Summertime...and the Crepeys are easy

[motherinferior]

With much love to BD.

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

Herbs various Crepeys met my blubbing ds (when the dhound died) and didn't run away in horror - I am sure your ds will be fine :)

My boss has basically said 'do what you feel'. Stay, wfh, do shorter days, whatever. She is fab and I likes her very much.

WAF - yes I must cut out the booze for a bit, have been using it very much as a prop in the last few months. Think I need to eat well and sleep more.

BD hooray for decent boss. I think WAF is right about the booze. I was drinking far too much when my brother died. And slept very badly. I think it can also halt the grieving process by blocking things out. Fine for a while. Sleep is the best healer for everything. When Dh is sick he goes to bed for 2days and is then well. I tend to struggle on and illness lingers. Just an example ,but I think the same goes for the discombobulated feelings of loss. Rest , lovely BD.

Herbs, how funny, but yes to shady cool basements and tombs. Also I would suggest having a good escape plan in place ( surely a conundrum for ds) so that you can get out of Rome quickly if it gets too much.

BD, glad you have a nice boss.
I know how difficult it can be to relax when you are stressed. Easier said than done "just sleep" But obviously sensible to try to not drink excessively/eat the wrong things like I do

How are you today, Cremo?

Tired BTM , tired. Trying to follow own advice by staying in bed. GP said 3 days in bed, so am being good, against backdrop of dhs chaos beyond bedroom door. need to pack for hols, but am holding back against almost overwhelming pull to put things in washing machine.....

I am now going to swear. A lot. If swearing offends you, look away now.

I am just quite fucked off. Yet another thing I applied for - a writing residency thing which I was not going to get, obviously, in any case - has turned me down because I chivvied once too often and they've said they haven't decided yet so better say no (it's in India). I just want ONE FUCKING THING to go right. Preferably ONE FUCKING THING to do with my writing. Someone who knows about writing, and isn't just one of my kind friends saying 'oh, you write well' because however much you mean it you've got to say it, haven't you, what with me having had such a crap year and everything, you don't want me plunging off the edge so even if you secretly think my writing is completely talentless you're going to make cheering noises, aren't you: I want someone to say this is good, and that it's worth continuing, and preferably to give me some MONEY for something else.

I am cross and upset and tired and I have had enough.

Oh Cremo When do you go?

Here DH and I are bickering a lot. Mostly over holiday stuff. He normally takes itmore or less all on, but has been too busy with his very important job and so is expecting me to do stuff. So I am feeling both resentful and like I have to keep checking everything with him. TBH I think he has grown so used to "doing the thinking and giving the orders at work, that he thinks i am one of his skivvies

No wonder people go on package deals.

MI. So sorry you're feeling like this. Ride it out by writing and reading and walking. I bought some Larch Bach flower remedy for self-esteem which is helpful. Or makes me feel I'm looking after myself anyway.

BTM - that sounds really difficult. I'm sure you're telling him how you feel. Go girl.

Oh MI, you have every right to be angry about this. And it has been a shit filled year. Something has got to give. Can you just put everything on hold and take some time off? Close the door on your work room and do something with the girls, or on your own? So sorry you are feeling miserable. You deserve better.

BTM, anything I can help with re Vietnam? So sorry Dh and you are bickering. That can be so energy sapping.

Crem - rest and get better so I can meet you next week.

BD - good to have understanding boss.

Herbs - would be tempted to stay in villa and maybe do Rome weekend on a city getaway.

Here weird muggy overcast weather and piles of ironing that I cannot motivate myself to do.

Good news for DD1 here, she is through to the final round of her interview with the law firm. This has done wonders for her self confidence (and she can wear her dress from Jigsaw).

MI - do feel free to rant - I think they are very unreasonable to turn you down for chivvying - at least it shows you're keen and persistant. Sometimes you just can't win.

Aww thanks Cremo, and you feeling so awful too.
Unfortunately when DH rang to book our cab to Heathrow, they helpfully pointed out that it's fucking Ride London and every bloody road to Heathrow is closed. So it looks like a journey on the tube taking twice as long - not what you need early in the morning with teens before a 16 hour flight via Moscow

MI, sympathies. It must be very difficult being self-employed.

And Hatty, well done to your DD!

