Summertime...and the Crepeys are easy

[motherinferior]

With much love to BD.

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

6 at Waterstones then? I could probably get there a bit earlier...

See you there...... And thank you ...

Rudy forgot to say hope things are improving on the Homefront.

And to add to my woes I appear to have gained shed loads of weight.....

Hello all. Don't think I'll make D&S tonight - am going up to Bury St Edmunds to visit mum in hospital, and probably dad on the way back. Fun times.

DS said 'can I come with you', so I feel I should also include something 'fun' en route. Suggestions gratefully received! Needs to be moderately quick, such as fruit picking. Or a good playground.

Good luck Herbs - hope it goes OK. No idea what you could do enroute - I'm sure there must be something! Or would it be less stressful to say next time if DP is around to look after him?

Arrived at our hotel earlier - we splashed the cash on a 4* and it is somewhat blingier than our previous low-key and tasteful ones However the DC are pleased and it has a pool on the rooftop (one of the reasons I chose it) albeit the size of a postage stamp! Plus a rooftop bar /restaurant with great views.

He wants to come. And actually it makes it a bit easier. He adds light relief... Mum adores him, and DS will chat quite happily to dad.

Gosh it sounds wondrous BTM. And wow , such a long holiday! Amazing

Addle, northern Espagña sounds divine as well. Glad you are getting a good break and that Dh is on the mend.

Here it is our last day.home tomorrow, and to a near 20degree drop in temp. Meh! I have wifi on the beach here. It is 30 degrees and I will be off for. Lady splash imminently.

WAF , will you be doing a bus tour to the GC ? If you were in a car, I say I'd love to meet you in Belfast for a pint? Dublin is great for shopping, (Avoca, Brown Thomas, Dunnes ) but sights wise I'd say the Guinness Hopstore, The museum of modern art at Kilmainam Gaol also. Gosh I lived in Dublin for ages but can't think. If you can get tickets for something at The Abbey Theatre or The Project I'd go for it. The standards are usually very high, and the plays memorable.

So many books , so little time. BD I'd say we have similar tastes in reading . Have read all of Jo Nesbø , Camilla Lackberg, Åsa Larsson, Arnuldur Idriasson, Liza Marklund, Kristina Ølsson etc etc.
Also a lot of emerging IrishNoir, like Stuart Neville. I have loved the terrific writing of oft overlooked Scots writer , Denise Mina, who I recommend highly. Also Pierre LeMaitre and his trilogy about French detective . Dark, bloody and sinister.

Like you Herbs, I find all that Terry Pratchett genre off putting although Dh devours it. ( perhaps for this reason) lol @ Dh climbing The monument with a hangover. ( boke)

Duxford IWM Herbs?

That's a good idea, Crem, although miniHerbs would probably rather have trains.

Brian has been in use, but I think it's not so much sickness, rather horrible gunk as I have a nasty cough. Mind you, I am still exhausted. Having an irritable day: am absolutely sick of everything coming to a standstill in our very small town which is on one of the routes to Scotland, when somebody decides to take wind turbines up onto the moors. I have now been held up for twenty minutes three times as the Police shut everything down. Why can't they move the wretched things overnight - I pity the poor tourists on their way to Scotland. Each turbine comes in sections: so three huge trucks moving a sail each, and the upright is also made in three sections, so three more huge trucks. Grr.

Another irritation is that my elderly widow friend is coming up from Leicestershire on the train on Monday and returning on Friday. Wretched Virgin Trains staff are on strike now on Friday so we have no idea how we're going to get her home and she does need a seat. (DS stood all the way from London to Newcastle the other week).

BD, I hope you have a relaxing time with Crepeys this evening: I will be thinking about you tomorrow.

Crikey NU - what IS going on with the trains - first Southern, now Virgin Sorry to hear Brian's been out too.

Just been out for a delicious meal with DS and DH. DD had a mini-meltdown and stayed in their room. Ah well, weve had a few drama-free days

Got to be up at sparrows fart tomorrow as we are off to Halong bay on a boat trip. Sadly it involves a 4 or so hours minibus ride to get there first - not looking forward to the moaning or the ride #firstworldproblems!

I am en route and will be at Dark and Stormy venue in about 15 minutes. But possibly not drinking due to large number drunk last night.

