Notice
Thread ordered by most liked posts - View normal thread.
I need to plan a party for my husband. Would you do it at home? - Cheaper, less formal (but home is tiny with 1 not great bathroom 😩 that I would be a bit embarrassed for people to see till we can afford to do it up) or...host a meal in a restaurant -EXPENSIVE but comfortable for guests etc....in an ideal world I would do it at home but just feel our house is a lot smaller than our friends etc and it might be a bit cringy
Do it at home. Real friends won't judge you and your house.

What's the issue with your "not so nice" bathroom? Is it something you can camouflage with a bit of paint and decor? Maybe a new toilet seat?
 
  • Like
  • Heart
Reactions: 3

Pesky Tarian

VIP Member
Thankyou yes good point I will do
Possibly say everyone pays their own way and you will provide dessert (take a supermarket cake, if ok'd by the venue) which is what we usually do.

If I received an 'are you free on this date' type invite I certainly wouldn't expect a free meal, hopefully your guests feel the same. Have a lovely time!.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3

petitspois

VIP Member
Can anybody give me some advice for work please. I’ve been covering a managerial role whilst my manager is off sick with a terminal illness. Really enjoying it, made plenty of progress and without sounding unsympathetic, pretty much been told the job is mind eventually. My manager is back next week and it’s difficult and sensitive as unsure how long they have left (initially was told 18 months, six months ago). I don’t particularly want to give some of my roles back as I’m really enjoying it and like I say, doing well. I’ve been told I can continue as I am and nothing will change but I don’t know if they will stand by this. We have a meeting next week to discuss, myself, my manager and our manager above them. Any advice on how to handle this in a sensitive way? Basically I don’t want to have been doing all this for almost a year (haven’t been paid extra) to just be dropped now.
I think the proposal you will be presented with would be for the Manager to pick back up some of the role (which will mean they cherry pick) and for you to carry on with the rest. Both your workplace and the Manager are getting what they need out of that scenario and, with due respect to your poor Manager’s situation, you are losing out. Personally, I’d try to speak directly to Management to agree to the above if you have a salary increase.
At it stands, they are getting the work done with no gaps and it’s not costing them a penny more.
 
  • Like
  • Heart
Reactions: 3

Thank(space)you

VIP Member
Something really weird just happened.

I live in a gated complex on my own. No one has ever bothered me in 4 years. Most people who live here are young professionals. I’ve never seen a single family with kids but again, I don’t know everyone in this building.

Around 6pm today, I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and there was a woman standing against the wall with her child. The woman immediately gave me chills down my spine. She looked a bit haggard almost strung on something.

The child is the one who knocked at the dirt. When I said ‘What is this’, the woman told the child ‘go on’. So the child shows me some random Santa’s list to fill in and hands it to me. I said ‘Ok’ and I close the door.

I went to my living room and I thought the child and the woman were gone. Then the kid runs back to my door and the woman says to him ‘we’ll come back tomorrow’.

It was really weird. I’ve never seen this in my building. They didn’t ask for money, but the woman clearly comes from a rough area. She was wearing a track suit and home slippers. The child was in PJs. I’ve never seen them in the building ever.

I don’t know if they knocked at any other door on my floor as I didn’t hear anything but I find this all too weird and wonder if I should report it to security?
It could be a scam - definitely wouldn't give them anything and I would report it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

Magwitch

Chatty Member
Yeah that's kind of my thinking as well. I've fixed some super obvious stuff already (no handrail in the staircase which I've now put up, some damage to the walls which I've plastered over, etc), but I think I'll only do cosmetic stuff and make sure to decorate the rooms properly for pictures.

I do want to get a fresh coat of paint up in some areas, I just think it makes the whole thing look so much better - but that's easily done tbh, and I think doing a proper clean, and a cleanup of the garden will also go a long way towards getting the price I want for it.

Thankfully I'm quite handy, so I can fix things myself and don't have to pay someone, and I have a lot of stuff already lying around with regards to tools and paint and such.
I think this sounds exactly right. Spend the minimum possible to freshen it up and that’s it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

Snippysnips

VIP Member
I'm in a terrible situation with my sister and I could use some advice.

