The Darling Crepes of May

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My turn......

Oh Stropps, so sorry that things seem grim for you. I haven't known you long either but it's pretty obvious to me that the support network on Crepeys is wonderful and people are here for you. I am sure you only have to say the word and people will help.

MI, we have done lots of holidays in France and loved it: we went to the Auvergne latterly and always found plenty to do. When we visited Corsica the other week it reminded me how much we enjoyed France.

We had a perfect day at Alnwick: the weather was lovely and we even managed to drive there with the top down on my car! We hadn't been in the cherry orchard before and whilst the blossom was over, it was underplanted with pale pink tulips. Spectacular.

Good luck with your decision, Rudy.

Thank you, BTM and Windy - that is really helpful, thank you very much. I gave up teaching in secondary school when I had dd (also had a very difficult h back then) and took up freelance translating - which I have been doing ever since. It worked well for me for several years, but the market has changed a lot recently and my particular specialist areas are less marketable than dh's and although I have made some attempt to develop new specialisms, they have been somewhat half-hearted as I don't really see much of a future in freelancing for me. I really don't want to go back to teaching in school - not least because I am very de-skilled in French and there isn't so much call for German - and would like to move into doing life skills/literacy in FE. Have also been invigilating in school for the last 4 years and I have to admit it hadn't occurred to me to approach the FE colleges about that, but I will now.

And don't forget stropperella you are properly clever and properly qualified. A huge number of people in FE have not come through the traditional routes and those with a traditional background behind them are quite sought after. I really think you have to look sideways a bit as the MFLs aren't on a rising trajectory at the moment but the skills you have are so very transferable and in London, very rare in FE. I do apologise for being a bit Capital centric but I'm sure some of my ideas are transferable elsewhere.

You know, the amazing breadth and depth of knowledge and experience among the Crepeys never ceases to amaze me. I can't believe that earlier today I was absolutely languishing in the Slough of Despond and now, thanks to a chance conversation in RL and lots of sympathy and good advice from the Crepeys, I am thinking that there may indeed be other ways for me to move forward.

I think I am maybe a bit thick about the ways in which my skills may be transferable. I might need to pick your brains about that, Windy.

You're not thick, ffs. Just bogged down.

I must say that is a suggestion of great brilliance, Windy.

Stropps so not thick! {{ }} stick around :)

Hi all, trying to catchup.
Stropps please stick with us. you are a valued and much loved member of the coven. Plus we need your chicken expertise on tap.
Keep on keeping on. We are here to prop you up, just as you have nobly supported us in wibbly times.

Rudy holy guacamole ! re USA . That's going to be a tough decision.
I'd have happily gone anytime up to dd being in year 8; and we talked about it a lot having spent several years in Oz. But it just seemed to be too hard especially for dd and the relationships she had built up with friends and family. It would be very hard to leave your dm. That's the big one for me.

Hatty, horrendous situation for dds friend . Deeply sorry for her. I very much hope the treatment is successful and she has good support.

Right all this grey hair stuff. My hair went grey yonks ago but I have gone for silvery ash blonde. I hope to meld gently to whitish grey as I go on, in a seamless subtle and sophisticated manner , whilst upping my red lipstick ration accordingly. ( snort )

Herbs , can you not get a student loan of some kind? My sister has one: she is year 2 of midwifery and us 45 with 3 kids.

Bindi, no . I can't speak Irish I'm afraid segregated education in NOrn Iron in the 70s and 80s (and 90s and on and on) put paid to that. We are working on that still.
I can tak a wee few wirds o Ulster-Scots which has been designated 'a language ' I'm trying not to smirk.

lol

Hello Crepeys all,

Lots of brilliant advice and support around. Go for it Stropps - do take advantage of Windy (fnarr).

Would you all like to know what DH brought me back from his 5-day footballing jaunt to Verona?

Two double-size tea towels.

Addle, LTB.

That's so you can be a proper wife . Runs, very very fast and dons flak jacket.

