Maybe Yes, Maybe No, May Be Crepey

[QueenQueenie]

Unilateral decision... No space for consultation. Call me Dave...

Lalsy, we're starting off in Vancouver, going on to Lake Louise, then Banff and Jasper before returning to Vancouver to fly home. We are Airbnb-ing in Vancouver which will be a new experience for us - I was encouraged by BTM's experiences.

We had a lovely hour round at DD's, it was great to see all the DGC playing together- even the youngest (not quite 11 months) was trying to join in.

Herbs, that would be every night then?

Ooooh that sounds lovely NU, I was looking Banff up the other day. How exciting. And how lovely that you can go without worrying about the op on the other side.

I think London is relatively unusual in that public transport is so cheap and good, and taxis so expensive. When I was a student, buses were expensive and infrequent and shared taxis no pricier really.

On the other side of the holiday I mean, not the Atlantic. Been a long day.

I can't remember ever getting into a cab in Sheffield. That may be because I lived right in the middle of what is now called the Devonshire Quarter in the city centre and so everything was just a short walk away. Or just because I can't remember!

Addle, I was in Shoreditch three times in a week recently. Never seen so many man-buns. Looked up restaurants and I swear 80 per cent were described as 'achingly hip'. So went to Pizza Express. Nobody's going to catch me being hip, oh no.

NU good news about Canada

A bit low today. Disappointing concert last night, in which a piece went badly wrong. Awful, awful feeling. Will have to stop singing in that choir, it's just too nerve-wracking, though I love the people. Other choir is demanding but always worth it.

Having said that, nobody else seemed to mind as much as I did

Reviewing a book about 'holistic dentistry'. No words to express what a pile of pants it is. How do these people get published? Answer - they pay a lot.

Auriga at accidental or unwanted hipness.

Auriga, we've all been there re dreadful concerts. Commiserations. Why are you reviewing this appalling tome? I get sent press releases about books like that...

NU, lovely re both hols and DGC.

Lalsy, my trainers are BRIGHT BLUE asics. I didn't really think about the looks, more the suitability for Ladyjogging. Though am now sluggish and bleary as Ladyjogging is verboten till the knee rights itself. Would welcome suggestions of footwear that is as wearable for the summer.

Right, must sling words at the page.

What a hideous morning it is? I am feeling very achey after tripping into a raised bed yesterday and very graciously head butting a brick wall, whilst simultaneously destroying a sweet pea wigwam I feel very old.... Plus they've changed all the train times, so for the first time in four years I missed my train and had to wait in the rain for 30 minutes....

Am grumpy, can you tell...

Ahh Beachy - don't you hate it when they do that!

Here the Penhaligons delivery turned up (at a different neighbours)......

I am planning half term and trying to chivy ds through the last week of half term - he's very reluctant.

Ow, that sounds nasty, Beachy; I hope you feel better soon. I hope you have a better week, BD, and you can get so sorted out.

On the subject of footwear, this is a recurring problem for me. I have boxes full of shoes and sandals which I thought would be comfortable only to discover when I got home that they pinched. Why is that, why do shoes feel ok in the shop? However I have realised that QVC, the shopping channel, sell both Reiker and Sketchers and they also have a 30 day returns policy. They positively encourage you to try things properly and send them back, no quibble, if you're not happy. I think if I can try things, even if I have to pay for the postage both ways, it must be better for me. Not that I have done this, you understand, as I have ordered my new Sketchers from an actual shop, but I do think it's the way for me to go. I have bought broom QVC before and returned things, so I know the 30 returns policy is not an empty promise.

Broom, where's that come from? I mean 'from'.

Clarkes are usually quite good about returns if shoes start pinching. Good news about the trip NU even if the insurance are being buggers. I think I told you that I was uninsurable for years after my illness. Even when the haematologist said she's sign papers to say the chances of me being a medical emergency were on par with flying pigs.

MI I am finding my Nike Trak 4 (black and fuscia )trainers great for every day and love my Pikolinos for warmer days.

Oh dear Beachy poor you. And such a horrible day for commuting.

Sorry about the singing auriga it's so annoying when one is aiming for the gold standard and others can't be arsed.

