The Crepertoire - put on your peignoir and get into the boudoir

[MrsSchadenfreude]

And out of the armoire.

Molly, you sound so sad. Sorry things are bad with Dh. How is Ds doing? Can the crepeys do anything to help? We are always here to listen. Am thinking of you and sending a massive hug. Let's do BP and a big lunch after Easter, with dog if possible.

Stropps, who was famous person?

No boot room here but boots everywhere! House is so untidy. We do have a cleaner but she is a bit hit and miss turning up at the moment.

After sneezing and spluttering all day yesterday I have taken today off sick. Children gone off to city farm with childminder, I have read book and drank tea. Might go and sit in garden.

DH knows if we had to get rid of our cleaner, he'd be next... Molly what can we do to bring you some joy...?

I am shortly off to the theatre for another of what they call..."having a catch up..." This, since they have all but dropped me from my previous visiting teaching role. So WTF is that all about? Guilty conscience? Salt into the wounds? Still its a welcome distraction from Passover cooking...to date, 2 potato kugels, one ginormous matzo pudding, one almond based Brownie and one nut free Brownie. My back's killing me.

Wish you better Monty. You're working too hard, bless you. DD has also gone down hard with a cold...she is on tissue box No3 ffs.Thank goodness she's off college for a couple of weeks and the show is over.

Rose, your cooking sounds amazing. Can I come and live with you? Good luck at theatre. Talking of which, I am a total heathen and seldom go but I do see a lot of opera.

Aww, Molly, you sound in need of hugs, tea and tlc. I am sorry you are still not feeling well and dh is being tiresome. Anyway, it is completely fine to love horses. It is only that I am more or less immune to their charms these days and also get a bit fed up at work with the way that certain people bang on about them. (Although I did smirk when I saw two tiny Thelwell-esque ponies being taken for a walk on my dog walk the other day and one was being a massive arse and trying to get away from his walker by rolling about on the ground like a dog and then leaping up and trying to kick the person.)

Monty, I am glad you are taking it easy today and I hope the sun will see off your germs (well, I hope you have the same weather in London as we have here). Famous person was Timothy Spall.

I should be planning lessons, carrying writing my giant report, making resources and starting to prepare my next assignment. Or cleaning my filthy house. But I have just faffed about so far and also eaten too many of the salty caramel popcorn thingies that I bought from M&S yesterday. I should also be making a quiche, or something else needing a lot of eggs. There is a precarious overflow pile of eggs in the kitchen. But I am now thinking I will just award myself a whole day off and do double everything tomorrow. Apart from hoovering. I will do that now, as Stroppdog keeps sniffing the carpet thoughtfully and then finding crunchy things to snack on.

BD, you probably win the dog hair contest, as your dog has significantly more surface area than mine.

Monty I have no one to go to the opera with...my lot all hate it. I used to go with DM who would still go but I can't bear how her hearing aid whistles all the way through ...

at Stropps' claim to philistinery on the Bacall foot front.

I agree about the wonderful warmth and diversity on this thread. Most people have their family troubles in some shape or form and there is much wisdom and no judgement here. I got a kick in the family history stomach today - wish I could bore you all with it.

BTM, hope the appointment goes well.

Molly, you do sound sad .

Stropps, has dd had her interview yet?

Thanks for your sympathy...yes, yes, to BP after Easter, Monty.

Here is a pic of a Belgian draft horse to show I still have remnants of a sense of humour. Only that horse has an arse bigger than mine.

I did not know people at your school go on about horses, Stropps. That must be bloody annoying. Ponies are devils - a fact not generally known.

Gorgeous, Molly.

Hatty, ditto re long run-in at graduation clothing......I had a seriously embarrassing clothing malfunction at my own ceremony (the vice-chancellor got an eyeful - I should be thrown off S and B for that surely?) so am filled with dread.

Lalsy, yes, she has. But she doesn't think it went hugely well, and more to the point she doesn't think she really wants to "do" university of any sort any more. I think this may change and there are, as ever, complications, as she has committed to moving to Bristol in the autumn. It is likely that she won't do the retakes. I think this is simply a constantly evolving situation.
I'm learning to reflect on my expectations and question to what extent the "system" is really the be-all and end-all. It is not "a waste" if a bright young person chooses not to go to university, but instead chooses another path (eventually). It is a waste if a bright young person flogs themselves half to death to get good A levels and then goes off to a good university and does amazingly well, only to crash and burn horribly when it turns out they were only following the prescribed path because society had convinced them that if they did it any other way they would be a "failure".

In the meantime, Dippy the dinosaur from the NH museum is coming to our town and apparently there are lots of interesting volunteering opportunities at the museum. Dd was looking it up online.

Patience is a virtue, so they say.... :)

Molly sorry you are sad and things are difficult.

x-posts, Molly. Ach, you dafty, like you would know what the people (not my lovely departmental colleagues, I hasten to add) spaff on about at my work. There is a lot of showing-off about tweedy horsey things and go on about all their various riding injuries and how many teeth they've had replaced and how much metalwork they have in them. Puts the rest of us off our lunch. There are also lots of "Hunting is Jolly Splendid"-type stickers on cars.

