I like Max and Felix too (in fact, they were lined up for me if I'd been a boy), but I know about 4/5 of each of them. But that's because theyr'e lovely names. Heavens, we named DD1 Isabella, the most popular name of 2008!! I know exactly what you mean, Lady, re names that make you bristle. My best friend at primary school was called Tor and that makes the name lovely for me. I was horribly bullied for a brief stint at a rank secondary school (quite famous, but shall refrain from naming it!) and the name Harriet now has terrible connotations for me. And yet it's quite a pretty name. Just not my cup of tea. But I've got the last laugh as she married a dreadful crook (also quite famous!!!).
I'm heading down to Kent tonight ready for the furniture selecting from Mum tomorrow. Suspect it'll be fairly gruelling. Mum got this date in the diary back in Feb/March so we could all make it and wants us to start at 9am, which she also made clear. My middle sister is also going down to tonight with her son, who has a swimming gala in Crawley tomorrow! She is racing him across at 7am and will be back for kick off at 9. My oldest sister is coming from London, the closest of all, and told me today she is getting the 8.37am train and could I pick her up at 9.30. I am horrified. And furious. And disgusted. She actually TOLD me that she couldn't be bothered to get out of bed earlier to get to Mum's before 9 because the rest of her family will be asleep. Mum rarely, if ever, asks anything of us, particularly the oldest as she is so useless. I am astonished that she can't even do this for Mum. I am not blowing my own, or my middle sisters' trumpets here, but since Dad died, we've been ringing Mum at least every other day. Mum admitted to me the other day that my oldest sister only tends to ring every 2 weeks, and sometimes it's Mum that has to call her. I know they're not close, but you'd think with all that Mum's gone through, my oldest sister would get off her arse and make an effort. I am seething. And, actually, like a little tell tale, I've told Mum. She is also furious and if she speaks to my oldest sister, I think is going to tell her not to bother coming!!! It's just so sad that since October last year, Mum, my middle sister and I have all got closer, but my oldest sister just seems to be pulling further and further away. She's so deeply engrossed in her own misery (which is of her own making, frankly), that she can't be anything but entirely selfish. Grrrr. Families eh?
Sorry, rant over. I didn't mean to bleat on. Feel free to ignore!!!
Arti, I am horrified by the towels. Bleugh. Oh and also, do what your gut tells you when the baby arrives on the name front. DD1 just didn't look like a Victoria, even though we'd had it lined up for ages as our girl's name!
x