Which vegetable is the one you most enjoy preparing, and which is the least?

[Roger Kettle]

Over to you, Malc. I'm standing back.

[peter]

I'm behind you Roger

[Malc]

Mel received the card with loud laughter and hugged her boys tightly.
The morning was taken up with my younger son's football game, but when we got home, my older made his mum a Mother's Day lunch, which she got very emotional about. He had told me he was going to do something "special" but refused to reveal what it was.

Mel's friend Tracey had phoned in the meantime and invited us out to the Point to meet another couple and have a barbie. Our boys grew up with Tracey and Uli's boys, (Uli is Swiss) so they basically looked after themselves while the adults talked. The husband of the new couple is Uli's new boss, so I was careful not to upset them. The new couple have two adult sons, who were there, and I pretty much loathed the mother and sons instantly, which is quite a feat for me, as I tend to get on with people. Uli's new boss isn't father to the lads, he has only known the mother for a short while, and she insisted on calling him "babe" and "sweetheart". Her sons, whom the mother kept describing as "handsome men" were two drips with arms totally covered in tattoo "sleeves" who kept their shades on even indoors.

One kept on about his "talent" and how his next girlfriend would have to be a songwriter or musician to understand him.
I drank constantly through the whole afternoon whilst Uli's new boss named every car that drove past us, gave us its year and a potted history of the manufacturer, and a reason why he would "never buy that bucket of sh*t".
I got the feeling that I was mildly resented because I wouldn't eat the sausages they had just cooked. I said I was pacing myself (lie) because we were going to dinner later (true). Actually I hadn't even eaten breakfast and if the bangers had looked anything like edible I would have snaffled one. Unfortunately, they looked like diseased boar penises.

When we got back home, it was too early to go to dinner, so I spent some time on the computer, and that's the last I remember until 2am, when I woke up in my darkened office. My wife told me she had tried to wake me twice, but I doubt that. Sometimes she loves to simmer in the broth of martyrdom, and there's nothing better than a drunken, passed-out husband for that, especially when you know he's going to wake up in agony after sitting in an office chair for seven hours.

[Joan]

Well, I was presented with a bunch of big yellow chrysanthemums (the Mother's Day flower here) when I came downstairs. Then after breakfast, and when the kids who are no longer kids got up, I was given my presents - couple of books, a DVD, box of Lindt Kirsch batons and a bottle of French champagne.  In the afternoon we went out.  The boys went to the movies to see Star Trek and Kate and I had a lovely lunch and then went shopping.  Trevor made dinner - Oysters Kilpatrick and prawns to follow, tiramisu for dessert, the french champagne to drink, and a couple of the Kirsch batons.  All in front of the telly.

All in all, a lovely day, marred only by me getting very upset when I sat down in the TV room to open my presents.  We always used to wrap a treat up for Ben when we had present giving, and he would get very excited - I just expected him to stick his nose over the arm of the couch when I sat down.  Anyway, we moved to the sitting room where Ben didn't go (we don't use it much either).  Only thing was, there was another DVD which son John (bless him) had bought earlier last week - Marley and Me.  So that caused more upset for John.  We'll leave it to watch for a while, I think.  Still I think it was a good thing to get a bit of that emotion out - by the end of the day, Trevor and I were sitting talking about all our fond memories of Ben.

Feel somewhat fuzzy today, though - all that rich food and champagne.  Probably not as bad as Malc does.  Or did you sleep it all off in the office chair, Malc?

[Malc]

I'm having a day off, today.

I should explain my attitude to arranging special days for Mel, I obviously come across as a bit of an Oliver Reed.
For her 40th, I booked a hall, decorated it with balloons and streamers (with some help from Mel's friends), arranged the tablecloths and seat covers with the little bows on the back, booked the caterers, hired the bar staff, music for dancing, etc, all IN SECRET.

I drew an invitation card myself, sent it to all her friends, many of whom I had to phone because we had lost touch, then I cooked up an excuse for us to go to that particular hall - I said I had lost my bank cards and specs on a nearby football field so I wanted to stop by for five minutes to look around, then one of the boys was to say he was bursting for a pee, then, (as the function suite has an adjacent bar anyway) I would say let's take a detour there for a swift ale, then on to the Italian meal which was the pretext.
Then, when we were inside, the lights would come on and everyone would yell "Surprise!!!"

