All I Want For Crepemas Is Youth

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Phew

More rain: when I went out to top up the bird feeders my shoes squelched across the grass (and made a sucking noise as I tried to lift them). All the decorations are still up here, but not for much longer, although we might not get them up in the loft today as we are going to DD's for lunch.

I have a dilemma: DS's builders arrive tomorrow, the garage, which was where the washing machine was, is to be demolished, so they now have no working machine. I have offered to do their washing of course. Now my dilemma is this: ever since DDiL has had the DC her DM has taken all the ironing and done it, I don't really want to start that, but don't want to appear mean. What should I do? They're not actually moving in with us until the beginning of March. I do love DDiL and we get on well; she does have a lot on her plate, as whilst she is a SAHM, my DS works very long hours and is away a lot. I think I might leave things as they are now; ie let her DM take the washing and continue to iron, but perhaps do some of the ironing when they are here. What do you think?

BD, enjoy your special lunch out.

Crem, major strop and foot down, I think.

Oh MI, how are things chez Les Parents? Sorry to hear about dsis.

Dh could not fold a towel if his life depended on it. I am expecting a supreme effort re The Ironing today.
If there is any slacking, I am moving out. I am off tomorrow and refuse to spend the entire day cleaning up everyone else's Christmas muck. I am going to IKEA to spend my voucher and eat smoked salmon and chips. ( back to Pilates and strict eating soon)

Last two shows today. My festive cheer has run out frankly. Oh Yes It Has!

NU, I would let her DM take the washing and ironing at least until they move in with you.
Does she need lots of ironing done or is her DM over fussing? We are slatterns and I only iron my stuff if it really needs it!

NU, you are so lovely. I wouldn't take on her ironing but then like BTM there isn't much ironing gets done round here and it's each to their own.

Thank you, Crem: parents apparently continue to be mad, maddening and In Denial to a point that takes DSis's breath away and she misses the necessary cue to be Supportive. "I can't believe it's turned out this way," says mum about fact she can't do an India trip, while dad huffs and sighs at any mention of chemo.

NU you are the loveliest DM, DMIL and DGM. Two words. Service wash. I'd feel quite uncomfortable letting M's and MIls do our laundry and ironing but if they're OK with it and you're ok with it, it's a win win! What a lovely family you must be.

BD so great that you're having a good holiday and a rest.

crem good luck with the end of the run and nice day off tomorrow.

MI

Having a very quiet boring day. DD has agreed to turn out her wardrobe as we have a through- the -the -door charity bag to fill. Then to sort out her school books. DS has two shows again. I had trouble getting up this morning and have launched into the gloom that always descends in the run up to my birthday.

Morning all, and a very happy new year .

Our last guest has departed, so I am getting back to normal. About to do wash number 4000 of the holidays. NU, you are so lovely. I too would let DM do the washing til DIL moves in. What is this ironing of which you speak? Our amazing cleaner irons 5 DH shirts, but no one does anything else.

Sorry to hear things tense chez les parents, MI. Herbs, how is your MIL? And how is your DP doing?

Crem, only 2 more to go. You sound knackered, you poor love. Hang on in there.

CV, your splashback looks amazing. I wish I could do handy things like that. My mum (in her younger days) could tile, grout, sew, wallpaper, build a wall, dig a drainage trench etc and I thought that was just what adults do, until I became one. My dad was useless though and stood around, offering advice and the occasional glass of wine. Maybe 2016 will be the year I get better at this type of thing. I am already good at the wine, just the DIY to crack now.

Rose, your DD is s true delight. I am joining you on the diet bench, though I am going low carb, as it seems to suit me best. I am also off the sauce at home for January which will be helpful. Glad you got out to do your hair. I don't think there is anything wrong in hiding in Starbuck. Time for oneself is hugely important and usually in v short supply.

Molly, I would be up for a bit of B Park action if I can dispense with my darlings for a couple of hours le weekend. A small libation at the Florence would also be lovely

Happy birthday, Mr BD. The pics on FB are glorious. Hope you are having a top time and are getting a serious amount of R and R in.

BTM, sorry to hear about your tooth. Hope you can get it resolved quickly and without too much expense.

Seriously impressed by the writing on this thread - WAF, MI, Mrs S, Rose - and the talent you all have. Brilliant.

Popular series - DH and I are rubbish and don't even do Homeland. Probably the only people in the UK not to have seen it. I am, however, looking forward to War and Peace tonight. It's a long time since I read it, though, so it might inspire me to go back to it.

