Am now dimly trying to think what the typical name is for a black dog.. Sooty? :) Hope this one is the one for you, Beachy!
I dislike ponchos possibly a bit more than I dislike capes. Ponchos were having a fashion moment when I was pregnant with dd and that's the only time I have thought it sensible to have one as the garment couldn't actually make me look any more rotund than I actually was. Are big chunky grey ponchos with massive cowl necks a thing at the moment? I keep seeing them around. I feel they are one of those things that other people may be able to carry off with aplomb but which would make me look a bit silly.
Dd and dh failed miserably at getting themselves organised when I went off early on Tuesday to my course. As ds wasn't getting up for school because he was ill, the other two overslept. I phoned at 8.50 when I arrived at the course venue and no one answered. Rang again and dd answered in a state of panic, having only just woken up and dh was still asleep. Poor chickens only then got let out and god knows what time dh and dd would have got up if I hadn't phoned. So it appears that they are both dependent on ds to get them up when I'm not there. 
Which I sort of knew, but hoped wasn't really the case. Dd is still in a temper because, as she was massively late to school, she missed getting a letter about a biology trip to a study day at the University of Warwick and, as the places were limited to 15, she has no chance of getting on it now. Despite the fact that she is still banging on about this 3 days later, I am furiously biting my tongue, whilst she is furiously trying to blame everyone else for the fact that she didn't get up. "(dh) is useless; I'm not sleeping here on Monday nights any more, I'm going to stay at a friend's until you've finished your stupid course." I am saying nuffink and trying, as per QQ's instructions, to detach.