Crepey wattle and daub

[herbaceous]

At last! I get to use my thread title.

Over here, my hags.

NU, I've done that coughing-till-vomiting thing too in the past, and DD1 was doing it recently. Poor love. (She's better now.)

DD2 and I watched Indian Summers (we are big fans) and I shall indulge in Poldark tonight.

I feel a bit of a hypocrite posting on that thread; I knew her slightly - and liked her hugely - through MN, we lost touch and then she got back in touch on FB and then mentioned she was badly ill, and I was on the email list for her DH - but a lot of my own emotional energy has, understandably, gone on my mother's cancer during this period so I've not been particularly involved. But it is truly horrible. The emails over the past week about her deterioration meant I wasn't too surprised, but it is awful.

Someone else I knew died (finally, after being ill for decades) last week. 'Tis the season. Not impressed.

NU hope you are better soon!

Well day one over, it can only get easier! I am still that a friendship can be binned that easily - it felt like being 15 again.....

Is this the car share friend BD?

Still desperately curious to know the gory details. Hope you got into work OK.xx

I want the details! It all sounds most intriguing.

Had fairly dispiriting lecture today. It was supposed to clarify exactly how to do our next assignment, but frankly confused the very arse from me.

Was very daring today, and bought a different hair dye from my usual Nice n Easy dark blonde. Could be an error.

Herbs, what sort of different hair dye? Are we talking a slightly different shade or a radical revamp?

Am looking forward to Shirtless Poldark later. It may require a glass of wine. A pale shadow of former days, when one could drink quite a few glasses of wine and entice a gentleman caller into removing his garments in reality, but I take my pleasures where I can.

Roffle re Poldark, MI. I have yet to succumb, either to the programme or Poldark's considerable charms.

Re hair dye, it is merely a different brand of semi-permanent light brown, so doubt anything earth-shattering is about to take place. But my hair is now so grey, I might have to Have Something Done Professionally.

MI
I suffered Poldark as a child. It holds no interest for me!

In good news, DD has a conditional offer from her first choice of sixth-form. However, it will require more than a modicum of hard work to ensure the grades needed!

Ooh good for her!

To be honest I never managed to entice anyone nearly as gorgeous as Mr P.

BD, this business with your friend sounds horrible - but we neeeed some details to have a hope of saying anything helpful...

MI .

So should I watch Poldark? I am still plodding through House of Cards season three and would like something a little more....cheery and easy on the eye.

Good news BTM, I am sure it will be fine. ds is flagging, too tired even to effectively cover up an appalling biology test result, or to write one more bloody work experience application....we are Giving Up. And dd is dealing with a ridiculous degree course situation where they have changed the rules about what she can study since she started and since they explained in writing that it would be OK . Pah. At least the dc themselves seem quite sane and reasonable at the moment.

BD, so odd when friendships just go like that.....

I'm officially knackered. The funeral went well (first Catholic one I've ever attended) and, although I wasn't emotionally invested (having only met DH's aunt a handful of times), it is always hard seeing loved ones upset. There was also a hefty amount of convoy driving around West London (Church to Crematorium to Catholic Club and home via airport - we had to bring two cars), plus marshalling of inlaws, childwrangling, and so on. And I seem to have come down with yet another cold. I have a red nose. Bah.

Herbs/MI, you'll be pleased to know I was dressed in top to toe charity shop (Autograph black tailored dress and black & white wool Alexon jacket) .

BIL/SIL are off home tomorrow, but to be honest they are easy guests and have been no bother at all. Anyway, I'm off to bed.

Oh lovely women of certain ages: mea culpa
I have done that thing of vanishing for days on end again.

Had to take a dash to Ggow to see dd. It was planned, but I have been beside myself with worrying about her since ( probably shouldn't have gone blah blah) . The op is on Friday so I am mostly sitting pondering about dd ( long story involving mental health and lack of self belief and dare I say it self respect. ) All amounts to the same thing; I am stressing about the poor child and she is resisting all attempts at help/intervention/ suggestions/gentle persuasion. Oh and dh is having a bloody wobbly.
And well, I am just going round in circles and feeling thran and sorry for all womankind and why can't things just be easy for 5 sodding minutes.

I will come back - I realise I am dumping and running. Hoping that my new back will help me out a bit.

Crem, you poor love, to have so many worries at once and pain on top. Be really kind to yourself this week, it is going to be a tough one, and then I hope you'll have dd home and a new back to play with, and those five minutes of respite.....xx

Crem, poor you. There must be something we can do to help. What's the uni counselling service like? Provision is supposed to be good these days, although God knows getting the dc to use it is a mountain in itself. I am always pointing out the relevant building to mine, only to be eye-rolled at. I have to say that uni GPs don't seem all that on the ball either.

