Looking Good, Feeling Crepe.

[CointreauVersial]

New thread, anyone?

Herbs, if you fancy the job, put in the application - they may well have someone there lined up, but if not, you've nothing to lose (apart from hope)
And re DP and jewellery sorting. Must ring DM.

Herbs, I've become stoic at reapplying to places where I've been an also-ran; at least one of my current pitches is one.

Well I wouldn't get the job with that grammar would I?!

Cooooeeee Cloud - you're not cooing so we can tell where you are!

Good news re lack of hangovers - pace Herbs - I think red wine is a delight but unpredictable in its after effects - sometimes one large glass finds me feeling slightly rough the next day - other times - well.... Here 2 stiff sherries and 2 glasses of red and I'm fresh as a daisy (well more of an established perennial).

Off to see Trainspotting2 this pm - will make me feel v old no doubt.

DP now in bed. I went in to make sure he was OK, and 'not being sad on his own'. He said 'I'm sad all the time'.

My mum seems to have rallied, and has investigated her bank account, is going out with friends every day, and generally being lively. Wish I knew what the variable was in her liveliness, and I'd bottle it. Maybe it's the light box we gave her???

I may as well apply for that job - at least the application form is just sitting already filled in on my computer! It's a mere £20K a year, full-time, but hassle-free. My current gig is £4K a year, two days a week and a load of hassle. So in that regard I'd win!

Best of luck with the application Herbs. If you are not in, you can't win. Sorry to hear dp is down at the minute. There is no time limit on grief unfortunately, but it comes and goes in waves. Hoping it will lift soon.

hope you have as lovely a time as we did.

Sorry to hear of hangovers following fairly abstemious evenings. Not fair.
NU that's shocking , about the bottle thrower. I remember well how difficult it was when I was on a stick, or crutch. Just awful how careless people are in general. I absolutely hated being shoved. You have my sympathy, but I am glad you are getting out and about.

Back home with the unpacking and washing. All the excitement of a supermarket later.

I have made curry for lunch, and in a burst of enthusiasm, have also made a Ukrainian cheesecake. DH is hoovering in his undercrackers which is a joy to behold.

And I have gin.

We are preparing for builders so all the furniture is in the way. And dh is cooking lunch so the kitchen is s disaster zone - he cooks by reference to every cookery book we own. This is a very new initiative on his part and I think part of his 'preparing to retire' regime.

No hangover as yesterday was teetotal - trying to get the weekly average closer to respectable following Friday night out with friends. But I find the same as others with the lack of correlation between quantity of alcohol drunk and severity of hangover. And yesterday the gods were smiling on me so having anticipated a bad Saturday and limited plans accordingly it actually turned out to be a very relaxed and enjoyable day.

The ham was nice. I have offered to turn various things into a large and sustaining salad later.

We're just back from a family lunch out, at a gastropub somewhere beyond Woking. The food was a little patchy, if I'm honest (tough-as-boots roast beef and sickly pudding), but the company was good, and I came home with birthday gifts! A gorgeous Coach purse from DSis, a slightly random photo frame from DB, and a massive hand-made planter decorated with the name of our house, together with standard olive tree to put in it, from DDad. Now slouched on the sofa watching flying snowboarders on Ski Sunday.

Am feeling a little dizzy at the mental image of MrS hoovering in his grundies.

Sounds like a lovely birthday, CV.

DH used to clean the bathroom and kitchen in his birthday suit pre kids

MrsS, we need those recipes.

I have had the best afternoon - pedi followed by back-to-back Gilmour Girls. Why had noone told me years ago?
And DD came in upbeat having caught up with old mates from old school who were talking politics with her rather than gossip and bitching!

I wish my family were less shit at birthdays. Or my birthday, anyway. DD2 promised to make me a cake today. That didn't happen either. DD1 bought me a box of posh chocolates, which was lovely, apart from her being overly interested in them, to the extent of almost begging for one. Or two. Or three. DH got me a bottle of perfume, which I selected and paid for myself, so he owes me the money. He also owes me the money for my Christmas present which I bought myself. Nothing from DD2 at all, not even a card. My mother sent me some flowers and a cheque, because, she says, she never knows what I want and can't be bothered to find out. DMIL came up trumps with a book from my Amazon wish list. And we wouldn't have gone out for dinner if I hadn't booked it. I'd just like a bit more thought from them, and a bit less effort on my part.

