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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:
Rosebag · 14/03/2015 11:22

Lord alone knows how they differ from bog standard green beans tilly but she says they taste of curry ( she's not a fan...)

We have no languages graduates in the family at all....Oxford (all male cousins and DBro ) graduates are variously chemistry, physical chemistry and engineering. I broke the mould by going to London. None of the women in DMs generation went to university.

beachyhead · 14/03/2015 11:24

Kenyan beans are French beans I think. I get so annoyed in the summer when you can buy them so cheaply in any French market for a few Euros and here, we seem to have to fly them miles (over France) to get them here. I'm growing purple ones this year.....

When asked what I would like to do for Mothers Day, is it acceptable to say 'a long walk, on my own, with original dog' or 'a film, on my own'? I'm getting harangued into a meal, with all children present, at a restaurant of my choice (but obviously not my choice as it has to be somewhere that everyone will find something they want to eat) (oh, and could I find the number of said restaurant on the Interweb google thing, as I'm not very good at that). I would just like all three children to be civil and not shouty for 24 hours, every mothers wish surely!

bigTillyMint · 14/03/2015 11:37

BeachyGrin That sounds so familiar.

Blackduck · 14/03/2015 11:44

I vetoed the meal out. Not paying stupid prices just because it's Mothers Day. I'd like breakfast and then I'll come on that long walk with you Beachy,....

Original poster
herbaceous · 14/03/2015 11:53

Sorry rose - should have thought, and given you more notice. Feel free to send any other suitable types our way!

Finally excavated the bottom of the laundry basket to sort out hand washing, and discovered an old favourite skirt that had been languishing, waiting for a dry clean, and it's got a massive moth hole in it. Serves me right. Hmm

OP posts:
hattymattie · 14/03/2015 12:23

Rose - are we talking German and French? I've asked DD1 if she knows somebody but need to just check the languages.

hattymattie · 14/03/2015 12:25

Problem is - the holidays start today so it'll probably be a month now - I'll see if she can track anybody down.

CointreauVersial · 14/03/2015 12:48

No MFL alumni of any sort here. All of my family (and DH's) are traditionally rotten at languages. The DCs curse the fact daily that their secondary is a Specialist Language School.

Anyway, I was up early doors to drop DS off for his DofE trek. He was on quite good form this morning, despite the fact that he didn't get back from his party until 12.30am. He said he slept quite well; "probably the alcohol helped me sleep" Shock Shock Bloody hell, I certainly didn't notice any inebriation when he got home.

After dropping him off I went into town to met GF's mum, who had requested a meeting (eek!). We had a good old chat over coffee about the Young Lovers, the perils of getting in too deep, distraction from schoolwork, the "S" word...... fortunately she and I are both "singing from the same hymn sheet". There are some conversations to be had, though, and I don't think DH's brief "keep it in your pants, son" chat quite covered all the bases. Oh Herbs, enjoy the simple, uncomplicated parenting while it lasts....

Anyway, off I go again, to collect DS from the slopes of Leith Hill.

hattymattie · 14/03/2015 13:05

Rose - she says she knows somebody who does French and Spanish.

NUFC69 · 14/03/2015 13:28

CV, DH had "the" discussion with DD when he had his first steady girlfriend (he was probably a bit older than your DS; 17, I think). We thought we were doing the right thing; unfortunately his GF's DM thought otherwise and telephoned us at 6 am and accused us of encouraging them to have sex! Many years later I met her and she did apologise.

Rose, I hope someone can help DS.

We have had DGD2 for the morning whilst her DDad took her brother to football - DD is away for a couple of days for a wedding.

We are going out for breakfast tomorrow with DS and family, plus, I assume, his in laws. Quite a good compromise, I thought, instead of an expensive lunch.

DH's angiogram has been reorganised for the following week - I did point out that they won't want to keep him in on Good Friday, so hopefully it will just be for the day on the Thursday.

I actually spent some money on clothes yesterday and bought a rather nice slouchy top in taupe and a cream and black top with a black scarf - very pleased with them both.

I hope Brian the bucket has now gone back in the cupboard - we haven't had any stomach or bowel related problems for ages (famous last words).

Stropperella · 14/03/2015 13:34

Wait, Branston pickle pancakes? Aren't they illegal? They certainly should be. Confused

Ds communed with Brian until 11pm - and then had one further sesh during the night, so not too bad at all. Have anti-bacd all taps, surfaces, handles and light switches repeatedly. Dd is shouting unhelpful things at ds like "Don't touch the wall!" Is she taking up licking the wall, I wonder?
Dd eventually made it to the Women's Day event with me and emerged afterwards with about £50 worth of free Lush stuff. The goody bags were very goody indeed. The info stalls were really good and there were some excellent free workshops. I love this event and go to it every year.
I'm an MFL person, but def not Oxbridge. I was encouraged to apply by my school (who famously get large numbers into Oxbridge every year), but didn't want to do a traditional course focusing on literature so went elsewhere to do a course that was the polar opposite of anything offered by Oxbridge back then. Not any help, sorry.

lalsy · 14/03/2015 14:18

Not sure my dfamily have noticed about tomorrow....

