In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

Earth stood hard as iron, my heart like a stone.

Yes! Either is fine - you name the day. I should be able to get there easily for 5 as I will be next to the train station till 4

Ooh, I might be able to venture out on Thurs/Fri - let me know when/where/what.

Had a lovely pre-Christmas pub sesh with group of friends last night. I was driving, so being sensible. Today I am mostly doing little chores - mucking out handbag and treating it with leather polish, tidying out bureau (number of pens found - about 100. Number of working pens found - about 5), making mince pies, ordering frames for pictures that have needed putting up for ages....all quite satisfying things to do when you have no other demands on your time.

DH is currently re-watching Match of the Day, which he fell asleep in front of last night, post-pub.

8 down, 1 ongoing, interval of another, 4 to go. (shows) I am dead on my feet. There is no decent good will or customer service left in me, just grunting.
Watched end of Strictly tis morning before work. Aw lots of tears, and the person I wanted to win did not. Ah well.
Have tested today's body cream, and its gorgeous. Nice aroma.
Pass the matchsticks.

SS arrived - thank you!

Crem - don't know how you keep going

Back from couple of days away with DH, absolutely lovely but undermined by the rage I feel that he decided not to go to parties as not well enough then stayed up until 5 (V, five) watching TV and drinking, ruining my night's sleep as well as his

OTOH he's put up our old white (yellow) artificial tree in the garden with lights where it looks magical. listening to jarvis cocker (v good)

Dd2 is playing the double bass along to the Snowman, interspersed with Love me Tender by Elvis Presley

Rudy - he's doing v well but forgot to take his ADs when we went away so I'm worried about that but am probably just overtired

Jarvis Cocker just played completely bizarre and fantastic version of Beatles' can't buy me love arranged to sound like part of nutcracker suite. bizarre - really worth a listen

Like the DD medley, Beachy.

Is he a Pulp fan, Addle? I knew them back in the day, before they were famous - my only claim to fame!
What is it with men who don't want to socialise?

Beachy, she sounds very talented!

Managed a walk in the woods with DH and DS this afternoon, then watched The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey which always makes me cry

Yay, CV - it's going to be a mini MU!

I have done bog-all today except read The Underground Railroad. DP came and asked me grumpily if I was planning on staying in bed all day - I'm not actually in bed and I feel much, much better so he can sod off.

Ooooh, Thursday for the D and S please! can we got to F and M afterwards and drunkenly buy expensive cheese Mrs S? Pleeeease?

Lazy day here - saw the new Star Wars thing with dh and ds2 - mostly loud and confusing but harmless way to spend a couple of hours.

Nothing much to do this week after last week's marathon working so feeling pretty chilled - just more presents to buy, all the presents to wrap, food to decide on and buy and cook, house to tidy etc etc.

Nothing like lolling in / on your bed to perk you up MI. What has dh got against it??

Have discovered The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix on ds1's recommendation - love love love a good binge watch of something not too taxing. Ds1 is downstairs cooking our supper - result!

Good lolling, MI. Top work.

I spent the day driving to and from Windsor, and sitting in the hospice with MiL, DS, DP, SiL and her fella. For, indeed, against most of the crepey advice we took DS to see MiL, at his request. It was fine. Well, non-traumatic. Not 'fine' fine. She was very weak, and forgetful, and it was of course horribly sad.

Though the hospice is bloody amazing. And 80% funded by charity.

Had lunch in the absurdly scenic Eton, which must be how Americans think England looks all over.

Herbs.
I am continuing to loll. DP did in fact produce both supper and wine. I shall read another novel, watch Humans and loll again.

Aw Herbs, that sounds like it went ok with ds and dmil. Poor lady, but with all her family around her, which is lovely. I think you are right about Eton. I felt the same, when taken there by friends of ddad, for a smart lunch. Not my scene at all.
Addle I with you on the furious with dp bench. I'm so sorry your few days away were ruined.
I came home last evening and the dishes were sitting beside the dishwasher. The fire had gone out. There was nothing ready for dinner ( I had left an array of stuff) and he had 'had a glass of wine' and fallen asleep.
Well red rag to a bull. Ffs. Why is it he gets his life served up on a fucking platter , and when he has a day off , absolutely NOTHING is achieved. ( no washing, no food, no messages, no diy, no pressie buying, no wrapping no cleaning, no ironing.) Well, I read the riot act. He's sulked all day today I think, but at least there is something to eat now I'm home. Sometimes I just burst. Seriously pissed off that dd arrives on Tues and he was supposed to be off this week, but no, he'll be working apparently ( told me on Friday night) As I am too ( planned for months and months) dd will be on her Tod, raaaaaagh.
And breathe. Going to bed now with audiobook.
I just hope 10 thousand people don't decide to buy tickets for Xmas pressent this week.
Wondering how NU is doing.
MI you are my hero for your semi-recumbent posture ( amongst other things) I need to channel you I think.
Thanks Rudy. How was the 🌿 lamb?Sounds delish. Love a bit of rosemary.

GGG, well done on another successful weeks organising btw. Lolling detail for you too.

I do love a good loll Crem - and am very very good at it...

Oh Herbs But glad it went as well as it could with DS.

Cremo and others, sympathies re DH's who are largely useless. I have one here too.... Lolling only possible between meals!

So Thursday? BD, will that be OK for you?

Oh yes to drunken expensive cheese buying and me telling the man in Fortnum's that he was cutting my cheese wrong!

I have just posted the last of my cards and if anyone hasn't got one now, that is tough shit.

Next year I am taking two weeks off in November to get sorted.

And I have got my mother a top that probably won't fit her, with a gift receipt. Because she always asks for "something I can change."

Glad today went OK, Herbs.

I just want to vent about how discombobulating it is to have the house full of dc again...of course I'm pleased, but it's so hard to adjust again. My kitchen is no longer mine. Vast areas of the house are no longer mine. I'm really struggling with it. Also, I feel I should be overjoyed that dd may stay till mid-Jan when her exams start, but I'm not. I'm kind of dismayed. Then of course I'll be devastated when they go again. I need a change management team, don't I?

Herbs glad it worked out with ds.

BTM, yes Thursday works for me. But I will pass on the cheese buying :)

Here I have a very long walk to the station to start my last week.....

Great, BD - Thursday for the D&S team-building - from 5 in our usual haunt [fsanta] CV, will PM you.
Hope you get to the train OK BD - in the cold and dark, brrr!

Molly, I am fully anticipating exactly those feelings if DD goes off to uni in September and then comes back for visits!

Vent away, Molly, it is a most peculiar feeling, especially feeling you should be joyful.

Glad it went as well as it could, Herbs. Think hospice much better for such a visit with ds than a hospital. How is your DP?

Crem - that is not ok, not ok at all. Not surprised you're furious. Hope something that doesn't cause you even more work can be sorted

MI & GGG good lolling, inspirational even

BTM, Mrs S et al, wish I could join you for D&Ss and F&M jaunt. have fond if blurred memories of top notch ham at fraction of usual price but unwisely bought family theatre tickets for that evening. now to break it to family

Hope walk OK BD

Hope all well NU