Inconvenient Annoyances

Keep in mind that he doesn't understand she's bought him clothes either

In that case, I might have a conversation with her about your values.  For us, we try to only use homemade, high quality things, or we buy second hand.  We also have a very small amount of stuff now.  We are trying to opt out of consumerism, primarily because of environmental reasons, but also because more stuff almost always equals more TIME SPENT SHOVELING stuff.  And that takes time away from what really matters: our girls and each other.

Perhaps say something to the effect of: 'We really appreciate that you are trying to keep him clothed, but he really only needs about 10 outfits in each size, and we really don't have the space to store the rest. We'd also like to make a few purchases ourselves--this is our only chance to clothe this kid. Not that we don't like it, just that we would like to have some say, and to keep the clutter down.' You are welcome to steal some of my values for your argument, even if you don't share them And don't worry too much, it took almost 5 years, but I've finally convinced everyone to stop buying my kids stuff.

Unfortunately that discussion won't work with everyone. My in-laws, for instance, would listen nicely and continue to give exactly what they want. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. But of course, you can always vent away on a place like this!

Unfortunately that discussion won't work with everyone. My in-laws, for instance, would listen nicely and continue to give exactly what they want. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. But of course, you can always vent away on a place like this!

This. And also, this is how my MIL shows love, especially since she doesn't see him regularly. She does the same exact things with her other grandchildren. I'm not looking to hurt her feelings, I just wish my husband would say something to her to slow things down a bit. I feel bad having her spend the money to send the clothes just for me to turn around and give the away to friends or donate them to a shelter. But, his family handles things differently than my family, so I have to respect that. It's just annoying.

Curtains in the front room started to droop.  They hadn't been properly changed in awhile......at least not since I have been here and DH can't remember if he changed them after he moved back.  So yesterday we took the curtains of and realized the brackets were snapped on most of them.  So off we went to Taskers to get new brackets.  Of course they didn't have the ones we needed and we didn't fancy driving to the other side of Liverpool to go to B&Q.  So we decided to just buy a new track and bracket system.  We chose one that would fit our windows, I measured the old track before we left.  The woman who was helping us said it wouldn't fit a bay window even tho it clearly said bay window track.  So hubby ended up buying 500 cm instead of the 275 cm we needed.  Not a big deal except that the 500 track was coiled   To make matters worse, the old screws wouldn't fit through the brackets and the new screws were too small.....and the anchors provided were too big for the holes.  So finally the brackets are up......i get the track onto the brackets (I am the handy one) we get the hooks onto the curtains since the old ones didn't fit the track.  Try to thread them up and the wont slide on the track Curtains off again remove all hooks and flip them the right way....slide them onto the track.  I go to put the stopper things on the end of the track and realize that the reason the hooks wouldn't move on the track was not because the hooks were on the wrong way around but the track was actually on upside down.  They are staying that way til I put the Christmas drapes up at the end of the month.

To add to my misery....was cleaning the kitchen top to bottom today.  Couldn't figure out why it smelled differently from last week.  As I was putting the spray bottle away I found the bottle of star drops I should have been using.  I had just cleaned the kitchen with window cleaner  Why oh why are they both green and have similar labels??

I find it offensive that I have to pay £250 to the Employment Tribunal in order to claim back the unpaid wages and redundancy fees owed to me by my employer. I've just said I've not been paid for two months, where do you expect me to get £250 from?!

Wow SP, this is horrible!!!!! I hope it at least gets resolved quickly and easily.   

My sympathies. A group of us considered tribunal last year during our TUPE process and it turned out to be too much of a gamble. Employment law seriously favours the employers in this country .

I hope it goes your way SP.

Employment law seriously favours the employers in this country .

Well especially lately- say the last couple of years. Several of the Unions are trying to get these fees looked at by the SC:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10394074/Unison-to-challenge-employment-tribunal-fees-in-High-Court.html

Shops, especially the 'biggies' where you buy a lot of items, who encourage the use of reusable bags yet make it nearly impossible to use them. The self checkouts at Walmart don't offer enough room to put a decent sized bag. Then, if you can manage to balance it, half the time it weighs just enough to trigger the 'unexpected item in the bagging area' warning.