It was all worked out, and believe it or not, it all went to plan. The night was superb, everyone had a great time, - it was one of the best parties ever.
The only down side was that Mel complained all through the secret build-up, mostly about how I should look after my stuff, then that the boys are old enough to remember to go to the toilet before we leave the house, that sort of thing.
The next day, when I went to clean the hall, Mel still had not even given me a peck on the cheek or a thank you, and has not to this day. She dropped those medicine-ball sized hints for a full year leading to her 40th, she fully expected a special day, she felt it was her right, and I suspect she doesn't feel any thanks were necessary.

Me, I feel I've done my bit. Don't get me wrong, Mel and I are very much happy, and have a strong, supportive marriage, but the whole commercialized Special Day thing leaves me cold. I don't celebrate my birthday and I'm annoyed when other people do. I hate Christmas, because the whole of Australia closes down for about two weeks before and two weeks after. Easter interrupts the football season and all these Special Days (Mothers Day included) are naked opportunities to sell chocolate.

Mothers Day to me is Mothering Sunday, always the middle Sunday in Lent, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Why we in Australia choose to go along with the crappy American version I don't know.

[Joan]

We never celebrated Mother's Day for my Mum when I was in Scotland.  It was only here, where they make such a big thing about it at school etc, that we started celebrating it.  Frankly, I was happy with the things the kids made at school for me, some of which I still use, and would still be happy with just a day off.  All these things seem to have become much more commercialised and lost their meaning.  Halloween never used to be celebrated here at all and then they started the stupid "Trick or Treat" thing.  Has that taken over in Scotland, or do they still go "guising"?  Occasionally, I'll suggest to one of the kids who appear at the door on Halloween that they should do a "turn" for their treats, and they just look at me as if I'm from outer space.

[Vulture]

I spent 'Mothering Sunday' (way back in March) flat on my side, in bed with labryinthitis(sp?) unable to move without feeling dizzy and sick. I received a card from Number One son and I was supposed to go to Number Two son's for lunch but had to postpone this until the following week. As a Mother's Day prezzie, having someone else do all the cooking (and wash the dishes) is wonderful!! I hate big buildups to 'special' occasions; just spending time with one or more of my children is perfect!

[Malc]

I would support any move to create a MILF day. It would be for any mothers who had not let themselves go, especially those who were still babes, and especially glamorous grans.

[Vulture]

I would support any move to create a MILF day. It would be for any mothers who had not let themselves go, especially those who were still babes, and especially glamorous grans.

Bugger! That lets me out!!

[Diane CBPFC]

Mother's Day for me was a day off. Hubby took over all the cooking and cleaning up, we went canoeing/fishing for a few hours but the rest of the day (except for an hour in the kennels) I got to spend some time on my "art" - something I had started back on April 4th but have no time for these days.

It really isn't about gifts - just to be acknowledged with a little thank you for a year of cafe, taxi-service, teacher, provider, laundromat, nurse and personal shopper services.

 

[Joan]

I would support any move to create a MILF day. It would be for any mothers who had not let themselves go, especially those who were still babes, and especially glamorous grans.

This assumes that we were babes to start with, an unlikely state of affairs for the majority of us ... I expect at least one "Speak for yourself, Joan!" from the mothers on this board, girls!  Were you a hunk when you became a father, Malc??

As for not letting ourselves go, I tell you, it's bloody hard not letting something slip, unless you've pots of money, nannies, cleaners, gardeners, beauticians, surgeons, personal trainers, etc, etc.  You may not be able to see it, but let me tell you, it's there, and once it's gone, it's never going to be the same again.  If a mother has managed to maintain everything in peak condition, then she deserves a whole week dedicated to her, not just a day, as far as I'm concerned.

Good to see you back to your old self, Malc.  Was getting a bit worried about you there. 

[Malc]

Were you a hunk when you became a father, Malc??

It's precisely why I became a father, Joan. The women involved were so overcome with lust they got me before I could put the little rubber mouse's hat on.

[Joan]

Ah, there you are. 

[Vulture]

Ah, there you are. 

 

[The Peepmaster]

Has anyone here tried "ladies' fingers"? I think they're popular in the Far East and Tescos.