Crepe Fear!

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Ta Da.

Oh Beachy, lol@Drama Llama

Crem, yes, but I fear the neighbour may drive me to the brink/gin.

I'll get my coat.

Oh dear. I have perished the hotter catalogue, and feel these www.hotter.com/gb/en/womens/womens-boots/shawbury-boots aren't too bad. Do I need slapping?

Family meal passed without incident, tho is was disappointed in the toughness of my very expensive waitrose lamb shanks. Dad couldn't remember where the loo was, any one of the 23 times that he went, and mum was an hour late, even though she's been here a million times before. We got her a sat nav for Christmas, bit it's still in a box somewhere in the car. My lovely niece with epilepsy had two seizures while she was here, and now cannot walk at all. She's. Oozed in for brain surgery in a couple of weeks or so, which may or may not cure her. Everything crossed, crepeys.

Just caught up on the troublesome DD's, neighbours, families and work situations. Sympathies to all of you

We are here! Flight and immigration no problem, however the "shared transportation" to our hotel took ages. We have a double double room on the 15th floor with great views of skyscrapers, etc Spent a sunny late afternoon/Eve walking down to the Highline and then eating and mooching in Chelsea Market which is all artily done out in Halloween stuff throughout. We even managed to find the right subway back. DD is now fast asleep despite it being 8pm

Oh Herbs just seen the bit about your niece - fingers firmly crossed x

Yes herbs, very best wishes to your niece and all of you for the surgery

Herbs fingers crossed for niece.

MI a good thing to do re your mum and book.

BTM happy hols!

MrsS enjoy your free time!

Herbs, your poor niece, how awful for her - I hope the op is successful. I like the boots, by the way.

MI, I think you have done a good thing in giving DM your novel to peruse - I am sure critiquing it will take her mind off health matters.

Crem, much strength, but get yourself to the GP, you must get some sleep. I know you're in an awful work situation, but everything is worse when you're sleep deprived.

MrsS, enjoy your break from difficult teens and do try to see neighbour's visitors.

Rose, good luck today with the conference call.

BTM, am very envious. Enjoy your holiday.

MI I think it's a great and generous thing, sending DM your draft...it's also very courageous. However much we are driven bonkers by our bonkers parents...we still want their approval.

Cremo Maybe legal advice...then decision time...then a few days off to consolidate and regroup?

MrsS I think I'd have swung for your neighbour and his daughter/sister etc by now. Glad DD has calmed down. You need some time for yourself. I will however join you in the tetchy and crabby club. Seems to be my default setting these days.

Stropps DS2 was never going to distinguish himself in the driving stakes. I foresee multiple attempts at both theory and practical. He's not at all like DS1...much more dithery and inept at practical things...except piano for some weird reason!

Beachy I think histamine can affect the mood quite badly. And wasps are such a pesky, useless, belligerent waste of space. Poor DH....I'm kind of laughing but also feel a bit sorry for him

Wishing all the best for Herbs niece's operation

I am loading up the car and will leave shortly to go down to the flat for a few days with DD. I feel very tired from DSis's 50th birthday party last night and various things playing on my mind. Beachy I will be in touch....are you due to visit your DDad this week?

Monty thanks for the lovely text. Will reply xx

Oh Rudy. Much strength.

And to your niece, Herbs.

I am knackered and treated self to slight lie-in, which was of course quite large lie-in with the extra hour...but then got up and did Ladyjog, on the basis that have to get up anyway, and also have eaten all this weekend's pies - quite literally, as when Mr Inferior takes over cooking Bought Pies feature large. Given it's still only 8.30 I'm not doing too badly.

DD1 has gone off for a day's childsitting nearby. DD2 actually has things to do over the week but is mostly chilling today.

Herbs, what a day! That's a lot to cope with, and I m sorry to hear about your niece. I hope the operation goes well and that she recovers well.

Rose, I hope you have a great few days away and get your head showered a bit( NI phrase for " feel better")

Looking at February short breaks for Dhs 50th. Where's nice in the winter do we think?

If I had the money I'd say Pondicherry. I definitely want to go back. And there are amazing places to stay.

