The Greatest Crepe

[MontserratCaballe]

I hope I have remembered the chosen title correctly - I have used Crem's title (think it was Crem's) as the old thread is full.

Herbs - will be fab to have lots of time en famille in the summer but eek re new job on horizon.

Inspired by CV and Rose I have put 10 things on Ebay. They range from size 10 to 16. WTF.

I am struggling to keep up, having gone down with some godawful virus (on top of the indigestion) so three nights with no sleep and a broken glass throat. Drove home with DD on autopilot (and codeine) yesterday, stopping off for things she wanted to shop for...you know when you're dragging yourself round somewhere feeling like death warmed up but you just somehow do it? I now have to drag myself to lucrative client and work with no voice...and DH is away across the pond until Sunday...waaaaaaah

MI Much love and hand holding for today. Thinking of you and yours

Very sorry to hear about the deterioration of various DParents, Tilly Herbs BD

CV well done on sorting your boss out...is he giving you a raise?

I have just finished reading 'Me Before You" and am hopelessly and tearfully loved up. The film trailer's just set me off again....

weeping

Should I get it for my book club, Rose? The film is getting loads of publicity, and I am a huge fan of The Mother of Dragons Emilia Clarke.

Thinking of you MI.

Thinking of you MI
Rose - hope you get thro ok
BD nice to hear from you but sorry all so tough
BTM trust you back home

MI , sending hugs to you for today. Hope everything goes ok and that seeing many wonderful cousins brings warmth and comfort.

BTM , herbs, BD, I am so sorry about your dps. It must be horrible for you all , having the stress and worry of watching deterioration and not being able to do anything for them, except being there. Wishing you all strength and love.You are amazing daughters and should be proud of that.

Rose, I enjoyed the book, but not sure about film casting. You know when you have a picture in your head while reading?
You sound quite wretched Rose , love.. You need to be in your bed. Can you crawl home and climb under the duvet after the meeting. Poor thing.

Big fat 12 hour shift here. God I hate this job. Feel sick and tired, and I've only just sat down at my desk.

No raise, Rose, but to be honest pay wasn't my issue. It's just the fact that my responsibilities have mushroomed - anytime I do a favour for someone it becomes "my job" from then onwards. Fine, if it is documented/structured/rewarded. But not if I'm just regarded as everyone's go-for. For example, I once set up a new user on his PC, by taking it out of the box, connecting to the internet and calling our external IT people......now I'm IT support for the company. I once helped the H&S Manager by scanning some training certificates.....now I'm essentially the training coordinator......and many other examples.

Anyway, it's the board meeting today, and he was going to raise the issue....we'll see if they were empty words or not. I'm hopeful.

I am currently reading Erica Jong's "Fear of Dying." Good, but don't recommend for those of you dealing with ailing parents. Might be a bit too raw.

It is coffee break now and I am hiding on a sofa away from the throngs. Interestingly all of the other Brits had dinner together last night. Like North Koreans in Disneyland. I bet I had more fun.

molly I just wonder whether a book club might find it a bit Mills and Boon actually...however, I couldn't put it down. I loved it and I can't wait for the movie. It's a massive tragic romance...
crem trouble is, the paperback I got had the actors on the front so that kind of put their faces into my mind! I had that problem with 50 Shades. I got a picture of Eric Whitacre in my head and didn't see the movie because I didn't like the look of the one they cast in the part of Christian Grey...And yes I intend to come back and spend the afternoon in bed. Problem was that I cancelled on them last time as DD was ill...and they've paid me in advance!!! I have taken drugs...

Maybe you need a job title that delineates actually what you do CV. And no more Mrs Nice Guy when people try to dump on you!

You're incorrigible mrsS . I wonder what DH is up to...he's on conference in Galveston, Texas ...

DH's aunt died in her sleep early this am. I feel sad but also relieved.

We are due to go away next week & are not cancelling. DH's bothers can get on with things & if the funeral is when we are away so be it. It will be a burial, not cremation, with plot already bought so there should not be too much delay.

Is it awful to say I do hope the funeral is when we are away? I don't trust myself not to tell one brother, in particular, exactly what I think of him? I feel we did our bit while aunt was alive, which is what matters.

MM, so sorry to hear that, but glad it is a relief too
I would think it might be up to 3 weeks for the funeral. And YANBU to want to tell the brother(s) that you can hold your heads up high because you did your bit for your DAunt.

Rose, I am planning to go and see it with DD next week!

CV, one of the problems of being so capable is that everyone looks to you. Am at the thought of Crepey IT support - that's what I am chez nous!

Caught up a bit on DD's news last night - apparently she had quite a lengthy and heated political discussion with the lovely rellies of her friend who apparently have a beautiful house in the shires. She will now be forever known as DGD's Labour friend.

With you in spirit today MI

Thinking of you MI

Oh MM, not at all unreasonable. Sounds like you and dh have done more than your fair share. Relax and have a hood holiday and remember her in your own way.

MM not unreasonable at all. And enjoy your holiday.

