Season of Mists and Mellow Crepiness...

[QueenQueenie]

Here you go Crepesters...

MI, well done on being accommodating and not strangling CDiff.

Am enjoying watching Jamie's Comfort food -I may buy the book.

DS's curry was very tasty; he also produced some onion bhajis and a rather solid naan bread you could have used as a dangerous weapon. No photos - we were in too much of a hurry to scoff it all.

Poor DS, Strops. Bugs here too, but of a different variety. Our darling boy has a disgusting hacking cough at the moment, and when he's not coughing he's moaning about coughing. DD1 went to bed with a headache, so hoping she's not next.

Just watching the weather forecast - not looking forward to tomorrow morning's ladyjog one little bit. I might blow away.

This particular gnocchi was with potato starch and rice flour - maybe it usually has a touch of wheat flour in.

Bugs are rife in this neck of the woods too. Crossing my fingers I/we don't succumb.

I Ladyjogged (after DP briskly encouraged me). It's more of a breeze than a hurricane round here at the moment.

Only a strong breeze ooop north, too, and glorious sunshine. I hope the DFamilies get over the assorted bugs; I am fine, the DGC, who we have today, have nasty coughs.

Addle, so sorry to hear about your DDad, much strength for the funeral. We will all be thinking about you.

Herbs, we have just rediscovered gnocchi after many years, got some ace stuff in Costco last week (and fresh pesto). I noticed Lidl have gnocchi on special offer this week.

Well done on your patience, MI, and for getting out jogging.

BTM, I have realised that my recipe for chocolate brownie cake actually contains pecans not pistachios but I guess it could be adapted. Let me know if you still want it.

We're off to pets corner in Jesmond Dene and then out for an Italian with the DGC - DGS is already working out what he wants - it's a real pleasure taking him and his DSis out as they will eat anything.

No advice from me about YH in London but it sounds overly ambitious for 16 yo. Mind you, back in my day it would not have seemed out of the ordinary.

I'm not sure about YHs and 16 year olds either. DS is 16 but has only been away with youth groups. ds1 did his first 'away alone' to a ghastly Malia type trip at 17 with 'the boys' I absolutely hated the idea of it but went along with it. I don't know how I'd be about a girl. What about staying in a travelodge type place with a responsible relative or friend locally available to check up or respond if needed? If it's London, can I help?

I am frustrated beyond reason, by being hassled to provide dates for another teaching gig probably overnight again.... First they say March, now they say February. I am being bombarded by voice mails, texts and emails. I have told them it's not just my diary I have to consult, and I'll get back tomorrow. DH is unavailable for comment. Presumably yada yada yada in some meeting or other.

Wishing much strength to Addle for her Ddads funeral

Hatty what about an airb&b place- staying in rooms in someone's house. They are too young for a hotel as hotels won't accommodate under 18s on their ownio.
I've done airb&b many times and it adds a little security to your stay if you are alone.
MI you are a tower of strength in the standing up to cDiff. How the hell with it ever be resolved? I'd have been ground down months ago ( no staying power)

Oops have reported that duh

I think it's the publisher who is tower of strength, tbh: I'm sure I'm not easy to deal with either

In other news, Sarf Lunnon Crepeys, I have just come up with a brilliant option for friend's 50th: two tickets to the pie and mash evening here. She'll love it and I feel it may be a solution to other friends' present dilemmas too.

I think youth hostels are great normally for that age group (we've stayed in them a lot and seen lots of teens being helped out by staff and other guests) - it is just the London aspect that would worry me as I think they do attract a cheap booze crowd, but maybe somewhere a bit less central like here would be OK www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-thameside, ensuite private rooms, bills itself as good for families?