That sounds great, CV, and your day in the woods looked great Herbs! I'm very often guilty of serving random meals at random times, not because I'm trying to fit around darling dc, just because I'm disorganised and hungry at weird times....

Last nights pick up of ds didn't go so well - they were at a house of a girl I don't know and although the parents were there, there was copious alcohol consumed.... to the point of Brian, I'm afraid. There have been multiple words had, groundings, computer use limitation etc. That boy has no concept of moderation

Had a lovely walk with nice dog, just over 5k, while I sent ashen faced ds off running attached to idiot dog.....that'll teach him

Sorry cross post.... that is very poor, Mrs S

Oh MrsS that is PANTS. My lot KNOW I want a fuss on my birthday and damn well provide it. Particularly unimpressed re cake.

Teens and drinking - it's a tough one. I preach moderation to ds2 endlessly and tell him we trust him to be sensible - which he almost always seems to be. He wants lots of independence which is fine - but him coming home late on the tube / night bus even a bit the worse for wear gives me the heebie - jeebies .

That is a poor show Mrs S. Did you make your birthday wishes / expectations explicit? I always have very low key ones and am pleased if I get cards / anything from my lot. X

I think my DD wins the prize for worst underage drinking, but Brian hasn't been needed in ages.

Sorry your birthday was a bit shit MrsS - it comes to it when your MIL does better than your DH, DDs and DM.

Mrs S - sorry your birthday was so rubbish. Poor effort by the DD's and DH.

Beachy - I live in dread of clearing up after a binge drink.

DD2 gone back to York - house seems very quiet - only me and aged parents ... very much looking forward to the other end of the week.

Herbs glad you enjoyed yesterday ...and yes, if you're interested in the TA post, go for it...nothing to lose.

NU I'm so shocked at the near assault you suffered. How awful

Crem welcome back

CV is today your actual birthday?

Hatty can you get out and about to see any old friends in the area?

I too am wondering where Cloud has jetted off to, and where Rudy is shortly going?!

MrsS I feel this very much with you, as you will know. All I can say is keep up the pressure which has finally born some fruit in my case. I do remember DS1 going through a phase of several years of not bothering, not even a card. Mid to late teen, but now he always remembers, ..this year a Not On The High Street Voucher. I have found celebrating with girlfriends has taken some of the pain out of being forgotten by the family over the years I'm sorry about the dilemma re your Mums surgery etc but your plan sounds like the best for the moment.

Hope the various hangovers and honking up from teens have passed. I'm with you with making sanctions, Beachy but then, my tolerance for any sort of drinking is very limited. DS1 got involved with other abuses once, and I removed his phone and grounded him for three weeks. No mercy.

I have passed a lovely day starting with breakfast for my belated birthday and two other friends in the same week, and lots of pressies and cards. And this afternoon we went en famille to see Denial. Excellent and sobering movie.

Alcohol-wise, DS has been pretty sensible, although he does drink beer at parties. He very nearly overdid it just before his 6th Form Social last term (at local hotel) and had to lean against a wall in the bathroom for a while to recover, and I think it was a wake-up call. He does not want to be the one who needs the early taxi, and who everyone laughs about the next day - he has his reputation to think of!

I might have mentioned before, DD1 set up an Instagram account a couple of months back, to showcase her kinetic sand videos. I just found out she now has 43k (yes, forty-three thousand) followers, and the number is going up every day. She posted a video last week that has had over half a million views already. She is now planning to set up a YouTube channel with the help of DS to see if she can make a bit of money out of it. Sand videos. Videos of her hands playing with/cutting up/moulding kinetic sand. Which take her, like, two minutes to put together, and all look exactly the same. I'm gobsmacked!

No Rose, birthday is 17th.

Bloody hell, Mrs S. Your lot are a bunch of shits. I recommend you treat them exactly like they treat you on their birthdays. Should wake them up.

Yes Mrs S, cancel their birthdays and birthday gifts, and Christmas until further notice. Sods.
We do tend to make a fuss in this house. Unforgivable to forget, and not supply cake.

Talking about birthdays; Beachy your birthday has magically pinged itself into my iPad calendar. Also , if it really is your birthday, and not just something weird, we have the same birthday. Ooh spooky.

Crem, my birthday isn't for months and months maybe yours isn't either.

CV, can you pm me your dd's instagram details as dd2 is very into her kinetic sand!

Ddad informed me that he'd cleared out all his eaves cupboards today and could I come down and see if there is anything I want! Apparently there is the trunk my dmum used when she emigrated here in the 1950's. I can't let that go to the tip