Mission Crepe: no surrender

[Collymollypuff]

Here ya go...

Rudy, Bruges is lovely. A friend has just been to Lisbon and said it was great. I love Amsterdam and Barcelona. Prague is very pretty too. Such a lot of choice! What is her mobility like? Is that something you need to take into consideration?

Just back from a bracing walk with a friend (and cuppa!) who is going through the GCSE/teen behaviour mill ATM. It's definitely the worst stage of parenting.

Throat & chest are slowly recovering but brain is lagging a long way behind. Tried to cook a meal last night. Took over 2 hrs to make spiced meatballs & rice, during which I set fire to the recipe, welded a plastic bag to the hob & had to send DH out to buy missing ingredients. And after all that the rice was under-cooked, a mistake I don't think I've ever made before

Supposed to be going to DD's concert tonight but still coughing too much. And DM is in a sulk/strop because she phoned my DSis and got no reply, something that often triggers a rant. I do not have the patience for this

Bruges is lovely. Or how about Stratford, with a couple of plays thrown in?

Another vote for Bruges, or maybe Lille? Antwerp is lovely too, as is Ghent. Anywhere in Belgium is very easy to travel to - you simply change trains at Midi station.

I am tired and crabby. Both DDs are being a PITA, with DD2 excelling herself.

I have been at the Indian jewellery exhibition at the V&A with an old friend and her daughter and DD1. The two girls get on splendidly too.

Haven't done enough writing this weekend but I do know where it's going.

Had a lovely weekend staying with some NCT chums who've moved to tunbridge wells. The three boys all just disappeared and entertained themselves, only reconvening for meals, at which I was reassured to note that seemingly all six year olds are challenging in the manners area.

Slightly worrying parental happening - mum phoned sis to say that dad had been on hospital overnight. Sis asked why, and mum couldn't remember. Even though they'd just got back from the hospital. On the plus side, it rather looks as though niece's operation has been a success. At least, she's had no seizures since Tuesday, and previously would have several a day.

That's great news about your Dniece Herbs
Do you think the hosp weren't terribly clear about the problem or that perhaps she doesn't want to admit what it was rather than having forgotten IYSWIM?

I saw an ad for that MI and thought of telling you, but then I thought you'd already know!

She remembered later, that he'd fallen over and cut a vein that wouldn't stop bleeding, as he's on anti-coagulants. She had just forgotten. Worrying.

Oooh Herbs, good news on dneice, am crossing lots of things! And yes worrying on dps.....

Herbs, I really hope that op has indeed helped your niece. What an awful thing to deal with.

Auriga - sounds like a typical day in the Chateau Cointreau kitchens, tbh. Hope your brain fog clears soon, though.

Rudy - another big thumbs up for Bruges. We did Ghent instead this year, and it isn't as nice (imho). A few years ago we did the Christmas markets in Lille, which was also lovely.

NU - you are writing Christmas cards??

I have just treated myself to the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar. A bit of a selfish luxury, but I thought what the heck.

Wonderful news re DN, Herbs.

Sorry to hear about your DM's forgetfulness - very worrying.

I gave up doing Christmas cards two years ago & it's wonderful. MY life has not ended because of it!

Morning everyone

It is a good day in our house, as it is INSET so everyone is still in pyjamas, looking at kindles, Ipads, whatever and I have decided not to care. It is freezing cold and we don't have to go anywhere! Result. I have just ventured downstairs to make more tea and have sighed deeply at the mess DH left in the kitchen yesterday but I have decided to tackle it later and not get stressed and want to kill him. Double result.

Where to start after I have missed so much.....

Herbs, it is wonderful news about your niece. Is she out of hospital? Sounds like a big procedure so I am glad it went well. Sorry to hear about DM though.

CV, I bought the advent calendar too, with a couple of extra bits to make it £25. I also have a nail varnish one which I bought on a whim (another £25). I am very big on Christmas but make the poor DC open a traditional calendar to see a lovely angel, cheery donkey etc. Am I the only person who LIKES doing Christmas cards? NU, your system sounds very organised. I just brainstorm who I need to write to and then hope I don't leave too many people out!

In S & B news, you may remember I had eyelash extensions over the summer, which were fab but spendy and caused my lashes to be about 1mm long after they came out. I got a freebie from Benefit attached to a mag last week (a lash primer if you will) and it is excellent. It gives me the same length and volume as I got with the falsies (with mascara on top) but comes off with my usual Liz Earle cleansing cream stuff. It's ace. I will buy it when it runs out.

MI, glad you had a good time at the V and A.

Auriga, you poor thing, I think you need to get some proper R and R in, as you sound as though what you have is really nasty. Have you got a doc's note? Can you get one? Take it easy and try not to do too much, if indeed you need to do anything.

Another vote for Bruges, especially as the transport would be easy. I also love Madrid if flying is an option, as it's jolly quick to get there and so much to see and do when you are there.

MrsS, sorry you are under par too. Can you take it easy next week? When are you next off on your travels? Is it

BTM, I hope your DH's eye is on the mend. My DH had an eye infection earlier in the year which normal drops couldn't shift so he ended up having several trips to Moorfields. How are the DC after last week's terrible events? I tried not to dwell on it with the children as they are so little but DD1 and DD2 knew all about it from their friends. Apparently one of the boys used to go to our school. Our teenage babysitter knows him quite well. All very sad.

