Crepeys in the Long Grass of Life

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Thanks Beachy for the frisky title suggestion.

Well, here we all are!

I am guilty of finding it hard not to boast about DS. There was a discussion on our local Facebook parents' group about what age children start to read their first words. I piped up, saying ours was an anomaly and could read fluently by the time he was four. Gave an amusing, but possibly smug, about telling him there was no pasta on the menu, and him pointing at it and saying 'but it says there's spaghetti bolognese'. DP read it, and accused me of being smug. I then apologised on the thread, and others kindly said they hadn't thought I was smug at all. Confusing.

I've been realising of late that DP finds it very easy to criticise me, but I don't think he's ever said anything nice about anything I've achieved. I have pointed this out.

Herbs, your boy is fab.

Wrt effort: yes. I confessed yesterday that a bit of me rather hopes DD2 fails the two (2, ii) grade 4 exams she is taking on Weds. She does not practise enough. Even when nagged. Sails through on ability and minimal work. Suppose I can't blame her as I did the same...

I've arrived... I'm in Ee Bee Tha

Herbs, my dcs both "suffered" from that anomaly .

Must crack on with cleaning the bathroom. The problem with being a slattern in everyday life is there's so much cleaning to do before guests come round! And the dispiriting truth is the place will be utterly trashed during the party, with mud everywhere, and I'll have to do it all again, without DP who is escaping to Dublin for a few days.

Weather forecast for tomorrow still looks torrential. Sigh. Wish I was in Eee Bee Tha!

Here another lovely day (sorry Herbs). Pics of radiators continue to ping in my inbox sigh. But I think we are nearly there and about to lay out some serious money eek

Ds needs to write his end of year speech this weekend. That could be interesting.....

Oh it's nice TODAY here, of course it's nice TODAY. Just shit tomorrow.

Live in hope Herbs! And ds had a very wet bouncy castle birthday one year and guess what? The children DIDN'T care (they did get VERY wet)

Sun here, fingers crossed it holds this evening and then tomorrow for you Herbs!

For his fourth b-day, ds had a retro Cowboys and Indians party. The only "Indian" (well, I realise it should have been a Cowboys and Native Americans" party) was a "squaw" who spent most of the party chasing the cowboys round the wet muddy garden with her spear. ds's birthday is in January. They all got wet and muddy and seemed to have a great time. Herbs, I'm sure it'll go with a swing, whatever the weather.

I think it will be fine. Bouncy castle, dressing up clothes, 'bubble snakes', balloons, hot dogs, ice cream. What's not to like? I'm partly thinking of myself - I don't want all the little darlings rampaging through the house. I want them in the garden!

At least if it rains, if anyone is sick on the bouncy castle it will just wash off

The bouncy castle has a roof, which is good for turning it into an outside room, but not so good for sick washing!

Rudy :)

Just been reading the school report thread and reminded me that in ds's she comments on his love and knowledge of history... Going on to say 'during a topic on water he chose to write about a famous sea battle' . That's my boy :)

I so agree with NUFC - nobody on here comes across as at all boastful about their DCs and I think it's a totally shame if we can't say we're proud of them when they achieve something .

And while we're on the topic, my little DS3 (Year 5, but in the ARB at school so in effect not in mainstream) got a lovely report .

Yesterday was also Barbican Box for DS2 and that was terrific - I really enjoyed all the schools' performances.

I'm delighted that the baby is home too, NUFC (is your name a ref to their Fairs Cup win btw?).

Ooh, yes, OPM, it is - I am very impressed.

When we got to the hospital Outpatients was closed, but a technician came and asked if DH was MrNU, and took him off for the test. It was all over in minutes.

We then drove to Allenbanks, had a picnic in the sunshine, and walked up to the Mill. I was very disappointed that the little shop which used to sell ice cream wasn't there any more - well it was probably 20 years since we were last there.

Hoping for my first cuddle with new baby tomorrow.

NU, first cuddle, awww!

I have caught the sun (fell asleep!) which is causing DH and DS much amusement as I am always telling them to put suncream on and I did not!

Lovely news about the baby NU

Also brilliant about the various DCs achievements! Not boastful...life is shitty enough. We have to celebrate the good things and be generous spirited for the good news of others!

stropps I just have to suck it up. DH is important. I am dispensable. He gets his name on each programme THREE times, ( it's a theatre). I get it once, if anyone remembers, once a year. The only comfort I take is that I get to do really interesting, varied stuff and work with the cast. He just crunches numbers.

herbs my DP is not spontaneous and can't compliment me in the moment. It's usually days or hours after the fact when the moment has passed, if at all. He's just an awkward bugger. He also doesn't say very nice things about me in speeches at big family events...just makes jokes about how much the dress cost Ah well...

Off to Hampstead theatre now...they have great plays on there. Seeing something about the miners strike which has had great reviews. dD is at a party and DS2 will babysit her when dropped home later. DS1 is at news new pad fixing toilet roll holders to the wall etc. he has no bed and no fridge however.

Completely agree about dc achievements....I love reading about them, especially as I get to know more about their stories and their own particular hurdles. I think, here, we can enjoy that luxury. And it is only fair to the dc, as we do discuss the, ahem, challenges they present too.

I found my dd reading all her secondary school reports earlier (she is just back from a school trip, her last ever, very emotional - secondary school has been great, possibly transformational, for her) which reminded me of her best (although rather identifying) comment from primary school: miniLalsy has learned to use both scissors and empathy this term. Obviously you would not want the one without the other .

Lalsy Totally agree about it being lovely to hear about all their achievements, etc. I don't find it boastful at all.

Rose, how great for your DS, even without a fridge!

lalsy

I am suffering badly from iron tablet side effects and pmt based melancholy. Feel a bit like I did when heading towards a fortnight overdue with dd1. Such food for thought about effort, achievement and change. Just waiting for dh to take dd2 out to see a band so I can watch Friday Night Dinner with DD1 in secret (it is no screens day and Icam naughty. Dd2 year 4 can't hear the praise in her report, only hears a comment about

Herbs, the weather forecast looks better than you thought. I did have a mad idea for DS's party - why not get some water pistols (on the premise that if they are already wet with the rain a little more won't matter).

Rose, your position with DH sounds pretty miserable to me, my commiserations. Enjoy your theatre visit. It's an interesting experience when DC move out properly for the first time, as opposed to going away for uni, or a gap year etc.