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

Cocoa - hope today went OK.

May I just say, I'm not a cat person, but MontyCat is most handsome.

Sympathies on big bills, Auriga. £290 on pet jabs??!

MI - to be quite honest, they are Big Girls now, and should be learning to organise themselves without you. Yes, they will always need chivvying/reminding/assisting, but you would be doing them a disservice if you micro-managed at this age. You are a Good Parent.

It's very peaceful here....I got back from work at 4.15pm and treated myself to a cappuccino and chocolate eclair on the sofa. DS is at his GF's, DD1 is in bed with sinusitus (poor love sounds totally bunged up) and DD2 is out with friends. We are contemplating decorating the DDs' bedrooms this weekend, the propect of which does NOT fill me with joy. We originally wanted to wait until the cavity wall insulation was done (their rooms both get awful condensation mould because the walls are cold, and you can't open the window during the day as it's a bungalow), but that's not going to happen, so we're going to crack on anyway. Both rooms have that horrid textured anaglypta wallpaper, which we suspect is hiding all manner of plasterwork faults. DD2 also wants to get rid of her massive bed, which is one of those raised ones with a desk and sofa underneath, so I have to photograph it for eBay before we start, and try to remember how to take it apart....ugh, it's all too much like hard work.

Sorry about your back, Auriga.

The one good thing about being an empty-nester is that it's all behind us - school/uni choices; homework; practice; GP visits; you name it. The relief is incredible. Crepeys, it does end, eventually. It's a bit like they say grandparenting is - you hope they'll still seek your advice, but at the end of the day, you say good-bye and what they do with your advice and your opinions is up to them. Phew.

Thank you. every so often my total sense of inadequacy as a parent bites me on the bum.

I have been to a meeting where there was prosecco and am off to see the little twins, bearing more prosecco and the adorable rattles. I do love babies.

Auriga, sorry to hear your back troubles aren't easily sorted - hope the current plan happens quickly at least. Lack of sleep is a killer.

We were 4 hours at the hospital in various departments. It was quite hard-going and DS was/is not feeling too good now. DH and I have cancelled going out with friends tonight. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

On another note, Beachy/Hatty, did your DD's go interrailing? DD is thinking about it, but seems rather overwhelmed with possibilities and trying to accommodate everyone's wishes. Any good routes/tips?

Hello from the second of my half term hols. We are staying with very good friends - the only downside is the sense of inadequency I always end up with as they are both mega successful, their dc are complete prodigies and the whole family is so overwhelmingly nice that you can't be jealous. So I just accept that my parenting will always verge on the slack but stay strong in the belief that this encourages resilience and self reliance. I'm just too tired for any tiger mother nonsense.

I would add pictures of the Wobblecats except that I'm away from home. But they are non-standard Crepey cats as they are not black. They are probably quite Crepey though as they are old with a tendency to crotchetyness, but well loved by the dc. I'll be pretty satisified if that can be said about me.

DD went, BTM. She plotted the route with her friends, mainly hitting the big cities. I suspect they tried to do too much; she especially loved Amsterdam, but also Berlin and the Italian cities. She went with two friends but they met up with other groups along the way.

They made a game of sampling the MacDonald's in every country. Otherwise they ate bread and cheese. She came back saying she'd had it with those two friends but they are back in each other's pockets now.

BTM - DD1 went with her boyfriend. They flew to Berlin (loved), then did Vienna, Prague, Slovinia, Budapest and Istanbul - (not sure if I put things in the right order). They stayed in hostels booked in advance.

Aurigasorry about the back.

So sorry to hear about the back, Auriga. Follow Sister's advice & rest up!

I have just been told what a good parent I am by DS!!!! He went to the dentist who was amazed by DS's teeth & how good they are. The lucky sod (protected from sugar by mama) has reached 35 with not a filling in his head & perfect gnashers.

Sometimes we get it right.............. (surveys own wreck of a mouth)

Do you know what, Crepeys?

I felt the love today... Thank you for all your good vibes. I think they worked.

Back at'cha all

Back home with large G&T with the lights off. DN(eighbour) wants me over for supper tonight. Told her I'd be back soooooo late, it would be past a sensible supper time. Have hidden my car behind a bush, and told DH to do the same when he gets back.

It went OK, actually. DF was awake for whole journey from hospital to care home. He seemed quite happy once we arrived. Staff so, so lovely, but had a race to sort stuff out prior to a 5pm Friday shut off by local surgery, local hospice etc etc. They fed us tea and cake while it was sorted.

DF totally exhausted by it all, ate several biscuits but refused supper - but I have good feeling about this place. Its calm. No alarms continually sounding. Lots of people about the place, checking him. Family owned - happy staff. Home cooked food that smells good.