'Twas ponies what put me off. Bastard Welsh Mountains. I hit the ground at speed a few too many times and decided that actually I didn't like riding the buggers enough to carry on doing it.

Absolutely. If she can try a few things out reasonably calmly, that might be good for her and give her a chance to catch up with herself after last few years? Dippy volunteering......oh yes.

I dithered hopelessly for over five years after university. Had no idea what to do at all. It was a very, very grim bit of my life. Still envy people who got it right.

(blimey, that horse is seriously chunky )

DH is back ...

Molly you are lovely and do not need a fat horse. I am actually allergic to horses but am very envious when I see people cantering through the forest. I hope the current rocky period with DH sorts itself out.

Lalsy we need to confer ...

Stropps - there are many paths in life. My cousin dropped out of uni. Worked two years in a sandwich bar, then did accountancy fast stream. She is now Director of Finance in a big well known company.

We 'do' dogs here, but no cats or horses. Allergic to them both...

Just been out with my DBro as a birthday treat for him. We've given up on presents these days. Its so lovely to just sit and chat for a few hours without our respective partners and children. His life is so frantic, I see so little of him.

Strops - I find it so refreshing that despite our different backgrounds, our loves, our hates, where we live, how we live - we all are united in our situation of being mid way through our lives, with all that goes with it... good, bad and (hopefully) occasionally funny.

Monty - hope tea and garden combine to make you feel a bit better

BTM - How did it go?

Colly - You have mail

Bootroom Ikea styleeeee no dashing grooms, gardeners or groundsmen unfortunately.

Hope your appointment went well, BTM.

How is ds, Herbs? Do you think he will find someone to help and give him some counselling for his grief? I hope so.

Molly for you.

Go Stropps, good luck with double work tomorrow.....

I too would like to enter the dog hair contest, only ours is short brown and gets everywhere, along with mud. Rose, you really wouldn't like it here!

Ds has done a little work today. When I say 'a little', I mean ONE topic of ONE subject! He seems jollier and is currently playing Annihilating Soldiers or some such crap upstairs. I might need counselling when all this is over!

hi All - have been reading but not writing much as feel I'm rushing rushing rushing with a head that feels like one endless TO DO list...
am working on a strange Conference type thing from tomorrow until Monday that involves v long days and much stress - why did I think that would be a good thing to do??

Much love and good wishes to all and all the dcs in need of attention one way and another too - and any animals that could do with it for good measure.

Here: Boot Room N
Cleaner Y
Revising Teens YY
Moaning Teens YY
Moulting dogs N
VERY ANNOYING dog Y

RTBC (Part three, III, 3)

• garden is looking pretty lovely
• have a bt of a break over Easter once Conference over
• ds1 is cooking supper for us all - teriyaki salmon / crispy kale / sticky rice and fruit crumble and YUM.

That's all far too me me me even for someone in a hurry. Sorry.

Stropps you are very wise and sensible and your dos are very lucky indeed to have you.
Auriga - very sorry to hear of your woes - what's wrong do you think?
Mrs S - wishing you strength - I can't even bear to post much about my own ailing Mum but you have my sympathy.
Beachy love the shoe storage and could really do with something similar - we have a load of junk stuffed in a large green cupboard - no one ever opens it as if you do it all pours out onto the floor / your feet. Madness.

Sorry too to hear of dh woes Molly - what's going on?
CV - where are you?
BD - hope you're OKish and haven't finished the gin yet!

Gosh, you lot have had a fine old chat today!

NU I would like you to adopt me too.

Molly, sorry DH is being an arse. I would like to offer my BP skills too!

I hope all the ill/tired ones are tucked up and that everyone is relaxing this evening.

The day went well. Not sure this will have a positive effect on DS, but fingers crossed!

Well, I have hoovered up the crunchy bits and Stroppdog is looking a bit offended. I should now wash the kitchen floor, but I have lost interest. I have carefully inspected the mould growth by the front door and decided it has artistic merit and can be left for a while. However, the gross cobwebs have been removed. Why the rest of the family have not previously noticed said gross cobwebs is a mystery. Well, apart from dh, who probably only notices nekkid ladies and guitars.

Beachy, book yourself in for counselling now. Alternatively, let me know when you can meet me in Bath for a soak-and-float day in the Thermae Spa. I went yesterday with dd, as I had to go to uni for a drop-in with the lecturers. My university session was not until 5, so dd and I had time to enjoy all that is on offer in the newly refurbished "wellness suite". Lovely few hours with zero stress. Can recommend. Dd then came to Bath Spa uni with me and spent 1.5 hours playing with another student's twin babies, which suited everyone.

X-posts, GGG and BTM!!

only notices nekkid ladies and guitars

It's FB that makes me feel inadequate, btw. Everyone else is so much more successful/glossy/rich/happy than I am.