Shiny Happy Crepeys

[Blackduck]

Over here all........

QQ - I'm going to tell my DD1 about your DS. Mine are now at the swimming pool - her special option in swimming for negligible points seems to be far more important than the heavyweights ie. maths, English, biology. This with the exception of physics (see below).

Lalsy, Crem - how's revision going chez vous.

QQ-8 hours a day, hats off to your ds.

HM, no idea, really, dd is cheerful, spends some days cloistered in festy pit with Plato, rubbish, yoghurt pots, socks all muddled up and others out having fun - she seems quite happy and I don't really know what she has to do or how to do it (I was more involved in helping timetable and structure at GCSE).

We are off for a few days tomorrow, but I am finding it very hard to get anything constructive done with lots of family calls and emails. Luckily both dc are being cheerful and getting themselves sorted (alberit in very messy way).

dd1 has been revising for about three hours now. We had 'much fun' with dividers and plastic sleeves, organising her Psychology notes so she feels a bit happier now. Every day is timetabled down to a nano second - she can't live without structure! She doesn't necessarily stick to it, but it has to be there anyway.

The boys have reached my dad's house, so just the home trip to do! Have a horrible feeling they will arrive home bright pink with no sun cream between them.

Ds1 is a paragon of industriousness. I have no idea where he gets it from. he is focused, driven and very hardworking.
He gets huge satisfaction out of doing well which really helps. Whereas when I was his age I really didn't give a flying fig for exam results or for what my teachers / parents thought about my efforts. My policy was to do enough, all at the last minute, to get by.
I look at ds1 in awe and amazement. In teenage slang he tells me he is what is known as a "dirty bang out" which isn't as filthy as it sounds as it apparently = swottiest swot in town.
The downside of all this is the terrible importance of Doing Really Well - because if you don't after all that effort it will be a bit of a bummer. So there is some considerable anxiety attached to that and I do think that not all your self esteem should be tied up in academic success if you want a happy life...
Am enjoying reading about beachyboy's adventures. Briliant.

QQ I think you will have to hire him out to give useful tips and pep talks to our less dedicated DC. Having said that, DD revised on the plane

Beachy is your DD on GCSE's or A's?

QQ - your DS will be in charge of us all. I have a quote from Bill Gates on my fridge "be nice to a geek - you'all end up working for one.

Meanwhile, high jinks upstairs as all DC's back plus boyfriend. No revisions that's for sure.

Physics revision, eh? Nudge, nudge.

I was working today, but took a call from DD2 to gloat about how much they were enjoying their bike ride with DH. They were scoffing ice creams in the sunshine at the time. Predictably, when I arrived home DH was snoring loudly on the sofa (poor lamb; childcare is so taxing).

DD1 has two mates over, and they are off to Thorpe Park tomorrow. I'm a little nervous because it is her two least sensible / most irresponsible mates, so the "riot act" will be read before we drop them off. What's the worst that could happen? (don't answer that).

I am agog at tales of hardworking teens. I dream of being able to claim the same about DS. He is starting Y10 in September and does less work than his baby sister.

Just returned from post-funeral pub session, lea ing most of the family there. All wiped out. DP's eulogy was utterly brilliant - poetic, heartfelt, and deeply moving without being sentimental. The priest said in 33 years he'd never heard such a telling of love and loss. And he had to help carry the coffin, unexpectedly.

The church was packed - there must have been at least 100 people there. Such a well-loved man.

MiL fills her sitting room with airfresheners, even though she has no sense of smell. We've had to move them outside to prevent our eyes streaming.

DD has revised the following subjects today: physics, maths, chemistry and a bit of Geography. That's just sooooooo impressive isn't it. Until the next bit, for 45 minutes - she wrote out what she needed to learn and then it was hot in the study so she laid on the floor for an hour. And when I got home was in her pyjamas.

And the best bit yet, she's going to the Sherlock Holmes Museum tomorrow

Oh joy

Puts it all in perspective Herbaceous.

DS did lighten the mood, and drop some clangers. For example waiting outside the church to follow the coffin in, with everybody sniffling, he asked, loudly, 'is this going to be fun or boring mummy?'

