At an amusement park. It's a timed entry so as many rides and things you can do for 2 hours.

One ride that the 3DC (5,3,3) wanted to go on, the bunjee trampoline one (whatever it's called). There were 4 trampolines. Quite a long queue as each kid is on the trampoline for 5 mins each. There were maybe 5 or 6 kids in front of us, so I guessed around a 20 min wait.

So I said to DH and the kids, I'll wait here and you carry on with the other rides with less/no queue and I'll call you over when we are near the front.

Then when we got close to the front, the 3DC came over and jumped on the trampolines.

It was only afterwards that I wondered if i should have waited with 3DC, missing out on the other rides out of principle that we are queuing up for this one? AIBU or would you also do the same to make the most of the time in the place?

Husband shares custody with his ex of their two children (13 and 16). They have always worked this where he collects them from hers at the start of his time and she collects them from ours at the start of hers. We live what should be about a 20 min drive from each other.

My husband works longer hours on the day that their mum collects them from ours to cover the time he works slightly shorter hours while they are here. Meaning they usually get home from school (obviously not at the moment) and wait for their mum to get here on her way home from work, usually about half 5ish.

Husband's ex had a baby 2 months ago and she has said she wants DH to drop the kids off with her now so she doesn't have to keep bringing baby out to get them. He is working until later that day so wants me to do it.

I've said no. AIBU?

For context around my no .. I work full time, have a young child of my own who I want to get home and spend time with before it's bath and bed and am just tired and admittedly can't be bothered with another trip out in the opposite direction when I get home. There are also roadworks going on a lot round us at the moment so what should be a 20 min drive each way can sometimes take 40+ minutes.

AIBU to say if DH can't do the drop back to mums then his ex will just have to bring the baby out to do them? Her partner doesn't live with her, although I believe he is moving in at some point when they find a bigger house in case anyone wonders why he isn't being asked.

My dd14 was supposed to be sleeping at a friend's tonight. They have had an argument and she said let's just leave it and go to sleep her friend told her she had to leave so she's walked home and just come in the door at gone 10pm. I can't believe the mum didn't step in and do anything or let me know and I would've got her. I've said to dd why didn't you call me but she just shrugged and said she was fine walking and didn't want to stand outside waiting for me. Its about a 10 minute walk. I don't let her out on her own at this time of night. As a parent i would have stepped in and can't believe this other mum did nothing.

New thread and it's welcome to the roaring twenties beauty addicts!

It's been a little quiet on the exciting edit and beauty releases front what with all the advent malarky but summer is drawing to a close and soon those autumn/winter releases and holiday edits will be popping up to tempt us.

If you're new here welcome and hello and for everyone else nice to see you back on Mumsnet's most tempting thread series that you cannot ignore even if you want to. 😈😍😂

If you’re flying, you might want to think twice about packing Colgate Total. Mine got flagged twice at airport security and was taken off me. The security guy said they’d already had 20 tubes taken off passengers that day! Makes you wonder what we’re actually cleaning our teeth with.

I promised DD that she could get her ears pierced after primary school. Her new school doesn’t allow earrings. I’ve been told that studs need to be left in for eight weeks…so basically she can’t have them done until she leaves secondary school…or sits in isolation room for a fortnight after a summer holiday (another child and parent were told this). Transparent earrings or plasters over them aren’t allowed either. It’s a school that seems to pride itself on going further on petty dogma than other schools in the borough, but not going as far where more important stuff (clamping down on bullying, standard of teaching) is concerned.

Could be interesting.

For no reason at all, I woke up thinking about this store in Covent Garden that was so cool when I was a student/in first jobs in the mid/late 90s. I couldn’t remember its name, only that it had bright coloured clothes, funky shoes, and I associated it with that 90s late Friday night Channel 4 vibe like Rapido shows.

I was too skint for it but remember once being able to get a bright pink and blue print dress in the sales there that didn’t really suit me but I loved it because of the brand… whose name I still couldn’t remember… then I got the word ‘red’ and thought I’d have to ask on here, but the magic of the internet revealed it to be Red or Dead, of course!

Seems they were around for a long time after in various forms under various ownership, and earlier in the 80s they did Bros’s watch shoes! But it’s that 90s era that captures it for me.

And of course I remember Wayne Hemingway being around a lot, but had never realised it was his wife too. I found an article on his site from when she (Gerardine, still married afaik) got an MBE and he talks about how no one acknowledged her contribution or even existence, with all the media coverage being about ‘Wayne’s World’ and such, as he was the extrovert but also as he was the man. Which is very 90s too, and perpetuates…

But really I’m just posting for the nostalgia trip to see if anyone else has fond (or otherwise) memories of RoD in that era (or beyond)?

