29 crepes a leaping.......

[magimedi]

Well, I've grabbed the bull by the horns & am leaping into the new thread........

Felt very sad no one else had started one whilst I scoffed dined.

If no one like the title I am more than happy to have it deleted & go with anything else.

DH has taken over the catering for the month of February......... the food is good but the angst is another matter

stupid, simpering woman, auriga

thanks so much for sticking with it BTM

in S&B (boring news), I've just bought two plain cotton cardigans from H&M black and brown £9.99 each and the cotton feels like good quality. range of colours

looking forward to 12th no matter where we are

dramatisation of fear of flying going on on radio 4. unlikely vocab and subject matter for before 8pm on monday evening

Woman's Hour are bringing back their late night slots - they were good. Again, unlikely vocab and subject matter for The Radio.

Rose, remember to breathe when the butterflies start to flap their wings.

Auriga, people can be so thoughtless. As if that woman knows anything at all about your circs, and life!
Comments like that can absolutely break you, as they can be the straw that broke the camel's back. You poor thing; It was utterly unforgivable. I do feel for you, dealing with your very difficult dmum. It's very sad that she's focused on negatives. That would bring anyone down, I think. Do whatever you can to give yourself some space.

Are we set with the Mulberry then? so looking forward to seeing you all.

BD, BTM, MI how go your dmums?

Goodness me, BTM, word has clearly got out about the Crepey Massive descending for a night out. You are doing a sterling job finding us somewhere.

Auriga - wow, how patronising and presumptious of that woman. Sorry DM has been difficult recently, but you know it isn't really aimed at you, just her situation.

All this hair-removal talk prompted me to have a horrible dream last night - I had sprouted a LOT of facial hair, including a splendid set of sideburns , and was frantically covering myself with hair removal cream in an effort to de-fuzz before work.

How was everyone's return to school this morning? All good here; everyone surprisingly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. DD1 is gearing up for exams next week, and DS has got as far as preparing a nice colourful GCSE revision plan (but is yet to put it to good use).

Oh, and while I was helping DD2 get her books together for school I opened her bag.....and found a half-eaten KFC and chips, which has been there since she was out with friends last Tuesday. Eww. What a dirtbag......

Thanks all for being so understanding, & for not telling me that simpering woman was only trying to be nice

Honestly, though, there is a theme there, isn't there - all MI's relatives lecturing her, and randoms making comments to you, Auriga. Bloody cheek, and really presumptuous and crass.

There is apparently no cut off time for sweariness on radio, Addle. DH was told this when he complained about Sandi Toksvig saying "Bollocks" on radio 4 on a Saturday morning. (The irony of someone who swears as much as he does worrying about what Sandi said on radio was not lost on me.)

I've been to choir & had wine & DD's report is brilliant & am in bed with DH so altogether happier with the world

DM was horrible to the expert and kind OT who visited her today. Interesting to note how unruffled the OT was. Impeccably professional. Of course it helps when you're not emotionally involved. I was (silently) spitting nails but can be perfectly calm when it's someone else's relative abusing me.

BTM thanks for heroic efforts & sorry I haven't committed to 12 Mar but don't know yet if we'll have family staying.

Auriga, sorry to hear of latest DM woes but yay for brilliant DD report and satisfying choir practice. And the wine

MrsS, I think today is your call back - hope you are seen swiftly and get reassuring news . Will be thinking of you.

BD, any ma update? And the job possibility - did that develop?

Enjoy your brunch today, Molly and Rose. Wish I could join you.

I am a little undercooked for today's session. Hope Bail is the same as it was 5 years ago when I last taught it.....

And BTM, how is your ma doing? Thank you for splendid efforts re 12th March too.

WAF, thank you for asking about my DH a few posts back. He's much, much better than he was. Am organising non-drinking outside activities and also social activities in hope of keeping it that way. Feel bit like scout mistress but think it helps. On positive side he's become brilliant about splitting housework which is good as I hate it

Hope goes well Mrs S

Have great F&M, M&R

Addle, that sounds good re your DH - well done!