Right, I must tackle the DC's bedrooms, put a wash on, do an online shop, plan some meals and drink the last of the festive booze. Hic. Oh I must. Damp January starts tomorrow. Have a great day everyone.

X posts Rose. When is your birthday? Can you get out for a walk this pm on your own to escape the domestic drudge? You could drop some of the turned out clothes off at a charity shop and get a cup of coffee in. Win win. Sorry you feel low. Huge hugs XXXX

I posted my splashback on the DIY board, and to a (wo)man they all said I should continue the tiling right across the unit. Which I kind of knew I should. Which means another trip to Homebase for more tiles, and a more work for me. Rats. Well, I did ask.

NU - there's a thread about your missing friend. Here.

Re washing and ironing, I second Rose's suggestion of a service wash. With three of them and a baby you'll be doing nothing but washing, and could easily get resentful. Well, I know I would! And they could find it awkward asking all the time. As for ironing, I also don't do it. Well, maybe once in a blue moon if there's a particular garment I want to wear....

Oh no NU - I saw that thread but didn't realise it was your friend

Have come down to watch DS swim play our local team (some of whom he used to play with a few years ago) - thank god there is a decent clubhouse and covered stands!

NU would they not just put their own washing on when they come to yours? I don't really understand how one wouldn't be able to put washing on even with a couple of DC never had any help with washing/ironing when working parttime - they are very lucky to have such lovely grandmas

God, it's just vile outside at the moment. DS is also out playing football - I've just put the hot water on, because I'm expecting a shivering mud-creature to appear soon to demand a hot bath.

Wet, windy & nearly as dark as night here. Have been hibernating since Christmas as have had a cold. Got lots of tidying up type jobs done but not much else.

NU - there is no way I'd be doing the ironing - I can't see what needs ironing, apart from work shirts.

If they are coming to live with you for a while don't take on too much & end up feeling resentful. I suspect you are too nice.

I'm another one who thinks you are in danger of being too nice, NU! And I also only think very few garments really need ironing.

Lovely and sunny here, so am rushing out quickly with Stroppdog, before the rain returns and we get soaked again. Because that's getting a bit boring. I do have splendid wet weather gear (waterproof trousers etc, natch), but the dog doesn't and despite me towelling him down when we come in, he likes to finish off the drying process by rolling around on the sofa.

I have spent a couple of hours this morning reading through all the official policies that I have to have read before starting work. A stack 3cm high. And most of it was surprisingly interesting.

Congrats on surviving the panto run, Crem. That's some serious stamina you have there. Enjoy your smoked salmon and chips

I have finished off the last of the champagne truffles and managed not to have any alcohol to drink yesterday. This month is also my birthday month, but I am always happy in Jan because bastarding Christmas is over and I can expect presents again at the end of the month (usually bought by me, for me, but no matter).

Dm bought me a dehumidifier for Christmas (I requested it, because she likes buying practical presents and she got the same machine last year for db and he rates it) and dh has become obsessed with the bloody thing. He keeps dragging it round the house and turning it on full blast. Am slightly worried that the moisture is what keeps our rubbishy house stuck together and if dried out too much it may disintegrate into a pile of dust. Either that, or all of us will end up looking like raisins.

My birthday month too.. We need to do something about that stopps (I had a very good lunch.... Catch up laters :) )

Ref called the match off at the last minute, despite it being 3G. The rain was torrential. And freezing! The boys had a kickaround for a bit though

I thought dehumidifiers were for drying out new plaster or wet carpets or something

3G BTM? WTF?

Feeling odd again today. Anxious, headache, exhausted. Didn't sleep properly last night, with a two-hour small-hours fret. Not entirely unconnected to starting teaching a fresh batch of learners tomorrow, starting from scratch, with associated pile of assessments and admin to do at the outset, which I don't quite understand and which if I do it wrong will make the rest of the course go a bit wrong. Having a quick squizz at it all again.

DS had the 'class teddy' (in this case an elephant) for the whole of the Christmas holidays. Now we have to write up the diary. Natch, it's like getting blood from a stone.

Mildly obsessed now with NU's DiL laundry. I have to confess that I wonder, as she's a SAHM, why doesn't she do her own?

NU - just looked at the thread re your friend. Sounds dreadful, I hope they find her soon. I am another who thinks no ironing, they can just put on their own washes.

Crem and Mrs S - I have a very good friend who ran away from her Plymouth Brethren family as she wanted a normal life. They basically cut her off and have never seen their grandchildren. I think she's really courageous.

