Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

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.

OP posts:
Stropperella · 07/04/2015 10:22

MrsS, that would drive me utterly bonkers and if someone kept coming round and knocking on my door at all hours of the day and night and Social Services wouldn't allow me to talk to them about it, I'd talk to the police. On the basis that Social Services would have to listen to them and it sounds as though it would be a kindness to your neighbour to get someone to step in.
BTM, it must be so hard to deal with, but dealing with it long-distance is really tough. When dh's mum lost the plot, her neighbours phoned him, even though his db only lived down the road from their mum and dh was 200 miles away (and the neighbours knew all this). Eventually, dh arranged for his mum to move into a bungalow near where he was living, but she only stayed there for about a year and then had to move into a nursing home.
I am mainly writing assignments and trying not to worry about the fact that dd is apparently doing AS exams in Social Media Studies and Makeup Application. Both dh and I had to work for the whole weekend with a break on Saturday afternoon and Sunday for family activities.
Am trying not to get fed up about having to rethink a lot of areas of my life due to my knackered back. Didn't realise how much heavy lifting I was doing until I had to stop doing it (sacks of chicken food, sacks of compost, well just anything that needs lifting I do it - and all the garden work). Not sure who is going to do it all instead, really. Ho hum.
Back to driveling on about the half-baked state of the national curriculum..

Stropperella · 07/04/2015 10:26

CV, hope you manage to have a nice break in Norfolk and ds stops being tricky and dd2 stops being sicky. Not very helpful of gf's mum and surely it would have been better to discuss this with you first rather than just throw the suggestion out there?

MI, well done on all the words!!

motherinferior · 07/04/2015 10:43

I worry they're not very good words. But at least they're a start.

Am not managing to write my other feature, though. I have a lunch meeting with CDiff. Am not anticipating it being too awful a meeting but I don't like lunch meetings.

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/04/2015 11:51

I am WFH this morning and hampered by the cats fighting to sit on my laptop. DD2 has still not surfaced, although it is entirely possible that she may be on her phone, in bed. I have offered smoked salmon and scrambled egg as an incentive to get her out of bed for lunch, but she said "meh" so I will eat it on my own. She went out for the day with friends yesterday and told me they have all been revising for the exams they have immediately they go back to school. DD2 has done nothing and will do nothing, and no amount of nagging will make her do any work. She has, however, produced the A level Grammar Workbook, that her French teacher fondly thinks will suffice as extension work, and will motivate her to get her mojo back in French. I have never seen anything drier in my life. All credit to her, she has done some of the exercises (and has got them right), but I don't see it getting her excited about French. DSIL, who is a teacher, says that this and "worksheets", which DD2 has also been promised in class, are "lazy teaching." I am inclined to agree.

motherinferior · 07/04/2015 12:02

Dear god, what the child needs is something French to read, not effiing worksheetsAngry.

CointreauVersial · 07/04/2015 12:14

Well, we got away. One child grumpy, one slightly green about the gills...but we are officially on holiday.

hattymattie · 07/04/2015 12:19

Mrs S - would it help if I found out what my DC's are reading in French and let you have the titles? I cannot guarantee however that it will not be extremely boring French lit. DS is 13 and DD2 is 16.

CV really annoying of GF's mum to set this saga off again - I would be livid. I remember when DD1 wanted to spend Christmas with her BF, I was really upset - fortunately she didn't have enough money to pay and I informed her I would not be chipping in.

Now have DD2 being difficult as she wants to go to a rock festival in Luxembourg. I let DD1 do this but it was with her boyfriend and his brother not a bunch of silly girls!

Herbs - I can obv spot Michael Kors - your coat would go with my handbagSmile
.

MI - enjoying your contributions to the bad writers thread - well done on keeping writing.

bigTillyMint · 07/04/2015 14:16

I second the reading novels in French. Far better than doing boring worksheets.

Stropps, put the teen issues to one side and get on with what you have to doWink

I have been out meeting up with friends (and bemoaning the stress of GCSEs) and just made it back in time for a mattress delivery.
I spoke to DM's GP receptionist who was lovely, and it appears that we can't do anything about POA until the diagnosis is confirmed.
I am now contemplating how to spend the afternoon - in the sun, I think!

Rosebag · 07/04/2015 14:41

What is this bad writers thread of which you speak? Should I be in it?

Sorry for all this needy parent stress tilly. It's soooo frustrating waiting on things when you just know what needs to be done. Our best help has been from community SS and the private carer that DDad has 3-4 mornings a week ( expensive but a Filipino male nurse who is an absolute treasure)
mrsS I do recommend bullying the school in to letting your girls do the DELF diloma. There's loads of different levels and DS really rated it.
CV gosh GFs parents have been most unhelpful but we're probably thinking they were helping. Do hope your DD hasn't honked up in the car and you have a nice time.
We are basking I'm glorious sunshine in a neighbouring village community garden having done a lovely 5 mile approx hike and having eaten a matzo picnic on the way. I glad of it as everyone was arguing and bitching on in the flat this morning but the walking and grease air do seem to halt that, at least temporarily. Decided to see Cinderella tonight at local flee pit.