Premier Inns class everyone 16 and over as adults I think but I don't know whether they are any better than youth hostels and are pricey. Would they consider staying somewhere like Brighton and getting the train to London? I have steered ds away from idea of anywhere needing a passport for next summer, when he will be 16, as I am sure he would lose it!

dd went camping with friends at that age, but it was a right old hoo-haar finding a campsite that would take them, apart from YHs no-where else would. We (the parents) all felt a mixed group was much safer than all-girls or all-boys.

MI, that looks fab, love the "tutored" tasting.

Thank you to everyone for their youth hostel research and Rose you are so sweet offering to help. I think I'll try and come over with her in May when we have lots of French bank holidays to look at LSE. I have to try to work Warwick into that equation as well. In Feb she can go and stay with her sister who can organise some economics lectures for her.

The trouble with DD2 is she loves acting deprived in relation to DD1 but DD1 is much more mature so I'm more confident she's not going to run into trouble. I can't hold one back because the other is daft as a brush.

MI - Pie and mash evening sounds just the business .

I am now remembering that when DS finished his GCSEs we drove him, a friend and our caravan up to a campsite near Kielder and left them there for a week. In our defence the family used to go to that site regularly so we knew the owners. The boys took their bikes and had a whale of a time.

I am sitting in the car on our drive with two GCs asleep in the back - thank goodness the wifi reaches here. At the end of our meal people on the adjacent table complimented us on their behaviour. Tbh, give them food and they're never a problem. Scones to be made when we go in so that they can take them home to DPs.

NU, that sounds great [smile}.

Hatty, sounds like a brilliant plan. We went to look at Warwick - it is very easy and quick from London and if you are a cheapskate you can get on a different train from everyone else and save ££££ .

NU, you have made me remember dd falling happily asleep in the car after her "batteries ran out"
Sounds like a lovely day.
I am wrestling with a Spartan Helmet I am crafting for a costume party chez dsis.

New thread title needed pronto!

Bonfire Of the Crepities

Remember Remember the Crêpes of November.

Double double , toil and trouble. Fire burn , and Crepeys bubble.

Too long innit

I have a lovely photo of DS and friends DS aged about 10 asleep in the back of our car with their heads on each others shoulders!

Crepes Brulee?

I love Crepes Brulee but am also happy with Remember Remember as I thought of that as well - great minds Crem or how about Crepies, Treason and Plot?

Aah yes, the sleeping in the car.....In our old cottage I could park the car about 3 feet from the living room window, so many's the time I left one or more offspring dozing in the car, particularly if they were poisonously tired and might not have slept through being transplanted indoors.

Crem - is the costume for you? Photographic evidence will of course be required.

MI - Pie and beer looks brilliant - I wish there were one closer to us. We have the local vineyard, of course. I have previously given people Vinopolis tickets, which has gone down well.

Ladyjog was fine this morning, but I'm looking forward to the clocks going back this weekend so I won't be setting off in the dark (for a few more weeks at least).

I like all these, you clever crepies.

BTM, we took a friend of ds on holiday with us this summer. Both were 15 and fell asleep in the car in broad daylight looking about ten - and then woke up scoffing at the idea they had dropped off together. We played along .

Crepeys, is perfectly normal vinyl sheet a bad idea for a bathroom floor?

Gunpowder, Treason and Crepes?

I am very chuffed with self for pie and beer, it must be said. A win-win combination unless of course you are Mr Inferior who gave up drink some years ago, thus rendering himself utterly impossible to purchase for.

CV the costume is for dh. We are going as Anthony and Cleopatra ( fortunately I already have the makings of an Egyptian costume thanks to Book Day ages ago)
Theme for dsis Halloween party is Ancient Rome.

I like crêpes brûlée very much , in both senses

Lalsy, it could be a very cool, retro look? Deffo better than the pink carpet we had in ours when we moved in and for a few years after

Cremo, you are a better person than me - I hate fancy dress parties. Thankfully I haven't been invited to any since my old mate had his 30th and I went as Nana Mouskouri and my ex went as that weirdo Alex out of Clockwork Orange. It was the beginning of the end