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

I need to swim MI, but am in sole charge of DS today so no chance of that.

DP is off to see his mum, who has once again ended up in hospital. She moved into a sheltered flat last week, much to the chagrin of her various relatives, and pretty much straight away got very confused. Phoning her brother up to say she'd been kidnapped, etc. Not sure whether it's the change of scene, or the tumour moving to another bit of brain. Though according to a scan, the tumour has shrunk.

DP's sister, who until last week lived with MiL, is constantly assailed by 'helpful' relatives asking questions, giving 'advice', etc. They also just turn up unannounced, and let themselves in. This has been going on since their dad became ill three years ago. How she hasn't gone quite mad, I don't know. I've told her she needs to enact an MI-style briskly chummy round-robin email that tells them the news, but also to EFF THE EFF OFF.

I am once again in awe of Mrs S and her culinary industry. And of the fact she hasn't murdered her ungrateful wretches of family.

Today: course, lesson planning (for Ofsted), 8yo Ghostbuster's themed birthday party, creating a Roman costume. For this I am repurposing a Luke Skywalker costume and a pashmina. Plus some gold leaves from Hobbycraft for a wreath.

MrsS, the contents of your fridge!! Ours never has that much in it. As ds has tired of his father's beige freezer dinner efforts on days when I don't get home until after feeding time, I gave him (ds) a book called "Meal in a Mug" and he is now regularly cooking sensible food. And is adding all sorts of ingredients to my shopping list (fair enough). However, this is because he is only 11, and has not yet reached the age of tiresomeness.

Herbs, that's a long to-do list. Bummer about the dress-up stuff. If I lived closer, I'd offer you the red velvet cloak I made that has been the basis for many costumes over the years - I think I originally made it for Roman Day.
Sorry to hear about your Mil.

Ooh Stropps - that book sounds perfect for my DS too.

Mrs S - Another who is in awe of your fridge and freezer contents. Plenty to cook there.

Ate out with friends last night on restaurant with a nice ambience but average food - not even half as good as we had in Islington yet it was full.

Worried about DD2 who I think is a bit down at uni and although she says everybody is nice she sort of sees them once. I think she is having trouble finding her people.

Sang in a glorious concert last night. Still on a high mentally but physically wiped out.

All I've done so far today is feed animals, make coffee & cancel an engagement for this afternoon. In awe of other people's industry.

Standing all day has done my back some good 😊

Cocoa, encouraging news about your DF.

Rudy, what is that enigmatic post about? Something to do with love's delightments (as the madrigal puts it)??

Herbs, make sure your MIL gets checked for kidney/UTI infection. That can cause a lot of confusion & many of that generation don't drink enough fluids.

Auriga there's a yoga exercise called "the snake or cobra" where you lie on your front and edge upwards on your hands whilst keeping your hips on the floor in the manner if an angy cobra. I find it really good for stretching out the spine.

Glad the singing went well.

Hatty, that is hard about dd2. It is tough at the beginning when you have no close friends, but it does get easier I think. Is she enjoying the course?

My dd is still closer to friends from home than at uni - I am not sure the social media contact helps, as they can retain those bonds easily so perhaps are less open to new ones of similar intensity. She has made good friends through the flatshare and through an activity but always finds it hard to move to seeing people on their own and in their own right IYSWIM - she does at home too. And when I see her with people, I always get the impression they like her a lot more than she thinks they do.

MrsS, tell them ALL to stuff if. Sign off sick and go away for a week. Inform your ingrates that you expect to return to an immaculate house and a cooked supper. I'm serious.

Thanks Lalsy - I think it's exactly that close gossipy friendship she is missing, and like your DD the move to seeing people on their own. I think many of her female housemates have gone home to London this weekend.

Sorry that DD2 is feeling a bit lonely, Hatty - it all takes time, doesn't it? How are things today, Crem? We are all thinking about you and D Puss. Cocoa, good about DDad. Auriga, glad to hear your back is a little easier. MM, second not doing too much today.

