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

[herbaceous]

As requested!

BD - very sad and very difficult - especially for your poor Dad. I already see how sad and lonely my Dad is and my DM is not in nearly such a bad state as yours. My heart goes out to you.

Rudy - you definitely need some Crepey therapy.

Mrs S - surely DH could have understood that you were in a stressful situation and held it back. All my best wishes for today.

I have been to gym and will then check in with DD1 to see how she is. Thank goodness she's back next Saturday so I can give her a proper hug.

BD - it's just heartbreaking, isn't it. I'm in the same position re dad. One suddenly feels very alone and exposed. With dad I sometimes get used to the 'new normal' then a little flash of old dad comes through, and it reduces me to tears.

I have booked a 'wimmins' osteopath to sort out my pelvis. Though in the meantime have found that swimming eases it greatly. Though make my knee hurt. And is v hard work on a fast day. Talking of which, down a princely 3poinds, making the Trousers if Truth about another 5 pounds away...

Hatty, it is hard when they are far away isn't it? My dd has had a slightly up and down term (lots of essays and colds, and not getting anywhere with summer plans either, tho she doesn't have a specific need) but I have seen her three times by boxing and coxing and it makes such a difference to be able to hammer stuff out. And hug.

MrsS - hope all goes well. What caused the row with DH?

Rudy so glad you are still coming....

Thanks all, it's just unutterably crap and cruel....

You are very nice to your adult kids. And clearly have a terrific relationship with them. Had my parents turned up at my door...well actually for at least one year I didn't tell them where my door was, which helped.

Rudy, so glad you are still coming - will you make the pre-drinks in the mystery bar MrsS is researching?

MrsS at your DH - surely on today of all days?

Tales of uni woes When do they turn into independent adults before turning into dependent parents themselves?

Like the divine Mz Gloria G, MrsS informs me she has Survived.

Hurrah for Mrs S - so glad all is well.

BTM - I thought it would be plain sailing after A levels but there is always something and it is worse when they are far away.

Lounge 34 on Lower Marsh.

Mrs S - pleased to hear all is OK

Huge sympathy to all of you with parents with dementure - it's just so awful. Mum knew me, with some prompting, right until the end which was something.

Independent adults? After university, I reckon!

Aunt is home & seems to be OK - difficult to find out exactly what was wrong as she isn't 100% coherent. Will see what we can find out when we visit.

for MrsS

Do you think I need to try to reserve a space from 5pm, or shall we just rock up at Lounge 34?

MM, glad to hear the aunt is OK.

Rudy, it's further down Lower Marsh, past Cubana (where you wore the headgear)

Hurrah, MrsS!

Adult children - dd is more independent that I thought she would be by now and more so than I wanted to be (and I think should have been) at her age (family problems). They are young, their friends are young and they move around a lot. I consider myself independent but rely on friends for support and company, advice about jobs etc. I suspect ds will be different but talking through things definitely helps me and dd - it is not to do with age or maturity/dependency, IMO.

Two teenagers have admired my trainers. Does this make me hench? Or sick? Or nang?

Or maybe they were taking the piss...

I am home and slumped on the sofa with the cats, listening to Serge Gainsbourg.

DH contrite over row (as he always is ), which was over the state of the flat. Because, of course, I am the only person who lives here. He was also pissed off that I am going out tomorrow night, that we have the French exchange child arriving tonight, that we have people coming round for dinner on Monday. I think that's the tip of the iceberg. Think one of the reasons I've bonded with my colleague is because his other half seems to lack the empathy gene too. My predecessor died in fairly horrific circumstances. He had to break the news to the department and told his wife. She apparently asked him why he was upset and found it a distressing thing to do "as it's only someone you work with." DH would be similar.

