In Crepey Remembrance Of CremCat Past

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Hope that's an OK unilateral decision!

Addle, glad your dh is getting/accepting help. My course is in writing biography, and I'm really enjoying it, but it's masses of work.

Addle, look forward to hearing from you. Wish your dh well on the beginning of his journey back to himself. Been there with my own dh, as you may remember. He will need you more than he realises.

Mrs F your workplace hideousness is closing in on that of my own , so you have my sympathies. Also very sorry about your dd. It could be something daft that's twisting her melon, but I'd err on the side of caution, in case it is something like bullying, or crushed self image, or feeling overwhelmed or sad all the time. Just a thought.

I have ordered the advent calendar along with some other Nuxe things I only imagine I actually need

Anyone heard from Beachy? Hope things ok with her.( thinking about her ds.)

Happy early weekend Crepeys

Crepeys, Leonard Cohen too. I do know that's not the same as undermining civilisation but this year has been so awful.

Truly crap, hasn't it, addle.

Off for a Ladyjog. Am going to Norwich later BUT am staying with old friend in her lovely house so will only see dad for lunch tomorrow. He's off for my cousin's wedding in India on Sunday. Another country with an unspeakable government.

DH introduced me to Leonard Cohen when we first started dating, and I have been a fan ever since. I hadn't realised that he was in his 80s, though.

Regarding the M&S Advent Calendar, DH read about it on moneysavingexpert.com and was very impressed I had bought one - must admit I am looking forward to 1st December so I can start opening it.

The m and s calendar is lovely. I shall be buying mine later.

Dd1 now very upset about school, says she hates it, wants to leave etc etc. I am not sitting on my jury today so going on bus with her.

BTM, how is ds today?

Leonard Cohen - a huge music legend. V v sad.

Oh no, I am floored by passing of Leonard Cohen.

I'm here. Bit of a big week with two verbal assessments for ds (second one today), which have been quite anxiety inducing....

I've been feeling quite introspective and a bit sad all week, actually. I think I might need to get back to work. I'm sort of missing the bit of me where I talk knowledgeably to similarly minded people, which I never really knew I would miss IYKWIM.

I also think this family therapy session will raise some ishoos, which could be 'interesting'.

Still lovely lunch today with super old friends from uni times.....

I have been told off by DH as I thought Leonard Cohen was already dead (see also Bob Dylan). Anyway I guess the state of the worls finished him off.

Monty - what's happened with DD? (Sorry if I missed it).

MI - good to catch up with an old friend whilst visiting DFather.

Addle and Auriga .

Quiet day here today generally organising stuff.

Monty, am about to vanish for an hour but will be in touch re DD1.

Oh no Monty Has she said why she is not happy? Are the school aware? (I guess they are now if you are going in with her!)
FWIW, my friends DD didn't settle into her school (different one) - they moved her just before half-term. I think it's going OK - must check.

Beachy, I think you must be missing work - my BFF gave up a high-powered job when they moved house so she could be at home with the DC (they were small) and it was a disaster for her. She lost her sense of identity and everything. But all got back on track when she started working again. It is very hard being at home at the mercy of an ill DC

Leonard Cohen

I was singing one of his songs in my head this morning before I heard the news. "Even damnation is poisoned by rainbows" is what I was singing.

Beachy, I could say lots about the disastrous effects on a woman of giving up work to look after her dc. Find ways to protect yourself - the lunch sounds great. Monty, so sorry to hear about dd.

I'm afraid Leonard Cohen passed me by through my youth/pre-middle age and I don't actually know anyof his songs other than Hallelujah

I know a few. Do like him.

Songs of Leonard Cohen was one of the first albums I ever bought.

I went out on my own this morning, for the first time in nearly 5 weeks. I felt confident enough not to need someone else there. Giddyness nearly 100% gone.

DH in bad way again. He's at work round the corner but I've rung the GP surgery. V nice doctor on holiday unfortunately but waiting for doctor on call to ring back. I asked him to come home but he won't. But he said he's really close to losing it altogether so I suppose I keep fingers crossed for GP and if really worried takes Stropps advice and ring 999. I am so worried for him and I can't keep him safe all the time.

Oh fuck, Addle. This is awful, so sorry. Do follow up with surgery very soon for advice. On call doc might not be right 'on it'.

