Well - today wasn't the best of days. I woke up feeling lousy. So I didn't set myself any list. However, I've checked the kids' schoolwork, driven the husband to the store and back, chatted with DD25 and DD18 on Zoom, did some cross stitch, and I'm just about to do a little preparation for tutoring tomorrow - but it won't take long. Then bed.

Got that done, at least. No tidying, though. My head was not at all in the right place for it. Instead, I did a little piano lesson with DS14. He hasn't played the piano for a couple years - since we moved into the caravan. (We recently managed to get an electric piano, which has its downsides but is most certainly better than nothing! He has anxiety, and struggles greatly with failure, so he has one scale and one piece to practise - hopefully we can do this by little nibbles, every day. Early night for me tonight - I have to get up respectably early and be dressed and in my right mind by 9:30am; the boyo has a new English course online.

The above is done. I have also looked over both DS14 and DD12's work from today, and done a few corrections with them. DS14 has changed his math course - it was getting harder too fast for him to deal with, and he was beginning to have a very negative narrative in his head about math, so that had to stop. I am just gathering some energy to have a look at DS14's science books.

Happy 18th Birthday to your dd! 🥳

Good morning 👋 Not feeling particularly special today, as I didn't sleep so well. The cookies I ate last night probably had a lot to do with that 🤦‍♀️Fortunately, in a family with kids, there are always people willing to finish off a package of cookies for you. Just to be kind, of course. So today.. I need to video call one of my English students because he is confused with the assignment I gave him last week Go to the farm shop for milk and compost and maybe a strawberry planter if I can find one Mark DS14's Chemistry and Biology work, up to date Do a little tidying in my caravan, if I can cope with that. (I think you guys in the US would call it a trailer?) I find it overwhelming.. there is so little space to move, and so much stuff. We are currently living in two caravans, one big, one small. House is not fit to live in (we gutted it). Most of our possessions are in boxes in the barn, so you'd think there wasn't much left to make anywhere untidy!! I'm sure there's more, but I feel better with small lists!

🤗(we really need a hug emoji that doesn't look quite so smiley. I'm not happy about your pain!!)

...and is a common rule across many cultures and religions. I feel very fortunate to have friends of many faiths, and varied ancestry. We have some fantastic conversations about life.. and everything. We find many commonalities and I'd rather focus on those, because it's more likely to lift us all up and leave us with a smile on our faces. What I'm getting from this thread is that most people feel that the point of life is for it to have meaning and purpose, regardless of your worldview. In practice, this can look very similar - improving your own life and that of others; showing kindness, patience, restraint when appropriate, integrity, and being content; for those who have them, raising kids to be decent people; understanding that actions have consequences; etc. etc.

I feel your pain. Was it you that has fibro? (Sorry for my bad memory.) Takeout is totally the way to go on bad days. 💜

I am so sorry for your situation and the choice you have to make. We've had to do the same a few times now, and it never gets easier.. but I don't want to be without a dog, either! It's a little easier when the dog has had a good, long life and you know you have done what you could to give them that. Sadly we had to put a 5yo dog down several years back because he had a brain lesion/tumour and it was causing him to become erratically and unpredictably vicious. It was absolutely heartbreaking. But then, it wasn't that much easier to say goodbye to the others who lived to 12 and 13, either.. I just felt a little more at peace with that in my head. Relatively recently - around 2yrs ago - we decided that we would not wait until one died, leave a gap, and then look for another. We would try to have two concurrently, one older, one younger. This is working brilliantly so far. We have a 12yo and a 2yo (both Hovawarts). The younger one does want to play more than the older one will tolerate the messing, but overall it means that the older one gets a lot more exercise than she would otherwise and it helps to keep her healthy. And the younger one is learning from the older one, what is acceptable dog behaviour. They're also quite a formidable pair when it comes to guarding us and the house. I never feel unsafe if they are with me. And when the older one dies, I still have the other loving, cuddly bear to grieve with. So maybe this might be an option for you to consider in the future. 💜

No walk after all, which was a shame, and the joint took forever to cook. We got hungry, and it still wasn't anywhere near ready. I think I just underestimated how long it would take to cook. We got takeout instead, so I'm not complaining 😉loves me some Chinese food!

With the exception of the walk, I have managed those things today! Feeling achieved!! Plus I checked DD12's work as well. 🤩 And the walk might still be possible, if the rain eases off a bit. I must admit, I don't enjoy walking when it's raining a lot, but we are in the UK and rain is very common so one has to be able to put up with a certain amount of it.

Those look lovely! Good for you. I'm sure you'll get some inspiration for the fabrics you have - it usually comes to me when I'm not quilting, and thinking about something completely different!

Me.. but it's around 12:30pm in the UK! However, I do sympathise with the insomnia. I get it waaaayyy too much. So frustrating, especially when you have a lot on anyway.

