to do any of this beyond lesson 2 and would rather stay in and stare at the wall. And having her completely refuse to do ANY of the clubs at middle school despite being picked for the football and basketball teams and given a lead role in a musical production.

All change now, apparently. All I can do is take a deep breath and hope it's a positive sign.

CointreauVersial · 18/09/2013 23:03

QQ - just sent you a silver-boot-related PM.

Original poster
QueenQueenie · 18/09/2013 23:57

CV! Just sent you a pixie boot related reply...

OP posts:
herbaceous · 19/09/2013 07:56

I think doing music as a teenager probably saved me. I hated school, as it was one of those places where if you showed a modicum of academic prowess or interest you were bullied, and it was great to be able to have a 'safe place' outside that where I could be good at something. I played the bassoon in various orchestras and groups, and by 17 was playing in semi-professional shows.

I really hope that DS is musical too - he certainly shows signs, singing all the time, in tune, and doing some pretty groovy rhythms on his mini drum kit. I suppose four is a bit young to start him on the piano, however.

motherinferior · 19/09/2013 08:32

I am really disproportionately excited as I am going out with my former pilates group tonight and then meeting you lot tomorrow. An actual social life.

Thinking of your first day in the job, MrsS.

I too must rejig the various clothing arrangements euphemistically referred to as my 'wardrobe'....

MrsSchadenfreude · 19/09/2013 08:37

I am having a crisis. Having planned my outfit, I can now only find one of the shoes I was going to wear...

motherinferior · 19/09/2013 08:43

We can't help you there, I'm afraid.

Blackduck · 19/09/2013 08:45

Oh MrsS good luck.
Ds plays the piano - he is actually very good (dp is concernt grade viola player, and his brother is a professional trombone player so that's where ds gets it from...)

Herbs - 4 is a bit young - its the hand span issue with the piano....

Crepeys I may cry off tomorrow, I am dog tired and also a tad financially embarressed (bloody september and back to school....)

herbaceous · 19/09/2013 09:49

No BD! Not allowed. You'll get a second wind once you're surrounded by cheerful crepeys!

I have no idea what I'm going to wear. Maybe something from Sainsbury's...

originalpiratematerial · 19/09/2013 10:03

My older two BOTH STILL play the violin. Beat that!

Cremolafoam · 19/09/2013 10:10

Bd that would be such a shame.
I hear you about September being an expensive month I really do. Maybe just come and eat? I'm going to be knackered as well, but I'm hoping a little adrenalin will kick in with the excitement of the occasion.Smile
If you really feel you can't - know that well miss you.WineSad

Cremolafoam · 19/09/2013 10:15

Herbs I'm having a style crisis too.
The planned top is really not very nice onWink

motherinferior · 19/09/2013 10:26

Wow, OPM, that's...impressive. Ahem Grin Are you popular locally?

I have just contemplated, gloomily, how little I will actually be earning this month - and I am working really quite hard, dammit; but this is perhaps the time for us all to be upfront about sticking within affordable limits (this is doable, at Tas, it is Quite Reasonably Priced)?

I shall be wearing a silk frock acquired at a local charity emporium.

Tried to swim today. Pool shut again. Complained. Will revert to sedate Ladyjog tomorrow, upgrading to week 3. I am quite stunned at my own athletic prowess.

Cremolafoam · 19/09/2013 10:33

MI very impressed by lady jogging perseverance. .
I have had a swim this morning which has rendered my hair alarming. Feel the call of an emergency blow dry later. Shock
Dds prom tonight. Much primpage going on. It's a veritable Beauty Fest round here.
Ahem..Grin

Stropperella · 19/09/2013 10:52

Oh BD pleeeeeeeeeease come. I have no money and I am. Grin Had all the gas appliances serviced this morning. Aaargh. Now less than no money. I have not made an outfit plan. I will probably be wearing jeans. :) My hair is a right sight, as I have almost got to the point of giving up on hairdressers completely. There is no point in pretending that any cut whatsoever does any good or makes my hair look any different. Meh.

I'm glamour personified, me.

bigTillyMint · 19/09/2013 11:14

Oh BD, please come - it would be such a shame to miss out on this one.

I haven't given my outfit a thought yet either - think it may be just jeans as it's too cold for summer dresses and all my winter stuff is packed away. And something quick to change into in the small gap between getting in from work and catching the busGrin

MI, come on, what does each week require? I am quite proud of myself as I am not aching from circuits this week, whereas others are. OTOH, this could just mean I didn't work hard enough!

And I am considering getting a gel manicure as I have dreadful nails and BF, BF's DD and DD have had them and their nails look fab. Not in time for tomorrow though, unless I can pop in after work....

hattymattie · 19/09/2013 11:37

We are totally broke having paid the roof, the school and our local taxes.

Have done two hours of gym - one hour fitness the second our is called "stretch and relaxation". Not convinced this is for me as I am totally unbendy. I bounced out of fitness on fine form and after supposed relaxation am feeling sore in strange places and not at all relaxed.

MI - is ladyjogging the same as normal jogging?

motherinferior · 19/09/2013 11:47

Ladyjogging is what my children kindly call my attempts at a run. I have to say that week 3 will probably involve a very slightly longer run and then walk programme; but be kind, I've not run for decades!

originalpiratematerial · 19/09/2013 11:50

MI vair impressive, the running. Are you doing the Guardian podcasts?

Yes, the violin-playing. I would feel guilty, were it not that we only have one neighbour, but she is the Neighbour From Hell, owing to propensity for playing banging house music at 4 o'clock in the frigging morning, continuing all through the next day and night Angry.

I did running yesterday, and the day before, and on Sunday so am having a day off today, but going to Pilates at lunchtime.

herbaceous · 19/09/2013 11:52

I did two-thirds of the Shred this morning - had to stop as needed to interview someone on the phone and didn't want to be panting. It doesn't get any easier. Not helped, I suspect, by doing it on a fast day and thus not having much easily accessible glucose, or some such.

Annoyingly, since I've been exercising and fasting again, I've put on three pounds. FFS. I'll need to walk to DS's school for pick ups even more briskly.

Right. Have decided upon knives for DP's anniversary present, but this means going to Stratford Westfield. After school. With manic DS - he seems to be totally wired/tired after school at the mo. So, Lakeland or John Lewis?

hattymattie · 19/09/2013 12:33

I don't think I could fast - I'd binge on chocolate digestives or something like that afterwards.

Herb's - I'm sure it's bad luck to buy knives - OK if you're not supersticious.

hattymattie · 19/09/2013 12:34

Er - to buy knives as a present that is not just generally buy knives.

wilbur · 19/09/2013 12:50

I would go John Lewis for knives - they have a good selection and are v good about returns if they are no up to scratch. I once took back a garlic press that was truly awful (having used it several times and failed to get any garlic out of it) and they refunded me no problem. I imagine Lakeland would do the same though.

Stropps, glad you are finding some good bits in the Mindset book. I want to re read it with less of a "oh my god that's me" attitude and see if I can find some calm ways to change ways of thinking. And I think the piano interest from dd sounds quite good. I switched to a jazz piano teacher at her age as I was fed up taking exams, and got a lot of improvement and enjoyment out of my 2 yrs doing that.

BD - please come tomorrow! I know it's an expense, but it will make you and us all Smile - can't put a price on that. On that note, can someone remind me where were are meeting? I did write it down, but have carefully mislaid that and now I can't find it on the thread, or was it the last one? Depending on dh, I may be able to get to Waterloo by about 7 so maybe time for a swift cocktail?