Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Crepes in this petty pace from day to day

[CointreauVersial]

Anything but the C-word!

Right, that's it. DS is never leaving home. Some of you (such as GGG) were trying to convince me that when the time came for him to leave, I'd be practically shoving him out the door.

Talking of whom, after his trials on Saturday with his friends we had a much better Sunday, going to a party at a soft play place in Romford. I know. Hideous. But it was close to a very good TK Maxx. All was going well, he was mainly playing with one of his nice calm friends, then they all got given a helium balloon to take home. Guess whose is now dangling from the very high ceiling of the soft play place? He let go of it about 30 seconds after being given the balloon. He was entirely silent the whole way home, looking out of the car window with tear-filled eyes and a wobbly chin, while his nice calm friend tried to cheer him up.

In other news, I've just been to the school that was on the telly, and had a good meeting with the deputy head who was on the telly, and am going to be doing two days volunteering there a week, in EAL and literacy!

MI

Hatty, that sounds stressful. I hope DD can find somewhere where she can be happy - won't be an easy one! Oh for the days when she was a bubbly, chatty, smiley, up-for-it-all little girl and loved school...

Herbs, glad the school visit went well

Oh BTM - it's horrible when they're not happy at school. I am on my second round of uni applications with DD2 and it's true that her confidence levels are much lower than DD1. We have to support them as much as we can and hope they win through.

TBF, I don't think she's UNhappy at school, just she wants everything to be perfect and easy and how she wants it all the time. And life just isn't like that! It is about supporting her, but also getting her to stand on her own two feet and developing more resilience and a Positive Mental Attitude.

Good luck with that one Herbs . And well done on the volunteering!

Tilly, those things are key I agree.

I have said yes to the Algarve. All this and tonight's do at the V&A. Quite the meeja hoor, I am.

Tough call, MI .

Herbs if I said that it was wrong or at the least it was badly put. I don't think you'll be shoving him out the door - but it will be his 18 year old self leaving not his current 6(?) year old little personage and you'll be excited for him and want him to be able to take that step - however gutting it is at the same time. Luckily you have a while to get to grips with all that!

I did think of you Hatty when I heard on the news about the problems with the Tunnel. I don't think I was in any fit state to be meeting friends on Saturday - but would be lovely another time. Cambridge was so beautiful at the weekend - his college gardens were amazing.

I'm currently wrestling with Wednesday's teaching notes...

Just think of the Algarve MI!

Phew, that's Monday nearly done.... Work is ramping up, with a huge project coming in just as boss departs for two week holiday. DH has manflu, and spent the day quaffing Lemsip and watching Judge Judy.

BTM - Next curtains and cushions are excellent. Pretty much all our curtains are from there. Furniture-wise, my experience is less good. DD1 has a wardrobe and chest of drawers from Next, and bits are constantly falling off. Try John Lewis or M&S for decent quality "High Street" furniture.

MrsS - I also think it's a little odd that XGF's DM continues to chase us. My vague "too busy" message didn't wash, unfortunately, and she says she really wants to meet, because she "needs closure, if XGF and DS are going to remain friends". Why on earth she thinks a discussion between the mothers is going to have any impact on their future relationship I have no idea. I shall ignore.

Meanwhile, DS brought a new girl home yesterday. We asked if she was new GF. "Under consideration," apparently.

BTM, we have just taken delivery of Sofa Workshop sofas. Very pleasing. They may not be the best value but we had very specific requirements, to do with room shape and the length of my legs.

CV, how very odd. Presumably her dd would have kittens if she knew?

Oh CV she needs to grow up. Closure? If she gets so involved with her DDs love life she's going to have some sort of breakdown. Yes, ignor. She's needy and silly. that's not very nice, Rose

Brilliant Mi yes, go for it in the Algarve. And I'm sure you'll look stylish and sophisticated in black with bling at the V&A tonight.

Well done for getting through the hectic weekend and the travel traumas hatty I hope that one day your visits will coincide with an MU.

I love our next furniture and rugs. The sofas have got a bit soft and squidgy for my liking over the years but the colour ( very deep teal) both sofas and rug is gorgeous. I want to replace the rug which is showing signs of wear but they're not doing the same colour, sadly.

Well the weather has broken as expected. Sodden visit to local town and came back drenched. Glad we got our walking in on Friday sat and sun. Home tomorrow. DH has been very hard work. Still snuffling. Still a git.

re snuffling git.

Our sofas are from the 'seconds and returns' warehouse at DFS. They are huge and brown leather, with a pre-lived in look due to being seconds. But they were £400 the pair rather than £1200. Rugs ikea. One green, one red. Curtains blue I'm beginning to question my deco skillz!

Thanks for the furnishings info - I am currently looking at John Lewis (got our last purchase - a snuggler - from there) and Sofa.com!

CV, she sounds bonkers and way too over-involved. I agree, ignore!
It looks like the ex is soon to be replaced, anyway

BTM I liked the look of sofa.com & put in a (big) order but cancelled it when the delivery date passed &they still couldn't give me even an estimate of the new date.

Eeek! Is there nowhere I can trust?! The JL sofa is lovely, but took aaaaaggggeeeessssssss to come

Go to Tottenham Court Road, BTM, and ask them all the same questions - like looking round secondary schools, very revealing . We got great service from SW - though the chap was worried that his lovely sofas would not be happy in our scruffy chaos and gave us a plumping lesson, making us promise to plump regularly. It is quite good for venting rage .

Beachy we stayed here. If you look in the Kopenhagen K district , you'll be in the middle of everything. We did venture outwards of the city centre to eat a fair bit, not being given to spending many kroner on lichen and micro dollops of reindeer tonsil.
Lots of eating to be had in Vesterbro, Norrebro and Kopenhagen V if you like funky, slightly offbeat or a neighbourhood cafe kultur vibe. here's what the Gruniad had to say

Nice sofas to be had at made.com. No ideas about lead time or delivery I'm afraid BTM.

I am happy to report that my shawl (given to me by lovely cousin last year) passed muster magnificently. And I drank slightly too much champagne. Canapés v sparse, though, must find some sort of ballast when I get home (am on train at mo).

Does anyone else get really, really stressed booking flights online? I have just done DD1's for half term, and I just hate it. There is so much room for things to go wrong and no way of rectifying them easily. On the plus side, I am pleased to report that the price of flights to Moscow is bargainous, if anyone is tempted.

Ooh interesting Mrs S. Q fancy Moscow. Do you know I'd love to book other people's flights for them. It would not only entertain me but I'd also get to spend other people's money
Seriously thought, it's got to beat work atm. Very nearly 'cleared my locker' today. Fed the fed up with it.
Have taken leave instead of flouncing. Probably best.

Oh GGG dp very keen on those sofas at Loaf.....

Cremo :(. I am clearing my office of personal stuff in case I am made to move...

Hard to smile and be welcoming to the new intake. One student (ex miners son) was gutted that virtually the first word he heard was 'redundancy'.....