Creme de la Crepe

[MrsSchadenfreude]

New thread...

Huge sympathies to those of you who've endured such mean parenting. I'm lucky I didn't have much to deal with regarding my appearance, apart from DM always wanting me to have weird haircuts and dressing me like a Victorian doll in a variety of dowdy home-made fashions. I was a very plain child, skinny, with glasses, and never felt confident in my looks, but it wasn't DM's doing specifically.

Actually, I have a slightly related issue concerning DD2, whose personal hygiene leaves a lot to be desired. She walked around Amsterdam with hair dripping with grease (she said she showered... ) and it is very difficult to ask her to change her habits without being critical. She gets upset when I speak to her about it, but it doesn't seem to change.

Anyhoo, the holiday continues.... what a difference a day makes! Yesterday was bright and sunny; we set off from Enkhuizen on a 17 mile causeway across the Ijsselmeer - just the most stunning drive. Then across Flevoland, with the DCs boggling at a landscape that, until the mid-50s was under the sea - not a tree, building or road more than 60 or so years old. And wind turbines in every direction - no fears from the Dutch that they might be unsightly. I counted over 70 in view at one point.

Now we are in Centreparcs - not a hint of Hitler's bunker, BTM, although, cycling round, we have seen a few of those... . We have a "posh" villa, on the shores of a huge lake, and from our terrace we cannot see another living soul. Trees and wildlife everywhere. The villa is stuffed with unnecessary things: UV lamp in the shower, three coffee makers, sauna, and an outdoor shower, enthusiastically embraced by DH and DS (just as well we have no neighbours). Honestly, it's so lovely here I have no burning desire to join the masses in the "tropical dome" (it has terrapins and parrots and all sorts) but no doubt I will get dragged there at some point. The DCs have gone skiing in the snow dome.

CV - you almost make me want to go to Centreparcs.

On personal hygene - could a sibling talks to your DD? I found when DD2 had overly greasy hair a strong word from her sister was much more effective than anything I could have done.

Crem - so pleased DD is holding her own. I'm waiting for DD1 who's taking the bus back to Paris today.

View from terrace...view only spoiled by us lot...yes, DH has dragged a chair into the lake.

Blimey, CV. That looks blasted amazing! I'm off to google Dutch Centreparcs!

CV - That looks stunning! Where is everyone else - or is it your private bit of the lake?

Ooh CV that is teul an idyl.

I too am fortunate not to have been got at for my size and shape. Although I remember taking grapefruit and hard boiled egg for packed lunch for a while. Thinking about it, it was probably after post divorce comfort eating that me and my lovely mum indulged in.

CV fwiw, you are radiant and a very attractive woman indeed. Such lovely skin. I thought this at the tapas meet up and your plain child comment spurreth me to voice it.

If dd1 was tasked to mention hair grease to dd2, my guess is she would never wash it again.

We are on the way back from Gatwick. I am trying quite hard not to want to go straight back on hols...

Great news re your DMIL, Herbs.

Beachy, they will give him tiny, tiny stitches, and it will not be as bad as it sounds or looks. - this is my experience, coming from a family that has bits cut off them regularly. Including on the face.

MI - I am eyeing up holidays quite wistfully too. I just want to sit on a beach and read, and go for a walk and a paddle. Am thinking of asking friend in Cornwall if I can come and see her for a few days.

Welcome back MI!

The stories of unkind comments and behaviour from one's mothers are very upsetting. I don't remember anyone saying anything about my weight…but I was always being sent upstairs to "put a bit of make up on…' I have always felt plain and unappealing and am now rarely seen without my slap on. Gosh we have huge responsibility as parents.

CV I have the nose of a witch and my unwashed DC can be a real problem for me even from a distance. I am ashamed to say my DD can be a bit whiffy if I'm not on it with her the whole time…reminding her about deodorant , etc etc She's lucky in that her hair isn't greasy and she only washes it once a week…it's impossibly curly and very long and it's a lengthy job. I have to be explicit about it with them in as kind a way as possible. I don't want to damage their self esteem, but someone has to point it out before their mates start saying things…..Could you suggest going out to Boots together and choosing some lovely hair products and letting her have the occasional blow-dry as a treat?
CentreParcs looks sooooo lovely…enjoy your time there.

Beachy that's not the news you were hoping for but I'm sure they'll be careful with your DDad, as MrsS says.

Sorry about all that driving Herbs….too much to shoulder alone. But glad there's good news on the MIL front.

