It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

cw18

I have tea tree and lavendar oils -- wouldn't have thought of putting the latter in a first aid box though

Pitlanepiglet

cw18 wrote: »

I have tea tree and lavendar oils -- wouldn't have thought of putting the latter in a first aid box though

This will probably get junked as medical advice but I find lavender oil is wonderful for burns.

sunflower76

Caterina, I'd ask OH to have a quiet word with his brothers / sisters and say that now they are almost grown ups it seems silly to swap vouchers and is it ok to either leave gift swapping at all or maybe make a family present such as a dvd and a snack hamper for them to share.

sunflower76

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

This will probably get junked as medical advice but I find lavender oil is wonderful for burns.

I always have Sudocrem (which contains lavender oil) in my first aid box as it is fantastic for burns, sores, minor cuts; you name it Sudocrem works on it!

Pitlanepiglet

sunflower76 wrote: »

I always have Sudocrem (which contains lavender oil) in my first aid box as it is fantastic for burns, sores, minor cuts; you name it Sudocrem works on it!

Ohhh I have Sudocreme as well, I didn't know it had lavender in it.

oystercatcher

We've had the voucher problem as well Caterina, the boys have ended up with a stockpile of Smiths vouchers, our local Smiths is tiny mostly selling stationary and newspapers. I have been known to buy the vouchers from the boys and use them for myself or to buy other presents with!
It's hard to put a stop to it without seeming ungrateful.
We're probably one of the 'in profit' families as we have three children. But should they be giving per family or per person ? Don't they benefit by having extra delightful and entertaining relatives ? :rotfl:
I must admit my brother has only one child and I do spend more on her than I might to make up for him having to buy for three. She is my only neice/nephew though and I'm very fond of her.

I guess if you want to put a stop to it all you need to instigate this good and early and get all involved to agree. It sounds as if it was a bit of a last minute panic if you've only just recieved vouchers for your two.
Maybe if the children write thank you letters you could drop a note saying you thought it had all stopped.

Oystercatcher

CRANKY40

My sister and I don't actually bother with presents for each others children at Christmas. They get enough as it is.

We spend a little extra on birthdays instead. They get a good present on a special day and actually remember who bought it for them.

nannaC

mardatha wrote: »

am just wondering how many "end of the world"s we've had ?!

Personally my world's end came during the Queens Silver Jubilee Year, when OH's cousin thought it was hilarious to slip me several mickey fins the night before I had to ice 150 fairy cakes for the kids street party. I have got to say that I have NEVER been able to look RED/WHITE/BLUE iced cakes in the face since. :eek:

mardatha

I have never got birthday cards and very few pressies, all my life. And when I do get one, ever since I was a child, it's always handed over with this one word "that'syurbirthdayandyurxmas"..... ARRGHH !

nannaC

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

This will probably get junked as medical advice but I find lavender oil is wonderful for burns.

Yes it is. I was badly burnt 12 years ago and lavender oil, really helped to make the scar tissue more supple. Also Aqueous [think that is the right spelling] is every bit as good if not better than E45. Even after all these years I still can't use any bubble/creme bath things but a few drops of lavender oil is wonderful.