I am an animal lover, I am especially a dog person meaning I like wolves too if we’re talking wildlife. My mum has taken this to mean I’m obsessed with wolves - I’m really not.

Every year at Christmas she buys me something wolf related … it started off as huge framed pictures (often featuring native Americans too 😂) and in the end I had so many massive pictures piled up the spare room that I made a point of telling her I am no longer buying wall pictures as I don’t like a lot of stuff on the walls and I’ve ran out of space. She got the hint and stopped buying me pictures … instead she started buying me huge blankets, fleece bed covers etc, again featuring wolves howling at the moon, native Americans, wolf eyes staring out of dark trees etc 🤦‍♀️

I ended up with a big pile of fleece blankets that were just sat there collecting dust. In the end I asked her if she wanted any blankets as I’m getting rid of loads as I have far too many and don’t use them. She got the hint.

Now … as my birthday this year was approaching she asked me what size clothing I was. I told her. I joked to DH that I’ll probably end up with a wolf fleece jacket for my birthday … I was wrong … I got 3 wolf fleece jackets for my birthday.

I don’t get it!!! I’m in my 30s, she sees me every week … surely she can see that I don’t wear stuff like this?? It was funny at first but now its getting frustrating. She gets upset and offended easily so I’ve tried to treat lightly but come on …

What would you do?? Or do I just carry on accepting this stuff and lying that I like it to keep the peace?

A couple of local charity shops near me both constantly have signs up outside on an A-Board, saying that they are not taking donations. However, both of these have very little stock inside, and are both very overpriced. For example, a worn, very bobbly Primark jumper for £7, and a Boohoo polyester dress for £12.

One in particular is just depressing to go into; I went in the other day for the first time in two months and some of the overpriced clothes that were there then were still hanging there, still for sale. The rails were also pretty empty. The board was outside as usual requesting no donations. There were 5 members of staff in the shop.

I really don't get it; surely it would be far better, and raise far more money, if they had more stock out, and priced it at lower prices for a quicker turnover. I really can't see the shop I went in yesterday raising much money at all, as there's never anything in there really to buy.

I'm sure some posters will reply saying it's a 'charity shop bashing thread', and yes, it is! I want to support charities and want to buy pre owned items but shops like this aren't exactly going to raise any money!

My dd is not coming home from uni this summer, even though the holidays 4 months long. All my friends’ children are; all over social media I see posts about not long until they come home and his all these parents can’t wait. We had such a lovely summer last year - a holiday, spa days , lunches and shopping. I had it in my head I’d get two or three more summers until she had a full time job and would move away.
I was getting so excited and now I feel so down about it. I keep thinking I am literally the person paying for her rent in her uni city and I have paid to make myself this unhappy.

I am desperate to find a pinky nude matte-ish lipstick similar to the ones Lucy Punch wears in Amandaland. I’m quite pale and find Pillow Talk comes out REALLY orange on me.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Hi all. I've got an 18mo DD who is just, a firecracker. She's always called a happy baby by everyone, and she is, but she's also absolutely savage and insane. Everything is a delight and a game and a reason to get overexcited.

Sometimes she gets handsy, other times she throws toys or pulls hair. With us, we don't mind so much but nursery have now put her on a behaviour plan! I never heard of such a thing.

When she started to be like this around 12-14mo we used to firmly tell her not to, remove her from the situation or toy or person, but not over labour the point so as not to give her attention over it. She loves the attention. We also got given a sticker chart and a set of laminated cards with red stop signs or happy or sad faces etc to help her identify her feelings or to know when to stop.

I know all toddlers can get this way but my older DD who's now 6 was never this bad. She's now on a behaviour plan where the nursery tries to track any triggers or particular people but they're not spotting any pattern. They ring us almost daily now with something she's done, and mostly she's not hurting other kids though there have been a couple of occasions of pushing or pulling. She knows how to say sorry and does it well, so understands the concepts of no or kind hands. But the thing is, for her, it's never a tantrum or upset or malicious behaviour it's the opposite- she's just happy and overexcited and misplaces the energy. She doesn't realise when she could hurt someone, she just has this thrilled look in her eye like it's all play.

