Crepey coalition of chaos

[herbaceous]

Roll up hags, for all things Hotter.

Awk MI , sorry to hear of first love woes. I hope her young heart heals quickly.

Mrs K , so sorry to hear of your first love's demise. Mine is still out there procreating it would seem. He has Seven children , his newest is only weeks old.. blimey

I have been to see nick Brookfield's Whitney, let me be me, film with my friend who is/was bit of a big Whitney fan. What a weep-fest. But feeling better for it. Poor talented Whitney.

He's a curious mixture. Likes sprouts, cabbage, gherkins, celery, octopus and bocorones,,but not boiled potatoes, salmon, fish in anything other than batter, risotto or mashed potato.

Herbs, what about Belgo? We go to a little Portuguese cafe on Earlham street pre Donmar but that might not be considered child friendly. Can't remember the name - begins with c but it's no 33 and I would expect there are menus on line somewhere. But I would probably still go for Belgo.

Back from pre graduation dinner. Dd1 is on the edge of emotion - not quite sure what but clearly not helped by yesterday's argument with one of her housemates. A strange time - I'm quite glad i'm past it - there are some advantages (even if not many) to the passage of youth.

MrsW, have you two dds graduating this summer or have I made a terrible diary error? and what are you wearing for the do?

Poor dd, MI and yes to friends and company. I was really cross when my first semi-serious bf dumped me for partly practical reasons, because I had been about to dump him for similar (I was older than your dd). Makes me laugh looking back.

My dd being exhaustingly emotional. She has a few days at home now with not much on. And claims she will get Everything Sorted. We shall see.

MsM, I have two graduations so I'm sure your diary is correct. I am wearing a summer dress and navy blazer - boring but acceptable - and slightly regretting it if tomorrow's weather is anything like today's. I can report back after tomorrow's ceremony if that would be helpful - a non statistical sample of mothers wear.

Phew and yes, please! Head to toe goretex or neoprene won't work I guess?

And hope your dd enjoys it tomorrow - it is a very discombobulating time I think.

MrsW that was a v complicated post but I think you've nailed a few home truths. Talked to friend tonight who's always been close to her adored brother but they are so stressed by their mother's dementia that they're reduced to arguing over mediation 🙁

Sang in wonderful concert tonight, friends in audience were delighted. Relieved to be back in the game after illness & thoroughly enjoyed it. Still a bit fizzy tbh 😁

Two days till DD's last A level. I've been recording myself reading Romantic poetry to help with her revision. Mostly new to me and quite enjoyable. That Ancient Mariner goes on a bit though, doesn't he?

Glad you got back to singing Auriga. What was the music?

Lots of wisdom here about battling off aged P's not so nice friends. Interesting we've all had it. As Mrs K says, our role as daughters?

And lovely idea to read the romantic poetry for your DD - water water everywhere is about all I can remember of the AM, along with the nasty glint in the old man's eye. What was your favourite?

BTM, Ds has finally filled out the accommodation form for university. Struggled with expressing 'curmudgeon' in suitable language that wouldn't see him in a house with 4 bedrooms miles away.

Gosh! I think I did The Ancient Mariner for OLevel. That's a poem I'd like to revisit. Did Auden for A Level and loved his stuff. Still do.

However, Vanity Fair was a different matter. I was only still 2/3rds of the way through the book by the time I sat the exam. Thank good ness for those revision guides. Awful book. I never gave a toss about the character Becky.

Airborne, I completely agree about Becky - thoroughly unpleasant and manipulative and consequently impossible to like or care about.

I saw Fiona Shaw 'reading' the Ancient Mariner in the Waterloo Tunnels a few years ago - absolutely brilliant and highly recommended if ever repeated.

I love Becky Sharp and have named one of my central characters after her (there are Anglo-Indian reasons for this which I am sure you can live a long and happy life without hearing me go on in manner of Ancient Mariner).

Also the Guest listens to the AM 'like a two-years child' which quite obviously shows that Coleridge had never ever been anywhere near a toddler.

In other news, DD2 is on remarkably good form at the moment. I'd almost forgotten what a lovely person she is. She is also doing an art project about my mother which is making my dad incredibly happy as she writes to him about it and asks him for photos and suchlike. 'I thought it would keep grandpa busy.'

Hi to all. Glad to hear you're feeling more chipper Auriga and back to singing can only be a good thing. Reading the poetry for dd a lovely idea - hope you enjoyed it more than I did learning the Greek alphabet for ds!

Of course your girls are lovely MI - how could they not be?

What's with the graduation confusion - are you two attending the same one - or is that the confusion? Hope the rain holds off or you have stylish colour coordinated umbrella...

