Crepeys are an August bunch

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Here ya go...

Sadly NU, I would be on my hands and knees as my legs are still really stiff and sore, much to the DCs disdain. And we are kayaking tomorrow - that'll be my arms gone too!

BTM, my sympathies; it must be bad for them still to be hurting several days later. My experience of kayaking is on the Dordogne and other rivers in France (and I have been tipped out) and the St Croix in Minnesota - I envy you again today. Have a great time.

We're off to Yorkshire for family reunion part 2 - I don't think the journey will be particularly good bearing in mind the remains of the hurricane which are supposed to be around today.

It is hurling it down here!
Kayaking - last time I did that was in France many moans ago. We reached a (small) rapid and had no idea how to approach it so let super confident french couple with tres experience go first - they capsized - I'm afraid we smirked :)

Moans? (Actually there was rather a lot as I recall) moons!!

Hello Crepesters! Arrived last night after mammoth 7.5h journey. It took over an hour to get past Stonehenge then as soon as we hit the 'welcome to Devon' sign the heavens opened and did not stop. My wipers at full pelt could not keep up so I went down to 10mph as I couldn't see a thing. Scary. Happily a layby appeared and we stopped there til it went back yo normal heavy rain. On arrival we went straight to pub for late lunch and buckets of rose wine, then I fell asleep at about 8 ish. The promised hurricane is in full swing but there is blue sky on horizon.

Right, another cup of tea and then off to read thread.

lalsy I've done well with M&S swimsuits this year. No wires, which is amazing as I normally have to be trussed up in bravissimo. I bought online.
tilly what an amazing trip you're having. Maybe get a massage to sort out the aching limbs?
MI don't stress about the music. There's more to it than the individual sections on the grades. dS2 only ever scrapes though his piano grades but he plays very well and his sight reading has improved no end recently. Probably because he's had the opportunity to play with ensembles and he doesn't want to let the band down! He hates scales and arpeggios.
monty the journey from hell. You poor things. Hopefully you can now relax a bit and await the return of the sun. It will, it will.

Ok...my baby is airborne. I was so worried about the 3 hour coach ride from where they were, on the Lebanese border to the airport. Can't wait to have him home.

Rose - glad he's on his way back...

I think the thing with music the scales and arpeggios are important, it's like nosing the basics of maths or literacy - they underpin the whole thing. My ds sounds like yours, he plays very well but doesn't practise the boring stuff enough. And this will count the higher up the grades he goes.

Knowing...

Rose, that's great news.

I've done well with M and S swimsuits in the past too, but cannot be doing with their new website and terrible stock control.....I got a great Zoggs one from Bravissimo earlier this year but think it will be hard to get in and out of on the beach (it has a challenging strap arrangement). Have also bought rather mummyish kagoul www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_054010301845_-1 (I usually go for plain black from decathlon) in the hope dd wouldn't borrow it but she says she likes it.

Agree BD. I did notice quite a marked difference between DSs technical skills between grades four and five, though. I also think doing the GCSE music has been great. And he's decided to do the A level as well. He loves the teachers in the music dept and wants to please them...better motivation that me nagging him to practise!!

Nice kagoul lalsy ...I don't think it's mummyish...is there such thing as a stylish kagoul? On the way back from Sussex yesterday, we always stop at a big garden centre in chessington...nice loos and good cafe. dd and I spied regatta kagouls at half price! And bought one each. Had to size up TWO sizes though..both of us!

Ooooh I like a kagoul chat....I think Regatta ones are small too. I wanted mine to put dd off but her eyes lit up when she saw it. Have just noticed it didn't actually claim to be waterproof....what was I thinking?

Isn't a non-waterproof kagol a contradiction in terms?

Ooh, cagoules. I'm contemplating a trip to Westfield this morn for various items, including the elusive waterproof yet stylish cagoule.

I've seen fashions ones claiming to be waterproof, and practical ones claiming to be attractive, but nothing that's quite right...

In theory no. In practice, yes.

I agree with BD about the basics - I know scales are terribly boring (exBF who is now a professional musician says they are the most boring thing in his life - poor love has to do an hour of the damn things every day) but you have to have them. And DD2 loves playing, and playing with ensembles (this is the thing I really wanted her to get out of music, to be fair, not the damn exams) and it has done so much for her...but she just doesn't do the 10 minutes that she should. I know, wearily, whereof I speak...

I have crawled out of bed but exhaustion has hit me like a truck and I think I'm going to go back. THought I had to do some work but I see that the deadlines aren't as bad as I thought and Herbs is doing the heavy lifting anyway.

Look at that rain!!!!!!

Am not sure what shop called it and some are showerproof. It is very thin and light which is what i wanted. It kept off worst of rain just now so think i will spray it and hope for the best. Fascinating post: my new method for sorting laundry coming up.

Rose I see your DS is back

Are cagoules meant to be fashionable now? I just like them big and waterproof!

Come on lalsy, all tips gratefully received! DH always takes on doing handwashing of smalls on hol. Without being asked

DP does all our washing. I find to my outrage that this week I shall have to do it myself.

I am so shattered! Back reading in bed. I'm working on the basis if I do nothing today I'll be able to function tomorrow.

Nah, I'll save that one till things really need hotting up round here.

I have a cagoule. It was from a sensible outdoor shop, and is called a mac in a sac. Functional but not horrid, breathable but waterproof, and has - as its name suggests - a sack. The only one they had in a small (yay!) was in fuscia pink, which is growing on me.

We do our own washing, with DS's getting done to fill up a load. Only do three or four loads a week - no idea why people drone on about the endless mounds of washing. Even if we had two kids, it would only increase the laundry by a load a week.

Why so tired Mi - what have you been up to?!

Herbs, fuschia pink sounds perfect.

Am having an early Sunday morning chill-out coffee on my own in the aforementioned garden cafe, with 30's swing in the background And wifi!

I think I just allowed myself to be exhausted today - and suddenly it all clobbered me!

House ready for the builders tomorrow......
Ds happy with his mobile phone....

Looking forward to Friday!

Nothing wrong with a duvet day MI!!!

Well the eagle has landed and is home safe and sound. We drove through rain of biblical proportions on the M1 to Luton and back, and under a black cloud formation which I can only describe as Independence Day. I have been a tyrant about seeing that the unpacking was done pronto and the second wash of noxious kit is on. We have been presented with gifts, including a beautiful set of stained glass candle holders and tray from the artists colony in Safed. Thank heavens I can now move on with my life and maybe I'll start sleeping again. Job done.

Good luck with the building work BD

Said garment

Beginning a crazy week of visiting. Spending tomorrow night at my sister's, and the following night at Tunbridge Wells friend's. Then two nights at home, then with friends for a night in Bristol, then seven nights in Tenby. Then with some different friends in Bristol on the way home. Considering I never sleep very well in strange beds, I'm going to be cream crackered.

Glad DS is home, Rosebag. I'm not planning on letting mine out of my sight ever.