At this point I genuinely feel like my little happy girl might be the first ever baby to get expelled from a nursery! I half feel indignant because, why are the nursery staff ringing me to check if I've been using the sticker chart properly when I'm at work... she's literally a 1 year old baby who can't speak yet. She's just about starting to pick up single words now. On the other hand, I know she's more demanding than my first and handsy and I'm starting to feel like a bad mum. But I literally don't know what else I can do? If I tell her off even more she just wiggles away or gets happier from the attention and eye contact. She's kind of feral but we love it and think it's just her baby nature and will grow out of it. But is there something I'm missing? Could we be trying something else? Any advice much appreciated! At this daily rate I'm sure they're going to tell us they can't handle her and we need to leave soon!

Time for another thread. Spring and Summer releases are trickling out to tempt us AND the advent calendar waitlists are appearing...hope you are all feeling suitably Christmassy. 😂

Thanks everyone who continues to contribute to the chatter and welcome to any newbies who want to join in.

5 weeks pregnant and high risk pregnancy due to recurrent losses. I am a Y6 teacher and due on a residential trip all weekend with the children. I am currently taking medication to support my pregnancy (aspirin and progesterone pessaries). I have expressed my anxiety to my head teacher as I am staying in a room with another member of staff who doesn’t know about my pregnancy due to how early I am. I have to lay still after taking the pessaries both morning and night for 30mins to an hour. My head has suggested I still go and said I’ll be fine. What are your thoughts on this? Should I point blank refuse and ask them to send someone in my place? No risk assessment has been done. She has just suggested I opt out of the activities but the days are extremely long. Up at 7.30 and do not get to leave the children until 8.30-9pm.

My son is 10 and handwriting remains a headache. We have spoken to school and OT about this many times but not made much progress. He was diagnosed with dyspraxia when younger and he has very bendy fingers. His coordination has improved a lot and it doesn't interfere with other aspects of his life. We have tried pencil grips, writing slopes, putty etc. etc. I think we have now tried everything available.

When I have tried going through this with him, it ends up very stressful and that just makes it all worse. So I am looking at Magic Link handwriting programme. I've seen good reviews. We don't live near a teacher though so I'm wondering if anyone has experience of their online programme and how your kids found doing it. I'd also be interested to hear if anyone did one of their intensive programmes as perhaps we could travel and just try to get all 30 steps done in a shorter timeframe.

Thank you
Yours exhaustedly!

I had a gardener round to quote for trimming some hedges back from my back gate that overhang from the property behind, weeding the patio and jet washing it. Taking all garden waste with them He’s said half a days work for a couple of them max. He’s just emailed me the quote: £750!!! My flabber is truly gasted…. Is this really the going rate?! 5 years ago without the jet washing I paid someone £45!!!

My husband wants sex ALL OF THE TIME. When I say no, he huffs and puffs, stomps around like a child and says “sorry, I won’t touch you anymore then.”

we have been married for almost 20 years with three kids. We both work full time and I am exhausted all of the time. I don’t have the same sex drive as I used to and I’m getting sick and tired of the tantrums when I refuse sex.

if we have a cuddle or a kiss - not even a snog, just a peck - he grabs my boobs or tries to put his hands down my pants. Even if we’re driving somewhere, he’ll sneak his hand over and try to touch me in between the legs. I tell him to stop and then he gets in a mood.

we do have sex - probably three or four times a month, which is fine for me but he wants it every bloody night. I’m happy with a cup of tea and a good book!

how do I tell him to stop groping me without making it sound like I don’t want ANY physical contact?! He doesn’t seem to know the difference between attraction and sex.

A friend of my late DP views my story everyday without fail. I haven't spoken to her since before the funeral after everyone in DP's orbit was strictly instructed not to associate with me. Those who did speak to me at the funeral were unfriended by the family.

