Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where those Crepeys is?

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Ha!

Cloud, that's quite a day, you poor thing. I prescribe some cats on Roomba youtube videos.

WAF, waayhay, great news. I am really pleased for you.

BD, sorry to hear things no better. Look after yourself day to day and I am sure light will emerge...

NU, happy belated birthday! It all sounds lovely.

Crem - couldn't have said it better myself.

Just catching up. It was lovely to have met more of you on Saturday - thanks for being so welcoming.

Am going to the Hockney tomorrow and looking forward to it immensely following your reports.

I will also be making use of the NY sightseeing recommendations since we are off en famille for a few days this summer. So any more you can add after your trip WAF will be helpful too. I've booked an Air bnb which I am slightly nervous about as I read somewhere that it's not legal in NY. But that's part of the holiday excitement when booking self catering off the internet I think - you don't actually know what you're getting. It's never gone wrong for us before (if that's not tempting fate).

And MI I think if you like those shoes go for it. I have silver converse which I am growing to like. I bought them because I wasn't allowed to have any colour already owned by one of the dds, a rule I had made some years ago to (successfully) deal with bickering but that has now become a bit inconvenient for me.

Happy day to all. I've got to get through an insanely busy week but it's already Tuesday so we're making progress.

My mother is smoking again. House stinks. I stink. Can't bear it. She also won't listen about her medication and just wants me to do it all for her. I am getting hugely resentful already.

And it is the fucking assumption of both her and the medical profession that I will drop everything and come here that grates. She has also refused all help and can't do anything herself because she is in pain.

Oh, MrsS. I am so sorry.

I am feeling quite ill with bad sleep and stomach stuff going on, which is a pain in the wotsit. But is quite minor really.

MrsS, is there any way to overrule her refusal of help? Nursing/care agencies must be very familiar with this situation and won't have the emotional baggage to deal with as well. You can then get back to some semblance of normal life knowing you've done your best. It's what we had to do with mil when she refused carers initially on the grounds that her dc could help, despite living over an hour away and having full time jobs, so popping round was not an easy option - in fact, not really an option at all. It sounds like your position might be similar albeit with more serious medical issues and no sibling to share the load. You have my sympathy.

"I prescribe some cats on Roomba youtube videos." Just you saying that made ME laugh Lalsy, I don't even need to watch them!

Mrs S, I'll say what the Age Concern advice line woman said to me, and I might need to say to sis (who was already on her knees with caring for DM - who lives in same house- before she went into hosp, God knows what will happen when she comes out needier) and that thing is this: You have no obligation to care for your mother. Seriously. Just say no.

Mrs W - wish I was brave enough to book an air b and b. I am researching things to do right now when I should be working, and jotting down deets of cool sounding free concerts at the Lincoln Center (note US spelling).

I love that AC woman, WAF.

YOU CANNOT DO IT, MrsS. And I hate the assumption that you will do it because you are a daughter. Men get less of this.

God Mrs S - talk about rock and hard place. I agree with the suggestion to overrule and send in carers. You have your job and your life.

WAF - always had good airbnb but always done it in the UK. Crem is the expert.

At the orthodentists...

Not much of an air B&b expert really, but have stayed in a good number. Have only had one disappointing place, which was the Crepey house in Islington which was not up to standard, but acceptable imho.
We stayed in the meatpacking district here which was right by the high line and close to the west village for amazing food etc. I'd go for location first -where do I want to be close to at the end of the day? Firstly for eating out and for vibe. Not right in the middle but on a quiet side street perhaps. Then you can be out all day and have somewhere on your doorstep to eat nice food, without having to go all the way into town again.
Second to that near a subway station, well within two or three blocks. We usually set off walking in the morning , making our way round the neighborhood ( note US sp.) and then on to see two or three things on our list. At least at the end of the day , when you have run out of shoe leather , you know you can get a train back home.
NYC recommendations
Go swimming at the YMCA McBurney YMCA a marble lined pool with a roof garden. Made me feel like I was in Sesame Street. Real neighbourhood experience!!
See a band -preferably some Latin band at the Village Vanguard
Have a salt beef sandwich in Katz Deli
Stock up on cheap cosmetics and potions at Duane Reede drugstores
The Design Museum Cooper Hewitt which has histories of everyday objects
Andy Warhol tour
And finally the Native American museum which gives life to the tribes of the americas and has some incredible handmade objects.

Top tips, Crem. Though I hear Katz's is like so Over, now it's been discovered. Still worth going, just to see quite how much meat you can get in your face in one go. Matron.

On a quirky tip, the Forbes museum is most amusing. Full of strange things, including an 'invalid's eye view' of a boy's bedroom.

Also, the Craft Museum on Columbus Circle is very interesting, and sweet. And central.

I second BTM's recommendation for the Tenement Museum, but beware - after our tour some earnest intern types shut us in a room with squash and popcorn and asked us 'how we felt about our experience'. Being British, this was bone-chilling, so we fled. To Katz's, in fact.

