Season of Mists and Mellow Crepiness...

[QueenQueenie]

Here you go Crepesters...

Afternoon all, TGIFriday! have managed to catch up a bit with everyone's very busy lives and find you all on the new thread (lovely title). the morning mists have been very pretty up our way this past week, and then they clear and all I can see is endless leaves in the process of falling and wondering when I am going to be able to rake them up.

MrsS - so sorry about your family bereavements, what a horrible time for you, and so frustrating that work is still awful as well so you don't even have that to bury yourself in. Herbs - v exciting about ds's new school. I can only imagine the stress in the run up (I started hiding from the Head at the end of last term as we were moving ds2 this year and she kept saying how lovely he is and how sorry she was, eeeek) , but it sounds like it's the absolutely rightest decision. He looks very sweet in his uniform - red suits him (not always an easy colour to wear from an S&B pov). Stropps - respect on your huuuge week of all the activities ever. Made me exhausted thinking about it.

I read the posts on the last thread about lost babies ( Crem, Herbs and Auriga and MI's friends) and thought about my bff and her little girl who arrived in the summer. She had a little naming party at the weekend, and it was so lovely and emotional, with many toasts (poss too many for a lunchtime ) and thanks given to her fairy egg donor. So, there is healing there, but I doubt my friend will even fully get over her losses on the way. There were just too many and each one so full of hopes dashed.

Nothing much planned for this weekend, which is bliss. We're coming to the end of our AirBnB guests for the year - will only rent for another week or two as the room is not really fit to be inhabited during the winter. I have to say the £ has been very welcome over the summer, although most of it went on new uniforms for dd and ds2 and call outs to dynarod to sort out our appalling drains. Hopefully we will start building work on the house in January (so make that March) and for once I am not dreading it - I can't bloody wait to get shot of the broken toilets, blocked kitchen sink, dripping pipes, dodgy electrics, rotten window frames and oven door that only opens half way. Obviously I will be complaining about the mess and disruption bitterly in the spring, but for now, Bring It On.

BTM - meant to say so sorry for your dd's woes at school, just horrible. Of course, we crepeys all know that such unkind girls do usually get justice at some point (or am I the only person who finds that self-appointed school Queen Bees often flounder in the real world?) but when you're going through it at 15/16, none of that is a comfort. Boo to horrid, belittling girls anyway, may some dreadful humiliations come their way.

Well, DD came in quite upbeat. She was so angry at lunchtime that it pushed her to tears (luckily not in sight of the bullies) It seems that this girl is rude to everyone and is clearly jealous of DDs BFF (and perhaps DD) so it isn't quite as bad as I had thought, ie the other bullies banding together with her. She wants to punch her in the face (and so do I) or confront her, so I guess we need to persuade her that that will not be the best way to go!

And yes, Wilbur, that is what we are hoping for! This girl is actually 16 already whereas DD is only 15 and 2 months but clearly way more mature!

Blimey, BTM, these girls are waaaaay out of line. I would hope the school would be watching them like hawks and making their lives hell if they put a foot wrong. I agree with Wilbur, they will struggle later on. Perhaps dd could send them all anonymous gift-wrapped copies of Mean Girls? I'm glad she is angry.

Crepesters, are you all having lie-ins? I am supposed to be sorting out for our trip oop North later...

Are you coming up as far as me, BTM? How is DD this morning? I have been out shopping already; the table is laid and I am waiting for DS and family to arrive for breakfast - they will be here after DGD1's swimming lesson. DH has gone to badminton. Have a good journey.

No, I am grumpily helping at PTA car stall at school open morning. Having had row with DP about (a) supermarket delivery he didn't tell me was coming so I couldn't adjust (b) boring weekend food (see (a) above (c) my book project and how he thinks it's like something from a BNP member.

No, nagging D's about homework which is a book review, but he needs to finish the book first which is not going to happen if he keeps playing Pokemon.....

Dp has loads of work so I can see a fun weekend ahead...

Oh great now I've apparently let the car battery go flat so DP can't take DD2 to dance...

I am Home Alone. Dh has taken boys to the velodrome and dd to music/drama/dance. Then he has to get ds2 to choir and piano, and then, only then, may he come home. It has taken me 13 years to get him to be Saturday morning dad and now I don't know what to do with myself it's great. I am pottering with laundry and looking up what to do with some plants that have been brilliant this summer, but will need to come inside for winter as they are a bit tropical. I may have been reading the care suggestion from a California-based gardening site when I bought them .

