All I Want For Crepemas Is Youth

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Phew

Strops sorry to hear Dd is not engaging, but job sounds great :)

No war stories here although I'm sure my dad could tell me stuff.

Here ddad is insisting dmum comes home even though this will be very difficult/impossible. I think he has to try everything no matter how hard before he will give up and accept the home idea.

As such I will come home on a monthly basis for a weekend - first one weekend of 22nd Jan so if anyone fancies a Friday night drink, or a Saturday coffee/drink let me know.

I am pogoing to try to take this all one day at a time as I think it's going to be a difficult 3/6 months.

Have just arranged to see other friends on the Fri but would love to do Sat if I can: I have this weird dinner at my parents' on Sun before mum's consultant appt on Mon so could also do with Crepey solidarity!

Saturday it is then MI! Let's sort details later.

Oh Molly, are you a small dog tucked up in bed?

On fb

CV, that would make a book or at least a short story!

BD, I could do the Fri night or Sat morning (would be escaping Outlaws!), which doesn't fit with MI at all!

What a pity DD isn't engaging with the professionals, Stropps, but great news about your new job.

Lalsy, have you thought about contacting the nearest SSBU? When DGS2was born prematurely he needed to wear tiny hats while in the incubator - the unit had a team of women who enjoyed knitting them. I thought it was rather lovely that the usually older residents of Ashington liked to do this for the new babies.

My GF was in the trenches during WW1, but never talked about it. DDad was in a reserved occupation and didn't join up, although my uncle was in submarines. DM was moved from Yorkshire down to the Midlands to make bombs - which is where she met DDad.

MI, have you thought about Asda for your specs: they have three ranges at different prices, but the best thing is that the cost of the glasses includes the lenses. My last pair (April) cost £110, I think: which included varifocals and transition lenses! Have a look online at their policy.

Am smiling at the different reactions to Kipling: author, bags or cakes. Does this mean that we're divided into three personality types?

BD, I know that my widow friend still feels guilty that she couldn't nurse her DH at the end of his life, I guess that's how your DDad feels. It is a difficult decision to make.

My grandparents were all immigrants, fleeing something I expect.. and I don't have any WW1 stories at all. Plenty of WW2 ones though.

I am a neat knitter in terms of it looking nice and neat and even, but I struggle to follow a pattern and can't correct my mistakes, so give up rather easily. but I do like it...find it really relaxing. Feeling like I might give it another go... CV when I drive down a certain A Road to the flat, past a certain roundabout with a cockerel there's often a seasonal knitted garment on it.... lol

Stropps that's tough, (now that you've got the help) that DD won't play ball, but I'm sure the professionals recognise this and will have some sort of plan. I guess their hands are a bit tied without consent but as the mother from hell that I am I would be saying to them, "What would be your plan in the event that DD is refusing..." Am glad you have the joys of the nice job to balance things out a bit, though.

BD my DParents managed for quite a while at home after DDads first big deterioration. Things plateaued for quite a while. That he would eventually be in a home was inevitable but DM had to get to the decision herself.

Would love to meet up but I dunno what's going on that weekend yet...birthday is on the Saturday of that weekend, although nothing very exciting is happening as far as I can see...

In S&B news, has anyone seen the Boden Spring catalogue that has just arrived. I am monumentally uninspired, with the exception of the shoes which are delicious, and a pair of candy pink jeans which remind me of a DottyP pair I had when I was 16 and reedy thin...

hankering for the body of my youth

OK best get on...DH and DS2 have gone off to the Apple store to try and sort out DS's phone which is faulty. DD claims to have no more homework and is slobbing. (Her mock results were not thrilling, even for her...trying not to dwell). We have to sit through two shows today....
Herbs the solution to DS's shyness is just a couple of postcodes away...

Happy weekend, all xx

I used to knit...anyone want to test their pelvic floor with That Pic again?

Rose, if they're not forthcoming on the domestic front we might be able to celebrate?

Haven't caught up yet, but yes, I am a small dog sleeping. GGG, I think you may also be canine?

NU, it is a lovely idea but if I ever knitted something with enough shape for an SSBU to want it, I would be too selfish to give it away! I do find knitting very relaxing and have really enjoyed the tiny dollop of creativity that blanket squares allow.

CV, what an amazing story.

And BD, so complicated isn't it. I think having a plan (your monthly visits) is a good idea though. One has to have something to work around.

MI I guess I have to give the old git a chance to come up with something....

Ahem.

I just had my nose pierced.

It really didn't hurt much (though suspect depends on skill of piercer). I've had more painful threadings. Not to speak of unmentionable things of a gymae nature.

My great uncle was in WW1 - we have lots of his letters, written in what looks like crayon. Very matter of fact. Although he seems to have been ?can't remember the phrase? 'bound before the wheel' at one point for insubordination. Will have to check. Cremo - I wonder if your GF and my GU were anywhere near each other, both being NI? I also have a fantastic book of cartoons from that period which are much more subversive than you might expect.

And, a small deer in locket shape carved from bone that my grandmother on the other side told me was carved by her father in a POW camp. His marriage didn't survive his return from the war, which pretty much made my grandmother illegitimate in the eyes of her small Welsh town and probably contributed to her running away to become a chorus girl

Molly - I'm a big face looming out of the frame. Do friend me.

MI - you are daring! What are the DDs saying?

Here I am struggling on with an incapacitating hangover. Had a friend round last night, and got through three bottles between three of us. But DP was drinking beer most of the night. So it was more like a bottle and a half each. Now have to go and engage with lots of people and children in a loud echoey church for this community production thingy. I may have to retreat to the graveyard and cry.

You all seem to have such exciting families!

MI, you rebel!

I have just spoken to DM who sounds calm if not very on the ball!

Had a lovely catch-up with a friend this morning and I've got the house to myself this afternoon

MI, you rock, you really do.

BTM, no-one in my family has ever done anything very remarkable, except die young or be quite odd in rather routine, solitary, miserable ways. I feel pleased the current generation is shaping up a bit better.

I saw (in THAT museum, Stropps) a gorgeous piece of embroidery by a Belgian POW, done to send to his parents to reassure them he was OK. As I remember, he was there for the whole of the war, but died of Spanish 'flu before seeing his family again.

The general reaction from them and their online mates is 'slay'

Is that like 'sick', MI?

More glam, I think. It's also a verb. "You slay in that".

Excellent!

Ouch MI - I would never have the courage.

Have had a very quiet day after taking DD1 to the station. She seemed to get back to Uni in record time. Left here at 11.30, back in her room by 3.30. House feeling very empty, although we had a lovely family meal at the Chinese last night.

Your families are all incredible. I have no tales like that, except for my FiL in France, whose house was burnt by the Germans and they had to escape up into the mountains until the end of the war. I find him remarkably unresentful.

Stropps - so glad your job is going well. Hoping that your DD comes round to seeing the mental health professionals.

Rose - I think Boden has gone right downhill, they used to have beautiful rich colours and have now gone all pastel, and although I love those shoes they would look ridiculous on me.

Molly, are you on FB - I will seek you out - I'm the one in a punt with friend.

I've sent you a request, Hattie!

Have friended you Molly (is that the right word?!). I am indeed canine - a pug puppy with it's tongue sticking out...