Any point in staying in a cheapo hotel at Heathrow the night before BTM? Maybe a park and stay package? Take the pressure off a bit?

Hattie, speed news about dd1. She's good at maths without realising by the sound of it! Wish I as-lol. Don't worry I'll be in Paris. Yes I will!!

Speed=great. DYAC.

Haha, I suggested that to DH, knowing what he would say. TBH, DD is probably planning a night out on the Saturday, so that would go down like a lead balloon with her too. So cab to Brixton, Vic line to Green Park and Piccadilly to Terminal 4. Leaving at 6.45am. Oh joy.

Crepeys, I am in a quandary. Boss of FE place is nagging me to tell her my availability next term. I can't decide what to do. Options are:

a) chuck it in, as it's so badly paid, takes advantage of tutors' good nature, is admin hell, etc, and I could twice as much in Lidl

b) keep doing bare minimum for a bit more, gain more experience, do other stuff during the other three days of the week which may take off.

c) throw self whole-heartedly into it, and stop bloody moaning. After all it's what I took a year and £14K to retrain to do.

DP thinks a. I'm erring towards b. With a healthy smattering of 'working to rule'. i.e., minimal admin.

Oh and re meeting up, I am now booked for Wednesday, so it would have to be Thurs!

I agree, b is my favourite. Do what you need to do to teach the lessons and nothing more. Get more confident/faster at planning/marking, etc Do other stuff on the 3 days.

Spoke to carers/DM earlier. She has been put onto anti-depressants - Sertraline - and is back to her colouring/painting (good job I got her another book!) and sounded a bit more chipper on the phone (although I couldn't have spoken to her for more than 2mins, as she was quick to finish it) and was very pleased to hear that DD and I are going to go up to visit and take her out.

OK, GGG and MrsS Are you still free...what was it? from 2pm on Thursday afternoon?

Tilly The Ds's and DH sit happily on the full length of the Piccadilly line to Heathrow (We are about as far away at the other end of the line as you can get!) and say it's absolutely fine.... I've never looked into The Heathrow Express...it runs from Paddington...19 mins to Terminal 4.

MI and Cremo

Fingers crossed for DD1, Hatty. It sounds like it's going really well.

Herbs No committed professional female works to rule....we try but we cave in.... Ask for more money of you're prepared to walk if they say no.

Have picked up DD from her first day on the support team at the summer sessions. She seems ok... Ds2 has landed in Amsterdam as I have checked the arrival board at Schipol. No contact from him though...

On a minor S&B note may I commend these linen Next dresses to the house. I have the black one and it's so cool comfortable and quite stylish..
might buy another one

Tilly some optimistic news re DM. Long may it continue.

That's a toughie Herbs. I'd say a). But what is dhs sitch re work? Will you be the only bread winner?

BTM- ah fgs.Dd should think herself very lucky that she's getting an expensive holiday and on that basis , take one for the team. Good luck with the tube BTM. Make sure everyone else does all the carrying.Rather you than me.

Hatty should I bring a raincoat do you think?

Rose, we have done the Picadilly line before. Interminable comes to mind. Compared to a 45min cab ride!

And Rose, committed professional females work efficiently, ie doing what HAS to be done without faffing, so wasting less time
How exciting for your DS2 - DD and her mates are currently planning next summer - possibly inter-railing, possibly Zante or the like DD has also said she is not going to be as sensible at Reading as she was last year

Ride London!! I knew the London-Surrey event would have us confined to barracks on Sunday (well, we can go north, but not south), but it is going to bugger up central London on Saturday too, isn't it? Grrr....

It's buggering EVERYWHERE up CV!

Well I thought I'd posted but apparently I haven't.

For what it's worth Herbs - I'd go for option b. as well.

BTM - I hate statements like "I'm going to be less sensible this year". What is the matter with them?

Rose - hope DS has made contact.

DH - has had his train cancelled so won't be back till 11.30 - bloody SNCF.

Crem - dry and overcast - will keep an eye on the sky for you but not convinced raincoat is necessary.

BTM - dd thought the vietnam war museum was absolutely marvellous and she's not an automatic culture lover .... just in case

Universe needs to give you a break, MI, but in the mean time WAF's advice v good

Herbs - option B and minimise the rubbish would be my vote. Look on it as a toughening exercise

Rose - v nice dresses. Do they crumple as soon as you put them on though?