MsMargarita at curmudgeon! DD has found out that a boy she knows from her old school has applied to do the exact same course as her - I bet your DS knows him too!
Auriga glad to see you a bit more upbeat

Absolutely right Nocure, how could your dds not be wonderful creatures, like their maman.?

So very glad I don't have graduation sartorial indecisions to ponder.feeling appallingly bloated ATM despite avoidance of bread and all things carbtastic. Hypothyroid is the pits.

The only thing I can quite are long dull passages from Macbeth. I love poetry and quite enjoy a stand up poet now and again. In particular Lemm Sissay, who is fab. Many hours spent pouring over To Kill a Mocking Bird with dd. Not surprisingly she had a completely different take on the book to me.

Auriga, getting back to the singing is great I think. I really must do the same, but it will be a big emotional rush for me, so am avoiding. Delighted to hear dd's last exam is imminent. The cloud will lift I think...

Music was German romantic including Brahms, Schubert, Rheinberger, Bruckner and a bit of Gabriel Jackson for contrast. Several friends & colleagues came & they loved it, which is always cheering.

Not sure I could pick a favourite from the poems I read, though there were dim stirrings of recollection at the Wordsworth, which I must have read at school. OTOH there's lots of 16th & 20th century & contemporary poetry that I know by heart & think about most days. At the moment Helen Dunmore's last poem seems to be following me about. I'm seeing echoes and reflections of it everywhere, including in the fifth movement of the Brahms Requiem last night. It's helping with the sadness about my mother. Will look for a link. Like the idea of your DD's project MI. Positive memories are v consoling.

In reality some of the sadness is probably anticipatory, as DD embarks on a series of poignant 'lasts'. She leaves school tomorrow

The car has packed up in sympathy & been towed off to garage this morning

I have eight people coming to sing Monteverdi on Saturday and should be cooking but haven't started yet

www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/06/helen-dunmores-family-reveal-poem-written-in-the-authors-last-days

I love HD. Treated myself to her last novel recently.

MrsW grad outfit sounds most appropriate. Maybe take a pair of tights if it's as cold as today and a thermal vest Hope it goes well and congratulations to Wobbleoffspring.

Margarita glad DS is making some progress with Uni arrangements.

Auriga Lovely to hear singing is back on the agenda

I will not comment on the various literary references, not being too clever in that department, and finding Thackery too heavy to read although it makes great costume drama

MI what your DD is doing researching your DM's life and involving her Granddad is lovely and reading about it gives me a lump in my throat.

Now then, the Crepey skirt...Cremo it arrived today and I have had the strange experience of putting it on and not finding it that flattering but feeling compelled to keep it. It has a lightness and floatiness to it that will make me wear it, whatever the hell I look like. I have fallen in love with it. Strange...I think you described something similar up thread? It's making me stupidly happy for some reason.

And finally....my Wrap sale haul....

on back order in terracotta and denim blue I already have one from last year in cornflower blue and love it

kaftan

Ah, Helen Dunmore.i have just finished both Birdcage Walk and a reread of Exposure ( with a bit of Francis Spufford in between) sigh , lovely , heart rending poem there Auriga. Am taking a copy of that down.
Lovely singing news too Auriga. Can't you get your Saturday singers to bring something to eat with them? It might save you a lot of unnecessary effort. ( more Brahms time)

Rosen, I think it's a good length on me, but you are taller than me how does it hang? I know I will spend a lot of time in it as it's breezier than shorts

My Crepey skirt arrived today too but I'm fatness personified at the moment, so I've sent it back for a larger size.....

I bought this https://m.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/embroidered-bardot-dress-6711604 today, should be tres helpful over swimming cossie and general holiday mooching. It also looks nice over skinny jeans.

That's nice Flipflops. The Crepey skirt was a mission to get on as it but fine and once in situ...I did better with it sitting lower on the hips than on the waist. So Crem it's knee length on me. I'm a bit in a dilemma about tops to wear with it but will have a trying on session.

What are you going to cook for your singers, Auriga? (Not very S&B, I know...!)

I like the crepey skirt but it would make me look like a barrel. Also like your Wrap stuff, Rosen. Have bought nothing S&B of late, apart from a new lipstick.

Here, DD1's job seems to be going OK. DD2 is en route on her school trip. I am pooped and could do with a day off.

Mrs K, think I'll revert to Parmesan chicken from the trusty & tatty Food Aid cookbook. In pudding news, I tried to make Vin Santo ice cream but my custard split. Never happened before & v off-putting. I will cheat as necessary 😁 They're mainly coming for the singing, most of them have been many times before and most of the buggers have never invited us back.