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Original poster

Crepes, Galettes, Pancakes and Brian the Bucket!

999 replies

MrsSchadenfreude · 18/01/2015 14:20

Here you go...

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsSchadenfreude · 27/01/2015 23:03

Stropps, are they all army wives? That's what they sound like!

I agree, BTM, but am going to have a word with head of boarding and ask him to see if he can keep an eye on her (or reassure me that she does have friends...). She likes him a lot, so maybe he would be a good person to have a word with her.

MI - you are going through it all. If you want alcohol moral support, give me a shout.

I have been to Auschwitz three times. Once was enough. The permanence of Auschwitz was shocking, but the sheer size of Birkenau was worse. One of my great grandmother's sisters disappeared in the war (most of the family had left Germany by that point). Her nephew escaped from Theresienstadt and made it back to UK - he never spoke about it, until he was dying. Interestingly, he went straight back to Germany after the war, and stayed there for about 10 years before coming back to London.

OP posts:
Auriga · 28/01/2015 00:20

MI sorry to hear about DM's post-op complications. How is DF bearing up? Has she realised she's not going to be home in 10 days as she hoped?

Stropps, it sounds as though you could do with some little flaps over your ears, to screen out witless drivel. Glad you've found someone who speaks your language.

MrsS, hope the chat with the HoB is helpful.

Beachy, I did laugh at your DDogs' disgraceful thievery, though I know mine is still worse.

Rudy & Crem & Lalsy, thanks for more wise words. I'm making a big effort not to worry, fret or interfere too much with DD's work or her choices, to the point where she actually told me she wouldn't mind a bit more of the 'sit down and work' from me. Her two best friends have strict Indian fathers, so she sees the opposite approach.

Not sure about 6th, sorry. Would love to come but need to get through an awful lot of work to clear the way Sad

hattymattie · 28/01/2015 06:31

Stropps - I frequently seem to meet people like this and am astonished by their lack of tact. It always seems to be v rich people who do this - I sometimes wonder if they're trying in some warped way to relate do the rest of us by saying they have to watch their cash too.

Mrs S - I would definitely expect that by paying for posh school I would avoid normal teaching glitches and have a seamless and fabulous education for my kids.

MI - I'm so sorry about your Mum and now the cousin's dad. Very stressful. Keep ladyjogging. I love your phrase 'conduct a ladyjog' - I always imagine you dressed in a black jacket listening to fabulous orchestral music as you runWink.

Lalsy - I'm always suggesting dentistry to my DC's - particularly orthodentistry (loads of cash and mainly dealing with children).

Waiting to hear if I have to teach the class this morning. Had mean little girl last week who refused to move when I asked her to. I think I'm obviously too friendly with them and then they think they can get cheeky.

Rose - very sad watching Holocaust films yesterday. DS has a trip to Amsterdam in April to see Anne Franck's attic. All my children have been - I think it's a really great experience for them.

Blackduck · 28/01/2015 07:35

MI sorry to hear about DMum - keeping everything crossed.

Stropps ignore ignore ignore :).

Here the audit looms ever nearly and the questions and requests just get more and more bonkers - be glad when next Friday rolls around!

bigTillyMint · 28/01/2015 08:13

Oh MI, so sorry to hear that.

MrsS, don't know how you could cope with Auschwitz 3 times - once was once too much for meSad The stories on TV last night were very heart-wrenching too.
Hatty, we all went to Anne Franks attic when the DC were about 9/10 as DD had read her diary at least twice, as I did at her age. And seen various stuff on TV. It was very moving.

And Hatty, I am smiling to myself about that girl. You obviously haven't developed "the Look" yet!

Stropps stick with your new, normal friend. And usWink

BD, good luck with the audit.

Auriga, surely you don't have to work on a Friday evening. And we would be a tonic to cheer you up?!

motherinferior · 28/01/2015 09:03

I am aiming for 6th, parental hassle permitting.

motherinferior · 28/01/2015 09:13

Rose, MrsS, I thought of my friend Hannah yesterday. A woman whose life was shaped by Auschwitz and also stuck two fingers up to it magnificently.

Rosebag · 28/01/2015 09:30

An amazing woman MI and a life taken too young.
I hope your DM will do better with time. I guess there's no way round the recovery from major surgery with it's complications. To a certain extent this will delay the difficulty of making arrangements for coming home. Sounds like the MU is just what you need…Wine Smile

MrsS sounds as though getting someone like the head of boarding to keep an eye on DD from a distance is a good move.

DS2 has gone off to school in a moderately good mood for his birthday. He had been a bit meh about the standard parental gift for one's 17th, being driving lessons…. I am facing a day of domesticity and preps for his little soiree later on. First world problem alert…my lovely cleaner has been sick since before Xmas. I am very concerned for her…she's part of the family but I am not enjoying the state of the house in her absence Hmm

Rosebag · 28/01/2015 09:30

ps Is tomorrow's day time MU happening and if so can someone remind me of the location?

Blackduck · 28/01/2015 09:42

As an army brat I went to school at the army camp round the corner (literally) from Belsen. There isn't much there - it was flattened following the war - but was an eerie place to visit.