You're left trying desperately to reach items from the trolley without letting go of the bag, or putting the bag in the trolley and waiting for the 'I do not want to bag this item' popup on the screen so you can tap it between each item. I'm not opposed to the occasional bag, because they fit wonderfully in the bathroom bin, and are handy for peeling veggies into for convenient cleanup, but a body only needs so many of them. I've been trying to use my canvas ones as much as possible lately, but it is frustrating when shops aren't equipped for their use.

Another reason why I hate self checkouts!

I work in retail, and yesterday there was a line a mile long at the cash registers (which we only have two of). I was ringing people up, and a Yankeephile was my next customer. She immediately started asking me TONS of questions about my life, raved about Americans and how much she appreciates what America has contributed to the rest of the world, etc. etc. She also had a complicated refund since she was returning several items all on different receipts. Our registers are pretty old and returns (esp. if made by card) are extensive and long. So between working quickly due to the long line, figuring out all her returns, and at the same time trying to be nice and answer her questions, I was put in an awkward situation. She just. would. not. stop. And I couldn't say to her "I'm sorry, I don't have time to chat because we're busy" as that could easily come across as rude. She was so nice and it's lovely to hear compliments like that but there really is a time and place for it. One of the managers was nearby at the time and, seeing that the lady was oblivious to the several customers waiting behind her, whispered to me "hurry up and get her out of here"  I think I handled the situation the best I could have, though.

I work in retail, and yesterday there was a line a mile long at the cash registers (which we only have two of). I was ringing people up, and a Yankeephile was my next customer. She immediately started asking me TONS of questions about my life, raved about Americans and how much she appreciates what America has contributed to the rest of the world, etc. etc. She also had a complicated refund since she was returning several items all on different receipts. Our registers are pretty old and returns (esp. if made by card) are extensive and long.

I feel your pain here, immensely!  I always warn people that their refund (when done on credit / debit card) will take a while and that it is a several-step process and to please bear with me and be patient.  Then I thank them for their patience. 

If I stop concentrating for even a moment, it could all go bonkers and I'm in at the deep end.

I have been known to tell people I can't chat as I'll most likely mess up the transaction and then they'll have to wait even longer.  I couldn't care less if I come across as rude, but I do try to say it nicely.

Full blown, non curable puppy fever. I've had a mild case of it for the past three weeks since they were born. Today while playing with them, it hit like a ton of bricks. I want to say to hell with what the lease says and get one. Of course, I will remember that ignoring the lease will be expensive, but today I sure do want a puppy.

Very, very sore from my sports massage yesterday. 

Weeks ago I was contacted by an American friend who lives reasonably close by and she invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at her house. It was to have been celebrated today. Last night she texted to say she had to "reschedule" it.

Unfortunately, "reschedule" in her dictionary usually means cancel completely and she has a really really bad track record of planning things and pulling out at the last minute.

I am not that fussed about Thanksgiving usually but since she had invited me this year, I was really looking forward to it. 

On the way to pick hubby up from work, a 20something girl ran a stop sign and into the intersection. I saw her and slammed on the brakes, but still bumped into her. My car has cosmetic damage and some dents, and the driver's side headlight is wobbly. She stated out apologizing, then quickly changed to asking "Wasn't there any way you could have stopped?" I had to point out that she was the one who ran the stop sign, and I had, in fact, braked.

On a happy note, though, the Indianapolis Colts plate on the front survived without a scratch! 

That was the biggie for the day. The Christmas lights weren't all working this morning so I had to make a mad dash to Walmart for more, I bumped my elbow on a kitchen cabinet hard enough to make it bleed a bit, I can't find one box of ornaments, which has most of the faves in it (I am guessing it is in the other closet), and a few other 'minor' annoyances today.

Gosh I can't wait to go to bed and start over in the morning!

My apartment has been without hot water for the last two weeks, not just my unit, but our whole section of the complex. Management is refusing to give us a reduction in rent. Management also refused to sign for my certified letter. One of three things is going to happen now: 1) We stay and try to mitigate our damages if they repair the water 2) We terminate the lease and sue for our damages 3) The other tenants and I file a class action lawsuit