Good to hear from you Crem. Sorry to hear things are so bloody difficult. Hope dd is ok. How long til she's back for a proper break over Easter? Do take care of yourself lovely and all good vibes for your back op. How long will you be in? How long in theory to recover? X

Crem - hang in there. Is DD not back soon for a good rest? My DD is back tomorrow having stopped by my parents. My DF actually emailed me to say how grey and tired she was looking and that she had had two good sleeps at their place! It seems the first year at uni has passed really quickly for all concerned.

I hope your back op goes well and that your DD holds it together

Oh Cremo sorry to hear you and DD are having such a hard time. Look after yourself.

Re my situ this is a public forum and I really don't want to say too much! Honestly it's boring and petty and like being 15 again. Think 'you went to lunch with her and didn't tell me? Well I'm not your friend anymore' type stuff. It really is at that level.

Cremo, so sorry to hear your news. Have got everything crossed that the back op goes well.

BD, you WILL be coming to the MU, won't you?

And you too, if you are fit and able, Cremo.

Cremo, sorry to hear this hope you have DD back with you soon. x

Morning all, just checking in. Crem - so sorry to hear about all your worries about dd, it is so hard when you feel something is wrong and yet can't find a way to fix it or even quite put your finger on what it is. Agree that a break over Easter and some tlc is likely to do wonders for you both.

BD - bah to ridiculous friend's behaviour! Annoying and such a waste of precious time and energy. I had a friend doing a bit of that a couple of years ago - it was post her divorce, so there were understandable neediness issues, but it was still a pita. Eventually she calmed down when she realised people were not all getting together to drink martinis every day without her.

Re Poldark - he has snuck up on me (not literally, sadly, I wouldn't be finding time to post here if that were the case ). I wasn't really watching and then was in the vicinity of the tv last Sunday night and then again this Sunday night and it was a bit more entertaining than I had expected. Even dh poked his head out from behind the papers to admire the shirtless threshing scene - actually, he said "is that really necessary?" What made me larf was that the lovely but no oil painting Phil Davies was working equally hard with his scythe, fnar, but clearly not getting hot enough to have to remove his shirt. And do I mean threshing, were they just scything? Perhaps threshing is a different harvest process and we can look forward to that next week.

I have a very satisfying car full of stuff for the charity shop to drop of on my way to work today. Out damn clutter. The last load proved problematic as shops have got a bit sniffy about what they will take - not that I am giving rags or tat mind you, but one place they would take ornaments but no books, the other books and adult clothes but no kids' stuff. Arrrgh. Finally found lovely little Geranium shop that was very grateful for everything so I am now saving all the best stuff for them. I also have to write apology letters to all my neighbours as we have had jackhammers going all day for a week now - I didn't realise how long it would take them to break up the acres of mid century concrete in order to do new foundations . Feel quite embarrassed I didn't warn them before it started.

Have a good day all.

Talking of clutter, DD said that she needs to clear out her drawers as she can't fit all her clothes in I have been trying to get her to do this for months and months!

Crem, as you know I have GG uni connections - cannot promise anything but email me if you think that might be helpful.

I feel your DH doesn't quite understand the meaning of the word 'necessary', Wilbur. But yes, PD is acting is considerably talented socks off and 99 per cent of viewers are just saying "move over, Phil, we want more lithe torso with interludes of galloping".

Ladyjog conducted. A thousand (count 'em) newly dug words freshly quivering on the page. However, have not so far managed to earn a living.

BTM - if your dd does do a clear out and there's anything that might do a fast-growing almost 12 yr old, I'd be happy to head over to your manor and take a carrier bag off your hands. We did a clear out of dd's wardrobe and she was unable to wedge herself into about 75% of the contents! Most of what's left has an owl on it, in some form or other.

MI - well done on the writing. That is how you're supposed to do it - Important but Not Urgent first thing - then it gets done which it won't if you do Urgent stuff first.

We should set up a crepey cascade of clothes. I have some nice navy cargo style Fat Face shorts for an 11yo boy here, but would happily accept ex 12yo dd clothes for my 9 yo dd!! Meet up swap shop.....

Sorry to hear about your concerns, Crem, and the fact that they have been exacerbated by your trip there. The fact that you went and expressed your support is pretty much all you can do at this stage, which is, I guess what is so frustrating..... it's all the 'keep the channels open' and 'listening without commenting', which is hard. Will she be back for the whole of the holidays?

We are battling through the last week at the old school - we are at the stage, similar to leaving a bad relationship, where everyone is saying how much they like him and they'll miss him and he's feeling like 'maybe it's not so bad here, after all'. But I've had lovely conversations with his new Head of Year, who's prepped me up with the sort of thing they are studying there in Year 9 and given me soothing words about the transition.

Off on hols on Sunday - can't wait - but I'm so disorganised and really haven't booked/packed anything....

(BTW Wilbur, I wish you hadn't distracted me with your image of Mr P sneaking up on one.)