Currently on holiday - 2 week AI with husband and teenage daughter. Had a really busy year and was really looking forward to downtime and just recharging with the 3 of us.
On the second day was relaxing by the pool when a little boy about 4yo dropped his goggles near my lounger. Threw them into the pool for him, he threw them back and we had a little game of catch with them. Really sweet kid, thought no more of it.
Went to the buffet that night and the boy appeared at my feet as I was getting my food, started pulling at my arm, hanging off me whining "play with me" and asking me to go outside with him to play?!
My daughter came up to me and said she'd been passing his parents table and heard the mum say "he's whinging because hes tired, I told him to go play with that woman from earlier." Laughing and drinking while I'm trying to get my food and stop her kid from getting lost or hurt.
Went to sit down, said "I'm eating now, so go back to Mummy." Watched him go back over, his mum looked really annoyed, said something to him and he came back!
He said "my mum said I can sit with you until you're done then we can play."
Tried to eat but he was non stop, picking things up, touching things, whinging - not my child, why am I dealing with this?!
In the end DH walked him back over and firmly said we were trying to eat. Mum had the nerve to ask if our daughter had ever been a toddler.
Anyway, he harassed me at the entertainment that night to the point we left as I couldn't see his Mum so dropped him with the entertainment team. Makes DH very uncomfortable as he's very full on, climbing on our knees, wrapping his legs around us.
Breakfast this morning - he's actually waiting at the double doors and it was a repeat of the previous night. I actually suspect Mum is hiding from us.

What do I do?!

AIBU for thinking DH needs to let go of the house?

DH has been trying to sell his parents’ house for just under a year now. It’s been in his family for generations and it’s his childhood home, so I do understand why it’s incredibly sentimental to him. His younger brothers aren’t as attached to it and basically just want it sold but DH is the eldest and since his dad passed away last year he’s pretty much taken control of everything to do with the finances.
We’ve had 12 offers, some even above the price so far but he has found a reason not to like pretty much every person who has viewed it.

I’ve actually removed myself from the whole situation now because I just can’t deal with the drama. We’ve had some genuinely lovely families come to view it but DH picks up on the smallest things.One man was wearing the “wrong shoes” with his corduroy trousers. Another family didn’t take their shoes off until DH asked them to. He just seems to decide that certain people aren’t the “right sort of people” for his parents’ house. Another man apparently couldn’t control his kids and they were badly behaved and that was off putting to my husband

He even started asking people to write letters explaining why they wanted the house and why they would be good people to have it.
Knight Frank have now had to speak to him about his behaviour and have asked him not to be there during viewings. He’s absolutely furious about this because he wants to see every person who comes through the door. He doesn’t want to just sell his parents’ house to anyone.

And I do understand that. I really do. This house has been in the family for a long time he grew up there and his dad only passed away last year so I can appreciate that selling it must be incredibly emotional for him.But at the same time, we’ve been trying to sell for nearly a year. His brothers just want it sold and I think DH has got himself into a position where he feels responsible for deciding who is “good enough” to take over the house.

I’ve told him that once you decide to sell a house you have to accept that you don’t get to choose the buyer based on whether you like their shoes, how they dress or whether they immediately take their shoes off or just things of that sort.

Hi father grew up in the house with 5 siblings, his fathers father grew up in that house too. It has been passed down for a long time and it’s time for it to to to another family. No point in us moving into it, our children are in primary and secondary school they’re settled in we’d have to move to a different area, find schools etc so essentially it can’t really be kept within the family. The same issue with his brothers, all of them have children who are in school can’t just up and move ti a new area.

AIBU for thinking he needs to step back and let the sales negotiators do their job, or should I be more understanding given the history of the house and everything that’s happened over the last year?

My partner is very kind but it tends to be on her terms and ignoring what I've said. I've currently got a foot issue (awaiting surgery) and I comment that I need to get some new shoes. As the foot issue means one shoe doesn't last as long as the other, I said I only want to buy something cheap just for the next few months. I also say I don't want to buy a specific make which I find aren't well made like they used to be.

Yesterday while she was out she went and bought me expensive shoes of the make I said I don't want. I also don't need her to buy shoes for me like I'm a child.

