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Mumsnet dilemma

(28 Posts)
HelterSkelter1 Sun 21-Dec-25 10:50:34

When sleep evades me I sometimes dip into Mumsnet.
This week there was a thread opened by a woman whose rather unwelcome relative was coming to stay for Christmas and had texted the OP to say she was bringing something surprising and exciting for Christmas and needed 2 shelves in the fridge!!!

Knowing how most people's fridges are over Christmas, it seemed a ridiculous request.

But the main question was what on earth was she bringing? A PP suggested hibernating tortoises.

The most common reply was that she should put whatever it was in the garage or car boot. No way should space be freed up

Sometimes Mumsnet really makes me laugh.

I can't wait to dip in again after Christmas and see if the question has been answered.

CariadAgain Thu 05-Feb-26 07:35:37

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

Thent2002 Thu 05-Feb-26 07:28:19

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 23-Dec-25 11:39:04

Yes Whiff. Lots of trolls and often horrid posts to ignore.
It used to be good, clever and very funny a few years back.
I have almost cried laughing at some long threads with everyone pitching in.
But it seemed to take a turn for the worse and now there are a lot of unpleasant threads and replies.

I sometimes scroll when unable to sleep, but not often.

The same happened to their Style and Beauty forum which was interesting and gentle. No longer the same at all.

Whiff Tue 23-Dec-25 05:11:43

This is a fun thread. Was awake at 4 but responding to someone on Facebook group to do with my rare hereditary neurological condition.

Went well were kids dad put our tortoise in cardboard box with plenty of straw in the garage. Thinking of tortoise do you remember how Blue Peter used to show you what to do when you take your tortoise out of hibernation?

Never read nor want to read Mumsnet . GN has everything I need . Do they get Trolls and adverts for witch doctors that can cure everything. That pop up on here ?

Homestead62 Tue 23-Dec-25 03:46:30

Allira, thank you. I'd never noticed it here. The newspaper thing I'd only noticed on Mumsnet, but will certainly take that on board.

Usedtobeblonde Mon 22-Dec-25 15:54:44

Read upthread and you will find out.

Desdemona Mon 22-Dec-25 15:15:32

I would love to see what the 2 shelves were needed for in due course.

Allira Mon 22-Dec-25 14:39:57

I'm disappointed in Mumsnet and I do not like it when threads end up being the story in certain newspapers. If that happened here, I'd be gone.

Homestead62 Gransnet threads have been the subject of articles in the British and Australian media, with quotes.
Thought I'd warn you before you post anything too personal shock

Homestead62 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:23:03

Mumsnet is the most depressing place at times. Usually it's a few women moaning about their older relatives, or older folk in general and some threads are really horrible. Or, it's women who have married toddlers! Or their husbands carry on like toddlers. It's not a place I joined as I don't seem to have much in common and the constant holiday bore threads are a bit much. You also get the cost of everything and I suspect it's just a 'brag fest' sometimes. I'm disappointed in Mumsnet and I do not like it when threads end up being the story in certain newspapers. If that happened here, I'd be gone.

gentleshores Mon 22-Dec-25 13:58:04

Sounds like they will need to buy a second hand fridge and stick it somewhere for this guest.

gentleshores Mon 22-Dec-25 13:57:16

I think the only response should be a text saying "sounds fun - the only issue is unfortunately we can't make space in the fridge".

SueDonim Mon 22-Dec-25 13:36:31

Tortoises in fridges reminds me of a friend’s dilemma. She was caring for her daughter’s guinea pigs while the dd was working abroad,. Sadly one of the piggies died so she asked her dd, who is a vet, what she wanted done with the body. She asked for Piggy to be wrapped in cling film, inside a plastic container and placed in the freezer and she would deal with it when she got home.

