Crepes, Cats and Calamari

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Here you go.

But BD, if you got unfair dismissal, then that would be different to a standard settlement?

Rudy - how awful to hear the gossip - did you not feel tempted to confront them and put them right? Isn't there a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt on "great minds discussing ideas, average minds discussing events and basic minds discussing people"? Sending hugs anyway, so awful.

Hugs equally to BD, back stabbing bastards.

Here, have spent most of the morning sorting out passport applications for DS both French and British, you never know when one might be more handy than the other. I must keep an eye on mine which expires next year and not leave it to the last moment.

DS has gone to see Lala Land with his "girlfriend that is just a friend". I'm waiting for a report back.

Hatty - you can renew your passport up to 9 months before it runs out & you get that time added.

How's your citizenship coming on? DS's seems to have ground to a halt. Mind you they have said they'll leave in Marine gets in.

if Marine gets in.

Morning all. Or is it afternoon? DP and I fell asleep . I did get up and go swimming this morning and he went to give blood. Need to do some more background reading...nothing planned for later though we might venture to see Hidden Figures.

Saucy, MI. I am v tired, but because I drank far too much wine last night. About a bottle to myself. Lordy be.

But managed to stir self to take kittens to the vet for their vaccinations. Now feeling v guilty. Margot has always had a raspy kind of miaow, and a spot of sneezing. I assumed it was a cold and would go away. Apparently she's got a temperature, and an infected larynx! So I'm having to force teeny tiny antibiotics into her for 10 days.

Off shortly for a walk down local canal with our lovely neighbours, then back to ours for a delicious full-meat chilli (pork, chorizo and beef), cooked by DP, with all the gear - guacamole, tacos, refried beans, sour cream, etc. Including Sinful Pre-grated Cheese.

MM - thans for the heads up on passports - must have missed that. I only put my demand for Frenchness in at the beginning of December. Apparently it can take about a year so I don't expect to hear anything for a good while. Will keep you posted.

BD, I am so sorry to hear about the job. What a bunch of bastards. Record everything as everyone has said. If you are unfairly dismissed as opposed to redundant that doesn't have a standard settlement - you should be offered free legal advice as part of your package so that is perhaps something to explore then. Sending hugs.

Rudy, how awful to have heard someone spreading rumours. I wouldn't mention to Ds as it may all come to nothing but I can see how hurtful and horrible it must feel for you now

Herbs, those kittens are just lovely. How old are they now?

Went out in Peckham last night to a fab restaurant with my very thirsty friend. Sad to report Brian action this morning. I now have a pounding head and a house full of children for assorted birthday sleepovers. I must be mad. A quiet night beckons I think.

In s and b news, saw the most gorgeous Stella McCartney bag on insta this morning. Could not believe it was £950 and not even leather! I would expect gold stitched into the seam for that.

I have been to Bravissimo with DD2, and she now has two hooter holders that a) fit and b) are not grey. And one was free! Now waiting for her to try on jeans.

Hello crepies.

Herbs that chili sounds good.

Sorry to hear of all the work rubbish BD.

Had a vastly overstimulating morning at the mega huge Lush in Oxford Street. Arrived with dd2 as they opened so had charming, bright staff fresh from their team motivation falling on us to let us melt bathbombs in their big sinks. I smelled everything repeatedly and gave myself an olfactory nervous breakdown and talked about the Bell Jar with a lovely assistant and how Sylvia Plath would have found the store very difficult to cope with. Not sure how we got onto that. I staggered and dd skipped out with glittery powder on our noses and went home. It was actually rather amazing. Then I took dd1 for highlights and a haircut and worked on my laptop, on hairdressers sofa nicely escaping next door's banging builders.

DD2 has been troubled this week and acting out with lots of noise and defiance and turned up noses at dinner.... it's been unrelaxing. I foresee trouble ahead.

BTM I love that coral dress that Rudy linked to. So sorry dd is having such difficulty. Hope ds enjoyed the sport thang.

Crem, thank you for further links. I'd love to book a villa with a pool somewhere beautiful. When it's just me and DH, I will do just that.

My Mum will be leaving hospital on Tuesday and have my fingers crossed things are OK with L.A carers.

Great quote Rose. How crap to hear misinformed teens Rudy.

