Gunpowder, Treason and Crepes

[CointreauVersial]

Here we are again.....

Alas, I can't come to Friday night MU In the meanwhile if anyone is up for a daytime non Xmas one …even just a coffee in an accessible place…..
Stropps that's great about your party success! We used to throw these huge bashes, particularly on NYE but I have somehow lost my confidence in the last couple of years. I keep thinking that no one will come! And I'm not sure what you meant but 5th Dec sounds like it has some traumatic memories, so hugs from me too.
MI glad you're back having survived. I would just leave them to their squabbling… there's only so much you can do.

I am unbearably tired. I've had 3 doses of co codamol in the last 24 hours for an intractable headache which has receded at last, but now I just feel spaced out. The DC are being awful…DS2 has his grade 5 piano tomorrow but the piano is in the same room as their desk top, that DD likes to watch stuff on. They are arguing interminably about disturbing one another. I am at screaming pitch. DH is slinking away to the spare room with his Blackberry and being mentally absent. We did have a nice lunch out with DParents and American DSis, joined by DS1 also. There was a brief ceasefire from the piano/PC wars, at least. DS1 was particularly amusing about the Zombie Evauation Race he did with mates yesterday. I've never heard of such a thing. And now he's decided to train for a "Tough Mudder"…I'm also clueless about that but he says he might die and has to sign a disclaimer to that effect.
I am now looking forward to collapsing in front of Downton, and even sadder also looking forward to tomorrow afternoon, (once I've dropped DS2 back at school after his grade) when I can potter round Sainsbury and have tea and a cake in Starbucks ALONE.

I am up for a 'lunch' on 6th if anyone wants to do that (might as well make a weekend of it) .... I can head home in the evening...

Rose, sending you a huge hug. The night before music exams is always rubbish as it's too late to do anything to improve and you often cock it up and feel awfully tense. Leave them to it and install yourself in the bath with a cup of tea. I would love to meet you for a non festive cuppa . I know what you mean about party anxiety but it is usually misplaced and people do come and have a great time. Take it easy and enjoy Starbucks tomorrow.

MI, you must be emotionally poleaxed. Try to have a glass of wine and an undemanding night with the Crawleys. Can you do a ladyjog tomorrow? Might help you to de stress a little. Thinking of you.

Just catching a bit of X factor while I do the kids' hair. What an absolute crock. None of them can sing. A chance for a little ogle at Dermot is the only redeeming bit.

Oh Rose, poor you. If it's any consolation, my two are being arsey as it's back to school tomorrow Definitely enjoy your coffee and cake tomorrow!

Am having major issues booking our hotel rooms for Twixmas, grrr

Rose dear goodness what a nightmare. I know exactly EXACTLY what you mean by dh being absent.
Here's to tomorrow afternoon and some Rose Time.

MI thank goodness you're ok. I was thinking about you this weekend. So sorry your Mum and Dad are at each other's throats. As Monty says, you have done what you can( above and beyond) so a bit of time off is called for. Sleep well.

Lalsy , I'm like a rabbit in the headlights. Not even sure I want to go to A Club ( the kind with people posing and drinking achingly cool cocktails with hoity in jokes) I have a picture of me in my jeans carrying my shopping and looking like someone's mum who lost her way.
even though it's a 50th

Think I can do 5 Dec. Sorry it's such a bad day for you, Stropps. Would be good to see you.

Great choir rehearsal. DD in orchestra all day today (and all afternoon yesterday) & has rehearsals and performances every night this week as well as play rehearsals on two nights. Don't know when she's going to find time to do any GCSEs.

Car played up again - another ignition coil gone. It passed MOT only 10 (ten, X) days ago & has had three things wrong with it since, costing £345 (with one still not repaired).

May borrow DD's bike to come & meet you in Brockwell Park

Fri 5th
BTM
Molly
Rudy
Lalsy
BD
Herbs
MI (you know it makes sense)
CV
MrsS
Auriga

Auriga, great - I will PM you! Anyone else?

Cremo, just seen that you are invited to a club - get you! No idea what you should wear as club wear seems to consist of wearing very little at all, which would not be my best look at my crepey age!

Rose, hope you feel better. I have followed your Ladyjog advice, Monty, and am ready to take on CDiff. My children have left the Inferiority Complex grumbling at being back in harness. And DD2 now has to add early orchestra practice to swing band, brass ensemble and brass band.

