Crepey wattle and daub

[herbaceous]

At last! I get to use my thread title.

Over here, my hags.

Rose, a day to yourself sounds lovely. Will make you feel refreshed in a way that time en famille can really lack. I am sneaking a couple of hours to myself here, on the pretext of working for tomorrow, but clearly messing about and not being productive. DD2 and DS are playing Sylvanians, DD1 reading and DH is making a mess in the kitchen. Anxiety dreams are the worst, aren't they? Usually born out of nothing, too, for me at least. 0Glad your DS is ok.

BTM, it was Pedlars (sp?) on the Rye itself. Frantically busy, but even I could hear everything. There was a good mix of older people and cool young things. I was firmly in the former camp.

Right, I must do some work, or my lack of preparedness anxiety dream might become a reality!

I used to live just off the Rye. It's where Blake saw angels, you know.

BTM, did you mean Herbs should get photos of the Donnie Darko Easter bunny or did you want some photos of my PJs?

I have been juggling assignment writing with entertaining ds. We have done some nice beach stuff and he has also spent a lot of time hanging out with his mate across the road. This afternoon, there is a mums and boys meetup at a friend's house, but I fear I will have to send ds with his friend, as I need to stay home and write assignments.
Dd has apparently spent a lot of time on her eyebrows this morning. They look very big and orange.
I have purchased some new trainer-type footwear with serious orthopedic support. This is because I find that all my cheap flat footwear is making my back much worse. This is particularly true of the cheapo Converse-alikes that I thought were a bargain for 9.99. Still, luckily dd is exactly the same shoe size as I am, and she is happy to have them. I have costed my new trainers in terms of physio sessions. They are so comfortable and make my back feel so much better. Just a shame they are blardy hideous. They are a bit like giant clown shoes.

Herbs, just out of interest what size did you get in your Uniqlo down jacket (the packaway one you mentioned up-thread)?

Gah, I was about to write something about having a hangover and then I remembered that I haven't got one. I didn't drink anything yesterday. I just feel as though I did. Not fair.

Monty, my friend and I were looking in there the other day and planning a night out with our DH's! Glad it is suitable for deaf old gimmers!

Stropps, oops - yes it is indeed Herbs with the bunny friend - senior moment. Again.

Rose, he hasn't bought anything. I however got 2 pairs of jeans, a Zara tracksuit, 2 black tops and 2 hoodies from JD. Oh and some hair wax. All for him! He is now wanting to order yet more trainers, but this will be out of his money!

Just had very strange call from DM of which I understood very little so I have been onto her GPs as she is going in later for her ECG. Oh God.

Oh gosh tilly ! Actually though, a good move to tell the GP. They will keep an eye and keep you informed.

About teen shopping DS2 drives me so nuts I now give him the Next Directory and tell him to mark what he wants. I then do an edit to tell him what I'll pay for and what he's got to pay for.

monty thanks. The dream was quite awful and has stayed with me all day. I could hear his (adult) voice calling " mummy" in a very childlike way! and saw him on a ledge just below a very high ceiling clinging on. And the fire brigade wasn't answering. Might have something to do with him preparing to leave PAYE and go on freelance contract with his previous firm (Apple) effectively doubling his salary but accepting all the risk. Dunno. It's hard to stop being a Mummy.

stropps I have knackered my ankles by wearing Sainsburys very excellent converse rips offs. My new black and fuscia nikes with arch support are helping, though. But I refuse to wear them if they don't suit the outfit vain

Ok...DH and DC have been dispatched and I have closed my eyes to the detritus I have to deal with in the flat and am in the village tea room and after, am bound for a quiet time on the beach.
Have also been contacted by ConS and HerrD with a really, really good cast list...better than I was hoping for. hooray.

Rose, DS is VERY clothes and sports/label conscious, but also has (like the rest of the family!) muscular thighs and calves, so jeans, etc have to be tried on which makes internet shopping difficult!

Herbs, the bunny is indeed rather Donnie Darko

I have had a shouty row with DD2 over homework/practice, culminating in my bellowing I'LL HAVE TO PICK UP THE PIECES IF YOUR EDUCATION GOES COMPLETLELY WRONG YOU KNOW. I think I may have gone a little over the top. She started the shouting. Then we both slammed our doors.

Rose, woohoo re cast list! I did 500 words which has got my protagonist back onto dry land and I can go forwards not fill in backstory. Which did turn out to be quite interesting backstory. She's less of a mouse than I thought.

I'm back poolside. We went to Cromer today, and it was blardy freezing in the wind, but we braved the traditional fish & chips on the pier and a little stroll on the beach. As we drove back along the coast we found ourselves travelling alongside a gorgeous steam train for about half a mile - there was much tooting and waving from both parties (I was channelling Jenny Agutter ). Amazing sight.

Rose - DS would be delighted if we sent him home, but as he's only 15 that's Not Going To Happen. So he continues to moan and whine. That is, until he forgets that he's not supposed to be enjoying himself....

Cromer is lovely CV isn't it - if you can ignore the freezing cold wind all the way from Siberia that always seems to be in full force... fish and chips and a pier though - living the dream!
Ignore ds and his moaning, this too shall pass.

tilly dS1 was like that...commiserations...
Any news from DM?

