All I Want For Crepemas Is Youth

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Phew

I am SLUGGISH today. The return to work Looms. I suspect I should also print out some music I've been dodging.

I am not going to do SW, Rose, but am going to try and be a bit healthier, ie cut down on booze and choc!

Rose, DD has no shame about sucking her thumb and she is thrilled that one of her new friends - a boy who is no nerd - still sucks his

Herbs, I agree with the others - stress and alcohol. I often have bad dreams about my DM. It's the unknown that is so unsettling for me.

Rose, I really should, but I am not ready to diet. I am going to try to be a bit healthier, like MI.

I've started well today - been to the gym and for a cuppa with a friend, no cake involved! But we are out again tonight with old friends...

Probably true re routines. I'm still in my dressing gown, and am feeling the need to Do Something.

Re diet, I'm going to do the S thing again. Small portions, no seconds, no sweets, no snacks, except on Saturday and Sunday! Also, no booze during the week. And now I have a definite routine to my work, I can build in some exercise. Maybe even cycling to my local work!

Herbs, I like the sound of the S thing. I am going to try that too!

I find it easier to diet if there's light at the end of the tunnel. I couldn't do SW as the deprivation is constant, and I'd just be cross the whole time!

Having a quick looksee at what I need to do before I start teaching on Monday. Lots, it turns out...

I am definitely getting that "end of break" feeling. The tree will come down this afternoon, and I'm frantically scoffing all the festive food (panetone gone, four mince pies and a box of chocs to go) with a view to returning to abstinence come Monday.

Lots of little chores to do today - some jumper darning, bill paying, jewellery mending and a whole heap of sheets and towels to wash. Viakalled the shower this morning. It's actualy very satisfying to get all these tasks ticked off.

I too have some childhood cuddlies, but mine are safely stashed in the loft. A giant yellow shaggy synthetic teddy, a knitted Mr Toad (of Toad Hall), and a battered homemaid rabbit in a dress are not the kind of items I wish to have on show. DS has a little teddy which we left at a hotel about ten years ago, and the DDs have never really had special ones.

Me too, CV. Will take our tree down.

Rose, I won't do SW but am going to carry on with lots of exercise, which I have been enjoying a lot. And I have lost some weight as a happy side effect.

I need to Viakal the shower screen. And put stuff away from various excursions. Have to take DS swimming this afternoon (shoot me now), then we're meeting friends (the non-inviting ones) for an early evening meal. I am going to try and not let it turn into a drunken session round at ours! Again...

One of DP's Christmas present to me turned up today, which was cheering. Some lovely comfy yet slightly sexy, in a functional sort of way, pants from Finesterre. Made from merino wool!

I am fed up with wondering what day of the week it is too, I want some Monday-Fridays.

And I meant to re-read some of my course books, to inspire me in my course planning, but of course spent the evenings getting drunk and/or and flicking between telly and candy crush. So remain uninspired.

We still have pictures to put up, but on the other hand I’d rather get a bit more written and I have (finally) printed out the music I ought to learn before next Thursday…

We have loads of house sorting to do. I had been hoping to get it done in these few days but need dh to help/decide things. Grr.

A very belated happy new year to all you wise, funny and thoughtful crepeys.

I mostly managed to KBO last year, despite feeling impostorish at work and rubbish with family. Smiling and turning up on time, as has been said before on this thread.

Going dry for January from Monday onwards and apart from my singing and walking weekend up North (would be bit of a waste, given that one day ends in a pub). Will also start shredding again, and maybe walking to work one day a week.

Am with Lalsy on wanting to get back to knowing what day of the week it is. Think extra boxes of mincepies just because they are 10p may be false economy.

Off to Macbeth at YV with DH shortly. Did book for DS but can't face the fight.

ps thought Sherlock was pretty rubbishy - most self indulgent aspects of both Mark Gatiss' and Stephen Moffat's writing. did fall asleep during it but don't think that affectedm critical appraisal.

Has anyone tried Dickensian/And then there were none?

I'm defrosting GF pastry to have one last hurrah with the delicious Aldi mincemeat in the fridge.

Just had lunch at desk with two knives, no fork. Been writing since half seven. 20 more scenes to rewrite, then re-read and edit. Re-read to proof and off to agent by end of month. Managed 14 scenes re-written over Christmas hols. Totally avoiding kids and family fun until 3/4 most days. Dreading discovering all the plot holes I've left in my wake. Lots of commissioned work waiting for me on Monday that I don't want to do at all.

