So am I overreacting:
We are on holiday with my husbands family (parents, siblings, grandparents). Tonight at dinner my little one (9 months, our first) was getting towards too tired at dinner but was still cheerful so I was preparing to help him to eat as much as he could and stay as cheerful as possible before getting him whisked off to bed. He was getting a little fussy while everyone was dishing up and sitting down, and out of nowhere my MiL says "oh are you thirsty" and offers him his cup of water, I explained immediately that we generally only offer water after he's eaten something to avoid him filling up on water, then she took the cup away and he lost his mind (which he will do when tired and something he likes is taken away). He wouldn't eat a scrap of dinner and screamed unless actively walked around and distracted. My husband got annoyed as well as his mum kept coming to our end of the table to try (uninvited) to help (offering food etc.). Finally we finish dinner and get to take our baby up for a bath so we can get him fed (milk) and settled. We've just got him out of the bath and she walks into our room! She hung over our shoulders while we got him dried and into a nappy and it was awful, she practically deafened me squealing in my ear trying to cheer the baby up because he literally started screaming as soon as she came in the room. My husband is feeling overwhelmed because she won't back off and I was furious but staying calm. I know she means well, and she is an amazing babysitter in the week while I work, but she has done this kind of thing before (giving him toys in the high chair or nibbles of cake without my permission) and it feels very disrespectful. Am I being unreasonable to expect her to just stay in her lane as the grandma?

After not having worn make up in many years I was thinking of getting some for Christmas for occasional use. I was looking at brands like Merit, Lisa Eldridge, Glossier and Hourglass but it strikes me as a bit silly to jump into very expensive make up when I am not really sure what I am doing.

I am 49 but do have good skin so no real wrinkling yet and no brown spots so just want a sort of skin tint, some cream blush, a lip pencil, maybe some lipstick or a tinted balm or gloss, some very natural mascara in a dark brown (tubing perhaps), eye liner maybe?

I want a very natural no make up make up look just to look a bit more polished for face to face meetings. I was tempted by Lisa Eldridge as she has identical colouring to me but again it's a bit pricy to start with.

I have heard that the l'oreal plumping tinted serum rivals some of the premium skin tints but I'm not sure where to start with the other products.

Any advice?

My 4 year old is really into drawing atm and I was thinking of some sort of gift for grandparents of one of them made into some sort of gift. Does anyone have any suggestions beyond just a nice frame?

Sorry this is a long one.
I have been “friends” with this mum for a number of years since both our sons started primary school. Our eldest sons are in the same class (year 6) and also our youngest sons are in the same class in year 3.

multiple times over the years she has asked me to take them to school and pick them up, the boys would usually stay at mine for around an hour before and after school. I usually pick her children up at least once a week or sometimes twice.

i have noticed that every half term and summer holiday I never hear off her, i know it works both ways with communicating but it makes me feel used. I have seen many updates on social media that she and another mum from school have days out together with the children.

There was a Halloween event on at school last week and I asked her if she was going, she said she was unsure if she could make it. I saw her with another mum there, her son ignored my son because he had another friend and didn’t want to know mine which upset my son.

she has asked me if I can help out every week as she has started a new job, would I be unreasonable to say no or how do I get round this as I feel very used silly and hurt as I thought this woman was a friend.

It’s that time of the year again 😁

I’ve been looking for the nail colour Claudia is wearing in the current celebrity traitors… it’s a red/orange/brown but still vibrant.

Can someone help?

How old would someone be to like this handbag?

I ask because I bought it as a gift for a friend and someone else has said it's too old/young for them (don't want to say which so don't prejudice any answers!)

King Charles has been quietly cancelling some engagements to pare back his schedule. We know he has cancer, and he is still doing engagements and visits, but far fewer than previously.

At the same time the pr is really pushing William. Appearance on a chat show, BBC news covering his engagements, lots of very positive coverage of him. Far more visible than previously.

I always have cotton sheets. Linen seems to be everywhere. Are they nice? Would I find them scratchy and rough compared to cotton? I don’t want to spend a fortune if I’m going to hate them.