Here, lovely family lunch with DD's friend. They have now all gone out leaving us slobbed on the sofa with the newspaper. Took tree down this morning, so everything in order but I always feel sad when I do this.

Herbs, I have no idea - it's like posh astro!
Sleeplessness/nightmares/nerves before the start of term is normal for a teacher, especially a newbie.
And yes, I was thinking that about NU's DIL

I don't know anything about Plymouth Brethren - off to google.

Glad I'm not the only one who makes excuses to go out and ends up sitting alone in a coffee house for respite. Didn't do it in the end today, instead we have braved this god awful weather and walked a lot, to clear the head. Glad we did it. Dripping coats on the radiator and are horribly smelly, though.

So quite a few Jan birthdays. Mine on 23rd, monty. It's always a let down for many reasons which I have banged on about too much on this board! And I am going to be so very old too....

Anyway, stropps your dehumidifier comments are making me giggle. I am visualising dessicated stropp people in little piles of dry flakes.....

Wish you better magi. Lousy to have a cold for Xmas.

herbs I sure you'll feel better when back in to some sort of routine and embracing the healthy eating kick. Work will be ok. You'll see.

Aren't Plymouth Brethren a bit like jehovas witnesses and Quakers? Are they the ones where the women wear little blue scarves?

Urgh....got that back to school feeling.

Just back from a lovely meal at DD's (cooked by my equally lovely DSiL); spent time playing Go Fish and Frustration (with everyone ganging up on grandad who is quite ruthless).

Re the ironing, I think probably most of it is DS's work shirts, I have no idea if she/they iron bedding, etc., I certainly don't! I have decided to leave things as they are until they actually move in with us, and then play it by ear regarding DS's shirts. It's going to be quite an upheaval for us all and DH and I have decided we're going to go away a lot and leave them to it.

CV, I had seen the thread about Sally, but didn't want to get involved with it, iyswim. Still no news and I hold out no hope now. I just hope the family have closure.

Good luck to everyone returning to work tomorrow and particularly to Crem with her 'new' job. I need some exercise so I will be returning to swimming and Aquafit first thing. Of course I might be rowing down to the sports centre if it continues to rain like this.

Oh yes, Cremo - Good Luck!

I've got that back-to-school feeling too Rose, though we are having a day on Mindfulness tomorrow which should be enlightening and upliftling.

I haven't left the house all weekend though in my defence have done a fair bit of writing. I shall run at godnknowswhato'clock tomorrow. Then DP departs for TMATDNSPIN and I shall Resume Normality.

Bah, I have decided to rebel and have a glass of wine. Since I don't actually start work until Tues and have had a productive day of prep, admin and housework - and am in a state of mind for flicking the Vs at stuff in general. I seem to have entirely failed on the food shopping. Never mind, it'll be super-charged fried rice or noodles for supper (again). Just have to raise a bunch of invoices for last month and send a couple of emails and then my to-do list will be a mass of ticks. Yay!

I have Kondo'd all my drawers into submission, so that getting dressed for work (something that I have not had to do for 18 years) will be a more efficient process (are you proud of me, Beachy? ) and now have a 4ft pile of stuff which I probably need to car-boot. I can't pretend I will get round to putting it on ebay.
I am now eyeing the boxes of soft toys in the loft cupboards and wondering if I can sneak them out to a car boot sale as well. And I'm pretty sure I can rustle up a couple of boxes of books. And I have decided I may well ebay my 1970s collection of Arthur Ransome books. I read Swallows and Amazons to dd back in the day, but she declined to try any more of them and ds is averse to even trying S&A. No point in hanging on to them really. On a slightly larger scale, I am wondering if this spring is the time to get rid of the massive climbing frame and swing and slide from the garden and reclaim a large chunk of lawn? Although I do quite like playing on the swing.

You know that thing about how you can't change other people, but you can change yourself? Well, since dh has come to terms with me giving up translating with him and instead going out to work, he has started cleaning the kitchen. And not just the once. He's been doing it every day for a while. He has realised that the wrath that will be visited upon him should I return at 6.30pm from work to find the whole place a tip and everyone sitting around saying "What's for supper?" will be truly dreadful. I also told him he will get more sex if he does some housework (although that may have been a lie).

Re: dehumidifier - I fear we have a house that is generally a bit on the ... mouldy side - not very obviously, but I think it is lurking in corners. Due to me often drying laundry inside probably. Also too many animals and plants. And no one doing enough cleaning. Possibly. Although this may now change .