La Vie en Crepe

[motherinferior]

And a new door opens...

I have decided to leave the dishwasher for now, having baled out the water manually. I am slightly at the end of my tether, and feel I should try and do something I do actually know how to do. I think I must also point out the whole issue of sweat equity to Mr Inferior when he returns, as have realised that one of the huge problems is he simply doesn't realise what is involved. Or he does, apologises profusely for not doing enough and goes his own sweet way

Happy Birthday BD!

I am at end of tether with ridiculous run of minor ailments, which seem to have culminated in me reverting to teenage level of allergies - I spent so much time sneezing yesterday I didn't get much else done (sorry to add to damp theme). I too am going to do some things today that I know how to do and I can finish, quite agree MI.

Wilbur, like notion of sweat equity. I also think it is impossible to plan perfectly - industries change, collapse, dc have unexpected needs, a recession hits the generation behind us who are then prepared to work for very little...

Happy Birthday BD

Sorry to hear about all things leaky and damp. At least it is a sunny day here today!

HB BD! I have my phone back, and am once again I selfridges cafe after a bruising run in with Zara returns policy.

My sis bought me a necklace for Xmas. It's faulty, so I tied to return it yesterday. They said I need to come back with the backing card with bar code. I brought that in today. Manager says as Zara.com is a different company, I have to have the receipt. I say, as its faulty, shouldn't I be able to exchange it anyway? She says ok. I chase around shop finding suitable exchange item. Return to long queue of feisty black clad Portuguese women with Botox. Different manager then says I need the receipt. I argue. She gives me customer services number. I cross Zara off list of hops I will ever use again.

Re leaks, our boiler leaks copiously, especially since its service, as do the walls around our new double doors, installed by last years cowboy builders. Not sure what to do about either.

Bloody hell Herbs, I would have exploded! And you need to explode at the boiler-servicer and the cowboy builders

Cowboy builders have promised many times to come and make good. They never have.

In perfume news, I sprayed on perfumista favourite Coromandel in Selfridges while the scary assistants weren't looking. I do like it. But I'm trying to work out what the distinctive smell is. Burned tyres? TCP?

Happy Birthday, BD! Sun is shining here too, which is nice , and I am about to have tomato soup with posh bread for lunch. Life doesn't get much better chez moi.

Happy birthday BD

Hope dampness for all recedes.

I ran the gauntlet of Zara returns on Sunday and came out of it quite well. I must have used up all their corporate goodwill, apologies Herbs.

I can feel a stiff email to customer services coming on.

The only deal they'd do is a straight exchange, but they no longer stock that actual necklace.

And now my car apparently needs new brakes and a new seatbelt reel. £440-worth.

GGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.

Oh dear Herbs, you're not having a good time of it are you - I'm sure a drink on Friday will cheer you up though!

Happy birthday BD.

We have had leaky shower fixed a second time and I'm hoping that's the end of the story. Is it too much to ask to have a functioning douche.

I am feeling depressed as a canine stuck up in my gum that has never come down has decided to move and be very sensitive. The dentist's solution is braces. I'm almost 50, plus my teeth are so brittle that I think braces would break them in two.

Happy Birthday, BD ! I hope you are having a nice day.

If I may contribute to the sorry list of crepey financial woes - we just had a quote for our fence, which came a cropper on Christmas Eve. Over £1,000 to put right. And they can't do it until mid-March, as apparently fence-wood is as rare as hen's teeth at the moment, what with all the fallen fences nationwide.

And DD2 stood on her iPad Mini; repairing the touchscreen is going to cost £150. We are going to insist on a substantial contribution from her Birthday/Christmas money, but it won't come close to covering it.

There's nothing worse than shelling out a load of money just to restore something to how it was previously. No discernable improvement or addition. After all the expense we will still have.....a fence and an iPad.

MI - that definitely sounds like a blocked or dislodged drainage pipe. Drag the dishwasher forth from its cubbyhole and investigate. Or have your DP invest some "sweat equity".

Herbs - Zara returns - how irritating. No one has yet topped Hollister for unhelpful and obstructive returns, IMHO.

Oh yes, my Mango parcel arrived. I ordered four black blazers/jackets with a view to picking the nicest. Unusually, that turned out to be the cheapest, at £19.99. Am pleased with that. Just need to return the rest, ha ha.

