Crepeys say Bah Humbug, (it's not Christmas yet)

[beachyhead]

Here we go

Rudy -I thought it was small thing for under a fiver (have no charity shops here).

Hope it goes OK with DM. The dog thing sounds gross.

Stropps - your life puts any minor moans I may have into perspective. Also I really couldn't cope with your hours. Well done.

Rose - I also miss the camaraderie of the workplace. - wish you lived round the corner.

Eeek, I don't think I have any clothes from a charity shop, although I have many that look like they should be in one!

Lovely top Rose.

Good Luck with the driving test Beachy - DD I presume? and the Rocky Horror party sounds fun - definitely pictures on FB!

Rudy, anal sacs sounds horrid but well done for doing your duty.

I am feeling very old today - my knee went again last night - it was the skipping at circuits that did it. That and teens.

Damn you Rose, that Nordstrom site IS nice!

BTM, I'm sorry to hear about your knee. And teens. Am sending you good vibes and a hug. Feeling really crepey can really get you down. :( When are dd's mocks? And how is the personal statement going? Or should I not ask that question?

Beachy, good luck to dd for the driving test. Also good luck for the Rocky Horror Show dressing up. I think I'd be tempted to go as Riff Raff these days. Chimney thing all done, thank gawd. All dust removed, most decorating done and all bills paid. And no more water trickles. And yes, I'm already counting the Tuesdays. Only 4 left until the end of term.

Rudy, fingers crossed for your dm's assessment. And poor ddog...

Rose, I don't sleep when I'm stressed and I don't have any control over that. I'd rather sleep in, but my racing brain wakes me up at silly o'clock. Once this week's work panic is over and when I'm feeling as though I've got control over next week's assignment, I'll probably get a reasonable night (I reckon I might be there by Saturday). I just need to try and not kill anyone before then.

Thanks Stropps, I am feeling the luuurve
She has done her personal statement and was taking a few application forms into school today to get them sorted (now I am worrying the school won't get them sent off...!) Exams were last week, but Art all day today and possibly another day. It's a hard year, Y11. Plus party invites/days out, etc which mean she has something to look forward to but also gets worn out

Glad to hear your chimney is sorted. And only 4 more Tuesdays. That means only 4 more weeks after this one for me Good luck with the assignment, and expect it to bounce back with at least a few pedantic issues!

I'm another who doesn't sleep when stressed - wake in the night/early with a bad dream and then worrying about things that never seem so bad in the daylight.

Oh Stropps , you are amazing. Not sleeping when stressed is something that happens to both dh and me so regularly, that on occasion the two if us meet in the living room in the dead of the night, shaking and anxious.
Recently I have been having vivid and disturbing dreams. Mostly about my late brother, and dd's father, being alive again and critiquing my parenting of the last 15 years. It's grim , and recurring, and I can't shake it. Dh thinks it's because I'm missing dd. Yes, that makes me weep tbh.

The Night Club party is on Saturday and I am blardy terrified. Nothing to wear( wish I had that top Rose, it'd be perfect) dh is greasing out as the party is SO not his scene , and it starts at 10.30 pm.
That's my flipping bedtime FGS

*Greasing= freaking

Crem, I'm sending you hugs and good vibes too. The dreams sound horrible. Don't you just hate the way our subconscious minds won't bloody shut up? If I could remove the bit of my mind that does the mad worrying and causes the sleeplessness and then bury that particular lump of grey matter in a hole at the bottom of the garden, I would.
Aww, there is something to be said for having two of you both worrying together in the middle of the night. At least you know where each other is coming from. :)
Gah, yes, I am struggling to concentrate on my poxy work. I will not come back until after I have done a lot more.

Great news about the chimney Stropps (glances at bedroom wall)

Rudy - hope mum and DDog are all okay!

Here, despite an early night, I am knackered. Stropps I don't know how you are doing it! I don't dream (or don't remember them) so at least I don't have that joy, just raging insomnia where I listen to the dog potter around the house and worry about everything from pensions, to mortgages, to taxes, to work .......

