In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

That sounds like a much better option, MrsS - let them eat cake!

Yes Herbs - sorry, bad joke.

I am regretting planning roast beef foe dinner. When is it bedtime?

I'm in bed already just hoping someone will suggest, cook and present dinner so not going to happen

So very sorry Herbs about the loss of MIL. I agree with auriga about not necessarily being there. Sad also to hear about Herbcat. I do hope they can improve his condition.

Am lolling with bowls of crisps and nuts watching ET. Great fun NYE dinnner party last night with BFF etc. Slow start this morning with a later visit from neighbours for drinks and nibbles. Then very late lunch on the harbour with BFF etc. Can't move for over eating. Mini MU to look forward to tomorrow with Beachy!

Cat has rallied, is asking to be petted and has wolfed down two sachets of cat food. Still 'very sick' but very glad I didn't give into the mild pressure to just put him to sleep earlier today.

DS has watched back-to-back episodes of the Simpsons today. DP on his way back. I am now frantically tidying house to make it 'nice'.

So sorry to hear about MIL, Herbs. Hope your DP coping. Fingers crossed for dcat. And second BTM, don't lose any sleep over project.

Just off to the last social event of the season for me. About bloody time. but this one should be small, relaxed and convivial. And then it's January austerity

BTM - would time would suit for BP if still possible? Anyone else care to join us?

Herbs big {{}}

Here LARGE bill in order to make Fash puke and now looks very hangdog.....

Ouch, BD.

Our estimated bill for Herbcat is £600. Which doesn't include the ultrasound booked in for tomorrow. Not helped by being New Year's Day, obvs.

Thank the lord for PetPlan.

Herbs, my cat was at deaths door just before Christmas but thanks to dd2 and the vet he has rallied and according to the worlds most expensive cat sitter is still in fine health. Don't give up before you think is right.

Addle, I am still good for tomorrow! 2pm?
Are you still entertaining the PIL?

Herbs, that's good news. That DCat has rallied, not the bill, obvs!

I hadn't got as far as insurance (bugger) - he's already cost more than the last hound......

Ah Herbs, so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you dh and ds.
And sounded v familiar when you said about pusss symptoms . If it is jaundice i hope he can be treated. Aw you poor things.

BD , naughty Flash. Sorry for the giant bill. It is this that worries me about getting un chien. Boo.

Am collapsed and glad to be done with 'festivities '.
And feeling sad for Crepes having a rubbish start to 2017.

Herbs, I should have said, the cat over whom I cried a river (my therapist needed wellies) 2.5 years ago is in good form and woke me several times in the night with her lurve (sleeping in our room because of DSis2's dog).

We've had lovely slow day with brunch, long walk in woods, good chats. Then visitors left, DD and DH went for a sleep, & I chatted on phone to DSis1 & cousins & took my time clearing up, listening to Bach cantatas & sipping leftover wine.

DD now doing violin practice unbidden Can tell it's 1 Jan.

BD hope Flash OK. DDog has had several goes of the emetic drip owing to chocolate related incidents Only one of them my fault. She looked V sorry for herself for a little while but bounced back quickly.

Herbs, I'm so sorry about your Mil. I hope your dp doesn't berate himself for missing her actual passing. All the visits in the last few weeks were undoubtedly more important, I should think.
Sending get well soon wishes to HerbsCat.

Dd sent a Happy New Year greeting at 1pm, but has unexpectedly just walked through the door, saying that she didn't have a hangover so decided to drive back today! She appears to be in a good mood as well, so I presume all went OK. And I've just had an unprompted apology for yesterday. It's all good.

Wotcha crepes! Haven't begun to catch up but wanted to wish you lovely lot a rosy 2017. We are just back from first ever family skiing holiday. Which was blisteringly good fun. Even I made some progress and dh and dc whizzed all over.

Herbs, sorry to hear your news. Hope dh is OK.

That's good stropps !

herbs I'm sure DP will appreciate being quietly at home with you and DS. all I wanted when dDad died was a quiet house with DH and the DC. What I got was seven days of Victoria Station. It's good if you can give him that quiet and space to come to terms, and start grieving.

On a trivial level, I have just blubbed all the way through ET and on a not trivial global level I have watched the latest reports on the Istanbul nightclub bombing with growing horror and a sick stomach.

Nevertheless, we are now continuing to loll. I have had a glass of baileys and a Marigold Hotel movie has just started. I do love Bill Nigh.

CV, just seen your Iceland questIon. I wouldn't. If it is the lights you want, I would do a tour specially for them (don't know what that involves) but R in winter for three days?. Iceland is amazing but you need daylight and to be able to leave the city IMO. We went in August, drove some of the ring road, swam in wonderful places, walked on a glacier, was brilliant.

Welcome back lalsy

In Rosewood Hotel. Bit pissed.

If I'm allowed to tap the Crepey travel agency can I put in a request for info about Vancouver please. We are looking for a potentially last ever family holiday so budget is potentially generous - what should we be aiming for? Our current plans are to go via New York so ideas for there are also welcome.

I can't quite get used to the idea that the dds are leaving home and no longer either my responsibility or my cost. I assume it will happen but it feels a long way off at present.

Yay, welcome back, Lalsy!
BD, thank goodness Flash survived his Christmas cake. Sorry about the dent in your bank balance, though. :(

Should dogs not eat Christmas cake? What does it do to them?

I am pooped and very glad not to be working tomorrow.

Welcome home Lalsy and Happy New Year.

Will be over on 25th and 26th March to see you all if you fancy it. It's a Saturday night.
Starting as I mean to go on.

Yay Crem! Where are we going? X

Just caught up and very sorry indeed to hear your sad news Herbs. Is dp back yet? Is ds OK? And you too of course. Hope you are all together and can be comforting to each other. X

Welcome back, Lalsy, and thanks for the Iceland input. I think that's the dilemma I'm wrestling with - whether to go now, when it will be freezing Nordic winter with the chance of seeing the Northern Lights, but bugger all else, or wait until summer, when we can get out and about and see the amazing scenery, but there would be little/no chance of NL appearance. It's such an expensive place to visit I really want to get it right! I guess what you are saying is there are better places to see the NL than Iceland, and I should separate the two.

MrsW, coincidentally, DH suggested we go to NYC for three days for the same money, but I'm not sure I fancy that in February either! I have been before, but not for years. Oh, what shall I do for my 50th?? Need inspiration...... Can't help with Vancouver, I'm afraid....