Oh, and Herbs - has Coromandel improved since you applied it? The first 15 minutes are quite challenging, but it's a "grower" and gets nicer and nicer all day. MrsS and I both wear it!

Coromandel is now a very nice gentle amber (?) loveliness. Faintly reminiscent of Calvin Klein Obsession. Most of it was licked off my wrist my my mental cat, however. Nothing he likes more than sample perfumes. Or cleaning products. If I put neat bleach down anywhere, he comes and drinks it. Another good reason for domestic slovenliness.

Right. About to put stuff back into the loft. I'd been putting it off doing it on my own, as convinced I'm going to topple over backwards and break my back, but as mine and DP's paths aren't going to cross for some time, it has to be done.

BD hope you are having a lovely birthday .!!
Are you doing anything naice this evening.

I too have been invited to a wedding in May. And will need a frock. Have do far been scouring the sales but its v hard to avoid Xmas party numbers which will look too sparkly in spring.
It's just the evening event we are going to as they are tying the knot in Vegas.

Thanks all - fairly quiet day as dp and I are still under the weather. But going to drink champers and catch up with The Bridge - hold me back :)
Then out with you lot on Friday (I am counting this as a birthday celebration ;) ), out with folks on Saturday and a couple of other celebrations planned - I like lots of small gatherings rather than one big party...

Sorry to hear about various leaks - Stropps sure it is a leak and not chimney salts?

Cremo, one of DH's oldest friends tied the knot with his DW in Vegas (he was working in the States, so for her to be able to stay...), but they didn't tell anyone and had a full church do a few years later. DH managed to not let the cat out of the bag as he did his speech, but everyone bar the mum and dad were gossiping about it!

BD, sorry you are having an ill birthday, but the celebrations sound good!

BTM that's what dh and I did in oz too. Quiet Australian beach wedding.
Massive pissup with friends at home.
Although I think this Vegas do incorporates a cast of thousands according to the brides blog.

CV, have you tried the personal possessions bit of your household insurance for the screen? My dc managed to grapple the laptop off the sofa, where it landed on its if socket and died. The computer man said it wasn't fixable and household insurance coughed up for a new laptop! Only a couple of quid increase in premium the next year. Might be worth a try...

I want a wedding to go to. We went to the last of our generations last year and now I suspect I will have to wait until the dc's lot start going, although I think the days of having loads of your parents friends to your wedding are sadly over.

We are also lacking a fence, but appear to have gained a cockerel who appeared after his mate was 'foxed' on our drive last night. I don't think my lady hens want or need a male interloper (although I could be wrong )....

I am feeling perkier and would love to come on Friday and I apologise for being on such a downer at the weekend.

CV, a recent Guardian, or possibly Observer, had instructions for repairing touchscreen yourself for about £20. Worth a look online! I did quick search and got lots of hits.

Happy Birthday BD

Don't know how exclamation mark got there, sorry. I never get away with not previewing.

And sorry about my massive ongoing downer too.

I might bring my cockerel

Coq au vin, Beachy? I have a semi-feral cat stalking my chickens and my feathered friends are not happy.

BD, I had to google chimney salts. :) Now know what they are, I don't think it can be that. I've lived here nearly 15 years and had my office in the loft for the last 14 and we've never had so much as a stain on the wall until last summer. After having the flaunching replaced in August, Dh finally fixed the plaster and repainted about a month ago - as of last week, extensive stains have (re-)appeared, the plaster has cracked and we occasionally have trickles of water going down the outside of the chimney (i.e. the bit running from the roof to the floor of the office). Boooo.

Never mind, eh? These things are sent to try us - and all that.

I'm off to circuits now. Do not really feel like going out in the foul weather again.

CV, there are shops on Tottenham Court Road that can repair these things quite cheaply. Worth a look there?

Tonight's dinner is a veggie chilli with lentils, sweetcorn, kidney beans and peppers. Served with a bulgur wheat and quinoa mix. Tomorrow will be fish fingers, beans and oven chips, I am exhausting myself.

Clothes all piled up on DD2's bedroom floor. Must find somewhere to put them. Cupboard wall still wet.