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Earl Spencer's book on Diana is stolen
JustHereForTheShitsAndGiggles
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Copies of Earl Spencer's sensational book about Princess Diana have been stolen from a lorry – just before its exclusive serialisation in the Daily Mail.
The memoir – Swan Song: Diana, My Sister – includes revelations about Diana's deeply unhappy marriage with the then Prince of Wales.
It also describes the crisis that engulfed the Royal Family after her death in a car crash almost 30 years ago.
Last night a publishing insider said: 'Earl Spencer has kept his silence for nearly 30 years and what he has to say about the King's reaction when Diana died is utterly devastating.'
But, in an astonishing development, the Mail can reveal that a truck packed with thousands of copies of the book was broken into after it was parked overnight in a lay-by in the Netherlands earlier this week.
Just four copies, which had been wrapped in black plastic to hide their contents, were stolen in what publishing sources believe could have been an audacious plot to steal the highly anticipated book of the year before it hits the shelves.
193
Today 01:38
To book a solo weekend away without my partner?
Vote
ijustwanttiread
My partner is absolutely enraged by the idea I might go away without him. We don’t live together and finances are totally separate.
My mum is a planner and likes to know what we would like for Christmas early. I have always wanted to go to London to the biggest bookshops in Europe. Sad, I know, but I love books. I can’t justify a splurge on them though, so I’ve asked her for vouchers. She still gives pretty decent gifts. My plan is to go for a weekend (£100 hotel and £70 train fare)
My partner is enraged. He thinks I should a) ask for money for both of us to take a holiday together and b) go away with him only.
AIBU to do it anyway?
125
Yesterday 22:29
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AIBU after a flatmate shouted about the shared bathroom?
Confused383838
I’ve started living with a friend (F) and another person in a shared flat. I have a boyfriend (BF) who doesn’t live with us. We’re all on the same course together, final
year, and know each other.
On the first day of term my boyfriend had stayed over (one night) and we had a 9am class next day. I had a heavy period so in the morning I was in the communal bathroom for 10-15 mins in total (shower, teeth, loo), got dressed, and then came back to the bathroom to scrub the bathtub because I was conscious of my period and I wanted it to be clean for the next person - door was open while I was cleaning and it took another 5-10 mins. I’m guessing the number of minutes but I wasn’t taking my time at any point and I didn’t want to keep BF waiting, and if anyone had wanted to use the bathroom I would have made way. BF then used the bathroom for minimal time, (loo, washed face and done). F hadn’t emerged from her room during this time so I didn’t know if she’d already left or wasn’t in. I knocked on her door but no answer so BF and I left together with time to spare.
I didn’t see F in class. I headed back to the flat after. F emerged from her room and started screaming about me and BF using the bathroom all morning so she couldn’t wash her hair and she therefore missed the class. I was too shocked to say anything. I assume F thought that BF was using the bathroom when I was actually cleaning, and she was raging silently about it in her room rather than coming out and asking us to hurry up. After I had a few minutes on my own I went to speak to her and explained and she listened but I could see she was still furious at me.
I’ve lived with people before and shared bathrooms and never had issues. I don’t know if there is some bathroom
code I broke. I feel like I’ve just moved in with an insane person with a horrible hidden personality. I can’t leave as I’m contracted to living here for at least a year. We got on very well previously. It’s the start of the year and it’s a small class and I can’t escape from her at home or on my course. I thought I was being considerate and now I feel like I f*****ed things up for the rest of the year. I know she’s going to complain to the other people on the course that it’s all my fault. I’m normally very passive and avoidant and it took a lot for me to go back to her and say you were wrong about BF, but now I don’t ever want to see her again. 😭
271
Today 04:20
I have just ordered my Christmas turkey, am I strange?
Flatandhappy
Currently in France on holiday, we live in Sydney, I just went on to my local butcher’s website to order some meat for when we get home and I saw their Christmas orders were open. I could get home delivery on 23rd December so I ordered my turkey, gravy, stuffing and a joint of roast beef to get it to the point of free delivery. All paid for so don’t have to think about it in December. Am I super organised or truly tragic?
10
Today 03:58
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What small household fixes have made everyday life noticeably easier?
HardyPinkPanda
I’m between jobs at the moment and have decided to use some of the time to basically snag my own house.
I’m going through every room and making a note of all the little things that have mildly irritated me for YEARS, but which I’ve somehow just accepted as part of life. You know the sort of thing - not actual problems, just things you regularly curse under your breath and then continue living with for another five years.
