Proportional Crepresentation

[Cremolafoam]

There you go lovelies

Poor old DD1 was sick and tired yesterday - her dad blames Late Nights (11.30) I think stress and her period. In all honesty she is just getting on with it...

Yes, it was me, Cloud. We have a list starting with UCAS Choice, then CV, summer job, summer plans, couple forms etc etc. Hard to do when he prises himself off revision sofa and lurches towards the X box.

That is such a good idea. We don't manage to get away but we do usually manage a day or two of walking or cycling in "revision hols".

Beachy, the time must be going s slowly for you....

Beachy, does he want to go away with friends and could he health-wise? Or would something structured and gentler like volunteering, perhaps alongside a mix of ages including some kindly crepey types (NT house?) appeal at all? What sort of thing is he into?

Glad to have maybe given you an idea, Lalsy. Yes, lots of healthy excercise thrown into the mix is an excellent idea, too. It's trying to get them to focus on what happens AFTER the exams.

Beachy I'm sure the NTrust have volunteer holidays to rebuild stone walls etc. What about a farm stay? I know in NZ you can go and stay on a farm and work, in exchange for your board and lodging. Also check out spending time up north beating on the grouse moors. I hear that's very good for teenage boys. Gets them fit, keeps them out of mischief (miles from anywhere!) but the pay is good, so they come home with a wad of ££.
If I have any more outdoorsy ideas, I'll PM you.

Right. I HAVE to get out of bed.

Hello all. I can smell your bush from here, BTM.

Having a delightfully inactive weekend here. Which is what I needed after exhausting first week, coupled with strange sicky headache lurgy thingy. Which now seems to be abating, hastened in its retreat by a yoga class I did yesterday. The first one for aeons. It's run by a lovely crepey (49, but looks about 30), who gave up her sensible but boring career to be a yoga teacher. She just asks people to pay what they can afford, and trusted karma to do the rest. And she's been really successful! Her classes are packed, maybe because she talks in a very accessible way about where to put your left elbow, etc, and not too much bullshit about chakras.

Went to see Beauty and the Beast at the cinema yesterday, and then DP made a chicken our for tea. He's now doing an exercise class (!) and we will then go to homebase to get some kind of filler for the stripped bathroom floor, to prevent water landing on the kitchen lights directly below. I may also do some dusting. Mmmmm. Idleness.

Beachy - Have a look at WWoofing (working on organic farms)

www.wwoof.org.uk/

I've done it - last century & pre DC & had some great times.

Cloud - happy to hear you have hot water.

In kitten news, we thought of two new names - Boycey (sp) and Marlene. Haha.

Margot/Marlene has always been smaller than Jerry/Boycey, and hasn't been much interested in food, partly because of her odd snuffling lurgy. Latest vet says he reckons they've both got cat flu, as most rescue cats do, which is manifesting itself in snuffles. They're on anti-inflammatories, and M/M is gobbling up tonnes. And is growing before my very eyes. And gives J/B a run for his money in their constant fighting, rather than always being the victim. Hurrah.

Awww, much kitten cuteness. It's Boycie. You can't say Marlene without a strangled south London accent, though: "Mar-LEEENE!"

Here at Chateau Cointreau revision is progressing slowly but surely, at least in DD1's case now that Art is over, and the house is slowly filling with bundles of highlighted paperwork and neatly-written flashcards (although she's currently sitting in bed with a cup of tea - "on a break"). To be honest, I've not really got involved in any of her planning, as she assures me it's all in hand. A bit worried about Maths, though, which she wants to do for A level, but claims it's impossible to revise for.

DS is currently at work, and I expect the usual revision battles will commence when he gets home ("too tired" "I'll do it later" etc. etc.). His technique is chaotic and his organisation terrible, but he resists any intervention. I have to just hope something is sinking in. Meanwhile, DD2 (hooray! exam-free) has a friend over for a sleepover and they are blearily scoffing cereal at the kitchen table.

No plans for today...have done some naked Viakalling of the shower....might book our Spanish holiday!

Yes after-exams is a big issue here. A month before DH and I break up, though DD will be here for the first week or so. He will need a structure to his day, but I'm really not sure how we are going to achieve that.

Beachy, my BFF's DS is signed up for an "adventurous" NCS - 3 weeks but home at the weekend. First week is a Bear Grylls type thing sleeping out under the stars! Not suitable for my DS - any good for yours?

