Someone left a Crepe out in the rain

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

Here we go, ready for the Autumn.....

Teenage party not going so well

DH is just reading an article 'Not tonight , dear' in the DT about a survey that says older men are at risk from sex, but it's good for their partner's health. Ah, moved on, another study says that men who have sex twice a week have less chance of a heartache. And we won't mention the Greek survey, I'll just say 'stop taking the statins' ....

Sorry, heart attack....

Arf, NU

Stropps, my chickenoodle soup is a work in progress, as DD1 only recently started eating meat again. It also capitalises on DP's otherwise very annoying habit of leaving far more chicken on the carcass than I would when he turns it into stock - this way one has the basis of a quite glorious soup. Following Nigel Slater's advice I boil this vigorously in a wide shallow pan to condense a bit, and following a friend's advice I use a bit of bought tom yum paste (mind-bogglingly delicious). I chuck in flat udon noodles, a bit of greenery (crisp lettuce will work, otherwise spinach or suchlike) and often tip in (following Slater) frozen prawns. And any scraps of chicken we have left; in our case DP had used those up in a not overly marvellous stirfry (rather to my chagrin he has chased up on Abebooks a rather dreadful cookbook called Cheap Chow he used as student, which is very much of its time) so I followed Nigella L and dry-fried sliced chicken breast and then let it absorb some soy sauce and then chucked that in. Oh, and sweetcorn. The girls insist on it and it is a nice touch. Fish sauce and/or lime juice to taste.

The aim is really a noodle broth rather than soup per se.

Those noodles also work very well in an Instant Nut Sauce, using peanut/almond butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, splash of vinegar, bit of hot water to dilute and as much sriracha sauce as you fancy. If you have problems finding the sauce I can bring some on Sat. Must remember not to try to take it into the BL reading room .

I wish the WAFlets weren't veggie...

'Secondary school is bare good' appaz.

Lalsy at front door pic. I did do one. Normally I snap 'em free range on the pavement but have recently become aware that the front door was the place (sheep). However, being dd2 we got a Kung fu kick style pose

Monty, she likes your Dd's diamondy name tag.

The thick, smooth total silence in my house today was utterly restorative.

Rudy how is ds?

Mrs S - KICKASSS!

Bare good. Doesn't get better than that.

I would like silence. And wifi. BT say that without a degree in electrical engineering, they cannot explain to me why it takes a month to get someone to assess problem .

dd said something interesting today re anxiety, for anyone still musing. She was bullied at primary school and she says that ten years on she is still scared that people will dislike her on sight for no reason. She has plans to put address this.

WAF, that's great!

I think DD probably thinks a bit like that, Lalsy, despite all proof to the contrary. What plans has your DD got?

Well, DD and DS made an Oreo cheesecake today (DS actually went out and bought the ingredients too!) and DS has just made me a top-notch smoothie #thebenefitsofteensnotbackatschoolyet

And in other news, DS had a flap about going to an interview for work experience next week, and DD has got her new timetable and has just about decided which subject to drop - she is back to school for the last year (hopefully!) tomorrow

She says she is going to build more muscle (!) and be more talkative/stroppy about things she feels strongly about (because what the hell, if people are nasty that is their problem; dd's is that she worries too much about others and manipulative people spot her at 100 paces). I cheered silently. We shall see.

Bare good! Yay!

I am going to fling various things vegetarianly into the oven (hundreds of cherry toms, aubergine, red pepper, garlic cloves, olives,
sliced spuds) and then bake eggs on top. And then I shall produce a strawberry crumble which is a new venture...

Gosh, vast amounts of 'sorting out 'going on. WAF , glad secondary school is approved of. I know nothing of these word usages. I am right out of date. I am suddenly aware ( aided and abetted by David Peace's book 1974) that I am in fact a throwback..
I went a #fastladywalk this morning and the heat nearly kilt me. it was cloudy but 28degrees or something stupid. And I have put away the summer outfits as it was 11degrees here last week. Can't keep up Blee! Sweaty Lycra . I knew there was a reason I hated exercise. That and the smell of a swimming changing room. Geourgh!

