Crepeyistmas Time, Camel Toe and Whine...

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Pandering to the uncouth...

Rose, you must be so disappointed about the play. I'm sure it can be sorted out, though. Then everything else on top. Walnut whip?

BTM, I tend to bang on about how difficult life is these days for teenage boys. I really feel it. In the olden days they would have been our most treasured and successful hunters, young, fit, doing brave things to bring home the food. Now they are under-valued and without a proper role, since their dads are far from decrepit and they haven't got their own family yet. I know I'm being all anthropological airy-fairy, but hopefully you get my drift.

Lovely Rose, I am so sorry to hear about your rubbish day yesterday. I hate it when many things conspire to make us feel pants. Did you get some sleep last night? How is DS enjoying Poland? So sorry about your play - maybe you can have another look at it when you have a longer time frame and get it how you want it. I hope today is kinder to you

MrsS, your work is totally unreasonable. Whatever can need your immediate attention at 11pm, especially as you will be in super early today. I hope you dispensed short shrift.

Good news on DD1's progress, MI. You must be very pleased

How are your gnashers today, NU? I hate the deep clean and my teeth always feel a bit precarious for a while after. Hope you got some sleep.

No varifocals here yet but am sure that they are not far off.

Thanks for asking about DS - much better but still not sleeping well. I am planning a meeting with myself after lunch and a few zzzzz under the desk. I am going to a carol concert tonight then supper. Need to remain vertical. Dh was a total arse when I got in after work at 10pm. Stressed, grumpy and bolshy. I gave him a wide berth. All sweetness and light this morning. Hm. Still, he has offered to make the kids' packed lunch so clearly full of contrition.......

Molly, that actually sums it up for my very alpha-male boy.
Only I'm not sure how good a hunter he would have been, given the number of bruises he got from paintballing on Saturday (and his sister only got one!)
Oh, and his dad is rather decrepit, despite not being 46 yet

Molly ... I love your analysis but am having trouble seeing wimpy DS or indeed DH as hunter gatherers.

BTM - fingers crossed for bringing DS into line. Most of them seem to understand how important school is at about age 17 - just in time for the final year.

Rose - that sounds a rotten day yesterday - although it must be wonderful to sing opera. I remember sitting in the car waiting for a child at the gym and a woman walked through the car park singing a Mozart aria. It was fabulous and made my day.

Went out to try the new Irish pub last night. I only had two half pints. but I fear their beer was rather strong! It's been ages since I've been to a pub and had a gossip like that. As I was absent for one whole evening and had forgotten that DS's sheets were in the tumble dryer - I have discovered DS sleeping on his mattress this morning. DH said he didn't know where the clean sheets were .

DD2 has an important maths test today - she has really worked hard for it - I pray that she does well as I don't want to even think of the fall out if she does badly again.

Hatty, fingers crossed for your DD.

Oh Hatty, I hate it when they do tests etc. DD1 has a piano exam on Saturday and I am beyond anxious for the same reasons. Wishing her the best of luck and keeping my fingers crossed

Rose and MrsS, so sorry to hear about your awful day yesterday. And commiserations about the play, Rose.

I do not drink beer, Hatty; although I do like it in a nice casserole. I find it that DH doesn't know where the sheets are, although thinking about my DH it doesn't surprise me.

I agree with everything that Molly says about the way we treat boys/young men. I know that they can be a real pain in the backside, but the way young men are demonised is awful lot. And let's be honest, who would you rather employ? A spotty, gangly, socially inept lad, or an attractive, chatty, articulate young woman? I appreciate that I am exaggerating, but I do think that boys take a lot of understanding.

MI, good news about DD.

My mouth feels fine this morning, thank you.

Sorry, I missed the comment re DD's maths test, Hatty, good luck to her.

Good luck with Maths test
MI glad DD doing well and NU glad mouth is better.
Team Christmas lunch here which has the added advantage of home early (my team aren't big drinkers so it won't go on).
Meanwhile we are trying to find a subtle way to encourage the Wicked Witch of the West to apply for a post in a rival institution......