Btw I am going to try one of those very cold sprays to tackle hot flushes and night sweats. Will report back on its effectiveness.

Thank you all for the kind words, Crepeys. It's calm here at the moment. Poor DS is playing scales and arpeggios…not entirely competently.

Monty thanks! On your advice I have invited some friends to a dinner party in December…and they have all accepted!!! Shit, now I have to cook….Maybe let me know when you're north of the river and I can meet you in town…and anyone else who wants to do a day time coffee.

MI nothing worked for me except HRT I'm afraid.

Right we're off to the music place for DS's grade. See you on the other side.

Good Luck to your DS Rose!

I would love to do a daytime coffee, but can only do weekends until Christmas now

Glad to hear that you're back safely, MI, but not good to hear that DPs are at each other's throats.

Stropps, very impressed with your party giving skills - I find it difficult to believe that once you had problems with such things. How great you sound that you actually enjoyed it.

Rose, I hope you have a better day today.

Crem, boob tube (or corset) seems de rigeur here, plus a pelmet. Not for you?

I have just found out that it would cost us £125 each, one way, to go to London to see the poppies on Friday. I then looked at coming down on the 5th December to meet you all, but that's over £100 and involves getting back into Newcastle city centre at 1.30 am which doesn't particularly appeal. Perhaps I will look at coming next summer holidays and have lunch with some of you. Ponders ...

Glorious day here again but very cold, we need to clear the bedroom for new carpet on Friday, but I think a walk or bike ride is more appealing.

Auriga, I hope your car is better soon and doesn't cost too much more.

Oh hated piano exams - good luck to DS Rose and try to get a bit of relaxation time.

I need to go an buy milk but the weather is too bad and I'm finding excuses.

NU - I have this problem with the Eurostar. Going anywhere needs to be planned months in advance. I do seem to remember finding a London to Darlington fare for about 60 return in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon.

I've got to get to Heathrow from my gaff for 6.30 next Monday and reckon the only way to do it is by cab, which will be quite gallingly pricy.

MI, we use a decent priced cab firm - can PM you the details?

NU, you have to book weeks in advance to get a decent fare - I am doing a return to Mancs in a few weeks for £38!

Yeah, BTM, I know - no wonder I haven't been anywhere by train since the week before the Hatfield train crash! DSis mentioned yesterday that they were going to see the Poppies so I just thought I'd check.

MI, I hate to think what a taxi will cost you - BTM's recommendation sounds like a good bet.

DSoniL has just called in with the 18 mo who is learning French at nursery - she says a very good "bon jour"! Nice to see them unexpectedly.

NU, how sweet!

Does she do it in a Geordie accent?

BTM, that's an interesting question. She has no accent and, truthfully, doesn't say very much yet. Her DB on the other hand is definitely getting a Geordie accent which we don't really understand as my Dd doesn't have one, and her DH comes from Yorkshire. We think it must be nursery. It's the glottal stops which annoy me and I am having to bite my tongue when I hear DGS1 say "scoo er"! My DC were 4 & 7 when we moved here and they never picked it up.

DD hasn't got much of an accent, though people used to think that she was Northern when she was younger as she said some words like me (bath, for example)

DS, however, does a mean SE London/street accent

My nephews are distinct Geordies, especially the younger one.

They're all bilingual, aren't they, BTM. DD1 can sound quite posh and then swing into saarf Lunnon girltalk. I sat opposite a couple of girls on the train the other day and realised how they all have the same mannerisms and sound exactly alike. Punjabi consonants and African Caribbean vowels.

I think it's called Multicultural London English, MI. Accents are interesting - my mother's siblings were all very Cockney, and her mother a mix of Cockney and German. My mother speaks RP. My London cousins were all very Cockney growing up, but they now seem to have become entirely RP. I guess university and jobs can account for some of this, but those who didn't go to uni, and work in the local co-op or as a security guard have still lost their Cockney accents. The only one of my cousins to retain theirs is the one who emigrated to Australia.

Love it! In fact the DC (well, mainly DS) use a whole new vocabulary too - I think it's really great, and I love all the new words they come out with. Some are so much better and a closer match to what they mean to the words which are traditionally used.