Mumsnet Talk

put your stuff in storage for 2 weeks and move into a B&B or the travelodge. Theres a new one opening in ALdershot, theres one in Guildford, possibly one in Farnborough. Plus Camberley.

Or go stay with relatives.

Its hardly "Homeless at Christmas"

Follow a star?

No, not buying. Just need to rent a house close to the school to even have. Chance. And there are none. We have a short let but it is booked for three weeks over Xmas. Thanks for the tip about the short term let on right move. I rang last week about this one but its unfurnished!

What about something like this ?

Or could you could go anywhere for 2 weeks over christmas? If you don't need to stay near Farnham then you could turn it into a little christmas break somewhere?

Does it matter if its unfurnished? Where is all your stuff?

Samdychic idea is nice.

Use this is as a chance to have a lovely Christmas break in a nice cosy farmhouse somewhere or similar.

I clicked on this thread as I was really concerned that a family would be literally 'homeless at christmas'.

not really 'homeless' is it?? - like freezing cold homeless, sleeping in shop doorways (or squalid b&b's with your kids) and hoping for a dish of food from a soup kitchen on xmas day.

Take an unfurnished!

When I moved into my flat I had nothing, you'll soon pick up bits.

Probably cheaper to move into an unfurnished and buy some nice IKEA / second hand stuff than to pay for a hotel over Christmas!

I don't think that really makes a difference, triedemma. The OP doesn't have anywhere to live and appears very stressed out about it. It makes her and her family homeless. Homeless covers lots of things, even someone staying on their friend's sofa is homeless.

I hope you manage to find somewhere, surrey.

I know what homelessness covers. Ive worked on a team that provides mental health services to homeless people.

So why post the above? The OP doesn't have anywhere to go, it doesn't mean she's any less stressed than someone facing a B&B or a shop doorway for Christmas.

She is technically homeless over Christmas as she doesn't have anywhere to stay.

It was only the thread title.

"I am tempted to go for any house but hubby is insisting on waiting. Might have to go the hotel route. But with three little ones I just wanted a nice homely Christmas, not all cooped up in a hotel room"

She does have options? No?

She is looking for advice or help. It's not very constructive to post if you offer neither.

I'm amazed you didn't make plans as to where you were going to live in advance of moving countries. Or did your original plans go wrong. Where were you planning to stay. Can't quite understand this I'm afraid.

She does have options, personally I'd tell the husband to piss off and I'd sort out a house with or without him. It doesn't mean that she isn't any less stressed than someone in a shop doorway though. I'm not here to judge or tell someone their worries are out of proportion or any less important than someone elses.

My advice would be get a hotel. Let someone else wait on you over the xmas and new year period and good luck with finding your home in the new year.

Op do you think you and your dh has fixed onto this school a little too much? Too the point its stopping you getting on in life.

It sounds like a huge stress for the remote chance of a school place.Maybe you should look at other areas too? One with a handful of good schools to increase your chances.

Dont get to hung up on OFSTED, school rankings etc. I bet your waiting for South Farnham as its top of the leagues, but there are plenty of wonderful schools all over Surrey.

Thanks everyone, especially to a couple of particularly lovely posters. Will bow out now as I am feeling a bit of a fraudster and I really was just wondering whether anyone out there was wishing to rent their house over Christmas. I have just come back from a country where I was part if a similar network and lots of people were posting similar messages and lots of people were interested in renting and getting some money.

But you are quite right. We are not homeless. I just feel bad that we don't have a 'home' for our children at Christmas. I have such lovely memories of my childhood Christmases and want to do the same for them. I have actually looked all over the country for country cottages but they all seem to be over 3 grand for two weeks or booked. And the school story is very complex and far too long a story for on here. We are on several lists and actually started off in a completely different area on yet another waiting list. And we did just as some of you suggested. We have come somewhere with lots of good schools. But they all have long lists so we have to park up somewhere. But hey, that's my problem to work out. Will bow out, agree that there area many many people out there in far worse a situation and work out some way to give my beautiful children a happy Christmas. Thank you : ))

Good luck! You would be able to get a couple of family rooms in a Travel Lodge for under £1K for 2 weeks over Xmas.