Crepes and Mulled Whine in your pants

[Auriga]

Somebody had to do it

wtf does a papier mache roast peacock look like? Photo needed

Herbs and BTM, you are a right pair of lushes!

Just back from the cinema. DD1 asked the other day if she could go and see the new Hunger Games film with her mates, then yesterday DS independently announced that he had made similar plans with his mates. DH and I thought, sod it, we'll go too, and booked tickets with DD2 . So the cinema (and it was a small one) was sprinkled with Cointreaus, all sitting separately and studiously ignoring each other.

Good film, but not a patch on the first one.

Success

Papier mâché roast peacock? Have I missed something?

BD it was about a musician. Can't think how to say more without risk of outing self (crepe for brains again).

Talking of which, did I mention I called DH by the dog's name for the first time the other day? Well, today I sent a text meant for DH to the conference organiser . It was decent, though.

Ohh - randomly googles musicians....

I went out Thursday and although we didn't drink that much I was so knackered Friday I took a half day and slept for 16 hours straight

Oh and I got the job, but they want to talk to me

Ooh congrats, BD

Nice to see you ruby!

Am feeling so much better today - I think it must have been the not eating till after 10pm (after having lunch at 12!!!) rather than the wine

Went to see Philomena with DH last night - what a tear-jerker! Steve Coogan was surprisingly good, though I kept expecting him to break into some skit!

Hi there all. I too feel much refreshed, after falling asleep on the settee last night, then a good night's sleep. Off out to a local transport museum, then a nice pre-birthday luncheon.

Wilbur - thank you so much for your comprehensive reply! I'm now all downhearted, thinking all my efforts will be for nought as I didn't get a 2:1 all those years ago, but will give the admissions people a ring in the morning and beg.

And well done BD! Tell us more.

Herbs, I reckon the 2:1 stipulation will be more for students straight out of uni - you have a wealth of other experience to call on

Off to peruse laptops in the hopes of deciding which one to get for DD, gulp! I have been told I should get one with an intel i3 processor, but then go as cheap as because no laptop lasts that long. And then there's the touch-screen possibilities.... Anyone bought one recently to recommend?

If you find a nice CHEAP one, tell me - we are currently without any laptops at all. This is not as dire as it sounds, given that I far prefer working at Proper Computer, and we have two, but it would be nice for those admittedly rare occasions when I have to work outside the Inferiority Complex and would also mean I could resume the deeply pleasurable habits of reading stuff at the British Library.

Auriga

Another agent rejected my book this week, btw.

Rooobs, how lovely to see you.

BD - congratulations!!

And well done Auriga!

Am of all those getting lots of zzzz - I'm having trouble getting enough at the moment. I'm so underslept I've lost half a stone and of course it appears to have specifically gone from my face and chest. My neck now looks like a very elderly stick of celery and I may have to buy new bras - although I will wait until after Christmas, in the vain hope that seasonal overindulgence will pad the bras out again .
I have no words of wisdom to offer about laptops as I have never met one I liked . I need a big ergonomic keyboard and 2 monitors for what I do (could probably use a 3rd monitor, but I've no desk space), so laptops always cramp my style. I gave my netbook to dh for his music stuff as I just never used it. The only pokey little device I use reasonably happily is my Nexus 4, but I'd still rather be on my PC

Oh yes, well done Auriga on the top secret musician talk!

Well, PC world now have proper advisors like in the Apple shop. It was quite useful, but equally daunting!
I think we are going to have a battle re style over substance for the limited budget!

I have schlepped all over London this weekend looking at cellos for DD1, including a trip out to Dagenham and another into the wilds of Tooting. Still no cello though. She now thinks she preferred the Dagenham one...

Ruby, you could never be daggy . I on the other hand....

Christmas Lists have been appearing on the fridge at Château Cointreau.

The DDs went first, with lists of the usual girly stuff, but both lists were topped with the word HAMSTER in giant letters

Then DS put up a list of ridiculously unaffordable items (iPhone 5, posh mountain bike, XBox One etc.).

My list has a few bits and pieces (scarf, handbag, the type of chocs I like) which serves to direct DH as he will inevitably be hurtling round the shops at closing time on the 24th.

DH's list reads thus:

1. A SHED

CV I had Puppy at the top of both DCs lists. It got swiftly crossed off! DD is getting the aforementioned laptop and a cartilage piercing, DS is getting the old laptop and a road bike (if DH can find a decent secondhand one!)

I am freezing after watching DS play footy. Gives me a knotted stomach, especially with DH and other dads living every minute of it They only drew, which is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Ruby, I have never stayed here but I always thought it was the most beautiful, romantic and well-located hotel. It's in one of the 19th century shopping passages which have lots of little chichi shops and restaurants in. It is very central, and close to this restaurant which is a Paris institution, and possibly one of the cheapest places to eat.

Hello everybody, have finally been able to wrest the shared laptop off DS. Well done on the job BD. I have spent this afternoon making parts of gingerbread houses with DC's which will then be assembled and decorated by people more talented than I to sell at the school fete, so feeling very virtuous.

We also have Christmas lists appearing on the fridge and DS keeps following me round with the computer open on Amazon which is very annoying. There was a moment today when DS and DD2 got me in a pincer movement with their respective laptops and Amazon orders and I pretty much through a tantrum and slunk off to a corner with the newspaper.

MI - what's your book about? (apologies if this has already been said and I missed it.)

Hatty:is creative non fiction about race and colour and suchlike. Will PM you, purely because I don't want to bore everyone silly by going on and on about it again

...or would PM you if damn system were working...

Mrs s - how funny I have stayed at Chopin with dh a number of years ago! It is charming but definitely closer to a 2 than a 3 . Everything is quaint and the room we had was a garret overlooking the roof of the Musee Grevin ! Good size room but romantically old fashioned in am 80s way. ( perhaps done renovation has taken place je ne sais pas)
It is entirely peach and apricot inside and has one of those 1 person ancient clanking lifts Dh enjoyed the vending machine in the corridor with beer and wine!!!
The location is terrific though. I have fond memories of wandering through the passages all the way to Beauborg. Also THE most terrific dolls house furniture shop I have ever seen and the tea room
Le Valentin - exquisite patisserie -
Ah Oui - ill always have Paris...