Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

My grandson did my tree after we saw Santa . The grotto was beautiful . My daughter and gang brought me a pukka tea advent calendar.

What a lovely day Whiff and the tree looks fab. Will try to post pics of our decs later in the week. Am off to London tomorrow babysitting and the rest.
Will be there most of the week I reckon.
Just praying my SiL gets another job before March next year. At least London is the place to be.
🙏🏾🙏🏾

It appears we have an unofficial Christmas lights competition going on here.

One of our new neighbours put theirs up a few days ago; look good. Mr. S. did ours yesterday but ours can't be seen from the road because the front of our lodge overlooks the golf course. He popped round earlier to have a look and said rather dejectedly "I can't compete with that".

His immediate neighbour has done his this afternoon and has an 8' inflatable Father Christmas!!!

Can't wait to see what happens next. There's a great holiday atmosphere here already and it's only December 1st .

Beautiful tree Whiff clever grandson….

Babs have a lovely baby sitting . Hope you get to see all the Christmas lights. Hope your son in law gets a new job soon .

Smiles even though there is a Christmas decoration competition. Sounds like you definitely did the right thing moving there as it sounds a happy place to live with everyone embracing the holiday season .

My first year here I didn't put any lights outside . My bungalow looked sad as it was the only one in the dark in my half of the road . So next year brought a string of 16 stake stars that line my drive in the flower bed. On a timer and come on at 4 until 10. They light my way when I get home in the dark . Always have the outside and hall light on but it's nice to see the white stars that way I don't trip 😁.

The grotto was lovely and lot of moving animals . Not cheap but the presents the boys had where lovely and a good Santa . My youngest grandson sang frosty the snowman , wishing you a merry Christmas and when santa got stuck up the chimney both way as loud as he could making some of his own words up when he forgot bits. He's a snowman in the nursery production.

Sounds like a perfect day Whiff, pleased you all enjoyed it. It is lovely to read that despite your sons cruel behaviour, you have family which obviously care a lot about you.
Your lodge sounds brill Smiles, so pleased you have settled so easily, you are all ahead of me with your Christmas decorations, I need to make a start.🎅🤶

Morning all.
Looks like Mr S has his work cut out keeping up with the neighbours Smiles 😂
I do love a Christmassy neighbourhood, neighbours near us always put on a show and we string a few lights up.
Your grandson sounds so adorable whiff, is just too cute when they make up their own words to songs. And he must make the best snowman at nursery.
Don’t worry Bridie I haven’t put up any decs yet. We haven’t really been home long enough. But will have to make an effort next week.
Take care
🌺🙏🏾

Lovely day out Whiff and he's done your tree very well. I cannot find mine which sounds impossible but true.
Babs enjoy your week in London, all the lights will be on and a lovely atmosphere
Smile, my son has a huge Santa on his roof but not until just before One year he did take off into the sky but eventually rescued.
Bridie, I do my tree in about a week(if i find it) plus other decorations but after the day I can’t wait to get them down, they don't last past NY Day.
Have a good day everyone and Yoga hop your neighbours gets sone christmas spirit and is more amenable.

So sorry you were bullied at school Whiff
If you're slightly different you get picked on. But most at school go through it at times, I did and eventually I agreed to a fight outside school, I won, with everyone, including her friends telling me to finish her off, which I refused to do and walked away. She never came near me again, but it was me that got in trouble with the school! Back then a fight between girls was hair pulling and tripping over, not as it is today!

Well Whiff you obviously spoke very well on a subject you know best, so even though that man was very learned, you clearly made a lot of sense on this subject and shared things that could help others. So well done you. xx

Lovely Xmas tree Whiff and your lodge Smiles sounds wonderful.

I picked up my Xmas tree yesterday after my yoga class. It's still standing outside in a bucket of water. I'll bring it in tomorrow when I have more time on my day off.

Babs yes, I'm sure you'll have a lovely time in London, hope you can go and see the Oxford Street Xmas lights, they are always great. Looking forward to our met up for coffee soon.

Birdie Putting my tree up tomorrow will be the earliest I've ever put my Xmas deco up. It won't be as much as I used to, and the outside lights will have to wait till the weekend when my son can do them.

Allsorts My neighbour won't change; I heard him bragging to someone that he got me [the old bat] a parking ticket! His driveway is empty as I type this, with his family car parked over mine! I can't even remember where I'm parked, but I did park over the front of his driveway yesterday to get the Xmas tree out and indoors.

Morning everyone.

Your tree looks lovely Whiff, I see an interior designer on the horizon. It must have been lovely taking the children to Santa's grotto . That was one of things we were really looking forward to doing with our GC, but it wasn't to be.

Bullying is awful; I hate bullies. You think when you leave school that that's all behind you because you don't expect to come across it in adulthood, but sometimes you do.

That reminded me of when I confronted a bully as a teenager Yogin. Once a month there was a Monday night disco in our local town and there was a group of bullies, making everyone else's life a misery. One evening when we were leaving, I saw them attack a girl as she was getting into her dad's car!!! He had one hell of a job pulling them off her.

The following week I came across one of them, on her own in the toilets and after that neither me or my friends were ever bothered by them again.

Bullies are cowards which is why they never work alone. Even on line they need someone to back them up.

We always take our decorations down on New Year's day Allsorts. That story about your son's Santa taking off did make me ; glad that he was eventually rescued.

Come on Bridie we all seem to be sorted with our decorations, apart from Babs and you don't want to get left behind.

Mr. S. is definitely up to the task Babs.

No decorations or tree up here yet…..plan to sort this on Saturday! Going to an early Carol service Friday evening so hopefully it will put us in the mood. Tbh still knocked by the funeral a couple of weeks ago.

Spring20

No decorations or tree up here yet…..plan to sort this on Saturday! Going to an early Carol service Friday evening so hopefully it will put us in the mood. Tbh still knocked by the funeral a couple of weeks ago.

It takes as long as it takes to get over something like that Spring20. I often think Xmas is a hard time for those bereaved/estranged/alone. But is nice sometimes to immerse ourselves in the festivities, as you are doing with the Carol service, in order to take our minds off things.
Take care 🌺🙏🏾

Yoga, if he parks over yours why don't you park over his drive. How can you get a ticket yet he doesn't. Can't you go to your local newspaper or get advice on F/B ( I am not on it) or go on Next Door and show them photographs of his parking. I’m afraid I am like a dog with a bone at injustice
Spring, my husband died just after Christmas Day, we loved Christmas, he said make the most of each day. I can’t help but think of him but only allow myself a minute and we always raise a toast to a lovely man.

That's understandable Spring Christmas does have a tendency to make whatever's sad in our lives even harder to deal with. Maybe the carol service on Friday is just what you need and you know we're all here for you.

I was thinking the same Allsorts. I'd be as bloody awkward as I could be with that horrible man.

I would be tempted to tow it away during the night!!..what a selfish nasty person.
Smiles, I have written my cards and wrapped 2 pressies I need to post 🤶🎅
So I've started, for now 🤣

Well done Bridie.

I was thinking of slashing his tyres but not when he's blocking Yogin's drive of course .

We could get a gransnet mob to perform a midnight maneuver!🤪

Oh what a brilliant idea Bridie; I'm game .

Me too, any more volunteers ?😂

Thanks all for making me smile!!!!! What a radical bunch of rebels!

Bridie22

Me too, any more volunteers ?😂

Count me in. I’m thinking of getting a fake but realistic parking ticket and putting it on his car.
😂

Great idea and we could back it up with a wheel clamp .