DC used to come home from uni and complain that the fridge was full of old people's food and there was nothing to eat.

I have made mince pies this morning, plus a few jam tarts; that will be my full quota of cooking for today as we are going to DD's for a late lunch, courtesy of my lovely son in law. And on the subject of son in law, his visit to the eye clinic was quite positive - his eyes are ok ATM, but he is now on yearly check ups. Evidently developing holes in the retina is something that can happen to very short sighted people (so that's him, my DS, my DiL and my nephew in our family alone).

Oh, and Rose, I think your ILs are awful, too.

No cooking here, just stripping (wallpaper, that is). It's all off, at least! Off to B&Q shortly to purchase paint, mould remover and an industrial sized tub of pollyfilla. I'm having the rein in DD2's design ideas, as she has bookmarked the whole of the Zara Home website. We can't work out how to take the blind down, so will have to paint around it; also, the wardrobe collapsed when we moved it, so DH is currently nailing pieces of 4x2 to the back of it to hold it together. Patches of black mould everywhere. Mmm. I hate this. We've got to do it all again next week in DD1's room (if I haven't stabbed DH with a wallpaper scraper and drowned him in a tub of emulsion by then).

Chicken caesar salad and garlic bread for tea, if I ever escape from decorating hell.

DH has taken DD1 to the minor injuries clinic at Guy's. I think it is what is commonly known to doctors as "PAFO" - Pissed And Fell Over. She has "done something" to her ankle, it has swollen and she can't put weight on it. We had just celebrated a year of her not having had any visits to hospital, as well.

I have had my toenails done. I'm so S&B.

NU, what is old people's food? I am worrying whether we have any in our fridge!
And mince pies already!

Hatty/Lalsy, I think DD will really struggle with that - not being with her old friends. Though she may well end up on the same course at the same uni with one of them. She is very undecided about whether this would be a good thing. Thankfully she won't need to decide till May.

Here things went to shit when I went out for a coffee with a friend, but I have salvaged them and it is all more positive. For the next hour or so! I am also an expert on cells (the biological type!)
And DD and I went through her old exercise books/revision notes and have selected some stuff suitable for DS and chucked out a load that won't be needed - result!

Very Nice MI. My toenails currently have a few millimetres of blue at the top edge - what's left of the summer of nail varnish before the winter of hidden cloven hooves... so unS and unB.

Does she know how she hurt her ankle Mrs S? If not she might want a stern word about accidents due to being pissed!

We are bad parents. Out to dinner with friends tonight and breakfasted before ds2 even woke up so told him he can forage in the kitchen and fend for himself today... No cooking or decorating going on here. Lots and lots of washing though...

Argh. Meeting an editor friend tomorrow to talk about novel project. Need somewhere quiet (and affordable) to meet in the evening - he'll be in Bayswater but mobile. Any suggestions? Doesn't need to be silent but not a noisy bar...

Somewhere on the South Bank? Royal Festival Hall Terrace Bar on 5th floor is fab - great views!

Ooh, or there's Waterstones...

You beat me to it, MI... You can also book a table in Waterstone's.

Waah it'a nearly dark and only 5.40 - I don't like this.

Eh, you're worried, Hatty? Here it is nearly dark and only 4.50.

Stropps - that's what DD2 said - it's been dark since 4.30 up north.

I just checked the clock and thought WTF and then realised you are an hour ahead Hatty!

MI, my toes are a similar colour!

Back to school tomorrow, hopefully. It's all very up and down.

BTM, sorry to hear about your up and down. We have up and down here too and I wish ds was going back to school tomorrow.... he has another week and the lack of structure is taking its toll. He's supposed to be going on a 'bonding' trip with dh later this week. Obviously Dh hasn't planned any of the final details, so there is a flurry of shouting matches about who has and doesn't have stuff....frankly they might end up killing each up half way a mountain, which would sort the fracas, I guess!!!!

We're out tonight and have co-oped dd1 over for babysitting, which is ridiculous in itself, but that's just how it is