For those asking, went for £££ home because

• NHS are contributing a generous amount
• and this is a - ahem - medium term solution. Probably not beyond Christmas
• previous care home we used for respite SO, SO awful that I think we feel we owe it to DF to get it right this time.

Just realised I've drunk a large G&T while posting this in the fark. Time to crawl into a bath with another one. So glad slow cooker worked and all i have to do is microwave rice.

Excuse typos. Its dark and im a bit pissed (salutes MrsS)

CV, I will allow that Montycat is handsome but please forgive me for pointing out that you forgot to mention that AurigaCat is extremely pretty.

Sorry you had a long afternoon, BTM, especially as DS has come away feeling low. Glad you were able to cancel & be with him.

DD has gone to see a show with which she's been obsessed for months, with equally obsessed friend. They're going to have a ball, aren't they?

MrsS, how's your head?

Cocoa, really pleased to hear it went so well.

Hatty and Molly, thanks! Molly, I think DD might be looking at a similar route to your DD - how long did she go for and where exactly did she go? (This may give you an excuse to prolong a call )
OTOH, they might be better doing some sort of 2 centre beachy hol before DDs head blows off with exasperation!

DS has cheered up a bit now and is watching footy with DH

Glad today went well, ISCocoa. I can feel the relief, and the gin, in your posts.

Had a smashing day out at Henry Moore's gardens and studio in Hertfordshire today. Glorious autumnal sunshine, lovely colours, and gorgeous gardens dotted with massive bronze sculptures. Really tranquil and quiet and far away from the madding crowds. I think I might be 'over' crowds.

Now writing my grammar course. Am on the 'easy' lesson, but have come unstuck with pronouns.

Just posted a long post that has disappeared. Am feeling better - my marvellous hangover cure kicked in quickly and have just been feeling tired most of the day.

BTM, dd1 flew to Croatia on a one way ticket, then partied there on the islands, went north and seemed to take in Prague, Berlin, and Amsterdam.....didn't seem to be very many stops, but trains and hostels were all booked in advance.....numbers varied along the way, but there was one poor friend who hadn't turned 18 and couldn't get into any of the clubs in Berlin

What is the miracle hangover cure of which you speak Mrs S? Glad you're not lying supine in a darkened room full of shame and regret....

Good for ds BTM. he sounds quite resilient atm in the face of all he's dealing with.

Glad all went as well as possible for your Dad Cocoa. That gin sounds well deserved.

Thanks Beachy - did the u18 have no trouble clubbing in Croatia? DD and another mate will be u18 but are desperate to party! I thought Berlin was cool with u18 drinking, etc

Thanks GGG. I guess he is pretty resilient. But he and we are not finding it easy. Obviously!

Miracle Hangover Cure: Glass or two of Dioralyte and two Nurofen. Sip the Dioralyte in case of blow back from sensitive tummy. Wash down Nurofen with it. Sit very still without moving your head for 10 minutes. Cautiously get up. Feel fantastic.

I think Monday may be a tad awkward, GGG.

Croatia was fine, but the mega clubs in Berlin and Amsterdam needed proper ID... I'll double check with her, she's coming home on Sunday to restock her winter wardrobe!

She just texted.... no problems in Croatia, but yes to problems in Berlin and Amsterdam....

Auriga - it goes without saying that AurigaCat is extremely cute too.

I went InterRailing! Twice.

First time with three friends - Paris, Geneva, Genoa, Florence, Rome, Naples, Venice, Vienna (where I lost my passport), Munich, Strasbourg, Paris and home.

Second time on my own - Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Budapest, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis (where I ran out of money and slept in a hotel kitchen), Istanbul, flew home.

I can't even contemplate how DM let me go by myself, but in fact you're never alone on the Youth Hostel circuit; in fact, I bumped into the same two Aussie blokes three times during the course of my travels.

When I went inter railing, I told my parents there was a massive gang of us going, but strangely enough everyone but two boys and two girls (me included) fell ill the week before with glandular fever not ---- so off I went on a month long blind date!

Paris, Venice, Athens, Greek Islands, Milan, Cannes (where we slept in a police station), and home!

Blind date worked out.....wistfully remembers 17 year old self...

Aw, Beachy. You were brave, CV!

Inter railing was my first holiday with dp. We went post MA in September - great time to go as it is quieter. Got as far as Turkey. Mainly turned up and found rooms. I lived on cheese sandwiches and beer :). I recall a large piece is Sachertorte in Vienna....

Auriga sorry about the back
Cocoa glad it want well!

Am loving all the inrerrailing stories!

Beachy, that's good info, thanks.

MrsS, you can drink Dioralyte withour barfing? Respect