A Crepey Advent-ure

[MontserratCaballe]

Over here, my darlings....

and news (Herbs)

"Mwah" back at'cha Colly!

I'm so glad I impressed you. DH wondered why I was looking so smart when I saw him later today. I don't often go out with swishy hair and jaunty scarf AND make up.

Keep me posted on MUs in early 2017 - I like the idea of your cocktail meet up location. Had no idea there was one there.

Herbs - you are SO right on that front.

PSA (Public Service Announcement)
Just because I have printed labels doesn't mean that I'm hot footing it down to the post box clutching cards. Oh no. They will sit at the end of the kitchen table glaring at me for the next few weeks. At least.

On the basis that trains would still be rubbish this evening I have come home via Oxford street and the tube. This has the advantage of letting me pop into selfridges and buy the sweater I wanted. I also found a dress in French connection that I hadn't realised I wanted until I tried it on. I was then fed up of shopping so my Christmas shopping consists of 2 items for me and none for anyone else - oh well, they'll just have to hope Santa is less busy than me.

Sympathies to the suffering - take it easy and stay in bed/at home as appropriate.

Parents Eve OK. I should be doing singing practice as am a bit less wiped but DD2 occupying the piano for once...

MrsW, that's what I call the festive spirit.

Hatty HR are useless. There are no rules around secondment here and that's what (officially) it is - just watch it become permanent. I am being super nice to another senior bod as I know a job will come up in his team early next year and whilst he's a grade A arse (as are all management here) he's someone I could work with and 'manage'.
I am feeling distinctly 'off colour' and hoping I'm not coming down with something.

I haven't even started on Christmas - although I think it will be a low key affair this year...

Well done MrsW! Maybe that's what I need to inspire me for Christmas shopping, a bit of BYO first! Trouble is I have 11 birthdays in Nov and December Spring Fever must have been rife in my / DH's family over the years..... 😳😡

Poor you Crem, and BD et al, hope you all get better soon 💐🍫

MrsW can you link the FC dress? Good on you....presents for oneself is a bit of a boost, I find.

How are the poorly Crepeys....auriga crem bd MM? How are the DSs, tilly beachy rudy

MI I have come to the conclusion that parents evenings are an outdated concept. I mean do any parents actually get anything out of them? The only plus to me is the sense of relief if they seem to go well. Bit like the relief you get when you knock your head against a brick wall and then stop..That said....I must have been the parent from hell, sitting there, eventually with a cynical look on my face which screamed "I've got a son older than you..." Poor teachers...they always looked so wrecked. Bet they could do without it as well. Much better to get something written and then the opportunity to make an appointment if needed.

Now then, perfume...Chanel No 19 devotees. I have just bought Liz Earl No.100. I have sampled and dithered and keep going back for a sniff in John Lewis. I will never abandon my beloved Chanel but treated myself to a bottle of the No 100. Let me know what you think if you pass the counter.

I am also avidly scouring the Black Friday bargains but nothing has lit my fire. Will Seasalt be having any? They only seem to be doing a reduction on coats at the mo. And I want the cords....

www.frenchconnection.com/product/woman-collections-dresses/71gxj/darla-check-dress.htm

Rose - hope that works. Not entirely sure when i'll wear it except that I think it ticks the smart casual box quite well and I always find that tricky so think it may get its first outing next week.

Rose, the Land's End slim leg cords are on 30% BF deal but not such nice colours (or indeed black which is what I really want).

Very nice frock, that.

Nice dress, Mrs W.

MI - the jumper dresses you linked to are nice, but baggier than I'd like. I need stuff to really go in at the (remnants of) waist, otherwise heifer.

Grr. My parents' Helpful Friend has just sent sis and I an email about her 'concerns', making 'helpful' suggestions that we've already dealt with, or failed to deal with for very good reasons. She's also made me feel guilty about Fucking Christmas.

AIBU. I have a Difficult brother, who we tend to pass around like a parcel at Christmas, taking it in turns to have him. He's no bother, but something of an atmosphere sucker. Technically it's my turn to have him, but he wants to go to M&D's. Also, DP's mum is on last legs. By Christmas she will either be gone, or about to go, and thus we'll need to rally round that part of family. And if not, my Islington Gays are hosting something fabulous. Which of course is what I really want to do.