So far I have:
- Ruthlessly slimmed down the kitchen cupboards so I could lose one cupboard and fit a tumble dryer. Every winter I normally spend approximately 46% of my waking hours hanging damp clothes around the house and rotating them like prize livestock, so I’m disproportionately excited about this.
- Reorganised the Tupperware so every container now lives WITH ITS OWN LID. No more rummaging through 17 lids while slowly losing the will to live.
- Thrown out about 12 random, ancient, slightly raggedy towels that had been granted permanent residency in the airing cupboard. It now has SPACE. Things are FOLDED.
- Replaced the sieve that hasn’t had a handle since approximately 2020. Why did I just... live like that?
- Put bigger shoe storage by the door, so we no longer have the traditional hallway shoe landslide.
- Rewired a switch so it finally works the way you instinctively expect it to work rather than requiring a tiny moment of irritation every single time.
Honestly, none of this is exactly world peace, but the cumulative improvement to my quality of life is ridiculous. I keep thinking, WHY DID I PUT UP WITH THIS FOR SO LONG?
So humour me: what tiny, boring, seemingly insignificant thing have you changed/fixed/bought/reorganised in your house that has made you disproportionately happy?
I want the really mundane ones. The things nobody is putting on Grand Designs but which have genuinely made your day-to-day life better.
Basically, tell me what else I should be wandering around my house looking for 😂
451
Today 03:56
I found out my husband visited an escort
NiftyKhakiPoet
I found out yesterday that my husband visited an escort earlier this year and I’m completely devastated.
We’ve been together a long time. As far as I knew we were happy.
I found messages on our shared iPad from February. He had contacted a woman through an escort site asking if she was available. She replied with a menu of services, all of which involved some form of sexual “relief”. He booked an hour, later messaged to say he was there, and she sent him instructions for getting into the building.
When I confronted him, he initially completely denied it. He said the messages couldn’t be his, he’d never been there and there must be some sort of mistake. Eventually, after a lot of questioning, he admitted he had gone and had a massage with a happy ending. He says it happened once, he has never done anything like it before and genuinely doesn’t know why he did it.
I asked him to leave yesterday and he went to a hotel last night. His apology was pretty rotten, basically that he was sorry he had disappointed me and let me down!? He asked what he could do, but I honestly feel he should be the one coming up with that, not expecting me to tell him. He hasn't been in touch since.
The other thing I’m really struggling with is how much the whole thing disgusts me. The fact that my husband went onto an escort site, chose someone, arranged to meet her and paid for a sexual service makes me feel physically sick. I can't get the messages or what happened out of my head.
This morning I noticed he had signed his iMessage account out of the shared iPad. I sent him a screenshot of that and he read it but didn’t respond.
I love him, which is what makes this so painful, but at the moment I can’t imagine ever trusting him again and I didn't think he would be capable of this. I also keep wondering if I really believe this was the only time.
Has anyone been through something similar? Did you stay or leave, and if you stayed, were you ever genuinely able to get past it and trust your partner again?
91
Today 03:32
Join the conversation
Start a new discussion and get support from the Mumsnet community
Start a new thread
AIBU to think the toll fine was not equally my responsibility?
Vote
ReturnoftheMe
Scenario
My partner (MP) of almost one year and I went on a holiday which we split between 2 (for the most part)
I have 2 kids and he has 1, but we decided to split the cost of the holiday and spending money down the middle.
On the way to the airport, MP mentioned to my son that the tunnel we go through has a toll (£4) and said, "I need to remember to pay that"...I asked him how it is paid, and he said through his account that he has registered. We leave the conversation there. At the time, I thought, at some point he will log in a pay the toll, but we both completely forgot. I don't drive and never have, so anything pertaining to the car doesn't really come across my mind by habit.
On the way home from the holiday a week later, he remembered the toll, but by then he said we would have incurred a fine of £90. I immediately took my phone to see if I could log in a pay, but he said I should try his phone instead. I didnt manage to get into his account because he had 5 of them, and in the dark while driving it didnt seem like the best plan to keep putting the phone up to his face to log into them and see which one worked. I told him either way, I would pay half once he managed to log in at home. I offered straight away to pay half as I felt guilty and sad that he'd got the fine, especially as he is self employed and misses a week of work to go on holiday.