Hope MI hsn't picked up anything too nasty (recalls dp's week off work the first time we went to India)

Cremo, dreams about your parenting of DD - you have been fabulous. How is she doing?

Rudy, the exams weren't mocks - they were internal exams! Mocks are in Feb. They are a data-rich school and I think the exams are an attempt to gee them up a bit
And sorry you weren't able to fly off. I would also like to fly off and never come back right now.

Stropps, keep at it You are doing fantastically! for later!

Yes, it's all so variable. Most other local schools seem to do mocks before Christmas. DD has her predicted/target/whatever grades on an official form already, so at least that takes a bit of pressure off the actual exams I guess.
It is a very stressful time - doubly for you. But you at least have the benefit of some experience having had a couple do it before and survived

BTM can I come with you if you are jetting off....

Beachy the thought of my DH is a basque is making me twitch…. Rocky Horror Party..what a laugh! I'd love to go to one…
Rudy your DM's pre op assessment and Ddogs anal sacs in the same sentence….in my not quite coherent state I had to read it twice But I hope both go well.
Yes, Hatty I wish you weren't so far away…then we could make our own workplace, complete with pervy blokes in a laundry cupboard, endless booze and Frankie goes To Hollywood blaring from 6 ft speakers…
Tilly your poor knee. I hope you can rest it so it recovers. Wish dealing with teens was that easy….
cremo how sad is it that we are all so far away from the days of being a party animal? H&M is good for clubbing blouses…my go- to place for stuff like that…not that I ever go clubbing! Soz about the dreams…they can be so disturbing and as if we haven't got enough to be waking up in a sweat about at our crepey age. Hugs to you.
I am feeling a little better as the headache is receding and my left eye is a bit clearer. Great morning's writing with ConS…tacking a scene with a very difficult topic (IUI)…struggling to get just the right balance of compassion and humour but I think we got there.

Sure thing, BD

Rose, I love that "H&M is good for clubbing blouses"

Am halfway through my record-keeping.

I seem to be sleeping like the dead, mainly because - I suspect - my brain is utterly exhausted. Attempting to get a head start on an assignment due on 1 December, as a) want to get it out of the way so I can start on assignments 2 and 3, and b) it's due after the weekend of my birthday drinks, and I don't want to either be worrying about it then, or having to actually write it with a hangover!

Also trying to write a lesson plan about the present perfect (which I don't totally 'get') and the reading for tomorrow. And DS's parents' evening. Also have the first period for three months, which has taken some of the hormonal heat out of things.

DP's best friend and his wife have been trying for a baby for five years, including various failed IVFs and miscarriages. Yesterday she gave birth to a baby girl! Who is of course utterly beautiful. How lovely.

Oh Herbs, what utterly stonking news for your dh's best friend . Just lovely!
Mazel Tov to them.

I am currently waiting for dad, who completely forgot about meeting me for coffee , but is on his way now
Have rummaged in a few charidee shops and bought a sparkly tunic item. It may work for the Club. Heaven knows.
Rose I was in H&m yesterday but felt uninspired tbh

In other news: whispers I have an interview( for which there is -shrieks - a 10 minute presentation.)
Feel sick

Oh and in a fit of peak I have gone from blonde to , erm, pale mocha.
Really having a bit of a midlife crisis I think

I got this jumper in H&M. I'll easily recoup the cost in saved heating...

Herbs, that's great news!
And good plan to get ahead

Cremo, how lovely to meet your Ddad for a coffee
Good Luck with the interview!

Molly, is it to go with your tartan acquisitions?!

Haha, yes, I'm trying to reinvent myself as Judy Murray a Scot.

A noble aspiration Molly. Love the jumper.

Crem, you poor love about grim dreams , I'm with Stropps on the subconscious. You both have amazing strength.

Herbs, what lovely news.