Season of Mists and Mellow Crepiness...

[QueenQueenie]

Here you go Crepesters...

Herbs - we have similar issues with ds2's new school, in terms of new logistics, new standards (he's been given an ink pen to use, which is a hilarious joke as he is a slapdash left-handed speed merchant - the state of his books already makes me want to weep), new friends, and a Council that has decided to dig up the road between us and school, turning a 10 min bus trip into a 35 minute one . But I know he will get it, and the routine will come, eventually (and I will spend less time on Streatham High Rd). I don't know about your ds, but I know ds2 is prone to exaggerating woes when he is stressed or in a new situation - so we have had complaints that EVERYONE in the opposing football team was hitting him during the fixture, that NO ONE else has to put dots over the i's in their English homework, that it's SO UNFAIR that I am making him read to me every night (due to him pretending to have finished a book when he clearly has not). The being sent to the wrong after school club is pants, but hopefully now everyone knows where he should be going, those kind of cock-ups will get fewer and far between.

And by the way, I don't think I have expressed proper excitement about your course - it's really brilliant and is going to be so wonderful in the long term.

In culinary news, tonight I used up a Homepride pasta bake sauce that was left behind by one of this summer's film crews. OMG -the salt! It was like eating a heart attack.

Lalsy - ds's cooking was actually part of a "13 Tasks" thing he is doing over the course of this year, a sort of secular barmitzvah. I read about someone else doing it with their ds and thought it sounded good and ds1 liked the idea. It's things like walking part of the Thames Path, doing some voluntary work, teaching yourself 3 cords on the guitar (which I believe is all you need to become a rock star - although we don't currently have a guitar), that kind of thing. His Jewish and Catholic godmothers are going to take him to a service at their respective places of worship, and I am going to teach him how to use a sewing machine.

BD, I'll trade your 11 year old for my little tantrum thrower.

I made a most excellent soup tonight - roast cauli and roast garlic pureed into stock in which I had already cooked frozen peas - with minimal effort. It had a (most welcome) echo of pea and ham soup yet was totally vegan. Recommend.

Oh and if anyone feels a huffy 13 year old would enhance your life, do just ask. Hell, you can have a BOGOF.

Wilbur, that sounds great. I might suggest ds writes himself a suitable list for next summer holiday.

ds has, rather surprisingly for someone in yr 11, declared he is missing doing 'projects' and is preparing an illustrated zombie survival guide for us in case he isn't around come the apocalypse (dd now being too far away to kill them with bits of mud, which is apparently the sort of useful thing she has learned in cadets - we were rather counting on her.). If it ever gets finished, I'll eat my hat but am chuckling at the idea.

Hi crepeys !
Molly. So sorry to hear of the stressful drop off at uni. What a trial. But I'm glad ds was placid enough . The whole shenanigans is Anxiety Central. I was on the verge of years throughout, but we were blessed with chirpy helpers, who suffered enormous but stoic regret after lifting dds trunk.

Dd is having a tough time all of a sudden . Tea over the laptop combined with the ruddy lurgy( she is barking like a seal) I do believe it is indeed a virus : dh has had it for last two weeks. Poor dd, , so far away, trying to dry out the keyboard, coughing and snotty and tearful. I have been in a decline all day thinking about her. Dh has been terrific talking her thru the drying process, and as it was a random Scottish bank holiday today , I phoned 11 ( eleven , onze, XI) chemist til I found one that was open in Glasgow , PayPaled her £20 to buy remedies and arranged for her to see the uni doctor tomorrow. Poor orphan child.......

Herbs, you know what I'm going to say: it will get better, and none of these things could really have been planned for. It's crap ds has had those experiences already. Just keep a note of things and if they need a dressing you'll have details. You Can Do This.

Wilbur, I love your plan for ds. Brilliant!

MI wretched illness be gone! And to all other poor sufferers . How the actual I have avoided it I don't know. I've been surrounded by customers with it for weeks. I am an obsessive hand washer tho, and have had a flu jab.
Perhaps it's yet to come.

Herbs, I agree with the others.

