The Crepey Cube

[cremolafoam]

Well done, Stropps, for going to see the doctor, although I am sorry he didn't offer you more support. I hope you get somewhere with the self-referral.

I am very impressed with those of you who write for a living - although I appreciate it must be very precarious, it must be very rewarding too (if not necessarily financially.)

Off to the Midlands on Sunday for a few days to meet up with my DSis and BIL, and to call on sundry people. We're staying at a place with a swimming pool so I have been out and treated myself to a new costume. TKMax only, I am afraid; but I love it - it does replace one which is several years' old! Swimming is quite an adventure for me, as I find that now I have an artificial knee joint, I have difficulty knowing where my leg is - swimming is a strange experience.

FFS. I've recently taken on the chairpersonship of the friends group of the local park. After much email shenanigans, I've organised a committee meeting for tonight. And only three of the eight committee members are going to be there. Fortunately the other two are the treasurer and secretary.

But we won't be able to sort lots of stuff, and will have to arrange another meeting, to which no-one will bother coming.

Grrrrrr...

I always get searched going into and out of the US. I asked an Americah diplomat friend of mine to check why this was - he informed me that I was On A List and that I should write to Homeland Security to be removed. However, I could not divulge how I knew I was on this list...

Just heard that one of my cousins has been found dead in his flat. So in the space of 10 months, that has been two Aunts, one Uncle, one ex boyfriend and a cousin. We were saying at yesterday's funeral that we needed to have a wedding next, for a bit of cheer.

My mother asked if she could have the sitting room curtains as well as the telly, as she thought the curtains would look nice in her bedroom. The window they come from is actually huge French windows; my mother's bedroom window is tiny. I am sure there are more corkers. I will have a think.

My mother got quite pissed, which always makes her more aggressive than usual. She told my cousin's husband that he was much too good for her and was wasting his time being with her, when he could be married to someone "really nice." She pulled a face when my (lesbian) cousin showed her photos of her kids and said it shouldn't be allowed, although they looked nice children. On the plus side, she and her 92 year old cousin, who fell out in 1983, decided to let bygones be bygones and had a nice chat.

MrsS, I think you need more than just the one wedding to counteract all of that. I am sorry to hear about your cousin.

I feel as though I shouldn't be when I hear about your mother's latest utterances but I am definitely .

Lalsy, thanks for the background info on the self-referrals thing. That is making me view it in a more positive light. Yes, I will call them on Monday. (I did love the image of your dd going through security on her hands, btw )

I managed to whizz out during the dry spell this afternoon and take apart the chicken run, remove the hen house and the dog had a good time looking for the rat that has been tunnelling under there for the last week. Then I dug it out and laid some paving slabs and dh jumped up and down on them and we put the chicken run and house back together. And I shall not be leaving any more snacks hanging in the chicken run overnight. That must be one obese rodent.

ps: that dress I ordered yesterday arrived already today and yes, it's viscose, but it's actually really nice. The print is lovely, not at all sofa-ish and it fits very nicely. Falls just on the knee. Only cost me £20. That cheered me up a bit.

Good grief Stropps, that makes me feel quite exhausted, all that energy! I liked the dresses - viscose is wood pulp, so natural-ish fabric, I think.

The cousin who died was the one who had Pomagne at his wedding.

Well done, Strops. Very energetic.

MrsS about your cousin. I had a little spell last year of family members falling off perches; it is hard when it all happens so close together.

I've just scoffed an entire bar of Green & Black's chocolate. On top of the champagne truffles I ate earlier. What's that illness when you can't stop yourself eating? Oh yes. Greed.

What's it worth not to grass you up to your fellow lowcarbers CV??

I'll pay for your silence, QQ. In my defence, I've been very good for the last few weeks. It was just "one of those days".

Ruby - have a fab time, you lucky thing.

Bon voyage, Rudy

Have a fantastic time Rudy!

Have a happy lovely time in Paris Rudy. ( wonders what camisoles - plural are for)

The ruddy dishwasher is kaput.

Mrs S I'm very sorry to hear of yet another family bereavement. That's a lot of loss in a short space of time. Look after yourself. And about the curtains. She's a rare bird your ma!

Rudy, have a great time, I love the idea of meeting in a champagne bar.

Stropps, first things first, did you get the rat? And good - it has to be worth a try I think.

Mrs S, that's too much.

Not a very nice day for you here in Paris at the moment Rudy.

I'm here on MN as had to get up early to drop DD1 at school at 8 am for her mock bac' in maths. Have come back and no sign of DH who is normally an early bird - must have fallen asleep again. Just me and DS on the sofa with our respective computers and Scooby Doo.

Rudy have a fab time!

MrsS - gosh that's all a bit grim...

QQ - didn't have you down as a sneak ;-)

We had a quiet pint up the pub and came home. Ds is being subject to the hormonal changes of pre teen girls and finding it a tad wearing.

Sante, Rudy!

MrsS, good job you've got a sense of humour and take no notice of her.

Cremo, the old one will have to come out of retirement (your DH, I mean)

Hatty, mocks on a Saturday! Eeeeek!

I went out for a and meze with friends last night. There was a tiny old lady sat at the next table who I recognised from a previous visit to the same restaurant who ate a starter, enorrrrrmmmmmous main dish and ice-cream. No idea where she put it all!

Off to meet a mate at our local tea emporium this morning

We are smartening up here chez Cremola as it is ddads 85th birthday and mother has arranged for a family portrait photo to be taken.
I can't begin to describe how utterly cringeworthy this is for us lot. We are a collective of photograph fraidy cats.

Watching a bit of Vladimir's Extravaganza this morning . The snow boarding was spectacular!

DS had been sprawled on the sofa watching, Cremo. Infact I came in last night to the DC snuggling on the sofa watching the opening ceremony

And the photo sounds a lovely idea. Chin up

I have trekked round New Look with DD1. Then met our fellow inmates of the Inferiority Complex for lunch and introduced girls to the geek heaven that is Forbidden Planet. They proclaimed loudly how much they loved it while their father quietly added to his vast collection of obscure fantasy novels

I used to like Forbidden Planet although I didn't read much more fantasy than LOTR, I had a friend who was addicted and we used to have fun browsing in there. Medal of courage for going in New Look though - I can't stand it and I will not go in H&M on a Saturday afternoon.

As the weather is really horrible, we have had a lazy afternoon watching Hunger Games2, enjoyable but quite similar to the first.

DH has just cooked Cajun chicken and couscous while I did the ironing - delicious. We had a walk this afternoon before the rain arrived.

Fairly early start tomorrow as we are calling to see my DCousin - he is in a special home as he had a stroke 14 months ago (he's in his 50s and no partner now). He's in a wheelchair with little speech - so sad.

Egads. Spent today at a social media course, specially designed for those unfortunate types, such as myself, who've been landed with their choir's publicity.

Cue man with brain the size of a planet explaining the finer points of Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest to an audience in various degrees of bemusement. It was, infact, most informative and useful, but it's been so long since I learned anything new that I feel thoroughly exhausted. And this after a park friends group committee meeting until 11 last night.

Luckily, DP is busying himself in the kitchen with a stir-fry, wine is open and the weekend Grauniad awaits my delectation. Though natch I've already read Blind Date.