In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

Blimey, MrsS - save your money in future, and buy her something from Poundland. The reaction can't be any worse.

On the subject of gift exchanges we did a deal with SIL a few years back - she lives in Ireland and has three DCs like us, and the postage charges were sometimes more than the value of the gifts. So now we buy three gifts for our DCs "from Aunty A", and she does the same with hers. Also, for the last couple of years I've stopped gifting siblings and only buy for the DNs. This has made life so much easier.

Now then, crepeys - Iceland! I know a couple of you have been. I have been muttering about a three-night break to Reykjavik over my birthday in February; DM is lined up to teen-sit and I've researched various hotels/flights/tours. It's pricey, but not ridiculous. But when I presented my findings to DH there was a lot of teeth-sucking and a considerable reluctance to book. Daft reasons, like: "if I can't be guaranteed seeing the Northern Lights, what's the point?" But I am a little worried about the practicalities of visiting in February (short days, freezing etc), particularly if the weather isn't kind to us, and there are of course no guarantees. Standing beside a waterfall in driving sleet and semi-darkness won't be my idea of fun. And if we just treat it as a three-day city break, is there enough in Reykjavik itself to entertain us? I'm not sure, particularly with the price of eating out. Are better off leaving it until the summer (and then, of course, the Northern Lights will be out of the equation)?

CV, I haven't been to Iceland, but a number of friends/acquaintances have and all of them loved it. I'm pretty sure lots of them went between Feb (Feb half-term for quite a few) and April. One definitely borrowed my ski stuff in case it was freezing, but didn't need it, so it must be OK then?

MrsS, I agree with CV - get her some things from Poundland - she can't moan any more about them!

Other than flying over Iceland en route across the Atlantic I have no knowledge to help you CV although I expect better travelled crepeys will be along soon. I find myself getting less and less tolerant to extremes of temperatures these days but friends who went and saw the Lights said it was well worth the risks.
mrsS your DM sounds very like the DM of a friend of mine. She just can't find it in herself to say anything neutral, let alone nice. She is a bitter woman as life wasn't so kind to her but seems envious of her daughter and needs to put her down at every opportunity. And the sad thing is her daughter is still trying to win her DMs approval. Those comments are hurtful to family who have thought about what your DM might like and gone to some trouble. Stop. Just stop. No more gifts.

I am on the harbour enjoying some wintry sunshine. DH and DD are trying to get here via Brighton on Thameslink and might have a two hour connection. I may need to collect them. I want to murder Southern Rail and all who sail in her. Still I am having a nice time... I watched three( 3,iii) movies last evening including Love Actually which I love even though it's such a load of nonsense. And slept in till 9.15!! This is impossible at home.

CV - I would live Iceland but am alai afraid of booking and encountering driving rain and wind. I have a friend who went to igloos in Finland which are built for the Northern Lights.

We are looking at blowing all on Mauritius next Chistmas.

Just relaxing into having the house to myself when there was a loud knock at the door - thought it was one of them back for some reason, but no - it was a delivery man with another SS present!

I now need a recipe to make one to christen it

And thank you very much to my generous SS for the 2 lots of pressies!

I so WANT that glass!!

For Christmas one year, my dad gave me a bag of biscuits he'd already started

I got the meds, yee-ha! Have to be checked out with an ECG next week as they can have cardiac side effects if used anything other than short term SLEPT last night with no reflux. Rose - don't think even a porridge only diet would work as it's a mahoosive hiatus hernia.

Crepies who've flown to New York/across time zones, what are your best thoughts for times to fly there/back AND tips for jet lag avoidance.

WAF, I think the plane times are pretty much leave here early morning, arrive lunchtime and return at night time, arrive here morning. It worked really well for us - we went off out as soon as we arrived and then just went to bed early (DD was asleep at 7pm the first night, 8pm the latest!!!) and got up early the next day. Slept like the dead on the plane home I will now PM you what we did. SO excited for you!

I could also murder
Southern. It's put paid to many things
I've wanted to do over the last few months and I am just thankful I don't have to commute.

An early HNY from me, somehow I don't think I'll make midnight and don't really want to join in the festivities in the town square here, thy started at Midday!,

Love the glass, BTM! But it would definitely look better full.

Have just grudgingly popped to the supermarket to buy NYE supplies for DS and DD1, who are off to parties. This always makes me feel like a terrible mother. I bought DS Budweiser; DD1 said "I only like vodka", and I'm certainly not giving her that, but I did find some cans of the pre-mixed vodka & coke, which are only 4% alcohol. That will do. Both are going to houses where I know the parents, so there isn't too much room for mishaps, thankfully.

