Someone left a Crepe out in the rain

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

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

Teenage party not going so well

I don't have the power to do that. And even if I did, it would make things worse. I'm not surprised, but I am bloody furious, as she has spent the last 2 years telling us how much she hates us/living in this town, and how she can't wait to leave. Don't think I can stay if she comes back and carries on like before. :(

Oh God.

I agree with WAF.

Do you feel you could just say no to her and that she has to stick it our for at
Least 2 weeks? It is entirely normal to wobble at this stage, but she may actually be able to brave it out IYSWIM.

Oh no Stropps - I think she should stick it out for the first term at least. It's bound to be difficult and disorientating at the beginning whilst everybody's settling down. She's probably not the only one feeling like that.

Rose - I love that aria. I'm very impressed with DD2 as she went to a whole performance of the Marriage of Figaro in Prague - she is my daughter after all!

Rudy - so glad DS is bouncing back - a large appetite has to be a good sign. He won't have even missed too much school.

MI and Herbs - you are gorgeous ladies. I thought you were both attractive and sparkly. MI - you are definitely not fat, and I really appreciated how friendly and easy to talk to you were.

Everybody looked great.

MM - have a lovely trip.

I did tell DD1 that she would make her proper friends in the second term and the first term was often people you'd met during Freshers Week, which I think many people must find over the top. Turns out I was right, at least in her case.

About to leave Wifi Land now. Hope she agrees to stay at least till course properly underway, even if she comes home for weekends or something.
(i know cirx so different, but my dd was distraught at the end of FW, begged to come home, I had to agree to shlep down there the following weekend, by which time she was cautiously stuck in). I feel for you x

Oh Stropps. I felt similarly on first day at uni, I have to say, but of course circs completely different. I know you can't force her to stay but can you convince her lots of people feel like this? Or is that, as I fear, totally unrealistic?

BTM omg at sixth form open evening - we haven't sorted anything yet! Am taking tack of insisting DD1 sorts it. Will get her on case ASAP...though suspect she's out in the glorious sun, as is her sister.

I am on way home after prolonged (planned) skive off with old friend from out of town. Had lunch at bankside Caminos. Recommend. Had sherry and glass of cava. Haven't done that midweek in aaages.

In fact I hated the whole first term...

BTW WAF and Monty, am watching all the Y7 cuties from Syd out of bus window.

Oh bugger stropps. No, your feelings are on the nail. See if you can get DD to wait until the weekend and review. If that seems too long say you'll speak to her tomorrow and that neither of you is giving up so quickly. Freshers is not representative of how it's going to be going forward. crem will be along soon. She'll have the right sort of suggestions. and hand holding to you, and fervently hoping this is a wobble. Stay strong.

hatty of all operas I love the marriage of figaro most of all. Watching and singing it! Good on your DD!

I have survived my meeting despite menopausal over heating and sweating. And have been a bit scary and therefore managed to sort out a huge blip about the seating (they reduced it to a number below the bookings I already have, let alone who is yet to book...) and got it back up to 80. Woo Hoo. Keep an eye out for an EventBrite booking page shortly, those of you who have booked via Facebook. Any others need to PM me for the link.

She is Y11 too? (Have lost count!) - come tonight!

DD has just arrived back with nose piercing. Nice tiny diamond stud, but what will DH say?!

I'm going to go quiet for a while. We'll see what happens.

Thanks. Have seen pics. Rather lovely.

Stropps do you need to normalise it? Do a bit of broken record. 'It's tough to start with. It's tough to start with...' repeat to fade

'Give your course time to get going.' repeat to fade

Sorry if this is rubbishly unhelpful.

So sorry to hear your news, Stropps. Think you need to tell her to tough it out, contact the health team there and maybe offer a visit at the weekend?

For her to contact the team there, I meant....

There's nothing healthwise. She's just being an arse. Sorry, but it's true

No need to apologise, Stropps. I think you are quite right to go quiet & I would be as tough as you think possible on the idea of her giving up so soon.

It is entirely true.

Have her lectures even started? She cant even judge it properly.

Oh knickers Stropps.. I think you are right. She is being an arse. I'd be telling her she has no option but to stay. Everyone hates their first week and all that blah. Do not offer any form of return transport. Treat all hysteria with flat voice. Do not enter into any reasoning. If she makes her own way to your doorstep or threatens to, tell her you will put her back on the train. She can come home at the weekend and discuss things reasonably with proper arguments etc, at which point you will be happy to hear her. All screeching will be treated with FO. Over the phone.
Shit Stropps we have heard all this guff before. And then the next day she's is off having a great time. sure she's had a wretched time of it, yes, but this is the bit she has to get past -the dependency on you tending very little bruise and cut. It's time to Man up Princess.
Does that make sense? Thinking of you. It's horrible , horrible horrible, being blackmailed and goaded by someone you care about. But lines have been drawn.

Oh yes indeedy, MI and Hatty. And everyone else. I haven't heard any more since about 3.30. And have calmed self with a nice cold beer. I realise that my knee-jerk panic reaction may be something that dd has come to count on. You are right, o wise ones: I must stay strong and stall, at the very least.

Rudy, that is fab news about ds3. Am thinking of you all.

Hatty, well done on doing the test. I have heard it's very tricky.

Loved the FB pics - and dh was v impressed.

Prior to being rudely interrupted by dd-stuff, I was going to announce some good news- I got a substantial (approx 15%) payrise. Entirely because of the campaigning and grousing I did last term. Yay, go me! No one else in my dept has had a payrise in 8 yrs, so they said I should frame the letter.

X-posts, Crem. Yup, you speak a big old shed-load of sense. I will refer back to your post if/when she comes back to me this evening. Am practising saying "No."

I think you are spot on with her expecting that knee-jerk reaction.

Also as Hatty says - she is there to do a course. It hasn't started yet!

I knew Crem would tell it like it is. What she says is a good script. Trust in her words Stropps and bloody good job on the pay rise

Yay for the pay rise Stropps - amazing.

Great analysis Crem - am noting the term "man up princess" for future use. Hope your DDad is doing OK.