Gunpowder, Treason and Crepes

[CointreauVersial]

Here we are again.....

They are small courses..... But I have to admit I did flag towards the end.
Cremo your dad's response to the offer of water made me
I have done some shopping now off home to deal with laundry and things.....

Rudy - I was just saying the same to DH - when I was young, trick or treating was some weird American habit, and no one I knew ever did it. Or carved pumpkins and decorated houses.

Purple highlights sounds very cool. But you might find that HOC condemns you to wearing violet for ever after as a result.

DM has arrived at luxury hotel in Tokyo, and is making me feel very envious with her tales of heated toilet seats and complimentary kimonos.

Rudy, I think T or T and Halloween only really took off about 20 years ago. Although I do remember apple bobbing and duck apples when I was a brownie And we carved turnips - there were NO pumpkins up north!

Weather is lovely here - just had a pleasant foray to the lane with DS to get my old phone unlocked and a coffee/smoothie in one of the new hipster cafes while we were waiting. I am the best mum ATM

Rudy, I can't believe you have no clothes! I am interested in HOC, but fear they would tell me not to wear my favourite colours/styles. Plus I should be not buying anything now till we go on our shopping trip to NY!

DH and DS have gone off to a match and DD is off to the library with her mate. Again! I am not sure how productive they are, but at least they are intending to do something!

I think I need a weekend hobby as I seem to be home-alone most weekends. Any ideas?

Bah. Returned from Sains with nothing but a five-pack of pants. And a load of boring old food and drink.

I think I've got a bout of cystitis coming on. Always a joy.

Herbs, hope you bought some cranberry juice then!

Crem, your dparents sound such good fun - love the glass of water line.

BTM, I know exactly what you mean. I seem to do a lot of hanging around because it is never clear what is happening. I like to get out of the house....

Lalsy, that is indeed one of my problems!

Rudy, your DH buys you clothes? Mine doesn't even buy himself clothes!

I have installed myself in the window of a local cafe and am drinking hot chocolate and reading the paper.

Rosebag, I sang on about 2/3 of the recording, thanks. Had to bale out early on Sat evening & miss Sunday because I developed a cough, not helped by the clouds of incense used in the church (even for Saturday prayers ?!). Really enjoyed the bits I did, though & glad to have been part of it, especially as DH gave up his longed-for holiday in the States so I could do it.

DH now looking at next Easter for USA instead but that's just before GCSEs and I'm a bit worried about tying DD up for two weeks. She's not doing badly but tbh she's still under-performing in two or three subjects & not good at organising or planning ahead. She'll probably need a big push at the end. What do the post-GCSE crepeys think?

DCat pleased to see us, I'm having to type with her on my chest.

Herbs at pumpkin-rustlers.

Auriga, we are sadly not post GCSE yet but DD has said she does NOT want to be away for any more hols (except skiing in Feb if course) as she wants to be able to revise in school/with mates. She is an anxious type though. I doubt D'S will be saying that when his turn comes!

Auriga if it was me I wouldn't do it, as I don't think dd could have enjoyed it. She'd have spent the whole holiday fretting.

Herbs, I gave up on Sainsburys as there was a queue into the carpark so did an about turn and went to Ghastly Tesco. I did buy anartfully draped scarf in acid yellow. The rest was boring snoring food and mountains of cheese. Dh seems to live on it.

I would love a proper hobby but would have very little time for it. I'd love to learn upholstery so I could cover a couple of mid-century chairs I have stashed in the loft.
At the moment my hobby is watching Homeland and eating hummus .

Auriga, I wouldn't either - but would check her exam timetable (you can do this yourself online if you know boards and syllabi). The usual pattern seems to be a fair few before half term - so Easter is pretty important I think as however organised and ahead they are, things like doing past papers are very useful. Some dc are pretty well done by the end of May and all by the 3rd week in June so they have a super-long holiday then. dd knew she needed to work and would have found it more stressful not to - she was disorganised so some a lot revision was learning things for the first time! We/she found it easier to be at home, so can build treats and friends in, but accept that some hols are just like this. ds has shedloads before half term I think - not looking forward to that.

Sherry and Scott and Bailey here, Crem.

DD seems to have most before half term, starting 20th May, but both maths, both history and Biology B1 and Physics P1 are after half-term. If the school's info is correct!

Actually, the art stuff starts 29th April, so very soon after Easter. Eeeek!

Oh Ffs cat has brought in a mouse and let it go. So much for relaxing on the sofa

People seem to be doing some nice things, Auriga, your time sounds lovely.

We're very happy here as we won. I love the way Newcastle is a football city - on the Metro on the way home several old ladies asked us how the team got on, and we had conversations with random people about the match.

DSoniL reports that DGD2 still has a slightly green face from the face paints!

BTM, I long ago decided that if you couldn't beat 'em, join 'em and started to go to football matches - it didn't take long for me to be hooked. Now DH is retired, however, I long for days when he goes out and I have the house to myself.

Crem, make sure you find the mouse otherwise you might have a night time visit from it as we did. You do not want to have a mouse run through your hair when you're asleep in bed!

Rudy - my DH wouldn't dare buy me clothes but like BTM's he doesn't even buy his own - and I have to supervise him like the control freak I am.

Crem - we jumped ahead in Homeland and I am not impressed with Carrie at the moment - you'll see. By the way of you need a good series - The Good Wife is quite excellent and one of the few we've both stuck with and enjoyed.

Feeling very tired today after having to quieten whispering twelve year olds at 2 am.

Cremo. eek! And NU, eek, eek! Yet another reason why not to have a pet

NU, I am happy to watch DS, but don't like the huge crowds at big matches - one match, Liverpool v Sheffield Wednesday was enough to put me off!

Hatty, DS was just saying to me how much better they all are at just going to sleep on sleepovers now. They are usually all asleep by 12 and very quiet if not. Thank God! They don't do them as parties now, just somewhere to crash after the main event IYSWIM!

BTM - I'm awaiting those days. It's a bit like that for the girls. Meanwhile DD2 has reached new levels of being difficult where anything I say is met with a resigned smug little smile like she knows better and I'm just stupid and old grrr.

I love the Good Wife too! I want something like that to watch with ds but without the words good or wife in the title to put him off - any ideas?

Well DD1 loves Suits which is a more masculine title. We may try that one soon but need a break from law for a while.