Today, she's just bought me an experience that I would normally like but has booked it for a date which I had said only on Saturday I wouldn't want because it's in the school holidays and be full of kids.

She means well and it's very generous but the fact she does it and completely ignores what I've said annoys me. It's happened several times before and no matter that I say (genuine example) "I'm trying to lose weight, please help by not buying me chocolate" shell literally buy me chocolate two days later.

How can I finally get through to her about this without her getting upset? It feels like she doesn't listen, or at least doesn't take in what I say.

All the family is off for three weeks together. It’s the most we’ve ever been off. We are going away for a couple of nights an hour away at the end of the holiday.
We live in a tourist area with lots to do.
We’ve had some mornings at the beach and at some attractions, but we seem to be having lots of days just at home.
Dh goes on his computer and Dc play or watch tv, but I feel that we’re wasting our time together and it wasn’t how I imagined it.
I would love to at least go out every morning, maybe relax in the afternoon, then some nights out locally or back to the beach.
Dh seems happy and says he just wants to relax

Would you be happy with having whole days inside?

Welcome to Thread 4! 🥳

And here we are again! 😂 A huge thank you to everyone who's been sharing spoilers, links, bargains, discount codes and enabling each other over the first three threads. ❤️

As agreed, we're taking it in turns to start each new thread null this year. If this thread starts getting close to the reply limit, please post to let everyone know you're happy to start the next one so we can avoid duplicate threads.

🎅 A few festive housekeeping notes;
🎁 This thread contains spoilers.
🎄 Please be kind and respectful to one another.
💸 No judging anyone for their purchasing choices (or how many calendars they buy... we're all enablers here! 😂).
🎀 Feel free to share spoilers, offers, discount codes, GWPs, delivery updates and stock alerts.

🎁 Available Now

Liberty – £285 (Beauty Drop members receive £25 off). Full contents revealed and available to order.
https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/beauty-advent-calendar

P. Louise – £250. Available to pre-order with payment instalments available.
https://plouise.co.uk/collections/wonderful-world-of-p-louise-advent-calendar/products/what-glows-around-2026-advent-calendar

John Lewis – Available on pre-sale via the app for MyJL members.
https://beauty-detective.com/john-lewis-beauty-advent-calendar-2026/

Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar – Now on pre-sale.
https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/harrods-of-london-the-harrods-beauty-advent-calendar-2026-000000000000284475

Harrods 12 Days of Hair & Body – Now on pre-sale.
https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/harrods-of-london-the-harrods-12-days-of-hair-and-body-advent-calendar-2026-000000000000284465

Harrods Fragrance Advent Calendar – Pre-sale currently sold out. Expected back in-store during September (date TBC).
https://beauty-detective.com/harrods-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026/

Vogue Festive Calendar – Available to pre-order. https://shop.vogue.co.uk/products/vogue-festive-calendar-2026

Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar – Available to pre-order.
https://www.fortnumandmason.com/fortnums-beauty-advent-calendar-2026

Anthropologie 24 Day Beauty Advent Calendar – Available to pre-order.
https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/24-days-of-beauty-advent-calendar5

The Fragrance Shop - Available for pre-order
Women's Advent Calendar https://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/the-fragrance-shop/the-fragrance-shop/gift-box-advent/p/76306
Men's Advent Calendar https://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/the-fragrance-shop/the-fragrance-shop/gift-box-advent/p/76307

⏳ Coming Soon / Waitlists

Cult Beauty
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/c/advent-calendar/

Harvey Nichols
Beauty:
https://www.harveynichols.com/harvey-nichols/harvey-nichols-beauty-advent-calendar-2026-75896-258491/
Fragrance:
https://www.harveynichols.com/harvey-nichols/harvey-nichols-12-days-of-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026-75906-258490/

John Lewis Fragrance
https://beauty-detective.com/john-lewis-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026/

Space NK
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/gifts/beauty-advent-calendars/beauty-advent-calendar-MUK200063764.html

Elle
https://beauty-detective.com/elle-advent-calendar-2026/

Fortnum & Mason
Spoilers:
https://beauty-detective.com/fortnum-mason-beauty-advent-calendar-2026/
Waitlist: https://www.fortnumandmason.com/beauty-advent-calender-sign-up-2026

Boots (including the new fragrance calendar) https://www.boots.com/christmas/advent-calendars/advent-calendar-waiting-list

Sephora UK
Spoilers:
https://beauty-detective.com/sephora-uk-advent-calendar-2026/
Waitlist: https://www.sephora.co.uk/c/beauty-advent-calendar-waitlist

