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Crepey wattle and daub

997 replies

herbaceous · 13/03/2015 10:30

At last! I get to use my thread title.

Over here, my hags.

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herbaceous · 28/03/2015 17:06

I'm still dithering about trainers. TK Maxx had some good ones yesterday, but not in my size, which is sadly seemingly the most common and thus the first to sell out.

Sorry to hear about your mum's problems, and father's intransigence, MI. I think people hang on to whatever certainty they have, under such circs, however unhelpful this is.

I have spent an exhausting three hours manning the hoopla stall at the school's Easter Fair. Nearly rewarded with a giant cake - a prize for correctly guessing its total calories - but it turns out someone was even closer. Still, I guessed 6,500, and the real answer was 6,666, so not bad.

If 666 is the number of the beast, is 6,6666, the calorie count of the beast's cake?

Poor DP. Not only is it the anniversary of his dad's death, but his mum is really ill. She's in massive pain, somewhere in the abdomen. She's been struggling at home, throwing up into buckets, and unable to eat anything, but has just been taken to hospital in an ambulance. I wish I knew what was the matter - the docs don't seem to think it's the Big C, but they seem remarkably useless at finding out the actual illness - she's been on antibiotics for a month now, as they think it's 'something bacterial'.

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lalsy · 28/03/2015 18:22

Yes to tea in BP, Wilbur, and yes, 20 mins if that to the Ritzy from there. Tis fab.

Herbs, how horrible - I hope they found out what the problem is very soon.

RudyMentary · 28/03/2015 19:27

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Blackduck · 28/03/2015 19:37

On my way home to my hound. Lovely wedding -- my administrator is a fab person and it was so great to see her so happy. Lots of little kids including a girl in a princess dress owning the dance floor :).
I'll walk the dog and pour a glass, meanwhile my other colleague is off out to another party! (I have no stamina!)

Blackduck · 28/03/2015 19:43

Rudy can you afford all thatGrin

MrsSchadenfreude · 28/03/2015 19:58

Gallbladder, Herbs? Have they checked it out for your MIL? I was in massive pain and vomiting like there was no tomorrow.

BTM, you can have our flat, but it is neither minimalist nor modern.

I have bought a permanent hair colour from Boots, in a much slightly lighter shade. Please tell me it will be alright. Hair colour is currently skewbald. Grin Tell me it won't go orange like it did once before.

DD2 has nits AGAIN and it took me about an hour to rake through her hair with the nit comb. Most seemed to be dead, but there was definitely one crawler, and now my head is itching too. Sad

In S & B news, I got DD a bikini for our forthcoming holiday, and got myself some new bras. Was asked if I wanted to open a Debenhams account and save 10%, so I said yes, and then got turned down. Owning property for past 15 years, working for same employer and having same bank for past 30 years insufficient; the main problem was not living in UK for the past three years. So I took my custom to John Lewis.

Rosebag · 28/03/2015 20:16

I agree, it does sound like gall bladder or blocked bile duct Herbs… Assume they have ruled out a kidney infection…stones? Poor lady and poor DP…worrying. I hope at least they can relieve her symptoms whilst they get a diagnosis.

We have (surprisingly for us) had a somewhat calm and nice day Shock The DC took themselves off on the tube to town early, to queue for cheap theatre tickets, and went to a matinee of 'Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown' (£20 for £85 front stalls tickets.) They thoroughly enjoyed it and treated themselves to ice creams in the interval as well as a programme. It was a kind of musical farce…DH and I went for a walk over Primrose Hill and into Regents Park…I have been looking at flats with a NW3 and NW1 postcode for our retirement. DH looked pale every time I spotted a charming mews flat or a penthouse with a serious view. Pipe dreams at the moment… Then we all met up near Regents Park for supper. No screaming today…long may it continue Hmm

RudyMentary · 28/03/2015 21:06

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MrsSchadenfreude · 28/03/2015 21:58

Oooh, Rudy, it's like a soap opera.

QueenQueenie · 28/03/2015 22:25

Blimey Rudy. Are you sure dd will be up for that? If she's not for whatever reason you are going to be right in the firing line for being involved in helping to arrange it. Personally the whole idea of 'surprises' makes my blood run cold and I'd have been apoplectic if my parents had done this and personally I think it's all a bit creepy of him.

RudyMentary · 28/03/2015 22:37

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QueenQueenie · 28/03/2015 22:41

Well that's what I'd think Rudy...
How old is he? Same age as dd? I'd expect teenagers who'd 'met' online to want to meet up in rl for the first time, if they decided to, not under the gaze of both sets of parents! Like maybe in Pizza Hut / the shopping centre etc. Public but not with your Mum looking on. Odd.

RudyMentary · 28/03/2015 22:49

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RudyMentary · 28/03/2015 22:50

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CointreauVersial · 28/03/2015 23:07

Wow, Rudy, how intriguing! I think it will be nice to see the RL person behind the screen shots... I'm sure DD will be pleased to see him.

Interesting to think about retirement dwellings.... on our running route DH and I go past a very smart old folk's home and always comment about ending up there, yes please. Actually, our current house (being a chalet bungalow) would probably see us into our dotage, but I don't really love it enough to want to stay forever. MI - I cannot understand how your DDad hasn't cottoned on to the utter unsuitability of a home with lots of steps, stairs and gravel, but it does seem that your DM needs to make a stand...oh, it must be such a worry.

