The One Where Ross Has To Figure Out Clingfilm

[StuckInPollyannaMode]

Previous thread

How’s that for a title?!

Well, I’ve done a deal on the car. Actually it drives very nicely. I can see it’s practical. And it’s not an old banger.

It’s not very me. But it is sensible, and sensible I must be.

Actually got some kip last night. 9-5.

How’s everyone else doing? Justilou is it warm in Oz? One of my best friends lives there and I haven’t seen her for too long. RandomMess have you managed to have a better night / find out when you’re going home?

I haven’t told him about handing it over to the solicitor and no mediation on Friday yet. Waiting for the notes and financial summery from the mediator first. Hopefully today.

This is where grey rock (or rick!) is your friend. Just ignore anything that is not to do with the girls. Even if it's to do with the girls and it's unreasonable ... ignore! It takes practice and you may feel uncomfortable or anxious doing it at first but it's so freeing!

I agree with ignoring.

Or you reply something like "? Nothing to do with me"

@Daftapath

This is where grey rock (or rick!) is your friend. Just ignore anything that is not to do with the girls. Even if it's to do with the girls and it's unreasonable ... ignore! It takes practice and you may feel uncomfortable or anxious doing it at first but it's so freeing!

I think this is great.

Just ignore.

If you read something just practice thinking "fxxk all to do with me"...on a loop.🤣

You might grow to enjoy it..."another request for fxxk face that has fxxk all to do with me"....or any variation on the above.

Only engage IF it specifically involves the girls.

"I'm sure you'll work it out. See you on X".

Goodness @StuckInPollyannaMode, I've been reading both threads on and off all day as I'm new to them.

I'm so pleased that you're out and in your new home. There'll naturally be teething problems with your DDs as they adjust to this new pace of life.

I agree with limiting how he contacts you. Email only unless it's an emergency?

My mother has just messaged me to say it’s her prick day tomorrow.

Thank god I know she’s talking about her vaccine.

It’s her birthday next weekend. Ideas on how I can make it special for her? I’ve ordered an Estée Lauder lipstick she really wants, and I’ll get the girls to make her cards. She’ll go nuts if I spend lots on her, but something really thoughtful would go down well.

Ooh - just thought - the girls could buy her some bulbs to plant and she could enjoy them all through the spring? Or is that really backhanded? Here, have a present you have to DO something with?

Going to sound bonkers, but my urge to drink has massively receded - don’t get me wrong, I’ve opened a bottle and am having a glass - but the almost desperate urge I had to drink come 6pm has gone. This one glass will do me.

I’ve ignored all day then replied briefly on email. He was served with the divorce petition yesterday - well, his solicitors were - they’ve seven days to come back before it’s lodged with the court.

Nothing bonkers about your urge to drink going away. That's because you've escaped. Now you can enjoy a drink without the need to overdo it because you're living with a miserable bastard.

@StuckInPollyannaMode I was given an afternoon tea for my lockdown birthday. It was all delivered with everything, they collected cups and saucers, cake stand next day. It was delicious.

It's a bit late to plant spring bulbs but you could buy them ready planted.
Maybe a lovely wool blanket to watch TV under?

For my MIL, we got her a subscription to the royal horticultural society. She has eighteen months to activate it and then can visit RHS gardens with one guest or two children (think it’s two children), she also gets discounts at RHS shops and a monthly magazine as part of the sub.

She was delighted.

In the past we’ve got her jewellery and this year we want to take her to afternoon tea at Fortnums (when covid ever ends).

First gift we got her after DH & I got together was a gorgeous coat.

I also always send her a massive bunch of flowers from the girls.

My older girls tend to buy gifts for her themselves, they once got her a silver locket with space for four photos one each grandchild/stepgrandchild.

I always try and go all out for MIL I really appreciate what a wonderful grandma she is. I’m NC with my own mother so.

"prick day"

Didn't know she was seeing Geller 🤣🤣🤣

Could you get her a little gift bag of things like foot masks, face masks, hair masks, a bath bomb, her fav chocolate bar, wine, biscuits lots of small pamper type things.

