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

[herbaceous]

As requested!

Oh Monty, that sounds tough

Yes MI - the focus of attention has moved from DC to AgedP's for so many of us.

for all of you with the AP problems.

I think it is one of the hardest things life chucks at us, when one has to become the parent to ones parents.

MrsS's mum will outlast them all, of course.

In a rare parenting highlight, I sent DS to his science-word themed dress up day today as 'food chain'. And he won the prize for best costume! Which comprised zombie trousers repurposed to represent 'swamp', a tiger t-shirt, and a length of plastic chain, affixed to which on one side were a leaf, caterpillar, spider and crocodile, and on the other, leaf, zebra and lion. Go me. I mean him.

Bloody hell, Herbs! Well done!

Someone else came as Schrödinger's cat, complete with box, and another as 'meteorologist', complete with inside umbrella and newspaper plastered to his leg.

On close questioning, the prize was die his class, not the whole school.

Much crepely thoughts to all with Mum and Dad situations.

Herbs, I dressed my girls as colliding particles when the Hadron Collider started. Deely boppers and face paint and a load of pissed parents (street party) sending all all our kids through a human collider. Food chain is excellent.

I was toying with the idea f attaching toy food to the chain instead, but thought that might be a bit clever-clever.

Came home to freeeeezing house; performed CPR on the boiler; meanwhile I'm wearing several layers of clothing and gradually losing the feeling in my fingers. The boiler started up after the third resus attempt, but for how long? At least there are hot showers in Oxford.

Now crepeys - I need your opinions on my outfit choices for tomorrow night. Brief: black tie dinner and intellectual drivel. Two options:

1. Red dress (Warehouse, via eBay) with midi length pleated skirt and chiffony bits. Worn with thin black belt, black strappy sandals and plenty of tit tape to keep it on my shoulders.

Pros: Nice dress, fits the black tie brief, swishy skirt. Cons: I will be uncomfortable all evening, generally fiddling self-consciously, sucking in my stomach and fretting in case someone notices my complete lack of a waist. And I suspect I will be cold.

1. Dull gold sequinned top (Autograph, via Cancer Research). Worn with black cigarette trousers and same black strappy sandals.

Pros: I will feel more like ME in this outfit, won't worry so much how I look. Cons: Maybe a bit more of a "party" outfit than black tie (although the sequins are pretty muted). Possibly a boring/safe option?

Anyway, let me know what you think. Please don't say "neither" or I'll cry.

I really like the red one but go for the gold. You need to feel like you.

CV dress is gorgeous but looks transparent. Also if you need tit tape! I would be wanting to avoid anything untoward happening. Go for sparkly top and feeling comfy and confident.

CV, I went to a similar-sounding reunion a while back - I wore a chiffony top, long black linen drapey cardi and palazzo pants. I was worried everyone else would be in a dress but they weren't and I felt fine - smart enough but relaxed and sort of me.

So I agree - go with top.

No! the Red! It's gorgeous. Gold is quite cocktaily, IMHO. But I don't want you to be cold ( not got a faux fur for on top CV?) that's my gut reaction anyway.

Watching the Paris bombing suspect arrest story unfolding on telly...

Knowing nothing about poncy black-tie do's, I'm not sure! I agree, the sparkly top is more you, but if you should be in a dress....

Just back from a marathon at the hairdressers - 2 hours for a cut and blow! Partly due to him running late/lack of hot water (yes, really!) but mainly due to a trainee taking ages to dry my hair. It was quite relaxing actually!

I think the dress is gorgeous too, CV. I was thinking about you saying you don't feel yourself in it, especially with college reunion nerves. My do was tediously poncey and some people managed to be more dishevelled than me. A triumph! .

ds broke up today, lovely icy end to term. dd not back till the end of next week and is spending tomorrow doing some sort of mud-based obstacle course. I can't wait to have her back for Proper Chatting.

Lalsy DD1 is back tomorrow but with end of year exams looming plus DD2's baccalaureate, I suspect they are both going to be locked in their bedrooms working (at least they better be).

DH was supposed to be out with the boys, but due to miscommunication it's not happening so he has phoned to say he's coming home. We've eaten all the pizza!

DS has asked 'am I performing tomorrow mummy?' and was crestfallen when I said his 'run' ended last week. He has asked me to find him some new outlet sharpish. YESSSSSSS! I shall live my life through my child.

I too think the dress is more black-tie. Though you would need a woolly. Or a heat-tech vest underneath, though admittedly that might spoil the look.

Lalsy, how lovely - Proper Chatting

My Proper Chatter DD has arrived and dh is also coming home early from a alcoholic lunch in London (and we've eaten all the chicken pie!). I'm happily sitting outside the station waiting for him listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons on Classic FM. I only know this as I learnt Every Single Bar for Music O level

Hic.

Argh, no consensus on the outfits, then. You've failed me, crepeys!

The dress does have transparent bits (I shall have to chop out the label, for sure) but has a decent opaque panel at bra level. Tit tape is needed to keep it on my shoulders so it doesn't slip forwards to reveal grubby strapless bra. I will rummage in my wardrobe for suitable cover-ups and do a fashion show for DH later on (he HATES it when I do this, particularly as I rarely go with what he suggests).

That reminds me, must de-forest my legs and slap on some fake tan.

Red dress - no competition with that top.

Red dress wins all the way - v elegant - even with tit tape -something I have never (thank fuck) come across.

Mind you, given the size of my norks - I think I'd need duct tape or scaffolding.

Yeah, Hatty, this holiday is always revision but hey - we are going to have Family Fun next weekend (in an as yet undecided format).

Never encountered tit tape either. It sounds painful.

Tit tape is a revelation - just double-sided sticky tape really - great for slipping straps and wide necks that don't quite stay where they should. It rarely goes anywhere near my tits, tbh.

Only painful if you get your hair stuck in it.