Looking Good, Feeling Crepe.

[CointreauVersial]

New thread, anyone?

I'd like to go for 7.30 or 8 please, as I will be coming back from Forrin Parts that evening and will come straight to the resto. Not sure what time I am going to be back but unlikely to make 6.30.

I am being shafted again at work by The Man Who Can Do No Wrong. Just checked my work emails (I know, I know...) to find an email sent - very late - from him, saying "Here is the stuff, I know it is late, but MrsS wasn't clear on what was needed - and I needed a paper that she had written, but couldn't find it so had to write it from scratch." Thereby implying that I hadn't told him what he had to do (untrue) and also hadn't filed the paper he needed - also untrue, but I know he would have been looking for it in the wrong place. And I also know that he didn't start work on this until this afternoon and it needed a lot more work than he realised. And he could have asked me where the paper was, which would have saved himself a lot of time. But I will almost certainly get the blame. And now I am going to have to go in early to sort it out.

I would also like to announce, that having been as regular as clockwork my entire life, I have not had a visit from AF for 70 days. Do you think this is, you know, it? I knew I shouldn't have bought those jumbo tampons that were on 3 -4- 2 offer in Boots...

MrsS, that sucks. Angry on your behalf.

Welcome, Twinkly

Noted re dinner. Later is indeed better for me, as I need dh to be home before I can go out - was thinking of beachy and Rudy with longer journeys but can change v easily. Beachy and Rudy, would later work for you?

News - after a few months in the wilderness, DH HAS A JOB. It's only 3m contract to start, but the work looks interesting and ££ is ok. He is very pleased. I am v relieved.

Have a good day, everyone.

Good news, Monty!

Any start time for dinner is fine by me. Though the more time for cocktails, the better
BTW, the D&S's in the hotel we were staying in were not a patch on the usuals.

DH went out with a mate last night and woke me 4 times in the night with his loo visits and general fidgeting

And DD had a great time at Brum yesterday - loved the course and the uni, spoke in the seminar and made some new friends. It is now one of her possible firms, having just been a filler on the UCAS form
She was not desperately impressed by the city though - she and the friend she went up with had a wander round and she said it was "dead" This was during the day on a Wednesday, so not surprising? From what some of the young things say at work, the clubbing is good enough for them to trek up there when they live in London!

Later dinner fine by me too.

MrsS, please get out of there as soon as you can.

Twinkly and others, please stay.

VG re work, Monty. I am trying not to think about work prospects. Fighting off black dog - or at least puppy - with Ladyjogging and draft #4. The latter also keeps me busy resisting DPicide when he makes Helpful Suggestions.

Later fine with me as well. Another unreasonably early start - I have v important mtg and can't risk southeastern railways making me late. But obviously the train was fine today.

Later fine with me too.

Good news about DH, Monty.

Welcome Twinkly!

Mrs S good luck with fighting back

On bus into work with bit of knot in stomach but rrading v gripping book on philbycalled spy among friends by Ben mackintyre

Hoorah for MrMonty!

Have made yogurt, vindaloo in the slow cooker, and have cleaned the kitchen and put a load of washing on. Now having a hot flush, I think. And too exhausted by this activity to go to work.

I may struggle with a later MU for supper.

Am very happy to join for cocktails a bit earlier.

Please take me off supper list, but keep me posted on cocktail venue.

Colly mentioned one of your usual places on the top floor of a certain central London emporium. I had no idea of its existence!

LOVE LOVE LOVE idea of {{Crepey Squad}} Hazzzaaa!!!!!!

Feeling much much better today. Never got to watch Paddington last night in PJs but fell asleep on sofa with my Footner socks on for nearly 2 hours. Fully expected my feet to have dissolved. They're still attached to my feet this morning so no harm done.

MrsS I would go for the no holds barred approach and drop colleague in it from a great height. Sometimes (as I am finding) collegiality has to go out the window.

Monty good news on DH.

BTM Brum city central is weird and always has been - very 'disconnected' - some of the best shopping is in the surrounding areas but it does have everything you expect and, yes, apparently the clubbing is good...

BD - I have tried that before, but it just doesn't work, and I end up being blamed or looking like the bad person. Today it will be "Oh you should have explained to him exactly how this works" (I did) and "Poor him, staying late to get things done." There was also someone else he could have called if he was unsure, but he didn't call them until far too late.

BTM - the 'young' seem to form very definite ideas about something having spoken to just ONE person. DS does this. It ususally comes to pass that he's wrong!

Birmingham is a great place. It's amazing what a personal visit does. We went to Swansea with a heavy heart and came back loving it. It has absolutely nothing, nothing to do with bike riding opportunities AT ALL

Mrs S -get yourself to doctors. Patches are the way to go if it all gets too much. Here's hoping you can sidestep Man WCDNW and waft off to Forrin Parts.

Can't bear watching Trump any more on BBC. Him banging on about water boarding. URGH.

Can you smile and nod to superiors, then take him to one side and give him a roasting? As in 'don't you ever dare do that to me again, you snivelling incompetent man. I've got your measure' or similar juicy language similar to the Mitchell's a la Eastenders Then breathe and smile.....

Or I could come and do it....

And/or apologise LOUDLY for giving him something outside his capacities - you assumed he'd be up to it but you won't do so in future

I'd also grill him. What exactly didn't he understand and why didn't he ask at the time? Where did he look for your paper, given it was in the usual place? What time did he start and how long did he think it would take? Does he need help with time planning and management? Did he not know X was available to ring? Etc

SPINACH FOR POPEYE!!!!! Yessss!!!! Crem, you will be transformed. Getting my ferratin up was the start of a renaissance for me. I am so pleased you have an answer.

I will go large on cocktails then bow out as I have to eat at about 5 like a small child/little old lady at mo cos of stomach sitch. Not that the alcohol will help.

Monty that is great for dh and your whole FAM.

Hello newbies!

Stropps, when does DD finish and move back home? Really feel for you managing this.

I found the ATY sex quite stirring. It clearly wasn't January, was it?

Addle/BTM yes please to BP yomp Sat pm.

Cheerful things from the world of WAF:
Have rediscovered my Laura Mercier bronzer (not glittery) and look a bit alive.

My girls are walking to school together.

I have nice dinner leftovers for lunch.

Great, WAF - will be lovely to see you.

Yeah, give him a roasting, MrsS!

MrsS, you really have to stop feeling responsible/accepting responsibility for things you cannot/are not allowed to control. Either you are in charge, in which case you bollock poor performance - why was it left so late? Why wasn't lack of clarity in the instruction queried at the time etc. Or you are not in charge and it's Not Your Problem. It was the same with the holiday cover at Christmas. Not only is your boss able to scapegoat you but you seem happy with that role - why?

You come across as strong willed on here - i can't believe you are timid at work. Stop accepting the buckets of shit they pile on you and please please please stop thanking them for doing it.

Go MrsW!

Yay for MrMonty job, that must be a relief.

May be able to do BP, depending on timing!

Oh yes, yippee to MontyMan. Very good news indeed.

8pm is fine, but I may need to run before pudding. I can't do the other two dates so keen to come to this one! Is it anyone's 'special' birthday?

Hoover packed up yesterday. Off to do research today. I can't bring myself to buy S Dyson - they are so ugly and look like Duplo.... I don't care how much cyclone suck they have.

I like my Henry but you need the extra orange turbo thing because of the EU - well worth Brexiting for [dull post of the day award]?