Maybe Yes, Maybe No, May Be Crepey

[QueenQueenie]

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

I am vastly of those of you whose Y12s are doing useful things like knowing what they want to study, looking at universities and booking themselves on to open days. None of that is happening here. Dd has been doing partying and then spent a day lying in bed allegedly marking the papers she has already done and proving that she has a U in all of them.

Last night, she disappeared off and was supposed to be back at midnight. Turned up at 10.30am, having spent the night in a field. With a bunch of other teens and no mobile reception or wifi. Blah, blah, blah.

Dd is half-way through her exams and has 1 more maths, 1 more biology, 1 more chemistry and another couple of critical thinking exams - as far as I know. She lost her exams timetable last term on the day it was given to her and never bothered to get a copy, so I have no idea when the exams are. As far as I am concerned, she is being a big, fat, lazy arse. But I am saying nothing. Her room is disgusting. The hamster died 10 days ago and, whilst I buried the poor wee fellow with due ceremony, she hasn't been arsed to clean the cage, so it is still lying festering in her room. Until I finally crack and get the dettol out.

If I had my life over again, I would never get married or have any children. They are both a pile of over-rated cack.

Really enjoying half-term. Can you tell?

Sympathy, Stropps. I am always expecting dd's random reptile (don't ask) to die in his cage and be unnoticed for weeks. I have no truck with him.

Crem, sorry you're ill .

Commiserations to all re half term - it gets easier as they get older - I am only glimpsing dd en passant. And she is pleasant as she passes! Mind you, I think this is a preventative strategy to stop me asking about revision.

I can arrange tours of W uni, Rose, if required; ds is v helpful.

I really enjoyed our mini-MU and am definitely still up for BP at 2pm on Sunday. Fingers crossed for good weather.

To be fair, DD1 is being pleasant. The really annoying thing is that if DD2 were open to bribery I could pay her to sort out things like appallingly cluttered kitchen cupboards (I dread looking for flour). And/or dusting. But she is impervious to cash and doubtless when she overcomes this she'll have a life of her own.

Stropps. I would I think be quite homicidal in your position.

Strops I'm with MI - I'd be beyond angry in that situation.
Here back home with D's as both dp's parents are unwell (bad hip and chest infections...). I am back at work tomorrow and already seething about emails...

Me too, Stropps. Strength to you - do you have a shed you can barricade yourself into?

Crem, hope you feel better.

As I type, my ds and addle's ds are giggling fit to burst next door .

And another crepey motto is born - 'Having no truck with random reptiles'

Strops - how very trying.

We're hoping there won't be any hamster burials in the near future, but Chunky Hamster's weird lump isn't getting any better. She's still eating, drinking and running about, but antibiotics didn't do anything, so I fear it's something sinister.

cremo sorry you're feeling rough. Guess there's some small consolation that it's this side of the trip. Be well x
Stropps actually I think you're acting with remarkable restraint and excellent parenting. If it makes you feel any better I have fantasies about being single and childless...and in them I seem to be smiling. Take care
Thank you molly how wonderful it is to have Crepeys all over the land who can help with things like uni tours, uni advice and so on.
We had a vair naice birthday lunch for DH at beautiful local hotel. I enjoyed a lovely ( local, apparently) Gin and tonic throughout. The menu was great for all our annoying dietary restrictions. We took coffee in the gardens after and finding that my kids didn't know what petit fours are, I just had to order a plate of them ...then cinema this evening. All good although one cant entirely get away with no episodes of teen sourness....ah well. Good night Crepeys.

"If I had my life over again, I would never get married or have any children. They are both a pile of over-rated cack."

Couldn't agree more with that. I roared tonight that just because I had a vagina didn't mean I always had to cook. DH said there was "nothing in the house with which to make a meal." I made vegetarian chilli and cornbread with the "nothing." DD2 said the chilli was "disgusting". I said I didn't give a shit what she thought, there was nothing else. A lovely family meal in the Haus Schadenfreude.

It was DD1's prize giving last night, which she told us not to come to, as it would be three hours of sitting, before she was awarded with something for theatre. She said it was a good job we didn't go, as the band played Mambo No. 5 which is my worst song ever. She then paused and said "But they didn't throw buttons into the audience, so you might have been alright."

We have fleas. I have a spray to do the house, but as we have the "art collection" spread out all over the sitting room floor, and propped against the walls, I won't be able to do it until the pictures have all been moved (and we have around 200).

Oh Stropps - I really hope she gets it together. A night in. the field at anytime never mind exam time would have sent me ballistic. I would have probably had the police out. Mrs S - I am fed up of being an unappreciated cook as well. Your chili sounds delicious.

On S&B news I have been suckered by the Korean make up thread and have bought some vitamin C serum. Will report back.

I am going to drag DD2 out today to the house of one of her primary school mates, whose mum does my eyebrows. Fiver says she kicks up rough about this; tenner says that she stays and has a lovely time.

Am boiling chickpeas. In a fit of domestic commitment I bought aubergines and must make them all into a curry. I'll like it anyway.

