Though She Be Crepey, She Is FIERCE!

[QueenQueenie]

Ta Da!

Happy Birthday Crem Pleased to read that yesterdays gathering and DD's visit was going well.

I too am gobsmacked by QQ's boarding pass story. In no way should you let that one lie, when the rest of us are just printing them out on average A4 printer paper and blithely walking through. Firm but "don't mess with me…" correspondence is required methinks?…And some polite but disparaging tweets… Even if you get nothing but a flea in the ear, it's worth it for the bother factor you'd be giving them. So sorry you have had all this aggro but hope there were some good times had in Copenhagen.

MI the comments from your DM's friends (or was it relatives ) were utterly mad. Mad, I say.

FOUR HOURS Auriga…..? Awful but glad it went well once there.

Good luck today BD Hopefully the loveliness of your trip wont seep away in the first five minutes.

CV we too did some garden organising yesterday mostly with DH making a big deal of altering the irrigation system…huffing and puffing Although I am pleased to say the system is working and my newly planted soon- to- be- cottage garden has not died whilst we were in France.

Beachy will be in touch when back in Sussex….deffo for a MU.

Monty you are not a potato head….

Still wading through interminable washing from the holiday. Lovely party last night as facebookers will have seen…wonderful live band…I do so prefer them to discos. However trouble is brewing at DParents…DDad is not good and we had SOS call from DM yesterday in a terrible state. DS1 and DH went round there to sort things out. DM has now admitted she needs more help and yours truly has got to sort it. Ddad really now needs full-time care. DM is a major obstruction to this…. Do you ever get that impulse just to abscond?

Tilly you are describing my two, to a tee. Awash with choices but fighting over one square foot….

Yup BTM and Rose - we have also had the ridiculous arguments over room allocation.

Hope yesterday went swimmingly, crem. Or, at least, not terribly.

BTM - how are you organising all these different places to stay?! Must have been a spreadsheet nightmare.

I too did gardening yesterday, digging up yet more periwinkle, laying yet more membrane and hefting and emptying bags of slate. It looks good, but fear it has already become the new favourite khazi of a local cat.

Oh lord, Rose. And definitely yes to abscondage.

Agree with everyone about the boarding passes.

I have just phoned various film companies on behalf of the Auroville Film Festival, which is not in my job description . Talking of jobs, BD, am thinking of you this morning.

I have also managed to write two whole novel sentences, and must turn to gainful employment. I should add that I've also sent my parents a set of links to kitchen equipment that might make their lives slightly easier and definitely safer. DM messing about with boiling water makes my blood run cold (I raved about the joys of the microwave). And when she grumbles about how it's because of my dad that she can't possibly get to the mortar and pestle (which is made of GRANITE -I've got one and it's lovely but demands Considerable Strength)...have sent links to cheap peppermill (they allege it's Very Hard To Find One - errr Barts spices does one that's easy peasy and under a fiver and already filled with peppercorns, we've got one), and a simple stick blender (see above for grumbles about my father).

If they could shift to microwave steaming stuff, in LIGHT WEIGHT COOKWARE, and ditch the heavy and complicated stuff, DSis and I would heave sighs of relief. Fiver says they won't, though.

you two have made me feel better!

I think the situation is not helped by the poor heating systems in NZ houses. DD kerps complaining that she is cold and wont put more/warmer clothes on Whilst our Dfriends house is a gorgeous 1920s colonial - style, it is very poorly insulated (needing loads of updating) with only the (lovely) woodburner in the kitchen/family room and the bedrooms were freeeeezing so I dont think she slept well. This place has lots of (rather ineffective) electric radiators but we are still all snuggling under spare quilts watching TV together! However, the room she has chosen is now toasty, so fingers crossed.

Herbs, I left it all to DH Actually, we are booking as we go - it's low season here so plenty to choose from. He does have a spreadsheet with our itinerary on though

Sympathies, Rose and MI on the oldies front.

YY to room wars on holiday. Actually, it's usually bed wars. I'm anticipating more of the same this year.

Last night we dragged chairs up to the new patio, fired up the firepit and toasted marshmallows. Lovely. I was anticipating a lie-in this morning but next door had other ideas, doing a spot of angle grinding at 7.45am...grrrrr.

That's the problem with going to so many places - this is the 9th opportunity this holiday they have had for room/bed wars

Oh MI, what a nightmare. I fear the only way will be to surreptitiously remove heavy items in your handbag each time you visit, replacing them with shiny new flyweight kit.
You are a saint.

QQ I feel your despair and I think BD is quite right re the Kafkaesque nature of the rules of Modern Holidaying. It's beyond me that I need a passport to fly to my own country and yet can drive onto a boat in Ireland and get to France with a load of contraband in the boot without anyone even looking at a passport or counting the people in the car, as they only do random checks now.

BD hope the morning is not what you dreaded and there are no hateful incidents. Thinking of you. I will have to wait until 21st August to see finally which way the axe will fall and how and who will be running the place. Had a prosecco fuelled nightmare last night about team training on an assault course, dd was officiating.