Selfridges (Beauty & Fragrance)
https://beauty-detective.com/selfridges-beauty-advent-calendar-2026/
Fragrance https://beauty-detective.com/selfridges-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026/

LookFantastic Beauty
https://www.lookfantastic.com/c/waitlist/advent/?srsltid=AfmBOoovzs9M5Kt8-RM_31Q3_-JOa6N51uGggpe0hglvZbxC5Of7AFTH

LookFantastic Fragrance
https://beauty-detective.com/lookfantastic-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026/

Glossybox
https://beauty-detective.com/glossybox-advent-calendar-2026/

OK! Beauty Box
https://beauty-detective.com/ok-beauty-box-advent-calendar-2026/

Fenwick – Loyalty members null 20 August | General release null 25 August
https://fenwick.co.uk/blogs/daily-muse/fragrance-beauty-25-day-advent-calendar

Next spoilers
https://beauty-detective.com/next-beauty-advent-calendar-2026/

Debenhams – waiting list
https://www.debenhams.com/pages/beauty-advent-calendar

💄 More Calendars & Spoilers

Rather than making the opening post a mile long, here's a brilliant roundup of lots more advent calendars and the latest spoilers, including Charlotte Tilbury, Jo Malone, Elemis, Lancôme, Tatcha, NEOM, Neal's Yard Remedies, Holland & Barrett, YesStyle and many more as they're announced.

👉 https://beauty-detective.com/category/beauty-advent-calendars/ 👈

🎅 Happy advent season everyone! 🎁

Here's hoping for lots more spoilers, bargains, discount codes, and maybe a little self-control (although that's already gone for some 😄)

I was expecting to see lots of chatter about this. 1/2hr in - interesting!

DH doesn’t think this is a hugely big deal but I am really irritated by it.

I am selling a property. Estate agents recommended a solicitor so got a quote, paid them, sent some paperwork off then heard nothing for a few weeks. Probably should have chased it but there has been an awful lot on.

It transpires the solicitors have been sending forms and so on to an incorrect email address. It’s just my name at gmail dot com but my name is similar to a more common one. So as well as not getting the emails, they’ve been going to someone with a similar name to mine.

The solicitors didn’t seem bothered at all and just forwarded the emails to the correct email address.

AIBU to think that’s not acceptable? Or am I overreacting?

Holiday ruined 😡 Arrived in the Lake District on Friday. All going well until yesterday we went to explore. DH moaned and rolled his eyes all day making it not a nice experience. Same again today when we went out. Moaned at DD because there were shops she wanted to visit. Said he was going to wait in the car for us. Didn’t come into any shops and instead waited outside in a mood. Went for dinner as a treat. He said his meal was horrible (ours was great) complained about the table next to us talking too loud. Complained all the way home because DD sat in the front and played her music, which I don’t mind. DD can’t sit in the back due to windy roads and travel sickness. Then he told her she was making it all up because she wanted to sit in the front seat. I’m the driver btw, DH doesn’t drive. She was mad that he said she lies about having travel sickness. Then he told her to not talk to her for the rest of the holiday. She’s in her room alone. You can cut the atmosphere with a knife. Worst thing is we’re here with his parents (who I love) but his mum is taking his side in all this. Me and DD just want to go home. We’re walking on egg shells. I can’t even look at him, he thinks he’s done nothing wrong. Seriously thinking about my future now 😞 Been together 23 years. DD is 19 and still (usually) loves coming on holiday with us. I’m so sad 😞

Hi all,

Has anyone got any good travel pushchair recs? My daughter is 13 months old and average size for her age. I need a travel pushchair that can close 1 handed and is cabin approved. I was looking at the bugaboo butterfly 2 in mauve, but I’ve heard it scratches really easily? I preferably want a pink/ mauve coloured one if possible!

I’m fifty soon. Not been feeling great about it but have decided to use it as an excuse to do lots of beauty stuff. I’ve contacted someone to try Botox for the first time. Got some nice oil and cream to try and sort my hands and nails out. My hair is alright at the moment, I have a good hairdresser. Don’t know what else to do really, I’ve never really bothered. Get a make up consultation? I don’t wear it at the moment but maybe something basic? Would love any suggestions to get me to feel a bit better about being fifty years old (why does it feel so much older than 49?!)

Good morning all, I’m not sure if i’m being selfish or fair so please be honest.

Context, I’m 62, I have some health issues but I’m generally able to get on with most parts of life, I do find somethings quite overwhelming though.