My friend is kindly hosting a night for me and two others, a girly catch up.

When suggested we agreed on getting a takeaway and consensus from earlier this week was to get an Indian, and we earmarked the specific takeaway we’d order from.

My friend hosting has messaged to say she has picked up a ‘deal‘ from the supermarket this afternoon so she has got some ready meal curries and sides and said we can sort the money out on the night.

First world problem I know, but a supermarket ready meal doesn’t really hit the spot compared to a proper Indian takeaway so I feel a bit annoyed! She didn’t check with us before.

I'm a professional person but like everyone the day job salary goes less and less far so I'd taken on something extra. Worked hard at it, until yesterday thought I was doing ok /competent at what I do in general, took on extra to help the team, tried to be a good and upbeat colleague.

Tbh the workload has been getting on top of me although sometimes it's a nice distraction from the depressing bits of life.

Anyway, yesterday the boss suggested I'd done something that would be professionally incompetent. Didn't come right out and say it - got the impression she was trying to be nice. I don't agree (and you should see what some of my colleagues get away with) but now I'm lying in the dark thinking fuck it is it worth this stress maybe I just quit and do the bare minimum in life and wait for retirement (a couple of decades away sadly).

It's probably about £15k extra a year before tax. There are some people doing it who are definitely incompetent and I doubt they're lying awake rn and they dial in the work (ie I could just become like them and take the £££).

Yanbu to quit yabu to woman up and care less.

I mean it's pretty bad if I do turn out to be shit and just didn't realise!

I used to be best friends with a girl I met at a mummy group when we both had babies. We were inseparable during those early years

now, the kids are in Y7 and life gets in the way. I ended up going back to work full time and getting divorced, she moved a village away and opened a business and had more kids etc you get the picture. We still text and make plans but these so often fall through due to busy life - however in an emergency I know I could count on her and vice versa

Anyway, it’s now October and I’ve only seen her twice briefly this year, but today we were both at the same church event. She called me over to sit beside her and if it wasn’t for her voice I wouldn’t even have known it was her! The both of us have had Botox before so I am no stranger to making changes - but her face was completely different, her cheeks looked… fake? I don’t know how else to explain it. Her lips were huge. And she’s on WL jab too so all this filler (I assume) on top of a now thinning face was just bizzare looking. I last seen her in July I think so I was truly taken aback that someone can change so quickly. And I am honestly all for cosmetic changes but she did not look good, she looked weird.

I’ve been sitting looking at photos of us from when we met 10 years ago and granted we’re obviously not going to look the same now but I was very taken aback today. Should I tell her not to do any more? I’m worried she’s on a path she can’t come back from. She got divorced at the start of the year and I’m worried she’s changing herself drastically as a reaction to this and can’t see what she truly looks like

Been together 4 years. We don’t live together, LDR he’s in a different country where I have a house.

He came here for 2 weeks and I suggested a weekend break. He said yes, I paid for flights & hotel on the understanding he’d get the meals. On arrival, we did dinner with mutual friends who live in this place, he didn’t budge when the bill arrived so I paid. Day 2 I got most things. In the evening he got dinner. Day 3 he did pay for us to see a landmark that afternoon but I organised and paid for dinner which was in a special place, which he enjoyed very much.

I got all petrol, paid for parking at airport, etc and during his stay at my house paid for various special food shops & a trip to London, train tickets and dinner.

So he’s gone to his place now and brags to all about this trip. But didn’t credit me, or treat me with much affection, all a bit routine & half hearted.

Given the lack of credit, affection, and coughing up his share, I suggested he even up and pay his half of the main part of the trip, so his flight & hotel stay. It was was a few hundred quid. He finally did so late this evening, but refused to speak to me, claimed he was so tired from making the transaction. Very moody over it. First I felt too guilty to ask for the cash but the more I reflected and the worse he treated me, the more it seemed disrespectful. Then I felt irritated, then resentful, and now I’m annoyed. Why shouldn’t he pay his way, with good grace? Must he huff and puff every time?