I spoke to her a days before his death to arrange for her to visit him as I thought she might be able to help get DPs life back. His closest friends were actively addicted, so I wanted her (and his old group of mates) to replace them and help him recover.

It's been nearly 3 years now and she doesn't follow me but does check my story daily and has done daily for about 2 years.

I suppose it's possible that she's passing on information to the his circles but I honestly can't imagine they would be interested in what I'm doing after so much time.

I have not been able to retain a single link with anyone from DPs life because I think the general consensus is that I (indirectly) caused or contributed to his death, and that view was expressed but thankfully shut down immediately by the coroner at the inquest with no further inquiry or exploration along that line.
So....do I reach out?

I would like to take my daughter to Africa on holiday. For context, I am Black British and my husband is white. He does not like long-haul flights and is refusing to agree to the trip. His view is that because I visited South Africa four years ago, there is no need for us to travel to Africa again, and that we should choose a closer destination such as Europe instead.
My daughter, who is of mixed African heritage, has never been to Africa and is devastated that she is not being allowed to go.

My husband is threatening to divorce me, should I go ahead and book the holiday?

Name changed for this, as absolutely don't want it linked to my regular posts.
Last weekend, a male friend of mine sent me a sexually graphic video (him masturbating to climax) totally out of the blue.
For context, this is a friend of 6 years, 5 of which he has had a girlfriend.
Because of past trauma (including being raped as a child and, separately, as an adult), I totally freaked out over this and reported him to the police (after contacting his girlfriend, then blocking him on everything).
Have I overreacted?

Some friends of ours havs recently booked a party for their six year old at a zoo. The invite says all accompanying adults need to pay their own entry into the zoo (£15 per adult)
(details slightly changed for anon purposes)
Is this a pisstake, or am I being unreasonable?
if this was me, I’d have absorbed that cost into the cost of the party booking - I would’ve covered it. Surely..?

My husband has been acting strange/secretive with his phone for a couple of weeks now so I took it on myself to look at his phone. Yes I know it’s morally dodgy but we have each others log ins and I looked at it whilst he was feeding DS dinner (it was charging upstairs).

There is a woman who is obviously a co-worker. I only had time to look at messages from the past two days. He was in the office today. He messaged her to say please walk past my desk again so I can look at your arse. She said she’d be back up in an hour and she will walk slowly this time. He then messaged again (after about an hour) to say that was the highlight of his afternoon to which she replied she knew her trousers would get attention today and sent a peach symbol. That was the last message.

I confronted him straight away and he stormed off and hasn’t come home yet. Said how dare I look at his phone. I have tried to call him and he just declined the call. He sent a text to say I’ve betrayed his trust and he can’t believe I did that instead of speaking to him.

Am I wrong to have done this, I think that if you know something is up then it’s within your right to investigate?

AIBU to think my MIL could really do a bit of tidying when she is at our house looking after DC?

Just got home from a business trip and DH had asked her if she could help put DC to bed and supervise until we both got home. I come in from a day that started at 5am and a 3 hour journey home to find the house in a complete tip, dirty dishes, dogs not been let out, DC school bags, swimming bags with wet clothes in etc all just dumped on the floor, she’s lying on the sofa reading.

Now I totally understand that she’s doing us a favour and doesn’t have to do anything…but would you do that? I know I definitely wouldn’t, and if I had some time to kill once the kids are in bed I’d help out by at least sorting out the mess which had occurred on my watch!

Now have to start a major tidy up and I’m so exhausted 😔, and DC are complaining that they haven’t had enough to drink and are thirsty in bed and need water!

My own mum would have swooped in and everything would be done and spotless and a cup of tea offered on arrival.

