Crepe Fear!

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Ta Da.

Thanks Monty! It's a Samsung. It usually just updates IIRC - ii don't ever remember changing it manually.

Big grins for Stropps. Go go go.
And very sorry to hear of WAF's friend.

BTM, my Samsung (2 years old) does not update itself so perhaps go with an alarm clock as well. The digital mains clock does update, but the one we had before didn't.

Crem, how are you this evening?

^CONGRATULATIONS* STROPPS!!

So sorry to hear about your friend, WAF. But good that you got to see her.

Crem - I am incredulous at the wankers where you work.

Oh god, the alarm clock. I don't think that updates

In S&B news, I found out today that our new dinner lady does threading

Oh I'm just in from work, and am absolutely thrilled and delighted to get your news Stropps. Justice has been served. And you will also get some head space to yourself during the drives and or overnights.
Bloody yay

Work steeped in misery and dismay as usual today. Mrs S, well, exactly wot u said. Another friend has decided to leave today and has been offered a ring fenced job with current employer. No one I speak to now is enthusiastic about the new employer-some started out in full support and excited about the new investment etc. Now just pinched, grim faced disillusioned people, acting out their roles. All morale has been lost. I need to build up to "pissed off" I think so I can at least fight my corner. My feeling today is that all the grandiose plans, contract-breaking, loss of talented experienced staff will go ahead because of The Business Plan. They couldn't give two hoots if we all leave. I know I'm right about he breach of contract and TUPE rules but it has been written so sneakily that df says they might be able to get away with it. Current employer wants us off their hands. New employer couldn't give a toss about the rules. The sense is we will all be replaced with minimum wage accepting grateful casual staff. Yep we've been shafted good and proper. No one except me thinks there's any point in fighting.

Sleep well lovelies and thanks for your continued support.

Cremo :(.
Our HH as been heard to say more than once 'if they don't like it they can walk'. He really doesn't get that we don't make widgets....

So sorry it's so crap. Keep talking.

God Cremo. Hope you're getting some sleep.

Crikey Cremo. It's a harsh world out there.

BTM, are you going to NYC tomorrow? I'm well jel. Used to go a lot before DS was born, as I have a friend who lives in Greenwich Village, but have yet to brave the jet lag with a youngling.

Have a great trip BTM.
On way to parents for weekend before flying to Venice Tuesday afternoon. Forecast is rain but who cares!?

Cremo wishing you much strength.

Rudy - sounds ominous but fingers crossed!

I have family gathering tomorrow, and so far tits are in their normal place. Sounds rather too exciting, Rudy!

Cremo, might a chat to the newspaper whose initials are BT help? Have nice reporter friend there - he's the political corr but might have helpful colleagues. Just saying.

Crem, I am wishing hard that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for you very soon. I hope you are looking after yourself and giving yourself lots of treats when possible.

Have a great trip, BTM.

I am feeling a teeny bit glazed after an impromptu celebration last night with much at the neighbours' with a couple of friends. Even dd came for an hour or so before going off to a party. Ds was there with a bunch of his friends. So nice that everyone was actually happy at the same time for a while. Yay! Am having a slightly hard time getting my act together today, though.

Good luck with the large family gatherings, Herbs and Rudy. Sorry to hear things have already gone pear-shaped, Rudy.

Gah, having trouble holding more than one piece of information at a time in my head. BD, hope things are OK with your parents this weekend and have a lovely trip to Venice with ds.

I have to say I'm not really looking forward to tomorrow. At times like this I get all < long german word that means grief for what isn't > and wish, guiltily, that I had a family like in the Waitrose ads, rather than a lot of mad people. Sometimes I feel like some kind of 'jolly' bearing around which it all turns. Must erect boundaries.

Off to Barbican in a bit. DS has decided he wants to do the adventure trail AGAIN. Shall go out later to purchase enough lamb shanks to feed all 10 of the mads.