For the record, he has no kids, no ex spouses, owns his house & car, earns ok. I do earn more than him but work longer hours in a profession thst I trained a long time for, and I pay for everything myself, my house, bills, dcs. it was also my birthday and he didn’t buy any gift.

Help me to think this through. Was I unreasonable in asking him to cough up his share? I don’t want a kept man, and it’s not like we are married.

Previously went on a long haul holiday & he did pay me his ticket & hotel but I got all meals and trips once over there.

I love reading about the history of food and recipes and how we ended up eating what we do. Along the way some foods have become commonplace and some are sought after and celebrated (mostly because expensive).

I am here to celebrate the pea. That pretty and delicate little green ball that I can’t believe comes in giant bags for £1.50. How is it so cheap? Why don’t people appreciate it? A dish of peas with butter and mint is divine. They are so delicious and delicate and pretty. Did people appreciate them properly when they had to remove them from their pods and could only eat them fresh for a couple of weeks?

Other things that absolutely punch are sesame oil, sumac, balsamic vinegar. Why are they not more expensive?!

I’m finally pregnant! We’re so excited for our sweet baby girl. I love the name Juliet Lorraine, but I’m noticing most people spell it Juliette... even talk to text! I don’t want to mess up her Starbucks order for the rest of her life, but I also think the extra flair looks a little too… much. Haha!

They’re both pretty, but, any thoughts?

Previous threads
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5576816-aibu-to-think-my-friend-is-overdoing-emergency-stockpiling?page=1
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5585259-crisis-what-crisis-is-my-friend-over-doing-the-stockpiling-and-am-i-too-continuation-thread-2?page=1

Continuation of the AIBU to think my friend is overdoing emergency stockpiling thread for discussion about the government advice to stockpile for an imminent emergency and what the heck that emergency might actually be.

Spoiler: it's more of a perfect storm of lots of factors coming together to potentially form one great clusterfuck from economic woes, global energy shortages (mainly diesel), potential food shortages, war and madmen to crazy weather patterns rather than a clear identifiable singular thread.
This is a practical thread and a bit of a handhold thread to make sense of events and how they may affect you. This is not an end of the world thread.

Remember an emergency can range from a temporary unexpected event to a much longer crisis but the underlying principles generally stay the same.

This is the official government information and advice, if you want further details on what the actual recommendations are:
https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