Not stylish AT ALL but I have finally found a housecoat after months of searching. I have a white cat with longish fur and a black cat so everything I wear in the house is instantly a cat fur magnet and I have spent a fortune on sticky rollers and invariably go out looking like a furry mess....lovely.
I had given up hope of ever finding one. I remember my grandmother wearing one round the house. She was incredibly stylish and well dressed and would never have exposed her nice clothes to children, animals or housework but would take it off if she was going out or expecting visitors.
I think they are due for a comeback 😀

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RPX62RS/ref=syn_sd_offsite_mobileweb_50?ie=UTF8&psc=1&aref=z12Im60v0s&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zZF9vZmZzaXRlX21vYmlsZXdlYg&tag=dradisplay0bb-21&th=1

These are the current ones on our list: Ella, Daisy, Natasha, Talia, Natalia, Lacey, Lindsey, Lara, Caitlyn, Penny, Harriet/Hattie, Hallie, Alicia, Rose, Rosaleen, Roseanne, Rochelle, Lorna, Anita, Carys, Matilda/Tilly, Marianne. I'd welcome all feedback, good or bad, and anything I may have missed about any negative connotations or ugly nicknames or anything really. Thanks!

After Tuesday's festival of Fire and Ice (with no Will Ferrell irony) and the truly wonderfully socked Australia/Austria Interval act from Cutprice Katherine Ryan and her pal Austrian Smashy I'm sure you all can't wait. Tonight sees a Eurovision song called "Ya Ya Ya". Could it be anymore Eurovision? Get your pleather and odd knee high boots on.

1 BULGARIA Dara - Bangaranga
2 AZERBAIJAN Jiva - Just Go
3 ROMANIA Alexandra Căpitănescu - Choke Me
4 LUXEMBOURG Eva Marija - Mother Nature
5 CZECHIA Daniel Zizka - Crossroads
FRANCE Monroe - Regarde
6 ARMENIA Simón - Paloma Rumba
7 SWITZERLAND Veronica Fusaro - Alice
8 CYPRUS Antigoni - Jalla
AUSTRIA Cosmó - Tanzschein
9 LATVIA Atvara - Ēnā
10 DENMARK Søren Torpegaard Lund - Før Vi Går Hjem
11 AUSTRALIA Delta Goodrum - Eclipse
12 UKRAINE Leléka - Ridnym
UNITED KINGDOM Look Mum No Computer - Eins, Zwei, Drei
13 ALBANIA Alis - Nân
14 MALTA Aidan - Bella
15 NORWAY Jonas Lovv - Ya Ya Ya

Ten to Qualify for the Final.
The UK CAN vote in this Semi Final (you vote in the semi you appear in).
Voting for participants opens after the last song has been performed.
Voting for the UK is ONLINE ONLY through the ESC website or app. You need to make a card payment - 15p per vote.

Non participating countries (Hello Ireland) can vote as part the Rest of The World from midnight before the Semi-Final until the show starts when voting closes temporary before reopening after the acts have all performed.

There is a limit of 10 votes per person.

There's a school Mum that I've known for a few years. She's recently been acting strange around me. I suspect I know why and I'll explain shortly. I've also noticed that the other mums who are close with her have also being acting strange with me. They are giving off 'mean girl' vibes and it has me pondering what on earth has been said to them.

We all see eachother a lot due to clubs, parties, school runs etc. I'm happy to say a pleasant hi/bye, keep it simple and will continue to do so.

They have all been incredibly hostile for a while. I've ignored it and focused on my own happenings as I have too many real problems in my life to give this too much head space however, they are really rude and it's getting a bit weird.

I suspect this behaviour has stemmed from me missing the 'main culprits' childs' party. Of course it wasn't a great thing to do. I mixed up my days thinking the party was on a Sunday when it was actually the Saturday. I seen the bday Mum make a fb post, on the Sat and realised my mistake. I instantly messaged the Mum to apologise. Bday Mum didn't respond.

In my defence, I had 5 different kids parties that month, including my own child's to organise. I was 4 weeks into a new career and up to my eyeballs with training. I have a demyelinating chronic disease that flared up and hospitalised me for 2 days that same week requiring some invasive treatment and my head was all over the place trying to juggle everything. A mixed up in days was an honest mistake given the stress I was under.

