In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

Crepes - may I have your Woolovers recommendations? DMum is asking what I'd like for Christmas, and something from here is a reliable staple.

I need something moderately fitted, but not frumpy. Is this possible?

This is a possibility...

Not fitted, really, but I am on my fourth moss stitch jumper. I wear them all the time, often instead of coats.

Molly, hope your family is rising to the challenge and Getting Stuff Done? Yes, some walks. I have really enjoyed my exercise this year, discovered a couple of new things I love (waving weighted rubber tubes around - who knew?), so am determined to keep going. Hope you feel better very soon.

Oh yes, Lalsy. That is nice. I wonder if buying a 'small' would work...

Oooh, I likey that, Herbs!

Well, an evening of D&S's and the company of a few Crepeys was just what I needed. Feeling a tad more relaxed and festive than previously! Crepey friends are the business

I was also going to recommend Moss Stitch jumper, Herbs, but that one looks nice, although on the short side.

Lovely MU, crepeys, and the bar did eventually set the world to rights with a big bunch of mint, so Dark & Stormies were had by all. Such a nice evening!

Special thanks to MrsS for suggesting the sniff-a-thon in the F&M perfume hall afterwards. I was pensively sniffing my two little sample cards on the platform at Green Park when I was accosted by a young and very drunk Frenchman. He didn't think much of the Expensive Lebanese Businessman and tossed the card onto the train tracks, but he was quite taken with Clive Christian, and I left him thrusting it under the noses of various innocent commuters on the train and demanding that they appreciate the "lovely perfume that is very expensive".

Oh, Vipers, or whatever they are, Lalsy. Why do you love them?

Oooh that all sounds nice!

Not sure, Herbs - the drapey shape hangs not sits. I tend to wear them over things (thermal vests usually, glamour puss that I am), so like them quite loose.

Dunno, Molly. The classes are short (30 mins), fierce, fun, varied and you get better quickly. And because you use the weight that is right for you, the classes are mixed ability, age etc which I really like.

at your Frenchman, CV.

I have a mild hangover. How did that happen? And cheese from Fortnum's. Need, at some point today, to get food for Christmas. Work is going to be an ongoing nightmare today, not least because my boss seems to have majorly cocked something up and left me to deal with the fall out.

One more day, MrsS, then you are free. Good luck getting through it all. Food - can you call into m and s in Vic to get some bits then a lovely cab home? When I lived in K, I used to go to the Sainsbury's in Vaux at 7am on Christmas Eve- suspect that may be a bridge too far.

Molly, are you feeling better? And Nu, how is your recovery going? Ggg? Sorry to hear you too are unwell. Hope you are all feeling better soon.

Mini mu sounds lovely. I do like a bit of slightly pissed shopping too.

Lovely drinks with friends last night. Today, cleaner coming, then mil. She always arrives too early while we are still arguing about her. I have a lot of wrapping still to do so will have to stay in my room listening to radio out of her way. Shame.

Need to get moving. More later.

MrsS make it abundantly plain it is not your fault/responsibility.

Here trying to negotiate dads return home from us as he appears to want to stay longer than I anticipated. This could be tricky.

Morning, feeling surprisingly chipper this morning, considering we went to a champagne tasting at a friends house... more drinking than tasting, to be fair... 10 bottles between 9 people, awarding marks for colour, smell etc.... by Number 10, they were all 'bloody lovely'

Friends now have awful problem of drinking up half bottles of champagne before they can fill their fridge for Christmas, poor them... I may cycle up there later!

We have a houseful of teenagers again. I think there are 10 hiding around here somewhere.

Wrapping today, doing the food shop, hoping the last present arrives and delivering local cards.

I was in Such a bad mood yesterday, I could barely speak, but today has started well (only 35 mins gone so far, but positive).

Good luck to those of you with in laws arriving or already there. Addle, six days! I take my hat off to you.

Home for less than 12 hrs, off up North today to cottage near sisters. We will see everyone but still have some privacy. German visit did our hearts good.

Much love to you all and NU, hope your convalescence is going comfortably.

Beachy why a bad mood??

I am hoping to convince Dad that a stroppy teen who is only going to want to immerse himself in the latest historic slashfest and a manic dog do not a relaxing week (yes week) make.... on the other hand I foresee DDog getting rather more walks than normal

Morning all. I have a small amount of v manageable work to do, along with Eyebrows and Toes. Have had a belated Ladyjog. Mr Inferior has gone to test an electric car.Inferirorettes still sleeping and presumably will be doing so for a long time. Must go and shower before hitting the desk...

Auriga, that all sounds lovely.

Beachy, you definitely need to go and help them out

I think my SS has arrived and I'm escaping (again!) for a coffee with a friend whilst DH and DS work out how to transfer DS onto a new sim or something...

Off to collect ds from mil. May mooch round the shops for a bit.

DP has hit his annual Crazed Generosity phase and has ordered half of Hotel Chocolat for various friends and rellies. I may get him an inflatable Kung Fu Panda in Poundland to add to the pic he wanted...

Shortly departing for the flat with DS2. DD and DH will follow by train later PLEASE SOUTHERN RAIL....DO SOME WORK...

I'm glad the D&S was restorative. Hope GGG and Molly are on the mend....and that NU is healing well. Hope that cocoas luggage is at least on the same continent as her by now, and the MM is also doing well in forrin parts. Good luck and happy hols to other Crepeys who are travelling for the festival, and big hugs for Crepeys who are making Xmas in spite of being worried about DC's.

Will post later from the coast. Xxx

I was in a proper stink yesterday, after dragging 3 dc round London for two days and then up to a naice country house with their darling g'pa, I realised that three days of moaning and entitlement was enough..... the influx of teenagers last night was the final straw as it meant I had to decant my other two to very helpful friends. Not sure the babysitter would have been fulfilling her 'duty of care' with mates around and Jagermeister being consumed ....

But I feel much better today, so off to the Christmas shop carnage shortly!

I must admit 2016 hasn't been the best year, but it could have been a lot worse. I think it's just been a year of shocks to the system; menopause, sharp introduction to youth mental health, leaving a career, Brexit, Trump. Feel I haven't recovered from each punch sufficiently to meet the next one. But on the positive side, the menopause seems to be aided by HRT, the mental health issues are OK and stable at the moment touch wood a lot, I'm tentatively looking around after jobs and I can't do anything about Brexit and Trump other than desperately look for silver linings. I appear to have stopped weeping as much!

Thanks to all crepeys for just being there and just being you. It's great to know there's a place to go at all times with all sorts of stuff.

Thanks to all crepeys for just being there and just being you. It's great to know there's a place to go at all times with all sorts of stuff.

Totally

You are a great bunch of women who have seen me through the challenges of 2016 and I'm sure will be there for me to lean on into 2017 as I try to get DS better.
Where would we all be without our female friends?!

By the way, GGG and Molly, hope you are gargling on hot toddies in time for Sister's return.

In Wagamama's with the small one.... then will head home.

Hope everyone is having a reasonable day!!
MrsS what time will you escape?