Also, the discipline seems tighter than the old school? This may mean that he will have to adjust a bit, but it also means that hopefully less time is wasted and less chance of children doing the wrong thing (ie bullying) Having experienced a Primary school with fairly tight discipline and a Secondary with rather lax discipline, I know which I now prefer.

Plus half an hour walk is good exercise for you both

In S&B news, I have spilt a load (yes, a very large amount over a big expanse) of nail varnish on the bedroom carpet. In a very Jackson Pollackesque manner. It was, of course, the brightest coral nail varnish on a grey/purple carpet. However, it did distract DD from going into one about her homework and both she and DS helped me to try to get rid of it (rather unsuccessfully) whilst commiserating with me about how mad DH would be. And it may mean that DH will sleep in the loft tonight due to the asphyxiating stench of nail polish remover.

I have booked accommodation for the meetup. I will be on the famous bus route , but may have to taxi as I'm on a stick- oh yes a deeply crepey development.

Great Cremo - re the accommodation. Not the stick. Obviously.

Cremo, poor old dd . And poor you. My dd had a bit of a 'mare last weekend, nothing big in scheme of things, but I do feel for you, it is very hard when they are so far away. She is much better now though, and is sending me texts saying things like "I've just sent a stiff email to my bank" which she wouldn't have dreamed of doing a few weeks back even.

Herbs, I agree with BTM - if they are into the little things, they may be more onto the big things too. And he is 5 - he won't be giving you the full picture (my dc at five seemed to restrict their school accounts to the peculiarities of other dc bodily functions - I then had to watch these lovely little children grow up.....). Does he seem happy enough to go there?

BTM are you supposed to let it harden and then use a razor or do you apply acetone and soak up with muslin cloth? Do Kim and aggie have a website ? < clueless> although I do know about biro...

Crem, whatever you do, do not get a fancy walking stick! I have a simple black one from Aldi for when I need one - I am sure only the really elderly have the colourful ones. Sorry to hear that you are not walking well, though; my commiserations.

Just about to take myself off to bed - and hoping that an early night will mean that I can sleep off some more of this lurgy (not flu in my case).

I have been smiling to myself reading about DCs going off to uni - I cried both times when I left my two behind. DH was in the US when DD went to Lancaster so DS came with me for company. I can remember stopping in those lovely services at Tebay and weeping at leaving my baby behind.

NU that's the exact spot I lost it! Tebay overlooking the rolling Lake District sobbing into my Americano
They must be used to it. Although dh went a bit crazy buying artisan cheese.
I have a folding nhs stick. No fear am I going for something floral. < wibbles>

at artisan cheese. That's the kind of thing I do. Mad buying of random very extravagant stuff.

Last year (not that it worked...) I gave ds this info, which had been linked to on MN:

www.york.ac.uk/students/support/health/problems/adjusting/

I think it's rather good. Mind you, ds said he read it and was perplexed that he was supposed to go all the way to York for support. (He was joking.) In the end however he didn't ask for bloody help at all at the other uni. Nonetheless, I give you the link in case your dc can make use of it.

I should add that on drop-off day this year, ds was fairly oblivious to parental stress because I got his gf to come with us. This meant he was enjoying a farewell snogfest alone with her while we were witnessing the man who freaked.

at goodbyes and crying into coffees.

Cremo, if I had done the hardening and razor, the carpet by my bed would be threadbare! It is now pinky and stinky and DH is just going up...

Everything crossed for you, BTM...did you get him drunk first?

Sympathies to the sickly. Agree, exercise is unwise. I have to say (touch wood) Chateau Cointreau is currently lurgy free, so I've no excuse not to ladyjog tomorrow morning. I even bought myself some fetching new Lycra strides at Costco for that very purpose.

Herbs, things will settle down, I promise. You have an overload of "new and different" to deal with at the moment, so try not to stress. And unless you have spoken to the teacher about DS's "misdemeanours" I would take with a small pinch of salt what he is reporting about unjustifiable and unreasonable discipline. For now, at least.

Wilbur - DS is doing a similar challenge - known as D of E. He is going to be coaching littlies at football, and next Monday starts a cookery course. Hoorah. I shan't hold my breath that I'll be getting a three course meal out of him anytime soon, though.