I then noticed I was deleted on fb by bday Mum and a few others. Fine, we weren't that close so it's understandable. They also left some joint WhatsApp groups.

Then came the more hostile behaviour from bday Mum. 'Growling' acting 'standoffish' going to weird lengths to avoid contact and interactions. The other parents in her circle started behaving the same way towards me.

It's all a bit bizarre really and I won't be acting on it because I'ts all very batshit and have real life problems to deal with.

But aibu to find this all very childish and unnecessary? I really can't understand why grown woman would feel the need to act like this, especially the ones I don't really know and are following what the bday Mum had told them.

I’m MOB later in the year but my plan to lose weight/get in shape is clearly not going to work out in time and I haven’t a clue what to wear that will be appropriate and feel ‘right’. I’d like to be both elegant and comfortable but that seems like an impossible combination.

I’m 5’2, a 16-18 with big boobs. I hate my arms and don’t have good legs. I don’t mind my boobs but realise they shouldn’t be taking centre stage on my child’s big day 😳

I don’t really suit the usual MOB type outfits - I did get a jumpsuit but it shows too much arm and I’m worried about going to the loo! I’ve bought nude sandals and clutch that I really like and they should go with most things.

Can anyone suggest something that ticks these boxes:

• Covers arms to at least elbow but doesn’t look wintery
• Long enough to hide legs but not so long I fall over it
• Goes with my shoes and bag
• Wedding colour scheme is green so I need to either avoid or complement
• Budget up to £150ish

Thank you!

I've been at my job for 3 years and recently raised to my manager that I do more than is in my JD and would like my salary to be reviewed. They agreed and also said they would like to change some aspects of my JD. I was then informed that because my JD and salary are changing I will need to re-interview for my job and it will be externally advertised too.

I have a job interview for another job of much higher pay for similar work, I'm in the mindset now of fuck my current job and put all my time outside of work towards preparing for this other interview.

Any advice or thoughts on this??

I'm so annoyed and humiliated that I'll possibly lose my current job to a better candidate

I was wondering if anyone had a toddler with hyperlexia (specifically type 3) and turned out to be gifted.

Our son has a pretty significant speech delay at 28 months but a very advanced comprehension. Speech therapist said not ASD signs in the assessment, and we are pretty sure he has hyperlexia.

Whilst he is not obsessed or fascinated with letters, he is very good at them. He does the following:

-Can say every letter of the alphabet randomly when shown (or in order)
-Can identify images (that he hasnt seen before) based on a letter, so say we say Q he says q then finds a picture say of a queen
-Can come up with a word based on a letter, at random eg if we say 'e is for' he will say eeh for egg or eee for elephant or p is for 'pizza' - not based on any rhyme or song or anything, just random words that he knows (he says the words that way because of suspected phonological delay and/or CAS)
-can fit a letter into any corresponding letter shape on a board
-knows letters just from a faint or non obvious outline

Has anyone had experience of this at all with their child?
Many thanks

My sister very stupidly has had an affair and been found out. Her husband is understandably devastated and has started divorce proceedings.

Since the affair came to light, my sister’s friends have completely frozen her out - there has been no contact at all from any of the women she was friends with.

DSis moved away when she met her husband, and as a result all of her friends are people she met through him. They all seemed to be really close and spent huge amounts of time together including going away on holiday etc.

I do understand that she’s done wrong but AIBU to be quite shocked at how quickly she has been dropped by seemingly close friends ?! She doesn’t have any other friends in the area and I’m really worried that she’s completely isolated whilst in a bad way mentally.

Can anyone recommend a skirt co-ord set? I like the one attached but it's pretty spenny, and tbh I'd just rather not pay that much.

I'm specifically looking for a straight skirt, pref jersey, and ideally with a matching top.

Has anyone got one? I keep getting this one advertised to me, which made me think it was a popular choice but I'm not finding anything online!

https://oglmove.com/products/2pcs-set-striped-spaghetti-brami-low-rise-striped-midi-skirt#1