He logged in at some point in time and paid the fine. I have no idea which day because we don't live together. We were talking about other financial things a day or so later via text, and he asked if I'd pay the fine from my Revo bank and I said, I will do it later via Barclays. However, that morning I forgot to do so. It 100% was just an oversight on my part due to be busy.
7 days later, he messages me to say...
"Do you have a problem with paying for half that fine?
Do you think it should be my responsibility because it’s technically “my car”?!"
I wrote...
"I don’t think I should be expected to pay it.
I’d only pay it because I offered to, out of feeling guilty that it was down to our family holiday that you got it. And also because you were so upset, I offered to pay half of it due to how it seemed to sting you at the time.
I don’t feel a responsibility to pay it, because it’s not my car and I am not attuned to all those tolls. It’s not on my mind.
So short answer is, I wanted to pay half to a) account for it being a holiday for us all and b) knowing how upset you were about it, upset me. So I wanted to help.
I didn’t send the money yet, because I actually forgot about it.
But I will do it now"
He said that my response has changed the way he views me as a woman, and that I am not the type of person he wants to be in a relationship with because I should be taking the responsibility of paying the initial toll, as he was driving and too distracted after to do it. My push back was to say that the toll was not my responsibility, we each had separate and shared responsibilities pertaining to the holiday, but I trusted that he would take care of the toll and didnt need my input, despite trying to help.
Is he being unreasonable or am I? He proceeded to call me, shout and me and call me a few names because he believes I should concede and take responsibility DESPITE me paying half the fine (sent the money last night) he still believes I am a wicked person (his own words) for not being willing to accept the responsibility was OURS.
206
Today 04:22
10 year old speaking for herself to GP
Rainallnight
This is a bit random but here goes.
My 10 year old DD can speak to the GP herself about her symptoms if she’s poorly. I’m really proud I’ve encouraged her to do this and that she can do it. It’s an important life skill.
She is adopted and struggles in many areas of life.
I was wondering if all ten year olds can do this or am I justifiably impressed? 😂
12
Today 04:22
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AIBU to refuse family use of our home for holidays?
Vote
SayingNoToFamily
I'm really cross about this and don't know if I'm being unreasonable. Please help me mumsnetters. I have name changed in case this is outing. Sorry, it is long, so as to avoid a drip feed.
Back story, until very recently we owned a holiday house (just sold it this month). Half of the house belonged to me and DH and the other half was owned by DH parents. We bought our half off another relative and have owned our half for a long time, approximately 20 years.
The house is in a holiday location and has been used by DH siblings (and their partners and school aged children) as a holiday home for all of that time. They never offered any money for their stay. We didn't use it very often as we were not living in that country until a couple of years ago.
Unfortunately it appears that DH siblings viewed the house as something they were entitled to use, rather than a privilege. Obviously their parents also owned half of the house, which makes a difference to how they viewed it. On some occasions the house was left dirty after the siblings had used it and when we arrived to use it we had to clean it. They have also used it without asking, as they all have a key.
We now live in a different holiday location, about 3 hours drive away from the house, so don't need to go there for holidays anymore. But more importantly we have never rented the house, so we didn't ever benefit financially, but it cost us money in terms of maintenance. This is the reason for wanting to sell.
DH siblings have had many years of free holidays, at our expense, mainly during school holidays, when accommodation is expensive. Sadly for them with the sale of the house this has now come to an end.
There is a school holiday coming up here very soon. We as a family (me, DH and our DCs) are going overseas for the holidays, meaning our main house (our permanent family home) will be empty. One of DH siblings, who would usually go to the holiday home, has messaged him to say she doesn't know how she's going to entertain her DCs over the holiday and asking if our house is on offer to them.
I am really annoyed about this. It feels like after years and years of having free holidays in the holiday house at our expense, they now want to use our own home as an alternative.
I don't want them to use it. I don't want the stress of having to get our house ready for guests when we we're already preparing for our own trip. I dont like the idea of other people using our home when were not there. But also I think this is really cheeky and they seem to expect us to still be responsible for providing them with a free holiday.
I think allowing them to use our own house now is effectively sending the message to them that this is now their holiday home, as a replacement and sets a precedent that whenever we are away they can use it. AIBU to not want them to use it?
DH does sort of agree with me on this, however instead wants to tell them they can come to ours when we are there for a 'beach holiday'. Whilst I don't have a problem with then coming to stay for a couple of days when we're here, I don't think he should be starting to offer them 'beach holidays ' in our house at this point, being so close to the sale of the holiday house, as in my opinion it's still giving them the impression that we're responsible for providing them with holidays.