Still haven't made any bathroom decisions. Bamboozled by choice.

And BTM, regarding the nail varnish, two words: Insurance Claim.

Got Told Off.
No chance of him wanting to do an insurance claim - will want to make me suffer

Molly, that link is really good - must bookmark it for DD, if/when she goes. I have to say I don't ever remember feeling homesick, but she used to get a bit homesick on school journey!

This was, I believe, the original 13 tasks

I love the idea too for ds...although getting him to do his homework properly would be a start....

Cremo sorry to hear about the dramas (and the stick)

Herbs - one day at a time, and breath.

MI - I will pass on your BOGOF offer, but cold throw in an 11 year old boy if anyone feels three is a good number :)

Herbs, it will be fine. Really it will. I am another fan of fairly tight discipline in primary school. Once he gets into the ways of it all, he will be fine.

Cremo, sorry about DD's virus, and hope things pick up healthwise for her.

I had another sleepless night, head full of crap going round in circles that won't go away, and not helped by the kitten deciding to vomit under our bed at 3.00 a.m. I think part of my sleeplessness is linked to school related admin and DH saying "Have we sent in the forms and cheque for DD2's school trip/paid for DD1's school photos/done x, y and z?" I also want to cash in a small amount of my savings to take DD1 to New York for a few days, and he keeps putting off fishing out the paperwork (he has a very convoluted filing system and the only things I can find are the passports), largely, I think, because he doesn't agree with spending savings. If I don't book it soon, we won't be able to go.

MrsS, I was brushing my teeth this morning, having realised I am still too wiped to Ladyjog, and was alerted to the sound of the cat peeing on the bathmat. Shamelessly squatting. I know she is old and ill, but this was deliberate.

I have just filled in another Indian visa application, having been rejected for the Wrong Sort of Photos, disclaimer letter (as a journalist I have to do one)not on headed paper and one or two other things. My mum informs me she has a meeting with the specialist next Tuesday and I have to sort out tickets to go to that as well which will involve staying with her and drive me insane.

what's the point of savings if you don't use them?

And god yes, I get the have 'we'...... (i.e. have you)

Thanks Mrs S.
Things are better this morning. The laptop has revived itself and the pharmacist was sympathetic and even looked down dds throat with a lolly stick to confirm it is an infection( and a nasty one at that)

Bloody cats :I don't think there is a night that goes by without one if us slaves being risen from our warm beds to tend to some feline requirement. Last night was food plus deceased blue tit.
I want a dog. A small faithful dachshund for example

MI and others in a poorly way: hope you are all improving healthwise.
Molly that's a very interesting read: thanks

Wilbur I like the sound of the '13 Tasks.' It sounds more worthwhile than DofE actually. Having seen Ds2 through DofE and to this day never having recovered from it, I wish we had something like 13 tasks. I wouldn't let DD to DofE...too stressful.
Here's hoping that cremos DD feels better soon ( freshers flu?) and also MI NU and other ailing crepeys. Oh MI soup recipe, if you please. It sounds delicious.
molly sorry for stressful uni drop off. At least it wasn't you that kicked off and started shouting. And thumbs down to the uni for lack of competent helpers.
Arrgh tilly What about professional carpet cleaners? Or a rug to cover the offending stain?
mrsS can't help sniggering at your DHs filing system...I've got one of those...incomprehensible. I think they do it on purpose although it makes perfect sense to them. I got very het up a while back and screamed said that if he went under a bus tomorrow I wouldn't have a clue where the insurance papers were Out of order.....
herbs breathe, woman, breathe. It'll work out. dS will settle, travel problems will ease and well done on starting your course! Hot flushes every 90 mins....? Get thee down the doctors. You don't have to suffer like that.
And if we are still doing the Great DC GiveAway Promotion can I please add DD who cut her hair ( minimally but got caught) in science yesterday, precipitating a call to us from Miss Trunchball ( head of year) saying that she had done this, and in view of her exemplary behaviour these days, were there any problems at home....
But I have just had a cut and blow dry with an hour of talking holiday trivia with my hairdresser....feeling a bit better.