In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

I feel the same, Rudy. Just working out how to muster the energy.....

Off to in laws tomorrow. They're entertaining us for once and although I'm grateful, I just want to snuggle into my house and never leave!

Just saying, mocks start in about two weeks and no revision done... you know when people say, 'education is just not for everyone', what do those people do?

I meant to say, good luck for the off tomorrow, MI

Bon voyage, my darling xxx

Happy hols MI!

Glad to see MM and Cocoa are having a good time

I am praying for change in 2017. Of the right sort

Beachy, it may just be that his head isn't in the right place for education atm. Or maybe he will go down another (as yet not specified ) path.

Have a lovely time, MI.

Beachy, I'm glad mocks are done and dusted here. Just the results to worry about.

I must say, I'm very happy to be back in my little house again. Farewell, Christmas 2016, you were fun. We made it to DSis's eventually, just in time for BIL's spectacular rib of beef, more cuddles with their cute puppy and another flurry of gifts. DDad gave me a large cheque and a rather stunning Vivien Westwood watch.

We got back this evening to find the power had tripped in the back half of the house (the half with the wifi router and the TV, so naturally the DCs were hugely invested in getting the problem fixed ); anyway, after much crawling about plugging and unplugging things we narrowed down the culprit (an old extension lead) and thank goodness everything seems to be up and running again.

Hello Crepes. Had the best wifi ever here in Marlborough. Rather disappointing place after our previous night time adjournments. Am hoping the wine tour gives it all a rosy glow. It's booked for midday tomorrow.

DH still being very antagonistic after too long on holiday to 'allow for post work wind down'. He is indeed still on the 'pending bench' or whatever we called it. Glad to see other halves are seemingly doing their Christmas bit for you all. Lovely to have DS along for the ride, but fear he acts as a sticking plaster to this marriage.

Glad those of you on FB liked my windy beachy picture. It's my favourite part of NZ.

I thought I'd packed my SS present, but it's still on the kitchen table at home according to dog sitter - so can I issue a Thank You It's Arrived to my lovely sender, and reserve a proper thank you until early Jan? I'll leave that as a rhetorical question.

Yes yes to Jan meet up. I'm best 2nd or 3rd week.

Safe journey MI and a good and restorative trip x

Beachy education is for everyone but not in its narrowest sense. And it's odd how the narrowest sense is mainstream in this strange world we live in. . Am PMing you today re MU.

cocoa holidays aren't always the best time to judge things....

We're off back to the smoke today until new year. It's been nice but I feel so sluggish from too many carbs and not enough fresh air.

MI - have an amazing trip - may you get all you need to pull your blockbuster together, plus some R&R.

Here DD1 now ill, DH on the mend and DS having a relapse (suspicious of this one).

Crepies don't forget I'm in London on Friday 10th Feb so would love to meet up or alternatively for Brunch/early lunch on Sat 11th.

Off to put some sort of plague cross above our door.

Safe trip MI.

I'm up for a Jan meet - there are various Crepeys birthdays that month (including mine)

Greetings from terminal 5! Dragged self up in the small hours only to be told by DP that he'd checked and my flight was postponed...major horror not least because NO idea how I'd make the scheduled connection in Bahrain (mind you till yesterday I was convinced it was Abu Dhabi again).....

....however I have been bumped into a direct flight (GLORY HALLELUJAH) which leaves much later but will arrive only 2 (two, ii) hours later than I would have done going the cheaply circuitous route. Now having a small brunch to interrupt the tedium of wandering around the duty free and spraying self with pricey perfume.

Sounds like a better deal in the end, Mi, most of us want to avoid a layover and connecting flights if we can!

Yes, I've gone beyond caring. Was dreading the prospect of a night in an airport hotel with no clean pants.

Like my Pants of Despair in Ethiopia?!

Had some sad news this morning - a friend's ex husband is terminally ill. Her emotions are, understandably, all over the place. Difficult to know what to say really.

Excellent result on the flight, MI. It's like when the Tesco delivery arrives and they've substituted your run-of-the-mill cheapo grocery item for Taste The Difference at no extra cost. Well, sort of.... Enjoy the duty free.

Oh MrsS.

Have bought a pricey mascara I've been wanting to try. I am pondering whether to blow my dad's Christmas cheque on some perfume instead of a phone charger wotsit. I feel Miller Harris Vetiver Intense would bring me joy for longer.

Go for the perfume if you haven't already done so.

I have sprayed two testers on my arms and will go back and purchase my preferred option at some point before departure. Which is still a couple of hours away.

Time to kill in a posh duty free area, with an easier flight on the horizon - life doesn't get much better than that, MI. Enjoy!

DP off visiting MiL again today, while I do work, buy food for entertaining onslaught, and do some cleaning. I want to revive our christmas tree, which is looking v dry, but it's hammered into a wooden base so not sure there's much I can do...

DP has been very chippy with me the last day or so, but I'm not putting him on the Bench of Reconsideration just yet, what with his mother dying and everything.

MI bonne Route! Hope the travelling goes to plan and you are not sans culottes ( without knickers)

NU glad you had a wonderful time at ds house. Sounds wonderfully laid back and chilled.

We are going kitten hunting today, to a local animal shelter. Need a bit of furry action, having has a puss free couple of months.

Sales wise, have bought a bargainous steam cleaner thingmy. Style and beauty, yeah!

We need kitten photos, Crem.

We're about to set off...apparently the mood at the other end is snippy to say the least. It's also likely to be a 'how to serve 9 from a small leg of lamb' sort of dinner, so we're stopping at McD on the way, with all dc sworn to secrecy!!!!

Ds did maths revision this morning, yippee! And I'm wafting around in Diptyque Fig, which is making me very happy....

Made it as far as the boarding gate via a purchase of Vetiver Insolent.

Lovely critters everywhere

A Tuxedo Kitty! Get two!

Cheer did sales with dad and ds - new bed linin, very posh Ministry of Sound headphones for ds.... And...oh ...how did that Fatface wool dress get in the bag :).

Will walk and hound and cook tea. Supposed to be off out to a party but feeling ropey.