Well Crepeys I am now performing my annual ritual of coffee and cake in the hospital canteen ( which has never changed in 12 years apart from the addition of a TV) having been given the all clear after my annual check up. It never gets any easier even after 12 years... I have been like a bear with a sore head all weekend and so shouty. So it seems I'll live to terrorise these pages for another year. Am now going home and then to write with ConS. I met him the year my treatment ended! Diet on hold today but I have weighed in earlier...I have lost one and a half stone in total

Rose, how splendid all round.

I am cold, apart from when I am having hot flushes. And would rather be writing my own stuff than a complex feature for which, however, I will be paid.

Rose :) good news!

Here the weather is foul, and my mood fouler...... Motivation = zero.

And it's a 2 day as well :(

Rose, fabby news!

MI, I am besotted with my Sketchers Go Walk (I have three, two slip ons, one trainers). They are like walking on air. Not stylish, tho my Go Walk Originals look like blue canvas deck shoes. But the Go walk 3 have even bouncier soles. Had to go to Westfield to buy them, mind.

BD, what is a 2 day? Hope it gets better for you, whatever it is.

Rose, that is fantastic about getting the all-clear! No wonder you are off-diet today - but what a great weight loss you've managed. I have managed 3 (three, III) pounds over the last mumblemumblemumble.

I wonder if I should confess to fellow crepeys that I actually go to a holistic dentist. She is the loveliest person in the world so I don't mind her sticking things in my mouth. Having been orally raped as a teenager, this matters.

What's a 2 day BD?

Commiserations to all struggling with bumped heads, alternating hot flushes and cold sweats, uncomfortable shoes, crap weather, unreliable trains, unmotivated dc etc etc.

Very pleased to hear your good news Rose, that must be a huge relief. I too was grumpy and shouty over the weekend - but with no reasonable excuse and now feel guilty about it.

Auriga, sorry about the disappointing singing - but am enjoying the picture of you giving the hip of Shoreditch short shrift.
PS. Ds1 sports a very fine man boy bun on occassion . I have to buy him kirby grips and hair elastics - and I thought I'd avoided all that having boy children!

I like the look of those asics MI.

Molly

That first emoticon is particularly appropriate, MI...

I'd quite like a holistic dentist, but only one who could magic away all the amalgam and replace it with white stuff so I could at least pretend I have good teeth. My dentist is lovely though, and doesn't shout too much when I forget to make regular appointments for the children (Herbs - now that's a parenting fail).

QQ - I'm waiting for ds1 to discover the man bun option. He is very proud of his hair, although I could wish the pride extended to washing it a bit more thoroughly. He is currently working the young Mick Jagger look - we know this as a man commented on it in the street while ds1 was on his way to Scouts prompting the unforgettable conversation: Ds1 - Do I look like Mick Jagger? DH: A bit, I suppose, why? Ds1: Someone said I looked really like him. DH: Who said that? Ds1: Some man when I got off the bus - he had a really cute little pug with him. DH (trying and failing not to stereotype): Were you in your Scouts uniform? Ds1: Yes, but he could only see my scarf. So you see, society is progressing - it's now equal opportunities for teens to have their looks commented on in the street...

It's grim here this morning, but I'm quite grateful for the rain as the garden is still so dry and I have no hosepipe at the moment. Schlepping back and forth from the water butt with watering cans is v dull. I did a bunch of weeding yesterday which was very satisfying, although I think somethings I think are weeds are plants and vice versa. Will have to look up the pictures of what I planted and compare them to what is growing. I should probably also get some markers.

I have rebranded weeds as 'wildflowers', and the unkempt borders as 'wildlife havens'.

Re dentist, I need to go again. And I need to take DS. Who has Never Been. It's mainly because I hate it so much, and will be so nervous, and made even worse by him being there and me having to pretend everything's fine. It is in the same looming Category of Horror as my smear test.

Just returned from my first ever invigilation of an exam. GSCE English lit, to be precise. In the school that was on the telly! There is something electric about the atmosphere of 150 young people concentrating as if their lives depended on it. Which, in some cases, it may do. Bloody boring though. Can't sit down, or read, or chat, or take your eyes off the little darlings for a moment. And plays merry hell with my lower back.

Bloody hell. MiL - after weeks of buggering about between GP, hospital, home, etc - has been diagnosed as having bone cancer. No idea yet of prognosis - DP once again taking the train to see an ailing parent, unsure of the future.

FUCK.

So sorry, Herbs.

Very, very sorry.

Buggering arsehole cancer.