Maybe Yes, Maybe No, May Be Crepey

[QueenQueenie]

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

Bonjour from Paris. Friends' apartment is amaze - high ceilings, fancy plasterwork, huge great hallway, three bedrooms, overlooking the Eiffel tower. Sadly, the male element of the couple - DP's friend - has been laid up in bed with something intestinal since our arrival. Went to an amazing park today, which I've totally forgotten the name. Used to be a quarry and repository for dead horses - now has a lake, temple, amazing trees, etc.

Oh dear. My friend died on Friday. His rather wonderful wife says it was a relief at the end, but we will all miss him horribly.

MI. Sorry to hear about your friend.

Here, I am much distressed by the fact that DH has shaved off his beard. He thinks it makes him look younger. I think it makes him look weirdly pink and weedy.

Oh MI, how sad[fowers]

So sorry to hear about your friend, MI. Rose, glad to hear that the second cake turned out well and hope you have a good time with DPs. CV is right, you do seem very down atm - I hope things improve soon. And CV, the earring problem sounds grim. Can you get some solvent for the glue?

Back from the match in a much happier frame of mind as they won and we're not relegated, at least not this year.

In other news I have just FINISHED MY FIRST DRAFT. Under other circs I would be raucous with jollity.

MI - so sorry to hear about your friend. and .

And hurray for your first draft. Your friend would be delighted for you (as are we).

I have spent the day variously sleeping, eating toast, drinking tea, baking and sorting out our pictures. We have far too many and I have no idea what we are going to do with them all.

Well done MI!

MrsS you need to have a book, art and cake sale

Tis Ruby with the earring ishoos, not me.

Thanks Rudy, NU I'm ok. Work wise we are as a professional group facing a lot of course cancellations. I was particularly pissed off about this one because mine was closer to breaking even than the one they cancelled mine for. The diet is going well...I just get being surrounded by people who seems to be over indulging!

MIsuck sad news. but good about the draft, nevertheless.

I am dead beat. But DDads party went well....he kept asking for more prosecco...and if you can't at 88, well when? It's DDs birthday tomorrow.

Suck? I don't know where that cake from. Sorry MI

Cake...God came. I'd better get offline. Auto correct is having a field day with me...

Prosecco is the drink of the gods - I had gallons yesterday and not even a hint of a hangover. Glad to hear your DDad still likes a few

MI sorry to hear about your friend.

But great news on first draft!

MI, how very sad. I am glad his dw felt able to tell others that it was a relief at the end, though - not an easy thing to say, I'd imagine, but important.

Well done on your draft, that's great news.

I too am swigging prosecco. Laurence would have wanted it that way.

Really well done onthe first draft, MI, how exciting. And I'm so sorry about your friend, but it sounds like there was some degree of preparation for it within his family, which can only be a good thing long term.

Bank Hol weekend a bit of a damp squib here, but mainly because of length of To Do list for the building work. Could really have done with children being miraculously absent for several days so that I can just focus on all the things that need listing, deciding, searching for on the internet and so on, and not have to feed anyone or launder anything. I keep thinking I have sorted something and then because I almost never have the time to see a job through, I don't write down what I have decided or sorted out, and then I forget so I either have to do it all again form scratch, or I go through the exact same thought process and get part way through and remember why I couldn't finish when I did it before. I just started a new mini moleskine size list book and have 4 pages of items already, just for this week. When of course I will get so much done when I have to work from home while the children are off school.

Still we managed a walk in Crystal Palace park this morning followed by sitting down with dh to do the electrical plans that are way overdue, so at least some balance was achieved.

So stressful, Wilbur. But exciting too, no?

Having spent most of the long weekend doing very little (apart from some very satisfying loft-sorting and eBay listing) we did actually stir ourselves today, and went to Top Golf (a cross between golf and ten pin bowling, which has a rather nice restaurant attached. And they take Tesco vouchers so it's a cheap trip). DS absolutely hammered DH, which was very amusing to watch, although the DDs beat me, so I can't really gloat. So exhausting I needed a kip on the sofa when we got back.

DSis wants me to "say a few words" at DDad's 80th party - eek. She's good at that sort of thing; I'm not, but I shall bite the bullet. DSM has sent out proper party invitations, with the dress code, "comfy". My immediate thoughts were "shall I wear my onesie, or my tracky bottoms and zip-up fleece?", but on reflection maybe her idea of comfy and mine are not quite the same....she's probably just worried that NDN will turn up in his kilt again.

Top golf sounds fun CV - is it near you?
Comfy? Is that a party thing when you turn 80?

I arrived at DMs after a flurry of texts from my friends DM who was trying to help, to be greeted by her beside herself because the TV wouldn't work and friends DM couldn't fix it. The aerial cable had come apart so I managed to fix it easily and calm was restored! However she is NOT happy with her panic button, mainly because they have been out to her 4 times already - she won't accept that she accidentally pushed it each time...
I have been hoovering (and moving stuff to hoover) and managed to get her to agree to throw out various bits of crap which was all over the work surfaces in the kitchen. Need to try to sort her new radio next and get her to throw out some more crap! And try to sort out various bank accounts without POA

Hello Crepeys,
MI I'm sorry to hear about your dfriend

Cv well done on the eBay listings: I need to do this myself but can't get around to it. Dh says I should take it up full time when my job vanishes ( imminent) I desperately need to have my own money.

I have been zizzing hedges in a gentle way. We are completely overgrown again not least because of my back . putting in the bifold doors means we need to make the garden look like something otherwise what's the point.

Berlin was fantastic. I could live there in the beautiful air b&b we had for the week. High ceilings , parquet floors, balcony overlooking the park. Sigh

Glad you had a great time on Berlin Cremo , sorry to hear about your job and garden woes. Plus your back and everything

Am having a trying time with DM - like communicating with someone in a foreign language which neither of you can speak! Need to sort out various bank accounts urgently but am worried that we won't be able to do this on spec tomorrow. And other stuff. Gah!

Man upstairs is driving me nuts. He is sitting in a chair outside his front door and calls out every time someone goes in and out. That's when he's not tap tap tapping on our door.

DD2's friend is coming to stay from the US this summer (she wasn't sure about travelling on her own), which is not filling me with joy either. But it might mean that DH gets a move on with the redecorating...

Poor you BTM. So difficult. Is there room for wine later.?

Mrs S how long is the stateside friend coming for? And why is your neighbour reporting on the property comings and goings!

Dress code comfy Does that just mean come as you are?

Hello cremo so glad the trip was a success.

Good luck with the building work preparations wilbur it does sound a bit stressful but I suppose one just has to keep in mind the end result.

tilly I'm sure I've asked you this but has DM seen a SLT? This is very tough on you especially when you can't get her to understand things.

Crepeys on FB will have seen that I am getting through the plethora of close family birthdays this week. Two nieces, DDad, DD and DH. I have booked lunch at a West Sussex hotel ( known well to Beachy and me for its lovely spa) for DHs birthday on Wednesday. I feel very tired as over indulgence and gluttony at DDads birthday tea yesterday resulted in stomach cramps at 2am for yours truly followed by the necessity for Immodium. Nevertheless at weigh in, I lost a pound.