Crepes and Mulled Whine in your pants

[Auriga]

Somebody had to do it

I should also probably add in the interests of fairness that BIL is visiting from Singapore and we've not seen him for over six months which is absolutely fine by me .

Fortunately friends organised lovely folky hippy solstice concert outing months ago, is even On The Calendar, so alas I have to go. Tragic innit

I do no baking either for Christmas - and this week is going to be dedicated to buying for DD2 (15) who has said no make up or perfume this year as she already has enough. So now I'm stuck!

HM, DD has a massive stack of make-up (yet steals mine) and her room stinks of cheap perfume

MI, go to both (non-apologetically and with cheerful wave). They were in the diary. The diary rules, IMO.

Any bright ideas for a book for ds, 14, who has enjoyed Hunger games, Noughts and Crosses type things, does not always regard books as treats, and would like something funny? It must not look daunting or difficult (his big sister likes things that do look like that so we need to give him space not to). He likes history. It could be a graphic novel - he liked Tamara Drewe! - but my eyes/brain don't seem to work on them so I am a terrible judge.

I will ask DD1, who has similar reading tastes. Or the latest Pratchett?

Addle - do you let the water/zest mixture cool before adding it to the meringue mix?

We could have a Crepey Choir at this rate! Lalsy and I could accompany on the Triangle and Coconut Shells for when you sing Little Donkey or something involving bells.

Lalsy - DD1 recommends the Divergent, Delirium and Ashes trilogies. You might look at some older sci fi as well - the Midwich Cuckoos, the Chrysalids etc. Also I Am Number Four (first in a series, about aliens).

DD suggests you have a look at Delirium as it might be a bit girly for a boy.

Coraline is good for a graphic novel.

Fantastic, thank you MrsS and MI. I will have a look at all those.

DD2 is reading her sister's Noughts and Crosses. I made feeble noises about the explicit sex...must remember not to mention this to DP's rather genteel and uptight aunt, who was worried that the Hunger Games was unsuitable for DD1 last year. Needless to say DD2 has read the HG too.

It's a good thing I don't have any more children, really.

I think sneaking off on Sat would probably be undiplomatic for a number of reasons (not least the fact I try not to let DP know how annoying I find his brothers). So instead of getting happy tipsy with the neighbours I shall sit around sober listening to them talking about cars.

MI - I read Noughts and Crosses - I don't remember it being too explicit but I would say age 14 and upwards probably. DS is going to end up reading the Hunger Games at age 11. I've made him hold off a year.

DD2 has recently spent a lot of time holed up in her room reading Divergent/Insurgent and Allegiant by Veronica Roth. She swears they are brilliant - I think they are in the same vein as Hunger Games. Also Looking for Alaska, John Green and for slightly younger the Exodus trilogy July Bertagna has proved hugely popular with my DC's.

Mrs S - I let the mixture cool off a bit but not entirely.

My choir is lovely Herbs. Not small but middle-sized, about 34-36. If you might be interested, pm me.

DD likes Divergent etc and anything by John Green. I've just read The Fault in our Stars and found it incredibly tough but she adores it. This is the girl who completely gave up on Michelle Paver (her favourite author at the time) when Bale died.

At home recovering from migraine. Was going to get so much done yesterday...all still waiting for me. And have realised that DH posted the Australian cards without stamps. Ah me.

FFS. SMS message sent to home phone from the school states, in electronic voice, 'for party tomorrow, non-uniform, bring crisps, juice, sandwiches'. This is the first I knew of a party. I am constantly astonished by the crapness of communication from the school. I know it seems to be par for the course, but why? In these days of SMS, emails, Facebook, Twitter, it should be easier than ever...

Oh dear god the class party!!! Noooooooooooooooo!

Herbs, that is a school that clearly hasn't got its act together on the comms front. There's no excuse. We get "Christmas dates" emails at the beginning of November these days, with regular reminders thereafter. My only issue with this is that as I carefully set them up to come into our joint business email a/c so that dh could take some responsibility, dh often picks them up first, reads them, forgets them and doesn't flag them up for my attention, so sometimes I miss key info. But that is not the school's fault.
Despite being under the cosh work-wise and having worked most of the w/e, as well as taxi-ing dcs around and doing an assortment of Christmas jobs, I have managed to arrange for a plumber to come and replace the knackered bath overflow and sundry other little issues this am. Because dh's work renders him "too busy" for such things. I would gnash my teeth at this point, but I'm trying to give up teeth-gnashing after so many stories of crepey dental woe on here...

Don't fret Herbs - no organic healthy choices needed

Ds has Cubs Christmas party tonight and then class party on Thurs and 4 performances of Peter Pan to do before the end of the week. He may be a little fractious and over-sugared by Friday.

Yes, Herbs, nothing a cornershop tube of Pringles won't solve.

Oh yes. If they can't be arsed to tell me, I can't be arsed to put myself out. Big bag of crisps and some cartons of juice are the way forward.

Though he's currently complaining of sore spots on his tongue, so sod's law he'll have contracted food and mouth and can't do anything fun.

I am still recovering from BB screaming at me this morning, and jabbing her finger at me "I am a supportive and caring manager."

I asked her if she had any idea how aggressive she was being. Apparently she didn't see this as aggressive, and it was all my problem. And the whole issue is my fault as a) I didn't reply to her email telling me how supportive and caring she was and b) I didn't log into my phone the other morning when she called, so that she could tell me how, err, supportive and caring she was.

Fortunately for me, the other 60 people in the department have complained that they find her rude and aggressive and intimidating.

Christonabike, MrsS....

I am dyeing my eyelashes. Suspect they will look completely unchanged at the end of it

MrsS, if there are that many complaints about her, will anyone actually do anything? Like get rid, for instance? Or is it impossible to shed the tossers?

Yes, what Stropps said.

MI, what colour?!

And are all you choir-types watching Sir Gareth? We were loving it tonight, especially watching the Citibankers trying to get down with the music

I've just watched it BTM (despite cloth eared-ness). The bankers were hilarious. I like the quirkiness of the different workplaces.

Eh, MI, you've not used that moustache dye again, have you?