Wandering up Park Avenue and looking at the lacquer-haired tiny Upper East-siders with their tiny dogs is also worth doing, while you're in the museum bit.

What a day Cloud. Can you just take yourself off somewhere with good book for a restorative cuppa and piece of cake?

MrsS wot the others, Crem and MrsW said, and also wot the AC lady said. Don't get where I was a couple of summers ago...the expectations only grow ime. Send in carers where needed, and perhaps work on the GP to sort out better pain relief? You have your job and family to factor in as well.

MI I have discovered this for stomach trouble www.boots.com/silicolgel-200ml-10183203 Pricey, but I am really impressed with the results. Nice shoes btw...wish I could wear that type but feet too big.

All this talk of NYC is giving me itchy feet! I am so pleased for you WAF that DM has rallied and you can look forward to your trip!

Are the braces coming off Hatty ?

I seem to be spending yet another day in the service of others and being invisibly use less ful. To make up for it I have booked a cut and blow dry after I drop DD at the theatre later. My course seems to have reached the break even point at the eleventh hour... but the bloody administrators have this need to email the participants asking them they want to go ahead with the possibly that it might be a small group. (It won't...there's always a last minute stampede in the week before the course opens). They therefore won't take it off the 'at risk of cancellation status' unless the participants agree..

I have spent an alarming amount of time this morning, googling articles on the invisible 50+ women. What utter bloody depressing reading it makes.

Anyway, draws breath ...laydeez, what power dressing do you advise for the Rose/ConS peace summit tomorrow?

Cremo, I think we must have stayed on a parallel street - very familiar and we were in the same district.
I so want to go back. Especially with all those recs.

Rose, I know nothing about power dressing. I would wear somethingthat makes you feel good and slap on just enough war-paint.

MrsS, really feel for you. Such a guilt-inducing situation added to her unpleasant personality. Could you call Social Services to come and assess - a nice lady came to see my DM and I was able to explain that I couldn't look after her and it started the ball rolling with getting carers in.

I just keep thinking of Krystal or Alexis Carrington in Dynasty when you say power dressing.
Red dress or battle red lippy, would give me confidence I think. I'd just wobble about on a heel but those too. Kill him with kindness Rose.

I have a black dress that I wear in situations like this (also interviews) and I wear it with my Alexander McQueen scarf that has razor blades on it.

MrsS, I read that as "...razor blades in it". Rose, maybe you can imagine having a razor bladed scarf on.

Crem you are a marvel re travel. Couldn't you make a living doing that? Independent travel advisor?

Loving new power dressing razor blade concept - sod shoulder pads.

MrsS, I agree with others that you have to be very, very clear. "I have a full-time job in London and have just accepted an overseas posting. I cannot care for my mother ". This must be so stressful for you.

Crem, I always want to go everywhere you write about - you really have a knack for picking interesting and varied Stuff and then capturing it in gorgeous prose.

Quick gym done, work admin done, job app (minor) done, dc date wrangling done. Now to tackle house festiness and prepare for unpleasantly early start with ds for open day (to where dd is) tomorrow. But think I will have tv and remote to myself tonight with leftover dinner from yesterday. Livin' that ole dream crepesters.

Ha ha Crepeys.... I think the razor blade will be my tongue...if I can get over my default position of being too kind... Crem you always hit the nail on the head. I guess I'll be in black...I usually am...heels (he's a short arse). Red lip....definitely. Cleavage yay or nay Crepeys?

Deffo cleavage, especially if he's a short arse.... quite hard to be unpleasant when you've got a face full of boob

I've walked over 10 miles today around and up and down Rome.....absolutely cream crackered, but we've pretty much seen everything and more. We've had hot, we've had cold, little bit of rain and lots of dust! Home tomorrow......

Looking forward to seeing ds. He's not been good. Strangely Dh went for a curry last night and left him home alone

Cloud, excuse my poor memory, is this the DS who's just been to his friend's funeral? If so, maybe not surprising he's done something stupid (so to speak - not saying he is stupid). Sounds horribly painful too.

MrsS, can only sympathise. Why is your DM in pain? Would she agree to a GP visit?

I'm lagging behind as I've also been v unwell. Spent a day in hosp last week having battery of tests, which shed no light. Since then, have had light-bulb moment & stopped the meds prescribed (in a tiny dose) by the pain clinic. After 48 hours there's some improvement, so am keeping fingers crossed.

Re: Matthew Passion, please do pm me for details if interested. It's soon and it's going to be amazing.

Good luck for tomorrow, Rose

And have a great holiday, WAF

Yes, sorry about ds, Cloud. Mine are prone to that kind of thing.

Rose, do you think ConS is on a Sub Reddit agonising over what he should wear? (Ans: No). I like Beachy's take on boobs in face.

Molly I'll be lucky if he even remembers to turn up, let alone dress for the occasion. Still, I'm glad that Crepey feminist principles still allow for a bit of...erm ... girl power

Oh Auriga that sounds horrible...but you might have solved the issue yourself. I hope so