Crepe Oddity

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Sorry.

To clarify: I realise he has to be away. But I would like to know in advance.

BTM I'm in Essex.
Cremo Martinique looks fab & warm. I hate the cold.
Mrs S agree with GGG phone call is the way to go. Save your energy.

Yes I'd find that hard to take, MI, even if we weren't in semi-crisis mode. If dates when you have to be away are inflexible, you (usually) have correspondingly more notice of them, so no need for surprises.

MrsS, would you prefer to get it in the neck for visiting or for not visiting? Or for visiting but not quite at the right time?

Another one in the pick up the phone camp, MrsS.

Pace yourself.

Phone MrsS

Yes MI Dp does that to me... Makes me ahhhhhh!

St Lucia is faaaaaaab!

Will call her tomorrow then. I had thought about this some more when I went to bed, and thought that DD2 should probably come first - we can go out shopping and have lunch out. Unfortunately I am not sure when I will be able to visit - am travelling next weekend, get back the following Wednesday and then that weekend it's my cousin's DD's wedding - which my mother has refused to attend as my cousin told her she couldn't put her up. My mother was difficult beyond belief about this - we offered to pick her up and take her to the wedding (which is entirely in the opposite direction from where she lives), but she "didn't want to be squashed in the car with us all" (we have a 4x4, not a Micra), she "didn't want to have to pay for two nights in a hotel". I suggested she get a taxi to take her all the way there, but she didn't want to pay for that either. I finally snapped and said "I suggest you don't go." So she's not going. Cousin is very relieved as my mother would almost certainly have a go at her brother for clearing the contents of his parents' house and not offering anyone else even a keepsake (she didn't want a keepsake, she wanted some valuable paintings or some jewellery, but that's an entirely other story. Why do you want these things at 83? Should you not be divesting yourself of stuff, rather than acquiring more?

MrsS, she is making her own bed. I totally sympathise with the guilt feelings though - especially without siblings to argue with about whose turn it is!

Just rang to pay the heating engineers that had to go to DM's on Monday because she was fiddling with a gas heater which wasn't working and apparently she called them out twice at Christmas. Once because she had had too much milk, etc delivered and the other time because she couldn't get her sewing machine working. Had a good laugh with the girl on the phone who said that the average age of their customers is about 80 and they are like a branch of Help the Aged. So lovely that they care enough to go out and try to help.

God almighty Mrs S. Just reading about your mother exhausts me. How come you turned out so well?

I have one of my inexplicable three day headaches, not related to Aunt Flo, or 'falling to the communists', as I heard the other day. Thought it was tension about having to cover classes at the sixth form college yesterday, but that passed without incident, and I've all got the headache. Crikey, 16-18-year-olds are ghastly. Except when an ofsted inspector homes into view, then they suddenly start behaving.

So sorry to hear about all the rapid declines of parents. It won't be long here, I fear. My mum's best friend died a couple of weeks ago. Mum doesn't think she can make the funeral, so I'm going to go in her place. So if any crepey fancies a central London MU on Wednesday lunchtime, I'll be near selfridges!

DS is writing a book about a 'jumpersaurus'. This is not, as I first thought, a dinosaur which jumps a
lot, but a dinosaur actually made of jumpers. Opening sentence - 'with his floppy legs, the jumpersaurus kicks the leaves angrily'.

I am ALREADY getting it in the neck about future arrangements for my dad, who has similarly made his own bed. It is not my fault he has no friends and alienated his daughters by the time they'd reached mid-teens. I really dread the prospect of visiting him after my mum isn't around.

We should introduce him to my mother, MI...

Love the book, Herbs!

I am on a bus in Norwich. Solemn warning as we got off the train that the platform was vv crowded with people wanting to get on. Don't think the guard is very well-travelled somehow. Or at least not to cities.

DQ, your comment about your dm deadlifting her own bodyweight made me (sorry) . I remember my own dm grinding her teeth about people banging on about what a wonder my grandmother was. Now I grind my teeth about people banging on about what a wonder my dm is. I hope to be a source of similar annoyance to dd in 30+ years.