Any advice welcome. Thanks for reading!
42
Today 04:19
Ham pr disasters 39! The Uganda divide…diplomatic necessity vs needless pandering.
jeffgoldblum
Continuing the discussion, still interested, still not bored!
1000
Yesterday 20:10
Cleaner shamed us for house - not sure how to feel
tokajlover
We have had a cleaner for coming up to 4 years now and she’s brilliant, no complains from us whatsoever.
The reason we have a cleaner is because, like most people who do, we find it makes life much easier with a young child, and both my DH and I working a substantial distance from home, about an hour to an hour and a half’s commute a few times a week plus starting this year, school drop offs and pick ups etc. Our lives are chaotic but nothing out of the ordinary for young-ish professionals with a young child, except maybe the substantial commutes. Having a cleaner is definitely a God send!
Apparently, however, today she pulled my husband aside as he was WFH and told him that we need to do better, because she needs to do a “hard factory reset” every time she comes over.
Our house was definitely messy today after a weekend where we hosted and were away on the Saturday! But we don’t leave disgusting messes, food, we don’t have bugs etc (feel ashamed to even have to say this!), we aren’t hoarders, and our house is just a normally messier than we’d like it to be but not disgusting by any means 3 bed. The best way to put this would be, I guess, if announced guests had popped up today I would not have thought it the best time and would have said “sorry for the mess” but I wouldn’t have been excessively worried or scrambling about to get the place ready, as I wouldn’t have thought there was anything particularly bad about it just not “visitor-ready” and messy.
I feel so embarrassed now though and mum guilt has kicked in - I keep thinking that there’s plenty of full time working parents who don’t have a cleaner so what am I doing wrong.
She only does 2 hours a week but she did start out doing 3, with the idea initially being that she would do the general clean in 2 hours and do one deep-cleaning thing each time, she is the one who asked for fewer hours. We pay above the average rate which is not me congratulating ourselves by any means and we never minded as she does do an excellent job, just to clarify we are not under-paying her or anything like that!
I guess I just feel a bit ashamed and don’t know if she had a point or was this weird? Presumably people have cleaners to clean and sometimes the house is not in top shape when your cleaner arrives, but I thought that was normal? As I said we never leave messes for her to deal with later on purpose or any disgusting things, but part of me can’t help but feel extremely ashamed and bad!
398
Today 03:25
To not know where to turn for help with this?
Vote
ihowlforyou
I fell and fractured my ankle a week ago. I was told it’s a stable fracture to be treated like a sprain. I also really tore up my knee, which has been very slow to heal.
A week on and I’m still incredibly swollen, bruised and my ankle is becoming more and more painful. My knee is still very sore, the actual skin is numb but I have pain at the base and top of my kneecap. It also feels a little unstable and I am getting sharp stabbing pains to one side of my kneecap.
My GP isn’t interested. They say that I have to go to physio if I need, as it’s a muscular injury.
Physio has an eight week minimum wait for a video consultation.
This obviously isn’t an A&e situation (shamefully I did go to A&E for the initial injury because it had a very short wait time, it seemed to be a quiet time of day!), and they wouldn’t take a look at my knee anyway as it’s a “superficial injury”.
Minor injuries is now by appointment only in my area and appointments are gone within a minute of opening.
I’ve tried the pharmacy for the graze that isn’t healing but they just say to dress it and keep it clean and it’ll heal “eventually”.
I feel like I’m being turned away at every turn but I’m in so much pain, I’m left feeling sick by lunchtime because my ankle is that sore, and by the end of the day I can’t stand walking around. I have basic physio exercises from my last sprain years ago but I can’t do them, but I can’t be seen by anyone.
Please don’t suggest a private physio assessment, it’s not within my budget at all. AIBU to just feel despondent and like I can’t get help anywhere?
189
Today 03:57
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Awkward lounge and sofa placement, help!
Newbie2025
Hello,
I have an awkwardly shaped sitting room and need a larger sofa but the only place it will fit is in front of the chimney breast.
The fire doesn't work and is closed off and plastered flush so would it be a bad idea to put the sofa against there? I currently have a pretend fire which does give the room a good focal point but don't know if removing this and putting the sofa there is just an interior design no no? (Not that I know anything about interior design) i've attached a floor plan and open to suggestions.