There isn't that much to pick strops but as my MIL never fails to remind me, "you are just sooooo very practical, you might not have been academic, but you are very good at practical things". What that means is "I can't believe how thick and intellectually lazy you are DIL".

Sips more and festers quietly.

Sorry Addle but you know, you are like proper clever

Oh, oh, and do you know what I came on to post - "dd is sooo stresed I have just had to have a wander to Sainsburys local to get her a bottle of Mountain Dew and a packet of French Fancies and I had to walk because I have alreay had a huge glass of wine.

Perhaps he wants you to be an improper (non) wife and indulge in filthy tea towel-related perversions?

At least they were double-size, addle. Twice the fun and all that.

Well, my Crepey friends, I think maybe I am just suffering from being over-tired and underpaid and perhaps tomorrow I will rise like the phoenix (arf), old lady beard and all. And, after my exam duties are completed, I shall spend some time on my CV, which needs refreshing.

(See, that old boot straps thing still works. Just.)

I shall now retire early with a civilised cup of chamomile and an Austrian crime novel which is so bad, it's good and block out the thoughts of loserdom.

ps: Beachy, I have dug out our dangerous camping stove. And am hopeful that I will soon remember where I last saw the camping mattresses. BD, are you going to give the Bongo an outing??

And Windy, a couple of nights ago, I found dd sitting in the bath crying onto a Geography past paper. I removed said past paper and replaced it with a frothy hot chocolate and some biscuits. Tonight, I heard a little voice from the bathroom "Please may I have some hot chocolate?". I'm hoping this will become the nightly calming ritual.

Glad you are feeling better.

That reminds me of my refrain when they were tiny. I want doesn't get, please may I have is often successful. Pompous or not? And only truly brilliant mothers produce clean children

Double-sized tea-towels? The mind boggles! DH has never tried that one on me - he knows where I would stuff them if he did

Stropps, your DD lets you into the bathroom when she is in the bath

DD is currently fairly upbeat in-between saying OMG I have C2 and 3 tomorrow every 5mins. I imagine there may yet be trouble ahead, but am crossing my fingers.

Addle . Did he buy them at the airport?

Stropps, you are a trooper...

Sound the s and b klaxon! Today I bought this Madness or inspired?

dd has just been holding back tears talking about Achilles. Stress is a funny thing, methinks.

Far more stylish and inspired than

www.cosstores.com/gb/Shop/Women/Trousers/Sleeveless_silk_all-in-one/46887-14845700.1#c-24479

How do you do a proper linky?

QQ I like it because it is silk and therefore possibly drapey and flowing and cool and sexy.
If it wasn't I might worry a little about onesie connotations

Addle .... Nooooooooo ... He owes you big time :)

Oh lalsy. Time for the
There is nothing more you will ever know about < insert subject of choice> tonight talk.

I actually think dd has mentally given up. It's like she's out the other side of the stress , as it became too much if a burden. She's practically giddy with brain fag. Her study leave consists of sleep , chocolate and what's app.

Stropps, sorry to be late on the scene, but please stay. I always look out for your posts and I'm looking forward to seeing you again some time soon. Glad to see you're picking up on all the good advice and encouragement & happy anniversary .

Herbs, belated congratulations

Hattie, sorry to hear about DD's friend - and how upsetting for DD. I suppose there's no good time for them to find out how fragile life is.

Nothing life-threatening going on here and it's been just a year (on 9 May) since DH's last big operation (phew). I'm still coughing all night and lame. DH and DD both got the virus, so we've barely been keeping the show on the road between us. But we've come a long way in that year.

I'd look awful in that unless I went several sizes up - but then I might as well buy a barrage balloon :)

Strops you are an amazing person - hang on!

Auriga good to hear things are well - year since my mums stroke so on my mind a lot. A recall posting from intensive care...

Oh and Crepeys I have mat leave interview - 13 months, but grade above and I will argue for secondment....