Fast forward a few months to a New Year’s Day party in full swing and my friend suddenly remembered Piggy. She had to grab her Dh, put him to stand guard by the freezer and not let anyone open the door to get their own ice, for fear of them being confronted by a deceased corpse. grin

Usedtobeblonde Mon 22-Dec-25 13:33:54

Well you learn something everyday on GN.
How to hibernate your tortoise.
I wish I’d known that years ago, saved no end of worry.

friendlygingercat Mon 22-Dec-25 12:56:02

Hibernating tortoises can go in the fridge on a chilled setting of 4-6 c. One of my nieces hibernates hers in the garage this way. She uses a larder fridge - one which chills but does not produce ice.

petra Mon 22-Dec-25 11:14:16

HelterSkelter1

When sleep evades me I sometimes dip into Mumsnet.
This week there was a thread opened by a woman whose rather unwelcome relative was coming to stay for Christmas and had texted the OP to say she was bringing something surprising and exciting for Christmas and needed 2 shelves in the fridge!!!

Knowing how most people's fridges are over Christmas, it seemed a ridiculous request.

But the main question was what on earth was she bringing? A PP suggested hibernating tortoises.

The most common reply was that she should put whatever it was in the garage or car boot. No way should space be freed up

Sometimes Mumsnet really makes me laugh.

I can't wait to dip in again after Christmas and see if the question has been answered.

She posted yesterday telling readers what they brought. Very generous guests.

HelterSkelter1 Mon 22-Dec-25 11:02:01

I caught up with the Mumsnet thread and the outcome was that the guest brought bottles of a whisky cream liqueur type drink, a wheel of brie and other cheeses and some fresh yeast for a keen baker.
Not a tortoise to be seen. So nothing dramatic and the unopened bottles didnt need the fridge. She also brought profiteroles but they were eaten on the night she arrived.

But the whole premise of bringing stuff to go in a precious fridge space without saying what it was would have annoyed me no end. But it all turned out OK in the end. Panic over.

I wonder if the guest is on Gransnet and recognises herself?

Sarnia Mon 22-Dec-25 10:50:54

What a lovely thread. My imagination is going into overdrive wondering what she's bringing.

Astitchintime Sun 21-Dec-25 12:17:11

I saw this on MN……….I do hope the OP comes back and tells us what the outcome is.

Lathyrus3 Sun 21-Dec-25 12:04:08

Samsara1

Specimens for her evil experiments.

I’m totally mortified to say that comment sent me down the road of sperm donation

😳😱🥶

HelterSkelter1 Sun 21-Dec-25 11:37:12

The large unannounced turkey on Cnristmas Day reminded me of one of my DDs birthdays when I had stayed up late the night before making and decorating the cake...and I am no baker.
A slightly unfavourite in law arrived with an enormous elaborate shop bought cake. Unannounced..unless of course she had waenerd DH beforehand and he hadnt passed the message on.

That sort of situation, had there been Mumsnet then, would have had the thread humming with annoyance

So the OPs relation has form!

Samsara1 Sun 21-Dec-25 11:25:53

Specimens for her evil experiments.

Casdon Sun 21-Dec-25 11:21:13

I can’t think that it would be anything you would want enough to free up two shelves of your fridge for it, having catered for a family Christmas yourself already. I’d be saying, thanks for the offer but it’s impossible for me to free up two shelves, please keep whatever it is to enjoy yourself later?

HelterSkelter1 Sun 21-Dec-25 11:10:45

Oh yes please. Six bottles of best bubbly. One shelf. And caviar and wonderful cheeses. Anything else into the garage with it.

Fairislecable Sun 21-Dec-25 11:10:07

I saw that one and further down the thread it says the guest has been difficult in the past. The example given was the visitor had won a large turkey and arrived with it on Christmas Day, without giving the host the heads up. 😱

Lathyrus3 Sun 21-Dec-25 11:07:33

Top shelf cream cakes.
Second shelf six bottles of best champagne.

🧁🧁🧁🍰🍰🍰
🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾

But I expect its🥦 or🐟