She's in the middle of a crisis, going through a breakup, not having much professional success, etc... basically a midlife crisis with added depression. Lots of difficult things, one of them being her living environment. The flat belongs to our mother, we spent our teenage years there, she was living there with her ex who has moved out, so lots of memories from that relationship. Additonally, it's cramped, ground level next to a busy road, quite dark, and it hasn't been maintained well. I offered her a room in my house, initially for a couple of weeks, to offer her a change of scenery and to get away from the bad memories. We got along well in the beginning, and even spoke about her moving in as a proper roommate, but she declined because she can't afford to pay for the flat and rent at my place.

It's been three months now, and she's still here. I want to be a good sister and be there for her, but I feel it's gone from being a good sister to being a god damn door mat and enabler.

She doesn't pay rent, she's not really contributing to the housekeeping, she's taking up a lot of my time and energy with her mental health issues. Her issues taking up all the space in our relationship - she doesn't see me, I think, only herself and her issues.

I'm trying not to begrudge her that - I know how hard breakups and depression are - but it's hours of talking about her, and only her, every single day. We've had multiple conversations about her contributions as well, but nothing changed. Any time I try to talk it out, the depression is the conversation killer. She doesn't know what to do because depression - conversation over.

The angry side of me is wanting to kick her out as soon as possible, because the whole thing has caused my mental health to become more fragile as well (ADHD, depression).

I'm so angry, at myself, her, the situation - she's gotten the best possible situation for her by putting the cost, both financial and emotional, on my tab. Free place to stay, free "therapy", no need to work on anything, no need to clean, no need to put energy into change. And fuck, I get it, I've been and still am where she is sometimes, depression is so insidious and makes someone a terribly selfish person sometimes.

But fuck, I've been that person in my family that carries everyone elses burden, and apparently that's still absolutely expected of me, no, she feels entitled to it even. I have tried more than once to let her know how I feel (in less harsh terms), but it's not getting trough.

What makes me hesitate in simply kicking her out are two things. Firstly, she's had suicidal ideations during the last week, probably due to her medication. She's newly on antidepressants which can cause the depression to get worse initially when starting them. Secondly, I was were she was, and I had nobody. I had to struggle with my depression by myself and it was really fucking hard.

I'm fucking angry and terrified at the same time. But my anger is growing, and having to push it down is doing me no favours.

As an aside, our parents are horrible, and our mother has acitvely been making her feel worse. So, no help there.
Sorry to hear about it all, depression is not easy an I totally see both sides, as someone who has it myself it can be harder to deal with it when it's easier to stay in a slump but truthfully staying in a slump is not going to make things better

Have you said to her about seeking therapy? With suicidal thoughts and being on medication you may be able to speed up the process and seek therapy on the NHS, it is only I think 6 sessions but it's a start, if not could you both maybe look at charity's that help out with therapy, I know most are more for kids an teens but I am sure there are adult charity's, they basically cover the costs of private therapy which is much more quicker to get being that it's private

I'd really start pushing for her to try an help herself, getting up in the morning an going for a shower, going for a walk to the shop to pick up something for dinner, picking up little things around the house to keep it tidy etc, getting out for walks can really do your mental health a lot of good an can start to get you out of the cycle of depression, same with just keeping a clean space so it doesn't start to feel overwhelming

If she doesn't start to really help herself it's going to cause you to completely blow up at her which will do neither of you any good, but at the same time she has to try an get herself out of the cycle an if therapy isn't going to be an option then she needs to start looking after her mental health with trying to at least get out for some walks
 
  • Heart
Reactions: 2

T-time

Chatty Member
I just wanted to come back to say you were spot on with this. I heard through a mutual friend that not only is he seeing someone but she's also pregnant :eek:. No wonder he decided that we "didn't add anything to each other's lives anymore" so abruptly.
What an asshole. You don't need that kind off energy in your life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

chickhicks86

VIP Member
I applied online then got a notification to attend a face to face meeting with a job coach or whatever they are called, I had to prove who I was ie photo ID & show my tenancy agreement, then said I wasn’t entitled to any help but to basically look for a better paid job or ask for more hours. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have any dependents? So came away absolutely heartbroken that there is zero help out there for me.

