Crepes and Mulled Whine in your pants

[Auriga]

Somebody had to do it

Herbs - how can you have been sucked into the PTA when your little darling has barely got his kness under a desk?! [facepalm] You fool. I am now committee-free, having offloaded the footy job, and I thank my lucky stars.

And I do hope your Guernsey is OK, although I feel the weight of responsibility if it isn't....

YY to January get-together. December is filling up all too quickly.

I know, CV. I'm a dick. It's partly because I wanted to make sure his site didn't get left out of school decisions. But I just meant to see what it was all about... The first meeting last week had about 20 people, so I thought I was safe from having to do anything. The second one, this week, had about seven. Because no-one was told about it.

Someone said, re Christmas Fair, 'I think we should have someone in charge of each section,' and I made the mistake of agreeing. Before I knew it I was in charge of the games bit. I am not the right person. I don't know who to ask to help paint me a giant Santa with a hole to throw balls through, or where the archery set they used last year might be stored, or who the bloody hell Mr XX is who can help decorate the arsing card games, or where he is. FFS.

Then I discovered that no-one's told the teachers that this event is on, so they're not making anything for it and people are going on holiday. GNNNN.

I have to get on this SALT course so I can legitimately say I'm too busy, along with all the other shirking gits.

Herbs, PTA meetings are notoriously poorly attended. A small pool of worthy (usually) mums get to organise and do everything
You definitely need to get on that course!

And it's so badly organised! There's no central list of people who do face-painting, etc, just half-remembered 'Frank's mum' kind of stuff. No email list, or anything. I'm itching to take it in hand but MUST NOT.

Herbs, IMHE, that's par for the course! Although when my extremely well-organised pal was involved, a lot of the stuff got documented and put on spread-sheets, etc.

One of the best things about the DC's secondary school is no PTA

I thought your school famously Got Parents Involved, BTM? According to my mate wot has kids there and who taught yours-

We have a new PTA. I am the comms person. Though this just means banging out the odd press release. There are some Very Efficient Parents at DD1's school

Well, not AFAIK, but maybe I'm missing something! There is the forum occasionally and millions of music events, but no money-raising stuff!

It's sounding more and more like a January meet, isn't it? I can't do 28 Nov either. Would be nice to have a January treat in the diary.

QQ I was glad of the hug! Seems we both had a successful evening

Have barely seen DD despite being on study leave. She lives in her attic, emerging only to pick at meals. Seems cheerful though.

Less than 72 hrs to (bigger than usual) talk.

Lack of central lists - almost defines PTAs I think (apart from our current one, where I have seem to have finally managed to get on the list of Parents Who Cannot Be Trusted With Christmas Decorations, hurrah, after two consecutive years in which kindly grown ups had to quietly redo my efforts once I had gone).

Oh not the PiTA herbs. !! I learnt my lesson at dds primary end of term BBQ . Or The Burger Débâcle as dh calls it. I have hidden from view at big school and now dd is in her final year u think I've got off that hook. [phew]

I have improved just enough to do a bit of baking. Have made several cakes for a Phillipines fundraiser.
Now having lie down.
Trying to ignore Christmas since spending nearly ALL of yesterday trying to unravel the labyrinthine mysteries of The Tesco Boost scheme . Wtaf?

I squeezed gently prodded the bloody abscess last night and an alarming amount of pus shot out all over my face and the mirror. I rinsed with salt water, took two nurofen and went to bed. It is much better today - almost no lump at all, though a little bruised. Hopefully the antibiotics will see it off now that all the gunk has come out.

Went to DD's school tonight to see her perform in her school play. She was very good, and two years younger than the rest of the cast. I was kvelling with pride.

Eeeuuuwww! But fingers crossed it works! And for your DD!

Cremo, glad to hear you are up to baking. We save our Tesco's vouchers for hotel breaks which we go on with our friends - 2 nights free booked for Twixmas In the city where your DD is at uni, addle - also where my dear friend and I met when we were at uni and that I haven't been back to for about 25 years! I am rather excited!

all round, I am thinking, especially to Auriga.

Yuk Mrs S! You know there are whole threads on here devoted to "sporn" [pus porn ]? You would be a real star, but they like photos... Yuk again... Really hope you are better soon.

Auriga, more talks? A big talk? Very good luck. I'm sure there'll be more clapping and laughing...

Are you still running MI? Am about to drag my weary carcass out for a stagger. I enjoy it when I've done it. Definitely not so keen before or during...

I am still contemplating running. Have yet to do it. My excuse is that I haven't yet got suitable shoes. What do you wear? My plan was to do the LadyJog on the way back from the school run, so would need garments warm enough for the slow amble to school, but light enough to take off and tie round the waist for any sweating while 'running'.

I have ahem put running on hold this week as my knees are not too clever as a result. But am rather looking forward to resuming it as it means I can zip up my jeans better.

Herbs, I went - at vast expense - to a running shop. I did have a pair of trainers to start with, given to me when I left a magazine, to start with but needed ones that would stop my feet hurting.

I have contemplated a running shop where they do 'gait analysis', but it seems you have to run on a treadmill for two minutes, and I'm so unfit I'm not sure I'd even make that. Which would be mortifying. I was thinking of just getting some 'motion control' numbers in a sale somewhere, and see if I stick with it long enough to justify spending £100 on a pair...

Herbs, those gait analysis things are supposed to be very good!

I kind of already know that I'm a 'severe overpronator', so wonder if I could just get some off t'inernet for now...

I had to run up and down outside. They were very, very nice. For much less than two minutes. I could just about puff for 90 seconds when I started. Honestly. And now quite enjoy it apart from buggered knee. (I did go swimming this morning.)

Having said which: purchase a bra, a proper shock absorber one, before doing this!

Indeed. My current strategy is to wear two slightly too-big cheap sports bras at once. This may not be sustainable.

Herbs, as MI says you need a "shock absorber" sports bra. Extremely ugly but pretty effective! Google for bargains. And decent shoes make a huge difference. Anything else is an optional extra... oh and an ipod if you want to do couch to 5k...

Recently I've fallen off the wagon running-wise but I know I'll get back to it at some point. I've definitely piled non a few pounds as a result.

Herbs, you MUST get your shoes properly fitted at a running shop, although you can wait until you decide that you're going to stick with it. The one near us is brilliant, and they only videoed me for 30 seconds or so on the treadmill, then played it back - it was amazing what they could tell. My running shoes are the comfiest ever.

Your Twixmas break sounds brilliant, BTM; it's something we've done a few times. Last year was Bristol.

Tesco vouchers in this household are spent on meals out, cinema vouchers, and this year they are paying for our ferry tickets to the Emerald Isle for New Year. I do all my supermarket shopping there so we are generally swimming in freebies.

Thank you very much for flowers and good wishes. Think I'm ready for talk. Still haven't packed but know where everything is (famous last words). Also managed to have first haircut in 11 (eleven, XI) weeks.

DH is beside me chuckling about neutrinos being named after Muppets true apparently.

Hope you're recovering MrsS and well done to your DD.

Good to hear you're a little better, Crem, but don't get carried away...keep taking it easy as long as you can.

If I tried running I'd need a bra with girders. Comfy running shoes would definitely improve my chances; interesting to hear that they do actually exist.

Feel a bit tearful about going away. Not seeing enough of family these days. But will see good friends and a supporting sister at the Thing.