*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

MrsBunny

Morning
Finally caught up with the thread....yesterday was a total wipe out for my DH and I. Didnt move off the sofa only to make a brew as we are both ill with this sickness bug. By 2pm I was ready for bed!!! I hate being ill. Up early this morning to take DH to work....he will not take a day off. Im taking today off but can not phone in till 730am so I am waiting up reading this lovely thread. Can not wait to get back in my bed, I feel terrible.

Great start to our new year!! Hope everyone else has a lovely day. xx

FeistyFidget

Nana, I am so glad that the doctors are finally listening, I understand how frustrating it can be! Please try to keep your chin up my lovely, I am sure your love and support will go a long way to helping your SIL make a full recovery *hugs*

Plan for today is to pop over to the shops early (taking my present list with) and visit the gym for the first time since November! Slightly worried I may collapse, but I will give it a good go

Island_mum

Lazysheep that’s true although I’m not sure whether it’s can’t cook or won’t cook on his side (I had to teach him to peel veg when we first met ) but when he doesn’t fancy it on the day, he’s more than happy to sort himself out something else lol. Think I’m going to pop a list up in the kitchen and give him time to complain

Reformedshopaholic I’m afraid to admit I love spreadsheets haha. I think I am going to colour code my lists too so that it’s easier to eat up our freezer contents.

Archie bear Happy Birthday!!!! Hope you had a wonderful day :T:T:T

Freespirit66 thank you. I am confident she will be punished but remorse is something I fear people fake in court :mad:. Ho hum – I will keep you all posted on what punishment gets dished up (I’d expect her to go to court this week)

Nanamia I’m afraid I have missed any details re your SIL but I know only too well how hard it is to have a loved one unwell in hospital – you sound like you’re doing a wonderful job caring for her and I wish you/her all the best for 2013.

Kayandy That sounds lovely for your sister’s birthday! How about a bracelet or a locket that has both your names on? You could always make a 21st birthday label for the bottle of wine too?

MrsBunny I hope you feel better very soon – what a lousy way to start the new year xxx

Can I please ask people’s opinions? I have a dear friend’s hen party to go to in May where we are being asked to pay for things as they come up (my mistake as I should have asked for a full cost before but it’s the first one I’ve been on) and so far I have paid £106 for flights (massive downside to living on this rock) and £152 for accommodation. That’s £258 before activities, costumes, food and drink etc. I want to go because it’s all my girlfriends together but a part of me is upset that the bride hasn’t considered me (being the only one with a baby so far) because when I got married, the only thing I wanted from my hen party was to have all the important people there and not to cost them much money as some of my friends had families already. I feel terribly guilty about spending this kind of money on myself rather than DD. Any ideas on how I go about trimming the costs whilst there without being a bore to all the other people?

Oops I've rambled - sorry about that

riskyb

kayandy wrote: »

It's my sister's 21st in Dec (I know ages away) & I want to make her a little hamper of little things up to now I know I want a
-21st sash
-21st crown
- bottle wine
- photo frame with pic of us when little & now
My problem is I also want to get something special but not sure what any ideas?

For one of my biggie birthdays :embarasse I got a this is your life foto book with lots of picutures of me and friends over the years. I really loved it.
Might be a good idea for you to mention a few things that she likes / enjoys and so people here can then make a few suggestions?

MrsBunny

Island_mum wrote: »

Can I please ask people’s opinions? I have a dear friend’s hen party to go to in May where we are being asked to pay for things as they come up (my mistake as I should have asked for a full cost before but it’s the first one I’ve been on) and so far I have paid £106 for flights (massive downside to living on this rock) and £152 for accommodation. That’s £258 before activities, costumes, food and drink etc. I want to go because it’s all my girlfriends together but a part of me is upset that the bride hasn’t considered me (being the only one with a baby so far) because when I got married, the only thing I wanted from my hen party was to have all the important people there and not to cost them much money as some of my friends had families already. I feel terribly guilty about spending this kind of money on myself rather than DD. Any ideas on how I go about trimming the costs whilst there without being a bore to all the other people?

Oops I've rambled - sorry about that

Hi Island_mum, feeling a tad better since going back to sleep but I am sure later on the sickness will come back, not been able to eat anything so far....thankyou for asking.

Anyhow, re the above, I feel for you. for my hen night, all I wanted was close group of friends and family and to go out for a meal. Everyone else wanted the full 'going out' scene but that is just not me. In the end I stopped agreeing to things and in the end got my own way with a quiet meal....its my night at the end of the day. Sounds a little similar to your night. For my other friends who have done the 'works' I have only gone out for a few hours, I did the afternoon spa for one but not the night out, and for the other I did a couple of hours cocktail making, few drinks but was home by 11pm while the others hit the clubs.

The flights and hotel accomodation, I think you have resided that there is nothing you can do about that with only you living on Guernsey (which I love.....would love to move there one day) and having to come to the mainland for your friend. I would maybe disscussed the situation with the other ladies.....you might find they to are worried about money and maybe you can all can find 'cheaper alternatives'? - 241 on meals, cheaper drinks by going to happy hours, shop in charity shops for costumes or borrow, see if you can get any group discounts for any activities? Dont worry about not spending money on your daughter, I presume she is very young? She will not know and will not hold it against you!! Go and enjoy your self but I would have a chat with the other ladies first.

Mrs bunny xx

Island_mum

MrsBunny wrote: »

Hi Island_mum, feeling a tad better since going back to sleep but I am sure later on the sickness will come back, not been able to eat anything so far....thankyou for asking.

