In Crepey Remembrance Of CremCat Past

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Hope that's an OK unilateral decision!

Cocoa - It was only when I put my own 19yr old dd on a plane for 14 weeks abroad that I really realised why my mother had not only driven me to the airport (which I appreciated) but also insisted on seeing me off at departures (which I thought unnecessary) when I set off for a summer in India at the same age. Hope your ds is a bit more understanding of how you feel.

Morning all. Hoping it's a better one for the many of us having a not very good time. Done Ladyjog, now about to vanish and hit keys for an hour....

Elfy face squizzer! Divine.

Another vote for Diptyque or diptype as I originally wrote.

Grin at 'Slough' of Despond.

I like how we're luring more crepies for the 26th:

Rudy - would it help to overnight? I have a proper sprung sofabed you'd be most welcome to.

Addle and BTM - could I join you if you go to BP? Various things on but possibly slip outable of.

Oh BTM, hope today is better. I am very much around today (likely to be out and about with or without laptop once workmen arrive) if a chat would help and you can get away. Beachy, sorry to hear about ds' too. for all distressed boys and their mothers.

Stropps, that is very interesting re the module. ALso very impressed here.

Addle, respect on 8 am yoga class. I have started doing more exercise classes recently and love them. I wouldn't dare push myself on my own.

Cocoa, hope he has a happy departure. We are here.

I enjoyed the baby squirrel picture and image of Stropps in rebellious mode in reindeer pyjamas.

And BD, hope the fresh air and company is better up here.

And Herbs, if you do blogs or website and would like someone random to look at it before you go live, I am happy to.

Hello everyone from the world of justice. Day 9 of jury service and it's going slowly. Parts have been very interesting, others v dull. Jurors a varied and interesting bag.

Huge hugs to all waving off children, looking after troubled children or who would like one (a hug rather than an additional child). My own children are a bit chirpier, although dd2 in a drama production in deptford tonight which I could do without. It's a fag to get to on public transport from my part of town and I may not get home in time to get car.

Looking forward to seeing people on 26th. Which Cote did you book in the end, BTM? Will have a think re local bars.

Love to you all.

Loved the baby squirrel picture: now getting excited as I never thought about my two being a pair - they were playing, though, so probably are.

Crem, re your DCat: it is almost two years since we lost NUCat - I still hear him and look round and expect him to sidle round the door. I sympathise re mouse under the sink; our rodent visitor did loads of damage, not least chewing a big hole in the outlet pipe of the dishwasher. I am getting a bit anxious regarding my op (this time I know what to do expect). As it happens DD has managed to get the week before Christmas off (she had made some lovely plans for us, like the panto, which I will miss, boo hoo). Really in a way being immobile over Christmas is quite good as I won't be expected to do anything. We're all going to DS and DDiL's for Christmas Day - I do need to speak to them and ask what I can do beforehand. I am sort of aiming to be done with everything by the weekend before the op (am already half way through the cards).

BTM and BD, sorry the boys aren't so good (massive understatement there). Strength to you both.

Rose, how are you now?

Regarding waving off DC to foreign climes, yes, you miss them, but you know you have done a good job with raising confident young people.

Stropps, as ever I am in awe of your drive and determination.

Monty, DH has been excused - there are no more trials starting this week, so he is up a ladder, painting.

Lucky him - but glad he is now performing a public service of a different kind

Still waiting here. Just been to court to get empannelled but was not picked. Two more cases still need juries today. Cross your fingers for a guilty plea.

I imagine there's a lot of waiting around monty. Are you getting through a goodly number of novels? Glad that things might be rallying with DD.

Feeling very much with tilly and beachy re troubled boys but hope that rudy's DS maintains the improvement, and is an inspiration that things get better although the circumstances may well differ. mollys words are wise and reassuring.

GGG gosh...well done on the charity gala...what a thing to pull off.

cocoa

stropps love the premature attack on the advent thingy. I am prolonging the delight...but I have never, ever had one before. DD and I will be fighting over the booty I think. And brilliant on the forthcoming post grad study

Bd are you going down with something or is it just all the work shit...?

crem that squirelette is the darlingest thing ever There are no red squirrels left in these parts.

Thanks for asking Nu and all other crepey kindly posts. I am improving and much is down to doing some work where I feel useful. Private clients isn't my choice but seeing adults rather than kids helps. as the contract is time limited. and pays better I am getting loads better at charging higher rates and not feeling guilty. Meanwhile annoying trustee organisation in which annoying trustee is not one any more, is having me back on my terms...i.e. Working only with the new managing director on a consultancy level, and feeding in that way. And I have two new classes starting today and next week. It's just sometimes, the bereavement process derails me completely and I get a bit inert and lots of physical symptoms..headaches, stomach trouble...

Still in a state of flux re 26th but will know before the weekend is out. Meanwhile I am trying to cook up something silly and fun for Crepeys in cahoots with mrsS . We so need it.

Thanks for all the kind offers
Lalsy, I am unfortunately out of time now today - have just picked DS up.
Re BP - would love to, but have plans (as yet not finalised) for Sun - will get back asap if it is possible.

Much better start to the day today - phew!

Cocoa, thinking of you waving off - that may be us in the future as DS fell in love with NZ when we went last summer. DH was brought up there and we have many lovely friends there who we miss very much. Where is he going exactly? A tour or just one place? And how come?

I also love Stropps' attack on the advent calendar

Addle, major respect on 8am yoga

Oooh Rose, that sounds cryptically exciting!

Monty, it's the St Martins Lane one.
I am wondering if we could just go to our usual D&S haunt for cocktails. It's only a 5-10min walk and we all know it does good cocktails

I think we need a Crepey Outing. Possibly with a charabanc.

How about (early next year?) a winter walk and Kipling house outing, for those close enough?

I have just seen a job ad for "Perseverance Manager". I feel this is a role all we crepeys could ace.

My ex is in NZ. Not the Vacillating Buddhist - that was the one I saw on the train - or the Alcoholic Lefty Editor, but the one who is apparently now a BDSM dominant.

I know how to pick 'em, don't I. Suddenly t'ai Chi looks shiny and new.

Pick a date and I will come if you can get the chauffeur to swing by Gatwick.

Am furiously hanging about a garage ( rhymes with Farage) waiting for a quote for damaged car. I really have better things to do with my time.

Sounds like you've chosen the better option MI

Waved Ds off from LHR to Queenstown with his bike; he's a downhill boy through and through. I can only pray he stays in one piece. I'm dreading a call from a hospital down there. The bike bag, bike, helmet and riding gear weighed 32kg - leaving 7kg for a rucksack and everything else.

We go out in a month to see him over Christmas - although I may stay depending on DF - but DH will definitely go. If he was just backpacking, I'd feel so differently.

Everyone I tell, asks me if we have family over there - Erm... no - but thats not going to stop DS heading to NZ with his bike.

Am off to see DF, and meet my DM at his bedside (he seems to be resting more often than not). I have bought her the Kitch-est christmas thingy:

Kitch-erama

It made me smile

Lalsy - YY to bracing walk etc. I think I know of where you speak...

Stropps - you got there before me - have been eyeing up my advent calendar. Hope its good stuff but don't spoil the surprise

MrsS will have bought that by nightfall, Cocoa, you mark my words.

Not sure you'll want to hear this Cocoa but the first phone call I got from dd1 on her travels was from hospital. The conversation was brief: "hello mummy I'm in A&E it's not my phone please ring me back"

All turned out to be ok but it was a bit of a heart stopping moment.

Queenstown, the adventure capital! He will have a ball and so will you if you get to visit - South Island is a beautiful place

And love the Christmas Tree thingy!

I am not jealous of you's with The Calendar

Just been out for a blow. Don't think there'll be many leaves left on the trees later!

MI, are you going tonight? Might see you there unless I leave DH and DS to it !

I'm singing - DP is taking DD1.

Cocoa we had zero family (well, not anyone that we would want to visit...) when DS1 went off down under for 9 months. He wasn't doing extreme cycling, of course...but it was easy to stay in touch and the time flew by.

@ Charabanc. Very tame and refined, MI unlike your past, so it seems

Lalsy also at perseverance manager. Since I was in the formal workplace there are so many new mad, mad titles that have developed...compliance manager....procurement manager...presumably we will next have fxxking nervous breakdown manager.....office shagging manager and GBH to the boss manager....

Omg have just got lucrative chunk of work which will require dropping EVERYTHING but will net me lots of money in the next three weeks...given that I earned so pathetically little earlier this year I still won't be rolling in it but the SWEET RELIEF.

Well done, MI!. Well jel. Though I seem to have tutoring opportunities popping up like mushrooms. And am going to apply for a lucrative long-term two-day-a-week website gig, editing a website about further education! Kerching!

Have just been to see my osteopath, whose word I now treat as gospel/oracle/fount of all wisdom. She has told me I need to stop running around in all directions, breathe and 'make like a lighthouse'. Decide on your 'message', say it clearly, repeat it often, and stay in one place. My back is oddly painful, which she puts down mainly to aforementioned headless chicken impression.

MI - great news - just before Christmas as well.

Stropps - very naughty re advent calendar - the equivalent of the DC's raiding the chocolate [laugh]. Course in Bath sounds exhausting but a great opportunity.

Cocoa - always hard to let them go like this - I have to remind myself that my DD's are officially adults now. Great opportunity for the trip to NZ though - I'm wondering where my DC's may end up so that I can go and bug them.

BTM - glad today got off to a better start.

Things still grim at work for DH - and he's really down - I really feel like marching in there and giving them a piece of my mind.

Had a lovely gossipy Book Club last night - mainly consoling our American member about the election of you know who.