Walking in a Crepey Wonderland!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I couldn't see that anyone else had started a new thread, after Stropps carelessly finished the old one without starting a new one, so here you are.

Oh Ruby, that's pants. And the Woolovers jumper unravelling

I have to say I am very impressed with Boden customer service - I returned a down-filled jacket which was still shedding feathers after a year and they gave me a credit note which I used to buy a longer down-filled jacket which arrived yesterday, toasty and bright!

CV, I am going to pace myself today

I have a 'works' lunch with a friend who is also self-employed (her DD goes to school with DD1, so they're both coming too). I must NOT arrive pissed to pick up DD2. Creates such a bad impression at school gate

So sorry about your mum's news, rudy - I'm not surprised you're cross about them sending her home like that. What do they do, arrange for a district nurse to visit and make sure everything is working ok? That's a lot to deal with any time, let alone the week before Xmas.

Stropps - that all sounds v positive about DD and well done her on the good results. I hope the calm glow extends through the 12 Days of Christmas.

The sun is shining here and I am going to spend a couple of hours in the garden as I had a complete result this week and have a load of free herbs/lavender. Next to dd and ds2's school there is an industrial estate where a v posh florist/table arrangement person has their workshop. They clearly had a load of stuff left over from some party and had left a load of flowers (those pale greeny/cream double carnations), plus orchids and thyme, rosemary etc out next to school with note saying help yourself. So I did. And then I helped myself again as no one else seemed interested. So I have a lovely vase full of flowers on the mantlepiece and various nice tings to add to the garden. Tiny triumphs mean a lot, don't they?

Rudy, I am so sorry to hear about your mum. Is it possibly to get a Macmillan nurse involved with her at home?

CV, my ds is 14 too. I think he sometimes is completely unrealistic about how long it will take to do a piece of work, and then skimps it as the reality hits, especially when he is tired. I am trying to encourage him to think yes it will take 45 mins to do that and that is OK.

2nd day of holiday, yelling at dc to get out of bed now (they both have stuff they need to do) while feeling like getting into my bed myself.

MI, send DD1

I am now wondering whether to exchange my toasty jacket for a smaller size - I sized up after reading reviews and it does feel slightly roomy. Or do I stick with it?

Wilbur plants/flowers sound fab!

My DS is 12 going on 14 - see how big he is (well, hand!) compared to 14yo DDS

BTM - you could have a new jacket every year if you play your cards right.

Mrs S - I love your tirade on FB - I'm going to copy it to the DC's.

Have yelled at DS this morning because he spent 3 hours on minecraft last night and then accused me of hiding his phone which he eventually found in the dirty basket in the Pocket of his jeans!

Try again!

Hatty - phone could have been mullered!

Hmm interesting for piano playing.

I have wrapped présents so I can see what I actually have got for people. DS's pile is computer games and books and so looks much smaller than those of the DD's. I'll have to go and buy some chunky rubbish to compensate.

Just to be clear, the big hand belongs to DS(12), the small hand to DD(14)

BTM - I thought they were different hands - it was Rudy wot confused me . Wow at your DS's hands though.

BTM - Can't see pics on this tablet, but I can only imagine the hand comparison. But I was about your tale of DS falling asleep on the train and waking up in Caterham - that's just up the road from here! I think my DS would have freaked out, and he's two years older (not that he would even dare to travel by himself; he's such a pansy).

This hangover isn't going away, and I have done sod all today, apart from writing lists of what needs doing, and snoozing on the sofa. Oh, apart from a quick trip to the opticians - whilst doing some filing I dug up a Specsavers 50% off voucher which was about to expire, so I bought myself some new glasses. I'm trying to muster more enthusiasm for spec-wearing as my days of contacts are now numbered.

The tree is not going to survive until Christmas Day, goddammit. Lots of bare twigs, and every few minutes another ornament slides off the drooping branches setting off another cascade of needles. We have friends over tomorrow, then I think we will have to swap it for the fake one, as it simply won't withstand six kids and a mountain of presents on the big day.

Just popping in for a quick preen - went for a coffee in a cafe where I am a regular and the lady that serves me said that the fringe had taken 10 years off me .

yay

Sorry to hear about your DM Rudy. Not sure I would accept a promise of district nurses after our experience. DH (diabetic) was ejected from hospital with a copiously discharging back wound on the promise of nurses coming in to do twice daily dressings, referral already faxed, etc.

Never heard from them. Not once.

The medical care was outstanding, though. They did a brilliant job of the surgery. Hope she will have a comfortable Christmas and New Year.

Good news about your Mum Rudy.

CV - I always dread my tree shedding needles like that. I keep it in a particularly cold corner of the living room in the hope that it can survive until 1 Jan and then 2nd Jan, I admit, I'm glad to see the back of it.

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Rudy, but good that she is home and catheter free.

We have shelves now, which is good, but they have only swallowed a fraction of our crap, and the next lot don't arrive till the new year, so we will be in chaos a bit longer. But they have made such a huge difference to the room that I don't care.

We are dreading eagerly anticipating the arrival of Granny Doom on Monday. I still have a few bits of Christmas shopping to do (and a lot of wrapping). JL was chaos tonight; I emerged with a very Christmassy extension lead and dustpan and brush. Got the girls some pants for their stockings in Debenhams (and remember DD2 declaring, aged 7, that Santa was a pervy old man if he bought knickers for small children ). I ended up walking part of the way home as there had been a huge bus crash near our flat - bus trying to get out of the way of a speeding car and hit a tree. 32 injured, 2 critically. I'm never sitting at the top of the bus at the front again.

Oh MrsS, we were looking at the reports on that this afternoon The front of the bus was completely stove in at the top - my favourite seat

Back from work do - not too pissed, but feeling full! It was fun, and someone got me a Richard Hawley CD for my Secret Santa!

DD is about 5'3" and DS is about 5'7", but I guess he is going to grow a bit more yet!
CV, DD would be freaked out too if she was to travel on her own on a train!

about the bus

Quote from my dd (17) on her mobile, part way through a mammoth solo train journey this summer (10 hours, at least four changes): "I'm fine Mum, the train was double-booked so I gave up my seat to an old lady and am sitting in the luggage rack with some strange men talking about Dr Who". Music to any fond mother's ears.

About the bus!
What with falling masonry and rtas I'm glad to be hiding out at yet another of dds recitals. Mind you having heard " Coventry carol" 4squillion times in the last week the whole Christmas concept is wearing thin. I have driven 124 miles this week driving dd to events.
Pass the

Ruby hope your mum is okay about bus MrsS.
I am shattered - up at 5.00 to do the mammoth drive back to Tulum. 4 days on a beach and home on Tuesday - I am looking forward to seeing the folks and the hound!!