I like the sound of the S's diet. I have been in worse states of fatness/unfitness other new years. I put this down to my hardcore weekly reformer Pilates. It's ossum.

Out in a bit to see if buying dd2 new pants will stop her wriggling around like she's got a rat up her backside while we're watching telly (it's not worms, it's small pants, I think ) Also going to get her some proper fitted running shoes from the proper shop now that she's done 50 park runs (! with her dad not me I hasten to add)

I have Daniel a teddy knitted by my mum to her design. I think I do anyway or maybe he is just in my heart (puke). My two have their special things knocking about in their rooms but they don't seem essential anymore. And both gave up their thumbs to my huge surprise.

Ahhh, my dcs have plenty of cuddlies still in evidence - and then there are the 2 boxes of the soft toys that they declined to part with permanently but I was allowed to put them in the loft so that they both had space to get in their beds. It's just that they would def not be taking them to any sleepovers for fear of ridicule/damage to said toys. I've still got some of my cuddly toys, but the important ones are in a tragic, baldy state and squashed flat because I used to keep them under my pillow. I think they may be stashed in the loft somewhere.

Today is mainly about cleaning, admin and food shopping. And possibly making some watercress soup. I have a craving.. And I need to make some teaching resources. So glad I packed away all the Christmas stuff yesterday! And it feels like it should be a Sunday, but it's actually Saturday. How good is that? :)

I don't do NY's resolutions or focused girth-reduction plans, but I'm having to reorganise a lot of key bits of my life this Jan anyway, thanks to the new work regime. I am really excited about this. I predict that the excitement will wear off by the end of week 2, by which time I will be naffed off with a lot of the things I am currently excited about. Because I am contrary like that.

Stropps .

dc and I are also off to restock, on trainers and waterproof trousers. We are quite excited, especially me now I know my NF kagoul is height of style, how groovy will I look with matching trousers?

Lalsy I suspect it is a certain type of Northie puffa that my teens think is swaggy!

Am doing not very much with DH today. I would have gone into the garden to do some pruning if it wasn't raining....

I am genuinely unsure how I got into the position where I ‘have’ to keep bashing out words of this damn novel, but I too am at the desk...

Have been to the "ventes privées" at Galeries Lafayette - had lunch with DD1 and got her two tops at half price from Comptoir des Cotonniers so she's all set for her interviews. She just has to get some now!

Addle - And Then There Were None was most excellent, contrary to Sherlock and also had Aiden Turner in it.

I guess different ways of eating or not eating, suit different people. All diets work if you stick to them. I don't find any deprivation in slimming world except in the amount of certain naughty things. But as I said one has to stick to it. I just want to get rid of the pounds I put on over the Autumn and Xmas period, so my weight loss earlier last year doesn't go completely to pot. Weight gain is as yet unspecified as I haven't been brave enough to get on the scales yet. but there's no doubt for my personality, having that little email drop in to my inbox each Monday morning and reminding me to weigh in...and then plot it on a graph is quite a motivator.
small portions are not Oink

DD has completed her application for the BTEC for next year. It's now going off to the school for them to complete their bit. Quite excited for her and for us. I did fill up a bit when I saw she'd written "I am not academic but I have ability in the creative arts. I have special needs but I am overcoming them and I want to help other people to overcome theirs"

As for me I have truly had my fill of being with the family. I made myself a hair appointment for a blow dry just to get out of the house. Now I'm in Starbucks hiding. Must get home and do something useful. Must do better.

Aww Rose.

Rose, I have only survived the sodding holidays with the help of Escape. And am now Riven with Narrative Doubt in any case.

Ash, Rose, your DD must be very special (and I don't mean SN either, if you see what I mean).

Stropps, all DC's cuddlies went upstairs/garage/shed, but many years later they were all manky, so had to be disposed of humanely. This included the almost person sized purple Tigger which DD won when her middle school went to Flamingo Land (which leaked polystyrene bobbles everywhere).

The curtain fabric hunting was a bit of a disaster with me losing my temper with DH (I suppose it's his bedroom as well so he should have some input, but grrr, I think we're incompatible).

Still working through Christmas food here....

Rose, I'm not sure how much better you can do, there. To me, you are awesome.

WHERE'S MY BLUE RABBIT, EH? [Last seen in the Cotswolds when I was four.]

Dh has been handily pruning the apple tree today - looks great now. Can't wait for next year's crop.

More healthy walks in BP, eh, Crepeys? Ending up at the lovely pub The Florence? I am always up for that.