Summertime...and the Crepeys are easy

[motherinferior]

With much love to BD.

(We are going to county cork btw in frugal manner.)

Flipping heck - so much to catch up on in so little time!

Stropps hooray for Jesus and I am certain the exhaustion is due to the release from the pain. Fingers crossed for no return.

MrsS I too am gritting my teeth and not caring about what I look like on the beach although my belly will be out on show as I can't wear a full cozzie in 30+ degrees

BD well done on the visit home. You are doing so well. I'm sure you will write a lovely piece - maybe someone else would take over reading it out if it all gets too much?

We are at Heathrow waiting for the first leg to Moscow. Teens seem quite excited and we have had our annual chat about what is going on at DSs school and with his friends. So proud of him

I agree re nudist beaches v swimwear for self-consciousness!

Though this is not going to be an issue for the inmates of the Inferiority Complex this summer, of course.

Stropps, you will also have been tensing up with the pain as well.

Re: swimsuit - I bought one from M&S with stomach-squishing properties that looks almost identical to Lalsy's. I'm quite happy with it, although this year I appear to have given up caring my appearance in cozzies and simply wore my Debenhams bikini all the time on hols, despite having a dd who is taller than me and has a perfect size 8 hourglass figure and properly rocks a bikini. The French appeared to wear whatever they felt like and not care and a combo of that and horrible pain made me not care also. Even when ds told me I looked podgy and all the thread veins on my thighs looked a mess, I just thought "Rude little fecker" and carried on regardless. I am a raddled old boot in a bikini. Deal with it, World. Altho' obvs no pics on Fb.

When I say no pain, I am conveniently forgetting the fact that I am still on the max dose of prescription anti-inflammatories and there is still a generalised ache. It's just effectively virtually nothing compared to what was going on at the beginning of the week. I also wonder whether the anti-convulsant powers of the diazepam that I took may have worked the miracle rather than Jesus, as I had taken my second dose approx 40 mins before I saw him the first time, but only time will tell. I am a diehard cynic.

BD, it is amazing that you have been able to tackle your dm's stuff so soon. You are being very strong. The memorial arrangements sound wonderful. I can't imagine how tough it must be to write something to read out at a funeral of a parent to whom you were close.

I refused to either write or read anything for my father's memorial service. I still have some residual guilt about that, but no regrets. Especially as db and I had to sit and listen to him slagging us off from beyond the grave, when dm did a public (to all extended family) reading of his will, written some 20+ years earlier. I was portrayed as a feckless loser and db was a useless dimwit who would never amount to much. I still find it extraordinary. Not least because db and I viewed dad as the nice parent when we were kids, and dm was the nasty one. Nowadays, I can see how dad's rigid authoritarian ways messed with everyone's development, including dm's.

X-posts with loads of people

Happy hols, BTM.

And MI, yes, you're right. Can feel myself beginning to tense up again this morning, which is why I am wondering about the miraculous powers of anti-convulsant meds...

Stropps, the anti-inflames will make you tired and of course MM is right about absence of pain being sleep inducing. I am so pleased for you that things have improved so much. Long may it last. No doing anything mad now. And careful about reaching. That's what undid me.

NU, many congratulations on 44 years. That's wonderful. I hope plenty of was taken. Our anniversary is next Friday, but only 16 years. I have got Dh a beautiful antique gold tie pin with an aquamarine , which is allegedly the stone for 16th year of marriage. He will look at it askance no doubt.

BD , well done on getting the memorial underway. The words will come.

Rose , ah the old swimsuit conundrum. I am applying fake tan as we speak to alleviate lilac skinned shock on arrival. I have a tankini with a longish top with is ruched and hides the multitude of flab. The bottom are shorts, which also hide a network of crepey inner thigh and stretch marks. God I'm lovely!!
People say a coloured stripe vertically down the centre with black side panels, can take inches of 'the look'. My solution is a wafty sarong or beach dress in very light cotton, until sliding into pool under cover of dark while Dh creates a diversion.

We are running about in a paddy today, cutting hedges , grass and printing off documents for trip. Why is it always like this at the last minute? Bolleaux.

< waves languidly from Maria villa >

This place is incrediblissimo. Even more opulent than in the pics. Our hosts, in the bit of house next door, provided us with a cake, which we ate for breakfast, then had a swim. Quick trip to the supermarket, where we weren't brave enough to attempt the delicious-looking deli counter and some fierce Italians, now Prosecco is chilling in the freezer for some languid lunch on one of our terraces. Crickets are buzzing loudly.

Day of annoyances yesterday, crowned by waiting over an hour at the hertz desk to pick up our car, then usual baffling convo re collision damage waivers. Then given a vast estate car, rather than the Fiat 500L we'd ordered. Consequent nightmare manoeuvring it out of the tiny car park. But rather splendid to cruise around in on the open roads today. Amused by the sat nav's estuary pronunciation of Italian roads.

By 'Maria', I obv meant 'mafia'. Maybe spellcheck disapprove of making light of crime syndicates.

Forgot final crapness of yesterday. Finally got t house about 9pm, and lovely hosts, with only a tiny bit of English, said they'd introduce us to their friends who run the best restaurant in town. So, we went. Lots of jolly Italian goings on on huge terrace, on shadow of ancient building. After fond introductions we were ignored for about 30 minutes, then seated indoors, where they forgot to take our order, then forgot DP's pizza, then DS's! He finally ate about 11pm. Still, they gave us a bottle of wine free, and a pizza.