Sis is away in Barbados until 27th.

So, plan is to all go up to M&D's for 30th, and have a kind of delayed Christmas there. Friends of M&D's, plus brother, plus carer, will be there on xmas day itself, and sis is getting a load of nice food in for them.

That's OK isn't it? I realise what I SHOULD do if I was any kind of decent human is to spend xmas day with them and Difficult Brother, and have the most hideous time.

Herbs, it sounds fine to me. You can't promise to go to your dps because of dmil - much worse to let family down at the last minute on the day itself, IMO and dmil and family has to be the priority. If you were longing to go to your folks, that wouldn't change the situation with dmil. And I am guessing the Islington option could be last-minute/flexible in a way that hoofing offto your dps isn't?

Herbs, I feel your pain re Helpful Friend - I was thinking this morning I haven't heard from my mother's, and think she may be in a huff with me (I SO DON'T CARE).

Agree mil has to be priority.

It's black and white, Herbs. Lalsy is right. FGS don't choose Hideous Time.

Actually it would be Wrong to go for Hideous Time. If necessary point this out to HF.

I agree with MI and Lalsy, Herbs; do not opt for hideous time.

We have done Christmas at Chatsworth today and I couldn't resist taking a photo of the sugar plum fairy, I just loved her.

Herbs - Helpful Friend sounds extremely annoying - seems like DSis had a good plan - leaving the country entirely. I think your idea sounds fine, you also have your DS to think of. Islington Gays sound good fun!

Had vaguely annoying day, with lots of administrative issues. Also, teacher wants to change the system so the kids choose their own reading books. (Normally, I sling them the next level of the ORT). This is supposed to be a time saving measure and give the kids ownership of the process. I foresee mayhem and my beautifully organised bookshelves being turned upside down. I do not want to spend my Wednesday, tidying books. I think if DH gets a pay rise I may drop Wednesday morning. As I always have a mad dash to get to my Wednesday afternoon destination anyway.

Misplaced full stop before 'as' - should have been a semi colon!!

Exactly, MI. Just because the right thing may include fun doesn't make it wrong.

Nice one, NU.

I have also had vaguely annoying day re work so am going to throw some things away!

Oh, NU thats lovely.

I like the dress MrsW !
Have today taken delivery of this dress seen on another thread. The website says it comes up small so to size up, so I ordered my size and the next one up. My size is HUGE on the bodice but snug fits on the waist and hips.The size up would be ridiculous.... It's such a nice dress that I think might see if I can get the top bit altered....

Herbs no hideous time. Your plan is a good and reasonable one...can you join the Islington set later on in the evening? I guess whatever the out line plans are, you need contingencies and nothing to be carved in stone. And there's mini herbs to think about too. By last Xmas my Ddad had already passed the previous month, and we arranged to stay in London instead of going the flat so that DM could come to us...she subsequently and very last minute... decided to go to Majorca with DBRo and DSIL

Having the usual madness today with DD's rota's opening performances...Feeling very christmassy as a result. I am watching tonight. The FB pic I shared to my timeline last night....if you enlarge it, in the centre, slightly upstage, there's DD in full performance mode, orange costume and hair in bunches....standing behind ConS (whois in the most ridiculous costume )

x post...Hatty if that had been me at school, I'd have chosen Enid Blyton and got told off for reading poor quality literature...

I am very slowly trudging though work...

Ha - I think I spotted him Rose .

Re Enid Blyton - we have a little girl who read brilliantly last year and has lost interest this year - we have given her Mallory Towers to see if that motivates her. I do feel we ought to give them stuff they enjoy and want to read instead of pushing Michael Morpurgo at them (which often makes them cry).

Herbs, I know which one I'd pick Surely its your DBro's turn to be the one with them - I don't recall you saying that he had helped recently?
And do you know if you are coming yet - am about to email our dinner choices - no worries if not, I will just tell them that!

NU, how lovely to go to Chatsworth and cute SPF!

Hatty at the children spoiling your lovely book case. I used to get mine to choose one from the correct box/shelf - so it was the right level for them, but they got some choice. Still do that but on a smaller scale. Or I did when I was last at work

Things have been bad here yesterday (last night particularly) and after I picked DS up from school. However seems OK atm - bound to change again now I've posted that. Sooooo looking forward to escaping on Saturday