A fairly busy weekend here; last night DH and I met a group of our old neighbours in a very noisy and packed bar (the sort of place which makes you feel ancient and gives you a sore throat from shouting). DH was all aflutter because old neighbours brought along a friend who is a Very Big Cheese in the world of F1 (just moved back to England after a few years working for the famous Italian team with the red livery). Not that he could chat to him what with all the noise....

Then today, we went to (deep breath) Bluewater. Oh, I love that place. Shop shop shoppity shop. I was quite restrained, though. Yah Boo Sucks to your multicoloured crepey trainers; I bought snakeskin loafers! Off to DM's tomorrow for an early Easter turkey lunch...

RudyMentary · 29/03/2015 07:37

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Auriga · 29/03/2015 09:43

Well (and succinctly) said QQ. Hope the online friend turns out to be a good one in real life, Rudy. But his idea that you should collude in ambushing your DD makes me quite curious about him (and his parents).

How was your concert MI? Had fingers crossed for your solo. Ours was wonderful, the setting was perfect for the programme. Sublime soprano in the Allegri Miserere. Sadly neither DH nor DD could come, as they both had their own concerts: the first three-way clash we've had Grin

Hope everyone is looking forward to some time off over Easter.

herbaceous · 29/03/2015 10:25

Ooh, the Allegri Miserere! We're going to do that. Once we can find a soprano for the top C. I can do a Bflat on a good day with the wind behind me, at the top of a run, but don't think anyone in our choir is a 'proper' enough soprano for such a test.

Auriga - have you heard of the Vasari singers? Our conductor wrote a piece for them, and we might rope in one of their sopranos for the Allegri.

DP off to darkest Berkshire, complete with rail engineering works, to see his mum in hospital. Despite being admitted at 6 last night, a doctor has yet to see her. FFS. This is so horribly reminiscent of this time last year, when his dad was treated so appallingly.

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motherinferior · 29/03/2015 10:57

Oh Herbs.Hmm

Concert went well GrinGrin!!! We've all just had an email about it. I didn't do solo in the end but I've done longer (and nicer - the song about frogs from Israel in Egypt) before and I've also been recognised as someone who can step up to the musical plate at short noticeGrin. Then I zoomed off to lovely friend's 50th and it was nice but I couldn't quite get the adrenaline going in such a different mode and the drinks were quite pricey so I came home at a quite sensible hourShock.

Rudy, that does sound perturbing.

Alas, again the belief that my dad will see reason is just not borne out by experience.

RudyMentary · 29/03/2015 11:11

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motherinferior · 29/03/2015 11:22

I think you're doing it right, Rudy. He's starting to sound like someone who's being a bit clumsy and inexperienced in relationships more than anything else.

Rosebag · 29/03/2015 11:24

I bought these last week and am celebrating the fact that I can get into anything at all in Zara, (tops only, mind…bottoms of any description in Zara are a no no for the likes of me…)

wrap

tunic

That sounds awful for your DP and his Mum Herbs, so sorry.

Well done MI on the singing front…we will be singing lots of songs about frogs (and other lovely plagues and pestilence) in Egypt for the forthcoming festival!!

Rudy you are handing this very sensibly and calmly. Suspect the on line BF was just trying to be nice…but surprises don't often work out well, do they. Good luck with it all…I wonder what the parents are actually like? I have to admit, I would have been so much more secretive about something like this as a teen…having said that…we didn't have the internet. Yikes.

My emails are down again…4th time this week. DH is shouting…
Angry Angry Angry

lalsy · 29/03/2015 11:29

Rudy, I think you are handling it really well too. And I think it could all be well intentioned: I do know perfectly nice though I wouldn't want to be in them families where surprises are a Thing. So I think it is possible they are all trying to do the right thing, but is has turned out wrong. And a meeting sounds like it is overdue anyway,and may shake things up.

Herbs, your poor dp and his dm.

Well done MI Smile.

bigTillyMint · 29/03/2015 11:45

MrsS, how very dare they?!

RudyShock Glad you're not going ahead with his plan - much better that your DD gets to have a say, and hopefully he'll turn out to be a nice young man.

Rose, are they the ones from SD? My last pair of Nike trainers from SD are springing holes all over. I was hoping to last out till October and my NY trip, but there is really no chance of that!

Had a long but very enjoyable day yesterday with DD watching DGodD play hockey and catching up with my BF's in TOWIE-land. Sadly, I think DD would have been right up for playing hockey, but it doesn't seem to be on offer in any of the local state schools. In fact, it was quite interesting (and rather depressing really) to note that the hockey brigade (or at least the ones who made it to the National finals) are 99.9% white middle-classConfused
Had a long drive back home (almost via your house, Herbs) as my navigator missed the turn for the A12 and then literally got in and grabbed a bottle of wine before heading straight back out to friends for dinner (without DH as he was suffering from man-flu)

Quiet day at home today as DH (who has now miraculously recovered enough) takes DS to footySmile

bigTillyMint · 29/03/2015 11:53

Herbs, sorry to hear of your MIL.
We really are the sandwich generation nowSad

CV, like the shoes! Rose, I am usually an XL in Zara - I wonder why I don't really shop there very often?!

Rudy, if it was me and my DD, I would (just like you), explain to her that he rang to ask if he could come and surprise her, but that I thought it would be too much of a surprise... I would definitely go ahead with them meeting up (and me meeting him) though as if they are to develop their relationship/friendship further, they do really need to meet in RL and you/your family need to meet him and check that he hasn't got hairy hands I bet his parents are probably thinking the same!

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