Crepeys who try not to look like creepy clowns....

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

Would that be OK?

Must try to avoid a thread switch on a Friday night

Excellent work, Sister Auriga! You remind me of Matron at school, who was very brisk, and wore black shiny lace-ups that squeaked when she walked.

Meanwhile, my threatened cold came to nothing, so I can cross myself off any sick list. Unfortunately this means I no longer have cause to lie about in a lazy fashion (permission to do this regardless?).

[santa]

Perhaps we could have a Crepey Law to egg each other on to sleep more, do less. better not have "eat more, do less"

In Austria. They do it there too?!

A load of DSs mates have just turned up. The nurses are
But DS has a big on his face

I want some but I will have to wait till I can escape!

Sister rocks. Listen to her, ailing Crepeys. I am also not ill as such, but having surfaced at the coast (after an excellent drive with minimal traffic and such beautiful autumn colours,) I am hoping to do my usual, of falling asleep on the sofa. Such is my habit on the first night after arrival at the flat.

I hope that all suffering DC are holding their own and that a good night's sleep will alleviate colds, flu and lurgies.

DM, SSis and DS1 jetted across the pond to DAmericanSis yesterday for DNephs bar mitzvah. It took me loads lots of guts to tell them all we weren't going , and there will be a repeat performance in Blighty in a few weeks time anyway...for which, by way of a guilt present, we have hired a photo booth for the party... DM is staying in the States for three weeks. AiBU to be secretly relieved?

Absolutely the best thing, BTM!

Kids these days, eh? So supportive! My dc's schoolmates always rallied amazingly when one of their number was quite ill.

The combination of TMATSNBN (have I got that acronym right??) and AUSTRIA seems so unlikely as to be positively surreal. Are you sure he's in Austria MI?

Very glad to hear ds is feeling cheery - and what lovely mates he has. Hope you're managing too BTM. X

We've welcomed DD back from NYC, she's slept for four hours and gone to her orchestra rehearsal.

YY re: youth supporting each other. Tomorrow, a good friend from YMT is coming over to see DD. Friend will find excuse to get her out of the house in the late afternoon, whereupon others will descend & transform the house into a party place to celebrate her 18th.

The entire conspiracy has been organised by the friends, who are from four different parts of her life. They don't all know each other but are in touch via WhatsApp etc. I'm impressed (and touched). We're just providing food, drink and beds.

What are these teenagers like, eh? Organised, caring, warm, energetic. Don't they realise they have a reputation for feckless slothfulness to uphold?

I agree with GGG, MI. Are you sure he didn't say Stroud?

That is amazing Auriga, about them connecting up!

Does anyone have recipes for non-lethal cocktails suitable for serving to teens? Is there a way of replacing half, or three-quarters, of the alcohol in a Pina Colada, for example, without spoiling it? (Cocktail ignoramus here).

I would look on the inter web for some classic cocktail recipes - but 'long' ones iyswim - pina colada type rather than Martini, then just reduce alcohol and up the other liquid ingredients - if they are fairly new to drinking (hopefully!) they won't think they're watered down or weak.

A really nice birthday treat might be up to half chilled cava with half or more pomegranate juice in a proper champagne flute... (we did this for ds1's 18th)

Auriga that is so lovely. Teens cam be quite fantastic

Re the cocktails, I have no idea how to make them less alcoholic other than just putting less in! But it's an 18th so surely a bit of alcohol for those who want it wouldn't go amiss?

I think I'm the only one with the alcohol-guzzling teen

Have a look here

Also, provide masses of soft drinks / water and buy v small bottles of v weak beer...

We've made sangria if we want to lower the alcohol content or Pimms as it's only 25% rather than the 40% of most spirits....

But as Addle will testify, my teens are happy to guzzle anything on offer

Sister is a marvel. Would she like Micky Flanagan? I hope so.

I have stocked the fridge with Stuff I Like. DH is taking the DDS to the PILs. I have FOUR LONG SILENT DAYS to write. And by golly I will.

Sangria sounds an excellent idea.

He is allegedly teaching his Filthy Forrin Martial Art. Unless he's faked all the booking details and the pics of the flight like the moon landings and he has nipped to a love-nest in Skegness, of course.

I have delegated cooking to my offspring, poured a large glass of cooking red, cracked open the poppadums I 'over-ordered' and am going to watch The Missing.

Oh god I ought to do writing too

I would go for Sangria, Pimm's (as others have said), Buck's Fizz. Pina Colada - add some coconut milk to the pineapple juice and reduce the amount of Malibu. I've also made an alarming blue one with small amounts of blue curacao, lemonade and a slice of orange and a cocktail cherry - so it looks the business , but is not actually that strong.

Wow some of those cocktails look gorgeous - the mocktails seem to be sponsored by Schweppes, but nowt wrong with that.

Am very interested by this 'swan' thing. DM is definitely a swan but also a martyred over sharer at other times. Dsis and I are never quite sure what's going to happen next. A very very good family friend died last week ( someone I was very fond of) and DM only let me know today. The funeral was last Tuesday, and of course My sister and I would have gone if we'd known.

In other news dd is looking for somewhere to do her placement. As a politics student she is hoping to work in human rights/LGBT rights etc. If anyone has ANY ideas , do let me know.

Matron, still feels as if I'm swallowing glass , so and trying to sip lemon and honey infusion& going to get dh to tuck me in shortly. Going to watch Recording of the The Fall , if only because of incidental casting of Christer Hendrickson ( Wallander) bit of a coup

Oh and no BTM. Dads 18th was in a club and judging by tHe photos I happen to see only recently, quite a lot more than stiff Pimms was chucked back.

Dd not dad. hahahah!