A Very Crepey New Year

[Cremolafoam]

Will this do ??

Yaaaay Auriga!

[sharpens stick to prod ds into open day booking frenzy].

Can't post too much detail but it was about walls and bridges...

Another potential Brum candidate.....auriga !

Yes! Well done, him, Rose. And well done to your dd, Auriga. An unconditional offer is worth its weight in gold.

It is indeed. And glad to hear there are some constructive options for DS, BTM.

No snow here but FOG - it is the (rice) harvest festival of Pongal, and people are burning things - you can't smell it but the air is full. I am trying not to think of the effect on my lungs, since I don't want to inherit my father's inpatient infection!

Last two days here. I have an important meeting this afternoon but may manage to fit in a spot of shopping - my mother's friend is v keen on a spot of shopping and very good at it. Two young men - twins - from her extended Kerala family are staying too, for job interviews, and are free today. They don't speak much English but we all manage together and it's pleasantly three-generational. And tonight I'm off to a BAR.

Auriga has she had an offer from the other place not a million miles from Brum?

Last two days already, MI?

Auriga, glad to hear your DD has all her offers and another one with an unconditional for Brum - maybe they will all bump into each other/end up there

Have fun with young twins MI..

Auriga - great news on offers for your DD - so glad I have a three year break before I go through this again.

Well, today is Friday 13th and DD1 has her driving test and from what I understand the weather is a little ahem inclement.

Crem and DH wishing you both a better day.

BD in the end she chose to apply for politics and not to the place you mention. It was a bit of a whirlwind, with daily surprises for a while but she seems happy with her decisions. She was very influenced by the open days.

Wow Auriga - that's a bit different from her original direction of travel!

Congrats to all those who are securing places. I think the whole oxbridge thing can get very overhyped and it is very competitive - friends son who had a zillion A* GCSEs and Alevels didn't get in - his teachers were like as they thought he was a dead cert. think it so depends on subject, numbers, etc....

Here we have the joy of options which even though we only have to pick three is causing a major headache already.

Crem -really hope you and DH are okay this morning.

Woke to a freezing house....the dishwasher is up to its old tricks again, and tripped the RCD last night. My first job during my lunchhour today will be to purchase a new dishwasher. Which won't be a Bosch. It's GOING! Coincidentally, DB had no dishwasher over Christmas ("it's only 14 months old, and it's a Bosch.....I can't understand it"). DON'T BUY BOSCH.

Still beautifully snowy in our hilltop village, but I hear the roads are pretty clear, and the various abandoned cars littering the slopes have mostly been removed.

Saw the Rosebud on QT last night - most impressive. Was he quaking in his boots?

Snow report - the lightest of dustings here, much to general kiddy disappointment.

Oh Rudy - maybe it'll be OK then - not sure what time she's having it.

CV - ours is Bosch - less than a year old so here's hoping.

The sales started here on Wednesday so I'm going to have a look.

No snow in this cafe I have a meeting with the bloke who really knows his stuff (I've been trying to pin him down for literally months!) and then out later with the friend and her priestly mate.

Yep, last day tomorrow. Have no plans on account of A's husband being in hospital - am hoping to nip over to her mother's and see them all if that is at all ok with them: fortunately they're only literally round the corner from where I'm staying.

It's been odd/refreshing to come to India completely on my own, and also with a separate project and with one or two extra friends to see. I do feel a damn sight more independent and adult sitting here - Rose was right about the reviving power of cafes.

Ours is a Bosch too and we're had no problems (touch wood)......

MI very envious

I've just had an extraordinarily productive meeting which justified entire India trip...

Bring on the dancing priests!

Meile dishwasher here....no problems at all which aren't down to the godawful pipework we've got here, anyway

I don't think DS was quaking at all...he seems quite at home in a political debating arena which also came as a surprise to me. I think it has something to do with how passionately he hates Trump's racism and how irritated he is by British politicians saying it's undemocratic not to try and work with him, (and Brexit).

Rudy I am so pleased for your DD and I too think it's awful how many doors are closed to kids who struggle to get the minimum required grades in core subjects and how selective 6th forms are becoming. Sadly I think my DD may never get there with maths, although she does have functional numeracy for her needs, pretty much.

Have just come off a Skype work call that ran over horrendously so have had to bail on a friend for coffee. I think I will follow my own advice and go sit in a cafe as a treat before the dreaded Friday night dinner prep. DD has done to shopping and to the cinema with a friend (hooraah...) So glad the holiday is ending an high, MI.

May I stray into S&B territory? have ordered this in navy

I am shopping! For clothes! For me! My mum failed to get me anyone for Xmas but has given me permission to buy something and will pay me back. I actually bought something in Cos! I think it's stylish and interesting, rather than funereal and frumpy. Just. Will post a link when home.

Also bought a pair of jeans in size 34 (aaaaaagh) for. £10 (yay!). Am clutching st straws, hoping the reason for their cheapness is dodgy sizing. Though undid look like s horrific fat bag of porridge in the mirrors...

Herbs, you looked so fab in the DM. I'm sure you'll look amazing in the Cos - do show us! Rose, lovely Woolovers top - will suit you. You must be so proud of ds - he seemed utterly utterly confident, good on him. He should go into politics! Auriga, politics is such an interesting degree choice; I know lots of young people who have chosen it and love it.

MI, your trip sounds like a triumph. And for you to make it that when dealing with family is awesome. Such a good role model for your dds.

I have been to the sales, looked shit in everything and have bought bath towels. Herbs - I reckon you have to be shapely for Cos - I really can't wear it and yet there was a Spanish woman my age trying stuff on last time I was there and she looked amazing in everything she put on. She was a little more hourglass than me, so everything draped rather than hung off her.

Rose - sorry I missed your DS on Question Time, would have loved to have seen it. The jumper looks really nice.

MI - glad you're feeling more positive and the trip has been a success.

Holidaysplease, have suggested an expensive but interesting tour of Iceland in August - am very tempted to go for it - FlyDrive thing. I am just worried that it will rain for 10 days which would be a catastrophe.

Oh Herbs, your ds....... I think you may be right about exercise and whatnot. Could you do resistance/strength stuff with your hip (ie no leaping about)? You do look fab in the pic.

And Rosebud for PM! (missed my metier in slogan-writing, clearly). He is dead right about democracy.

MI, that is soooo brilliant about your meeting.

Hatty, that is usually my experience of sales. Bath towels at least offer the promise of pleasure to come. Unlike a lint roller thingie or a packet of expensive Waitrose seeds.

Lalsy

Herbs - Westminster Choir School.

DD1 failed her driving test - she is very annoyed at herself as she said it was a silly silly mistake. It always is though with driving tests.