The current sofa is on the left hand wall opposite the fire place but can only fit a small one due to the door locations.
2
Today 04:02
AIBU? Kid's kicking rotting apples in a field / parent had a right go
Vote
TheZanyPanda
Took my two boys (DS15 and DS13) out for a walk and a picnic in the Yorkshire Dales over the weekend. It was lovely—other families were around, everyone was relaxing, and we found a nice spot in a field to sit for a bit.
After eating, I wanted to read my book for half an hour while the boys let off some steam. Near the edge of the field, there were a few wild apple trees with a ton of bruised and rotting apples all over the floor.
The lads decided to have a bit of a kick-about with them. They spent about 30 minutes mucking about with the already-fallen/rotting apples, kicking them to each other like a football, and stepping / stomping on some. They were in my sight the entire time, weren't shouting or swearing, and were just genuinely having innocent fun.
Out of nowhere, another parent walked over and had an absolute kick-off at them (and then me). She was furious, claiming they shouldn't be "kicking fruit" or "making a mess."
I stood up for the boys and said they were just letting off steam, weren't being rowdy, and the apples were already on the ground rotting anyway so no harm was done. She wasn't having it at all—told me we were "ruining the area for everyone" and said we "shouldn't come back," before storming off.
It totally ruined the atmosphere and has left a really sour taste in my mouth. They're teenage boys having a bit of fun and letting off steam with mushy apples in a field, not vandalism!
Am I Being Unreasonable to think she completely overreacted and was way out of line? Or should I have stopped them?
YBU - They were making a mess and ruining the area, leave the fruit alone. YANBU - Harmless fun with rotting apples, the other parent needs to get a grip!
112
Today 00:47
To be totally addicted to romantasy books?
Vote
yourethemoon
I know I know, they’re not exactly literary greats.
But I can’t get enough of them. I’m on my fifth romantasy series back to back, I’ve read 19 books in the last 6 weeks! I just eat them up. My partner thinks I should broaden my horizons a bit because, in his words, it’s “fairy porn” without much value.
AIBU?
85
Yesterday 19:39
Will they put DC up a year?
Ohnoivebecomethatmum
My dc has just started in reception in a private school, due to having younger sibling and me not returning to work, they didn't attend nursery. DC is very bright for their age, even when looking around private schools this was commented on, along with other parents stating this. They are reading and writing and adding and subtracting already and they are a late summer baby. I don't say this to boast, but to give context. Anyway, they have been at school for a week and we've had the plan for the rest of the month and none of it will stretch my DC. Am I being ridiculous to ask if they will put DC up a year? Or should I just wait and see and ask for some stretch/challenge tasks?
127
Today 04:21
Granddaughter’s rage over graduation plans.
Vote
ProfessoressaSazzasez
A few weeks ago OH (80, frail) & I met up with his daughter-in-law & grandkids to give GK#1 a 21st birthday gift & congratulate her on her law degree. I know she was disappointed to “only” have got a 2:1 but it’s from a very famous university & bloody good.
They have had their struggles: their Dad (my stepson) went AWOL from parenthood ten years ago, they were illegally evicted & homeless.
We are very proud of them.
GK invited us to her graduation (on a Friday), we talked about planning the trip & what she wanted us to wear for the photos, & DiL getting a day of work, GK#2 taking the day off school to be there.
OH & I both understood we were being asked to book the accommodation for the 5 of us & travel together.
So I booked us a flat for 2 nights - Thursday & Friday - & forwarded the confirmation asking when we could go up on the Thursday so I could book train tickets.
No reply.
Left a voicemail in case they’d missed the email.
Emailed again.
Got a scolding reply from GK#1 telling me it’s HER big day and she’s shocked, SHOCKED I booked accommodation (after we both understood we were being asked to, & checking with her whether she’d need it too) & complaining her mum is finding it hard to get time off from work (which I do not think I can be blamed for).
So I have no idea what’s going on.
i replied that of course it’s her big day & up to her who she has there, that she might forgive me if I misunderstood what she wanted, & pointed out that it’s too late to cancel the booking, but she’s welcome to use the accommodation if she wants.
I said if she wanted her granddad there she should let us know.
It’s a trek for us to get there, & not cheap: OH is blind & i cant drive, so the earlier we can book train tickets the better.
Silence since then.
What to do?
Am I unreasonable to feel rather hurt by this?
