Crepe Fear!

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Ta Da.

Goals? Not heard that one before - must ask my 2! It would be more goals if I was with a mate rather than a teen who sometimes turns into a toddler

Ah that's the sign of being a good teacher - my best lessons are often my last minute ideas!

I am SO JEALOUS, BTM. I love NYC. Can't wait until DS is old enough to appreciate it and not make the jet lag too awful. Though he does like a skyscraper... and subways...

Off to the British Museum today, at his request. Shall finely hone our visit, preferably to the less popular areas, rather than vaguely wander. Seems to be lots of kiddy-targeted stuff available. I had planned to meet up with good friend and her son, who is one of DS's oldest friends too, but I think he and DS have had a falling out. Friend is quite boisterous and doesn't quite know when a game's gone too far, and DS is quieter and doesn't know how to stand up for himself. So DS is now a bit scared of him. We'll see them in a big group on Friday, and all should be well.

Further job-based hair-tearing shenanigans. Filled in automated online DBS thingo last night, with information the council had already got, and was sent an email telling me to 'ring this number' to make an appointment. Naturally, the number doesn't work, so I had to negotiate the labyrinthine telephone system. And speak to YET ANOTHER HR person.

Herbs HR is a major bugbear in our borough too.

Incompetence makes me fume, rudeness gives me the RAGE. The two combined gives me HULK SMASH.

I was in a community-run cafe yesterday, before the HR debacle, run by presume volunteers (judging from their general incompetence). That would have been fine, but one of them was so RUDE. The menu was entirely wheat-based, comprising sandwiches, wraps or pasta. Even the soup had bread with it. I asked if there was anything I could have instead of bread with my soup. She sneered, tutted and said, with incredulity, 'no' while turning away. She then charged me the full price, even without bread. And gave me no cutlery. Another man came out, spotted I had no spoon, went and got one, then spoiled it all by actually chucking it onto the table so I had to grab it as it skidded towards the floor.

It would seem I am now officially a Grumpy Old Woman.

Herbs

Oh Herbs, what fuckery is this? Clearly cafe not in need of repeat business. HR, now don't start me. I'll rupture myself all over again. ( disc in back has slipped out again-I'm thinking due to stress) I recently had a 1:1meeting with HR which ended in tears. I feel for you, I really do.

Spent yesterday upon the floor groaning. After trying to sort out an application for new job. Half way through I got up to make coffee and PING . Agony.

Lalsy, sounds like the kind of weekend you dream of. Cosy and relaxing.
BTM wow, I am aghast at your energy. Will you be there for the Halloween Parade?
GGG and Beachy, it's weird how things just realign without prodigal child. Hope you both enjoy the half term break with visiting bairns.
Cresset, happens to the best of us. It was kind of serendipity that your multiple posts filled up the quiet board yesterday
Auriga, one cannot do anything properly without cake. Seems very unfair. I think introducing DM gently to idea of external help is inspired. Glad the concert went well, and hope the fainters ok. Dd did this once, being a consummate passer outer and luckily was caught by a tiny year 8 before she hit the deck.

@ Hulk Smash. Going to use that

Hulk Smash is goals.

Caught email from CDiff who wants entire issue redesigned. Argh. One of my best students sulking because I asked her to do something she feels is "boring". Hulk smasharoo...

Crem, oh no about your back. Look after yourself - or Sister will be round!

I went to the new cafe in the Olympic Park when it re-opened. It was run by some church organisation giving training and work experience to kids who need it, all good stuff. Ye gods, it was AWFUL. Rude, rude manager turning her back on customers and claiming with a straight face that the way to make an Americano is to fill a jug with dribbles from the machine and keep it slightly warm for hours. The kids staff were learning nothing and I threw a middle class hissy fit about my coffee and wrote a stinky letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury or someone .

Hope you get the DBS stuff sorted Herbs. What a 'mare.

Ooh lady. I've been in that very cafe and felt the RAGE. I had to queue for 30 minutes to buy an ice cream. It was/is run for/by people with special needs, which of course is all very super, but it might be an idea not to out the man with one arm on the till. Slows things down rather.

My students did something rather well this morning. Because I'd taught them how

Herbs.

MI - way to go

Crem - agree with Auriga - look after yourself.

MI, that is fabby! Go you .

Herbs, really? Awful it has got no better (and been reinvented along similar but equally bad lines). I felt furious for the kids when I was there - should have been a leg up for them.

MI, that's because you are super!

Thanks Hattie. I live in fear of Sister. Am lying flat doing polite and gentle lady -pilates.
Aaa, ooh, ash ,ooh, aargh etc

Lalsy, this was a few years ago - it may have improved. I'll have to check out trip advisor. Talking of which, the reviews for the forty hall about which I ranted a few weeks back confirm my HULK SMASH reaction to the place.

Knees hurt. Got list in Venice (suprise) crashed on bed with ds moaning he wants to do more (ahhhhhh)

Venice is a very exhausting place BD. Unless you're in a boat of course

Strewth!!! Sorry about pressing the post button a few toooo many times!

BD that's your body telling you that you have been stressed and you have to pace yourself!! Is it Aqua alta? Have you been walking in wellies?(always knackering I find) have a rest until dinner, and make sure you eat close by. Then see how you feel , but I'm sure Sister would agree with me on an early night.

Egads. Surely as knackering as Venice is the British museum. Especially the hell that is the Egyptian area. If one more unstoppable group of tourists had mown DS down while randomly pointing their camera phones and snapping as they charged through I would have gone Hulk Flamethrower.

BD I can recommend going up and down the Grand Canal by vaporetto at night. Amazing. You can see in to most of the palazzos with their dazzling artworks, tapestries etc and it's easy on the knees .

Crem, patching through a message from Sister: she only approves of Pilates if it's painless. Anyone with an unstable slipped disc will not get a chit from Sister for any form of painful exercise. Please do not apply, as having your bed moved into the sluice may offend .

Been catching up with paperwork and also edited a kitchen cupboard. The most out-of-date thing I threw away expired in July 2008

Well done MI

Auriga, DMs carers check for out-of-datw food

Herbs and BD sorry your tourist-things are exhausting. I am OK amazingly - it is DD who has no stamina! We have just come back to the hotel after 5 hours shopping in the rain. Most stuff has been bought, but she needs a rest (complaining of sore throat/swollen glands - met a lovely, lovely Chinese American boy serving us in the pharmacy who wanted advice about getting to stonehenge from London!) I might go out for a mooch while she snoozes/moans does some work.

Lalsy - Trip Advisor reviewers agree with us: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d4701000-r288620889-Unity_Kitchen_Cafe_Events-London_England.html#REVIEWS