School's out for crepeys

[lalsy]

Ooops, sorry, I didn't mean to finish the thread.

In Sheffield with old pal and her 5yo twins. Chaotic,and mildly squalid, but fun. Drank too much wine last night, the. DS woke up at 6, so a challenging day awaits. Entertainment round these parts is of the 'empty a crate of toys on to the kitchen floor and leave it there' variety.

Have tried to have a bit of a catch up - hope all those on hols/heading on hols have a fabulous time. We are going to the same festival this year that we went to last year, but otherwise we're mainly pottering around at home, which is fine by me, especially in this weather. We are making good use of the ice cream stand on Streatham Common. I have at least arranged to be on holiday from work for a couple of weeks. Got masses to do before I switch off the email, but once I do, I will be ignoring all work until I get back. Can't wait as it's been mega hectic recently.

NUFC - congrats on the 42 years, that's very impressive. Dh and I are pleasantly surprised that we have managed 16 years. Although making 17 is looking shaky at the moment as he didn't lock the children's bikes up when we got back from our Tour de France weekend and they were all nicked last week, including dd's brand, spanking new one that she got for her birthday in May. Both hers and ds1's were v good ones and should have done them through to adulthood. I am extremely fed up about it - I think we can claim on insurance, but the thought of the hassle makes my heart sink. I could leave it to dh, but given that I have been waiting ten (10, X) years for him to sort out a problem with ds1's savings account, I won't hold my breath. Sigh.

Wilbur, any sensible jury would let you off a surreptitious poisoning.

Arf...it is quite possible to be considered a bumpkin when living at the unfashionable north end of the Piccadilly Line and the infamous A406!!

OPM sad news re running lady's cancer.
MI interesting re your DP being able to deal firmly with the passport people....with us, I would have said that I am the more strident of the two of us...but DH can really grind an errant authority or company into the ground when he needs to be scary. QED recently, when he absolutely wiped the floor with EE over my monumental phone debacle. I now have a new contract with O2, much better reception, a compensation package and a complaint to offcom pending Do hope your DPs work situation works itself out, though.

MrsS could you set targets which are challenging to your boss instead?
BD good luck with interview tomorrow.
Wilbur re the bikes. Good luck re insurance claim.

Another 5 am iMessage form DS2 . But he seems fine and has been kayaking on the river Jordan. Says he will call tonight if they're allowed "phone time". Must remind him about the time difference. When a message comes through in the small hours my heart beats so fast, until I see it's all ok. Something about being woken up from sleep.
Have done my fitness challenge of the day and had lovely tearoom brunch. Now for the beach...

I am locked in idiotic exchanges with CDiff...'it looks odd that way'. Er, it looks like that because it's grammatically correct you twit.

Now the 20something PA to the Chief Exec (who really isn't quite as fab as she thinks she is) is saying 'you've changed the copy around'....er, no. Your boss approved one cut in the text. I am trying, like BD, to remain calm and point out that I am not in the wrong. I make enough mistakes as it is. I don't need to be told I'm making others that I'm not.

MI - I am now at the age where I take exception to snippy young girls. I need to cultivate a sort of Maggie Smith air to deal with them.

DD1 waved goodbye to boyfriend for a month. She seems to be OK though and is painting the bureau we bought for her at the "depot de vente" a total bargain at £50.

Normally at this stage I should be rushing around preparing to leave on holiday on Saturday - I am abnormally calm - something is going to go wrong.

She is actively miffed when she can't catch me out. I'm sorry if she wants my job. I've got it already. I worked for this, sweetie, including a good decade in the sector where you currently are. I now assess candidates for high-flier schemes in your sector. I am Narky Old Boot, hear me roar

And I have to hand it to the bonkers designer, she has done a sterling job.

I was truly scarily energised and terrifyingly efficient for a while after ds1 was born (for which read probably more than a little mad)... before dissolving into a soggy mess for a good while. Enjoy her while you can MI!

Oh, it won't last, I'm quite sure . I am slightly dreading our next interactions. I bet you all a fiver she brings the baby to our next meeting. I love babies, but you know what I mean.

I don't know if you've ever seen The Good Wife with the permanently breastfeeding lawyer.

That was me HM...

QQ

I vividly remember DP's youngest brother - then aged 24 - coming round after I'd had DD1. Really nasty birth, left me totally poleaxed and feeling as if I'd been kicked in the stomach by a horse. I was getting to grips with breastfeeding but could only really do it lying down, and in that way of a new mother - especially when half the local hospital has recently been peering up your wazoo - had No Shame. DBil is quite a prudish person and saw rather more of my bosoms than he wanted to, really.

(I also remember after DD2, DD1 - then two - saying chirpily to him that "Mummy feeds the baby outa her boobies". )

I thought the permanently breastfeeding lawyer was my DD.

MI, my DS, then aged 2.8, had a doll which he used to put to his tummy button every time I fed DD!

After the day I have had today it will be unlikely that we will reach 43 years' married. DH has been up his platform trimming the leylandii, the decorator has been burning the paint off the outside woodwork, and DGD2 has been irritable with her chicken pox: I am shattered.

Rose, I am pleased that you have heard from your DS.

BD, good luck with the interview tomorrow.

Ooh yes, good luck, BD!

I had no clue what I was doing with bf and did it extensively for 2 years each time. I think they'd both have continued much longer than that, but I made up a rule which meant they had to give up on their 2nd b-day. Which, looking back, may have been a bit odd.

Rudy, I feel quite faint at the very thought.

Good luck, BD!

Session with BB did not go well. I have been graded as unlikely to be fitted for promotion ever - I can't put myself forward for promotion, you have to be "picked", so it looks as if I am going to be stuck doing admin forever. There seems to be a complete and utter lack of understanding that if I was happier in my job I might be in a different position. I got accelerated promotion a few years ago and was fast tracked - this seems to have come to a grinding halt now.

Yes, very good luck BD!

Oh, MrsS. Time for Plan B, possibly...?

Good luck, BD!

Wilbur - nice to have you back! Any goss about the celebrities who will be gracing your kitchen in the near future? And about the bikes; your DD must be really upset.

Another day of beach-based sloth here, although having just watched the weather forecast I think we need to plan some alternative activities for the next few days, as it is due to tip down. I must say, I'm feeling mighty chilled; this is largely due to the wine our lovely laid-back friends. There is no obligation/expectation to do anything, say anything, or behave in any particular way; we all just rub along together so well, and this is a rare thing when holidaying with friends and family. I am unclenching just a little more each day. And the fact that the DCs have largely entertained themselves makes a huuuge difference.

And much sympathy Mrs S.
Do you have a (cunning) plan. It all sounds intolerable.

Busy day at work then out for lovely supper with one of my oldest friends. Much wine consumed and many laughs had. It was lovely.

Just skimmed - BD, massive amounts of good luck for tomorrow. I think I might have missed what the interview is for but I hope it goes really well for you.

Goodnight everyone.

Sounds like a nice evening, Monty.

Must go to bed......