Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the crepeys is

[herbaceous]

As requested!

For work - too wedding - y?? here comes the bride

Have nothing to go with these but I expect they would look ok with my extensive dull navy dress collection hot pink

I like the first pair best.

Me too. Though quite like the bridal ones also.

As well as insert RAM into my computer, I have also sold my bike and put some shoes on eBay. This counts as v productive.

Me three!

Go Herbs!

Crem - omw, as ds would say - ON MY WAY Mini-ponies as well as goats? What fresh heaven is this?

I am also up for the Kipling excursion, since I can't wait to see all the lovely crepeys again.

Really sorry to hear about everyone's mother. It is so sad.

Herbs, people who are divisive within groups are the pits. Do the rest of the group allow it to happen? Presumably it's only one of them who feels compelled to divide and rule?

The two gays in the group ignore it, me and a couple of others just roll our eyes and go along with it. The few that they meet, but m not invited to, probably don't even know that I'd like to see them!

We used to all get together each Xmas for a chums Xmas day, and the group naturally expanded to include new friends, boyfriends, FoFs, etc. S in particular was most out out that it wasn't 'pure' any more, so it got all awkward and they fizzled out. If we invited her and 'outsiders' this would cause huff; if we invited outsiders and not her, that would too. Pfffft. She is, of course, mental, but I find it hard to create boundaries in my head of what behaviour I accept, and hate conflict so don't ever challenge if even if boundaries are crossed.

Anyway. Enough.

I have 11 people from work for curry tonight. I hoped some would drop out. They haven't...

And I am worrying that there won't be enough food.

Mrs S, send DH out to buy samosas etc from your supermarket. And chuck whatever veg you can to roast in the oven with spices. He can pick up Bombay mix and similar snacks for advance noshing too.

You can tell I have been there done that

They all know, Mrs s , that you are a queen in the kitchen! Nothing could keep them away.
MI's advice is excellent as per .

I know Molly! Squeee MY LITTLE PONIES!

at annoyingly non-flaky guests.

Crem, are you worried you won't ever get anything else done at home now? When we went to Iceland, we stayed on a place with little ponies and I just loved watching them.

You so need that horse-flap in your door, along with a leetle gap in the fence.

I think you've made great strides - huge - in your relationship with dd and gf! I would be telling dh to buck his ideas up and accept. If I put it strongly enough, he falls into line.

Herbs, do boundaries! Some behaviour is unacceptable, especially causing discord in a group of friends.

Deeply impressed at having people over on a Monday. Great suggestions so far, and do remember that people seem to eat less the more of them there are. I think People find it tricky to gauge size of helpings so they hold back a little.

Other than that, keep the wine flowing and hope they don't notice

Lalsy the Hoover is in a holding pattern.

Good advice from MI, and what Cremo says too!

Poor DS is really struggling with his French - DD and I are trying to gee him up!

Crem. But the windows looking onto that field can gleam! Agree with Molly about dd and gf, it is great.

BD, I really hope the move goes smoothly and you all feel a bit less stressed day to day.

Love the first shoes monty and the colour of the ones in the last link...

Respek to MrsS for feeding the hoards on a Monday night. Lots of extra rice should do the trick, no?

at Hoover in a holding pattern owing to pony gazing.

Tilly DS2 does MFL GCSE tutoring...he can do it by Skype....

Herbs - I hate that sort of situation and it's for sure if you say something it'll be you who's unreasonable. I think people like this always bank on others being too polite to rock the boat.

MI - at rellies.

BD - glad there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Mrs S - curry for 11 sounds amazing.

MI - which spices do you throw over your roast veggies?

Quiet day here am gonna collapse and watch Uni Challenge - having had hot flushes over Hiddleston's bum last night.

Haha, Hattie - I ain't polite. Not when it's for the Good of the Community.

Oh yes. If I say anything, I'll be the villain.

And phwoar re Hiddleston bot.

Having watched Indian Summers with DD2 last night, I am going to witness the Hiddlebot tonight.

Hattie, I have become a big fan of a five- seed mix called panchphoran - panch means five in Hindi and I think in Bengali too, as it is a Bengali mix: whole cumin, fennel, fenugreek, black mustard seed and black onion. You can pick it up in lots of shops and indeed now from ocado. (Or of course combine your own.) heat oil up on a tray in the oven, chuck over the seeds - they will hiss and pop - and then cubed aubergine. Or aubergine and potato. Or potato with chopped garlic. Or cubed carrot. Or chunks of butternut squash from the freezer (which you can then blend into stock.)

I get to watch cats out of my office window. Or my insistently naked neighbour. I wish I had ponies.

If anyone ever wishes to tour the city farms of London and its environs, I am up for it. They choose very pretty ponies.

Thanks MI - I have most of those things. I love the smell of fenugreek although it does tend to linger.