Mission Crepe: no surrender

[Collymollypuff]

Here ya go...

Molly, I'm not coming to Herbs party I'm afraid. (Also, sorry to Herbs, but as not on FB have missed the details and didn't realise it was imminent etc) thanks so much for offering to have me to stay as well.
I'd love to have come herbs , and thanks for inviting me, but I just can't afford it atm.
Il maybe get over in the new year, but I'll have to see if I am gainfully employed than or not.

Rudy , yes we have goats. I don't think I mentioned it previously, lest anyone cast me as " Crazy Goatherd woman" they are pygmys , and therefore pets. And they are the best antidote for a bad mood.

MI looks gorgeous. Even if not your thing it still looks tolerable.

Mrs S I read your thread about the neighbour. I'm sorry it turned into a sort of moral argument about the daughter's responsibilities. Good advice though re keeping a diary of events, and contacting ss with this as a record. The job will settle, the staff get used to you, and you know you are more than capable. It really will. Having other things to deal with ( dd2 and neighbour etc) is wearing and not helpful. This too shall pass.
I am sure there is some kind of helpline for 'carers' which essentially is what you have become. Might be worth a shot, especially if they have practical advice as to what to do to get the situation red flagged.

MrsS, you and your dh are extremely kind and nice people. Unfortunately, your problems with your neighbour are horrible proof of why the "Big Society" thing doesn't work. You were kind to him and now you have been lumbered. It must be really unpleasant to be harassed all the time and simply not what you need at the end of a day in a new and taxing job.

Star Wars mania is revisiting this house because of the release of the new film. Tickets have been booked already and ds is currently re-watching all of the previous films. And telling all his friends that his big sister's dad was bfs with Princess Leia when they were at drama school together.

So DS decided last night he'd like to go shopping to spend his birthday money. Into Oxford Street, with me. I wasn't particularly keen; crowds, rain etc., but agreed to go. DH would drop us at the station then head off with FIL to visit family. All good.

Except DS was faffing about so much we arrived at the station just as the train pulled out. DS threw a complete tantrum, refused to contemplate waiting 30 minutes for the next one, and blamed just about everyone for the missed train (including poor old FIL who just happened to be in the bathroom at the wrong time). Trip aborted; we then had to walk home in the pouring rain. Only just over a mile, and I secretly quite enjoyed it, apart from the sound of non-stop ranting in my ear. Honestly, he was furious. He has now disappeared behind a slammed door in fury, and I'm back on the sofa with damp jeans, wondering what to do with my day.

Holy-moly, CV, sounds like your ds has morphed into my dd.

He has been awful recently, it's true. Entitled, rude, lazy, moody, disrespectful....interspersed with brief spells of loveliness. Still OK at school, thank goodness; he just saves his vileness for his parents. DH and I are waiting for a moment when he's in a reasonable mood to have a little "chat". The temptation is always to give him a talking-to when we've just had an outburst, but actually that's the worst time to do it. Honestly, I'm getting bored with his behaviour.

How old is he, CV, tell him he sounds like a toddler? I think I might have abandoned him to make his own way home, tbh.

DH has gone to a county council "consultation" meeting - I declined to go on the grounds that I would totally have lost it and cried in anger (tears being my default when furious).

MrsS, I think you have gone over and above the call of duty for your neighbour.

He was 16 yesterday, NU. You're right - he's a giant selfish toddler.

He's always been my "high maintenance" child.

It's hell to be a teenage boy atm, CV, and I hope that obsessional gf and her obsessional mother didn't damage him. She may have.

Sorry you can't come over, Crem, but ds' bed is yours any time you can come. I know dh would like you. You have a place to escape to in the Big Smoke. and your goats

CV, sympathies - he's Y11 isn't he? Very stressful year. And there are a fair few of us with teenage toddlers

Rudy, you always look glam - I can't imagine how much glammer you will look at Herbs' party!

MrsS, I have caught up on your other thread. Effing Hell. So sorry for you. Plus new job and teenage toddler.

Herbs, your birthday celebrations look fab!

I am feeling somewhat jaded after a lovely catch-up with chums last night, gym and then catch-up with another friend. I feel a snooze coming on before Fireworks party round at friends!

MrsS you will be more than fine in the job. It's early days...
Here we are doing a mini firework party for the neighbours (would have gone up the pub but......). On that front he apparently will leave once the brewery have found a new tenant. We are all over the local papers and it has been an interesting time!

At work bullets will be bitten, but also job applications will be made. Time to move on....

Oh God CV - I've had early manifestations of this sort of behaviour and DS is only 13. Obviously it's going to get worse before it gets better.

So much to catch up in! Loving crem's goats, especially the naughty one. But I have to join hatty and tilly in the pet hair allergy club...I don't just sneeze, I itch too. Hence no pets.

