New Year, New Diary and New Me !!!!

Got to ask why you keep making yourself all the hardwork. If they don't bother sending to you, don't send to them. If they don't phone you, don't phone them. If you feel as though you must send them cards, buy cheapie ones!
I'm afraid I am a bit hardened when it comes to things like that, if people cannot be bothered to make an effort I don't go chasing them! It should not all be one sided and you certainly shouldn't feel obliged to be the only one who worries about keeping in contact - they obviously don't.

Its because its Martin's mum. If I didn't make her a card when every other member of the family gets one it would be seen as a slight. Very difficult now when I never buy cards anymore, though this year I did succumb cos of other stuff.

I suppose we think well if we made the effort they can't say we were the ones witholding Lily from her. I went through 25 years as piggy in the middle with my Nan and Dad and I hated it. I could never talk to Nan about my parents as she would always sniff and say "you know what I think of that" and I don't want lily to be piggy in the middle in years to come if things get worse.

I think we should just come straight out with it and say "What did we do wrong? Why haven't you been in touch" I think Martin's a bit of a scaredy cat and won't do it.

Actually its just occured to me, talking to you like this Di, that if she is in Hull then there is no point sending her card down to Newbury in a week's time. We need to know where to send it Ah ha, got him. If he wants a card to go, then we have to send the text.
Thanks for listening xx

Well, I'm sorry, hun but I'm with Martin too on this one.

The woman is never going to change and her laying guilt trips on you and yours should stop. Leave her be, Karin.

Send her card to Newbury and she'll get it when she gets home and know you sent one.

thats if she hasn't left the husband. Though I would presume he'll send em up here anyway.

I just get so riled up with it all.

She won't change, even her ex husband my FIL says that she was the same when they were married.

To be honest I would rather cut all ties and be done with it. No more pretence, no more nicey nice. But for Lily's sake I just keep doing it.

You sound like me...always trying to 'fix things' it is a thankless task and being a go between has lots of pitfalls...I am always thinking i can help when others are thinking 'they can just p@@@ off'. I hate family squabbles...and it seems pointless..but when it works its great.

I just want everyone to be happy...not much to ask...

I really think you should just speak kindly and gently to Martin..and ask if you can send a card from Lily, perhaps it is his pride, he can't be seen to weaken.

I do think his views should count too..I would hate it if anyone went against my wishes. I do appreciate your position in respect of Lily..it is sad she can't have a good relationship with her nan.

If your MIL wanted you to know she was away from home, she would have told you..send card to her home..thats my advice, she might think you are rubbing it in.

b*g**r being nicey nicey karin ,,drop her like a tin of hot coals . you get stressed about this every year and every year you say the same thing SHE HAS NOT BOTHERED so why do you ? and martin doesn't ,so why do you ?
does lily really want a gran who does not care anyway ?

i have never forced my mum onto my lads , she does not care either , and neither do they , they bother with the people who do only .They dont feel as if they have missed out on anything

Kim, I luv ya..........seriously I can always count on you to be practical. Personally I would love to just drop her. I honestly think it would cause so much hassle with my other half......Going to have to remind him to send the card I think. See what he says.


Lily has gone to the other in laws, Hubbies Dad and partner. Seems like she having a good time from the call I got this morning. Woke me up at 9.50am.....eeek, didn't intend sleeping that long, but was up at 5am with snotty nose that wouldn't stop running, martin woke me at 7am cos he needed to iron shirt and its in my bedroom. So guess I was tired.


Got two car boots I am doing this weekend and have now got all the stuff together, including a bit of crafty stuff I am going to try sell. Money to put back in tin for next craft fair. Guess I'l be shattered come Sunday teatime then.

Not been around for a while, life etc !!!! been busy putting together cards for a workshop I'm doing at aschool.

Have been to a craft show where I was a demonstrator (at a table not outside with placard !!! ). I did quite well. Got another next weekend.

All back to school ok, though I've got horrid cold and cough again at the moment. Seem to have had loads this last two months. chest hurts like mad at the moment. Couldn't get to sleep last night for coughing.

Gonna go catch up some more on the 305 threads I've got to read !!!!!!

I saw you were posting and made a comment on the incid thread.
Glad you haven't been on because you were busy and not because of illness.
Please try and pop in more often.

Nice to see you Karin.

hi karin

And hello from me too Karin. Hope you can come to the retreat!!

Yay patty I can....woo hoo!!! Hubby didn't even put up a fight, mind you I did sort of go on a bit about how I would pay for it myself out of my craft workshops earnings etc.

Am pleased to be back, but I will say it might not be every day. I find at the moment that when I do get some crafting done I need to concentrate on it and if I turn to the PC I'll lose a couple of hours before I know it!!!

Glad tpo hear you will hopefully be around a little more

Nice to see you again Karin. What have you been demonstrating at the craft shows?

At the last one Cath I was demo-ing an insert pop out that you have to fold a few times, then stick a certain way, but it allows you to put a picture or something in the middle.

The next one I am using a couple of new stamps she's got (well re-ordered cos not that new) Frosty the Snowmand and Ruddolph, which I get a couple of as payment !! and Promarkers. I'm a bit nervous of that though cos I'm not the best artist. I know I will be colouring the image, but its the colours and blending. I haven't have huge success with my own promarkers. Will need lots of practice before then.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I'm in a foul mood. I know its hormones but nothing I can do about it, everything makes me feel just angry. Poor Lily only one in the house so she taking brunt of it, then I feel even worse cos she's not really done anything wrong.