Mrs S, glad it's over for you today, stay on that sofa at least until forrin Child arrives. Tough shit to dh . That's life-like it or lump it.( a common screech in our house from me to dh, who doesn't understand why interaction with other humans is necessary)
On that note Molly, I will go with the flow. If you are the Adams Fsmilt, then I am def Uncle Fester Fear not. It's just so lovely of you to have me.
Currently in transit at airport. Drinking a huge coffee and being told by the board to Relax And Shop. Wtaf

Herbs blimey. Those words are new to me. You've got it girl! You really have.

Bd , hope you can make it tomorrow. Rudes , glad and happy you can come. Rudy shaped hug awaits.

MrsS :( Dp is not a great one for empathy, but he knows his failings and can make the right noises IYKWIM. And he would never belittle what I feel....

Trekking home in a bit, curry with dad tonight, and maybe a mooch round the shops before meeting the Crepey advanced party (who will be there?)

Herbs, trainers do not make you hench - training and muscles do
But I'm sure they weren't taking the P - we are S&B guru's after all!

Could he be another with ASD traits, MrsS?

Lalsy, I agree, a lot is down to personality. I fear DD will continue to need a very close friend or two to depend on (as well as support from us), whereas DS is much more resilient (though very home-loving ATM!)

Herbs .

BTM, yes - tho I don't even know if finding support from others makes you more or less resilient - it might help one deal better with knocks and blows? dd is a lot more resilient than she used to be (tho as a worrier she has much need of it) - maybe that is partly because she does talk to me and friends, thinks about stuff and moves on? Dunno.

MrsS, . My dm has a touch of that. It hurts, a lot.

Almost certainly, BTM. But I don't buy that as an excuse.

BTM, fighting talk on trainers

Pleased to hear you're home safe and well, MrsS. DH isn't non-empathetic, he's just not a great conversationalist, particularly with people he doesn't know, so he wouldn't be happy with being left with the exchange student.

BD, sorry to hear things are so grim - my commiserations and hugs.

Hatty, poor DD, I hope something turns up. Do you have any kind of relationship with anybody in Law? That's all I can suggest.

Waves at everyone from the "other side" - I think I have said before that I didn't stop my periods until I was 57/58 (started at 11), and they were pretty regular right up to the end.

Glorious day here, DH has gone cycling; I looked after DGC for an hour or so whilst DDiL went to see the builders (yay, they're on schedule). Am now slumped in the chair having lunch and enjoying the quiet.I might stir myself later to make MrsS's almond and poppy seed cake.

Mr Inferior can be appallingly grumpy, but one thing he doesn’t mind is me going out. Tonight AND tomorrow night. And he’s very nice to his colleagues they don’t get the brunt of his grumpiness.

I am trying to forge through some work which is a little daunting (I’m writing leaflets on medical procedures about which I know nothing. They aren’t rocket science and The Truth Is Out There, but I’m always worried I’ll get things wrong…). And the glossy booklet from my former university detailing the glittering careers of my perers has arrived on a day when I was already feeling small and pathetic, so I am now full of coruscating self-reproach for my manifest inadequacies.

I am gloomily sure my kids will have nothing to do with me once they've left home. They don't particularly need me now.

MrsS, glad you are OK; give DH a smack in the chops from me for being an insensitive oaf.

Herbs - today I'm rocking a new pair of grey and white leopard print Superga, bagged for less than £20 in TKMaxx. The only person to admire them so far is my boss (well, I say "admire"; he asked me slightly sarcastically if it was a new form of camouflage ).

Lalsy - my periods ended with a stupendous bang, not a whimper - a full 29 day bleed that left me like a limp rag. But that was IT.

Looking forward to tomorrow, but I have been told by DH that I need to "earn" my evening pass by completing lots of dullsville chores with him. Cleaning windows (filthy! There is still the imprint of a deceased bird on the kitchen window from last summer), and shoe-horning the contents of our small shed (which will now be abandoned to the elements) into our big shed (which is slightly more water-tight but stuffed with detritus). I foresee many trips to the tip and a number of heated arguments.