Beware the Crepes of March!

[QueenQueenie]

Well someone had to do it as my last post was number 999...

Yes, EA, signage in the French countryside leaves a lot to be desired!

MI, that sounds like highly manipulative behaviour on their part.....if they want to go to hell in a handcart they shouldn't be issuing a running commentary to guilt trip, upset and discombobulate their lovely dds.

Sighing on your behalf MI

She rang, saying pathetically she had left a message for her GP.

Lalsy, what they really want is for us to come and sort stuff out, albeit in a way that doesn't involve any bother for them (like getting a hearing aid or moving house or having people in the house). Also to rally round with delicious home-cooked meals. At least my sister is getting a lot better at resisting the guilt-tripping.

I am not getting anywhere much with today's feature. But have had useful discussion about Writing and Books with a friend.

MI, it's very difficult, isn't it?

My DM is not guilt-tripping me at all, but I know she would love it if I could just come and sort stuff out for her. Sadly I think she now can't manage without a certain level of help - it comes to it when the tradesman is telling you that your DM was trying to foist £20 notes onto them.

On a Style and Beauty note, if I may, I need jeans.... I've always been a big fan of my Urban Outfitters jeans, but as the closest store is a good hour away in each direction, I am considering Top Shop. Their jeans have 'names' and I don't know what name I want? Does anyone else have Top Shop jeans, River Island jeans or H&M jeans (lists total sum of town's shops!) or should I venture further?

I'd quite like some brown jeans (to go with my new brown Chelsea boots) or mid-blue? Any ideas?

I literally have 'thigh rub' holes in my current pair, 'thigh rub' being a technical term, of course....

Beachy, please don't get brown jeans. Just please don't.

Why not just order some new UO ones online?

I have intimate knowledge of heard of those 'thigh rub' holes, yes.

The last pair of brown jeans I had were maternity ones for dd1, so that would be....17 years ago.

What do brown jeans say then? I quite like these although she obviously isn't a thigh rub kinda girl

I think I have Brown Jeans Issues. Don't listen to me, dammit.

I had a pair of rather terrific black PVC maternity jeans.

Beachy, I had to at the name! I have never owned a pair of brown jeans AFAICR!

Not sure I fancy brown jeans, but then again I am not fond of brown anyway, so don't listen to me.

Very sorry to hear about parent problems. I hope someone will take me out and shoot me if I start behaving like this.

I have had three quite pleasant days: Monday I went to a retreat house for a quiet day. I came home refreshed and ready for DGC yesterday which didn't last as we took them to Beamish so that they could ride on the trams. It was so cold and the wind came straight from the Arctic. Knackered by the evening. Today I have been to the gym and was very happy as they had found the gold hoop earring which I lost there on Friday. Off to the football this evening.

Crem, sorry that your back is still bad.

I had a phase of wearing very dark brown. It suits me. Better than black. But, like Mizz Winehouse, I've gone back to black.

And Ruby, I have an S&B question. How long does Estee Lauder doublewear mascara last before it starts going a bit flakey? My No7 one has started giving up the ghost. I don't really mind buying a new one once a month, but would obviously prefer not to.

My double wear mascara lasts longer than a month!! I guess it does get a bit thicker over time though, but lasts ages! I can't use No7. I react to it and get reptilian eyes.

I like the sound of brown jeans...but as a winter, I almost never wear brown. I couldn't wear maternity jeans at all. They never stayed up on account of a hips larger than bump problem.

NU I like the sound of a retreat house....naive question...what does one do there...is it for meditation ?

I have had a very stressful hour caught in gridlocked traffic trying to get DS2 to his music grade five theory exam on the other side of the borough. There is a road closure and an accident....in the end I had to turf him out of the car and tell him to walk the rest. I was ready with my neatly copied streetmap printout but of course he had it on google maps on his phone before I could wave the sheet of paper at him. I have parked remotely and am in a cafe awaiting the end of the exam. I am having a lot of trouble trying to resist buying the biggest donut I can find and stuffing it into my greedy, cake deprived little mouth

Rose, ds is doing a GCSE in doughnuts....have we tasted a single one? Have we hell.

lalsy

I am footling. I don't think I've been productive enough today. OTOH I don't think the best approach is to keep going late into the night again...I think I'll stop, and come back to this tomorrow. Am tempted to continue footling but know this would be counterproductive.

Just had most satisfactory parents evening for DS. He's exceeding expectation in everything, and almost 'far exceeding' in reading. And he's been put into the G&T reading class! Hooray! In this class they will do more interpretation and comprehension, appaz. Rather than just soothe middle-class mothers' aspirations.

This was in remarkable contrast to my new literacy teaching practice class, where some of my new learners can barely read at all. But they are all just lovely, and the class had a brilliant atmosphere, with all supporting each other. I think it's going to be brilliant. If exhausting!

That sounds like you've had a very positive day Herb And congrats to genius mini - Herbs!

Signage in France? Humph! "Toutes directions" except the one you want...

Well done to Mini Herbs! Yay!

Please someone tell me that DD1 will pull it all together at the last minute for her IB...

Yes, yes, MrsS. Plus the sign to wherever actually in the turn, so almost impossible not to drive past and miss it.

Is her IB next year? Plenty of time to knuckle down yet

Belgium is worse for signage. When you get to Flanders, the place names change to Dutch. Some of them are translatable, but if you don't know that Lille is called Rijsel, you might get a tad lost.

LOL at jeans with names. Most clothes nowadays seem to have names; presumably a result of the Internet shopping revolution. Brown is a tricky colour for me, Beachy, so hard to advise. Strangely enough, when I dug my old flares out of the loft, two of the four pairs were brown (including one velvet pair - seventies-tastic! ), so I'm not sure if I'll get any wear out of then now. Shop-wise, I leave Top Shop to DD1 nowadays; I like Zara, M&S, Uniqlo and Gap for jeans.

Well done Herbs Jnr. My own son and heir is a bit "tired and emotional" at the moment, as exam strain is beginning to tell. He had a total meltdown earlier, after I (a) teased him gently about his girlfriend and (b) burnt his microwave popcorn. His French CA went as well as could be expected (he's currently predicted a D in his GCSE so no high hopes) and he's happy with everything so far. A packed schedule tomorrow, with his Science ISA next week.

I'm getting just a little bit excited about the school reunion, and it has sent me into a bit of a reverie about days gone by. I must dig out some photos (there are some shockers of my Sun-In'd mullet and pre-nosejob hooter around somewhere).

Well done to mini Herbs. Love the FB photo with the homework and olives.

CV - I think they need to take a bit of girlfriend/boyfriend teasing - it is parental right, although I too have crossed the line.

Mrs S - she'll get it together for the IB.

I just came in from Ladyjog to be informed "there was no food" followed by DD1's piteous declaration she "hadn't seen daddy in days". Further questioning established (a) they had breakfasted respectively on weetabix and home made granary toast with Nutella (b) she saw DP last night (c) they had sensibly equipped themselves with the remains of last night's pasta for their lunches - I had already boxed it up though was hoping to take one container to choir tonight.

Fortunately they go to the sort of school where this tale of parental neglect won't really tear any heart strings. I hope