Interesting Molly - it is a search for identity isn't it? I feel so encouraged when I hear ds and his mates talking about how they feel sorry for X - rather hilariously and sweetly, they do it with an edge of traditional male competitive spirit, being keen to be the first to spot someone needs help or sympathy.

BTM, I am sure much is hormonal but if he even sometimes is positive about how even the sticks (as in carrots and sticks) from school are to help him, I think that's a good sign that he can sometimes see the bigger picture, and also feels his teachers are there for him, even if he doesn't always admit it!

Fingers crossed HM. ds having a busy week with lots of Stuff that has nothing to do with GCSEs, excellent preparation for mocks in January. And dd now desperate to come home, thank goodness for Skype.

I like yourteam thinking, BD

Good luck Hattitude2! Good about the mouth, NU. And I hope today feels brighter, Rose.

I am going to blaze through a feature on amdram and then go to help at the PTA booze'n'snacks stall at the school concert.

Many thanks for shoe links. I suppose if I request Attractive Yet Capacious Lingerie from Mr Inferior he'll optimistically substitute something minuscule and itchy, won't he...

MI that reminds me of my student days in M&S - small black and or red underwear that wouldn't keep you warm would fly off the shelves pre Christmas, post Christmas it was resolutely being exchanged for something white cotton and comfortable

re the lingerie. I have a drawer full of stuff that DH has bought me to sleep in. If I say that we have at last succumbed to putting on the winter duvet, you will not be surprised to hear that I wear Carole Hochman fleece pjs for bed in the winter. Poor DH!

Thanks all for the kindly comments. ConS and I are still writing. He is very disappointed with the crap going on at the theatre and seems a bit conflicted being on the staff....so I am manoeuvred in to the position of bad cop so that he doesn't fall out with the team. It's an odd situation. The goal posts keep moving...after we emailed to confirm we're withdrawing from the festival we got strange responses entirely inconsistent with what we'd previously been told. HerrD seems to be saying one thing to us and another thing to the associate directors. I could scream.
monty thanks for your words. Glad the kids are doing better even if your DH is in a mood! Ds is having a very meaningful trip in Poland and is fine...still texting late at night so I'm not catching up on my sleep. Today his group are following in the PM's footsteps and going to Auschwitz.
hatty it is wonderful....almost addictive to sing opera. Trouble is you have to keep it up...it's like a use it or lose it situation...the support just goes if it's not exercised regularly. I was truly rubbish.
DD has an authorised day off for the theatre but is insisting on going in for lessons 1 and 2 so I have to pick her up with all her costume paraphernalia and deliver her late for her call. As if my name wasn't already mud at the theatre. But we are going to go for a late sushi lunch after her matinee which I guess is something to look forward to. Everything seems such an effort at the moment. I haven't got the energy!

Ps I like molly's perspective on teen boys. It makes a lot of sense having had two go through it...

Rose, sending strength to your DS, I found the trip to Auschwitz absolutely harrowing and was very relieved that DD didn't want to go this year on her school trip.

And glad you are keeping your pecker up!

Aaaw ladies thanks for all the lovely good wishes for DD - I hope she can feel the vibes.

Lalsy - I think they are all very tired now - DD1 was ready to come back and has slept a lot (in between moaning about how boring it is here).

Monty - good luck to DS in piano exam - In always think music exams are ultra stressful because mistakes are so apparent and distracting.

I have no sexy lingerie - only cotton for me.

What I'd really like are some more long-sleeved thermals

Oh yes, and best of luck to Hattys DD and montys DD with maths and piano, respectively. Note to self...stop being self centred and remember other people have stresses too...

Rose, you are far from self-centred! And you had plenty to moan about yesterday.

I'm with you MI..I love Uniqlo ones, would like one in every colour. No chilly gaps - that's what I want for Christmas!

Many thanks for the Converse tipoff. Have ordered.

Am researching Ethical Lingerie instead of working as there are some charming vintagey numbers that manage to tick many boxes iywim and I'd never afford for myself.

I like this lot!