Thanks Stropps. DMum has refused to go further with the memory stuff and they won't do anymore despite the fact they came with all the forms ready (clearly vascular dementia). Ddad is trying to push via the GP but it's difficult as he doesn't have power of attorney.

It will really depend whether she is having a good day or not, but it's desperately hard.

Main thing is I am trying to rebuild my sense of self after the rubbish at work. I refuse to allow a bunch of people who know nothing to define me. Also looking at other jobs.

I can't wait to see ds's face when he realised where we are going!!

Just did a lunchtime concert. Can safely say not our finest hour.

BD that sounds very tricky. Is there no one who could persuade her? My DM is often more open to listening to friends/her Bro and SIL. Good that you have your trip to look forward to.

Rudy that sounds tricky. And Herbs - seems like we all have family issues. The other night DH was bemoaning how he wished he had his extended family about at Christmas when he was a kid (his parents emigrated with him and 2 bros) - I pointed out that actually all I had was my mum.
Families, eh?

Have just had a Swedish massage and am now having a cuppa with Rye toast in the cafe I checked us in online this morning and have dug out loads of Estas and stuff and started sorting my packing.
DH was faffing asking what they are to eat when I'm away. You can imagine the answer!

Bon voyage for tomorrow, BTM. Have a really great time with DD.

I hope Rudy and Herbs family days went better than expected?

I have had a quiet day, my wretched cold is still hanging around so I haven't felt like doing much. DS came round with the DC this afternoon - his DW has gone away for the weekend so I guess he needed a bit of adult company.

BD, I think BTM's advice re DM is probably sound, although getting a friend or relative on board might be difficult. Good luck with it.

Morning crepey's - hope you've all got your clocks turned back. I have sort of caught up after a very fraught weekend where DD2 panicked over her personal statement and decided it absolutely had to be sent off as other friends were getting offers. Anyway, it has gone!

BTM - have a fabulous time in NYC - I'm looking forward to the time when I can take off with one child or another.

Re- Cambridge meet up - it's a lovely idea but it seems to be one of the most expensive places in the country for overnighters - we might be better sticking with London where decent hotel deals may be had.

BD - hope the rain stays off for you in Venice and that you have a lovely and relaxing trip.

Crem- hope you are feeling a little stronger.

Rudy and Herbs - good luck with the wacky families. I am going to have a quiet day, with a stew for Sunday lunch, then a walk in the forest. I can feel the stress draining from me now the PS has gone in.

Crem Somehow one just has to remain optimistic that there will be a way forward but one doesn't yet know what it is.

Have a fantastic trip Tilly. I a wel jel Give my love to the big apple and have liver wurst on Rye for me at a deli.... yum.

BD that's all you need...we are in a mighty mess over the Lasting POA with DDad....DParents sort of did it, but it's lodged with the solicitor...it never went through the courts the time, and the solicitor wants a small fortune to release the papers....I have a conference call with DB, and both DSis's to work out what to do on Monday night. DB is pushing for us to fund the costs of the home in the short to medium term whilst we're trying to get this sorted instead of using some of the savings in DM's name. DDad can no longer sign his name. Quietly I am anti,...our circumstances are uncertain at the moment and we really can't afford it. I see storm clouds gathering and trouble ahead.

NU you must take care of yourself so the cold doesn't go to your chest. I am petrified of this since a chest infection a couple of years ago. Be well.

Busy, but quite good day yesterday....decided to go to a religious service at our new community in the morning and stayed on for a lunch with a speaker who happened be the HT at DD's school. An inspirational man who is training to be a Anglican minister part time, but is Head (and teaches RE) in a school of another faith, speaks yiddish/Hebrew, has 7 kids, plays the piano...the list goes on. We then raced off to a show at our theatre with HerrD in the main part and very good he was too. Today is homework, visiting Ddad, and DD and me preparing to go to the flat.

ps I am still very much up for the Cambridge weekend which has been mooted