Crepeys in the Long Grass of Life

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks Beachy for the frisky title suggestion.

Well, here we all are!

Herbs, maybe make sure the parents to send wellies and a mac for each child. They'll run happily around in the rain and pogo up and down on the bouncy castle…although they might trash the house when the come back inside…Aaaargh Bloody English weather….the kids will enjoy it whatever the weather. The adults will need a holiday though.

I've told those on email to bring spare clothes, etc. I think I'll make a virtue out of a necessity, throwing water balloons on to the bouncy castle, and possibly some fairy liquid, for added slip-hazard fun.

Herb's praying for clear skies.

Roaebag and MI infuriating situations with DH and DP. I have never felt in DH's shadow, my problem is more that I left a high level job to come here and because I didn't really speak the language and have looked after my children, it is assumed that I am a generally inferior level human being.

Just been for my annual haematology check-up and all is well. My iron (ferratin) is up to 21 and other one is in normal range so that's not why I feel so tired... Still, we were preached to and serenaded (protest songs) - she actually had a lovely voice - in the waiting room. #onlyinLondon

Oh and I see DH's copy of Life & Living (retirement homes) has arrived. He is 45

I am allowing myself a little moment to glow happily. And y'know what, I'm sharing one of the headteacher's comments from ds's report, because who knows when and if I'll ever see one like this again: "... is an exceptionally able pupil with many talents and interests. He participates in all aspects of school life and is an excellent role model for his classmates and for younger children". The entire report is along the same lines. The boy done good.

Well done littlest Stropps

DD2's report is quite lovely too, though as she is weepy and grumpy I feel a bit tooth-gnashy about all the comments about her enthusiasm and smiles.

Ds's was very good too, but he's gutted by his SATS results....

DD2's weren't as stellar as they could have been either. Good, but not mind-boggling.

But you know what, BD? In six months' time we will have forgotten, totally, about sodding SATS. And one reason I'm not bothered about DD2 not doing as well as she could have in Maths though I'm sure Smartarse Kid in her class did better and that is galling is that DD1 went from a distinctly 'could do better' in Maths to 'really rather good' at secondary.

No 6s (aside from a teacher one) here. But then he hadn't had any practise at the stuff so not overly surprised. Be nice to know if he was close to the threshold or not.

Here dp is sending me pictures of radiators

Well, after 11 years of dd's reports, which are all variations on the theme of "able but doesn't participate in class and generally does as little as she can get away with and won't join any clubs", I know a report opening moment to treasure when I see one. And it's a damn good note for him to end on at First School. For all I know, this may be the high point of his academic career . He's 2 years ahead of himself in all areas and somewhat more than 2 years in one area and the HT of his current school has informed me that I will need to be on the case at his next school to make sure he gets what he needs. I really don't want to do this. So I don't think the next year or 2 will be fun. But right now, I'm happy.

I applied for another job today. Don't think I will even get an interview, but hey the practice of even writing the blurb is good.

I'm certainly not overshadowed by any success on DH's part. His success came and went before I even met him. His first wife had the holidays in Hawaii, the fur coat (gack!), constantly updated soft furnishings and presumably his youthful enthusiasm and his stepchildren got all their weddings and bail money paid for. By the time I inherited him, all he had was some debts, a holey duvet cover and some chipped glasses. Oh and a foul Lexus which my family immediately nicknamed the Pimp Mobile. Ho hum. He has ... other qualities which make him dear to my heart. It's just me that beats myself up about my lack of success. And money.

BD, there are special clubs for men like that, you know.

BD and MI, that is why I hate the flogging the level 6's out of the kids - they don't need to get level 6's in Y6 FFS - there's plenty of time for that!

Go Stropps! You are on a roll!

BD, mine has not got an effing clue about anything design related. Or much else other than sport really

Aren't they getting rid of the levels anyway?

Oh yes, but not till 2016 for SATs as they haven't a) worked out how the new levels will work and b) devised any tests for them. It's going to be carnage in schools till it all settles down in about 2020, by which time they will probably be changing them again.

I am going to have a drink to celebrate your positivity, Stropps, and all the lovely primary school reports tonight

Yes, ds won't be doing SATs until 2016 (is only Y4 now), so he will be right in the middle of all the mess. :( However, I am not allowing myself to think about that now.

Oh yes, I had forgotten the weird middle-school system! Definitely don't think about it now. DS will be in the first year of the new GCSE's I think. I am not thinking about that either.

Enjoy your drink, BTM, and have one for me. I still have a few hours work to do and dd is then off to her first party where booze will be consumed. She and her friends are insisting on taking their own drink as they are convinced that everything there will be spiked . Teen parties in the middle of the countryside are a pain as they require complicated taxi arrangements for the parents. Still, I'm glad she's getting her social act together. And yesterday we finally cracked the disgusting room saga. After several battles over a long 10 days, she has overcome her hoarding issues and chucked out (ably assisted by yrs truly) stuff that had been mouldering in her room for over 12 years (in some cases). A very long overdue proper and thorough cleanup was carried out and the entire house smells better.
Dd's issues with loss and separation etc have manifested in a variety of ways and hoarding was one of them. Last year, she saw a programme about extreme hoarders and started crying because she recognised herself. :( It's not been much fun living with it, but she has now made a very big step forward. There were quite a few tears and she found chucking the stuff out really difficult - and we are talking about layers of grot here, not what other people would consider treasured possessions. But she was really excited to wake up in a grot-free room this morning.

The human mind is very weird.

Now then crepeys. You haven't inundated me with your chocolate cake recipes. I did happen across BTM recommending hers on a search I did - do you stand by that recipe?

at pimp mobile. Brilliant news stropps

No report from DD yet. Do you think she's hidden it? It never makes very joyful reading if I just look at the levels. She's generally bottom except for art.

I don't begrudge DH his success. He's worked unbelievably hard to get there and I admire how clever he is at what he does. And i can't justifiably demand he gets off my territory where i do my volunteering because the reality is, they need him more than they need me. ( god that hurts) I just need to find a way to deal with feeling invisible and get some confidence from somewhere. I think I underestimated how much my work contributed to me feeling that I made a valuable contribution. Still tomorrow is another day..

tilly I have an annual Haem appointment too!

Ooh Stropps! DD has been to a few parties with booze, but has always slept over elsewhere IIRC - tomorrow the girls are all coming back to ours, so we will see! She is taking 2 bottles of cider and they are getting the bus there and back as we have friends over.

Glad she has had a chuck-out. Hope she can stick with it - DD takes after DM and although they are not as bad as those extreme hoarders, her bedroom looks so much better since she chucked out about a third of her clothes/possessions!

Herbs, which one was it? I have an old favourite one I can type here if you like?

Mine don't generally get their reports (short ones - grades only as the long ones are earlier in the year) until after term has finished. By snail mail!

Rose, what's yours for? Mine is because I have massive red blood cells (but not enough iron) and slightly low white blood cells which is linked to a condition which I can't remember the name of, but is pre-leukaemia. But I don't seem to have that ATM at least!