Stropps, I think you are doing a brilliant job. And I think a lot of nonsense is talked about letting teenagers 'get on with it' alone. You are right, they need to find things hard, to struggle and sometimes to fail, but not all alone and feeling unsupported like you did. You don't learn much from the bottom of a pit. Your dd will learn lots from you. I went to a talk by a guru some bloke recently who said we have failed our teens if they have never failed at anything, but it was all in the context of encouraging them, supporting them, helping them develop the skills they need. No danger of never having failed in this household but was interesting.

MI, great news on your novel. I thought Sarah Water's latest was dreary with godawful scenes of creamy thighs in the scullery - knock her off her lesbertarian action perch.

Auriga · 14/03/2015 14:38

Just lost a post, not sure how.

Stropps, it sounds as though you're holding your nerve and supporting DD very well. Remember we don't have to be perfect and even if we could manage that, it would be bad for them. We just need to be good enough.

Dragged self out of bed to run seminar yesterday. Admin support person had also been off sick all week, so no confirmations or reminders sent. Half of booked participants failed to appear. Suspect seminar was much better for this Grin

Going to get to DD's big concert tonight, no matter whT.

Auriga · 14/03/2015 14:40

Btw where is wilbur?

hattymattie · 14/03/2015 15:22

Rose - I have the name of French and Spanish student. She will add your DS on FB if he wants and then he can chat. I'll need his name for hers by PM and then she knows who to look out for.Smile

bigTillyMint · 14/03/2015 15:32

Alive and kicking on FB, Auriga!

Stropps, the Women's Day sounds great - haven't seen anything of the sort round here!

CV, glad you and the GF's mum have had a good chat - is the holiday going to include the GF or not?

Have just been to the French café with DD and MIL and snarfed a white chocolate Florentine - feeling a bit sick now!
DS was in seventh heaven going off to watch the footy with DH, FIL and BIL - how sweet that my growing-up-way-too-fast-son can get such pleasure from spending time with his extended familySmile

motherinferior · 14/03/2015 16:36

I am almost inclined to say I'd swap the Brian action for my appalling period. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that if I hadn't done some emergency swabbing it would have looked as if I'd murdered someone in the public library loos. Fortunately said loos have plenty of hot water and handwash. Dear god.

Back at desk trying to finish fiddly listings page. Lesbertarianism will have to wait. Once upon a time I had a life, dammit.

Rosebag · 14/03/2015 16:55

That's so helpful Hatty DS will be back soon and I'll check with him and PM you Thanks

Ah, Beachy civil and not shouty. How good would that be. My lot would probably have to be asleep. We don't do Mothers Day at this end. I just don't need another important day on which to Be Disappointed. But, it is our anniversary on Monday, so have something planned for then.

CV you are being very grown up about this GF business…a civil meeting with the mother….gosh. That said…I would have DIED if my parents had thought to talk to my boyfriend's parents at that age. I think, they just stuck their heads in the sand…. and I learnt what I needed to know from magazine problem pages and Jackie. Grin

Still poorly Auriga…oh no. Flowers

That's really sweet Tilly and very important. My boys have always been like that…family minded, and joining in extended family events. I'm not sure where they got it from…I would rather have gauged my eyes out than sit with aunts and uncles at that age. I guess we're just cooler as a generation…?

DH has just departed to take DD and three friends to a party…dropping them early as we're due at the theatre to see Zoe Wannamaker in Stevie (anyone else going to see it?)….As a result we have to go in separate cars. I am working hard on ignoring this ominous sore throat…

Rosebag · 14/03/2015 16:56

Flowers MI

motherinferior · 14/03/2015 17:14

DD2 is out at a friend's. This is nice. She doesn't go to see her friends enough IMO. Though that may of course be because she is like her father and not her mum and sister.

MollyAir · 14/03/2015 17:17

Can this be a new Crepey mantra:

Remember we don't have to be perfect and even if we could manage that, it would be bad for them.

Yay! Must remember not to be perfect at any cost. Wink

bigTillyMint · 14/03/2015 17:39

Am liking that too, Molly!

CointreauVersial · 14/03/2015 18:07

Rose, it was quite easy chatting to GF's mum - we are pretty similar. I didn't know her previously although we have a couple of friends in common (small town). She has older children but both are boys, so it's all a bit new for her, this teenage DD thing. We did discuss the holiday, and she said she didn't mind either way, but said I shouldn't feel obliged to say yes just because that's what the Lovebirds wanted me to say.

By the time I picked DS up word had got though about our meeting, so I was subjected to a full debrief, and took the opportunity of the car journey home to have a bit of a "chat". He tells me that sex education is drilled into them constantly at school, and he is armed with all the necessary facts, thank you very much. At least I said my piece.

Fast forward a few hours, and GF is here again, along with several of DS's mates, and they are all glued to the rugby. I am banished to the kitchen; my only role being to ply them regularly with bowls of popcorn and plates of pizza. Hmm

Original poster
herbaceous · 14/03/2015 18:13

Home briefly between rehearsal (as predicted, a bit shit) and concert. Feeling vaguely nauseous. So hoping I'm not struck with the dreaded bug during a dramatic choral moment.

DS has 'bought' me a hideous helium balloon for mother's day. Love it.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 14/03/2015 18:17

Such is the life of a mum-of-teens, CVGrin

Envy Herbs!