In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

Oh Rudy. Mixed, innit.

Oh Rudy, that's still so much of a worry. And very unsettling for your DS to not know if he will be able to fly or not

Namibia, BD - how exciting! I will be asking your plan and awaiting updates eagerly as we haven't decided on our summer hol - although I would LOVE to do a Cali road-trip, DH would like something less American! And we are in the same position as Rudy on not really being able to make plans.

Monty, glad your DF's ashes ceremony went well and that Southern didn't manage to completely buggerit all up.
And at the exam writing - but I guess someone has to do it!

Oh Rudy that is a difficult place to be...with DS. I guess it's like seeing the situation as a chronic one, which is nevertheless under control at the moment. This is not, however a bad thing. It's the uncertainty which is so hard to live with, I guess. {{{ }}}

Monty for your ceremony for DDad. So glad you got there...I just want to strangle Southern Rail and all who work there.

Cocoa glad you got to NZ safely but that's crap, about your luggage. I do hope they find it soon.

BD I hope that the planned trip gives you a bit of a lift and something to look forward to.

Tilly sometimes it's not such a bad thing to hide yourself away. I'm sorry the prospect of Xmas isn't bringing joy but it might be better than you fear

Crem best of luck for the arrival of DD

NU How are you progressing? I hope the pain is dissipating?

Struggling to catch up...sorry. I have now finished work until the new year. I am making food shopping lists. I don't think anyone has had a good year but I am trying to pick out something to smile about...

Things that weren't quite so crap in 2016

Both the younger DC left school and are very happy where they are studying.

DS1 has had a successful trip down under for 9 months and is now home and working and seems to have acquired a new, rather sweet GF

DH got a job and has been working even though he loathes it

I feel cared for by the lovely Crepeys and am so happy to have you all in my life.

Rudy - yes, the "Well he looks fine" comments...

BD, DD1 went to Namibia and thought it was an amazing place. There is a town there that looks like it should be in Germany, she said, and still a large German speaking population from when it was a colony.

I wish I had finished work for this week. Tree is half done. No-one is any help at all, apart from DD2 who has helped a bit, when it suits her. I woke up at 0400 this morning and fell asleep just as the alarm went off at 0600, so not feeling terribly perky. Was asked yesterday if I would reconsider my leave between Christmas and New Year. I said no - if boss wasn't happy with the leave cover he had agreed, then he should come in to work himself.

My mother had the cancer removed on her arm for the sixth time since last Christmas yesterday. They cut it out, it grows back, they cut it out, it grows back again. And every time it grows back, she has to make an appointment for the doctor, which takes 2-3 weeks, who writes to the hospital, which takes another 2-3 weeks, and it is usually 8 weeks after she has noticed it, that she gets the appointment to have it cut out (by which time it has grown some more). Makes me glad that I am under Guy's and St Thomas's, where I can call the hospital and be given an appointment with the consultant within two weeks.

I should go to work...

Oh and DH asked me this morning "Have we sent cards to ?" And then moaned because the only cards left were M & S ones.

MrsS I'd have told them to stick their 'reconsider leave request' where the sun doesn't shine.....

and the have 'we' card comment - gives me the rage. Dp pointed out we had a card from the neighbours and asked if we had sent them one. I calmly said I haven't written a single one this year but I could tell him where they were.....

Rudy - poor ds:(

Can I echo Rise's comment - I really really don't know how I'd have got through this year without you all! Looking forward to D'n'S tomorrow :)

I hope your boss has to cancel something he really enjoys to come into work

Rudy - so difficult the uncertainty with DS - especially the assumption by all around that if he looks hale and hearty all is well.

Mrs S the "have we" thing employed by the male sex when it's something they ought to have done drives me mad. And what's wrong with M&S cards? - they are all I can find here.

Dear Crepeys,
The biggest of hugs to all of you struggling with grief after the loss of a loved one and also to those of you crushed by the anxiety of dealing with chronically unwell dcs. I hope for you all that you will, despite everything, experience some peace and happiness at least at some point during those precious days off at the end of the year.

Bon voyage to all travelling Crepeys.