@RandomMess

"prick day"

Didn't know she was seeing Geller 🤣🤣🤣

Love it lol.

@RandomMess - you got in before me with the Geller comment. Great minds!
I think your mum would love the bulbs idea, @StuckInPollyannaMode... how about some bulbs and a pretty pot to put them in?

@StuckInPollyannaMode - so does that mean he knows now? It can’t be a surprise - SURELY???

Ha! It’s my DMs 80th on Monday, @StuckInPollyannaMode so going through the same quandary.

I’m getting her a 3 month flower subscription from local florists, cake and a birthday walk.
Her friends are getting her dinner delivered by a local catering company.

I agree with others, that a lot of garden centres will be selling nice Spring Planters.
Or do you have time to get a nice pic of the girls on a mug/coaster/ jigsaw?

Spring flowering bulbs are planted in the autumn and autumn flowering bulbs are planted in the spring. So you are late for one and too early for the other.

You might be able to but some spring bulbs “ in the green “ next month but planting them is quite hard work, you’d need to do it yourself.

I’d buy some pots already planted with bulbs and or pansies / primula for her patio / around the front door . Or forced hyacinths for indoors.

After my failure with the jasmine cuttings perhaps it comes as no surprise to know that I'm no gardener - you're right of course @C0NNIE

I will send her a planter. Or a hyacinth. She's not really a spa day person and is a great cook, so no need to send food! Unless... I wonder if we could send a small birthday cake through the post?! If i packed it well enough?? Do you think it would survive? Not a fruitcake, I mean a sponge. Cos the kids could make one, they love doing that, and she'd absolutely love it.

I did them a personalised advent calendar of the girls and they loved that, I suspect any more will be overkill! @frazzledasarock great ideas, I did RHS membership a couple of years ago - have you looked into Historic Houses Association? I got my parents that about 5 years ago and they loved it so much they have renewed it every year.

He's been suspiciously quiet this morning, so I suspect he's had a call from his solicitors @justilou1

I have an idea!!!! What if the kids were to decorate the outside of a mason-type jar with paint and glitter and ribbony tat, and when it’s totally dry, you scoop in the pre-measured dry ingredients for a sponge cake. Send her that along with the recipe and if you want, a bowl and a whisk, and then ask if she can FaceTime the girls while she’s making it!!!

Ooooh.... the sound of silence!!! Are you nervous or are you pleased, @StuckInPollyannaMode?

the cake in a jar is a great idea, (I bought a Kilner jar with brownie ingredients including sparkly sugar balls etc in Lidl at Xmas, ready to use, ingredients, (bar butter & egg)
I also went my Mum a box of assorted choc chip cookies, that I found on line once
There was a thread on mn before Xmas with lots of on line shops ... I'll see if I have the link

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4034228-Independent-online-shops

I didn’t like to mention the jasmine 🤭 but since you brought it up, you should take hardwood cuttings in the winter. Assuming it was an outdoor variety.

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-hardwood-cuttings/

But I think you have enough to deal with and should buy a plant from the garden centre in the spring.

There you go @C0NNIE - you’ve inspired my next thread title - Don’t mention the jasmine!

Love the cake in a jar idea, thanks @Mix56 @justilou1 - on the case AND have lots of Kilmer jars! Much less messy.

On a completely separate note my Bonne Maman jar trial in the fridge is working well. So far I’ve tested avocado, white sauce and grated cheese.

Not doing so well with my eating more healthily. Plus I thought DD2 was doing really well with her homeschool this morning. Poked my head round the door in between conference calls to find her on YouTube not on school.

Oops.

Off to find some glittery shit. Preferably that will only half glue to the jar and fall off all over her carpet rather than mine 🤣

Pollyanna, I was just watching a single parent with three children, 15, 12, and 5, and she's also working fulltime from home, and I was wondering how the hell she looked so sane. And then I wondered if, like, erm, perhaps like you, she's thinking 'I can cope with anything, so long as I no longer have the manchild in the equation'. . .