Last night my DD messaged me, she has 3 children, twins who are 2 and a 4 year old. I love my granddaughters, I love spending time with them and I’m happy to have them occasionally. Currently they come for a sleep over every other month on a Saturday night and I may provide some ad-hoc childcare if and when it’s needed.
DD was asking if I would be happy to come to hers on alternating Sunday nights from 7ish to 9:30ish in the evening. She and her husband want to go to the mixed doubles group at the local tennis club (they already go to ladies and gents night but obviously the other just stays home with the kids).
She said her mother in law has offered to do every other Sunday.
She told me she would make sure the girls were bathed and in bed and they wouldn’t leave until 7:15 and it continues until 9pm then they would be back around 9:15-30.
I live 10 minutes away, DD said she would make sure either she or her DH be able to drive me home.
She said likely the girls wouldn’t be asleep just yet but the twins would be close and I could sit with her eldest and read with her then it would just be manning the house from about 8 onwards.

I said sorry no I can’t. Mostly as I have work at 8am on Mondays, I tend to be in bed for 8-9 most evenings and tbh I just don’t think it would be as easy as she is selling it, I imagine the children would be out of sorts since mummy and daddy were away and it’s a school night for the eldest so I would feel awful if I wasn’t able to get her down to sleep on time.
I do have 2 children, but there is 11 and a half years between them so I never had a phase of caring for multiple very small children and while I’m happy to do it on a Saturday where bedtime can go a bit off plan and it not matter, I’d worry on a school night.

When my mum called this morning I mentioned it to her and my mum has made me feel awful saying considering all they do for me (drive to appointments, cut my grass etc.), it would be a nice small way to say thank you and if son-in-laws mum can do it and she’s in a whole different town, why can’t I.

So AIBU to say no? Am I being selfish and ungrateful since they do things for me? Should I say yes and just see how it goes?

How important do you think it is to stick with the same name style? 2 daughters with vintage kind of names. Not massively out there. Due in 3 weeks. Middle name the older 2 have chosen but the first name i'm leaning towards seems a different style and more popular. Tbh there are no names i really really love so i am finding it tricky!x

I have curly hair and wash it twice a week, it doesn’t get greasy, but if I wash it more often it gets dry and frizzy.
I want to up my exercise, and have decided to add in some running in the early mornings, but I don’t want to wash my hair more often. Will be be ok, do you think? I guess I need to try it to find out.

I got the train after work today and realised people just have no manners at all. Barging on the train before people had got off, not pausing to allow people out of their seats when getting off, being noisy and disruptive, just generally being unpleasant.

AIBU to ask what is wrong with people and when did we become like this? It’s sad!

After a long, painstaking and expensive search I have finally found some knickers I was happy with. The right type of fabric for my preference, the right style and they fit! don't squish me in on the waist band, don't have my little belly fat sticking out at the bottom. Don't give me a wedgy. And only £22 for a pack of four (Victoria's Secret from Next).

Alas, my joy was short lived. After one day, I am back to the never ending drawing board of finding pants I can wear. All the above reasons stand, they're perfect on paper - BUT - feminine items will not stick to them! Not even a bit. It's so weird. I like to wear a daily pad, just to feel hygienic through the day in case of small leaks (thanks kids), but they will not stick to my new pants at all. OK, I thought, I'll just hold the pad in place in while I pull them up and then they'll just stay there. WRONG. Not only did they not stay there, the otherwise super comfy pants somehow turned the back half of my pad into some sort of bum floss which I was then constantly trying to unwedge. And when I went to the toilet and lowered them, the pad was nowhere to be seen. Oh wait, there it is dropped out onto the floor (thankfully not in the toilet bowl!).

There's absolutely no way I'm chancing that with with a sanitary towel when I get my period.

(btw, I did think maybe after a wash they'd stick better. Made no difference)

So that's another £22 down the toilet (pun intended) and I have to consider the perfect pants just don't exist.

Is it just me that finds buying basic every day pants so bloody hard!

Anyone regretted putting wooden floor in kitchen? Have to decide whether or not to put engineered tongue & groove in a small kitchen as well as other rooms.

Currently there are tiles in there which look good and are hard wearing.

Please give me pros and cons ?
Many thanks 😊

How do you find out what's available as an airport paperback? Do they even sell these any more?

I want to get hold of Land by Maggie O'Farrell and I'd love to read it on holiday but I don't really want to take a hardback with me!

Has anyone noticed this type of book this summer?