Had a busy few weeks with lots of family events, so all my plans (shopping at Lidl/Aldi, meal planning, batch cooking etc.) went out the window. It's nice having a big family but very costly. There always seems to be a significant birthday or communion or something.
I can't believe we've reached 27 pages already! It took ages to catch up with you all. I hope those who were sick earlier on in the thread are feeling better now.
needa your ring is beautiful. I love your naughty pony stories 
. He sounds like a real character.
fuzzpig sorry to hear about the redeployment. I guess you knew it was coming but now it's official. Hope the Lego helped. If you are redeployed, how will you manage to homeschool? Also, you posted about toys and how you're afraid that your DD will be too old for toys soon. DD is 11 and asked for Lego Friends for Christmas so I'd say you've another year or two still. It probably depends on the child though.
girlie I was so disappointed for you regarding the house and then so happy when it turned out to be a mistake. Some mistake though! Any idea when you'll get to move in? How's your DD now after her accident? Has the lump gone down? The wildlife morning sounds lovely. I'd love to hold a hedgehog myself. Why do kids get to do all the fun stuff?
Laska great news about your DGD! Hope it will be all plain sailing from here.
Wreck good luck with your new car. Hope you have many happy and safe years driving it. Well done to your DS for learning to ride his bike.
booty I work in an office so I know all about collections. I don't think it's acceptable for your colleague to advertise how much everyone has contributed. When there's a collection here, we pass an envelope around and people write their name on the envelope (assuming they want to contribute) and put their contribution inside. Nobody knows how much you've donated. Sometimes I've dodged a collection by saying something like, "Oh, I've no money on me. I'll come back to you tomorrow/next week/never". One guy went a bit far and kept bringing in charity things for his mother. She'd volunteer to sell lines or raffle tickets for a charity or hospital or something and then give them to him to sell at work! If it was just a once off it wouldn't be so bad but it was happening every month or so. Eventually someone said to him, "I'll buy one off you today, but this is the last time". He lives at home and has no idea of the pressure people are under trying to pay mortgages/rent and other bills.
north sounds like your DS has made good progress. Why does he need a chest brace (if you don't mind me asking)?
Jeepers well done for getting help with your mh issues. Hope you find a good counsellor or therapist.
Minnie you were feeling a bit miserable last time you posted. Hope you're in a better place now.
Ipsos good luck with your DS. Sounds like you're doing everything possible to help him along.
I'dstillrather glad your DP got the boiler sorted and your house is nice and cosy again.
lila if at all possible, I'd give up the second job. Working 47 hours (in your main job) sounds fairly tough.
Frugal fail - both DH and I bought cards for FIL's 70th so one of them will go to waste 
. DH never bothers with cards so I dutifully picked one up. You've guessed it, DH came home with one.
Frugal success - I won a €10 book token for taking part in a book quiz before Christmas. I'm going to save it for my holidays and treat myself to a book before I go away.