Beware the Crepes of March!

[QueenQueenie]

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

Yes, Rose, I reckon it is Thursday.

Our holiday problem is that dd really likes sleeping in a field in west Wales for a week. If we suggest a longer holiday, she says let's do that for longer. I would love us to do a big family holiday outside Europe next year but she is adamant that everything she wants can be found there. We do have a lovely time, it is where a big bit of my heart is and I couldn't manage without it, but I would quite like to do something else as well, and with dd (it doesn't seem to have occurred to her that she might stop coming with us, as long as we go to the same place and do the same things).

Dullsville half term here - I am working, ds is working on endless coursework, dh is working and visiting his dm, who is recovering from surgery.

The thing is, MrsS, we are going at the beginning of April, so I'm not expecting much in the way of sunshine. The DCs will moan because the house is too small and they will be expected to do "outdoor" stuff, and it's not really an area we'd choose to go to, particularly. It will be nice as a freebie mini break, but doesn't quite scratch the holiday itch.

Like Rose, my lot (DH in particular) will feel short-changed if there isn't at least something planned for the summer break.

Regarding the Over Knee boots, no I've never had a pair before, but I just couldn't resist. They don't look at all Principal Boy, thank goodness.

The only reason we had a holiday last year was because dh got a surprise cheque for £2000 after a life insurance company 'suddenly' uncovered a policy held in his mother's name (she had probably paid in 50p a month or something). Speedy work, given that she has been dead 10 years. Dh insisted that he wanted to spend the money on a holiday rather than something 'sensible', hence our rather damp camping trip to the Loire.
This year, aside from 3 nights at a campsite in Devon with a bunch of families (most of whom have dcs who are friends of ds) who will make me feel very old and are all young enough to be dh's children, we won't be going anywhere. Dd probably won't even want to come on that trip and I can't say as I blame her - I don't even want to go very much. :) But as we have had more years without holidays than with them and we do live close to places that other people pay to come to on holiday, we shouldn't moan. The only real problem is that with both of us working from home and a distinct lack of real breaks (including weekends) all year round, it is easy to get ground down with the 'never getting away from work' scenario.
Thanks to enforced calm in the house, dh winding his neck in and dd also trying to meet us halfway with things occasionally, things have been a bit better the last few days. This afternoon, however, deep gloom has descended as dd has been stood up by someone who has been incessantly messaging her for weeks, but more or less ignoring her in RL until this week. It's a shame she has finally got around to being interested in boys, as she is way too vulnerable to be able to ride the lurrrv rollercoaster without coming unstuck.

Sorry about the me-me-me and lack of paragraphs. :)

BD, hope you feel better soon and have a good break for the next few days.

Stropps, please tell DD from me that I know that sort of bloke and I hate them . What is it with these men/boys who act keen and then go off you the minute you show any interest? And/or think you're OK to meet/snog/shag in private but not to admit to in public? Bastards.

We're on the holiday mission, too. DH has decided that we will have an extra holiday this year as "we can't take it (money) with us" and we might as well travel while we can. We seem to have lost New Zealand for this year and are debating between western Canada, Vietnam and Cuba. I am leaning towards Canada (we'd probably do a fly drive), and DH towards an escorted trip round Vietnam. Watch this space as we must decide soon.

Crem, good about DDad and your diagnosis. I had a call from my new GP and we came to an amicable conclusion that even though I am slightly over medicated, as I am feeling well he is happy to leave me as I am.

Good luck to DD, Beachy - how did she get on? I love the sound of her outfit.

Your holiday sounds great, BTM. When do you get back?

Stropps, you must be thankful for a few days of peace.

DH has recovered well - his black eye is going green and yellow so on the way out. He has been outside ministering to his poorly bike but has agreed to give tomorrow's ride a miss.

What ho crepeys. I am slapping my thigh at the very thought of your boots, CV. A thigh I fear is far too lardy to be highlighted in such beauties, unlike your coltish limbs.

Having a very lovely half term with my very lovely DS. Tuesday to nearby park (Wanstead, seat of tragically vanished Wanstead House, the finest palladian mansion outside Versailles, apaz) then swimming, Wednesday to the Barbican for fun-packed adventure trail, then Shaun the Sheep (three out of five stars), then pizza, then to Epping Forest for muddy pursuits, lunch in the Brewers Fayre (bloody lovely) and massive gossip with good pal. Who I discovered has only 5% thyroid function, and is on hefty doses of thyroxine every day.

DS is being so delightful at the moment, despite increasingly probing questions about where babies come from (I don't think 'special cuddle' is going to hold him for long), and continuing morbid thoughts. As FB followers will note, he said 'After you've died and become a twinkle, I'll die and become a twinkle too, and we can wave and say hello and be together forever'. I had to do some pretty hefty staring into the distance and blinking for a while.

