Creme de la Crepe

[MrsSchadenfreude]

New thread...

BTM - how did you send the money? Surely bank transfer - even if they don't have the internet, you do - is easy and straightforward (but often not particularly cheap).

Cash in an envelope

The problem with the bank transfer is getting the bank details from them and me getting them written down correctly - they are old and not very clear, and I was finding it very difficult to understand when she was spelling out the address (which could explain why the original envelope hasn't turned up yet...) I can't get hold of my French friends who live/work v close by - I think they may be away on hol!

Please say you sent it registered post, to be signed for on delivery?

Can your friends not help - if you transfer the dosh to them and they go round with piles of euros or a cheque?

Before the days of the internet, when we were abroad and had grovelled to DParents about having run out of money, they had their bank "wire" one off funds to a nearby local bank abroad, which we could then pick up. Would that be an option, Tilly ?

Well MrsS, I was hoping that. But as I can't get hold of them, I think they are away

Rose, I will see if I can find out more about that. I think I will have to phone the aged couple this evening and try to get bank details. Or give up on that chalet.

If you sent the deposit registered and the address is wrong, it should come back to you. Knowing the French postal system, probably mins the cash though. Maybe Hatty can advise?

I should probably add that I am very fond of the Hairy Tenors and flirt with them..

Hello everyone

Blimey, BTM, sorry about your money. Hope it turns up.

MI, I thought you looked lovely in that picture. Very soignee and smiley. I am a bit about the MLCmobile though. DH bought himself a camera at the weekend as he worked so hard, deserved it etc etc. I was looking round the house working out what I could sell on EBay as I am skint. Ah me.

How was the course, Rose (apart from cold!)?

Stropps, glad DD is more chipper.

Feeling a bit low here. Work hassles (nothing on the scale of BD, Cremo and MrsS though so I will try not to bang on about it) and overwhelmed by start of school stuff. I am also fat as a house, which is not good. I am therefore trying to low carb back into some of my clothes. I will be 46 next week and feel like a fat old lady. Need to get a grip.

DH away on 26th September but will come along if I can gussy up a babysitter. I love Brasserie Zedel.

Hola mes crepados.

Little to report here, other than the blank and featureless work desert that faces me. (Apart from MI's Star Wars feature, natch!)

Went to a local barbecue festival on Saturday, with live music from such luminaries as Grand Master Flash, Fun Lovin' Criminals, DJ Yoda (no, me neither), but as we arrived with every other bugger going, the queues for the various delicious foodstuffs (mainly of the charred meat variety) were massive, and the kids were like 'WTF'? So we left and went to Turtle Bay, to satisfy the spicy meat blood lust. It was all with chums who'd just come back from a holiday in Cape Verde, which had had its first hurricane for over 100 years while they were there.

Then yesterday visited MiL, who is a sprightly as a kitten. No-one, even her doctor, can believe the miraculous recovery, and she puts it all down to praying to a particularly relevant saint. Maybe there's something in this 'power of positive thinking' guff after all.

BTM, we had similar in Slovenia - they just said don't bother with a deposit. My bank was up for charging me 25% to do anything helpful. I think I'd be tempted to find a different chalet if possible, where you can just do a normal transfer and communicate easily.

Monty, sorry you are feeling low. I hope things settle down this week.

And Stropps, fingers crossed for dd this week - your weekend sounded fab!

Oh yes, top marks to Stropps for disengagement from DD, and engagement with cider. Once again, alcohol is the answer.

DP has the occasional MLC purchase, but the one advantage of him not driving is that it's unlikely to be a sports car. He has a v expensive Brompton bike gathering dust in the hallway, however.

Right. Off to TK Maxx, on flimsy pretext of taking back some shoes for DS, but really to look for clothes for me.

Crepemeisters - sorry to post and run. Been away for weekend at conference. Will catch up soon and hope you all have the sun I have in my garden.

Could any of you suggest places on my thread. Have tried my usual coach and horses in Poland (or is it berwick) St but they are full on my date.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2463268-Recs-for-boozers-with-function-rooms-London-W1

Lalsy Sadly they won't book it for us without the money. Which is fair enough.

Herbs, that sounds good

WAF off to look at your thread!

Hooray, just heard from my lovely French friend who has spoken to the old lady and will write them a cheque when she gets back from visiting her mum next weekend if the money still hasn't turned up by then. Fingers crossed that works!

Glad the deposit thingy was sorted out. We've had this scenario as well, until I remembered I have a euro account and a decrepit cheque book from my working days in Dublin. Duh! It worked perfectly. They handed me back the cheque on arrival and we paid them in piles of euro notes.

We find ourselves today, in the beautiful Loire Valley, strolling the ancient medieval streets of Tours. Quite lovely, although it definitely feels like autumn here. May have to dig out the 80 denier tights I have stashed in bottom of case. i have had my hair chopped in our favourite Bargain walk in hairdresser Mr S, and am feeling a bit less feral. Skin is so dry, you would think I hadn't spent the last 2 weeks slaking it with unguents and balms. I am a lizard. Off to Monoprix to plunder the beauty dept.
Xx C

I have emailed Zedel to find out about booking - thinking 14 of us for 7pmish on the 26th?

Eeeeek! Fully booked on 26th.

Plan B?

Sounds perfect BTM. Thanks for doing that

Oh arse:0( posted too soon.
Tas maybe or Mrs S other place

Tas? The Kings X places? We had fab tapas...

Ooh yes, those tapas. Drool.

Oh yes, that Kings X place was good. And the cocktails beforehand - weren't they 241?

Will enquire there!

Tapas at Kings X were good!