DM has had a lovely birthday celebration with all her children, all her grandchildren and three of her nieces and nephews and their families. Best of all her beloved sister-in-law came, though she's grievously disabled with a neurological disorder & rarely sees people now.

Everyone enjoyed it, even my sister genuinely had a good time. She told my cousins that her husband has left her for 'a 33 year old with big tits' and they, predictably, reacted with huge warmth & wit. Helped her to feel normal again.

One nasty moment, when DM had a severe episode of chest pain at rest. But it passed after a few minutes and it hasn't recurred (yet). Reminds me how important it is to get people together, though. We don't want to become a family that only meets up at funerals.

I'm aching as though I'd been working down a mine & I've forgotten what day it is . Can ease up now, only five people staying tonight and we're leaving them to cook & going to DD's concert in London.

Rose, good luck with the conference call (is it today?).

Crem, I'm so sorry the shit's still flying.

MI, asking your DM to read your novel is truly generous.

I am beyond exhausted. This is embarrassing.

Auriga, it sounds like a huge success - well done!

Cremo, I can only advise the alps in Feb, but if you're not skiing it may be less enticing! Do you want a short sunshine break not too far? Isn't Tenerife good in the winter?

I got about 6 hours sleep I think and have been awake for hours already (mainly due to DD insisting on going to bed at 7.30pm) Off to the Top of the Rock early doors then Macys and the Staten Island ferry, I hope!

So glad that your dm's party went well and all had a good time. A just reward for all your efforts. And well done your dsis for coming along and telling it how it is. And what lovely cousins for giving her great support.

Am keeping everything crossed for your dn's operation, Herbs. Poor girl and poor parents. :(

Crem, sounds as though getting some definitive legal advice and taking a few days off to recoup whatever energy you can might be good?? (If that's possible)

I am feeling weirdly headless-chickeny. There is a very long to-do list and I am having difficulty prioritising.
Dd is currently (oh how I do not wish to tempt fate - and now I've said that it will all go horribly wrong again) being reasonably personable. And, after nearly 18 months of frying her lovely fine blond curls with straighteners, dyeing the resultant frizzly straw brown (why??), and refusing to go anywhere near a hairdresser, she suddenly booked a haircut and went and got about 4 inches of shredded wheat effect cut off. And has gone back to curly/wavy. It looks so much better. I am so glad that I stopped myself from saying anything about the state her hair was in, because if I had, she would have carried on frying it until it all dropped out.

oops, sorry, my first comment was addressed to Auriga, if that wasn't obvious.

Stropps, I am praying for the day that DD gets her hair cut at least a bit shorter - it is waist length semi-dreds atm as she doesn't brush it enough/it knots up straightaway.

I can recommend Fabrics of India at the V&A if that's your kind of thing.
Currently in Nat Gallery with ds doing a picture trail.
Yesterday was wrong queue and wrong museum....

I stayed here

Ohh MI - that looks lovely, wish I could just take off there right now.

Herbs - glad your day went ok but very tough for your niece. Rudy's story is reassuring though. Rudy - glad you survived your weekend.

Auriga - sounds as if your DSis is at least getting great family support.

Here - the sun is out and I have made and attempt at cleaning the kitchen so I'm going to plonk myself outside for 5 minutes with my book. Am going to the Doctor's later for my flu jab after which I'll have a sore arm for three days.

Stropps - I wish my DD would get her ends trimmed although she has such curly hair there is no point in straighteners. Maybe the haircut is the turning point ...

I have just made an excellent and remarkably creamy-textured soup by (a) roasting half a 1kg packet of 'frozen winter veg' in olive oil, ground cumin and ground coriander (b) blending the cooked veg and tray scrapings with veg stock. Result.

Where've you all gone?

Am feeling very aggrieved that DD2 rushed home after her doctor's appointment and didn't wait for me. DD1 would never have done this cue lots of ranting by me - absolutely what I shouldn't have done - about how she acts like a lodger. Mrs S - coming to join you in your child free week.

I've spent all day on something that should have taken me a couple of hours...

DM has made various comments on novel, which I don't all agree with and with digression about Herself, all proving that it has been most therapeutic for her.