Sad about your friend MI.

motherinferior · 28/01/2015 09:44

Hannah was terrific, before MS ate her up and embittered her. Our mutual BF told the story about Auschwitz at her funeral - she said it was a most fabulous red dress (and H had style) and a real "you didn't get me and I've had the life you wanted me never to have" gesture.

bigTillyMint · 28/01/2015 13:01

Just read your piece, MISmile

Rose, I am shocked that your DS thinks driving lessons are meh for a birthday present - what was he hoping for? We have absolutely no plans for DD to learn to drive at 17. Possibly after A levels (if she gets through the GCSE's firstGrin)

And could you get a temp cleaner in whilst yours is ill?

Rosebag · 28/01/2015 13:34

We had 'words' with him, Tilly I was boiling Angry ….he wants an iPad mini, and we said it was that or driving lessons….not both and went we on about how ungrateful brattishness has no place in our home and so on. He's calmed down now and seen the error of his ways. I have to admit to an ulterior motive going on here. Since I lost DS1 to his flat and an independent life, I also lost a driver. I'm waiting for DS2 to be able to drive DD around…..pick her up from parties etc...

I will have to get a temporary cleaner soon, I guess. I've just been holding out for our own lady…I miss her and I don't want her to feel she's going to lose her job. Running around with the mop and bucket last night I asked DH if I could be paid and said I was quite happy to accept the cleaners hourly rate…Grin Grin Grin

bigTillyMint · 28/01/2015 13:56

Rose, is he not bothered about learning to drive then? I would have thought that that would be an infinitely better present than an ipad mini!
Ironically, I think I would probably trust DS(not yet 14) learning now more than DD!

Stropperella · 28/01/2015 14:36

Rose, oh dear, that would get you termed "an ungrateful grotbag" in our house. Dd is set on learning to drive as soon as she possibly can. Happy birthday to your ds! I am just glad that dd's 17th birthday is still 6 months away...

MrsS, I'm thinking hedge fund managers' wives rather than army, but you could well be right.

I have just wasted 2.5 hours of my time on a mandatory "training" session for invigilators. However, I did bump into someone I remember from my first-ever day in Reception at primary school. I was so little that I couldn't get up the bus steps at "home time", so the headteacher lifted me up and put me on the front seat with 2 girls from Year 6 who got off at the same stop and asked them to look after me. This was one of those girls. Grin Her older dd is in the year below mine at school.

bigTillyMint · 28/01/2015 14:42

Awww, that's lovely, Stropps. Did she recognise you?

Stropperella · 28/01/2015 14:54

Oh yes, BTM, she gave me a lift home and we did some reminiscing. Smile

Stropperella · 28/01/2015 14:58

and she reminded me that we also used to go to Sunday school together. ahhhh, what a crap institution that was....

motherinferior · 28/01/2015 15:00

Stropps, that is so sweet.

Latest in the Weary Saga of DMum (WSDM) is that they think probably spend up to six weeks in rehab (at this point Amy Winehouse lodged herself irrevocably into my brain) doing intensive physio to redress what is probably nerve damage incurred during op (doesn't help she's so thin, apparently: in this, as in so much else, the answer is Pies). I think this could be very good thing. So does my sister. She would be looked after while getting better, dammit.

All v tiring, though that may also be because DP snorted and snuffled all night with his cold Angry

bigTillyMint · 28/01/2015 15:02

Aww, that's so sweet!

MI, yes, I think it could be a very good thing too. And the pies. But not the snorting and snuffling!

I am bored of paperwork.

Blackduck · 28/01/2015 15:09

MI at least there is a plan......

Please do not mention pies.....

I am going to try the Canadian Airforce workout - will report back (it works for Helen Mirrian apparently...)

hattymattie · 28/01/2015 15:17

MI - quite a relief that your mum will be well taken care of.

Stropps - how nice - I'm sure I wouldn't recognise anybody from so long ago.

BTM - I must have developed "the look" since last week. The class was really sweet. Phew - having a cuppa now.

MollyAir · 28/01/2015 15:20

MI, 6 weeks rehab is really good news for your dmum. Stropps, they sound like Surrey wives - so yeah, hedge fund managers's wives.

Rose - we were very open with ds that we wanted to add another driver to the household, and he was quite chuffed with that. Is now always helpful re driving, including taxi for dd (when in London).

Stropperella · 28/01/2015 16:23

MI, it does sound as though 6 weeks re-hab would be very good for your mum - and for you, as at least you would presumably be able to be confident that she was being looked after properly.

There were barely more than 100 people in the village where I grew up, so we all knew each other fairly well. Aside from my df - who managed to more or less avoid talking to anyone else in the village for about 30 years. He even carried on going to London for haircuts for the first 20 years after he moved there. Grin

MontserratCaballe · 28/01/2015 16:43

Hello lovely Crepeys! Sorry not to have been around much. Just sneaking on for 2 mins between jobs to see if the MU is on tomorrow. There is a possibility that I may not be able to make it as I am on standby cover to teach a class but if it is on and I can get away, I'd love to see you.

Not really keeping up well but sending best wishes to MI and her mum for a speedy recovery. Hope to be back properly on Friday if not before Flowers