I have loitered in the chazzas of Sydenham and am heading home to do singing practice.

Rudy, how bloody awful. Monty, commiserations.

Monty do you think the Brian action was due to the thirsty friend or the resto? Want to know where you went!

BD, what Monty said is what I was thinking - not sure how you will know/get to that point though.

WAF, I like that dress, but not sure that colour is me? It looks too orangey, but maybe I should just order it and see!
Good news that your DM is on the mend. But I feel your pain re Lush - I can't even walk past the store without having a massive sneezing fit - not sure how I would ever cope with going in

DS did enjoy his morning of activity and would do it again, which is great.
However I do not see the friends issues for DD will resolve any time soon, if ever. At least she has other, nice friends. She is being as stoical as she can be about it until she has to go back to school on Monday but why does it have to happen just before exams???

Monty - re your Stella McCartney bag, I recommend looking in French Connection. The last two times I have seen things in Stella M that I have wanted but fainted at the price tag I have subsequently found near identical items in FC. I don't know if it will apply to bags but worth a look.

BD, can only echo what others have said. Try to take care of yourself, though, in the meantime. Rudy, aren't people horrible sometimes, I don't know how you managed to keep quiet; but I don't think I would say anything to DS.

WAF, good that DM is coming home, and fingers crossed for the care package. Lots of lovely dresses for you, BTM: buy something bright to cheer yourselves up. Sorry to hear about all the DDs' issues, Crepeys; it's a good job they have strong mothers as role models.

Enjoy your chilli, Herbs: DH is currently cooking prawn and pasta toss as I loll in my chair having survived almost three hours in the dentist's chair this afternoon. My temporary teeth look rather good even if I do say so myself. Back again on Tuesday evening to be sorted for the new crowns.

Have a lovely evening, Rose (I hope marital peace continues!).

Is it bad that I don't want to go to the theatre with dh tonight? 4! (four! iv!) hours of Hamlet. Feel I should be more enthusiastic... but I'm not. #ungratefulphilistine

Hope you're OK BD?
And you Rudy and all dss / dds having a hard time of it.
Yay to new teeth and new bras and delicious sounding suppers!

GGG, I am planning no excitement at all tonight, not even the cinema. So I am v glad I don't have to go to the theatre.

Am disagreeing with DP on what time is reasonable for a 16yo (who went to a revision session and then did homework and is planning to work tomorrow) to come home. His strait-laced boarding school is showing.

Ah , to go or Not to go GGG ? That's the question..... personally , the last time I saw Hamlet I wept through most of it as it reminded me of how sodding High Drama my own life was at the time. I was living a Shakespearian life.
BD, dont forget you can phone Acas for advice. It does sound like a compket fit up though and I hav come to recognise those recently.

In S&B news, I have ordered a few dresses to try from the recommendations
Cremo, I spotted that you recommended one that would suit if my hair is still blonde (absolutely love the colour and it really suits me, so have ordered 2 dresses in the fabric!) - had to - my hair has always been this colour - I have never dyed it in my life

GGG, I couldn't manage that either tonight unless someone like Idris Elba was playing the lead

Hmm Idris as Hamlet

Look forward to seeing dresses BTM.

MI - I would be for midnight maximum if she has revision tomorrow.

MI, we have never had a curfew for our teens

Maybe we should have, but we have the rule that as long as we know where they are, who they are with and that they reply if we text them, and would text or ring us if there is a problem, then we trust them.
Is it revision for the exams in May/June or exams more urgently?

RIP Stropps, March 2017, killed by a bloody essay. Argh.

Same as BTM here - we've never curfewed or really supervised/nagged over homework or revision. Perhaps if we had dd1 wouldn't have failed her exam last summer - but she's learnt her lesson I think and is working her socks off this year. I've always taken the view that they need to learn to organise themselves - but I may well have been blessed with pretty good self-organising teenagers. And I'm too tired and/or lazy to want to fight over homework.

No curfew here either - an approximation of time is helpful. DD1 rolled in at 4 the other morning, having been walked home by Nice American Boy who lives at the Elephant. DD2 does have a curfew if she goes to parties near school and comes back on the train, rather than staying over with a friend.

Stropps!!! Are you ok ?'