Yep, thanks waf. Rang sl but they just said wait fr doc which is fair enough. I don't know whether to text him or hope that concentrating on work is helping because it does sometimes but other times he sabotaged himself. Really torn.

I would text but what do I know...I'm so sorry.

Thanks MI good to hear because I did. x

Oh crikey, Addle. You must be on tenterhooks. Sounds like a number of safety nets are being strung, as we speak, however.

In the 'light relief' corner, can I just be fashion frivolous for a moment?

On my way back from swimming, I popped into the chazzer on the offchance.

I came out with:
A Day Birger Mikkithingy cardigan
A pure wool Orla Kiely dress (size 8, so bound for eBay)
A Rene Lezard dress (never heard of her, but it fits like a dream and googling reveals would retail for about £250)
A John Lewis jumpsuit (for when I lose that elusive half stone)
An Asos cross-over dress thingy
Navy and red spotty scarf.

£39. Thank you thank you doppleganger (yet richer) me. They're all exactly what I'd buy if I had any money.

Addle, have sent you a Pm. Thinking of you.

Beachy, so sorry you are feeling low. It must be very draining looking after DS and missing work. Glad you have a lovely lunch to look forward to

Thank you for all the concern about DD. She was generally fine until she went on the y7 residential last week, which went a bit tits up. 2 of the girls fell out rather badly, so much so that, as they were sharing a 2 person room, they had to be separated. This meant that there was a lot of (staff directed) moving of bedrooms among the other girls and DD got caught in the aftermath. She has been complaining of being unwell all week and had Wednesday off sick, but since then has been tearful and sad about going to school. I went with her on the bus today and tried to reassure her but to no avail.

Just had a long chat with MI whose daughters are at same school and she has kindly suggested what I might start doing to get to the bottom of it but it's a worry. Grrr! I know others are dealing with far worse but I am at a loss. Have sent a couple of emails now though and am feeling a bit better .

Am making sloe gin with some girlfriends tomorrow. We may just drink the gin and cut out the middleman.

Thanks everyone. DH sounded bit better again and has texted me because he knows I'm worried which is immeasurably good. Till next time, as he said himself

Beachy - I bet you are missing work - you always seemed very sure and comfortable with yourself professionally and it's a very big part of life to cut out. Hope family therapy session is productive

Monty - thank you for the pm and sorry about your dd. glad MI has some suggestions. good luck with getting to the bottom of it

BTM - how are you?

Herbs on frivolous note I also have well off doppelganger in local oxfam who supplies all my 'work wardrobe'

Am immensely grateful for this thread. Just sometimes if you have to say anything to someone else you can tell that however lovely they are, they just don't get it

Monty, I was in your position a few years ago except that it was the year 8 residential that brought it to the surface.

Different school but what worked for me was an appointment with the Deputy Head (pastoral) at which I was very clear that Dd3 was unhappy and Something Must Be Done. I didn't care why she was unhappy except as it related to fixing it and I had absolutely no interest in dissecting what had obviously been an insensitively managed issue at the residential. The deputy head was fantastic - within days everything was improving and she took very seriously the point that dd3 should not be singled out or embarrassed - to the extent that some weeks later when I asked if the deputy head had helped, dd3's response was that the deputy head had done nothing but it didn't matter because everything was alright now.

And for the rest of her time at that school the deputy head would catch up with me at school plays etc and it was clear from her comments that she was still keeping an eye on dd3, not that it was really needed anymore.

I had wondered if I was making too much of fuss initially and it was just one of those things teenage girls needed to get used to - but I am so glad I did what I did. I hope you have a similarly excellent pastoral manager in your dd's school and can get a similarly quick and good outcome.

I remember such situations as a teenage girl, and how baffling (and upsetting) they were. There was no such thing as pastoral workers at school, or indeed anyone who gave a toss, so the very idea still gives me the willies. And my mum would have just thought I was being 'feeble' if I expressed concerns to her. Sounds like life is a whole lot healthier these days. Even DS (at seven) told me the other week "mummy, I'm having some difficulties with the dynamics in my friendship group".

Beachy - I'm not surprised you're missing work-type stimulation. It's important. It's one of the (many) things I don't like about being freelance/self-employed.

A small whinge - DP often just meets up with pals for a 'swift one' after work, thus quite easily maintaining his social networks. I have no such option. If I want to go out, it has to be after 7.30, arranged in advanced, and signed in triplicate. Not the same...