The Darling Crepes of May

[CointreauVersial]

My turn......

Is that the only positive Rudy? :)

I would think hard re education (army brat, saw lots of friends have their education screwed by moves - I was one of the lucky ones). I guess if they were younger (or older) I do it like a shot (looks pointedly at dp because I would never get a job abroad)

And what about YOU, Rudy? You wouldn't be able to work - green card, and all that - so would you be stuck at home, not knowing anyone, and going to lots of yoga classes?

Is it feasible to say 'not yet, in two years' time' or something?

Re hols: we need some level of out-and-about activity, I think, as a place in the country doesn't work as well as it did when they were little (though DD2 surprisingly announced she loved last year!). Sea is good. I'd like somewhere with a level of Culture to look at from time to time. We usually take/hire a car. Needs to be as cheap as possible affordable. DP is in truth not mad on travel but will put up with it.

I would also like some decent weather! Though India trip later this year makes it a bit easier...

How about a few days in Barcelona, followed by a few by the sea, in one of the resorts along that coast? Or some other city/coast combo - you might not need to hire a car then? We've had lovely holidays with a mix of activities but none in particularly sunny places so I am not much good to you.

There's somewhere in Portugal that was recommended to me - Caisca, something... - that's near Lisbon. Lots of dear little towns, beaches, and a 'fun' train ride from the cultural highlights of Lisbon.

I agree Lalsy, that would be a good mix. And good weather at that time of year.

Or a 2 centre Montpellier/Carcassone? you have the flamingoes and bull fighting in Montpellier, plus beaches, etc, Aigues-Mortes is nearby and then Carcassonne has the castle and other stuff?

Ooh, which rural bits?

These are all fab suggestions.

Carcassone is fun (touristy) for a couple of days, the area is fascinating, with Cathar castles perched on cliffs and fields where massacres happened, and you can get into the Pyrenees for walking or probably stuff like mountain biking.

Or Neopolitan Riviera, go to Pompeii and Herculaneum, boat trips (but very hot and beaches not great as I remember - this was years ago)?

I have no chance whatsoever of catching up properly ladies, been headless chickening both at work and home the last couple of weeks. Bit calmer today as a lot of the stress was for a reception of the casts of two current West End plays at our office yesterday. All went well and various quite famous people and one living legend turned up, so everyone was . Hoping to be able to link to some photos on FB later. Also busy as our AirBnB venture seems to be going well - lots of enquiries and some bookings also. I have proper pictures up now Crem, so if your offer of a glowing review still stands, that would be fab. Will PM you.

Herbs - so, so pleased to hear about your course! Really well done, and it just shows that the other woman writing reams and reams is no match for someone who communicates well in fewer words.

QQ - so sorry about your friend, sounds like the memorial service was exactly as she wished, which is a comfort at least, but all still so unfair.

Bindi - hello! I am another crepey, live in S London with 3 dcs age 13, 11 (as of Saturday) and 8.

MI - I know you said no France, but we had a fab time in the Ardeche a few years ago. Gorgeous scenery, lots of outdoor stuff, nice weather but not scorchio. No beaches but there are river beaches and good swimming, some lovely towns, bits of culture and some fabulous caves in the south.

I love Northern Spain and you could combine Barcelona with a visit to Cadaques, which is north of the City and almost at the French border. Its got the Dali house there and the bay is beautiful. Pre-children we drove there and then went to explore the hills and mountains in Andorra. Very similar to the Alps in that they keep the chair lifts going so you can glide up and walk down!

I second the area near to Carcassone which would be a lovely starting place also close to Beziers which is worth a look too. From there you could head down to the Cotes Vermeille which has some lovely coastal areas in the foothills of the Pyrenees: St Cyprien, Collioure, Port Vendres and offering some wonderful walking and then over the border for Gerona and Barcelona. It's a lovely mix where France meets Spain and the feel is more of Catalonia than France.

It's an acquired taste but we love it and it's the one place we have found in the world where DH switches off.

Congratulations Herbs!!!

If not Carcassonne the town, MI, how about Carcassonne the board game? We've just become hooked.

I came on to say CV, been on you Boyf jean thread and second the vote for these www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Brady-Low-Rise-Slim-Boyfriend-Jeans-in-Dark-Washed-Indigo/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2567584&cid=14877&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Dark+vintage+wash if you'd like another pair. Thoroughly remcommend. They are lovely denim, not as bleachy on the thigh as they look, deffo size down.

So I came on to say that and then read the whole thread, vv sad about dd's friend, Hatty.

Rudy, that sounds incredible but also a real wrestle to think through.

Wilbur I loved those flowery Zara trousers you linked to a while ago.

Windy, (and Bindi!) hello, your 'we just have to love them and feed them' comment about examees made me go damp around the ducts. I read/post very sporadically because this thread is like sugar and I just stay on MN forever and gorge when I've read it But anyway I've got 2 dds of 12 and 9 and some grey and lots of blonde highlights and a new pair of fancy hairdressing scissors with which I'm going to try not to wreck my fringe.

Ooh, we've been round there before, was really lovely though we were staying in quite horrid house.

I like those jeans - can a shortarse wear them ?

Well it couldn't have been ours then .

One of the things that is most scaring me about being a student again is having NO MONEY. All these lovely things on S&B will be entirely out of my reach. And the novelty of 'rediscovering' things in my wardrobe, as a substitute, will wear off pretty sharpish.

Carcassonne is supposed to be lovely although all reconstructed and very touristy. I don't know that region at all. We are going to the Dordogne this year as I Would like to see other parts of France than the Alps (where DH is from and hence PIL).

I would avoid the Ardeche in summer - We drove through it last year - the view of the from the top is like a river version of the M25 with canoes replacing cars.

Herbs - wasn't there a thread - a year with buying no clothes?

I'm mousey going blondish in the sun with an unlovely white fringe. Last week, ds described my hair thusly: "Brown at the back, weird cream colour at the sides and white at the front." Yay. So I went and had a rad haircut and got a few highlights to sort of make it a more even colour all round. I think that's what's happened anyway. I don't bother trying to colour the white, just to get it to vaguely blend in. Have also adopted a live and let live policy for the white eyebrow hairs.

I don't have any holiday advice as we rarely go on them as we are a bit lacking in funds. I need a new job, but am having a lot of trouble finding anything I can do - for various reasons. Dh is of retirement age, but has only a minuscule pension so has to continue freelancing.

We contemplated moving abroad 11 years ago, but dd would have hated it and there were other complications at that time too. Now it's too late. The only times I have moved countries were pre-dcs. Not sure I could hack it now, even if it were possible.

There are 2 boys in dd's year at school who have leukaemia: one has finished treatment and is back in school taking his GCSEs, but the other one is mid-chemo. Dd's year group had their final assembly last Friday and he came in for that, but he is really poorly and obviously GCSEs are on the back-burner for him. The boys compare stats and symptoms on FB and dd's year group have done a lot of fundraising to help the families with transport costs because people in this situation round here have to travel to Southampton for treatment and it gets very expensive very quickly.

Sorry if that was gloomy. I am feeling extremely gloomy as I can't see a way forward at all at the moment. Any avenues I have tried lately have proved to be dead ends. Am still stuck where I have been for a long while and that in itself is depressing. Dh is just shrugging his shoulders and saying he can't do anything else workers, which is true, but doesn't help me feel better.

Workers = work-wise

Tell us what yiu can do stroperella and we'll think laterally for you. Sorry to hear things are tough.