Forever Autumn Forever Crepey

[cremolafoam]

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old,
and darker days are drawing near,
the winter winds will be much colder,
now you're not here.
I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky
and one by one they disappear
I wish that I was flying with them,
now you're not here

Yay, Rudy!

I feel I should point out my sister is a much nicer person - she is genuinely lovely, and generous, and incredibly intelligent and kind - than me. And has dropped everything to go and be with my parents before. And has her own struggles with (mental) health. She really is a star and I love her to bits.

She was probably just having an off-day. And of course this is hitting her as much as it is hitting me. And no doubt she sees this - with some justification - as my way of weasling out of heavy-duty stuff later.

I am now going to wrestle with the Indian visa service again. I may be some time.

More intelligent than you, MI? Although I have no experience of being a sibling or having any serious illnesses in the close family so far, I can imagine it must be a highly stressful time so allow yourself some leeway.

BD, glad you can have a bath, and Rudy that your DH's return is imminent.
NU, your trip sounds great.

I have bought my Thank You cards. I now have to write them!

Window film to 'frost' the bathroom window.....

It is already littered with towels and copies of Private Eye (sigh....)

MI do what you can!

Here I have unblocked the non sucking Hoover - when will dp get the message that sucking up everything in your path including pens will break the Hoover?!?

Rudy yes! Difficult to explain but suffice to say a teen lad can look up out of his bedroom window straight into our bathroom (and the shower!). Will only frost the bottom pane as top pane is too high...

LOL BD, if the teen lad is anything like my DS, he would be wearing a blindfold to avoid seeing crepey bathroom antics

addle lalsy perhaps we lose confidence because domestic work is so undervalued. Who knows. Losing confidence is a slippery slope, I find. Or maybe it's all part of the 'disappearing middle aged woman' thing.

MI I am thinking of you today and hope that the hospital visit etc is manageable. I hate my mother driving me these days but she insists sometimes. My nerves can't take it. Taxi or own car all the way. There's nothing like elderly parental angst to test sibling relationships, is there. I have a sis and bro who live abroad, visit, throw their weight around and then leave. And another sis who is here and has a " very demanding job" . None of us falls out but tensions simmer under the surface.

NU I have only just got back from across the pond as you know but I'm champing at the bit when I read what you're up to! Looking forward to hearing about Lake Tahoe.

Wanting photos of BDs new bathroom!

Inlaws have just left. Did the tea time spread and made scones. Shouted at everyone beforehand. Have had a headache all day. Ach...families!!! DS2 is off to some kind of masked ball party in a suit and a gold mask. DH is rubbing his hands together saying he's recorded a nice film for us to watch this evening. Oh the excitement. Still, there's left over scones and carrot cake...plus the Doritos still in the cupboard that I forgot to put out at tea.
#comforteating#

Tilly creepy bathroom antics? Would you care to elaborate?

Rose, it's Tuesday. And in fact may not be the right meeting at all . Have pottered about with DD1, who even allowed me to go to charity shops and get a rather fab turquoise maxi, which will be fab if India trip (one of many things currently up in the air) goes ahead.

I have a piece in Psychologies mag which lifts chunks of my Great Unpublished Book btw. Am telling you lot as DP looked a bit bored unimpressed.

Oh MI when's it in the Mag? I'll buy a copy!!

For Rosebag...

Lush, BD

Soz MI wrong day…losing my mind, it seems . Will read mag article when it comes out!!

It may not surprise you to know that I have been to the Mulberry Bush (it is very nice), and I think Molly has as well.

I am back from Deepest Baaarkshoire feeling very nauseous, largely due to spending the past three days cooped up with my mother, who has been chain smoking. I came home and chucked all of my clothes in the wash and jumped in the shower, but still feeling sick.

My Mum's younger brother has died. Her elder brother has gone into a hospice, and thinks he is going on holiday to the South Coast. His mind has gone completely and he is doubly incontinent. When I saw him in February, at my other uncle's funeral, he looked great, and as if he would live forever. I will be glad to see the end of this year.

Wooowww, BD.

MrsS, so sorry to hear that

MrsS there are no words. So sorry you are having to go through all this. Hope you feel less nauseous soon.

MrsS , what a year indeed.

I'm slumped on the sofa enjoying a well-deserved beer. It's done! Hoorah! The Fun Day went really well despite all my worrying; the weather stayed fine, and the Inflatable Human Table Football that I hired proved to be most entertaining (no, it's not for "inflatable humans" - teams have to hang onto bars going across an inflatable pitch and can only move left and right). Our MD coped manfully with his Ice Bucket Challenge, and I think we raised a good sum of cash for the cancer charities, although not as much as last year. I came home with a bag of leftover sausages, a huge tray of cakes (much depleted already ) and a nice bunch of flowers for my efforts - aah!

DH managed to swerve the whole day, as FIL was in town, so he's been nominated for party pick-up this evening. I'm done for the day....zzz....

So sorry to hear about your two uncles, MrsS. And I had no idea that we first met at the Mulberry Bush, but that will help me find it, so thanks.

MI, re whether it's the right appointment - I once lost it completely at my sister's house because I had travelled miles to an appointment for my dad which was of no importance whatsoever. The cock-ups that occurred just added to the godawful messiness of the whole thing. Be ready for the cock-ups, is my advice.

CV, that Human Table Football sounds intriguing - any chance of a link once you've recovered? It must be very novel - I've never heard of it before. BD, that bathroom is lovely. Like Rudy, I would prefer to have our windows naked, with just a blind to use when absolutely necessary, eg tree surgeons operating in the vicinity. Then you can watch clouds while you bathe. Or show off your bathroom antics to tree surgeons, now there's a thought.

Rosebag, it is very migrainey (high pressure) weather here, don't know if that is contributing to your headache.

I'm going to buy Psychologies tomorrow.

MrsS

Mag piece out now.

I appear to have acquired/blagged a large number of not very highbrow books and may spend most of tomorrow reading them.

MrsS :(

Mrs S I'm very sorry for the passing I of your uncle.

Thank you all. That's three uncles and one cousin I have lost this year, and it looks as if there will be at least one more shuffling off before the end of the year.

[ Mrs S - not a good year.

Am now worried about the Scottish thing in the event of a yes vote ,- can't quite believe it - am wondering what my passport would say as I was born in Edinburgh. I sincerely want to stay just British.

Today I am planning a day lying around reading the paper.

Yes, the Scottish thing is taking a real turn towards independence. Not sure at all how that would work, and if they go, there's not really any turning back if it doesn't work out for them

Rudy, what are you getting? I have been looking, but not really in the mood for woollies yet!

Glad you feel better Rudy. Sounds like you'll need your strength for the next 3 days.

We are going to the zoo today , rather madly, as it was something dd wanted to do over the summer , and we failed to achieve this, despite dds conflicted feelings about animals in cages.

Yes, the Scottish referendum may have consequences for us too , if they change anything about uni fees.
Salmond and gang are very circumspect on the subject. Dd is delighted that she'll be in ggow for the actual thing, what with her political leanings and interest.
Hatty I'm sure there will be a choice of nationality - non?
We can certainly do that here. Or choose to be dual nationality which is handy for me.

Happy sunny Sunday folks. Did anyone watch the Carole King doc last night? My, she's wonderful.