Crepes and Mulled Whine in your pants

[Auriga]

Somebody had to do it

We are having quite night in with M&M's, Stricktly and Atlantis. DD2 has been to see Hunger Games and I've just had a text saying how brilliant it is.

QQ - my packet of bath ducks trumps you, I reckon.

I may get frenzied with the online shopping tomorrow.

Oh yes, MI - It's Black Friday weekend, doncha know?!

OK. You win MI... You can go to Oxford street on 23rd December...

Yup, BTM, it's dh who needs to make up.

..; 'quiet' night in and 'Strictly'.

GAH. Apologies, meant CV not BTM re apologising husbands.

Oh QQ, DH is always offending one of us, so he does need to apologise

Excuse me. In Xmas shopping slacking trumps, I win. A grand total of:

...... 0 .....

Gifts bought. Similar to the amount of fucks given about the whole event.

Drunken-ness from 'late lunch' could account for this feistiness.

Herbs!

Hattie, QQ, you are quite right. But you used the words "DH" and "adult" in the same sentence.....

DS is now insisting that I take him to football tomorrow instead of DH. Bang goes my lie-in.

Herbs, MI, you are not taking this Christmas lark seriously.

Tree up (but not decorated), ds's stash bought and wrapped. Have done parents (delivered to DBro for wrapping purposes), oldest DBro done, sil done, nieces/nephews - money. Cards will be written tomorrow.

Caveat - this is my last free weekend before we go to Mexico, and I don't think there will be much open on 25th December at 7.30 am.......
Normal service will be resumed next year....

Also note dp does his family - result :)

I do all the present buying, including his family (although he doesn't exchange gifts with his siblings any more). And we have 17 (count 'em) SEVENTEEN nieces and nephews between us. I have thought about moving onto cash gifts, but that's what their grandparents have done for the last few years and it can make for a somewhat joyless day if all you have to open is envelopes of cash. Well, that's my opinion, I'm not saying they wouldn't prefer it! It's tricky with the ones I don't see so often as it is sometimes hard to guage what they're into (and nothing worse than a "too young" present).

Anyway, as you might surmise from the fact that I am up at this time on a Sunday, the row between DH and DS rumbles on. I'm currently sitting in a freezing car while DS warms up; I will shortly have to get out and shout from the touchline (supportive comments only, obviously ).

And BD, what were you doing up at nearly 3am?

CV, sympathies! It has never come to DS insisting that I take him instead though, thank God!
I do all the present buying too. But as it is only DH, the DC, DM, DA&U and BIL, DGodD and a few of my friends, it's not too onerous.

Yes BD???

I feel exhausted, hassled and miserable I can't get anyone to do anything. Not major stuff and I know it's not huge but I can't get DD2 to practise her musical instruments - we are paying for lessons, and she alleges she enjoys playing - without a major strop, ditto DD2 and homework, and I can't get them to eat fruit - I worry hugely that they are malnourished - and at the weekends when DP cooks we eat hardly any veg and live off stuff like pizza. DP still hasn't sorted Thursday's childcare and look martyred if I ask...

Insomnia..... And worrying about what a crap mother I am - a bit along MIs lines of he doesn't eat enough veg, fruit and doesn't practise piano unless nagged, and has to be stood behind to brush his teeth.... I was having a bit of a crisis really...

CV - I do get the money thing, but they are delighted with it and it means their parents can buy stuff they want (I do get tired of everyone asking me what ds wants!!) and plus my DBros two are older and thus everything they want is mega expensive!!!

Ditto ditto, and sympathies. Have spent much of the weekend tracking down lost things (children, Oyster cards, money, keys) and resolving the chaos that has resulted from their loss, while everyone grumps at me and eats and drinks rubbish. And - howls pitifully - no-one listens when I explain the draconian new rubbish system in our street and sketch out the revolting consequences if we get it wrong.

And the buggers glow with health - and in DD2's case are much acclaimed by music teachers (but she could do so much better if she worked) so I can't even invite spots and failure (though have de-nitted DD1 again)...

I am just uncomfortably aware that I could, and should, be so much better a parent. One who took them to concerts and performances and improving exhibitions.

OTOH am rewarding self for sitting through a concert of DD2's (brass band actually very good, adult wind band less so, a wildness of 19th-century Pom-Pom- Pommery) with red wine, posh crisps and Aldi lebkuchen and am feeling no pain

Crepeys, those things happen in everyone's houses and are frankly not worth worrying about

I have baked up a storm - mince pies, cranberry and coconut flapjack, Caribbean brownies, lemon pud - my belly is bulging even more than usual. The landscape gardener has been round and should be able to start in Jan, and DD has decided (very sensibly) on what specs for the laptop. There is one in PC World and I am torn between hating Currys and the crap service and getting it

BTM - I'm impressed.

The chaos of yesterday included both children locking themselves out of the house, dd 10 minutes after letting herself into it. I really hope that level of idiocy isn't happening everywhere. On the upside, she has now had two university offers and is a very happy bunny.

MI, I reckon we could all be better parents one way or t'other. There are so many things I would do differently if I had my time again (but am fervently grateful I don't have to). BTM, are you staging a bake-off?

lalsy, no, just filling the freezer! My family likes sweet stuff
Well done to your DD - uni offers, not locking herself out!