Rosebag · 07/04/2015 14:42

Flea. Sorry. On phone

Rosebag · 07/04/2015 14:44

Grease air... Eh? Fresh air

lalsy · 07/04/2015 15:43

Isn't this weather wonderful? Grumpy sort of revising going on here but I am trying to smile and wave through it.

Thanks for all your thoughts on my neighbour crepeys - dh has pointed out that IF SS asked either of them about it, they would know it was me who had contacted them (even if our SS had a good rep for discretion, which they don't....)- and both might be angry. The mother at least knows where we live....so I am afraid I am not risking it for the moment (am concerned about one of them scaring the dc if I am not around). Thank you all Flowers.

CV, most unhelpful.

Rose, have a lovely time.

motherinferior · 07/04/2015 16:33

I am finally returning from exhausting but productive CDiff lunch meeting. Nipped into Bravissimo sale and purchased v cheering yellow lacy number afterwards, which will horrify my straight-laced offspringGrinGrinGrin

lalsy · 07/04/2015 16:39

Bra, MI?. And hurrah for C.diff lunch.

MollyAir · 07/04/2015 17:15

Lalsy, I think you're right.

lalsy · 07/04/2015 17:35

Thanks, Molly.

motherinferior · 07/04/2015 18:02

Bra indeed. I came home and realised another even racier version in pink and orange was for sale on Figleaves site so I bought that too. Now I can chuck out black scratchy ones with a clear conscience.

bigTillyMint · 07/04/2015 18:24

Lalsy, that is probably for the best!

MI, you will match your office, maybe you can write in your braGrin

Hasn't the weather been gorgeous - spent the afternoon dans le jardin. DS came out to do skipping, burpees and the like (and then went for a run and came back very sweaty) and DD came back from the park (loads of revision going on thereWink) and we had a jolly family time.

motherinferior · 07/04/2015 18:29

How nice. I am going to footle around and see if there's anything I can face putting together for supper...

Original poster
herbaceous · 07/04/2015 18:57

Had v jolly outdoor day with DS's new BFF, and his supercool mum. First, local city farm, that has been recently done up, and now is a good deal less depressing. Currently featuring baby lambkins, baby kidkins, peacocks, and massive turkeys with blue bottoms, that DS insisted on shouting 'Excuse Me' to, until they started to chase him. Then to the adventure playground next door.

Then to the nature reserve half a mile down the road, and right where you wouldn't expect it. Also what you wouldn't expect was the snake that BFF's sister nearly weed on. It was a proper stripey snake! A grass snake, we believe. Once we'd recovered, picnic, and exploration of lovely secret garden.

Then to nearby playground with massive pirate ship, and nice cafe with coffee.

Friendship cemented, for both me and DS, mild sunburn acquired, and much fun had by all. And all for the price of an ice cream and a coffee...

OP posts:
MollyAir · 08/04/2015 00:16

Sounds lovely, Herbs. I do love a city farm; we have one right near us.

No more headaches and dizziness? Was wondering if they were migrainey?

hattymattie · 08/04/2015 06:47

Morning crepeys - hoping for another lovely day here. Life feels so different with a little warmth. I have now turned to investigating my wardrobe and have only summer linen trousers and cords. I need something mid season and have missed the half time sales. Also I seem to be good at a shrinking my trousers so a waistband that is fine in the shop seems to be uncomfortably tight after washing.

DS came back from his school trip to Amsterdam last night and went straight to bed. I think there were high jinx in the hotel room the night before. As he only has half a school day today I have left him to sleep.

Strength to all those with difficult neighbours. Mrs S - the constant tapping nwould drive me to distraction.

By the way - Mrs S and MI - awaiting your books with eagerness. Maybe we could found a crepey book clubWink .

RudyMentary · 08/04/2015 08:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
herbaceous · 08/04/2015 08:54

Thanks for asking about my mild lurg, Molly. It's still around a bit - I think it's a sinus-y, cold-y thing, as DP had something similar about 10 days ago. Or it could be Aunt Flo migraine related. I didn't get my usual pre-AF migraine, thanks to assiduous magnesium supplementation I presume, but maybe I didn't dodge the bullet entirely.

Hatty - mid-season wardrobe is very tricky, isn't it, especially when it starts out cool and ends up hot in the sun. Yesterday I wore jeans, long-sleeved t-shirt and a Uniqlo down jacket that packs down v small when the sun comes out. It's at this time of year that my extensive collection of coats comes in handy!

OP posts:
beachyhead · 08/04/2015 08:57

I have posted a fine example of a Crepey neck on fb. It has many folds and is red, like a turkey!

We took ourselves in a taxi, to a local market this morning. It had vegetables, tools and masses of second hand clothes. Like a massive, sweltering charity shop. We were the only non-locals there and dd1 set to work. She bought jeans, striped dungarees a la Leo Sayer in the clown phase and a great Nike t shirt. Dd2 got a very stiff dress for a pound. Ds bought a killer catapult! All very good and worth getting up at the crackers for Grin. We leave tomorrow....