To remind myself how far I've come - my debt diary. - SOA added

lunar

Im lucky I have a really c****y dad and step mum, they decided the didnt want to talk to me when i was 13! i was gutted at the time took years to get over, then i realised what a lucky escape id had. I have a wonderful mum and step dad though. When i look back im so glad they were out of my life. my step dad gets on really well with my dads parents and brother so we dont have problems at family events. But i really feel for you, even as a child i remember how hard it was managing these situations.

looking back im glad i never ended up with a normal family!

chocaholic110

lunar wrote: »

Im lucky I have a really c****y dad and step mum, they decided the didnt want to talk to me when i was 13! i was gutted at the time took years to get over, then i realised what a lucky escape id had. I have a wonderful mum and step dad though. When i look back im so glad they were out of my life. my step dad gets on really well with my dads parents and brother so we dont have problems at family events. But i really feel for you, even as a child i remember how hard it was managing these situations.

looking back im glad i never ended up with a normal family!

Lucky you! My dad and step monster have gone through periods of not speaking to me but it never lasts. In a way it would be easier to just cut ties but then I feel guilty that I am depriving the kids of a grandparent - not that he's a great grandparent - they don't treat any of their grandchildren alike and let the kids know about it. They also say nasty things about us to the kids when they go and visit which is getting rarer and rarer these days.

I have just heard that my step-sister is pregnant though and thinking of cancelling the wedding that caused all the blooming fuss in the first place so once she has a baby ALL the others will be forgotten anyway (as it will be my step-monster's only grandchild)

chocaholic110

So I chickened out of the second performance and now feel like the worst mother in the world

Mind you, not sure I could have sat and watched the whole thing again anyway; the infant nativity was good but the junior performance, hmmm! And two hours on a hard plastic chair has done my hips and back no good at all! (God, I am always complaining, aren't I?)

Sea78

Was DD fine then? I think that all those factors combined would have just made for an entirely stressful experience that no one woul dhave enjoyed so I think you made the right decision - and don't feel like the worst mother - I would have done the same. We can be bad together

What you got planned for hte rest of the week?

sea xxxx

chocaholic110

Hi Sea! Haven't seen you around much this week since your hangover(!) Keeping busy?

DD was fine about it and she's come in quite happy so I feel a bit less guilty. I think there is a Bad Mothers group somewhere on here; maybe I should join that - haven't seen any evidence you would be allowed to join though!

Going shopping with my Mam tomorrow to pick up a few bits and pieces that I either can't get online, or won't pay the delivery fee for. Think it might be a slow shuffle around the shops with lots of tea breaks for a sit down though!

I need:

• a page-a-day diary for DH. He would be gutted if he didn't get one of these as he keeps a record of all his work stuff in it and can refer to it if ever there's a problem at work. I forgot to get him one one year and he's never let me forget since!
• some form of "pooing" reindeer or similar for DD and DS. DS has got one every year for years but still expects it every year - such sophisticated children I have!
• some form of soft sweets (fudge?) for DH's Grandma's hamper
• Cards with Grandad etc on or I'll never hewr the last of it from my Dad.

I think that might be about it, but it will be nice to get out for the day and have lunch. Other than that, not much else planned for the week but have been a bit lazy the last few days and have lots of tidying to do. Emptied the ironing basket today but everything is in piles waiting to be put away. Also wrote Christmas cards for kids at school and our neighbours but still need to write and deliver family cards.

Sea78

oooh very busy
I've got to do the cards with Sophia still, but all mine have been done for ages - but seem to keep forgetting to actually post them!! Lol at the pooing reindeer! Fabulous

Have a nose at firebox.com - I was wetting myself last night at some of the things - I have bought a 'Mankini' for my secret santa recipient (signed up for the newsletter so gt a £5 voucher ). Hilarious!

Sea xx

chocaholic110

OMG! Who are you giving that to?? Please say it's your boss!! I got a call from work to see if I wanted to be in secret santa but opted out (Bah, humbug!!). We only have one man at our work though and I wouldn't like to even imagine him in that!!!:eek:

Sea78

hehe - it's someone I work with in my department - he will love it!! (doubt he'll strip off to model it mind you! Might put it over his clothes though lol). I think he'll think it's really funny - but will let you know next thursday! Also got my friend her ss present for our head of dept - a gentleman's ball scratcher!!!!

chocaholic110

Sea78 wrote: »

hehe - it's someone I work with in my department - he will love it!! (doubt he'll strip off to model it mind you! Might put it over his clothes though lol). I think he'll think it's really funny - but will let you know next thursday! Also got my friend her ss present for our head of dept - a gentleman's ball scratcher!!!!

Hmm...lovely! I could spend a fortune on that site. Had better keep away from it as I've just about finished my shopping and don't want to spend much more. Lots of ideas for next year though - how sad am I, planning next Christmas when this one hasn't even passed?

chocaholic110

OK, I'm selling one idiot husband if there are any takers? Remember how I gave him my debit and credit card to keep safe (from me!!)? Well, I needed the debit card today so he told me where he'd put them...only snag? They aren't there! He swears he's "95% sure" that's where he put them (but said in a not very sure voice) but I am 100% sure they aren't there.

Add to that, I get a letter from Barclays today saying they are concerned about fraudulent activity on the account, and sure enough there are some transactions that aren't mine, but luckily they were declined (as not "Verified by Visa").

So, I've had to cancel both cards - that's one way to avoid spending on them! I'm sure they will be in the house somewhere, just somewhere he's forgotten (he once lost our passports for nearly a year after putting them in a safe place) but just to be on the safe side thought it best to cancel.

So, to the shopping today. Luckily we took some money out for a Christmas tree last week and didn't spend it so I took that instead along with what was already in my purse and luckily didn't need much.

I did get

• a page a day diary for OH (in the pound shop but looks nearly the same as the £5 ones in WHS)
• two pooing reindeers (£1.50 each in Woolies)
• 2 rolls of sellotape
• box of candy canes
• cards for OH and my dad and wife from the kids (I found To Both of You and Auntie cards in the drawer from last year so didn't need them)
• colour them yourselves gift bags and tags for DD to colour and put in the presents she's bought / saved from the front of magazines / won in tombolas to take to my mam's on Christmas day)
• Thorntons' fudge for OH's grandma

and the best deal of all...

I had some vouchers from the Boots baby club - one for a free single use camera with flash, which was BOGOF so got 2 for free to go in kid's stockings, one for £5 off Number 7 make up which my mam used but I got her advantage card points and one for 500 advantage cards points when spending £10 on baby items.

So I bought 3 packs of nappies which should have cost £13.50 but were on special offer and cost £11.19 but got £5.44 back in advantage cards points therefore £5.75 for three packs of nappies and two cameras which should have been £6 each.

So £5.75 for £25.50 of goods - sounds good to me! The woman on the till looked very confused by the fact that the items only cost £11 in the first place -she scrolled back through the items, then give the till roll a searching look but obviously decided it was all in order!

I had some other vouchers for BOGOFs on maternity and baby items but they didn't have them in stock - I think that would have confused her even more!

This morning I had £4 - odd on my advantage card, now I have £12.40 with another 470 (I think) to add from boots.com if I can ever find a working advantage card machine! I don't often buy from Boots but it's worth it when you have a voucher.

My internet connection is driving me doolally today; it keeps cutting out all of the time. There are workmen digging up every road in the village - I wonder if there is any connection?