Stropps, I fear I will be sharing your despair in a year or so, when DD1 does her IB. She is more than capable of getting good grades, but equally she is more than capable of chucking the whole thing, throwing a wobbly and saying "it was too hard" and making no effort. I think if she does well in her French standard level next year, that should give her a confidence boost (she is predicted a 6, and her teacher says she is capable of a 7, with a little more work), but if she does badly, we will be back into the wailing of "too difficult." At least next year she will have a little more spare time for study hall. At present, she has no spare time at all, and with the enforced extra curricular activities, regularly hits "cannot cope." Her school, in their wisdom, cut the lunch break to 25 minutes for this school year (and with only a 10 minute break mid morning), to cram in an extra lesson. DD says this is not enough time to queue up, get dinner and eat it - the teachers have all complained as well, as there is no time for children to come to them for extra help over the lunch period. She says that on some days, there is only time to run across campus, grab a sandwich and eat it on the way to her next lesson. Apparently, next year, they are going back to 45 minutes. What a mad idea that was.

Had a lovely catch-up with friends last night. DH text to say leave keys under them mat (the man has a phobia of carrying house keys with him) and must have gone to sleep in DS's empty bed when he came in, meaning that I got a decent sleep. Only to be woken at 8 by DD shouting at the builders next door to shut up as she was trying to sleep! Must have worked because I have just woken her up to get ready for school.

Stropps, I do think there aren't that many swotty/high-achieving teens around really - I think MN gives you a distorted view. Nearly all the RL parents I know have got teens who are not perfect students for whatever reason. And I know of quite a few whose DC are redoing their AS year because their teens were too busy partying/whatever.
You are doing a great job. You can lead a horse to water and all that, and she is soon to be an adult (in legal terms if not emotional maturity) There is only so much you can do

Stropps

Sympathies to others battling recalcitrant / revising teens. Mine are more biddable at the moment as they are still in primary but I see grains of teenage rebellion brewing in DD1 (10). We are off to Streatham Odeon in a minute to see some rubbish. As an extra treat we are going on the bus as I can't park in Streatham. This is the icing on the cake for the kids who love the bus. Livin' the dream in SE27.

Have a good day, crepeys.

Only one out of my three has been the sort to work hard at school and knuckle down, DS2. dS1 slept through the sixth form literally. Got C's in his Alevels but had applied to a course that only needed two Ds for the degree. DD, well you know her story. Getting her to do any work is always a fight and we've already made the decision about her leaving school at the first opportunity. The are other ways and other types of intelligence, I feel.

Cheese and pickle sandwiches, MrsS cheese and pickle....

Enjoy the movie, monty it's quite fun using the bus and not having parking stress. We saw A Royal Night Out ( think its called that) last night...it was sweet...good family viewing.

Am now going to take DS and DH to the station on their way back to the smoke. A few more days of peace for me and Dd. My BFF has texted to say she's coming down over night ( they have a flat a long the coast). Am plotting to leave DD late afternoon watching telly so that we can have a chin wag in a tea room. Bad mother ?

MrsS ds only gets 30 minutes lunch break (to stop the kids piling down to the local chippy), but it means lunch is done on the run - it's a pita.

Here I am dealing with work backlog and trying not to think too much about mum.

At least dp got his Indian visa back with 3 months on it and not 1 like they threatened....(1 would not have covered him for the trip....)

No, Rose, GOOD mother.

Arrggh, I can't go to my mum's next hospital appt where they tell her the results of the post-op scan. It's the last rehearsal before my concert. ARRGGHHH. I am hoping all is well but if it isn't....

Stropps, I think you can do no more. And I'd leave the hamster cage.

Today I shall be writing my assignment, while DP takes DS to see his mum in hospital, and to explore the many delights of Reading. There will be News about her prognosis, so this isn't an ideal scenario, but a cousin will be on hand to remove DS to 'play' during any difficult moments.

So, I MUST MUST MUST crack on with assignment. If you see me here, give my arse a massive boot.

One word, Crepeys - grandchildren. Partners and DC are the pain we have to go through to have GC. Stropps, I think you acted with remarkable restraint; I would have been ringing the police.

MI, that's a bummer. I hope you can get something sorted out as your DM definitely needs someone other than your DDad with her, going by what you have said previously.

Herbs, strength to you and DP.

Thank goodness I no longer have recalcitrant teenagers to deal with, although DD was never a problem with school work. DS on the other hand ....

DH has gone for his first bike ride since the op - I have gardening to do.

Oh, and MI - how strict is your choir about rehearsal attendance? Ours is a little flexible, in that if you're half decent you're cut some slack under trying circumstances.

Mambo 5 no buttons

Have been saved from Westfield with dd2 with her getting a better offer but will have to go tomorrow.

Once again Crepesters' sharing makes me feel Not Alone, and you, we are mighty. Stropps:field shit.... Egads.

Rudy so pleased you have enjoyed reading in the garden. My idea of utter bliss.

Cutting mum's grass then back to work. I have just lost a 6 grand (is enormous) job as the owners of the IP decided not to develop it for TV. I have a mostly empty plate. Gibber.

Crepeys reading my book. Let me know any thoughts of crap bits/ confusing bits/bits you like as I am coming to end of a subsequent draft and planning to sub soon. Gibber more.

MrsS, I mentioned someone wearing a giant button ring at dinner the other night. DD turned green and said she didn't feel hungry any more

WAF, I am thinking about braving Westfield tomorrow - the Stratford one. Maybe we will bump into each other

Molly, and anyone else interested, see ya Sunday

DH has a bad hangover

Oh WAF NOOO. I shall email you re book too, as have just finished it.

DM's appt now turns out to have been moved by a week. To 9 July. Which is no problem. It would have been v hard to miss the last choir rehearsal - not least because (a) I really do not want to (b) I am singing solo second alto in (2, ii) things. (It's solo-tastic, this concert, I am not merely selected for glory alone, and we're a small chamber choir. But still nice to be doing.)