Autumn Term At Crepey Towers

[QueenQueenie]

I did it!

[QueenQueenie]

what about these Beachy. I fear I am turning into some sort of hardcore Clarks pusher... "psst, 'ere love, get a load of these with a lovely tassel..."

[QueenQueenie]

psst, did I mention the 20% off...

[alto1]

Crem, well done with the getting dressed (great for morale) and going for a walk (great all round) but as my surgeon said, don't get too cocky (no, I mean, he really did say that). Pace yourself and enjoy reading the paper from cover to cover. When will you ever get another chance?

[LCHammer]

Good luck with the interview and talk, Alto. And I hope the concert last evening was lovely.

Thanks for the creepy explanation though I still don't get where 'creepy' comes from.

We're doing lots of sports here today: ice-skating, gymnastics, football. The DCs, obviously. I'd like to but haven't got the time. Sadly, not even for walking.

No S&B for me recently, I've had to return all my attempts for being too big or too ugly.

[LCHammer]

Bugger, the clothes, not me. Really.

[alto1]

Concert was brilliant. Dd now wants to be a consort singer and wow audiences, not only with her performance but with her glamourous dresses

[Blackduck]

Crepeys we need to start thinking of the next thread title....

[LCHammer]

A consort singer?

[bigTillyMint]

Glad the concert went well, alto

DD had her mate for a sleepover last night after gym, and they have a late start this morning, so there's a smell of pancakes all over the house which I am ignoring as I am off to meet my friend for coffee....

DD wants a dog for Christmas. An ongoing request which we have always said no to. And will continue to as it's cruel to leave a dog home alone 8-4 every day, isn't it?

[Cremolafoam]

Oh BTM difficult re doggy. I think it would be a little long for a dog all day on its own .
Alto well done with the concert , that's rather wonderful that your dd aspires to being part of such things too. My dd adores singing too and wants to join a proper choir but time is an issue this year. She has officially now dropped English ( forms signed yesterday) and we are feeling a deep sense of grief as until the disastrous AS exam we had considered this her strongest subject.
She is going to resit the AS in January and continue with politics music and French as A levels. Brave girl. Some anguished tears were shed.
So back to re reading Gatsby , Heaney and Yeats. Poor baby.

Alto I have here the Gruniad in all its glory and will follow your advice. Dh is taking me for a run in the motor today for an ice cream. Whoop

QQ you are shameless in your Clark's pushing but I for one am a convert to comfort soles.

[motherinferior]

Re titles, have we had 'The Crepe Papers'? I feel the plural is quite important here...

And/or 'Crepes and Whine'...

[lalsy]

BTM, I am periodically under dog pressure too. I say no (despite the good boot-buying opportunities dog walking seems to offer ). I do like dogs but one now would just silt my head and life up with more dull jobs that should be done by others. And if you leave them alone too long they look up at you with those big doggy eyes.....

I like Clarks boots. I am a crepey (also love coloured vests).

Cremola, your dd sounds very brave, and IMO these things often much better once a firm decision has been made and is a week or two in the past? I don't know the backstory, but my dd did AS this summer, and they do seem to throw up some googlies (is that right term?) and uncertainty is very stressful. Rest and eat choc.

[Cremolafoam]

Think you're right lalsy
Mi like crepe papers - do it

[addle]

Crem, sorry about your poor dd and English. we had similar with mine as i think i probably wibbled about when we met. minor consolation might be that she can and probably will continue to read widely of her own accord. hope it all feels a bit better now that decision is made.

mi - crepe papers v good

[alto1]

LCD, yes, a singer in a vocal consort, or a capella ensemble. They had an exciting workshop with one recently and the frocks were as amazing as the voices

[alto1]

Sorry, LC, the iPad added the D

Sympathy to your daughter Crem, what a disappointment.

[Stropperella]

Crepe papers def up to your usual high standard, MI. Go for it :)
Crem - take it slooooowly.

I am not a huge fan of Clarks boots as they usually don't fit me as I have exceptionally wide feet and a v. high instep, although I note they do have some things in a wide fit these days. Also, I find the quality not always to be that splendid. My friendly local cobbler says the Clarks quality has declined significantly in recent years and the boots often have hollow spongy heels that are difficult to re-heel/repair.

Alto, glad to hear the concert went well and inspired your dd!

BTM - I am a bit of an evangelist on the subject of dogs, I'm afraid, so will try to rein myself in, but "Nooooooooooo!" is my immediate reaction. Depending on breed, they are a lot more work than most people realise and also more expensive to maintain than people like to admit (I've had to spend £500 on vet bills this year so far and my vet is quite cheap). Also, if your dcs get fed up with looking after the dog, you will get landed with doing that. And there is the expense and stress of sending them to kennels every time you go away. I personally would not be happy leaving a dog 8-4 every day and would wonder how you would train it to be ok with that in a v. short time i.e. Christmas hols. I would also say that ideally a good-sized garden is a prerequisite and will save a lot of trouble.

[bigTillyMint]

Yes, Stropps, these are all the reasons why we haven't got a dog. Plus I am allergic to cat and dog hairs! But a little part of me yearns for a cute doggie - the golden retriever/lab cross we had when I was a child was my best friend. Blub!

Cremo and Addle how brave of your DDs.
I hated my O'level English teacher - a real personality clash. Although I got 2 A's, I didn't want to do it for A'level as she had completely put me off. Sadly history seems to be repeating for DD (well the personality clash, etc) and it is one of her strongest subjects

[lalsy]

I bought Ara boots in TK Maxx last year, they are Gore tex so completely waterproof, fleece-lined, perhaps a teeny leeetle bit frumpy, but so comfy (I volunteer in a cold place so warm feet are very important).

[Blackduck]

Our hound is left for long periods, but crucially not everyday (currently two days a week) and the in-laws have him when we go away. But generally agree with Stropps. Also boot heels - my cobbler is very meh about boots and their soles/heels - he will do what he can, but the moulded ones are generally rubbish.

Cremo so sorry to hear about dd, but, yes maybe no decision is made things will be better....

[hattymattie]

Crem that's really tough for your DD. Fingers crossed for the resit AS.

I too hated my English Lit O level teacher - she managed to make it so boring and my O level text - Silas Marner - I can safely say is the dullest book I've ever read. I think in hindsight I was taught really badly, especially when I see how great the DC's teachers are. The teacher is so critical to whether a child loves a subject or not.

In our continuing rat saga - we have moved the woodpile - not a rat to be seen but a hole in the wall leading to the neighbours' cellar

[alto1]

Alto dog has greatly improved our lives but I knew I'd be responsible for the care, indeed dd has almost never walked her without us. I second the expense, it adds £15/day to the cost of every trip (plus £10 for cat). The huge drifts of dog hair that gather in corners throughout the day are invisible to everyone but me. And it's upsetting when they're ill. I couldn't manage her if dh wasn't at home now. But walking her may well have saved his life, he's been much more active since we got her and has lost about 18 kilos. And we all adore her. So no help from me, then...

[bigTillyMint]

DH said a flat no when I mooted it with him earlier. Like he is God and we all have to do what he says. Makes me want to get one just to show him, but I won't - it's not practical, sadly.

And yes, hatty, the teacher is really important

[LCHammer]

Alto - I thought it was a typo (shows how much I know about this!). Imagined your DD as a singing companion :)

No dogs here yet although I've promised DD1 a chihuahua when she gets to secondary. Hoping that she'll either forget (ha!) or she'll at least go for a more substantial breed.