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

[MrsSchadenfreude]

And out of the armoire.

I am like Mrs W - I lose weight when I'm stressed - and conveniently in summer but I think that's more to do with salads and fewer cakes and biscuits and cold weather comfort food.

We are watching The Book Thief - I think it's going to be traumatising.

I know I am really, seriously stressed when I go off my food.

This very rarely happens.

Just spent the day cooking in prep for tomorrow - DM coming for tea, supper and a sleepover.

Managed to bone out a shoulder of lamb - thanks to YouTube - and roll it up with yummy herb salsa with green olives, capers, anchovies, lemon zest and garlic. Going to cook it long and slow tomorrow afternoon for supper. Even roasted off the bones, and have lamb stock on the go.

Also prepped Mary Berrys Smoked Salmon, horseradish and herb starter thingy, and a persian style yoghurty pudding with rosewater and pomegranates.

Have had enough of kitchen and am ignoring the huffing and puffing coming form DH who has been out ALL DAY doing his hobby and has come back to find ONE PAN in the sink.

In S&B news - I have tried the Philip Kingsley Elasticiser this evening. Hair still a bit frizzy, but am hoping for good things tomorrow.

@Lalsy - Nice White Shirts with a bit of stretch - bit ££ but 20% off at the mo

limit=All&page=1&sortBy=default Bravissimo - nice blue floral one I may get

Hawes and Curtis - more formal -- check they're stretch version - good value!

Dressisbeautifuland wkd really suit you Beachy.

Rose and. R.E.M. You've both looked lovely when I've seen you which is not to say support fr sensible eating not. Good thing. I mostly eat when stressed and not when happy but the times in my life I've been very. Try unhappy have stopped eating. Not a prob at the moment.

Your day sounds fab, lalsy. Silk purse from sows ear congrats.

We've walked along coast to rye bay and back along canal,breaking off fr huge lunch . Ds and gf v sweet. No telly here so nipped into local table top sale and bOught 2 DVDs. Just in case.

Thk you all fr positive and helpful hIr advice. Have stiffened my resolve and will attempt to go fr crem's pic with a bit of waf's bangs. I think. Lalsy you v welcome to. Irrow my Japanese stuff fr grey hair.

Open bag of mini eggs calling to me although I am stuffed to the gills.

Oh and Beachy's BBQ vvv good fun - meanddh and ds all v much enjoyed and wld like to go again. Would be extra lovely to see more creoeys.
Cloud you're menu sounds amazing - all my fave sorts of food. Has it taken forever?

Rudy, I did think shorts to bust level sounded.....odd. I couldn't quite square it with your usual look

Thanks, Cloud!

That sounds lovely addle. Young love v sweet. Indeed re silk purse.

Gin and books eh?

We should be able to make the bbq - thank you so much, Beachy. Is there a thingummyjig to click to show location? Altho I believe you're not too far?

Gin and books - what's not to like, MI? Do you think it'll be an emporium where you walk in and the owners are splayed, magnificently drunk, amid their wares?

Cooking dinner: leg of lamb tikka, aubergine curry, some sort of dhall and rice. DD2 will eat the lamb and dhall and ignore the aubergine. DD2 will eat the aubergine and dhall and ignore the lamb. DH will eat like there is no tomorrow. Remaining lamb is destined for a biriani.

S & B news: have been using a 2.5% retinol cream from ArtNaturals (which seems to have doubled in price), and skin is looking the best it has for a long time. Have bought Leichner foundation, which my theatrical relatives used to swear by. Quite highly scented, but you need a minuscule amount and it looks good. Mine is excitingly named beige, which I think is very slightly too dark (but I mix it with moisturiser), but the lighter colour, porcelain, would have been too light. Worth a try at under a fiver, and their mascaras are also very good at 3 for £10. I am currently using a Kiko Milano mascara, which is excellent and only cost £3.50, if you can fight your way through the teenagers.

Book & gin shop????

Please send address as matter of urgency.

Speaking of aubergine - does anyone have a recipe that someone who doesn't like aubergine might try? Obviously it will appear on the table under a pseudonym so nothing too visibly aubergine would be good. But not baba ganoush as I don't like that. Thanks

I shall check it out very thoroughly.

I need that red bra, don't I.

MrsW, if you roast a whole (pricked) aubergine it can be part of a tomato sauce without being too overwhelmingly uberaubergine. You could always have it with pasta and a lot of grated cheese/ mozzarella and Parmesan to compound the non-aubergine note.

Thanks MI. Sounds a bit like aubergine parmigiana which I love but find such a faff to prepare - if roasting gives the same effect then this is a winner! For me anyway if not the food philistines in the house.

I roast the aubergine for my curry, then mash it and cook it with onions, garlic, spices, tinned tomatoes and yog. Mashed thoroughly, DD2 will eat it.

Mrs W, we now roast the aubergines fr parmigiana in this house. Maybe not quite the same but so much less faff and oil (going by the great Felicity Cloake).

Make an aubergine and paneer or aubergine prawn curry - the Nigel Slater yellow book (?Eat?) has a v easy and good recipe.

Btw, the v lovely place we are staying has glow in the dark toilet which is actually brilliantlys practical?

Christ, I hate being a grown-up. It is so boring. I don't like being sensible. Meh. I have tried, but I still don't want to go to the theatre, give up alcohol or wear grown-up clothes. I have also tried to like gin, but I don't.
And where is my kitchen slave? I've tried to like cooking, but I don't like it any more than I like hoovering.
I need a wife. And a sex slave. I am bored with respectability.
Beachy, well done on red dress. Many thanks for invite, but I'm afraid I sold our tent as my back is now entirely against the idea of camping.

Am loving your beauty haul Mrs S. I am getting interested in Japanese and Korean face goop. And that This Ordinary stuff is lovely looking MI. Re your hair, I'm not sure what length you are thinking of but here is my Pinterest page of lovely hair here
Ah yes, the humble aubergine. Roasted, mashed and made to disappear in stuffings, dips, savoury sauces and even on sandwiches as spread. Yum.

Aw Hatty if you've not read a The book thief , it is the most wonderful story. But heartbreaking too, given the subject matter.

Lovely hair for Mrs S, who asked.

Ps I'm a gettin me a glow in the dark loo seat and a sex slave. #livingthedream

I like aubergines in thing called 'imam bayildi' which involves aubergines, tomatoes, green peppers, garlic and mucho kitchen slave input.

I veer between liking cooking and being fed up with it. I would hate to do it all the time.

We had Greek salad for supper on account of me feeling veg-deprived.