Well, I have just phoned the surgery about my meds, so that's one job ticked off. Yay! It's my turn to cook today - we have a rota - and I have a joint of meat that I'm going to put in the crockpot. If I can get that done pretty soon it will be ready for a sensibly timed tea! Our schedule is all over the place right now - mostly because I have no energy to enforce it or keep to it myself. DS14 needs all of his work checking, so that'll be a chunk of energy gone. DD12 needs reminding to put her laundry in the dryer. And if I have enough get up and go after that, I want to try for another walk. Hello fellow quilt-y person! 👋What pattern are you doing? I got into quilting a few years ago and had to take a break on it when we moved into a caravan last year (big renos going on). I miss it!

Galore Park have updated their SYRWTL French books and renamed them French for Common Entrance 1 and 2. I don't know whether they equate to the SYRWTL levels 1 and 2 or are a combination of levels 1-3, but I can find out for you if you like? I live in the UK so it's a cheap call for me.

If you are thinking about getting books, have a look for dual language children's stories. They are a great way for you both to get accustomed to the language - you already know the story, and you have the English there as well. There's also a programme/app called News In Slow French. You can get it at different levels and it's so much easier to understand what they're saying than, say, watching French films or listening to standard French radio/audio. There's some free content, and a subscription if you want to access all of it. Personally, it's been ideal for us.

Agreeing with the others - yes, it can be used at that age. You might need to adapt and do it quicker, or use texts which have more mature ideas, but there's still a lot you can get out of it. Owing to previous illness in the family, I am currently working through WWS with DS14 and DD12. They're getting the hang of it quickly, and I can see that success breeds confidence. Both these kiddos are STEM oriented, and WWS suits them way better than a programme with any hint of creative writing!

It's so nice to see you still doing this, Jean! For various reasons, I haven't been on the boards much over the last 3yrs... I'll be looking forward to this tomorrow. I've been really ill over the last 3 months, so my daily to-do list is always short. I wanted to, and went, for a little walk today with DH; went over some math with DD12; did a bit of laundry; and found where I can order some of my favourite decaf tea online (it's not been in the supermarkets for weeks). I meant to call the doctor's surgery because one of my medications needs a review before they will issue it again, but I forgot. There's no desperate hurry, but it's on my mind. Hope everyone has had a decent day. 😊

Yes - most things, actually. I had gotten very busy with Co-op and the kids' activities, and in many ways it has been the break that I always knew that I needed but never felt right to take, because it would have meant cancelling things they really enjoyed. I think it's amazing how people have adapted and I hope it will make a difference long term in the way people learn, communicate, shop, work... DH was working from home 3 days a week, and driving a 2hr round-trip to work the other two days, so we are saving £££ on fuel and he is way less stressed, and getting more done around the house (big renos going on here, so it's all to the good!). DD20 came home from Canada where she'd been at uni just in time for our lockdown here in the UK; we've settled into a new groove with her back. She's just got a job at a local supermarket so that'll be good for her. DS14 and DD12 are probably doing more schoolwork than they've ever done, which is really good because I was beginning to worry about everything they were not getting done! And I'm very happy in my hermitage. It suits me very well to only go out once or maybe twice a week, and otherwise potter around inside and out, doing a bit of laundry or gardening in between cooking and checking schoolwork. I've got some cross stitch out that I haven't had time for in years, and am actually making really good progress with it. (It's a spray of orchids on linen, so takes some concentration.) The only downside to it for me is that DD25 and DD18 are stuck in London until lockdown is lifted. DD25 works as a carer so she has gone to work throughout; DD18 was working in a restaurant, but it had to close so she went out and found a job at a local supermarket. She lives with a couple of friends, so isn't alone. I'll surely be glad to see them, just as soon as we can.

Hey!! It's been a long time.. but yes! Hope you're all well x

I would tend to agree with this - except I have done exactly that - "put up" with it and stayed for the long term. I won't say I always responded right but heck, we're only human. And I don't dig the blame-fest, either. None of this is your fault - it's pretty much all about his crappy choices. Much love to and prayers for you, Moonhawk. You have my support 100% no matter what you ultimately decide for your marriage. x Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OP, I think you have just won the internet tonight ;) Yup. Same problem. Booty is on the more generous side but not huge. I don't particularly remember having this problem pre-kids, and I gave birth to 4, of that makes any difference. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, definitely! It simply wouldn't happen otherwise! Some days I'm laid down all day, other days I start out like that and gradually get up, and on really good days I can be up all day. It varies a great deal and we just take it as it comes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's just lovely. I don't know how ARCT/RCM compares to our music exam boards in the UK but she's certainly very accomplished. [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heck yes. But getting rid of it is a whole 'nother issue, and believe me we've tried. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk