A Crepey Advent-ure

[MontserratCaballe]

Over here, my darlings....

Just had an interview for the freelance website editing gig. It would solve my financial woes for, like, ever. But fear I might not be sufficiently institutionalised for them. And it's in Victoria. Which is a bit pooh.

Surely that's dead easy for you to get to though Herbs - on the Vic line? Fingers crossed.

CV, I have forgotten what office work it was. But a slot over Christmas sounds rather annoying if you have other plans.

Dog poo bags I hope, BD

I was supposed to have a phone interview for some lecturing but bloke is being chaotic. Ditto the very well paid PR stuff I'm in for

BUT...

MY INDIA VISA IS THROUGH!!!!

Victoria's no problem, surely? Straight down the Victoria line, no changes? And if you get it, we can have lunch. What's not to like?

DH went in for a minor op. I had to be there to look after him as he had a GA.

What is wrong with Lands End cords? Lands End trousers always seem to have a large expanse of spare material at the front on me - the waist fits, the bum fits, but there is just all this baggy fabric left over at the front.

MrsS, not sure, that's why I am exchanging to try a different size. They have US sizes and different leg lengths. These were very tight fitting all over and far too short (which never happens to me) so going up a size in all directions!

Herbs, that sounds promising. Is it the two days a week freelance one?

Lands End sizing is mental. Bought a coat for DS, aged 5-6. It is big enough for a teenager. So I'm keeping it, in the hope he still likes orange by the time he's big enough.

Re Victoria, it is of course handy, but I hate the crowdedness of the tube, and there's not much shopping in Victoria! Except Hema, where I just bought some excellent Christmas decs.

And yes. Natch, Mrs S, we could do lunch! And yes, it's freelance but ongoing. I'm one of four being interviewed this week. The second one in, I think.

Where have you been, Herbs? There is masses of shopping at Victoria now, from M & S and Monsoon through to Zara, TopShop, Hobbs and Space NK at Cardinal Place.

Admittedly, today was my first time in Victoria since.... god... 2005? I just went from the station down BP Road. I shall have to explore this Cardinal Place....

Love Hema. Yet to surface in town here.

Herbs, very best of luck with the interview process. You will be fabulous and look, a wee bit of squishing on the tube will be made up for by €$£.

Yay MI, great news!

I just fail to understand why Landsend don't do proper uk sizing and have to make it all so boggling.

Interview is already done! Did it this afternoon, 40 minutes after packing up my lesson in Wood Green. Which was a bracing dash through the tunnels below London town.

Panel of three people, competency-based questions, all very proper. Think I might have gone a bit freeform, rather than answering in a prescribed fashion. We shall see...

Good luck to you Herbs....I hope it works out, if it's what you want. I'm sure you came over well, after all, not everyone likes pat answers all wrapped up in jargon.

Feeling for you both Beachy and Tilly and the DSs. They and you will get through this. My experience of putting a troubled teen through secondary school was a huge trial but it did improve, and we have come out the other side...as you will. and {{{{ }}}} Beachy I will be at the flat all being well 23-27th Dec and 30/31st-2/3 Jan. Any chance of getting together?

Also checking up on sick Crepeys, Crem, BD, Monty who else?

GGG, MrsW interview news sounds like 'so far so good'...and exciting!

CV I never had the bottle to take either of the DSs out driving...you must have nerves of steel....

Yay for the visa MI! It amazes me that you would ever be at risk of being turned down...

lalsy I am heartily sick of my cord quest. Lands Ends bottom half sizing is mad. I wish Kew would be resurrected.... it had the exact measurement of my bottom...

I have fought off a vile headache after my teaching review debacle. 2 doses of Co Codamol later I am groggy but pain free, and planning a comforting supper of breaded fish, slimming world chips and mushy peas. I will not have to repeat most of the paperwork but there will need to be a new class plan for the rearranged one...gah.

BUT in better news.... MrsS's lot and my lot will be meeting at the theatre for lunch, drinkies and the show on 18th Dec (3.30 lunch, 5.30 show). I am buying the tickets tomorrow afternoon if anyone else (with or without DC) wants to join us. If you're not sure I am happy to look for other tickets at a later date but they might not all be together.

That's a Sunday, yes? I will have been singing for three (3, iii) nights on the trot so will hunker down with my deadlines.

The visa-refusal is on account of saying I am a journalist - you're promptly bumped off tourist visa and given a journalism one, with an undertaking not to do any journalism - it's hassle and you now have to give 'biometric info' i.e. fingerprints. I am actually eligible for an Overseas Citizen passport which would cut through this so will apply for one next year. Just for the hell of having it.

I also have a new advent calendar.

Just rehearsing a choir version of Wizard's Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day. Rather like Auriga's recorder consort, I'd imagine.

Me too Rose, it is ridiculous. John Lewis have some but the website does that cut out thing so you can't really see the clothes. It should not be this hard to buy dull trousers.

Yah on advent chocs, MI.

Fingers crossed Herbs.

I'm not the biggest cords fan - but do own some skinny ones from M and S and from Gap which are both v good - any use?

M and S here

Gap here - with 40% off + extra 10% off + free delivery today only!

FIRST FEATURE OF THE WEEK FINISHED.

I am going to have some non-advent choc and prosecco.

Go for it MI! I had a large glass of red wine to celebrate s2's good news - any excuse... and it's only Monday. X

I keep typing ds and it corrects it to s - not so dear after all apparently...

Crem, hope you soon manage to shake off the lurgy.

BTM and Beachy - I'm thinking of you both a lot and hoping that your dss will start to be less needy soon. Dealing with teens with these kinds of issues really is so exhausting on every level, especially when combined with menopausal hormonal excitements. One does one's best to keep one's cool, but...

Rose, sorry to hear about cancelled/postponed teaching assessment. Very annoying.

BD, hope you are not going down with the vile fluey germ. You can't get poorly - you have eleventy billion miles of dog walks to do this week with Flash the Irrepressible :)

Herbs, hope you hear positive news soon about the interview. And I am sad that I will not be able to hear your performance of that great classic Wizzard Christmas choon.

GGG, glad ds2 has got an interview. Most excellent.

MI, yay for advent calendar and visa. Sounds like a cheering combo. :)

I am completely shattered after a day of rushing around and must now crawl off to bed, although dh is whining about getting me to do some proofreading. Just wanted to say: I had a lovely time on Saturday evening. Drank far too much, but didn't have any kind of hangover apart from suffering from extremely "slow processing" all day on Sunday. I want to say a big public thank you to BTM for having me to stay. Her kindness and generosity have made it possible for me to attend so many MUs.

CV, well done on surviving teen driving practice. I left all that to dh, as it was for the best. Dd is a very good driver now. Probably going to be a better one than I am (not difficult, as my spatial awareness skills are a tad deficient and I have left/right confusion).

I somehow miscounted and thought December didn't start until next week. And I therefore haven't sorted the advent calendar etc. Or indeed anything to do with Christmas. Bugger. I was so going to be ahead of the game this year.

Next have some very skinny zip cords, but I find their trousers are cut pleasingly large on the arse (although also quite vast on the waist, so may be no good for you hourglass types) and the skinnies work well in boots.

You can get Gap high rise cord skinnies which are very easy to wear...

I like high rise, GGG, but can't find them on the site. Thank you both for all the suggestions, I will work through them but have a nasty feeling I have checked those sites before (I need black or navy, standard shape).

Stropps, [whispers] is dd still being sensible? Well done on drinking too much and not getting a hangover. I seem to be the other way round at the moment.

My dd has just told me she wants a jedi master dressing gown for christmas. The one who is applying for PG study.