DH and I have precisely no plans for tonight. We might pop over the road to the pub, or we might not.....

Love that glass, BTM. 🍷🍷

Happy new year, mes cheres crepes. Hope you have a wonderful evening and see you next year. Here are my New Year plans. Love to you all xxx

Ha! That's about the long and short of it here too, Monty, except we don't have a cat. I think it is only the second time in my adult life when I've not been doing something on NYE (the first being The Millennium, when I had a small newborn and a heavy cold).

Happy New Year crepies. We are quite happy to stay at home. I always feel grumpy at New Year and now no longer feel obliged to do anything I don't wish to do. We are watching President Hollande's speech (the excitement is at fever pitch). DS was going out but cancelled as still feeling wobbly. DD2 decided to stay as the main party is with someone she doesnt like. DD1 started for one party in Paris but due to a lot of jockeying and realignment is now heading for the not so distant suburbs Will see her tomorrow.

Monty, I too am celebrating with friends cat. We are cat sitting the little tyke until Monday , and dh had blown the budget on a Mexican takeaway. I have already collapsed asleep on friends big squashy sofa while dh went to get dinner.
Large bath later, many cups of tea, paracetamol and sleep.
Cv will get back to you re Reykjavik, but bear in mind the ACTUAL size is much bigger than you think. Just for planning trips to various places. The Icelanders warm themselves up in geothermal swimming pools of an evening en famille. And drinking obviously. Rek, is really quite small, but there are things to see and do,but I would say the real jewels are outside of town. Depends whether you want Hygge and a few warm interiors or skidoo racing on glaciers and Air B&B Or a bit of both.
We had a local 'guide' ( friend of friend of Bil) who took us to amazing places, and I can give you the rundown. Nature on a very grand scale, but lives lived on quite a small scale.

I am not keen on NYE - always end up in bed before the chimes - my best was pregnant with ds when I walked the dog at midnight with softly falling snow.
We are not moving, and dp has had a single glass of wine and we will turn in early. (To be fair absolutely bushed after excitement of arm wrestling on 29th and looooong journey to/from in-laws yesterday in freezing fog both ways)

See you on the other side :)

For scale

Well DH and I are off out to a NYE do in a pub with friends and I am having a pre-party warm-up Salted Caramel Vodka which is LUSH! DD has just gone off - think they are going to a different pub and/or maybe a party? DS is holding the fort though I suspect he may be in bed pretty soon.

Isn't Beachy having a paaaartayyyy?

Are you taking your D&S glass with tilly?
We are about to go along to the next village to have NYE supper with BFF and her DH. DD is tagging along although I tried to convince her she'd be happier here at the flat with unlimited Amazon Prime but she suffers from serious FOMO especially where food is concerned, and wasn't having any of it. She did get invited to a party last minute but there would have been no one to take her or bring her....
DS2 has got a couple of evenings work in a hotel before heading off to a party at 10. He hates the work....and I'm a bit worried....

To all the lovely Crepeys, I wish you everything you wish for yourselves for 2017, and that we continue to celebrate the good times and support each other through the bad times. I raise a glass to you all...excellent women xxxx

CV at the dawn the millennium, I was in early pregnancy and so sick and ill. The rest of the brood went off to parties and I cried all evening between communing with Brian. Not my finest hour...

Happy New Year, Crepissimi! I'm no expert, but I think you'd be v. lucky to catch the Northern Lights in Rekyavik? You'd need to be further north, I believe, and even then you never know. However, much else to love in Iceland - sounds like Crem can give you the best lowdown.

May we all have a far, far better 2017 - including those whose 2016 wasn't all that bad.

I'm trying to decide whether to go to a nearby NYE party.

Pros:

1. It's nearby
2. My dear friends will be there
3. I always enjoy parties

Cons

1. My hip is total agony and I can barely walk.
2. I'm very tired after a very trying day with aged Ps yesterday
3. DP's mum looks like she might not last the night, and I feel rather bad going off and being jolly. He said he's got work to do, but still... Also feeling sad re nice cousin who's just had massive cancer surgery, when they had to remove some organs, and the cat, who is being very inert and odd.

Either way, here's to my lovely crepeys. You have all been the most amazing support and inspiration to me all of 2016, and before, and I wish you all strength and general marvellousness.

We have eaten, and I have yelled at DD1 who has done precisely nothing on her work plan for the holiday. I might as well have thrown the approx £1000 it has cost me for that tutor into the street, I am sure someone would have used it more wisely. And the tutor need not have wasted her time either. The way I feel, I would like to make DD1 homeless when she finishes school and she can see what life is like on the other side. Right now I wish I was 20 years younger and hadn't got married or had kids. But I would probably have been miserable then, for different reasons.