The Crepey Buds Of May

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Err, how did that happen with no one noticing!
It's because we're all on the dark and stormy, sloe gin and prosecco innit.

Sorry for the not v inspired title but I panicked.

Head not too fuzzy this morning, in fact we were up early to let in fence man who has efficiently repaired our listing panel and put in a new post.

NU - glad the little one is on the mend. And you really must do more sitting in the garden - there's nothing I like more than coming home from work and sitting outside with a glass of wine cup of coffee and the paper. At the moment we have a gorgeous song thrush on the tree just outside the patio doors who has been entertaining us very loudly.

DD2 and I have spent a lovely afternoon shopping - once we mucked out her room last weekend we realised there was precious little summer clothing that still fitted. Luckily she's happy wearing Primark so we came home with a massive bag of goodies for minimal outlay. We did however spent an obscene amount in Hobbycraft on some art project or other (the last of my MN voucher). I did a spot of Philip Green style asset-stripping, and popped into BHS for a pair of reduced-for-quick-sale black leather sandals for work. Not a happy place in there.

Rudy - that is precisely what I'm wearing! With statement necklace. I don't know why I have any other clothes - I always end up wearing this!

CV, we tend to sit in the garden first thing in the morning, when it gets warmer - breakfast on our patio is lovely. More often than not the weather turns and it's too cold in the evening (the joys of living in the far north).

The little one is on salbutomal every four hours and is really not a happy bunny. He hasn't really eaten since Thursday night which is another worry. I was right in my surmise on Friday night and his DSis has got chickenpox. I can foresee joy in the days to come...

DH and I got out this afternoon and drove down the Military Road into Cumbria - the views were spectacular. I remember a Crepey saying they had a hankering to come to Northumberland - do, I would be delighted to show you around.

NU - are they giving him a short course of steroids? This used to get DD1 back on her feet - just a three day course. It is such a nightmare when they can't breathe.

How is he this morning, NU? And the pox? Bicarbonate of soda really good for the itching. Buy in bulk from chemist and put lots in cool bath.

Herbs, how was party? Did your outfit do the biz?

How was your birthday, Hatty? Did Dd1 ever sort out the work placements?

Off to work again. I fell asleep at 7.30 last night in front of come dine with me. Oops. It's going to be hot hot hot here. What a shame I am in an office.

Laters xx

Nut hope both the little ones are okay!

Here the party ended with the most apocalyptic thunderstorm - forget water fight, 30 seconds on the patio and you were soaked through.....

We then took Ds for his birthday curry and he practically fell asleep in his cake......

Do and I then had a much need early night.

MI hope you are okay - sending love and strength.

MI thinking of you and hoping you and your dsis doing ok.

NU, poor little things. Hope it's a light bout of the pox.

Beautiful, beautiful weather here and DH in Yorkshire walking so I'm able to sort things in my own way by leaving large amounts of temporary chaos in my wake as long as I make sure there are plenty of sweet, crappy snacks for revising ds.

Well we were predicted good weather here today and it is lashing.wtf? I had a whole day of being in the garden planned. Weather forecasters must have been on the glue.

NU I do hope the wee ones are faring better today. My chicken pox so others is porridge oats in an old clean stocking or muslin in the bath. Very neutralising for itchiness.

MI , thinking about you at the moment and wishing you well.

Am having a bit of fun researching this birthday thing. Many many options, my little head is spinning.

Outfit went down well, thanks crepeys! I left moderately early due to weird stomach pains. Think it's a bug - cramps right above the belly button for a few minutes, then goes away for half an hour. This continued all night, and whenever there was a lull I couldn't get back to sleep due to DP's extraordinary snoring. Penetrated my wax earplugs.

Now catching up with MC final!

Hope you're bearing up, MI, and the baby is OK NU.

Me too please for party, Crem!

Hello Crepeys- had a lovely birthday apart from the neckless from DH that I don't like and DH told me he spent a long time choosing. Even the DC's were aghast - he said he wanted to give me a surprise and that this was a bit different! Luckily he has the receipt.

NU - hope DGS is a little better this morning - it's horrible when children are ill - that and the chicken pox sound a nightmare.

Herbs - sounds a good party - but which is the Rudy dress. Hope the stomach cramps have gone.

MI - hope things are OK.

Monty - DD1 has got a placement in Luxembourg for a month in December which sounds amazing but we have to find accommodation. We are also waiting on a response from a French/American firm in Paris for July. So fingers crossed that one comes through. She had quite scary interviews half French/half English. At the moment she's full steam ahead for second year exams which are start on 19th May.

Oh gosh, hatty..,, I have to say I have taken in recent years to telling DH to take back stuff he's bought for me which is usually horrid. I used to smile and say nothing but that got me nowhere either. Jewellery is very personal, isn't it.

