Taking my finger off the self-destruct button

Wordsmith

Thank you, all. I was quite comfortable spending €50 on the wedding present (all things being equal, I don't think it was too little, despite the extortionate amount people in Ireland spend), what got to me is that one of the domestic goddesses sneaked in a couple of extra presents from her and her boyfriend. I think we should all have contributed the same, and I was worried that lovely boss man would think I was being ungrateful, especially since he has been so generous to me. I don't think he would think that. So, what was I worried about? Hmmm. Maybe it is this being on the periphery thing again - thinking the three of us were doing the same thing and then finding out someone was "breaking out" and leaving me in the dark. I hope the other domestic goddess hasn't secretly bought something else as well (especially since I lent her €50 for this present, she hasn't paid me back the €20 for the present we bought the other domestic goddess last December, and she still owes me €12 from the flight ticket I lent her the money for a while ago) - if she has, I will seriously be ticked off.

Like all of you - to me, a present is not to do with how much is spent, but how much thought went into it. I wasn't very happy at getting a voucher, but really we didn't know what to get and rather than spend on something they didn't need or wouldn't like, it seemed best to leave them to it. The bride's mother suggested a patio set, but (a) it might not be to their liking, and would be a bit big to hide away, and (b) I don't think we'd have got much for €150 ... maybe she thought we'd be spending more._pale_ I did try to personalise the envelope by making a paper bow out of till receipts.

Another doggie dietary indiscretion had me walking the lanes in the rain in nothing but my dressing gown and a pair of Crocs at 5.30 this morning. That dog has a serious amount of making up to do today. She hasn't made a start on it yet.

Brian came with us on our proper-time- of-day walk (for which I did get dressed), but disappeared about half a mile from the house (probably less - I'm a bit girly about estimating distances). I called him, but (like all my animals) he ignored me. When I drove back up the lane to come to work he was still in the same spot we had left him, and he meandered across the road, and sat in front of the car for a little rest, and then walked calmly in front of me before deciding - in his own time - to hop into the hedge. Do you think he recognised the car and was having a bit of a larf, or do you think he does this to all the cars going down the lane? _pale_ I hope he finds his way back home - I know he's a cat and should have these skills, but he is a bit "special".

In an effort to try to be nicer (baby, baby steps), when the priest didn't have enough money for his Rennie, I let him off the 20c. He did say he'd come back and pay it later, but then said that he was rushing for a plane. Hm, methinks he is doing a runner. And I know that I was being nice with someone else's money, but I figured that I could pay it back to the till by not nicking fudge out of the pick 'n' mix during the day. I think this is all a step in the right direction.

Ooh, just noticed it's one minute to go until lovely boss man's bride is due to start walking down the aisle.

I am going to show my ignorance again (moo2moo is familiar with this) - I have noticed in lots of other diaries the abbreviation ETA, as in "in other news", but I can't for the life of me work out what this stands for. Estimated Time of Arrival doesn't cut it, and I am assuming that not everyone using it is part of a terrorist group. "Exceptionally Tedious Alert"? - nah, some of it is very interesting. "Excluding the Totally Addlebrained" - er, possibly ...

Wordsmith

moo2moo wrote: »

The worst of the expensive stuff was a ghastly statue... limited edition which someone forked oput £500 for and which has never left its box. Its just too awful. Thankfully the gifter has never ever visited us which is just as well really because she'd be mortified to find it still in its box.

E - bay, E - bay, E - bay. If she does ever visit you can always say that if was too beautiful to be kept out of the way so it was kept on full show in the living room and unfortunately it got broken - you cried for its loss for days.

Wordsmith

poorbutrich wrote: »

[/LIST] at our recent wedding

Ooh, congratulations!

Wordsmith

Not harking on about wedding presents or anything, but I've just remembered a present I gave someone years ago. I got at a second-hand bookshop a 1953 Men Only for the fella, and a 1950s book with sock knitting patterns in it for the new "housewife". Very cheap, but caused a bit of a giggle when they were opened in front of everyone.

Mags_cat

Wordsmith wrote: »

I am going to show my ignorance again (moo2moo is familiar with this) - I have noticed in lots of other diaries the abbreviation ETA, as in "in other news", but I can't for the life of me work out what this stands for. Estimated Time of Arrival doesn't cut it, and I am assuming that not everyone using it is part of a terrorist group. "Exceptionally Tedious Alert"? - nah, some of it is very interesting. "Excluding the Totally Adlebrained" - er, possibly ...

Edited to add

Wordsmith

Mags_cat wrote: »

Edited to add

Thank you.:o You'd think with my job I'd have worked that out.:o:o

Mags_cat

Wordsmith wrote: »

Thank you.:o You'd think with my job I'd have worked that out.:o:o

I wasn't going to mention that...:rotfl:

RosaBernicia

Seaxwyn - you could also think about a 'sponsor' gift - I was delighted when a friend bought me an Oxfam goat. She knows I always wanted one and I was quite happy that somebody else who needed it more got the real thing. I will be hinting heavily for Kiva vouchers this Christmas - and I think they'd make a good wedding present as they can sit down and decide how to 'spend' them once all the madness is over

Rosa xx

startagain_2

Wordsmith,

I am so sorry that I have been neglecting my "diary duties" and as a small apology am writing in your diary before I update my own

I know I am a pot calling the kettle black but WE must stop living in a world of worrying about appearances, not physical but how we "appear" to others.... you buy a present that reflects your sincerity, feelings and thoughts... not on what the price tag says. So what if domestic goddess has bought 1,2 or 3 others.... her decision, and in my view trying to gain brownie points, which I doubt very much will work with lovely boss.

Your boss is very obviously aware of your circumstances. The mere fact that he has an uber intelligent, uber educated, uber qualified person working as a shop assistant for him shows that you are not the most wealthy person around. The mere fact that he buys you things - things you need - tells me that he is ultra aware of exactly what is going on. For those reasons alone, had you bought anything else he would have been disappointed (I am sure) because in effect you are giving them back what they have given you (financially) for the little extras you have been doing. Don't go there - don't even stress about it.

Weddings are weird things - they make us happy for the bride and groom but leave us feeling wanting at times, whether or not we want to be part of a couple or stay single. Somehow it can inspire feelings of a loss, or that something is lacking. I am sure that once the honeymoon is out of the way and things return to normal so will your emotions. Trust me, 'tis true

Glad to hear the animals are all playing up one way or another, as usual. Keeps you on your toes I am sure Brian knows exactly what he is doing and when it is safe to play feline road barrier with the cars :rotfl: It does sound funny though.

Keep your chin up - enjoy your busy Sunday in the shop and stop worrying abour things that don't deserve the time you are giving them and start planning your work schedule....

Hugs

SA

chevalier

Keep your chin up - enjoy your busy Sunday in the shop and stop worrying abour things that don't deserve the time you are giving them and start planning your work schedule...

This could be me that you were writing about. Well except about the work. I haven't got any yet....

I too would be a bit peeved if people kept on changing the goal posts about what was being done as a joint thing.....so you are not alone there Wordsmith.

chev