349
Today 01:41
Family holidays and deals
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Going insane - I had a termination at 5 weeks pregnant and now I’m having what feels like kicking (I would be 18 weeks)
jsws
I know this might upset people talking about terminations etc but I had my reason. I was on the pill and already have 3 kids.
the past two days I’ve had patterns of what feels like kicks. I did a pregnancy test when I should after a termination and it came back negative. I’ve never tested again until the other day and I stupidly got pee on the part that shows the lines. I’m still on the same pill.
now I’ve had these weird kicks for two days and it’s I the morning and night. You can see my stomach move and feel them. It feels exactly how my three pregnancies felt
surely this isn’t possible? After a very negative test?
16
Today 02:11
Child with ongoing stomach pain and diarrhoea after Bali trip
LavenderLxx
My son has had stomach ache and diarrhoea for nearly 10 days now. He hasn’t managed to start school this term as he’s been too unwell. GP has taken urine sample (fine) blood sugar (fine) and we’re awaiting stool samples.
We went to Bali in the summer holidays and I came back with severe D&V which wiped me out for over a week. For the most part I’ve been ok but my ‘funny tummy’ has come back too. The GP tested my stool too but it’s come back normal.
My son is throughly fed up and of course school are questioning why he’s had 6 days off if the GP can’t find an answer… Any words of wisdom?
29
Today 00:34
Worry about DD at uni who just called
Raisingresiliantteens
DD just started uni at Bristol. She just called but I only heard a noise and that was it. I am worried. Calling back but not answering
48
Today 04:21
To not let my younger daughter lend her sister the money for school trip?
OneSunnyGreenTurtle
My 14 year old is going on a three day school trip to London next week. I have been paying for it in instalments since the beginning of the year and have finally managed to get the main cost paid. She is really looking forward to it and has been talking about it for months. But the school has now sent a message saying they need to bring money for food, drinks and an evening activity which isn’t included. Apparently most of the children are taking at least £50. My daughter says she will be the only one without it and is getting very upset about the whole thing.
I work part time in a supermarket and get Universal Credit. Money is tight at the moment and I honestly haven’t got £50 spare. I have told her I can give her £15 and pack some food for her, but she says her friends will all be buying things throughout the day and she will be embarrassed taking a packed lunch. She also says the evening activity is something they are all doing and she doesn’t want to sit in the hotel while everyone else goes. I do understand that she wants to fit in, but I have already paid for the trip itself and can’t just magic up another £50. I have said she needs to be grateful she is going at all, which probably wasn’t the most helpful thing to say.
My younger daughter is 10 and has been saving for a new phone. She has a little tin in her bedroom and has about £80 in it from birthdays, Christmas and money relatives have given her. She has been saving for ages and keeps looking at phones online. Anyway she overheard me and her sister talking about the trip and offered to lend her £30. She said she doesn’t mind and can save it up again, and that she wants her sister to have a nice time. She wasn’t being forced or anything, she came out with it herself. But I said no straight away and told her that her money was hers and she didn’t need to pay for her sister’s school trip.
This is where it has all kicked off really. My older daughter said that her sister had offered and I was being unfair by stopping her. She said she would pay her back when she gets her birthday money, although that isn’t until next year. I said that isn’t really the point and that a 10 year old shouldn’t be lending her savings to make up for what I can’t afford. She called me mean and said I was making her feel guilty for wanting to go on the trip. I know she is disappointed but I don’t think it is unreasonable to say no. I don’t want her thinking that because her sister has some savings, she can just use them whenever she wants something.
My younger daughter is now upset with me too. She keeps saying she offered because she wanted to and that I have made it into a big thing. She has even asked if she can give her sister the money without telling me, which obviously isn’t happening. The girls were getting on quite well before this but now they are arguing about it. My older one says her sister doesn’t mind and my younger one says I am stopping her doing something kind. I don’t want either of them feeling responsible for the other’s money problems, if that makes sense. But I also don’t want to make my eldest feel like she can’t have the same experiences as her friends.
The school has said they can bring packed lunches, and the evening activity is an extra thing they have arranged while they are in London. I don’t think the school has offered any financial help, although I haven’t actually asked them directly yet. I could email and explain the situation, but I feel embarrassed doing that after managing to pay the main trip cost. My daughter says everyone has been told to bring spending money and that the teachers won’t want to hear about it. I don’t know how much of that is actually true. She has also said she will just go without food rather than take what I pack, which is worrying me.