NU, hope you have transited Dublin fair city without too much nonsense. I always find the airside area is never quite big enough for the sheer number of travellers somehow.

MI, that sloup sound delish.

Been to M&s with a gift card and got a few lovely beauty things.and booked in for a bra measure
Let's see what they come up with. I have variously been measured at 38C 40DD 42F and a 40E. This by way of Bravissimo, a couple of Independent stores and M&s some years ago. I know we change a bit, but surely not that much.
Away to anoint myself with L'huile Prodigieuse.

Haven't heard dads results yet. Will see him in an hour or so.

Gosh, lots going on! Rudy How is DS getting on back in the bosom of la famille?

Waf glad first day was bare good. Monty how's about DD?

Lalsy I think so many of us fear being disliked...almost the default setting. I was bullied horribly at Primary...The feeling has never left me. Interested to hear how your DD plans to tackle this.

Related to that topic, can I be embarrassingly proud, that DD, who had her first day on her BTEC today...being familiar with the place and the staff, has taken it upon herself to make sure "no one is sitting alone at break and lunchtime because [I] know what it's like to be left out..." She seems to have had a great day and has done taster sessions in dance, singing and acting skills. And seemed to manage a FaceTime with her old friends in her lunch hour....!!! She is resting now, due back at 7 for rehearsals.

I do crave the silence of which you speak. I remain in a whirl of DS2's uni preps. DH is on a flight to Oslo for work. Have been trying to teach but mind is a million miles away from having sprogs...more about how to get them out of the house

MI I make my chicken soup in a pressure cooker

Cremo I very nearly booked a flight based on your comments. I think a dog would make me and the rest of us very happy....

Last, or second-last, visit to Mum's solicitor this morning then found I was unexpectedly free for the afternoon, so booked DD in for four university open days

She needed help to make a start & I reasoned that she can cancel if she doesn't want to go. She seems pleased rather than peeved.

Then DH & I went to John Lewis and tried lots of beds . Mum's room will become a guest room & needs a double, so we're putting ours in there & buying a new one. Fortunately we liked the ones at the lower end of the range (some of them cost thousands).

DH out tonight. I feel strangely reluctant to cook, after a big effort for the last two evenings. Feel a cop-out coming on.

Glad to hear the Y7 and BTEC fledglings have got off to a good start. Good luck to all the other new starters this week.

NU, have a great trip.

Lalsy - I think once we can detach what other people think about us and not try to please others the whole time, we're half way there. Good luck to your DD, and others who have suffered from school bullying.

BD - I really fancy a dog but just went round to a friend's who had a dog which was quite wiffy.

MI - love it when you throw your veggies in the oven - when you say bake the eggs, do you just crack them over the veggies at the end?

Off to drive DD2 to her friend's now - she is going to Prague for 4 days. I worry about those three dippy dappy girls alone in forrin parts.

Lalsy, DD may be small, but she packs plenty of muscle and nobody is ever in any doubt about her opinions

Cremo, there is no way you are a 40 anything. I reckon 36 with a big cup. Read the bra intervention threads!

Rose, Yay for your DD!

BD, I agree with Cremo - if it will help you to feel happier, get that dog as fast as poss!

I spoke too soon about DD - a drama is now unfolding about her BFF being moved to a different group for one subject... When will she realise she is 17, not 7?

Girls, I have to break it to add that now the summer promo is over, it no longer costs six quid to visit Beach Boy and I'm not auto coughing up, its £30 to go on Sat. Think we might get some 7 y o tears here and dh not in headspace to help with a plan.

Dd not add

Ds is back to school tomorrow. He's not happy wondering how many hours he will last before I get the call?

Meanwhile, dh is running round the outside of the house with wasp powder trying to kill a wasps nest I'm staying well out of it.