Although I have to do my taxes this weekend, so it's not all good.

Oh shit, yes, the dreaded tax return. My tax bill should be minimal this year, thank goodness (I am currently paying off around £500 a month via PAYE for the last tax year).

Going to Mancs, NU! It is less than 2 hours on the train, but because our line to LB has engineering works, it will take an hour to get to the train...

DD is at work (she coaches gym!) and has to be picked up early before we make the dash... She was good last night

Rose, I am going to make your Golden Syrup Beef for tomorrow, as I have found a large lump of beef in the freezer that needs using up. I will report back. (Hattie - try using paleron for this recipe.)

DH is putting a new string on DD1's cello using a youtube video as instruction. I foresee disaster.

The hot flashes are coming thick and fast, so I bit the bullet and picked up some 'menopause' vitamin tablets in Tesco.

Along with the ingredients for Huge Furry Fishface's kickass chilli, which DP is going to make for dinner, and we'll eat with tacos, guac, and a very dear chum.

Shortly off to party #1 of the weekend (handily containing children from both his old and new school). Two parties follow tomorrow. And a possible fourth, into which I am being strongarmed by self-appointed Queen Bee of our NCT group.

Now I've washed and dried my hair myself, it looks a bit shit. How do hairdressers manage to get hair so lovely looking?

I would love to be good with a blowdryer, but am not. My silly hair is pretty short at the moment, and although the hairdresser got it quite nicely full of body and a little bit Jean Seberg (tho not that short), I seem only to be able to recreate Lady Di's flick, which is the one bit of the 80s they are not reviving.

Wilbur I can't recreate the hairdressers effect either. I guess that's why we pay them!

I am listening to Richard Hawley to drown out DS and DHs footy pratling. DD is working I feel seriously lacking as it is Poetry and it is not my forte. However DS helpfully explained about Iambic Pentameters. This is something of a shock as he is 2 yrs below her and not renowned for his English skills at schooll!

I have a Babyliss Big Hair and it helps a bit to recreate the hairdresser's blow dry, and looks a bit more "meant" and swishy.

Agree with MrsS about BBH. Actually it gives a better finish than the hairdressers at times. But not sure about it with shorter hair, though.
Oh ps Herbs, whispers That chilli won't do much for the hot flushes.....
MrsS that Tsimmes dish....any good braising beef will do I think. Everyone seemed to like it, but I would be inclined to take the recipe at its word when it suggests barely covering with liquid. It didn't thicken quite as much as I'd have liked, despite adding the cornflour later on. I also did add extra syrup, but that is very much personal taste.
No, no lie in tilly Are you in Manchester yet? Was teaching until 1.30. DH took DD on her first trip to Camden Lock. I foresee a lot of nagging to go back on a regular basis. Now it's the joy of homework ( on schedule, thank heavens). DH and I are off to Hampstead Theatre later to see a play and in the new climate of...what? ..."Taking care of one's exhausted wife"' a meal before.

Well DS and family came at 10.10 for a late breakfast and left at 3.15 after a late lunch! Fortunately I over bought at Waitrose this morning. Bat expert has inspected DS's soon to be bought house and there are little furry flying things living in the loft. They now need to discover whether the bats just roost or whether they hibernate.

About hair, I have mine cut every six weeks. It always look nice then, it's too short for four weeks, just right for one week and too long for the last week.

MI, hope DP got the car going and the PTA thingy has gone well.

Thanks for the tip Mrs S - will seek paleron.

Herbs - I can never get my hair as good as in the salon. If I were rich I'd go for a blow dry every week.

Hatty, do they not have a "Tchip" near you for a weekly blow dry?

We have the equivalent of tchip here who do the slightly addictive £8 blow dry. There's one too close to where I live , and another one near work.
I can't do a proper job chez moi as I can't get round the back. Obvs

I am completely drained due to staff illness meaning I have done 3 people's jobs today. I am now prone on the sofa awaiting Thai food to be delivered ,and Strictly on the television . This is the ultimate in Saturday night activity ATM.
Wilbur, nice to see you. Hope you can make it on the 11th.

DP and I are still not madly speaking. He is aggrievedly cooking a less boring supper. This may go on for some time.

The cooking or the not speaking MI?