Dd sitch is calm and decidedly without menace. I can see that she's trying hard. Going back tomorrow so just a fleeting visit.

Having a lovely quiet birthday. Thanks for all your kind wishes x

Back home with piles of washing and feeling rather achey.....ds has gone away with friends and the obnly texts I have had so far have been about money.

ds and dd shared on holiday so no room wars, though they are capable of arguing over twig possession in a wood!

Rose and MI, much strength in dealing with dps.

Bless that social worker….she has just called back and is coming at 1pm today. Good things happen sometimes. Now how to get the buggers (DM and DDad) to listen….

Herbs is it orange peel that deters cats from using gravel as a toilet? I think I heard that somewhere….

Crem that is good to hear, about DD. Building small bridges…

Lalsy welcome back and will join you on the never-ending laundry processing bench…

I have put on 3 lbs over the holiday. SW is hassling me electronically to weigh in, so I'd better stop standing on the scales every which way, holding my breath, standing on one foot and bite the bullet...I'm not ecstatic but getting back on track feels manageable, although bit worried about the Sussex Cream Teas to which I am partial….

In Clarks. Why oh why didn't I book an appointment? I meant to, but thought "oh, it won't be busy". Ha. Have sent the offspring round Tiger next door while I wait with my little deli ticket.

I have blown up like a balloon, and put on five pounds over three days. Very odd. Obviously the right thing to do in these circumstances is go out to a French bistro, which I'm doing tonight with my choir chums.

Re offspring arguing over beds/rooms, can they be given the 'you choose this time, they choose next time' option?

BD - hope the axe has fallen in a not too painful place.

In employment news, I'm going to see a teaching agency tomorrow. The rather wide-sounding fellow on the phone seemed to think I could just swan right into a secondary academy and teach English. I would die of fright.

Oh Gawd CV , my idea of hell.
I passed a big Clarkes in town this morning with a queue out the door along the street.

In other shoe news, my dsis bought me a pair of fabulous Swedish clogs for LottafromStockholm! But alas they are too big and will have to exchange. They are t bars, red and so comfortable.
Very uncrepey and Crepey at the same time.

CV, I have already wimpishly decided that New School Shoes are simpler obtained in Sept. Or indeed when they need them. DD1 is longing for DM shoes, which cost the earth but she'd wear solidly...

My pal is a 'Clarks trained fitter' and has a foot-measuring device, so I am going to measure him up and buy online. Or wait until November, and go to a shop. Perhaps the Clarks factory outlet on Seven Sisters Road, where kiddy shoes are half price!

Crem, missed that, great news about dd - a short but positive visit may be just the ticket.

CV [whispers], ds started buying black almost trainer type shoes from Sports Direct on his own instead of the real Clarks Deal...... as he loses or grows out of shoes before they have a chance to fall apart, it didn't seem to make any difference.

Mr Inferior informs me it was Difficult To Get Up At Five This Morning.

I refrained from emailing back about Bears and Woods.

MI - DD2 has DM's - they are part of her image. I go for them as agree she looks quite cool and also they last and last. I recently got her purple ones in the sale for £75 - which she delightedly showed off to her disapproving Grandpa who thinks her shoes should be lady like.

Crem - so far so good with DD (need a little thumbs up sign).

Happy Birthday, Crem.

Great news re DD - hope this is the start of better things.

That is encouraging about DD, Crem - long may it continue. Herbs, DD regularly takes the DC to a Clarks outlet and saves an absolute fortune.

Here it is bright sunshine interspersed with torrential rain. DH is still doing the leylandii hedge when it's dry enough to prune. He is on the home straight, though.

Mr Inferior is suggesting Bright Ideas for how to deal with my parents. This is Not Helpful.

Then he got huffy because he asked if I was missing him and I sort of mumbled. The truth is I am so tired and stressed-out I don't miss ANYONE at the moment.

I had no choice but to buy school shoes now - both DD2 and DS were walking around like tramps for the last two weeks of the summer term - all flapping soles and holey toes. It was a bit of a marathon in store today, but they are both fully brogued up for the new term. I am loyal to Clarks because, although the shoes do eventually fall apart, it's only after prolonged wear and plenty of abuse.

I also bought school shirts, tights, pens, PE shorts, a ton of spot cream, a pair of cheapo Air Max for DD2's birthday, and jeans/jumper for DS from Zara. DD1 spent her Superdry voucher on a hoody. For myself, nada. At about 4pm my mobile rang; it was DH, in Kingston for a spot of store-checking, so we met up for tea and cake by the river. Lovely. But my wallet has taken a serious battering.

Meanwhile, S next door has asked if I would consider joining her am dram group, and invited me to sit in on a rehearsal tonight..... I don't know.... maybe?

NU, the Clarks Outlets are indeed brilliant, but my visits to the nearest (Portsmouth probably) never seem to coincide with the DCs needing shoes.