Monty, my DM sounds like she is enjoying being in the Home, which is great. I am a bit drowning under the myriad of jobs that I now have to sort wrt her finances/house, etc However, they will get sorted eventually!

Sweariness on R4? Switch to Capital or heart or Kiss

Waiting to hear back from the MB. Happy F&Ming, M&R!

BTM, so pleased to hear about your dm - that worrying the whole time must have been such a strain.

GGRRRRRR.

So I mention to DP I am about to embark on a fourth draft of my novel, following comprehensive feedback from someone who WORKS in this field, who makes his living working with writers in order to get their novels to submission standard (and who has very generously gone through my draft and given his views) – and this feedback is also broadly the same as my friend's, who is a published novelist, and oh yes I happen to agree with it.

Bear in mind I have taken said novel through three drafts in less than a YEAR, it’s not as if I’ve been tinkering with it for decades.

Now DP starts lecturing me on how surely it’s now becoming ‘over-written’ (he did not explain precisely what he meant by this) and surely I am just going with the whims of different people’s opinions, and generally suggesting I should – I don’t know, just decide it’s finished. When it clearly isn’t. And yes it would have been nice if the opinions had been ‘this is dazzling, agent-ready’ but realistically what they’ve said is extremely encouraging and what’s more I AGREE WITH THEM in what they’ve been saying. Whereas I do not agree with DP.

I may kill him.

Leave the Bastard, MI. Have had tit squashed and now waiting for ultrasound. Apparently there is a long wait. I remembered to bring a book but forgot my glasses. Colleague is doing my 2030 meeting for me. Shall I suggest taking him out for an early dinner (pizza, nothing exciting) to thank him?

I'd say no, MrsS. No need to give yourself another obligation. He'll need a work favour some time.

Fingers crossed for you MrsS. And sympathies re the forgotten glasses - so annoying!
Just say thanks!

Is this The Colleague, or just someone else you work with Mrs S?.
I'd say not in both cases. Get a takeaway tonight and give yourself a cooking break and a night off, though. Sorry about forgetting glasses, nightmare. Enter all the competitions on Mumsnet to fill time

LTB mi. What a dick!

BTM thanks for all the organising and great to hear about mum.

MI - LTB - you know its right :)

MrsS fingers crossed for you

Dmum still in hospital - we are awaiting news on homes etc. I am down this weekend as ddad wants to tell her that's the next step. I am finding the whole thing emotionally draining and very hard.

Re job - waiting for ad to be put up and hoping I won't go 'oh I can't do that'........

To be fair DP rang to apologise and to repeat his offer to cook tonight (I accepted).

Oh, BD. I am heading east on Fri - will go to a meeting near Liverpool St and go on from there. Staying the night with a friend in order not go bonkers then will go and see parents and go out to lunch with mum.

BD - hope the weekend isn't too stressful. And BTM - I can't begin to imagine the complexity of putting your DM's affairs in order. I can barely keep up with my own affairs!

MI - it has to be right....I guess it is immensely subjective. But what does he know, eh?

I have just had an email from my old college regarding the forthcoming reunion dinner (which I was too slow to apply for, so am on the waiting list for a ticket. And it only happens every seven years). They have offered a separate room downstairs for 16 people from the waiting list, but we are "welcome to join the main party for speeches and dessert" (how kind). Could be fun if some of my equally tardy friends are also in this group, but I will be most unhappy if I'm stuck in some anteroom with 15 dullards while the main party rages in the hall without me. Hmm, what to do....?

No news about my job, but I'm being philosophical about it; if I don't get it I won't have to commute to Richmond, hooray. DH did a test drive to his new office in Wimbledon this morning, and it took him 90 minutes. He's not HP.

Feeble wave from me - sorry to hear about all the problems with parents, jobs, novels etc. Please to hear your DM is settled BTM.

I have some weird lurgy - feel off, achy, upset guts (no Brian needed!) & generally under par. DH has a cold & has been breathing & snoring a lot so also feel v tired. Off to curl up with a book & do nothing for the rest of the day.

And forgot to say that I have all digits crossed for Mrs S.