Now that's an image,CV. Lethal I would imagine too, naked skin and Viakal

Thanks for fab ideas. Woof-ing looks great. I suspect I would have to go too, due to his age, but it looks amazing.....I need to learn to drive the camper van. Grouse beating may be a tad awkward for a rabid vegetarian

There may be a paddle boarding course that appeals locally, so I'll set this week for research. I'd quite like to organise a tripette to the Houses of Parliament to see a sitting as well.

Cross post, yes we looked at NCS, but locally it crosses over when our family holiday is.....

Might book him a chainsaw course too!

Hello crepies - no revison here for s change. Both DD's at uni revising.

Have been with DH to watch him vote for himself and on behalf of DD1. All hoping for Macron here.

this is what (vegan ) dd sent me recently, as a hint perhaps Beachy. Veggie holidays, yes there is such a thing.
I completely sympathise with the Crepeys going through exams just now and who are staring at the huge expanse of summer without a paddle. I recommend time for breathing out as it were, in a non structured way. The pressure is so much that something has to give I think. Going straight into 'organised activity' can be too much.
With dd we had to cancel a mush anticipated and planned for week of volunteering in Ghana, as dd just collapsed with exhaustion after Alevel.
I know that's not necessarily applicable to all dcs but just throwing it into the mix.

BTM sorry to hear of you struggling on with ds. My niece is doing ok, but still has 17 further individual gcse exams to sit. I don't know that she will come out the other end unscathed tbh. Makes me so sad.

Mostly at admin and sorting today. It is so cold suddenly. Am back in woolly jumper.

Beachy, what chainsaw course? That sounds good (srsly!). Wielding a power tool is always going to be cathartic, innit?

Argh, have to work this afternoon and the sun is out...

Cremo, DS has 16 - it's crap, isn't it, even for a healthy child.

Don't worry, MI, it's gone in again!

CV! Me too with the Viakal and nakedness! Ha ha ha!!! And it ought to happen more often here.

When I rule the world, all the grouse will be beaten out by deprived inner city boys who need the cash (gavel).

Vegetarian holidays???? That reminds me of the C Aherne, John Thompson couple from The Fast Show ('dirty bastards') Does sound like a good idea though.

Lalsy and BTM, will be in BP environs shortly. Am still using, daily, the Clinique Cc cream sample I scored when I saw you that pm!

Waf do review th C. Cc crème please. I am looking for something new in a cc , but have been using nude Magique for along time and now finding it wrong for me.

Molly, yes to chainsawing, Beachy yes, is it chainsaw art? Wow!
Finished the Serpent 🐍. Broken heartedly. ''Twas rather wonderful. Martha , clearly a terrific Crepey I think. Keep seeing blue things everywhere. And yes to Frankie and the dhs.

RIGHT I MUST WORK.

Do not want to work. Had pleasant organic beef casserole for lunch (DP in Martyred Mode has its upside) and a glass of pink. Also I have already read the thriller whose author I am interviewing later this week. I'm all about the work ethic, me.

I have just spent a sweary hour putting together DS's hornby Eurostar train set. It worked! And now it doesn't, as once the train comes off the whole thing shorts out and won't work again. GGGNNNNN..... May go and thrash in the garden.

Have decided I'm going to do the 5:2 again. Starting tomorrow. Sigh.

Beachy - have a look at Sparsholt outside Winchester. I'm sure they have short courses over the summer. We nearly booked DS onto a "How to drive Tractor and Trailer" week a few years back. I've not checked it recently, though.

Yes, that was it! Well Done MM on Woofing.

Am surveying Porto accommodation after fab advice from Cremo.

I've never used airbnb before: tips please???

I studied at Sparsholt (part time) for a couple of years (horticulture) & it was a lovely place. Great staff & an amazing canteen that did the best chips ever!!

Have had a very lazy day, pottering in the garden & reading.

Looking forward to the Durrells - easy escapist TV.

MI - read the reviews and check locations! Used Airbnb for Crete - was as described (both by owner and reviews)

Cremo/crepeys - travel advice please? DH and I going to festival in Vigo (Galicia) for couple of days in late July. I'd like to go to Vigo a few days early or maybe fly out via Porto or Santiago de Compostela. Anyone have any knowledge?

WAF - how did you score Clinique in BP??

Am very very very full after v pleasant roast Sunday lunch in pub with friends, and yet still forcing down slices of coffee walnut cake

Late afternoon sunshine very cheering