I shall call him Shiney and he shall be mine and he shall be my Shiney. Come on, little Shiney. [stung by jellyfish] Ow! Bad Shiney, bad Shiney!

[mittz]

Hello.

I am Mittz.

Today, I am mostly eating....Granola...

Lizzy, wouldn't have been so bad but everyone heard

FWIW Jet I think you are being incredibly decent, I would tell him to swivel but I'm a cowbag like that. Could you celebrate with the girls before/after Christmas? I know it's not the same though.

he has settled down a long way. It really is a shame that this has to happen for him to settle down. I told him if he could i would see about dsis to babysit. he has improved greatly this afternoon and hoping he will continue to settle. He will not have his trip re-instated. I am hopeful.

we are braving ikea to try to get what we went for on monday Am i just plain mad?

Jet, if they are "insisting" on Christmas Eve with the girls then you INSIST on CHristmas Day afternoon.
Please, stand firm.

Why do they get to dictate your family Christmas?

Truly, it's really unfair.

glad things are looking a little brighter mucky, and at ikea!

His argument is that it is his normal weekend, so would be having them anyway. And as he is not willing to drive them back on xmas day (and i dont have a car), no public transport and taxis would be a fortune, xmas day is out I really dont know what to do for the best!

But, still being in my industrious mode, i have bought and assembled this table and am feeling quite chuffed with myself Just need to find some oak folding chairs now

Jet.. I have been speaking to someone today about a job that involves being companion/carer to people who have full time carers to give them a break, it is one to one and can be children/elderly/SN adults. If you are looking to do some volunteering could it veer in that direction so that maybe you could incorporate christmas in?
This would be company for you and the person in need and would be more one to one. I think this is the sort of organisation she works for and I think you would be extraordinary at it. You have a gentle compassionate nature and could build up to whatever you can manage.

thanks Mittz - you are so lovely Do you think i could still apply - even though i have my own 'sort of' carer?

There must be a way to get into something like that Jet.. will think a bit harder and talk to the lady, and also a man that I know that works like that as well. Might be a few days but will get any information I can xx

jet your xfil and sil cannot insist on anything, it is down to you and xp to sort out, they dont get a say in it, dont let them bully you

im afraid i would be insisting he bring them back christmas day after noon as Lizzy said, and if he refuses to drive them back until boxing day, i would refuse to let them go until christmas day afternoon, you have to be able to spend some of the day with them, its totally unfair that he is taking them from xmas eve until boxing day, i am and for you

Ooh, will we see lots more of you then Shiney? Good that you're giving up the job that you don't like. :)

shiney it should be in your contract how much notice you have to give, have you still got a copy?

i had to give 1 month notice to Finns private nursery, but i actually only gave 3 weeks and they didnt say anything about it, 2 months notice is ridiculous imo

great news about making a decision on the mac aswell shiney, they are a thing of beauty are they not?

evening. I have an issue i could use some help with. Anyone about on fb for a chat? it involves ex's family.

thans guys, i am know i am a complete wuss when it comes to confrontation etc, but i think you all have convinced me to have a 'chat' with him

Shiney - thats great news, both on the job and the nursery. I agree with Vinny, two months is a bit much - mini's was only one. Oh, and good news on the mac I did think you were talking make up again though

will do mucky

Are you secretly looking forward to telling your boss to shove it then shiney?

the only difference between the white macbook and the macbook pro is the memory (and of course the aluminum case) you get 4GB instead of 2GB

but you can actually get the white macbook with 4GB for an extra £81

but unless you are storing a huge amount of data 2GB is plenty imo

here is the comparison it even gives you the environmental status of the mac, they are very green

sorry if i put my foot in it there then shines

have you checked out if you would be eligible for any benefits?

Good on you for ditching a job you loathe Shiney, very hard & draining being a job you can't stand. Good luck with the nursery, 2 months seems bloody stupid if you ask me, DDs was 1 months notice, I think most places are, 2 is just nuts! Bloody hell at the £850 bill, I thought ours was bad enough - ouch!

Ooo a shiny new mac book...I say plump for the one you really like!

thanks shiney - tis hard work being this sad you know

Ooh well done Shiney, that job was not making you happy in the least. I can't believe a 2mths notice period, that is a bit crap, am sure you'll work something out though with your tact and diplomacy.

Jet, please, put your foot down lovely, if you are not happy with the arrangement then you say so. You are the one that does all the mundane day in day out stuff, why should you miss out on Christmas???

Oh and no, I'd love to do the Settle to Carlisle train journey, we were watching the train go over the viaduct just before we got to Hawes and it looked fab

i really do hear what you are saying Lizzy, but i think i have made a rod for my own back. I spent months telling him he couldnt cancel his weekends at short notice, or keep chopping and changing them like he did before. So, he is sticking to the arrangement to spite me i think. I have tried, i really have, but it has now got to the point where if i mention it again, it will really kick off, and junior has begged me not to say anything. So i feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But, like shiney, i will just have to have our xmas day on a different day and make do.

Hello

I have managed to do loads today at home due to not being on mn . I am back at work tomorrow and have a feeling I will be working all day.

Mucky are you ok?

Crispy, blimey you had done a lot this morning by way of exercise.

Vinny, mac book pro is what DH wants. I was thinking of ordering it from Apple? Good luck to the Finnster for tomorrow.

Norma, by your DH is kinda hot in his uniform...

Where is BOF, Jaq and Hells?

Jet, that is pretty rubbish about christmas

Lizzy, your outfit sounds lovely, you will be belle of the wedding!

Shiney, I hope you sort the nursery stuff out - it is an awful lot of money. Do you have to pay for the pre school thingy? I have some advice from DH - he said you need the aluminium pro mac. A friend of his bought the white one and he said it is still fabulous apart from the white casing. Oooh he has just commented "when I get mine for my birthday, it will be the £999 one" winking at me as he says it.... >