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

Two cakes made for Xmas, no traditional cake seeing as only two members of the family like it, but the spicy ginger and lemon iced cake and chocolate fudge cake are firm favourites. Both gluten free because one daughter is celiac.
🌺

@Whiff lovely creations as per, I hope you give them as gifts if you don’t decorate your home with them. A nap sounds good. Enjoy a break.
@Yogi, try Lidl near to us, lots of stuff for babies and kids ordinarily, though haven’t looked lately. Sometimes things get moved to make room for more Xmas stuff 🙄
Worth looking tho.
Take care all 🌺🌺🙏🏾🙏🏾

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202412/medium-951193-img-20241220-103602223.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202412/medium-946975-img-20241220-103346849.jpg

Here's what I did at craft group . The house was already folded and stuck together . It just decorated 🤣 and the jars where fun. But cutting through the branches to fit was hard . And the glitter was very fine not like 60's glitter. Still got myself with the hot glue gun but no lasting damage . Anyone feeling down feel free to have a laugh I do . 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

Be back later as I need a nap .

Yogin babies are easy to buy for. Cuddly toy ,wooden blocks ,wooden cars or tractors for boys and girls ,board books especially if they have flaps anything like that . Aldi do some fabulous wooden toys and they are hard wearing .

That's good to know Smiles, I recorded that and will watch over the holiday time.

Happy anniversary Babs

I'm having lunch with my park friends today, 17 of us!

Tomorrow I am hosting a pre-Xmas dinner, with my sister, son, DD&GDs, so looking forward to that. Sunday meeting up with all our London family for Xmas dinner and gift giving. So annoying, as I was pleased with myself at getting all the Xmas gifts, wrapping them for those I'm seeing before Xmas day and....forgot baby! my b.i.l's 6mnths new baby! So, after my lunch today, I will have to head for the shops just for that one gift

@Smiles is our wedding anniversary Xmas eve - 46 years this time!
Our family usually book a meal out with help of Mr B., I just look suitably surprised.
You and Mr S. must celebrate 🎉 xmas, even though is particularly poignant. Life is too short. Carpet Diem and all that kind of thing.
Will raise a glass to you and all the survivors on this thread on Xmas day 🎉🌲🧑‍🎄

I posted too Yogin in fact I was the first to respond. I had my doubts when I read the OP TBH, I mean who would ever think it appropriate to sue their EAC for emotional abuse!!!

The thing is, should we be deterred from responding in case the poster's another troll? What if they are genuinely looking for support and we ignore them? I had my doubts but wasn't 100% certain so responded and then waited to see how it went.

As it turns out although I didn't see the thread later, it didn't take very long for the real agenda to materialise.

We all do that Whiff, read through the post before we post it, only to find that it's not free from mistakes

Your new neighbour's husband sounds like a piece of work Yogin, I don't know how any man can leave everything to his wife; lazy so and so.

We've made an effort every Christmas since even though apart from one, it's just been the two of us. This year we have a friend from our old church coming and staying over so that's something different to look forward too.

I've always loved Christmas, especially Christmas Eve ironically and still do. We were determined with regard to Christmas and our lives in general, not to allow our estrangement to ruin everything but to enjoy what we can.

Thanks for telling me about your sister's little Spaniel. She sounds as if she was like our little man is now, happy and from what we can see perfectly healthy .

I've got 'Fiddler in the Roof' on BBC2 at the moment. I have it on DVD and it's one of my favourites. I remember my wonderful GM taking me to see it at the pictures. I was only 10 and she was rather impressed that I sat through it and enjoyed it so much; a lovely memory.

Yoginimeisje

Whiff we all do it, not just you. Post and then see lots of errors but as you say, it's irrelevant and everyone understands the post. I don't bother mentioning my mistakes when I see them and no doubt, I repeat myself too .

Ha ha you and rest of us Yogi, Whiff might worry but she should see the texts I quickly send to my daughters on WhatsApp, predictive text is a nightmare, but at least it makes them laugh. 🤪

Whiff we all do it, not just you. Post and then see lots of errors but as you say, it's irrelevant and everyone understands the post. I don't bother mentioning my mistakes when I see them and no doubt, I repeat myself too .

Smiles my sister-in-law's little King Charles Spaniel had a heart condition, but was happy and seemed perfectly healthy, did have medication. I used to look after her when her mum went on holidays. I named my little Westie after her; Lilly.

Smiles yes it was the worst time of year to be cut out, plus your youngest GS having the same birthday as Mr.S

As you know, mine was just before too. I said I would not celebrate Xmas, no Xmas deco or anything like that. But week before I did put my Xmas deco up, outside too, lovely real Xmas tree. It made me feel better.

Whiff

Hope no one saw that vile thread that appeared . Thankfully GN have deleted it and hopefully banned the poster . It was vicious and the language isn't what you expect on GN.