I wouldn’t of taken the job I have now if I knew they wouldn’t give me a minimum of 24hrs, I’m so stupid to think that I was actually going to be better off instead I’ve just fallen flat on my arse again 😢
I did a quick go on the Turn2us online calculator - I had to guess a few things (eg just put in a random postcode for the housing amount), but you really should be getting a small amount at least!

Maximum Universal Credit before deductions
£ 767.30 per month
Standard Allowance

£ 400.14

Housing

£ 367.16

Total deductions
£ -431.73 per month
Earnings

£ -431.73

Benefit Cap

£ 0.00

Total Universal Credit
£ 335.57 per month
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Hi everyone, thanks for the feedback! Just a little clarification, I've talked extensively with both my mom and my aunt for the past few months about this....or I should say, they talk to me about it. I have been saying for a decade now that she needed to set him straight, tell him to grow the F up, and kick him out but she just says "he'll just sink". I think he needs to sink to be humbled.

She has honestly thought recently of just signing the house out of her name (she keeps herself one foot out the door anyway and has never had an attachment to the house and stayed intentionally behind on property taxes if she ever needed to run) and just abandoning the house and him as he has made it very clear of his refusal to leave.

I think you're all right, I live 3 hours (drive) away so it's not like I can just swing over if things hit the fan but I am also not afraid to be an enemy of him as I have been there before in the past. I have never had a very good relationship with him and at this point, I don't even like him as a person anymore. I wouldn't even extend putting a shed turned tiny house in my backyard anymore for him to live in (just a running *serious* joke - my mom has always said I'll have to take him when she's gone because he won't make it). I think it's best I just stay the fack out of it😬.

I appreciate tattle and everyone on it so much, thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.
Like the other poster mentioned ask your mum and aunt to stop complaining to you.
I had to drum it home to my mum that I couldn’t take the emotional burden anymore. If she didn’t want to make changes then she can’t complain to me about it. My MH took a dip and I was so stressed that my blood pressure went through the roof.
I think that’s what actually made my mum stop moaning to me is when I said to her my GP diagnosed me with high blood pressure due to the stress
So please take care of yourself
 
  • Like
  • Heart
Reactions: 2

Thank(space)you

VIP Member
Wondering if there is (if so please point me in the right way) a stopping smoking thread?




Found 3 but I'll be honest cba to look for more haha .
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

Sunflower91

VIP Member
It sucks doesn't it! I’m on Fexofenadine which used to be good but now they aren’t working at all! Just hitting dead ends as they want me to see the gp but I CAN’T actually see the gp! Phoned again this morning and said i really NEED an appointment but she just said they were full and told me again to get E-consult which I’ve already done. I’m just desperate now as it makes you feel so wooly headed and tired!😪 I took another dose of my Fexofenadine this morning as I was desperate but it’s just not doing anything.
---

I just feel crappy as I know it’s a rubbish time of year for the gp’s and it doesn’t really need an in person appointment! I know what I’m allergic to, the pills before worked fine without any bother so really it could just be a phone consult to either increase the dose or change the pills. Phoned again this morning and just got told to e-consult again, nightmare!
I could have written this myself. For the last 4 years I’ve had chronic hives that’s gotten worse not better. I was sent to a dermatologist on the nhs that did nothing basically. Tried going back to my GP and my options seem to be take a boat load of antihistamines and suffer the side effects or just suffer. It got so bad I thought I was having anaphylaxis several times so in the end went private. I was seen in 2 weeks, had allergy testing done and got an actual diagnosis and proper care plan. There’s a jab that’s not available on the NHS that I’m planning on having if my current regime doesn’t work and if I can afford it. My allergist is seeing multiple people a day with the same condition I have- apparently it’s absolutely rife, hundreds if not thousands more trying to get through the nhs to get it treated but it’s not something they even teach in medical school apparently.
 
  • Heart
  • Wow
Reactions: 2
It’s mainly clothes I have, bits of kitchenware, I have limited space as live in a shared house, the room is tiny, I did have about 12 boxes originally my friend suggested vacuum bags for the remainder of my stuff & be even more ruthless in throwing things out then try & shove it in a few boxes & stack in my wardrobe but I’m just so limited on space.