Have arrived home, fed everyone the curry I cunningly froze before departure, DP has cleared up catshit, I am greeting the arrival of one of those lovely perimenopausal periods...is it too early to crack open the duty free limoncello?

CV, that Centre Parc does indeed look lovely. I don't think it's the one who went to! And DH are in your manor - just collapsed into the Running Horses and filled our faces after doing the Box Hill hike. We should have paid more heed to the words hill and hike - it certainly was a workout! We also popped into the King William for a cheeky beer Ah life with no teens moaning g in your ear.

Yes, we do seem to have lucked out villa-wise (although DH did book a "luxe" one). Just one neighbour, and they're tucked behind us. You don't have to cycle far to see the hordes, though. There's another lake with people being towed across on water-skis. Tons of British.

Have just returned from the High Ropes with the DDs (like Go Ape, but with extra thigh-quake). I was sweating attractively, and red in the face glowing nicely after my exertions so have retired to the veranda with DH and a beer. 'Tis well 'ot.

What are you doing in our manor, BTM?

I prefer to drive up Box Hill.

Talking of teens moaning in your ear, we're watching a couple of grebes - mum and baby - swimming about. Baby is going cheep-cheep-cheep constantly, until the mother dives underwater, then all goes quiet for a minute or so. Mum bobs back up with a beakful of whatever, at which point baby swims furiously towards mum, going CHEEP-CHEEP-CHEEP until the food is transferred. Makes me laugh that baby doesn't bother with the cheeping when there's no audience!

CV, driving up there this morning was especially hazardous with a million cyclists pedalling up there too We fancied a teen - free and therefore moan - free walk. I hadn't anticipated it would be up and down Box Hill about 5 times!

CV - the lake does indeed look lovely.

Welcome back MI - I'm doing spag bol for DD1 and she keeps texting me saying how she's starving and how she's looking forward to it. It seems she's been picnicking for a fortnight!

Beachy - DDad's eyelid sounds horrific but they can do great things now and Mrs S's advice is reassuring.

Sorry not to be keeping up...I seem to have got flu, possibly following a ladyswim in an outdoor pool in wind and rain. Although I realise someone must also have sneezed on me. Anyway, I just wanted to ask: skiing at Centre Parcs? is that only in Holland? I am a fan of Centre Parcs, and hope you continue to enjoy it, CV. Sympathy to all re terrible mothering. Mine was, er, unique.

I don't think all CPs have skiing, but this one (De Kempervennen) does. Proper snow and all. DCs have another lesson tomorrow, then DH and I will venture onto the slopes for an hour to show them how it's done

We have just been to the all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant for dinner. We had our money's worth, that's all I'm saying on the matter.

I just weighed myself . I may need to abstain from chocolate sauce and food of any kind for a long while.

CV, you do realise the snow dome in CP is the thin end of the wedge, don't you? It'll be skiing next Feb half-term now, you know!

MI, I am the size of Dutch cow.

Noooo, BTM. I've come to the conclusion my knees wouldn't stand a whole week of skiing neither would my bank balance

DD1 has been on the phone crying. She is away with the school for some bonding weekend with the boarding house and hates it. She can't join in anything because of her injured hand and says no-one is speaking to her. She missed the first "bonding weekend" and said they all seem to have gone into cliques and no-one is speaking to her. Her room mate has found a new Russian cohort and her other close friend from the dorm has her BFF from a previous school with her. She is very miserable. I will speak to the head of boarding (maybe email him?) tomorrow. But she has only been back four days, so I think she needs to give it a bit longer. They have had a load of new kids join her grade this year - there must be at least one of them who is feeling as miserable as DD1, surely?

Oh MrsS It must be really hard when teens are leaving and new ones are coming and all the friendship groups switch so easily. The head of boarding/the adults leading the trip should surely be noticing and doing something?

Mrs S - these teenage things are horrible - you just want to go in and scoop them up and make it better. Hopefully it will all shake down and yes - there must be newbies she can befriend.

Here - I am in trouble with DH as I begged him to collect DD in the car from Paris rather than in the train as she'd already had a long coach ride. Of course, he had a prang on the way back and stove in the back door of the car - this is naturally my fault! On the bright side - it is the same door that was already scraped and dented (by him!) So at least we will get a new door. The "no claims" is up the spout though.

Big chat with DD1 last nigt who said she has never been so happy as at uni where people get her sense of humour and she doesn't always have to act like someone else the whole time. She says she can finally be who she is and has left "all the shit from lycée" behind her. I am so relieved but it does sound as if she's more Brit than French.

It is boiling here today - I'm sitting outside eating breakfast.