ROUGH STATUS REPORT (as of 9am 22nd Oct - please note this isn't fully comprehensive, and is moving FAST)
Civil Unrest reported in:
France, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Albania, Indonesia - multi reasons, but largely due to economic pressures and the cost of living
Spain has had problems but these have temporarily stopped, probably due to significant weather related issues due to the Dana effect
More protests planned for this coming weekend
High Alert in the Middle East:
Netanyahu now committed to regime change in Iran, as he believes they are developing a nuke.
The US has pulled all Embassy Staff from Saudi Arabia and is hoping no one notices that they've ordered personal and families across the Gulf home and then seem to have lied that they have.
The Emir of Qatar has stated at their equivalent of the annual King's Speech at the Opening of Parliament that war was coming and to prepare for the worst scenarios. US pulling planes out of Qatar.
The Egyptian PM has warned the country of severe crisis ahead - given the nature of the country this is related to their alliance with Saudi Arabia and their reliance on the Suez Canal which the Yemeni rebels now control access to and their exposure to famine
Iran is saying if there is another attack, the gloves are off and they'll try and wipe out the middle east oil industry as they go down, as well as hitting critical civilian infrastructure.
Much movement / noise is similar to run up to the first US attacks this year. Debate over whether the attack will come before the Israeli Election or the US Midterms - possibly within 72hours - latest mood music suggests potentially this weekend. Seems to be shifting to a when not if.
Israel election: 27th Oct
Prices and Shortages:
Diesel needs no real reminder - we need it for haulage, mass transportation and farming, we are screwed without it. Fuel Emergency declarations in West Virgina, Kentucky, Michigan, Maryland, Arizona, Nebraska and Texas - typically allowing limited dyed diesel use for ag or commercial vehicles. Illinois and Missouri have also allowed by not under emergency orders. Less reported is the fertiliser shortage and knock on effect, poor yields this year and the effect of El Nino on next years, sulphur export bans and the blockade on Ukrainian and Russian wheat exports which are particularly crucial in feeding North Africa and the Middle East. This is liable to have significant impact on the UK with 6% rises in food already expected next year (and there's every reason to believe this will be higher especially with civil unrest all over the place). Reports of aviation fuel running low in some parts of Europe with emergency supplies (which can't last forever) being used.
El Nino:
See above about farming and also think of disasters - like the ones Spain is facing with flooding. Storm Austin is incoming and there is a weather warning for the South of England with power outages and flooding possible today/tomorrow.
The Internet:
PHP is 70% of the internet. Its got compromised so it can pretty much all be hacked. This is VERY BAD (in capital letters). Many websites offline whilst this is sorted including multiple government ones around the world.
Just AI generally - everything from putting everyone out of work to just hacking and killing us all. No Biggie.
Trump and the Mid Terms:
Trump is firmly losing his marbles. He's defected to Russia, can't stop rambling about men's arses, is waving at non-existent people, his team are known to be considering ways to impose martial law, he's getting heckled at Trump rallies by his own supporters, 83% of all voters think the biggest problem in the US now isn't the cost of living crisis but government corruption. He's being called a traitor by some of his fellow Reds. Mid Terms look a disaster and Trump probably won't accept them. He's reversing bills that Congress passed weeks ago by executive order.
Mid-Terms: 3rd Nov
Ukraine and Russia:
Ukraine facing massive problems still cos Elon has got the ump. Starlink isn't working at face enough speeds. They've bombed a shedload of Data Centres in Russia. This has killed off the Russian Internet and many Trump/Musk supporters in the process (one way or another) which screws up Twitter (and its value) for them. Ukraine is getting blamed for diesel shortages cos they refuse to stop hitting Russian refineries even though it has no choice now its been cut off by the US. Zelenskyy now says Trump isn't an ally. Trump wants Zelensky gone and thinks Putin is being reasonable and Ukraine doesn't want peace. Germany states it would have activated Art5 if the confirmed Russian sabotage attack on Liepzig had been successful.
Russia is apparently planning to step up its sabotage campaign in Europe after having successfully sunk a few boats in EU waters (Romania / Bulgaria - these sinkings have been in both international waters off the coast AND within their official territorial waters).
Economy:
Lots of debt. Much concern over the implications of this particularly with regards to AI and state debt in the US, UK, France and Japan (but not restricted to). Much money put into gold by China. Background of this bad given the approach of potentially multiple crisis.
France Moody's credit review: Due tomorrow 23rd Oct - expected to be not good especially in the current political climate in France
UK Budget: 28th October

They are all interconnected and one or many could tip us into abject chaos. Or not. The risks here are sky high. Of what? Take your pick.

DH and I have a 4 year old, 2 year old and a 9 month old baby. I feel like this govt announcement to stockpile food is just media scaremongering and I’ve ignored it up until now, but tonight after I put our children to bed and turned out their lights out and the house was pitch black I did think to myself, god what if this was actually it and we were put into a blackout.

Im worried about having food to feed my children, and the thought of them going hungry is starting to worry me, but I also cannot bring myself to believe something will actually happen??

is anyone else stockpiling? What kind of things are you getting? Are we actually going to eat cold beans from a tin?

my husband and I were talking about it tonight, and wondering what the govt are hiding?

Not really sure where to put this as I’m not specifically looking for style advice per se! But I’m looking for a workout tshirt like the photo I’ll attach (but might take a while for approval), this one is out of stock in my size but the other reason it’s not quite right is that I want the sleeves to be slightly longer.
I need something a bit more fitted so I can see my body positioning underneath it when I’m exercising and all my existing ones are big and baggy. I can’t find anything that’s form fitting but with longer sleeves (not full length, I’ll maybe get too hot). Has anyone seen anything suitable?