CV, you have "helpful woman syndrome" I think! And mission creep in the office "Oh CV will do that, she's done it before and didn't complain." Knock it on the head now, otherwise they will never see you as anything other than the woman who helps/does all the stuff no-one else will do.

Thinking of you today, MI. I hope it goes as well as can be expected and that you have a chance to catch up with visitors.

Not unreasonable at all, MM. I would firmly pass the baton over to the brothers to make arrangements.

We are having a very disorganised half term, with no one really doing anything. I'm hating this being on notice thing. Feels like limbo land but dd is back next week so I'll have someone to chat to (other than slightly deaf dh, pretty unresponsive teen and hyperactive preteen).

Ddad gone off on his hols with my dbro. I feel like I'm off duty for a couple of weeks!

Mission creep - I like that phrase. Within reason I don't mind the fact that I pick up loads of varied stuff - it's how I have increased my hours by gradually creating a niche/role. But my job title/status hasn't increased accordingly, even though people increasingly regard me as being "in charge of..." or "responsible for....".

Magi - you did absolutely the best you could for DH's aunt and, as you say, being there for her in life is far more important than being available for her funeral. The BILs can step up to the plate!

DS just phoned, all excited - he's been offered a Saturday job in a bakery (the shop sort, rather than a manufacturing facility), and has to go in for a trial tomorrow morning. I'm not sure how long it will be before the novelty of making sandwiches in a hairnet for minimum wage wears off, but we'll see....

Congrats to DS, CV - my school friend had a Saturday job in a bakers when we were teens and she used to get to bring home unsold bread/cakes, so you might be lucky! I don't think they wore hairnets in those days

Gosh CV, thats great for DS.How will he cope with the early mornings?

I trust CV DS isn't a fan of low carb!

At a soft play place, with DS and his cousin. It is very noisy. I have a terrible headache.

Aged P saga continues. Mum was taken into hospital last night by ambulance, complaining of chest pains and breathlessness. Dad totally confused about where she was. Sis held the fort, and I arrived this morning. Mum now fine, discharged and wondering what all the fuss was about.

Sis has unearthed tax demands for parents of £40k and £61k. This is about 10 times their income. Mum has always done the tax returns - tomorrow I shall find them an accountant. Sis and I have applied for power of attorney. Carer sorted. Getting there.

Hope all is as good as it can be today, MI. And all.

MI, hope today is going as well as possible for you and that things have gone smoothly for you. Let us know that you're just about in one piece when you can?

Herbs, sounds horribly rollercoasterish. Good luck with knocking things into some sort of shape.

Mrs S where the heck are you? Glad to hear you're making your own fun!

It's half term here with ds2 revising madly at home whilst I run around rather madly busy and builders create havoc in my absence. Nearly driven to the brink yesterday by numerous texts about grout whilst I was in an important meeting. Gah! Have had to give 4 presentations in last 3 days and am done in. Am typing this from my bed where I have retired before rousing myself in due course to cook supper (again..).

Love to all.... X

Fingers crossed on the job front CV. Why shouldn't you expect a job title and salary that reflects your actual worth?? Mrs S knows that of which she speaks. Don't let them undervalue you.

Hope you're still awake Crem!

No wonder you have a headache Herbs I'm glad you're on the way to sorting carers, POA and so on. I don't however have fond memories of soft play, jungle tumble places and the like....we always went home with someone in tears... me, usually You are a saint, woman.

MM not awful at all. You have been a real pillar of support for DH's aunt. Sorry for her loss but sounds like she passed peacefully.

Tilly Your DD would get on with my DS2. He joined the labour party a while ago, and deems me and DH very right wing (I haven't voted tory in god knows how long )

CV Well done to DS. I am very partial to a custard slice or 10. I am still on DS2's case to get a bloody job...

I feel vile. I have no voice and a painful cough. The cold is starting to come out...yuck. DD has had a bad day revising. She then did a past paper and got a bloody E. We've put it to bed for today.

Thinking of MI and wondering how it's all going.

x post. Four, (4, iv) ???? GGG Blimey

Oh gosh Herbs - the tax stuff!
It sounds like you and your sister are doing really well. Happy to help if I have any useful knowledge to impart (probably not very likely!)

GGG, glad to hear your DS2 is revising madly - sounds like you're busy there!

Just been for a long walk (plus coffee) with a friend (whose DS is not revising madly) and looking forward to a quiet night in.

Crumbs, Herbs - that's some tax demand. Hopefully they put the decimal point in the wrong place somewhere...

I'm impressed with the level of activity, GGG. Friends of our have twins doing GCSEs and an older one doing A levels....and chose this Spring to have a major renovation/loft conversion. Poor kids are revising in corners behind boxes, and sleeping on camp beds.

Rose - sort yourself out with a hot toddy and retire to your bed!

And no, DS is far from a low-carber. In fact, I can hear the rustle of biscuit packets from the kitchen as I type. He will be fine with the early mornings (he's not one for a lie-in), but I'm not sure I will be - either DH or I will have to drive him down there for 7am.