Honestly, the glam evening do's get boring after a while, not to mention squeezing oneself into frocks and the like which are unforgiving and demand control pants which I hate with a vengeance. What I want to know about the dress code for herbs birthday bash is this....are we dressing in cruisewear ie crimpeline (sp?) trousers and striped tops...or is it "formal night" ?

Sleepy about this wretched neighbour MrsS. I would want to move....really.

Oh heavens CV the perfect teenager. I'd send him an email with the content of your proposed "chat" Then he can't easily shout back at you til he's read everything you have to say....

MI you lucky beggar. Make the most of it...its pissing down here and never really got light all day long.

I am trying to live a quasi normal existence against the background of DDad oscillating between being completely moribund and then rallying unexpectedly. And worse than that, DMs reaction to it all. She is so difficult to manage. Spoke to DSis across the Atlantic last night on the phone. In the end even she got on my nerves...you know when you have a conversation with someone and all your contributions are met with either "not so much that..." Or "not only that...." I hate it when people do that...know what I mean?

Still life goes on. Off to see another play at Hampsted tonight called The Moderate Soprano. I've been working across the middle of the day in a board meeting, and am not sure if I want to go out or curl up on the sofa....

Sleepy? Sorry, I meant

I do that with texts and teens, Rose. Much better than face to face (as in involves less shouting, suspect only the passage of time is effective). Having had one very stroppy teen who is now mostly lovely, ds seems very calm and pleasant - when he has a moment I find it much easier to get the hell out and do something nice, forget all about it and come back cheerful.

Breakfast, for Herbs

Phone has just rung: another person cancelling for today's singing party. That makes five (5, V). But we'll still have a decent double choir & now most of the work is done I'm looking forward to it.

Our precious last-minute decider has decided (at 7pm yesterday) that she will join us and even stay for 'a quick dinner'

Nothing quick about it, I have cooked for two solid days . Spent the whole of DH's actual birthday in the kitchen & he cooked his own birthday dinner (which was delicious) while I wrangled cakes and trifles.

Lost a long post last night, trying to use phone because our wifi was down. Sympathy for those with toddler teen troubles, CV, Stropps, MrsS, BTM et al. You are great role models & I'm saving up your wisdom for when my turn comes.

And MrsS, sympathy re neighbour, it must be very draining & it's obviously taking up a huge amount of your time when you can least spare it.

See you all on the other side

Ooh that looks lovely MI. THREE custard tarts? I trust you ate them all.

Feeling relaxed yet hungover after yesterday's pre-birthday treat with NCT chums. Brunch, spa then cocktails. All the now groovy environs of Bethnal Green. Slightly marred by a v persistent headache, which is still here today. Something to do with tension in my right shoulder, which is causing the right side of my head to throb. Even a very vigorous back massage yesterday couldn't shift it. I often get this - must be something postural.

Yet more lesson planning to be done today, while DP cooks a roast chicken for lunch. What a treasure.

Auriga - good luck!

Fireworks and bangers last night. Then collapsed in front of TV. Really good evening for minimal effort :)

Auriga, sounds like you are very well organised - hope you have a lovely time.

Herbs, spa in Bethnal Green? Tell me more!

We had a lovely evening with fireworks and delicious roast pork round at old friends with other friends we don't see so often. Great to catch up and great food. And DS was happy to see his best friend from nursery who he saw a lot of when they were at primary (different schools), but hardly ever get to catch up as he is at secondary miles away

Might go and see Brooklyn at our new swanky cinema with DD this afternoon if she can fit it in!

Went to Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey - bracing walk there and back, and now cooking what will be a late lunch. Am phenomenally tired and not much looking forward to work tomorrow.

Auriga, hope it all goes swimmingly.

I've just been to my local one MrsS (ds was in it). Also feel extremely tired!

I was taken by surprise by Remembrance Moment, which came on the radio as we were driving to the park this morning. I came over all emotional, partly aided by Barber's Adagio which was playing beforehand, and we all three sat in the car in silence for the requisite two minutes (well, DS wriggled about and tutted), and I looked at the homely little houses nearby and about the wives and mothers in them being told their husbands or sons wouldn't be coming home. The Last Post is always so unbearably moving.

Good luck later Auriga. Sounds a marathon effort, but that it will be worth it.

BTM, the spa is underneath the Better Leisure gym and pool near the tube station. Women only, and pretty nice!

Am working in heightened police security environment of Remembrance Day Service for service Personnel. A lovely secret service doggy has just sniffed all our handbags. Realise I had no poppy late last night and scoured a bunch of shops ( only a few open on Sunday morning) to find one for today.

Hoping to see Spectre later, with dinner out. Dh is actually having to get dressed today and Go Out. It's a miracle.

Auriga, hope the day goes swimmingly for you, depleted numbers permitting.

We are off to Spectre in a bit too....

Yes, even here the dc had to take extra precautions this year (and last).

Spectre was good fun we all thought, me mainly because I could understand the plot, which has been way beyond me for the other new ones.