No holidays in the offing here. Though my thoughts are turning in that direction...

Beachy, your DD'S outfit sounds fab but is Falmouth ready for her?! I remember it being very lovely but not exactly happening. Or maybe I just didn't go to the right places!

Stropps, I hope it's not the weirdo we spoke about. Or maybe it's better if it is and she can write him off

NU I think I missed what happened to your DH - sound bad. But your holiday plans sound good. Sadly DH still hasn't done anything about NZ

We left the slopes after a large late lunch with our friends and are now holed up in a Premiere Classe near Troyes, which thankfully has wifi! DH did a sterling job of driving us 300+ miles in 4 hours

Love the boots CV - they look like they might actually come to my knee! I did have a pair of long black lace - ups and a pair of thigh boots in my yoof

Herbs, lovely to see all your photos and hear his thoughts on life. And death!

Boots just about cover my knee. Inaugural wear tomorrow.

Our "day out" plans for tomorrow are now completely dead in the water, as DH has succumbed to man flu. And both MIL and SIL are arriving mid-pm. I'm off to work! In my cute boots!

Hello everyone and belated happy birthday CV.

Glad to hear some are enjoying holidays & others are enjoying fantasising about them. DD and I have discovered Death in Paradise (Midsomer Murders with sunshine) & decided we want to go to Guadeloupe, though summer probably isn't the best time.

Lovely evening with DNephew, favourite Italian restaurant and Bake-Off, something we can enjoy with DM .

DNephew now has 10 (ten, X) 'reading days' so is going to go and spend them in Hull with his gf. Did they have those when we were at university?? Nobody ever mentioned them to me

Working on my conference paper today, forgot to have lunch. Not getting the hang of this cutting down on work at all. Have to learn how to organise myself all over again

I am at desk rather than in park, having swapped Ladyjogging for a bit of early MNing work before going out with DD2. DD1 has a heavy schedule of Topshop ahead of her, apparently.

We squeezed in one last meal without Ds - dp is off to pick him up today...
And judging from the banging around the dog left dp a deposit this morning......

I intend to not do very much as still full of cold.

Hello everyone. motherinferior says I will like this thread so here I am. Age sixty-five, two children, four grandchildren, live in France but in UK for half-term. Hope I am not too crepey! (Actually have lost two stone low-carbing so am quite crepey at the moment but it is worth it to be in a size 12 for the first time since the menopause started).

Hello .

Does low-carbing- CV, you do it, don't you - actually work? Actually officially any diet does as long as you stick to it. That would be my downfall.

Welcome, Emily :)

Welcome, Emily.

MI, low carb very much does work. Once you get into the mindset of lots of veg instead of potatoes, rice, pasta etc it is relatively easy. Good for eating out without anyone knowing you are on a diet. Lots of water to remove bloating. I love it

My wool overs parcel is here. About to crack into it. Excited.

Yes, it does work, if you stick to it.

Hi Emily!

Or I could just eat less overall, of course

Am trying to rouse DD2 in between writing about brain tumours. I really need to give some books back to a lovely academic who lent them to me some years ago en route into Taahn. DD2 is unimpressed.

It has been great for us. We have done it slowly over a year, kept wine and fruit in the diet all the way through and gone low GI for the limited carbs we eat. We keep portion sizes small and the only things we have cut out completely are sugar, white flour and white rice. Despite plenty of butter, cheese, eggs we have both seen a drop in cholesterol levels. Easy to do and as you say, not difficult when you are eating out. We have a massive veg garden so good from that point of view too.

BTW does anyone know where in UK shops I can get a simple A-line denim skirt and a plain navy cardie? Not much to ask I would have thought, but have searched M and S, BHS etc and can't find either. Really boring I know, but despite living in a country renowned for its fashion, rural Normandy is not exactly in the forefront.....

I'll be chucked out of the Nice Indian Girls Club - or at least the White Desi Girls Club - if I give up white rice.

I hear sounds of the lesser DD2 muttering in its den.

White Stuff sounds right for the skirt - I'm actually wearing one, from the charity shop, at the moment. Cardie might be sourced from our favourite boutique...

Plain navy cardigan - I'd go for Pure cashmere (for a rich day) or Woolovers on a more economical one. I like my new jerseys, though I haven't tried them on yet. They look good though and I've had cardigans from Woolovers before. Watch the sizes though as I find the cardigans are very generous.

Actually basmati is not too high on the GI scale so we have 35g each about once a month
We do some very esoteric curries to use up surplus veg though; achocha and courgette jalfrezi was a triumph. Oh and we think chickpea fritters (pudla besan?) are just fab.