Good luck with the visit, MI.

Good luck with the non-visit, MrsS. And I hope you have a nice time with dd2.

Apparently, dd actually took on board what I fed back to her about what ds said at his Camhs appmt. She made a special effort to eat with us on Thurs and Fri and has been interacting with her brother very nicely for the last couple of days. I am not so foolish as to believe this will last, but I am enjoying the improved atmosphere at the moment.

This w/e, I am mainly working and being annoyed with dh for being a lazy barsteward. He has had barely any work on this week as far as I can see, but has still managed to do not one bit of helping around the house apart from putting stuff away in the kitchen and wiping the surfaces. And he did a bit of hoovering yesterday because I shouted at him. I have to work on a massive document all w/e and make teaching resources and he is just pissing about and pissing me off and looking all martyred when I suggest he might like to empty the compost bin/clean the bathroom/strip the beds.

Feh.

Leave the Bastard, Stropps.

I am still suffering from my night of overindulgence.

DD2 has emerged briefly from her room, only to go back again. Have asked her if she wants to go out and go shopping: "Meh." Where does she want to go for dinner tonight? Shrug of shoulders. Think I'll go back to bed.

Leave all the bastards, MrsS.

MM - yes, I agree! MrsS, you should leave all the bastards. Sorry to hear dd2 is unappreciative of your efforts to entertain her. Lavish TLC on yourself instead, in preparation for your week of stressful travel.

I am contenting myself with giving dh a long list of boring items to get from town. He announced he was taking ds to get him a "treat", so I told him they can do some useful stuff while they are out.

Have cheered myself up by purchasing some cheapo Tamaris chelsea boots (£24.99 down from about £50) into which I have stuffed a gel insole and they are now almost as comfortable as my clown shoes. I like Tamaris boots as they are made for German feet, which means they fit my semi-German and extremely wide feet. Further cheer was obtained by eating several peanut butter and chocolate cookies which have just been made by dd. Who is still being nice - at the moment.

BTM, thank goodness for good people - I was also cheered up by your reports about your dm's heating engineers.

Somebody mentioned TopShop upthread. I bought this jumper in pale grey just after Christmas and have been wearing it to work loads. It is, unfortunately, acrylic, but the style and shape are great and it goes with loads of stuff. Dd and I saw the jumper at the same time, but I got there first. Heh heh. (She got a pleather miniskirt instead)

I am procrastinating. In case no one realised.

Agree on the Tamaris boots, Strops - my over-knee grey suede ones are from there. Super-comfy, despite my bunions. I can't be doing with any of the Italian or Spanish brands, made for delicate Mediterranean trotters.

Mr Purse-strings wants to go shopping; I've graciously agreed to accompany him, but I'm not sure he's going to let me do any actual spending, the tight git. I might have to content myself with BHF (it's for charity!) or Hobbycraft (for which I have a voucher).

I have feet like tiny flippers: size 3, narrow at the ankle and broad across the toes, and flat as pancakes. I have to distract from them with flashing generous cleavage.

On first of several trains home. Parents managing to drive me to the BRINK. Also still in major denial (dad suggesting a couple of days away in Devon, mum mentioning that they should look at more accessible places to live). I really cannot bear talking to my father. They also are not sorting out things like how they might manage for food when my mum can't sort it (a few things in the freezer won't cut it) given that my father can't/won't even make a sandwich or heat up soup. And no I do not want to go to her book launch.

I am not in receipt of Good Daughter points today.

Over the knee you say CV? You have long legs too!

i'm having a lovely day indoors doing nothing except watch footie on tv and eat pizza. My waist with know all about that tomorrow but sometimes it's lovely to just not worry.
x

I have looked at Tamatis on Amazon and seen a pair for a mere 33 squid that I like (but don't need!)

Here it has rained persistently.... I have shopped, made burgers and paneer and doing little else....

MI sorry visit was so tough....

Mi - it's not a case of you not being a 'Good Daughter' - they are not being 'Good Parents'.

It takes two to tango.

I am feeling good as have been for a swim - didn't want to go at all but ended up having a good swim and a lane to myself. Deep joy.