AIBU to refuse to let my younger daughter lend her sister the money? Should my older daughter just accept that she can’t have the extras and go with the £15 I can afford, or should I be asking the school about help? I don’t want to take the trip away from her because she has been looking forward to it, but I can’t afford to keep adding money to it. And I don’t think it is right for a 10 year old to feel she needs to help pay for her sister’s school trip, even if she has offered. What would you do?
369
Today 04:03
My parents have become insufferable.
Vote
PleasePleasePleaseDontProve
I am really struggling with my parents. Both are mid-sixties, retired. It seems since retirement they have become quite bigoted, insufferable and insular in their viewpoints. Every time I meet up with them conversations revolve around:
- Illegal immigration / people on benefits / Reform and Nigel Farage. Essentially focussing around the latest GB news story (which they watch religiously).
- Their latest or ongoing health ailments and how poor, in their view, the NHS is.
- Unnecessary and rude descriptions to describe other people (could be random strangers) or people they know. For example, ‘our fat neighbour has put on tons of weight.’
I used to have a fantastic relationship with my parents, particularly my father, and I’m sure he wasn’t always like this. I’m starting to dislike meeting up with them as their attitudes seem to have changed towards life and people in general, and they constantly want to discuss the latest GB News story.
Has anybody else found this has happened to their parents?
519
Yesterday 23:44
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Please help an old, short, apple find a dress
HurdyGurdy19
I have no fashion/style sense at all. The last time I wore a dress was on my wedding day, over 40 years ago. I am 66 years old.
I have been eating more healthily and exercising daily for the last year. This time last year, I was pushing 17stone (108kg). This morning, I was 12stone 2lbs (77kg). This time last year, I was wearing size 24 clothes. Now, I can wear size 16 jeans, size 16 t shirts, but anything on top with buttons, I'm "safer" in a size 18, as otherwise the button line gapes.
I would dearly love to wear a dress when we go out for dinner for my husband's birthday at the end of this month. Currently, I only wear jeans and tshirt type tops. I still can't convince myself that I can/should wear anything that would reveal my shape.
I am only 5ft 2ins (1.57m), so everything I've even looked at in shops absolutely drowns me length-wise. My days of wearing high heeled shoes are well past me (and I have the deformed feet to show for it!), so wearing heels to lift the hem isn't an option. I can wear low heels - maybe 2inches?
Can anyone suggest a style of dress that I might cautiously try? I am an absolute apple shape - all boobs, belly and bum (hardly any of that weight has come off my boobs or belly🙁). I don't want to look like a sack that's been tied around the middle, nor do I want to look like Demis Roussos in a huge floating kaftan
I don't like animal print anything, and I'm not really taken with overly floral patterns
As I am still losing weight (want to lose at least another 2 stone), I don't want to buy anything too expensive in the shops, as I hopefully won't be wearing the item much longer. I am happy to buy from Vinted though
Am I a lost cause at the moment?
Edited to add - I only shop in Bon Marche at the moment, as that is the only women's clothes shop in our town, plus they do various leg lengths, so I can find jeans that are the correct length for my short legs (inside leg 27 in their jeans). Happy to venture further afield if there is anywhere that might be able to accommodate my shape.
20
Today 03:53
Would you challenge a landlord replacing Miele with a cheaper dishwasher?
sermat
We rent a pretty expensive flat in London. The yield is very low and the landlord struggles to break even. That said, the flat has appreciated over the £1m in the 25 years the landlord has owned it.
The flat is a little bit dated but the rental price is commensurate. The kitchen would have been pretty high spec when it was put in around 2012. This includes a (not built in) dishwasher, fridge, oven, washing machine etc all from Miele.
The dishwasher broke and the landlord joked to me how expensive Miele ones were. So I joked back that the Miele appliances were why we rented this place (partly true).
Landlord fits new dishwasher and it’s a £250 one from China. I was expecting a Miele one or something of similarly high quality. Would you argue about this? DP thinks I’m precious.
105
Today 04:06
What would you spend a £50 Amazon voucher on?
LightUpLavender
I've had a £50 amazon voucher for ages and I can't think what to spend it on.
So please help! What looks good on there right now? What would you spend it on?
I'm suffering from a real imagination failure and the voucher is just sitting there on the account... I guess I'd be looking for a beauty or fashion treat, a fun gadget, also toying with the idea of adding to the pot and getting a kindle after misplacing my old one.
8
Yesterday 18:22
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