MrsS I'm really sorry to hear of the trauma around your DM's sudden hospitalisations and the communication difficulties surrounding it all. Is she making any progress in ICU? 
WAF thinking of you also. Smiling and hand holding I do hope, means less pain for Sheila.
Addle and other mothers managing poorly DS's
Cloud I agree with MrsW....start as you mean to go on with friend and interior design. Only do things voluntarily if that's what you intend. Otherwise it always ends in tears.
Magi How are you feeling today? I thought my UTI was back yesterday but I think it was stress - related...I seem to be ok today.
Glad Cremkitten is settling in, and Herbkittens are still merrily wrecking the joint but being sweet.
I got back yesterday so wrecked I could hardly move. All went well and it was so lovely to see DS2 singing in such a lovely chorus. Also warming to see how well he and DS1 are now getting on ...they haven't always, as they really are chalk and cheese. After I took DM back to the hotel following the concert, DS1 went with DS2 and friends to an All Bar One in town. I gather the students were spiking DS1's drinks, and making him pay for everything 
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My DM is utterly exhausting to manage but I have banked this trip and will not need to do it again for a while.... the problems are small really....we arrange a time to meet in the foyer of the hotel...15 mins early, she texts "I'm waiting ...where are you...?". Her walking is very slow but she won't let me or the boys take her bag, even on stairs. She criticises not me directly, but everything I arrange...from the distance she has to walk to the bloody first class carriage I arranged on the train, to the fact that it was a bit draughty in the cafe of the concert hall, to the fact that the scrambled egg was a bit slow being replenished at breakfast...always thinking service is slow... You get my drift. I AM TIRED but will have a quiet day today pottering.