Came upstairs two hours ago to make cards, ended up doing everything but, have managed to 'snow up' 10 cuffs for boots and made one boot only.........mainly sorting lily pc, and putting stuff away. If I can craft it calms me, helps me feel useful instead of useless. Now Martin is back home, I am going to have to go and make tea, so back to being the maid again. Feel like screaming but it will make me cough, and the one I've got is painful enough !!!!!!


Rant over, ignore me now.

Awwww, Karin. Never mind, hun.
Have a hug.

karinlouise wrote:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I'm in a foul mood. I know its hormones but nothing I can do about it, everything makes me feel just angry. Poor Lily only one in the house so she taking brunt of it, then I feel even worse cos she's not really done anything wrong.

Came upstairs two hours ago to make cards, ended up doing everything but, have managed to 'snow up' 10 cuffs for boots and made one boot only.........mainly sorting lily pc, and putting stuff away. If I can craft it calms me, helps me feel useful instead of useless. Now Martin is back home, I am going to have to go and make tea, so back to being the maid again

I used to feel like that when I worked full time,but can't moan nowadays as I am home while everyone else is at work.
I'm not one for cooking but obviously I do it for everyone. It's not a hardship - it's just that I would
rather spend my time crafting and comping.
Hopethe mood passes sweetie.

Been there done that, blokes never have to put up with this do they ( not from the inside anyway)

Thanks guys, definately feeling better though it didn't help that I had a huge row with Martin on Saturday, he was out with Clive and Lily and I decided after lunch to go on the computers. Her's wouldn't load internet for some reason, kept saying encountered a problem. So after about 30 mins of trying I said she could use his.

We click the internet button on the desktop. Typed an address, corrected it, then clicked europe on the map it showed us. That was it. It took nearly 3 full minutes to load the page we wanted but at that point Martin arrived home and so lily went to watch star wars with him, she didn't even get to do a single thing on his PC.
Later that night we are blamed for all his favourites folders disappearing. We had quite a big row cos he wasn't prepared to admit it wasn't our fault, instead of going to see if there was another problem. One he must have sorted out quickly cos within half an hour he was in his bedroom on his works pc instead. Martin is the sort that if there is a problem he would sit for ages sorting it out. His constant answer to me was "thats why we have our own PCs" .

Then the cheek of it, is that last night he tells me when he hears a song on tv that he likes, he notes it down so he can download it from MY pc using limewire. So the rule only goes one way then.

Last night he forgot to turn my car round, despite me reminding him before I went to bed, so lily and I had to reverse into traffic this morning, and he didn't put dishwasher on when he was stood in front of it last night, when I said it needs to go one once your stuff is in!!!!!!!!!!!! Not a happy bunny, and of course he's on holidays all this week. He did say sorry about the car, but as for the dishwasher his answer was "I forgot" "!!!!!!

He's on holidays this week so I'm not likely to get much time to myself and I've desperately got to do some cards and bracelets for a home showing I'm doing in three weeks. ALso trying to get stuff on ebay to earn a bit of cash, plus need to do xmas shop instead of leaving it till too late.

I know you all understand the busy part, I just don't seem to get time to do anything. Thats why I end up missing from here for ages.

Oh well, best go make lunch then, cos can bet he won't do it.

Gosh Karin, life doesnt sound all that tranquil in your house.

I must say I am very glad Twiz and I have separate pcs - neither of us wants the other one poking around in theirs.

I hope things pick up for you soon, you sounds busy and stressed.

oh dear karin its not got much better in the r*****r household then , at least its not lily who is annoying you nowadays . id not let him on my pc if it were like that in our house .an eye for an eye and all that .

I won't let my lot use limewire, too worried about getting a letter saying they are cutting my internet due to dodgy downloading, I'd feel bereft! There are some advantages to being a single mum-no husband to get under my feet!

Well Martin has redeemed himself today, at a cost to his poor knee. I came home from my voluntary day at school to discover that he has changed the bedroom round. Something I have been waiting and wanting for a year or so. Mainly not done cos I needed to shift stuff and the one time I finally got it all moved he didn't do it. Didn't realise how many hide holes I had though, got lots of stuff needing new homes. Will have to get some storage boxes me thinks. So I will be sleeping in a totally differnet postion on the wrong side of the bed. Hmm, wonder if it will help me sleep.

My sweeetie little girl has made us burst with pride again.

Firstly, she's been picked to represent the school in Cross Country this Friday. She seems to love doing it so hopefully she'll finish in top 15 or so. Chloe from our school finished 6th last year out of her group.

Secondly, Lily is a Yr 3 child, and on wednesday last week was put into the Year 4 maths group. She is the only child in her class to have that done. She sailed through the homework, and took it back the next day, reckon she was the first one to do so as well. Such a clever princess, we fit to burst with pride.

Aw, congratulations. Isn't it great when they achieve something and love doing it.

Awww, well done, Lily. You are such a clever girl.

You are rightly bursting, Karin.

Good stuff esp the Maths, hope she enjoys it more in a more appropriate ability group.

Well done to Lily, clever girl.