Crepeys are an August bunch

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Here ya go...

That's almost stylish, Herbs. Mine's also fuschia pink, but one of those crinkly monstrosities from Mountain Warehouse. But I rarely spend much time in the rain, to be honest.

The rain today put the kibosh on poor DM's lunchtime garden party. Owing to a combination of illness and weather-related travel difficulties (DB didn't even make it out of Essex, but turned round and went home after an hour stationary on the A12) we were the only family out of four invited that actually made it for lunch. We did our best to tackle the monster buffet by ourselves, and needless to say, stayed safely indoors. No lunchtime for me, as rather too much was consumed last night (heaven knows why, but DDad and I found ourselves drinking Drambuie at 1am).

Your wedding sounds idyllic, Auriga. And brilliant to hear that your DS is back safe and sound, Rose. Enjoy your holidays, all.

Glad to hear that DS arrived home safely, Rose; I would imagine that his dirty washing reached biblical proportions - which is what the rain was like on our journey to Yorkshire and back. Lovely day with the cousins and DSis.

DD now has a piano, kindly left in the new house by previous owners: DGS1 (3.6) grandly describes the room it is in as the piano room. His other GM plays so is hoping to foster an interest in music - judging by the comments from the back seat of the car where he frequently announces that he has just made a new song, it won't be hard.

BD, good luck with the builders.

Great about ds, Rose, must be lovely.

Hello everyone

Love the vag, Herbs. You sound as though you have a busy week ahead. I hope it is not going yo take it out of you too much. You driving between all these places?

Rose, I am so thrilled DS is home safe and sound. Did he enjoy his trip? Is it an annual thing or does he go more often? I am so sorry I can't remember how old he is. Hope you have seen your dear friend since you have been home and that you are able to support her as she grieves.

MI, well done on music results. Fantastic. I end up doing the children's piano practice with them a lot of the time Ava the scales are soooo painful.

NU, your grandson sounds delightful. Now there is a piano he can enter the wonderful world of scales and practice on a few years. Your dc are so lucky to have you close by and you have a great relationship with them all. Am v envious. Don't envy you the driving in the rain though. Hope tomorrow stays dry for you.

Cv, bad luck on the hangover but well done on making inroads on the buffet.

MI, I am glad that you have had a gentle day and hope you are now feeling good. Will you be ladyjogging this week or does the imminent arrival of the you know what mean that you dare not leave the house? Is it Wednesday that you leave? Am keeping everything crossed for a delivery tomorrow morning first thing so you can relax a bit and get on with whatever you need to do without this hanging over you.

Long walk today. Wine. Lunch. Another walk. Ice cream. Beach very windy but am hopeful that we might get to have a proper beach day tomorrow. Will trial my new tankini. Hope my bosoms don't make a bid for freedom....

Herbs, gosh I am so sorry. I meant cag rather than anything more inappropriate. Bloody phone. Sorry.

Monty ROFL!

Well I survived the kayaking! DD and DS wanted to be together so DS could do all the paddling as DD is a lazy mare, so I had to go with DH who insisted that I paddle too and whacked me in the face with his. Accidentally. It was on the lovely (and very warm) lake Nicaragua where there are loads of tiny islands formed by volcanic eruptions, now owned by rich people who have built houses on them

again, BTM! Still my day will come.

I have retired to bed, girding my loins ready to go back on the wretched diet tomorrow. I have eaten far too much at the family reunion - no will power, me.

I hope your day will come tomorrow, MI, and a nice little parcel will arrive .... , hopefully tied with a bow. DH still hasn't checked to see if the ESTAs are valid for this holiday - watch this space.

Vag! Arf.

Yes - I am driving, with DS in the back moaning. I foresee a lot of magazine purchasing - Horrible Histories seems a current favourite.

Oh and CV - I don't tend to spend any time in the rain, but my new vag-oule is for those moments when out and about and the rain arrives, and one doesn't necessarily want to retire immediately to the cafe.

Will the vagoule be worn with the crepey skirt, I wonder?

Good mojitos here

A vag in a bag sounds handy. Potentially more useful than a mac in a sac.

I hope that postman's on his way to you, MI.

BTM, I'm very much enjoying Nicaragua by proxy here, especially with the dramatically torrential rain here in the UK, brought to us courtesy of Hurricane Bertha.

Ah, but Molly, we also have torrential rain and scary electric thunderstorms! Only difference is 30+ degrees and it goes literally from sunny one minute to huge thunderclaps the next. And its all over in half an hour!

It seems to be a fiesta today with bull-running down the streets and even more loud music and partying than usual!

Yes but BTM it's not quite the same is it

Here the great bathroom overhaul commences - photo later (I am actually glad I'm going to work....)

I am now on Kik so get me - down with the kids (literally)

Another day, another email to the MP's office, I think.

Still a bit knackered but less absolutely wiped.

MI fingers crossed..... this is just nuts now....

Thanks, all for comments about DS2s return to these shores. He is back on the piano, playing 'I know him so well' from Chess(?)…says he hasn't played for a month and has withdrawal…Taking him to see grandparents today and then to buy 2 new suitcases for trip to Canada. Things feel weirdly normal.
Monty he's 16, and went on this trip after GCSE's, having been on a Year 9 trip 2 years ago, which is just 2 weeks (that DD went on in June). He has had the experience of a life time, and I'm glad we could let him go. However many times we take the children away, a family holiday can't replicate the experience of a youth group tour, once they're older. He's made so many new friends and learnt a lot of life skills. I did this at 14 but for 6 (yes, six vi) months…. Herbs just you wait til the little man is a teen and starts nagging to go on school journeys….
Close friend is holding up…I quickly put together the mac and cheese etc and went to her on Saturday. DH went to the memorial service last night and I will go again later.
Right, onwards. Oh lord…DS is now playing BoRap….well, it sounds a lot better than scales and arpeggios, I grant you. "Galileo Galileo, Galileo…Figaro…Oh mamamia, mamamia, let me go…."
Have a great day crepeys.

DP has sent me a pic of the t'ai chi kids all clustered round a pine table. Snigger.

MI :)

Bet their little mouths are open, singing Kum Ba Ya, MI.

They look v sweet, in manner of group of goodnatured kids everywhere. Probably because they have all clearly just been fed.

I have heard nothing back about the you-know-what today.

Nudie neighbour came into his garden wearing a suit.

What a disappointment, MI, (the name that may not be spoken, not the suit).

DH has just received a letter asking him to go for an assessment for surgery, but of course it's on the day we leave San Francisco, so he has rescheduled it for the day after we get back from our holidays.

It's very windy here and my poor plants are being torn to shreds. We're off to look after the GC while Dd and SoniL go to Sharrow Bay in the Lake District for afternoon tea - lucky them. It's been booked for months.

Bathroom underway BD!

Rose, you are right about a youth trip being a rite of passage - I bet you will see some changes in him. All good, of course!

We are heading off to Costa Rica later - long rather convoluted journey due to borders and red tape...

You are right, Rose, we have found anything like that gives them a very different experience and they can't argue the toss over every little thing, they have to get on with it .

BTM, your holiday sounds fab! Please report back on the coffee and cocktail situation on Costa Rica.

BD, good luck with the bathroom.

I am agog at how coolly BTM says 'ooh, just heading off' .

I am at wits' end about That Object.