Anyhow, re the above, I feel for you. for my hen night, all I wanted was close group of friends and family and to go out for a meal. Everyone else wanted the full 'going out' scene but that is just not me. In the end I stopped agreeing to things and in the end got my own way with a quiet meal....its my night at the end of the day. Sounds a little similar to your night. For my other friends who have done the 'works' I have only gone out for a few hours, I did the afternoon spa for one but not the night out, and for the other I did a couple of hours cocktail making, few drinks but was home by 11pm while the others hit the clubs.

The flights and hotel accomodation, I think you have resided that there is nothing you can do about that with only you living on Guernsey (which I love.....would love to move there one day) and having to come to the mainland for your friend. I would maybe disscussed the situation with the other ladies.....you might find they to are worried about money and maybe you can all can find 'cheaper alternatives'? - 241 on meals, cheaper drinks by going to happy hours, shop in charity shops for costumes or borrow, see if you can get any group discounts for any activities? Dont worry about not spending money on your daughter, I presume she is very young? She will not know and will not hold it against you!! Go and enjoy your self but I would have a chat with the other ladies first.

Mrs bunny xx

Glad you are feeling a little brighter and fingers crossed it doesn't creep back later on. My DH has gone home from work ill already today so I can look forward to catching that too

So this is where you're going to see my frustration - we all live in Guernsey. Therefore every person going has paid to get to Brighton and I'm already staying just two nights instead of the three everyone else is staying for. The problem is the bride is a teacher and wanted a long weekend away therefore we're going on a bank holiday weekend meaning travel and accom. are more costly

I think I'm feeling stressed by the whole thing because all of my friends going have large disposable incomes (none married or parents) and think £500+ on a hen party is OK. My DH is also organising his brother's stag do a month before and has managed to cost just £200 including his flights there. It all just seems very excessive and a part of me wonders whether I should just cancel going but I don't think anyone else would understand.

I've also realised that we want to start ttc in April so, should we be blessed quickly again (DD was a honeymoon baby) I could potentially be pregnant but unable to tell anyone too. I don't think I want to change our plans to ttc to fit around a wedding (the bride already joked I need to be able to drink at her wedding in July) but not sure how to enjoy the weekend when worrying about what I'm spending. I certainly won't be committing to any more hen parties in the near future.

Yes DD is only 8 months old but I would much rather save the £ and spend it on a family trip this summer or put it away for when our family hopefully expands.

Wow I've really rambled sorry. Feels good to discuss it with someone else though - DH is a very 'black & white' man and just says not to go if I don't want to waste the money. Even just the talking feels like a little weight lifted, thank you

azjh77

riskyb wrote: »

For one of my biggie birthdays :embarasse I got a this is your life foto book with lots of picutures of me and friends over the years. I really loved it.
Might be a good idea for you to mention a few things that she likes / enjoys and so people here can then make a few suggestions?

For my brothers 30th I made a scrap book , with pages for Christmas' holidays and birthdays using old photos, I ended with his wedding and piccies of his kids, and the book can be added too as well. On the down side it took ages!

Managed to get a few more flowers crocheted yesterday, I've actually worked out what I'm doing now so they look like real flowers, really want to get a hoop now. I went to the Range yesterday with my Mum, but just as we parked up she remembered she hadn't put her new tax disk in the car and wanted to go straight home!

DD1 now wants to go shopping, so may have to actually get dressed. I suppose the fresh air will do me good as I have been sat doing coursework for hours.

Oh and I forgot...Morning all - just about.

picnmix

Hi all and Happy New Year.

Well now 36 hours without a ciggie, used 1 patch and 1 piece of gum no terrible cravings so far and haven't shouted at anyone yet!

So there's my resolution which goes hand in hand with saving some money. I intend to put some of this ciggie money to one side.

Nanamia - hope everything goes as well as it can today, thinking of you.

X

kayandy_2

riskyb wrote: »

For one of my biggie birthdays :embarasse I got a this is your life foto book with lots of picutures of me and friends over the years. I really loved it.
Might be a good idea for you to mention a few things that she likes / enjoys and so people here can then make a few suggestions?

Thankyou for all the ideas everybody!! She is a very girly girly but doesn't really like going clubbing she goes out with her bf alOt but as she now lives in Newton dosnt really see many of her friends she works nights at a care home and is doing her driving this year!! Her fav colour is red!! She dosnt really wear jewellery except costume jewellery!!

I made her a scrap book for her 18th with all pictures etc in from childhood to her 18th

MrsBunny

Hi Island_mum

ahh I understand were you are coming from now, if all of you are from Guernsey going to Brighton than yes....I would be abit annoyed about the costs (thought it was only you). Can totally see your point now and that you are stuck between two rocks. Could you speak to the bride and raise your concerns about the price and that you have things to buy for your baby with the money rather than a night out and maybe have a small gathering before the wedding locally instead.

See if the airline will do a name change for someone else to go, or change the dates/route on the ticket to use later in the year (possible with flybe for £40 not sure about Aurigny air or other airlines on the route) (I am a travel agent) The hotel - was it an advanced payment room or best available, best available rooms have cancellation policies...normally 1pm on the day of arrival, again if not, a name change can easliy be done on a hotel room (maybe sell the room on ebay to reclaim back some money?)

Why dont you write a pro and con's list and disscussed with DH, thou if anything like mine, he will just say do whatever you feel....arrghh!!

Goodluck in ttc in April, we too are hoping to start trying in the spring/summer for our 1st. Had enough nagging off my Nana, mum and DH family over xmas for one!!! My nan is the worst....I want to be a great grandma..all my friends are, im the odd one out...please have a little one next year....to my response...will you look after it while I work...answer..no!! We want to get rid of abit of debt before trying first as I earn more than DH it will be a struggle with the bills while I will be on maternity. Families!!!!

right must make a move and pop shop for more tissues, lemsips and other cold related products!!