Crepey wattle and daub

[herbaceous]

At last! I get to use my thread title.

Over here, my hags.

Yes. Very upsetting.

I just can't stop thinking about DD's exchange partner, how much I loved her when she came to stay with us & how much I wanted to keep her instead of seeing her off home. We've all been out to see the family since & they've been here for a summer holiday. I can't bear to think what it would do to DD if anything happened to her

Had to go to a presentation at school about the World Challenge trip to Cambodia. I'm sceptical. It was a hard sell, with a bit of window-dressing at the beginning and end about 'making a difference' to those less fortunate. But no details of the 'community project', just lots about character-building, sight-seeing and (especially) fundraising. Lots of funds. £3.5k each.

I'm sure DD would enjoy it but there are lots of things she'd enjoy. I doubt whether a bunch of untrained 16 year olds can make a useful difference in a deprived community, or at least more difference than we could make by donating the money.

Anyone have experience of this sort of thing?

Auriga, it is truly horrific to imagine what those bereaved families and friends must be feeling.

Re the trip, no experience, but a friends DD is hoping to do the same sort of thing in Peru. It does sound like a huge amount of money, but unless you have contacts/experience of organising something similar, maybe it's a good plan?

DP, who is in corporate responsibility and knows about the world of 'do gooding', says that whether these trips actually do any good, rather than piss off the locals, depends on how much local involvement there is, and how well it's managed by the NGO. But in general, there are a force for good.

Molly and I have worked for slightly different volunteering organisations - I'm personally v dubious about untrained teenagers in this context.

Giving the same money to am NGO would definitely be more effective IMO.

I was supposed to have three friends round for dinner this evening (a group of primary mums meeting ever more sporadically for a good old gossip) but there was a very last minute postponement, so dinner for the family was rather more elaborate than usual. A small part of me was relieved as I'm still seeing off the remains of this cold.

Last day of term tomorrow, hooray.

I have to pack up some eBay parcels. I bought a Boden dress in the charity shop a few weeks ago but decided it was a little too tight/short so stuck it on eBay.

Purchased for £8, sold for £22. Ker-CHING!!

In my favourite charity shop there's currently a max mara dress for a tenner, and a moschino one for £15. I'm rather tempted to buy them, then 'liberate' them on eBay.

Rudy (phew!), we have taken our DC to all sorts of places and have never had to pay for jabs for them or ourselves - all on the good old NHS. Surely they could do that too?

Last day today! Got everything crossed (including my stomach) that DD gets her French speaking CA done and finishes the Science ISA today, all probably after the rest of the school has finished at lunchtime - not at all a happy bunny.

Off to Norwich. Managed solo rather well last night but hope v much that regular singer is back for tomorrow's concert. Though suspect I don't hope it as much as the two first altos who will be left horribly exposed if she's not there - they are both extremely nice and also (by their own admissions) not madly strong singers.

Thanks, MI, Herbs and Rudy. This trip isn't organised by an NGO, it's a commercial outfit, though they presumably have NGO partners in Cambodia and Laos (who are not mentioned anywhere in their literature).

We have to move out of the bedroom today for decorators, so of course I'm snuggling in bed putting it off.

DD had a lovely end to the term with her re-audition for the symphony orchestra. She got excellent feedback & was thrilled.

God luck with your solo MI. Bottom G to top E in a blink . I would come to gasp and applaud but I'm in a concert myself tomorrow

Shoot me now. While browsing TKMaxx online, I just said - out loud, and to myself - that a pair of trainers looked 'fun'.

interestingly i recently read an article on this very issue of student volunteering and they were in MIs camp...

Here am wfh and the latest bombshell is my boss is going to undergo chemo as a precaution and will be out of action for 4 months........

Herbs, better than saying they looked "comfy"

BD, that is one hell of a bombshell. How much will that impact on your day to day? Will you have to pick up all his / her work or just oversee someone else doing it? I really hope you get a good break over Easter as the last few months sounds truly hellish at work

Well done on the singing, MI, and hope that today is both reassuring and productive chez vos parents.

Auriga, DD must be thrilled. Always lovely to get good feedback and especially after feeling a little delicate about other things.

Conducted a (very slow) ladyjog. I would love to be able to run for a few weeks on the spin without colds, Brian, injured ankles etc causing a hiatus. Still, baby steps eh? I am off out to lunch in a bit with some friends from school who are reassuringly thirsty.

I too am feeling the terrible tragedy of the plane crash very keenly…..Every time I switch on the radio, the story unfolds another distressing piece in the jigsaw of the story.

Good luck in Norwich MI and well done on the singing front. this ight be your big break

That sounds wonderful, bout your DDs orchestra audition Auriga Lovely way to end the term, as you say.

Sorry BD that doesn't sound good at at all

Well, break out the champagne, Crepeys….the first full draft of the play is complete. The final scene was written in a local caff this morning. 15 months of work…and we have a script with a title….and after keeping it all under wraps for so long, I've posted on facebook. Now we are in the process of setting up two rehearsed readings…and believe it or not…we have agreed our next story line…

Oh and Rose, is that the finished play on FB? Is that ConS? Well done on bringing it all together.

Hatty, hope DD is home safely and that you are having a good catch up.

Is today the day for Cremo's op? Thinking of you and sending love, Cremo XXX

Oh Rose - congrats!

I will probably have to pick up some stuff - I am used to my boss being off line for periods so I am hoping it is manageable (I really don't want them putting anyone else in), I just feel really sorry for her - I really like her and she has had a rough ride health-wise recently. Hoping that this resolves things (she also has two small children), but it was a bit of a shock.

Puts things in perspective though - all the trauma with ex-travelling companion - pah - a waste of emotional energy...

Well done Rose! Good news indeed

Yes, sending you positive vibes Cremo. And virtual

BD, that's not good news, but definitely puts teen-type behaviour into perspective.

Only 2 hours to go here. Not that I'm counting!

Roseam vvvv impressed.

On train. Mum slowly recovering but dad being an ARSE (no surprise there) in his continuing insistence that she'll be fully mobile soon - even the physio has decided to take it slowly on realising she's still in the midst of chemo. He refuses to consider moving. So she is confined to three (3, iii) rooms with no access to kitchen or bathroom; other people have to wash her, get her clothes etc, she can't cook or get to the loo and has to deal with the stoma in the room where she sleeps.

Well done Rose, what an achievement

MI, that sounds grim, what a worry. How is your DM's morale?

HERBS! look here. Coloured trainer heaven! I fancy some shocking pink ones... or maybe bright yellow...

Oh QQ they are fab!
My brother bought me a pair of the trad white three blue strip back in the day

Rose! Your script! When can we come and see the play?

MI that sounds horrible, your poor Mum. Can they get a stairlift fitted, if your Dad refuses to move?

Problem is that

(a) the upstairs bathroom is v inaccessible - you have to climb into the bath to have a shower

(b) the kitchen is down 3 steps - a ramp would block off the door to the garden: more accessible bathroom is through from there

(c) conservatory off living room also down 3 steps - though a ramp down those might be feasible and she could also get into the garden and then through to the kitchen and along to that bathroom

(d) front door opens onto large area of GRAVEL. Bear in mind she is prone to v nasty falls.

So even if they had a stairlift it would only solve a fairly minor fraction of the problem.