I am sick of the trolls 😠

Unfortunately I did post, advising her not to go down that road.
Saw a couple of post after mine, telling me it was a troll, didn't go back on after that

You will all have to speak up everyone, as I'm under my hairdryer

My upstairs neighbour had a new door fitted, it looks lovely and should, taking 1.5 days to do! Their old door was put against our small side front wall. Last night the high winds blow it over, it was half glass so the mess was bad. She went out and cleared it all up with her eldest daughter, I did mention not to sweep it into the gutter as didn't want my car tyers damaged and Joey's feet too. Had to mention it as I was worried. I asked her where her husband was, as she seems to do all the work, looking after 3 children and working full time, it would be nice to see him giving her a hand. She said he'd hurt his ankle, but I saw him walk off to walk and he looked fine .

Whiff I reported it, sick individuals. I would rather not engage with wind ups, just report. They will get the message if no voice.
Otter you are safe, if you post something and a troll replies, just report. They are irrevelent and soon gone.

I preview and still use the wrong words or typos . But you know what I mean. But that's me in real life . My words get jumbled when speaking . Plus I forget what I am saying or repeat myself not realising I had already said it . But I know it's not me being weird but my HPX. But only known that since 2022. Spent 63 years thinking I was weird 🤣 but then again probably still am 😁

Otter I know the trolls are vile and make it difficult for people feel safe to post . But there are poster here you have reconnected with estranged children past and present . But we don't just talk about estrangement but life in general. So if you feel comfortable talking about anything.

If people stop posting then the trolls win but they won't that's why they get so vicious and the language the troll used was vile and aimed at estranged parents. But unfortunately another or the same troll will pop up again soon and again they will be got rid of.

It's not just people who post on GN who get fed up of them, but GNHQ must be as well. But they are saddos who have nothing going in on their lives . And that's why they attack they hate the fact people who post on here and other threads and forums keep going for years and will not be coward by them .

People come in to GN because they need help and feel alone with whatever is going on in their lives . It's how I joined but on the house and home forum when my house sale fell through twice and I didn't want to worry my children how I was feeling. And found I wasn't alone and then read other threads and haven't shut up since . But have found not just help, advice , understanding but friendship on various threads . Especially here.

I'm so sorry that you feel unable to share Otter but I do understand you not feeling comfortable because of recent events.

Please take care and if or when you're ready, we'll be here .

Am sorry Otter99.
You don’t have to share right now, but this thread tends to be a much safer space when you feel ready. There will be no judgements or criticisms.
Take care 🌺🙏🏾🙏🏾

As an EAC I have to say all these trolls have made me feel very conscious of sharing and I thought it was a safe space. But can't feel comfortable right now x

Thank you Madgran and Babs .

Madgran77

Smileless2012

Well TBH Madgran I think it's good when EP's respond in good faith because that just shows whose at fault here doesn't it. It's not the EP' being called very name under the sun, it's the ones doing the calling.

Far from portraying EP's in a bad light, they're giving us the opportunity to show that we are what we say we are; kind, decent, loving and supportive parents.

Far from coming across as the poor victims of abuse, they're portraying themselves as the abusers.

Good points Smileless 🙂

Yes, very well said.
xx

Whiff

Hope no one saw that vile thread that appeared . Thankfully GN have deleted it and hopefully banned the poster . It was vicious and the language isn't what you expect on GN.

I am sick of the trolls 😠

I saw it, in the early hours, when it had really kicked off.🙄

These “happy and healed” people from another well known site, don’t seem very happy or healed 🤷‍♀️

But, hopefully, they can put their bitterness behind them and enjoy Christmas. And, then, hopefully, for them, progress towards a positive new year. 👍

Smileless2012

Well TBH Madgran I think it's good when EP's respond in good faith because that just shows whose at fault here doesn't it. It's not the EP' being called very name under the sun, it's the ones doing the calling.

Far from portraying EP's in a bad light, they're giving us the opportunity to show that we are what we say we are; kind, decent, loving and supportive parents.

Far from coming across as the poor victims of abuse, they're portraying themselves as the abusers.

Good points Smileless 🙂

No Babs the pm is a good friend to the EP's here and had seen how the thread had developed, so I asked her who'd been posting and what had been said.

I'm glad Mr. B's. feeling a bit better; the debris will still be there when he's well enough to deal with it.

@Smiles gave Mr B a hug 🤗 and thanks he is feeling a bit better, but have to stop him going into the garden to try to clear debris from latest winds, he won’t sit still. His own worst enemy.
I sincerely hope your little dog manages well with his heart problem and am sure with your love and care he will thrive. 🙏🏾
I hope you didn’t get a PM from the troll.
How awful for you 😳