Really in a quandry

[planetcloud]

I just don't know if doing enough with my life. I work a 60 hour week, although I do still find time to be on the PTA, bake for bake sales, do the kids' homework with them, attend all their recitals etc. I run them to after school piano, violin, cello, ballet, ruggers etc but I somehow feel inadequate. I'm trying to save the environment so I ask for my Waitrose shop to be delivered without bags, I only go two long haul holidays a year to save my carbon footprint and I try and get the nanny to drop my DCs off to school in her micro mini to save the environment - only bring out the Range Rover when absolutely necessary. I also give to foodbanks - only last week I put in a couple of tins of spinach and some salmon pate that had been in a Christmas hamper, but am I doing enough?

When you fly long haul wear organic cotton clothing from a Sustainable source and eat 6 lentils for every time zone flown through.

But what are little Tarquinn and Farquhar doing to save the planet? Rallies, protests etc? And are you vegan?

Guessing this is a journalist ?

You should stop using that time as a holiday and go and do some 'good work' of course.... It's like really selfish of you to take holiday time when other people can't....

You are clearly far too busy to find out how to spell “quandary”.

Phew you had me going until the part about the nanny.

Parts of London are full of people like that - it’s why I like my partly skanky partly nice bit, impossible to be snobbish round here as you would be looked at like this 🙄🤨.

TitianaTitsling I do try and do charitable endeavours, however, I do find that poor people find me patronising - I have no idea why at all. I actually commented that I liked the girl in the charity shop's earrings when I handed in my old designer clothes but she didn't even say than you. I don't know if it is my designer clothing that put people off (which I only buy on sale by the way from a reputable retailer using recycled material). I would buy cheaper clothes but they are made in sweat shops and I really am trying to do my bit. Anyway unfortunately I have to look a certain way for my £100k plus job - it's just so unfair.

TrickyD damn, one will be having a word with one's Secretary - I mean one doesn't exactly type these posts. I am dictating them whilst watching Jeremiah play ruggers! That girl is in for a stern warning.

Some crackers for the food bank should square it.

This is just heartbreaking.

What does your therapist say?

Maybe a sponsored walk up Kilimanjaro would help?

Isleepinahedgefund thank you so much for asking. She actually thinks I am too hard on myself but you now, it's what one does. As a mother guilt is never too far from your door anyway. One will just have to grin and bear it.

Reverse snobbery?

ArthurShelbysTash have thought about that but they wouldn't let me take my assistant or wear my Le Chameau wellingtons - I mean for goodness sake, one has standards.

I’m guessing you actually live in a council house and work in Wilko on the till.

BarbRoyle For your information I invented a toothpick made from recycled and sustainable resources - I now have turnover of over a million a year - the idea was completely poo pooed on Dragon's Den but I proved them wrong.

PlomBear Council House? Do you mean a house which is technically owned by the state like Buck House? Wilko? Is that a country in Africa? Sorry I haven't heard of it. I thought till was something to do with soil.

Time for a sabbatical, I think.
Take the kids out of school for 6 months (check if the school will discount the fees), and go set up a new school/orphanage somewhere deserving; preferably somewhere with a glamping option.
Make sure the nanny comes too, and be sure to Instagram the experience.

Yes - what you really need to do here is FIND yourself.

YABU. You do realise that food banks are in dire need of quail's eggs and caviar, don't you?

If you're not a no plastic, organic vegan, then you're not doing enough. Shame on you OP

And are you off-setting your carbon?

Don't donate naice food, poor people won't know what to do with it. It's ok to relax your principles and donate value chips. Whenever I drive past a fast food establishment there are always people with chips so they must really like them, otherwise they'd dine at a restaurant.

You should definitely kit yourself out in brand new shiny Barbour and take the dc out for a day in the countryside. As you'll look the part nobody will mind if you trespass, just loudly haw about how quaint everything is. As a result, you, and your dc will know everything about farming and nature which can only add authenticity next time you are imparting your extensive knowledge of the environment.

I think you could do more, that's not a lot of things. Can your children not do more activities ? They seem to be doing very little, I'm sure you could squeeze in a bit of fencing, or some polo ? Mine do yachting, they thoroughly enjoy this.

Well done on cutting down the long haul holidays, I wouldn't be able to survive on just two per year. You must feel like a pauper. There's not a chance I'd be disclosing that to anyone I knew, they would probably set up a go fund me page or similar.

You actually went into a charity shop I hope you wore a disguise. I would imagine the non thank you woman was just jealous of you.