The company have got back to me & admitted they did send emails out about the price increase but then turned it back on me saying it most probably went into my spam inbox! This was after I threatened them with trading standards, I’ve been checking my spam inbox every few days since the end of Feb as started a new job & they sent over my right to work entitlement so the email was never sent in the first place from the storage company!
I would tell them you want some credit and proof as you’ll be going to Trading Standards anyway.
They are clearly lying
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Yeah is in my notes that some of the is in work triggered. Like stress defo adds to my symptoms.
I’m going to check my contract now never thought of that.
What will they be able to see? Is it just related to this illness or absolutely everything? Not that I think there’s alot more to see lol
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: 2

lilchicken

Chatty Member
Can you do a work station assessment? Order new chairs etc? Or speak to occupational health?

Stretching (i do yoga) helps me, especially if I focus on neck & upper back.

Shakti mat is great too

A couple of times a day I will also roll my shoulders and my neck whilst I'm at my desk.

Hot baths will help with muscle aches too

If you can afford it a chiropractor can work wonders, as can regular massages.
Second all this, but aren’t chiropractors known to be a bit nonsense and potentially dangerous?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2
My son started school last year and became friendly with a child in class, met their family on a play date and has become obsessed with the older brother ever since; follows him around school, makes a beeline every day to play, when I asked who he plays with or who his best friend is he will always say the older child, not the younger one in the same class, and the parents are starting to notice/make comments and not in a friendly way.

What do I do? Should I discourage? Accept that it’s just a phase and the parents are being too sensitive? Apologise? Help!
Ask the parents if the older boy is getting annoyed. It might be that he doesn’t like it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

miss n thropy

VIP Member
Clutches are pricey to have done , it's mostly labour costs cos its a big job... it also needs new tyres , then it's mot will be due , and it's service. I think I've lost my confidence with it a bit .
I know some people don’t like PCPs and I see why, but my son has his car on a PCP with our local SEAT dealer, it’s a 20 plate little Mii, doesn't cost much per month, they took his very old car as deposit and it gets two years servicing, parts warranty and break down cover as part of the deal x
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

littlepup

VIP Member
I keep dreaming about my ex, we split 7 years ago and I’ve been in a very happy relationship with my new partner for 5 years, but it’s 2-3 times a week and I always wake up feeling really weird. It was a pretty messy split, we were together 11 years, had planned to get married, and we split because he cheated.
I hate waking up feeling like I miss him, and I’ll never contact him, but I just start overthinking
Could it be feeding into something else rather than being about the ex? Some insecurities or worries about another aspect of your life or relationships (even work or family ones).
If not, could there be some unresolved feelings around the split. Not that you want him/aren’t over him but rather how it made you feel or the betrayal?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2

Snippysnips

VIP Member
No model recs, sorry, but AO have consistently delivered really quickly (even at 8am on a Sunday once), installed and taken old white goods away with the packaging from the new. Different services have additional costs unless there’s an offer on, but when a washer dies I want to cry, so it costs what it costs to get a new one in and installed and the old one taken away.
You might have a local independent that does a really good job so ask nearby too. Good luck.
Thanks I'll have a look on their site, my problem would be trying to figure out how to get rid of the old one tbh, it's not going fit in my little car an the towns tip requires booking appointments to go an fees to pay to use it, so I'd be paying anyway if I done it myself
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Going to the hairdressers….. do you tip? If yes, how much?

I’ve never tipped before, partly as I’ve never found someone decent before, and partly as the prices are so expensive I begrudge having to pay extra. The current hairdresser I see is actually really great, first time in decades that I’ve gone back a second time, but when it came time to pay, and it’s £200 every 8 weeks, she hesitated at the card machine and I felt like it was expected. She didn’t say anything, and I’ve booked again, but now I fear that I’m being rude, what should I do?
I tip when I can. I don't think it should be expected. The UK is becoming to American in that tipping culture is now expected. Only do it if you want to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Nice blanket, decent candle, some nice bubble bath (if they have a bath) or just flowers and a card! Or a just eat voucher so they can try out the new takeaways.

I personally woukd hate a caddy of cleaning supplies as I am very particular about what cleaning products I use and I also am a bit of a hoarder so would end up shoving them in a cupboard
Oooh I'm with you on the JustEat voucher, that's a much smarter idea. Indeed, I did the basket for my daughter's new home - but of course I know the products she uses!
 
  • Like
  • Heart
Reactions: 2