In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

Board games or parlour games Herbs??

Parlour, I think...

Herbs, how about consequences? Not sure how well the dog will do but should accommodate every other level of experience.

Consequences is a good one. Also, Chinese Whispers, Charades (make it easy for ds to enjoy it - i.e. children's tv / star wars characters etc). Call My Bluff, Pass The Orange, General Knowledge Quiz, Close Up Photos of Everyday Objects (last two require some prep).... that should do for starters?

Just bought those, Rudy, thanks!

And me. Ta Rudy!

And me! Thanks Rudy

I already have those face mats...

Those mats look good - might have to get some!

Glad your Christmas outing with your mother was successful, MrsS. Like BD says, box ticked!

Sorry about your DM, BD - this Christmas will be hard And for others in the same situation.

Herbs, your Christmas Day sounds like it will be great fun - DS will love it

Here it is very up and down with DS.

BTM sorry about ds. Can't imagine how you deal with it partic at the moment.

Cocoa hope you get MrsS sorted..

Honey, I'm home. Thank you so much for all your good wishes which really cheered me up when I got in at about 5.30 last night. I am definitely not with it, so please excuse fat fingers, and lack of knowledge re what's what. The pain is much worse than last time which has rather depressed me, and means that, with all the medication, I am liable to burst into tears at the drop of a hat. One of the worst things is the getting up to go to the loo up to four times in the middle of the night, poor DH can't help but be disturbed as well.

The Wansbeck Hospital were fantastic; lovely caring, compassionate staff.

DH is making me porridge atm, then I will attempt the stairs again.

Oh, NU, please get them to whack up the painkillers to the upper limit. You poor love.

Also poor love to BTM.

Whisper it not, my Seasalt-loving friends, but the sale is on. Just sayin'.

I have not done any work yet and must revamp some case studies to be Spritelier. I do not feel Spritely. I feel like someone who had a lovely time and possibly one extra glass of wine last night and had a bit of a lie-in instead of a run, and who also has a low-level sinus infection which is causing headaches even when I haven't had an extra glass of wine. On the other hand the sun is out, and I can't be arsed to feel gloomy so will get on with it.

Oh NU - Hope you get through it in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, try to relax and not get roped into upteen Christmas activities.

BTM - hope DS hits an even keel for Christmas xx

Have also bought Face Mats which were available on Amazon France no less. Will make a great stocking present for student DD1.

Hey crepies - I may be swinging through London on my way back from up north on 10th Feb if anybody is available for a drink. I'm going to check out the ENO to see if there is anything I fancy. Not often I am footloose and fancy free in the big smoke.

NU, take it easy! Hope you are being waited on hand and foot.

My Secret Santa has arrived. Thank you!

And er, the recipient of my Secret Santa will be getting 2 prezzies. I have given up on the likelihood of Evil Amazon delivering before Christmas and have sorted out something which deffo should arrive by Fri!

Have not finished Christmas shopping, but neither have the rest of the extended family - as is traditional. Had a request in this morning from 14 year old dnephew for an album on VINYL. Yer what? Does he think I live in the buzzing metropolis where such retro items are freely available? Then ds said that he would quite like a "vinyl player" for his birthday next month. Jeez no. I don't want to go back to a house cluttered with bloody vinyl and its accoutrements. It is bad enough having a house full of amps and speakers and guitars.

Herbs for you, dp and ds. Sounds as though the visit to MiL was as good as anything could be under the circs. She sounds like a lovely person.

Gawd, parlour games - I should love them, but I just can't. All of those mentioned take me back to my 1970s family Christmases at my Granny's big house, full of weird undercurrents and we-have-always-done-it-like-this constraints and prejudices. Still can't quite put my finger on what has caused me to spend a lifetime running away from my background, but sadly those family Christmases are part of it.

Cocoa, sorry to hear about the lost luggage. Hope it turns up soon.

Herbs, we usually play White Elephant at family gatherings . Usually the gifts are from Poundland or similar. It can get extremely competitive. You'd be amazed what people will do for a box of PL choccies.
I reckon The IGs would enjoy it.

