All I Want For Crepemas Is Youth

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Phew

MrsS, glad your DM has gone home - love her brothers response!

Monty, glad you are getting some use from the book card

We are going to wobble round to DMs and then go for another bracing walk I think.

How is DMIL, Herbs? Your DS's response was fabulous.

MI - you hussy, you, a short red skirt?

My mother gave me an utterly hideous top for Christmas, which is going back when I can be arsed to schlep up to M & S. It is a) two sizes too big and b) sort of smock like, in a small leopard print. It looks like something that Bet Lynch's Nan would wear. I don't mind a bit of leopard print, it is just the whole hideousness of this thing.

My fil says climate change is all a load of rubbish too.... I try not to engage on such subjects.

Job app one done and filed.... Think I will pass on two as it is a sideways move......

Emptied ds's school bag - 2 week old mango anyone? And read his school report. Now need to think about packing.

Very quiet here - DH has had a cold & am crossing fingers that I don't get it.

Just had a lovely walk along the sea front in SUNSHINE. In grave danger of being mown down by all the new bikes wobbling along.

I just used to say nothing to the right wing ravings of late PILs. Never gave them the satisfaction of an argument.

Can't wait for all the festivities to be over now & am counting down the days until I go to see PFGD (& DS & DDIL).

Herbs - your DS sounds so lovely.

Everybody's gone

My brother has stepped up to the plate and is looking after ddad until tomorrow, so I'm free!

We're off shopping, may watch some telly tonight (it literally hasn't been on at all which is very odd as we are quite the telly addicts here) and generally rearrange the furniture back to normal.....

Dd heading back to G today to her heshe, and I am back to work tonight.( oh yes I am!)
Furniture is still in a weird arrangement but hey ho. Need to strip the beds and start on the overflowing washing basket. Can't remember when I last did a wash.

Hatty was thinking of your people in Yorks and wondering if all ok. It is horrifying bad isn't it?and NU as well....
Mrs S your Ma is unbelievable, but entertaining. Well done you for surviving another sojourn in her company.

Crem - later on today, I will receive the phone call whereupon I am told everything I did wrong while she was here.

Oh god MrsS I don't know why you do it...... I think I'd be inclined to think if I'm going to be wrong then I'll just not invite her...
Why are some people so nasty?

Finally here on my new tablet. It seemed to have got a virus when DH was configuring it and it took him all day to sort it.

Herbs and Stropps - hope you are both hanging in there. Good for you Stropps why not drink champagne for the hell of it. I reckon you deserve it.

Here beautiful weather so everybody has gone for a bike ride (except me). We are going to see Star Wars as a family this evening. I'm now going to use my new hoover (bought this morning after the old one finally gave up) my exciting life knows no bounds!

Crem - I heard York was flooded - it seemed to flood regularly when I was a child and then they must have built defences because it all went quiet until now. My folks are well to the north and away from any rivers so should be OK. Incredible to see Appleby on the news though.

Mrs S - I'm speechless at your DM. . Maybe champagne to celebrate getting rid. I am planning on being a naughty old lady but she really does cross several lines.

MrsS, at least your dm is consistent in her awfulness. There's something to be said for the predictable, I reckon. Easier to arm oneself against it.
I had to call my dm yesterday so that she could have her trad debriefing session after db and family left. She has to vent about various issues. I dare say she will also have spent time venting to db and co about us, specifically dd. Anyway, I shouldn't complain too much - dm did cook a massively good Christmas lunch and put up with our rickety make do Boxing Day lunch.
I've finally managed 2 decent nights' sleep in a row, only being woken up a few times by my back going into spasm. I am assuming that next week will be entirely ghastly (for dd-related reasons, plus my first week in new job with long commute etc), so have made the most of the chance to more or less relax for the past 2 days, although I now have a to-do list as long as my arm. Will have to make time to sort out business admin and delegate to dh various things for which I have taken responsibility for the last 13 years - this may get bad-tempered, as he is likely to be resistant to taking over some things.

Thinking of all those Crepeys dealing with the challenges of ailing parents and tricky or poorly dcs. Monty, I do hope your dd1 hasn't got whooping cough :(

I must now whizz out for a dog walk and then go into town to purchase presents for elderly aunt and uncle who are pitching up at dm's tomorrow and we have been summoned for lunch. Dh and dd are not keen on going, so am girding my loins for the usual fight to get them out of the door on time tomorrow. Although I have pre-warned aunt and uncle that if dd is being partic tricky, she may not come. I have given up trying to gloss over the troubles she is having and have just told all rellies, as I am sick of the stress of trying to hold it all together and then getting blamed when we are late to everything/dd is rude or difficult. She's old enough to take the rap for her own behaviour, MH issues or not. I have had it with people expecting me to produce a bloody magic wand all the time and make everything nicey-nicey when actually I am not the one with the power to do that. I feel better for making this decision.

Camhs worker recommended that I ask for a referral for ds, so that he can get some support. This has been actioned. So even if dd continues to refuse to engage with them and to be, erm, tricky, ds will get his own space and support. This also takes some weight off me, so this also makes me feel better.

Soz for stilled having my frazzled head jammed up my own behind. I am catching up with myself, sort of. But must focus on transforming into a sensible teacherly person next week.

Stropps, sounds like you are surviving (a major feat in itself) and great that you have planned for DS to get some support even if DD isn't keen. And don't gloss over her issues - she's nearly an adult and does have to take responsibility for her own actions/inactions!

