Hot town, Crepes in the city

[bigTillyMint]

I think Jamie Bells ears are bigger! And DSs hair is lighter (though he is sporting a 1980s barnet!), and his jaw a teeny bit widea, but he looks a bit like him in the pics of JB aged about 18 which I am incapable of linking to

Scuppered on sundowner front as it is raining Though still hot However no we get to try the huge complimentary umbrellas! Not sure how we'll fit them down the street with the mad traffic/pedestrians

Whoever suggested smooth lines bras (CV?). - I brought something called smoothing which I suspect is similar and am a convert. They fit, don't dig in and seem to deal with 'bulge' and at £16 are a bargain....

I am extremely tired today - I think it's knowing I have no work for two weeks (hooray)

Hatty congrats to DD.

MrsS hope wedding we/is okay.

Rose - like the hair! It's what I always aimed for, but never achieved.

Well, crepeys, thank you all for Alnwick recommendations. Had a beezer time at the castle, and was duly amazed b the wonder of Barter Books. Can there be anything more civilised and more British than a secondhand bookshop in an old station, with a model train running around the ceiling, and armchairs higher and thither for lolling and reading books? Marvellous. DS bought two books on, yes, trains. I made it my mission to find the most obscure title in there, and surely a contender was 'diesels in the reading area'. This the winner was surely 'how to create a coal furnace with commonly found metal items'.

In S&B news, it turns out that my charity shop cagoule is no match for this rain.

What bliss Herbs! That must surely win. I have a few pearls in my collection.

"The Arts of The Uzbek Furrier' is a favourite, if somewhat disturbing subject, but full of entertainment as it was obviously translated into Eneglizsch by, (one imagines) a rather feisty school teacher from behind the safety of the Iron Curtain. We can only hoped she survived and wasn't traipsed off to the Gulag for such high spirits.
Bought in A Croydon Sue Ryder shoppe in 1985

Glad you've survived the high seas MI

Like the hair Rose - mine is too wavy for that to work. It has gone ultra curly in the humid conditions of Cumbria!

MI - well done on surviving the Irish sea. I fear I would have been ill.

Rudy - DD1 will be in London.

So pleased you're enjoying Northumbria Herbs.

Rudy, I think If anyone can carry them off it's you but even I am not sure!

They are, erm, 'edgy' rudy.

On an interior decor tip, I have become enamoured with the artfully mismatched tiles in the en suite in our tebbly testful cottage. I now want to do our bathroom floor the same.

Thus:

They are, erm, 'edgy' rudy.

On an interior decor tip, I have become enamoured with the artfully mismatched tiles in the en suite in our tebbly testful cottage. I now want to do our bathroom floor the same.

Thus:

I'm on the plane, squeezing out the last few moments of 3G before we depart. Phew! It's been a good'un, with just a few stressful moments (the last one being this morning when, just as we arrived at LAX check in, DD2 remembered she'd left her retainer and a wet bikini in the hotel bathroom. Big kudos to the hotel, who retrieved everything and gave the package to the airport shuttle bus driver, so 20 minutes later it turned up at the terminal. Didn't do much for my blood pressure, though. I didn't sleep well last night, and I have DS next to me, who's being a pain, so I'm not looking forward to the flight. By the time we land in Iceland I will have acquired a third teenager, as DD2 turns 13.

The teen tantrums in Yosemite were not unexpected as we are not a hugely active family (apart from DS). My arse is still aching after all those hills.

Enjoy your holidays oop norf, Hattie and Herbs - sounds like fun times. See you on the other side.....

Back home. Attempting to be cheery.

Erm Rudy I very much don't care what's on my feet as long as it's comfortable but I'm pretty sure I couldn't carry them off :)

Dp trying to send me to Skiatjos to look at a dog - don't ask...

I know someone with those and thy look okay on and she says they are blissfully comfy and hard to take off!

Great news about your DD Hattie.

Can't see the sandals, Rudy, but I'm intrigued.

We're here. Drove for many, many hours but had happy inspiration of detouring a little for a walk and a long lunch with friends in Somerset. They're living in a converted mill, with land and horses and a 'snug' bigger than our sitting room, it's beautiful. Made the journey seem easy. It was altogether a cheering visit; they are well and happy with thriving grown-up children, one of whom was a bridesmaid at our wedding. She was there today, just back from volunteering in the Maldives, cooking for us expertly whilst chatting about her PhD proposal

This (holiday park near St Austell) is a lovely place, we came a couple of times when DD was little. Got a huge caravan this time & staying two weeks. Already feeling the tensions slip away.

Stropps, we have not only a spare bed but, for most of the fortnight, a spare room, so if it's a low-key no-cost restful break you want, come & join us. PM me for details. Other crepeys also welcome, of course.

Auriga, enjoy! Sounds lovely.

Did anyone see the women's triathlon earlier? I watched a bit, my thoughts turned to chafing, and so to this thread....some of the women wore suits with shorts (like the men) but some wore what looked like nomalish swimming costumes so they got out of the water and cycled like billy-o in a wet cossie. I can see all sorts of potential for discomfort there - any thoughts?

Herbs, those tiles are a bit like my porch. I love my porch tiles. Sort of chose them by mistake, but they work!

I love those shoes, Rudy. I don't think they are fugly at all.

Just got back from Half a Sixpence that Rose went to. It was truly good (and I really am not a musical girl!). The lead was like a young Michael Crawford.....

Aaaah, picture of tiles, taken in dark!

Made it as far as Reykjavik. Not sure if it's night or day, tbh, although flight went well. Airport staff humourless and cafe ruinously expensive. We have a short delay on the next leg but should be boarding soon.

Love the random tiles, particularly the muted colours of yours, Beachy. Most excellent for a porch or small loo, but possibly a bit much in a larger space.

Have a wonderful relaxing break, Auriga - heaven knows you deserve it.

Well done to Hatty's DD - what a relief.

Rudy, I think I like those sandals!

Beachy, your porch tiles are lovely - very Homes&Gardens.

CV, Reykjavik cannot be as bad as Moscow. Impossible!
Am just wondering if your DS has decided on his footy plans for this year? DS and DH has been in a quandary all summer, but has now plumped for a joint signing for an academy and his old team. I just hope he can fit in some study between his training and matches!

Happy Hols, Auriga!

BD is that Skiathos? Had a few lovely holidays there back in the Dark Ages with my ex

BTM - DS currently has NO PLANS to play footy this year. I am but he said he was starting to really hate it by the end of last season, playing for two teams plus school. Maybe a break will do him good.

Boarding - hoorah!

Happy flying, hope the last leg goes well.

Tiles are not Homes and Gardens priced, they're from Tile Giant

Off to see my elderly godmother today with the whole family plus dad. Would all be good, but we sat up to watch Mo and ds sat up until even later watching UFC. We'll be asleep in our puds at the pub!

CV, I hope DS's joint signing and school footy doesn't put him off! Hope the last flight goes fast

Hope you have some matchsticks with you, Beachy

Hope you get home safe and sound CV.

Lalsy, I also, was wondering about chafe, but I think it's actually so hot, that what with special fabric that dries instantly , they probably don't suffer, like you would here in damper conditions. the start of those triathlons at Copacabana beach were incredible. The backdrop was jaw dropping .

Have friends for lunch today , and then looking forward to A lazy afternoon.