Oh, herbaceous that reminds me of my grandma's funeral. Some close friends of my mother's asked how DS was. He was 4. I confided that he had asked "wow, will you see the bones". They were beyond themselves with mirth and my mother insisted on wanting to know what they were laughing about. Barbara just said, Michael said something silly, not appropriate for now, we'll tell you later. Whenever I see them now, they always ask if he's still interested in bones.

Poor you - it gets better with a bit of distance - I've missed most of the thread an wish I could say something more apposite.

He's lovely, your boy Glad the day is done and it sounds like DP was great; if he pings back into not-greatness (which would be entirely understandable ) we'll all be here.

My big girls are being quite lovely too. Homework notwithstanding.

Oh it's moments like that (and your dp's heartfelt eulogy) that people will remember.

Beachyboy came home surprisingly early, by mid afternoon. There was a little womble off on the wrong train in the wrong direction, but quickly realised. Also, bit of name calling (w**r) from the local yoof when they saw the boys wearing helmets - such is life....

I think he enjoyed it and has actually been quite helpful this evening.

HM, dd1 is at AS level. Is that the same as your ds1, QQ?

Herbs so glad it went well. And :) at mini herbs - well good point actually ... I went my send off to be fun ( but sad if you know what I mean)....

Drinks next Friday?? (Bd sounding desperate - can someone suggest somewhere!!)

He also farted during a quiet bit, and while in the car to the cemetery exclaimed 'so. 'is grandad in THAT BOX?'

Farting always good at a quiet moment - must remember to tell DD and DS. DH, sadly, doesn't need telling.

and talking of which, welcome Windy

Glad it went well, Herbs. Must have been v moving to see all the other people who cared

Crem and Rudy - hope all goes well for your parents.

Beachy - sounds like ideal outing to me. Lalsy and I used to send DSS off on buses to nearby parks with oysters and bit of money for chips. Similar on smaller scale.

Happy Easter everyone x

I am back at the desk, half-heartedly shoving words around on the page. I do appear to be less exhausted though, thank heavens - I really didn't want to be shattered over a weekend away. DP has Got The Suitcases Out. He alleges he'll be home after work ("not planning to be late" - er, this is the Easter weekend, sweetie, you could just exit the office politely and even a few mins early) and that we can leave after that. You'll note he's left no margin for packing. This is because DP's version of packing is 'put everything you might vaguely need into a bag in 5 minutes'. He once packed for a week of hippy t'ai chi in two minutes. Having spent the morning painstakingly looking for paintbrushes for the Calligraphy Workshop .

I will also confess that thanks to my loud commitment to equal shares in the housework the Inferiority Complex is a total tip at the moment

I spoke too soon about Dad. He's in intensive care after not being able to breathe. He was all dressed and ready to go on Tuesday morning when the wheezing started. Took 5 doctors to revive him. If he'd been at home it would have been game over
He's doing better this morning but we've all had yet another big shock .

Dd is also in pit of bedroom and has devised a revision timetable of sorts. The difficulty I think is that the exams are so far apart , so keeping up momentum is the issue. She is booked for Ghana now(( the ultimate adventure cf Beachys ds) involving a night in Istanbul , alone, and a 5 hour bus ride to a remote village with a violin .

Difficult days ...

Oh Crem... fingers crossed and holding thumbs here for your Dad.

MI - packing is an exact science for DH. Everything is ironed and neatly folded, and he takes everything he could possibly need (as if he were going somewhere where shops did not exist). He takes one suitcase and the DDs and I share one...

He always takes several pairs of shoes and their shoe trees, even for a beach holiday. In fact, I have a photo of him sitting on the beach in Rio in chinos, polo shirt and brogues...

Oh, Cremo, how awful.

Crem - so sorry to hear about your dad. Crossing everything that he rallies quickly.

Had a lovely day in Brighton yesterday, nattered with dear friend for hours, had first picnic of the year and sat on the beach while the kids played and collected stones. Her ds (6) had a great time "killing" my ds1 over and over again, with ds1 obligingly dying theatrically every time. It was very sweet. And I managed to get through Ikea with only one small snarl and one random purchase that wasn't on my list.

Herbs - meant to say it sounds like the funeral was exactly the right thing for your FIL, well done to you all for making it so special.

Cremo, hope your DDad rallies.

Herbs, glad it went well.

Happy hols MI!

BD would somewhere round our favourite Waterloo way be doable next Fri?