We are on our way to our besties - looking forward to drinking and eating even more!

Stropps - you are amazing for coping so well. Delighted that your DS is going to get some help as well & hope it does take some of the load of you.

Mrs S - you are a - I have just done my feet with the Newton's sponge & they feel amazing. Many thanks. Sorry to hear all about the trials of your D (?)M.

Oh Stropps you are a complete wonder. Excellent that ds is getting support. What about you though? Time for Dh to step up-you are right.
Take care, and I have everything crossed for you for next week.

Stropps, you are doing brilliantly.

Actual the biggest bust up I had was with DP's brother who was surprised I describe myself as a journalist "because I always think you're a writer and editor". WELL YOU'RE WRONG, innit. What with the fact I have been a working journalist who has clocked up a nice number odnnati

...of national bylines in the PAST 15 YEARS.

I think some crepey awards are in order....the endurance award to MrsS, the good decision -making one to stropps, the funny word award to cremo , ...and Mi for the the most outrageous DParent visiting outfit......any others...?

Thank you monty I'm plodding along. The troops aren't disturbing me in the mornings, so that's something I guess. DH is taking DD out for the day tomorrow, itinerary unspecified but may include an art gallery, I suspect......so I can have a breakfast meeting with ConS and get my gels done ( not at the same time of course). Having been very about going back to the flat for new year I feel we might, especially of the weather is like it was today. I hope your DD hasn't got whooping cough...maybe she needs an inhaler?

Whilst the DC were doing a matinee DH and I went for a long walk, and after late lunch of salad I feel so much less sluggish. It's quite dramatic. Now if I can just keep my hands off that packet of waitrose mince pies which beckons from the kitchen surface invitingly, I should be ok...

DD and I are going to watch The wizard of Oz and have a big singalong. DS is still performing. Apparently the lead guitarist got stuck in traffic and they had to start without him, and the band was in stitches trying to cover up....

Agree about the Endurance reward for Stropps. It's good to hear about the special help for DS, too. Monty, I hope DD is ok: my DD had whooping cough when she was 10 months old, so I know how terrifying the whoop is. Rose, enjoy your Wizard of Oz film.

Just watching the floods in York - we're clear here, although we have a red warning for Wednesday. The flood defences in our small town have held.

We went to Northern Stage this morning with all the family, to see a play for little children: great fun. Newcastle was quiet when we got into town, but by lunchtime was heaving. We paid a brief visit to JL looking for curtains for our bedroom - as we're replacing the carpet as well we can choose whatever we want, which means I don't know what I want. Needless to say ready made curtains aren't made to the size we want.

We have the DGC tomorrow as DD is back to work - I think a trip to the coast is in order, complete with scooters.

Montserrat, just seen this, if you're worried about whooping cough I suggest you don't delay seeking advice. It's treated with antibiotics and it would be important to keep her away from babies & the elderly.

Monty, if you haven't already, I would give SELDOC a call. They have been hugely helpful to us in the past, and nothing is too much bother.

Stropps deserves the biggest bloody gold medal going.

Have texted Monty to this effect.

She's getting in y

aAaaaargh

She is getting in touch with SELDOC!

DP's aunt has given him a spectacularly horrid jumper. Not to be horrid deliberately: she liked it. It is beige acrylic and makes him look like a respectable middle-aged golfer.

Thank you, everyone, for kind and wise advice re dd and her cough. Have had quick chat with SELDOC GP who says if she is well in herself and not hot or struggling to breathe then it can wait for GP tomorrow. Thanks for thinking of us

Am off to craft some supper but will return to catch up properly.

I am tired of cooking. Have just made macaroni cheese for tonight and have vindaloo marinading in the fridge as I have rashly invited some colleagues over for dinner. Will sling it in the slow cooker tomorrow.

Good that Monty is getting the medics involved - hope your dd feels better soon, Monty.
I have spent many hours over the past couple of weeks getting medical advice and also dedicated many hours to trying to sort out school/Ucas mess. And also trying to communicate with dd, who may be the most stubborn and bloody-minded being in the universe.
The concensus from the MH professionals is that nothing can be done as long as she refuses to engage. The feedback from school is that she is pretty much toast, unless she consents to take advice, do one A level this year and do the other 2 next year. And the feedback from dd is that they can all fuck off. She insisted on putting in her Ucas application (I had to get involved with the school on the last day of term to make this happen) and then within 24 hrs was screeching about how there was no point because her predicted grades mean that she won't get any offers. Um, yes. Rather immaterial, methinks, when she appears unable to get to school. Mocks are next week. I have told dd repeatedly (as I always have) that I do not mind whether she goes to university or not, and she has said that she feels there is no pressure from to take a certain path. It is not clear to me why she continues to insist she must go to university next year, whilst also continuing to avoid doing any work and going to school. It all makes no sense to me, but I have now learnt to just make sympathetic noises most of the time.
I can do no more and the MH people just tell me I have to endeavour not to take the nasty stuff personally.
It has just been hard - not least because I have had to go over and over my and Dd's history with the MH profs, which meant going back through a lot of assorted nastiness re her dad, dv, MH things etc. I can't help but feel a tad pissed off that I've been through the mill for her, whilst she continues to run away from it all, but I just have to let it go. I must now concentrate on building a new career so that I can support ds, and dd must learn to stand on her own 2 feet, or not.