So envious of your trip to Halong Bay, BTM: my NDNs have been and loved it. Tut, tut, MrsS. I am sure you will have a lovely time, though.

So sorry I can't join you for D and S but I am in Yorkshire! It's great, but I have driven 260 miles since this morning and am knackered.

BD, sending you love for tomorrow

More later xxx

Sitting in bar in Figueres with ds having been round Dali museum after lingering over some wonderful tapas. Dh likely to be much longer - has greater powers of concentration. Lovely breeze and beautiful skies. Molly - look forward to discussing forsyte saga with you - swing between really enjoying and not. Enjoy the d&s.

Your holiday sounds lovely, Addle. I would probably have left DH to it as well. We are totally incompatible when it comes to museums, etc., he looks at and reads everything! Remembers bitterly spending hours sitting on a bench whilst he did his thing at the US Army Transport Museum in Virginia (mind you, miniHerbs would have loved it!).

Waves across Co Durham to WAF in Yorkshire.

Sorry, mistake, it was Monty in Yorkshire.

Thank you all - MI and MrsS loving the hair.
Auriga big {{}}
Molly hope things get sorted.

Thank you all. Crepeys are fab. Wealth of experience and lots of new perspectives. It really does help.

See you on the other side...

Glad the dark and stormies worked their usual magic. I could have done with them. I've had the SHITTEST day.

Driven 150 mile round trip to see mum in hospital. She talked total nonsense for the first half hour, then seemed to click back into place. Drugs are being greatly reduced, but dr spoke of dementia. I wanted to cry, but couldn't because of DS.

Then to parental home, to see dad. Well-Meaning Friend #2 arrived with milk and bread, that she had volunteered to get, and gave me the most almighty tongue lashing about how I should be there more to give the carer a break, that employing someone wasn't enough, why wasn't the shopping sorted, etc etc . I did counter with the facts that I'd been on holiday, that I wasn't aware of a problem with the shopping, etc, but she stalked off. Once again, wanted to cry.

Then dad blew up at me. I'd explained 20 times where mum is, what's happening etc, then as I was standing up to go he furiously shouted at me to 'bloody well sit down and tell him what the bloody hell is happening'.

Said goodbye to the carer, who I've got very fond of and who is leaving on Wednesday. She hugged me and I blubbed all over her.

This is so horrible.

On the plus side, the nurses all went mad over DS, calling him beautiful, much to his horror. And when I got back DP had made an amazing veggie chilli, and put a gin and elderflower tonic into my hand.

Oh my lovely Herbs. I am so sorry.

These well bloody meaning friends...they can sod right off. I am so so sorry. The carer is EMPLOYED ffs, she is talking out of her arse about "giving her a break". Likewise the shopping is not your responsibility.

But most of all...I am so sorry re parents, dementia etc. It is all utterly vile.

Lovely Herbs, dementia is such a bitch. I am so very sorry. Sending you huge hugs. Xxx

Your employed carer is just that - employed. You need to pay her contract but no more - carers take hourly rate jobs because hourly rate so good and better than working in a home, as a childminder etc etc. Please don't feel blackmailed. You are not obliged to give her "breaks". It's all part of the service. And your friend should feel bad for making you doubt yourself. You are marvellous in an appalling situation. I've been there and it's hell, but you are doing a brill job. please do distance yourself from this friend. She is no help and no friend in these circumstances.

I still haven't caught up, but gave drink a lot of Campari. Hic!

Oh Herbs What MI said, in spades. What a horrible day for you

BD, glad the D&S- Crepey MU worked it's magic. Will be thinking of you

I am awake and have been for nearly 3 (III) hours. DH woke me with some problem with something stuck in his teeth, but has been snoring for the last couple of hours Small problem though rwally.

Hi All,
Sorry to have missed a d and s session!
BD, all best wishes for tomorrow, will be thinking of you.
Herbs, it is shit and you're entitled and quite right to find it so and to have a good cry. Good on dp for the tic when you staggered back home though.

Crem, did you get a text I sent you a few days ago? Worried my phone is sabotaging my life....

Soooo, Crepeys. What do we think? Had they cooked dinner when I got in?

Nah

"We didn't know what you wanted to eat/cook, or if you had already eaten."

I called DH when I left the bar, and said I was on my way home. This might have been the time to mention food, not over an hour after I get in.