This time last year, I was so fearful. And with very good reason. My year can be summed up by these recent words from dd: "I'm getting much better. Now, when it all goes wrong, I have a good cry. And then I can get on with things." She's still nutty as a box of frogs, but then so am I. And I'm still medicated, and she's not. So y'know, go dd Of course, her having a car throws another load of stuff to worry about into the mix, but hey-ho, it was going to happen sooner or later. And quite frankly, there will always be something to worry about. We shall just have to wait and see how the rest of this academic year pans out for her. There will be plenty more drama, of that I am sure. This year was, however, the first year for some time when she was not completely freaked out by our cluster of difficult anniversaries at the beginning of December. And neither was I. Somehow her being officially an adult (har) has made those things easier.

Next year will be hugely challenging and there is the potential for a whole bunch of stuff to go wrong. And there are a number of issues bubbling under, which may or may not cause upset. However, I'm going to spend some time this weekend absolutely not thinking about any of that.

In the meantime - I survived a year working back out in the real world, after 17 years working in my loft. It's not been a breeze, but it has enriched my world view. :)

Love to you all, my crepey friends. xxx

ps: I should just like you all to know that I get massively twitchy every time I post a remotely positive update. Because I've tempted fate... Not that I'm ridiculously superstitious or anything.

Stropps, please keep posting the positive updates - they are hugely cheering reading.

And for those who have survived a challenging 2016, I don't know if this helps you but reading your experiences has made me far more aware of (a) how lucky I am that my parents are still both alive and well; and (b) that this will not go on for ever and I need to recognise that. This has had a more profound impact on my prioritisation than I anticipated and it's something for which I think I will be hugely grateful when the inevitable comes to pass. So thank you all.

And Cocoa I hope you have been reunited with your luggage but you sound chilled which I assume is a combination of NZ, meeting up with ds and HRT. A good combination it seems.

And finally, MrsS, even allowing for dramatic effect your office sounds like a shambles - is your manager old enough to cross the road without holding someone's hand?

Rudy, that is a lot to get your head around, never mind managing the misapprehensions of others....I hope the tests bring more decisively good news.

Stropps, yaay. I know you are right and it can all go pear-shaped - but who would have thought a year ago?

Monty, so glad you made it.

I am in a better mood today. dd turned out not to have lost her phone. Insurance company and mobile contract supplier both been most helpful in undoing everything I did yesterday. And after weeks of struggling, I can do an obscure type of situp without provoking gales of laughter in bystanders! Neither phrases I thought I would ever type.

Have WE done XYZ bit of boring domestic shite? PAH

Many many and hugs to crepeys with Christmas without a dp for the first time this year. It does get easier. This Christmas, two rather festering sores in my family appear to have healed - one does notice things more at this time of year, and I know we all have sad times to reflect on, but I did not expect either of these developments.

Well, I shall insert a positive note. I've had a good year.

I don't doubt that there are bad years to come, but 2016 was pretty alright. I'm of course fervently hoping I haven't jinxed anything a la Strops......

Mrs W - you put it so beautifully about your parents. I still have mine as well although DM is increasingly forgetful and this is very difficult for DF. I do feel we're playing a very sad waiting game, especially as this year has been reasonably upbeat for me when compared to many other crepies.

Stropps so glad things are looking up. Long may it continue.

I have not had a good year.

But you lot have helped me in countless ways, my lovely crepissimi.

Ooh - can we be called "crepissimi"? Rather like the Italian slant.

Off to hunt for Baileys which I have an urge for once a year. Not convinced it can be found hearabouts.

I definitely have not had a good year but I live in hope that, at least personally 2017 will be an improvement.

Crepissimi - they sound pleasingly like crepes which are crisp around the edges. Lacy crepeys.

Rudy, as you say, mixed news. Wishing your ds and BTM's a better 2017. May all our dc go forth with fortitude.

Hatty if you have an Aldi or Lidl, try the Faileys - I have just about finished my bottle already

Well 2016 was difficult to start with, then OK in the middle and just horrendous since the summer. I think 2017 may well start off difficult but will hopefully get better.

Various people have yet again commented on how they thought DS was older than DD, but luckily not in her earshot

Starting to cough and feel shivery - hope this isnt going to develop inti something nasty. Also I cant believe I wrote "hearabouts" when I mean "hereabouts" of course.

Lidl is also a doing a chocolate Faileys. I am taking some to India (I was asked!)

Have found some MI - set me back 15€.

I'm sure the standard Faileys is more like £6?

I have caught flu from my dc, Hatty. It is shite. I am fervently hoping to recover by Xmas day.