I have to admit to using eurax on my kids when they had the pox. You're not supposed to use it for chicken pox but it works a treat. After several nights of no sleep you'll do anything. The younger two had it one after another, so I had a month of pox hell. Wish them better, NU

BD it sounds like you have given DS a rip roaring birthday! Great stuff. DDs is in a couple of weeks on the day of her physics GCSE. Poor thing. She's delayed her party til after the exams and it will be her school leaving party too. Very genteel. She wants a cream tea...she turning into me...

I have come out to go to the Garden centre and there was a queue of cars trying to get into the car park all the way down the hill. Not surprising I suppose. So I have given up on that and have ended up in a trendy cafe for a few moments peace whilst DH tests DD on her science. I am also escaping in the late afternoon to the Hackney Empire with BFF to see amongst other choirs, Sons of Pitches. Delicious boys they are....

Rose so glad i'm not alone.

I have been for a very sweaty ladyjog and am sitting in the shade drinking iced coffee while DH mows the lawn (still in his running shorts). DD2 is wafting about in sunglasses and her new Primark kimono-cardi over her PJs, looking like a bored Hollywood wife. DS is slaving away at revision in his boy-cave and DD1 has gone to the cinema.

Rose - I'm contemplating the garden centre too, but after reading that, maybe not. I have a lot of "gaps", and am about to have even more once I've banished some of the clumbs of ugly yellow herbaceous crap that is spreading further every year.

Unsuitable gifts - well, I'm definitely not backward at coming forward if I don't like something. If you remember, poor old DH got it in the neck last Christmas for buying something identical to a necklace I already had - they can't win, can they? Good to hear you had an enjoyable birthday, though, Hatty.

MI - hope all is OK and you are coping.

I have a hangover. As this is the result of enough booze to be quite civil to my dad last night it isn't a terribly bad thing. I had a little kip in what I realise isn't my parents' garden any longer.

I still haven't been hit by real grief, which worries me faintly that I am just a callous beeeatch but (a) it has been an exhausting 20 months (b) we had a bloody complicated relationship...

MI everyone is different and works to different timeframes. My dmum doesn't cry and goes into practical overdrive. It's just how she is. Not all of us wail and beat our breast......

A callous beeatch would not have done all you have done over the last 20 months.

Grief is personal & different for everybody - I was weeping constantly when my Dad died & don't think I wept once over my mother.

We also went to go to the garden centre & turned back when we saw the queues for the car park.

Am going to pressure wash the patio this afternoon - I love that job & always start in the dirtiest place & get a childish thrill from writing rude words in the dirt

Lol @ MM writing in the dirt. You rebel.
MI grief is so personal. You may feel nothing for months , even years and then all of a sudden start weeping in Waitrose.
I am a constant dripper , and have tears down my face for weeks, continuously until it spontaneously dried up. I have a lot of self pity.
Just be easy on yourself.
Of hot weather you hateful beings. It's grey here.

Everyone is invited to party btw. everyone!!!!! I will ask for Email addresses at some point.
There will be invites when I have fully researched. Can't give a day yet as dsis is being all secret squirrel about a birthday arrangement surprise. Intriguing, but no help to us.

MM that's my favourite job too!

MI, I'm pretty sure I will be just like you when the time comes - you are definitely not callous, you have been saintly and are continuing to put up with your father

I am at footy and I am roasting - it's usually cold/wet/windy!

Cremo, I'm so excited

We have rib sticking sausages and lentils for lunch, requested last week. In view of the weather, I offered grilled halloumi and salad instead, but got sad faces.

For those of you hoickers and eggers both, I have no intention of destroying two families. So it won't go any further than mutual lust.

What is "mutual lust"?

MI there's no manual for all this. Muddle along and never ever think that you have been callous.

The garden centres have indeed gone mad. I am contemplating purchasing plants on line. I want some dwarf lavender to go in front of a low box hedge. Good deals on line, and they deliver and one doesn't get the car dirty.

Have just had a terrible 2 hours..my mobile crashed and died. Just like that. No warning, no nothing. Response from DH..."well your upgrade isn't due for another month. " MM please write 'Fxxk DH' in the dirt for me.... Anyway I threw my usual wobbly and the new iPhone 6 is now nestled in my bag. Thank goodness I have automatic back up...appaz DS2 organised this for me a while ago. Bloody phones. Am now off to Hackney Empire...and to think...I might have had to go out without a phone
Sheesh!

I wish I had a patio so I could write swears on it. I used to get my kicks rearranging DS's alphabet bricks into foul language, but that's no longer appropriate now he can read. "Mummy, what's a 'knobend'?"

Had jolly time at local May fair at play centre that I used to run. Saw so many people I know, I felt really part of the commuuuuuunity. And bumped into a woman who I sit next to at DS's swimming lessons, with whom I have two weird coincidences. 1 She works at the school where I volunteer, and 2 she knows my friend with the twins who moved to Sheffield!

Had promised to take DS swimming, but sadly (!) when we got there it was full up. What a shame. Not.