I can hear the merry clank of Mr Tesco and his delivery. Back in a min.

Rudy

Ho ho ho! I love Christmas and was perusing a few of the Christmas gift guides in the paper this weekend, wondering if we would be doing it this year. I'm in. I got some excellent gin last year, infused with cocoa. It was awesome.

Very sorry to hear the flooding tales. I don't think I have quite got there yet but am sure it is not too far away. I have an old style copper coil which needs replacing but I am wary of the mirena. A friend of mine went on it and had severe hair loss, which I had in all 3 pregnancies and my hair has never really recovered sadly. I worry that I am sensitive to the hair loss hormone and so it might happen to me if I had it.

Herbs, I share the sweet 6 year old boy adoration and cannot bear to think of my boy being gruff and a bit distant. My boy has the most appalling handwriting but sadly we don't have a sparkle club at school. Our lovely teacher has given us a bootleg copy of the handwriting book for us to practise at home, but it has resulted in shouting (him) and tears (us both) when we have tried to do it. His writing is shocking though and so he will have to put up with practising at home.

I suppose I ought to put the shopping away and clear up the kitchen. I also need to announce the switching off of the screens. Prepare for shouting....

Hi Monty (and Herbs) - what handwriting book is your ds using?

I don't know, I'm afraid . At Sparkle Club they work their way through a series of booklets with drawing exercises in, such as drawing the ridges up a dragon's back, and the like.

Crikey, I'm living in Hot Flush Central, with a sweaty glow every couple of hours, day and night. While they are keeping me nice and toasty in this weather it doesn't make for a good night's eleep. They seem to get worse when I'm under stress - it was just the same this time last year when I'd just started my PGCE.

Work continues to be most frustrating. My students have to do exams at the end of this term, including a speaking and listening one. However, I've never done one of these before and want to know exactly what to do. And need to give them practice before the exam. Which has to be soon. And I have to plan it into my lessons, one of which has to be observed. So I've asked my boss a number of times now what I need to do, and she hasn't replied. Even though she says 'ask me anything, anytime'.

It's odd - although I've had the job for three weeks now, I've only been in the office for a total of about three days, so haven't done the usual 'learning by osmosis' that seems to happen in other new jobs I've had...

I'm in Rudy..... I'll PM you later but I don't think I can on the app.

I like the sound of that eyelash primer, I might get one and also one for dd1 as she has 'problem eyelashes'.

Yay to SS Rudy. I'm in ! Can you PM me the links please?

Sorry to hear of flooding tsunamis. The main reason for my Hyst. was fibroids. Two the size of grapefruits. I regularly flooded before and frequently passed out as well. Dh said it was very scary as I sometimes fainted mid sentence , came around and continued the sentence as if nothing has happened. Still , the point is it's miserable and embarrassing , and I'm sorry for you all.

Monty great to catch up! You sound busy as a busy thing.

Mi glad to hear dps have come around to the Mac nurse.is your mum able to eat at all? Sorry to hear that she has lost so much weight.

Here tis MIL's 80th next week and somehow I have ended up organising jaunt to local resto in Spite of her having two grown children ( Dh and sil) to do it for her. This is the one and the same mil who has left fil and having a fling with another octogenarian and is still working part time as an adjudicator for exams.
She is whirlwind of energy. Her fave restaurant is kind of industrial in style with lots of up cycled wood and benches, so should be fun. 80 is the new 50

Work drags on in a horrid atmosphere , feeling the knives are out at every turn. Still hoping that redeployment will save me. Not looking good. Five weeks to go until new company swoop in and 8 of my team leave.
Not feeling festive at all. Have bough crackers so I suppose that's a start. Loathe Christmas tbh.

Stropps, the book is kinetic letters by Williamson and Wilson. All jumpers, window cleaners and sliders.

Crem, very sorry to hear that work awfulness is dragging on. Am keeping my fingers crossed for redeployment for you. Eh, I dunno about 80 being the new 50 - the way I feel at the moment is 50 is the new 80.

Re: handwriting - you could try "Write from the Start" by Ion Teodorescu. It's a page a day thingy. It's supposed to be v good.

Monty, Herbs - I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but the Stabilo Easy pens are excellent for poor handwriters. It made a huge difference to DS.

Rudy - I'm ho-ho-hoping for an excellent Secret Santa this year - will PM.

Monty, was that a Benefit lash primer, and which magazine was it?

Rudy, I'm in too - will PM you.

Re handwriting, Stropps suggestion is a v good book! Well, set of 3 I think!

I am in, too, for Secret Santa please, Rudy. Can't PM from the App, but will do it when I next log on to the laptop (which will probably be at the weekend.
*
Crem*, sorry that work is still awful.

I am making notes about the handwriting books to pass on to DD for DGS1 - great to have some first hand knowledge.

We had the 18 mo whilst his DM went to the dentist this morning - cue 10 minutes of screaming until he fell asleep on my lap, bless. He might not be very big, but he has good lungs.

Incidentally is anyone else having problems with the new carrier bag tax? I don't mind it at all for supermarket shopping, but when you buy clothes or household items? DSis came up with a great solution - make sure you have some charity bags in your car: they make great emergency (clean) bags which take up no space.