Roll on Thursday when it's just me, myself and I here (with dogs and chickens obvs). Can't bloody wait.

Oh dear WAF long distance relationships are tricky, but there's Skype and Facetime?

And poor DS Beachy.

Rudy, how is DS doing?

Hope your hols are well underway NU. Bon Voyage - tell us your adventures so we can holiday with you vicariously please!

Well done to Ms Rose, she sounds so lovely and kind - like her Mum.

Sympathy BTM - the drama never really ends does it. Ds2 first day (well couple of hours in the afternoon really) back and he's in a ridiculously bad mood about nothing much. Family supper was a miserable experience refereeing all the bickering and feeling increasingly wound up - after cooking for well over an hour for them when I got in. GRRRRR. He's never admit it but he's under quite a lot of pressure. I'd have so much more sympathy if he wasn't hideously behaved....

If it would fit round life / work BD then get a dog! You know you would love another.

WAF, how did your dh get on at the GP?? Hope you're both doing OK.

Any update on ds Rudy??

I keep getting UTIs. Utterly miserable. Apparently it's common as yet another delight of the menopause. Anyone else suffering with this??

Sorry about D's Beachy. And for the plantar fash - hideous pain.

GGG - utis are a bitch. You have my symps. Always after sex in my case and improved by lube.

Rose how lovely of dd.

MI am deffo up for that uni pretty please. As you in library and me trying to meet end sept deadline, is it OK ti ask for them at Crem's (since you might be bringing sauce)

Hello my darlings.

A quick one from me - had a rubbish night with anxious Dd who couldn't sleep before new school today. She has survived remarkably well on the 4h sleep and is very chipper. Me less so. Made some friends, had lunch, found the loo, etc etc. All good. Hope your Dd got on ok, WAF, and saw lovely pic of rosebud on FB. Hope all other returning and new DC had a good day.

Sending love and good thoughts to Rudy and Crem. BD, how was your work today? Hope you are bearing up.

Other 2 back tomorrow and I am back properly to work. Will catch up on bus tomorrow. Going to bolt some supper and hit the hay. Night night all xxx

Beachy :( re ds.... Hope he settles - he's a lovely lad.

Rudy how's ds?

MC work is rubbish but I am trying the Cremo approach - do what I can and leave it at the door....

Oh dear, GGG - that's not good. I am lucky in never having suffered a UTI, so I can't comment on the influence of the menopause. Wouldn't surprise me.....

Auriga - new bed - what a treat! We bought ours about four years ago; we went along to Dreams wondering how on earth we were going to select one bed/mattress from the myriad of options, but when we lay down on one particular one we both went "aaaahhhh!" and didn't want to get up again.

BD get a dog, get a dog, get a dog, get a dog....

Moody teens? Check. Although the DDs were surprisingly upbeat, considering it took them two and a quarter hours to get home from school today on public transport (7 mile drive, 15 minutes maximum). Less than a third of that time was actually spent moving; the rest of the time was sitting waiting for trains and buses. The direct bus that would have got them home straight away never showed up.

Glad everyone made it back to school/college/whatever successfully; never heard of this photo business, though! Lovely story about DD, Rose.

Hope DS is OK tomorrow, Beachy. By the way, our mutual friend's DD has now done exactly the same as DS, and flipped back to school sixth form!

DS is on fire at the moment - popped out at lunchtime to buy folders and dividers, and stayed late after school to crack on with his homework. So far I am definitely appreciating the influence of some of his more studious friends, and I'm hoping it lasts.

In culinary news, after the other night's Forgettable Jalfrezi, tonight we had Triumphant Traybake. This Jamie Oliver number - took seconds to prepare, and all agreed it was absolutely scrummy.

Have found bag of Stuff, WAF (had dodgy moment when I thought it was in with bunch that went to chazza) and will bring on Sat. Do remind me (and I must remind BTM to bring tights)!

Do make strawberry crumble. Is delish.