Mama Mia! Herbs, that sounds bewildering . Yes car hire cdw nonsense marks my head spin. Then they take money off your card or something daft. Our solution is to take out car hire insurance before going. Then if anything happens and you have no cdw , you are covered.
Have a languid day. You deserve it. And many more

Far too much to catch up on, but happy holidays Herbs, BTM, MI, Crem and WAF (did I miss anyone?). We are off on Wednesday, so are at the "suitcases out of the loft, last big wash, where's the plug adapters?" stage. I'm trying to order some dollars but the PO website keeps crashing.

I'm all over that Feel Unique sample offer, MI, thank you! My only concern is how to restrict myself to five items.

I had a mildly crazy night out in Brighton on Friday with colleagues (quiet-as-a-mouse payroll lady had to be carried home after peaking too early, swearing at everyone, then falling asleep outside the restaurant), and crashed on a friend's sofa. Then I caught the train up to London yesterday morning (with a slight hangover) for our Grand Family Day Out. We saw very little of any bike action actually, but the place was predictably heaving. I told DH to get to Madame Tussauds as soon as it opened, but he didn't, so the queue was three hours long when he arrived. We sensibly ditched the visit (tickets are valid for six months) and headed off down Marylebone High Street for some lunch. A bit of Oxford Street, some river action, then off to the London Eye, where we queued again for 90 minutes (why they sell timed tickets then point you at the back of a very long queue is beyond me). Dinner at Wagamama on the South Bank, then home....phew! I think DN has had a fun week packed with entertainment; she's off to relatives later on.

I also did the Feelunique off -thanks indeed MI!
Looking forward to some Huile Prodigieuse on my return. The choosing was so hard, CV I agree

Re swimsuits, the only parts of me, ironically, that are faintly acceptable are the parts covered by a swimsuit. The only one to suit is a Victorian bathing machine, wheeled fully into the water.

In holiday news, what could be better than a pool all to oneself, other than a pool plus totes adorbs kittens?

I wouldn't underestimate the combined power of Valium and strong pain killers either when it comes to back agony stropps!

cremo you made me laugh out loud with your descripion of getting in the pool. Stops me taking myself so bloody seriously. As they say, it's your face or your Arse. Arse is losing...face is good for an old gimmer. magi 'I do have my chic moments. But never in a swimsuit, alas alack.

Good to read about tilly and herbs travel progress. I will eagerly scour FB for photos later on. After yesterday's four hour queue debacle at the gallery...not unlike the beginning of CV's excursions, we have had a much more relaxed day. DD played pitch and putt with DH this morning, and then we all went walking and discovered a new restaurant for late lunch which was very nice indeed. ds2 has gone quiet about his swollen toe so I assume the salt water bathing has helped.

And on our return, I have finally registered the production company for the play with companies house.

herbs

DS has not been out of the pool all day. He got in this morning with great trepidation and multiple floats, but will be doing lengths of butterfly and tumble turns by the end of the week.

I won't be posting pics to FB until we get back - DP is convinced such behaviour invites burglars.

Herbs, it looks lovely; however I can raise you by one swimming pool, one pond, and five baby ducks. It was at a house we rented in the Vendee: the DC couldn't decide whether to be enchanted or repulsed when the ducklings joined us in the swimming pool!

Any perfume recommendations from FU?

A late check in today. Herbs - your holiday looks amazing.

Crem - if we don't make contact we'll meet by the Clinique counter (suddenly realised GL is rather big).

Re swimsuits - I noticed in Spain that the Spanish women really don't care less and there were all sorts of dodgy body parts on show.

Here DD1 left for work experience in London. She's sent of lots of applications so I hope something comes of them. It's hard work keeping their morale up sometimes. She has left her room like a tip (see Mrs S's children's room photos to get the idea). I have picked up random bras, items of clothing, make up, bank statements, you name it. Seems very quite though without her.

Rose - I love how they check in with things like sore toes then disappear - at least they think we have the solutions to all problems!

About to take this for a whirl. Complete with thalassotherapy salts and a vast array of loofahas. And extensive instruction booklet.

Ok Hatty, I hope I can find it!
I was going to suggest the side entrance, opposite M&S food in the rue de La Chaussée D'Antin, as I was sure you'd know where Marksies was

Herbs, I'm getting serious holiday envy. I can't remember where you ended up.....(well, Italy, I guess, but where?) By the way, you are right about a week in a pool being a massive swim-confidence booster for DS. A few pool toys, such as sinkers to collect off the bottom of the pool, or a mask and snorkel, will also help.

I'm busy ordering dollars, topping up mobiles and suchlike, to the extent that Santander froze my card and phoned me for verification of "unusual spending." And we haven't even got there yet.

DS was telling me about last night's party. A fairly small gathering, but he was the first person to flake out and fall asleep from a surfeit of beer He found out this morning that his friends had had a competition to see who could stack the most Pom Bears on his sleeping face. How MC is that? In my day he'd have been minus his eyebrows by now.

We're south east of Rome. Wondering whether to actually bother with the traipsing round ruins as its 34 in the shade. Have sweet tiny kitten asleep on my lap. Usually when we go on holiday to a cottage, there's one settee, which we argue over. Here there are five, plus a chaise longue, a fresco on the wall and classy rugs all over the floor.

Kitten on lap. iPhone (5c) for scale.

We have arrived! 24 hours since we woke up and v little sleep on the plane. I do not recommend Aeroflot

Torrential downpour as we left the airport in a cab, but 30 degrees. Millions of mad moped/motorbike riders whipped out their rain ponchos whilst risking life and limb in the lawless driving frenzy

Herbs, your hol looks way more relaxing. And nearer home. And with a cute kitten!