NU!!! So pleased you are home in your own bed, and that everything went well. Don't be running before you can hobble.

Cocoa, ah bolleaux, to the lost luggage. I have done the ANZ route through LAX ( transferring own luggage crap as well) and being cooped up in the wretched transfer lounge of doom. I have lost luggage all over the world and it has invariably turned up within a week. Not much help at this moment I know, but buy light and hope for the best. Re the meds. Can you let your insurer know if you are covered. They can organise to send a script by email. If you aren't covered, throw yourself at mercy of pharmacy.
It may be expensive, but it will at least settle the anxiety.

Mrs S and GGG, I am throwing my mother into the mix for the Great Mothers Of our time gin party.After I passed out with low blood sugar earlier this year, she phoned my 89 year old father who was in hospital to see what she should do. I have been diabetic for 38 years, but somehow this has only been a minor inconvenience to her. 👓
BTM , sending hugs
BD, sending scaffolding- You sound down,lovely. Inappropriate Xmas hugs🙆
MI, hope head a bit better : you need a rest/holiday/ break. Thank goodness for India.
Dd arrives tonight so wish me well. I just don't know what 'interesting' revelations might arise.
Throwing self into another day at the coalface. 7 complaints to deal with creatively this afternoon. Blee

Vinyl is The new black Stropps . Dh has got dd several albums for Xmas. I'm glad I kept all mine now. Ha!

Sending you strength for getting through the panto marathon, Crem. And am crossing fingers for you that there won't be any extra dd-related challenges.

Dashing in in midst of lost phone kerfuffle (dd), to say:

NU, hope the pain recedes soon - try not to worry about other people.

Hatty, keep up posted on 10th Feb possibility!

BTM, massive unMN hug for you.

Crem, fingers crossed for cheery return of the prodigal.

I am quite fed up with everyone already and we haven't started yet.

Cremo - thank you. Trying not to cry

Oh BD. . The first Christmas is so hard.

Oh BD you poor thing. It's alright to be upset.
And you BTM. Sounds very very hard for you too.
Fingers crossed re all prodigal daughters not causing toooo much trouble.

Am out treating ds2 to a day of his choosing- the Levis store and lunch in Nandos... the chicken is fine. The pounding music not so much... #old woman

BD I wish you peace, love and strength to get through it. Oh, and wine. Plenty of wine.

In fact, I wish you all Peace, Love and Strength for the next few weeks and into the New Year. Ditto wine. And more wine.

I am now 'with' HRT. They didn't have my exact prescription so, laid back kiwi doctor prescribed me a mini patchwork to wear to see me through. Allelujah!

Bloody airline still cannot locate my case. I think it's gone to Hawaii on vacation. It won't have anything to wear, but it'll have no problem with hot flushes.

BD- so sorry you are finding things hard

Crem - sounds like a nightmare and I guess the panto season continues beyond Christmas. Do you get Christmas and NYDay off?

Cocoa - unreal re lost case - hopefully it'll turn up soon but glad solution has been found for the patches. Your description of New Zealand sounds just the antidote to the overkill that Christmas is here. Hope you're getting some sunshine - it is summer there isn't it at the moment or am I totally confused?

Have discovered Rigoletto at the opera so maybe 10th Feb if that doesn't work or brunch/early lunch on 11th - am booked on 16.00 Eurostar.

Have been to M&S and sourced double cream - not sure what the difference is between double cream that can be whipped and whipping cream that can be whipped. Have also found boots at Geox in pre sales. DD1 has also spend her Christmas money in advance. Both DD's have spotted coats but are hanging in there for the sales.

Cocoa, that is so crap of Air NZ. I hope they are giving you plenty of financial compensation

Cremo, everything crossed for a calm return of the prodigal DD.
Am loving the vinyl revival, but not the fact that all mine got trashed somehow when I left them at DMs house as a student

Feeling exhausted and hiding in my room as I hear DDs voice tending to screech downstairs. Am hoping my SS arrived safely and that the posties havent screwed up here as we haven't had any deliveries for a few days...