MI a bit of door slamming isn't such a bad thing....clears the air....eventually. That's so good re your writing. It's funny how characters develop in a way we sometimes don't expect...can't wait for the book signing
And then I can go around name-dropping like mad...my crepey friend who is a writer, novelist and interviews iconic stars from iconic 1970' s sitcoms and the like.

Yes, of course CV...I did of course have Ds1 at home for a while to send DS2 back to.... Sympathies. They save all the shite for us....QQ is the voice of reason....we must let it wash over us.
We had our seaside fish and chips last night....after DS and I saw Suite Francaise...what a film...really excellent.

I must admit to having had a heady afternoon...happens to me when I get let off family responsibilities. It's almost like being drunk on freedom. I am now going to watch back to back movies

How lovely Rose -I like all the same things - beaches, solitude, fish and chips and films... enjoy!

Feels like a long time with no word from Crem, I do hope she's ok... Send us a sign Crem if you're reading.

And where is NU??

QQ she did say she was snowed under with RL - praying that she will manage to come out the other side in one piece.

Rose, I rang DM before and she sounded much better than she had at lunchtime. I also worked out from what she said that she has to take a sample in on Monday - not sure how she will manage that!

Had to do a bit of emergency electrics earlier as the entire bulb holder came off the wire when I was putting a new lampshade up in DS's room. He is out playing footy in the park with his mates! Looks like we have extras to sleepover again tonight. Roll on term time!

I'm still awake! Everyone else has gone to bed but my day of washing and shopping can't have been as exhausting as theirs, clearly! I have erected two new drying lines in the garden to take account of the lovely weather and the mountain of washing.

I'm sorry to hear about your dm, BTM. I'm reading 'Elizabeth is Missing' at the moment, which I wouldn't recommend to you at this time, but does seem a strong narrative on dementia. I also finished The Miniaturist, which is probably the best book I've read in a very long while.

We've been very lucky with ddad, as he seems to have a lot of neighbours who look out for him and take him out and about. I'm only about half an hour away, so I'm a bit more in and out for him with dsis coming down every two weeks or so. We know it will get harder, but for the moment, it's ok. Very super news on the mil front - she had a strange form of cancer which they gave her surgery plus a radioactive iodine treatment, where she was locked in a lined room for 48 hours in the hospital - but the doctors have given her a clean bill of health, which is quite amazing.

The only major news on the crepeydog is that he has acquired a taste for hedgehog!!??!! Evening wee wees in the garden are now a hunting preventative measure. Why? why? Not what I need tonight.....

Just thought, did we say MI is to be Sat 25th April? Tis only 2 weeks away! We'd better make a plan

I agree about Cinderella, I loved it too, thought it was amazing!

Dh and I have just argued so that's a lovely start to the weekend.

Have decided I need to take health more seriously, starting Monday. Boring.

Cocktails at The Ritz sound fabulous

Beachy, that is brilliant about your MIL.

Whoopee for our writers! Rose, fab on the cast list. How exciting. And MI, it feels from the way you are talking about your novel that it has legs and life (not sure I have put that right). I really admire sticking power with writing - for you both.

Just cajoled ds out of bed.

Barbarella, nothing like a Saturday morning row to get the weekend off, I agree.

Beachy, fab about SIL.

I hope so, Lalsy. It grew out of a two-line idea which turned into a short story which has given me the overall arc with bits I can c&p in as well like just now but also I am trying to make it work. Must push it forward a bit more now...

Date night last night. Severe hangover this morning. About to drive to Bracknell, carrying a recently cola-cooked ham. I am already looking forward to bedtime.

PS Stropps, my jacket is a large, and is only a little bit big for me. OTOH, I just took delivery of a 'medium' Uniqlo jumper, and it is too large.

Beachy, great news on MIL and great that you are on hand for DDad. Re hedgehogs, does he eat them?

DD and BF got up and I took them to school for revision, only to find it's not on! So they have gone to BF's to revise.
DS and mate are still in bed.

DH was very cross with the DC at 1.30am. There will be words had later methinks!

DD and BF went to hipster café on way back here at 9.30pm - surprised they got served (even if it was only diet coke!) I am going later to meet a friend. Get us!

QQ - re: fish & chips - I don't know if it was the surroundings or the Arctic blast, but it really was the best fish & chips I've ever eaten. Living the dream, yes indeed; the simple pleasures are often the best.

Beachy - I also just finished The Miniaturist! It has been on my must-read list for ages, so I was chuffed to find a copy on the bookshelf in our barn. Good, isn't it? I would put money on it being made into a film in the next few years, not that that is necessarily a Good Thing.

Peeing down with rain here today. A big brunch, a trip to the local glassblowing place, then I think we'll be packing up and going home tonight, much to DS's delight. I'd happily stay longer....

And Beachy, surely DDog's hedgehog love will wain the first time he gets a face full of spikes?? Or is he a slow learner?

CV, I remember having crab in Cromer - twas in a previous life, well over 20 years ago!

beachy was it thyroid cancer? I think radioactive iodine is the mainstay of treatment for that. I've had two friends go through it and they're cured.
Ps I'm in Chichester.,,, waves

barberella did you slam doors? Arguing is my default setting for a Sat morning... Although not today....
tilly Good about DM sounding a bit better.
lalsy there was something addictive about scriptwriting once it really got going. Didn't feel I needed staying power. surely helped by the many working breakfasts at local caff
I feel beautifully decadent swanning around the shops with no particular agenda. Happy Saturday Crepeys

Rose, it sounds fab - swanning around with no agenda!