This is intended as a friendly, kind, safe, warm and fuzzy place for people to share discounts, bargains and Christmas gift ideas both online and IRL. Please note the tone and intention of the thread and join with spirit as generous as DC helping themselves to the Christmas chocolate celebrations

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Will request this is deleted if someone more official beats me to it or if Reastie returns!

Met a guy at a gig a couple of months ago. We had a good laugh and hit it off. He made no secret of being high functioning autistic, single, doesn’t date and not looking for a relationship. Sounded great. I’m single, been lied and cheated on and not looking to get into another relationship. We swapped numbers. He said he would wait and see if I contacted him. Sure enough I did and we’ve spent weeks chatting and messaging. We both enjoyed it and there was clearly a mutual attraction. We met up, drank, chatted, he opened his heart, we had a brief kiss goodbye. We talked on our separate ways home, he messaged, wished he’d met me 10 years ago. We chatted again for the next couple of days, cleared the air that neither of us want a relationship, he stated this first and very clearly. The chat continued and all seemed ok. He left me a voice note about his day. The next thing a message asking what do you want? I asked what he meant, he ghosted me. A few days later I again said I thought we could be mates, I know neither of us wants a relationship- he blocked me before reading the reply.

i honestly never thought I would like a man again. But I liked him because he’s independent, he’s not going to be a man child and I thought I’d found a friend.

we were supposed to be going to a gig next month, he’d arranged tickets. It’s sold out so I’m a bit gutted to now be missing it and left mystified why he’s ghosted me.

I hate leaving things unfinished. We are midway through several conversations and I’m just missing his company.

I’ve been single for 7 years and lonely for a lot longer. I don’t want to date or look for a man. Where do I find friends that I can just enjoy being with?

sorry, I’m rambling and feeling very low. After such a positive meet up, honestly, I never thought it would end up like this.

Over the past few years, I have started picking up random bits of Christmas themed serveware for Christmas buffets etc. We’ve accumulated quite a few bits now and DH thinks it looks messy as none of it matches (it’s all a mixture of green, red, gold and cream but from different sets.

I like the fact that it doesn’t match (it reminds me of my grandma’s stuff as a child!). What would you think?

Carrying on from the last thread. This may be the last Big Brother 2026 thread, seeing as how it finishes next weekend (I think!)

.

I will go first:

TePe Interdental Expanding Floss
CCS Foot Cream
Woly Foam Leather Cleaner
Goddards Silver Cloth
Reiss Belts
JL tights with silicone grips
Magnesium for better sleep

Would you consider this emotional cheating?
About a month ago I found out that my husband who is in his 30s had been messaging a 19 year old for around 2–3 weeks pretty much all day and throughout the night too whilst I was asleep.
They met on a group holiday (I didn’t attend) and the messaging started after they got home from there, my husband was the one who started the messaging.
The messages turned flirty and he said things like “I am staying up later to talk to you” and “you are fun to talk to” and also asking for photos of her in her underwear (she didn’t end up sending any) my husband also sent photos of our child to her and photos of his work. There were other things said too.
Whilst the messaging was going on they actually ended up meeting up again with friends but my husband didn’t tell me she was going to be there (the others are men, she was the girlfriend of one of the other boys) hence why I didn’t attend as the meet ups are normally just men.
My husband denied most of it to begin with and I had to find out the truth from the 19 year old in the end and then he admitted to 90% of it.
The girl said he made her feel listened to and cared for.

I am trying to do more exercise, but find I don’t have enough clothes. Could really do wirh a couple of t shirts (yoga, tennis, a jog) and also a sweatshirt/quarter zip/fleece etc. maybe some new leggings too. I love sweaty betty but I really can’t justify £50 on a t shirt and I’d rather not use Vinted for a used sports top. Any other brands out there people use that look ok and are decent quality but don’t cost as much?

Me (21,F) and my husband (25,M) are having our first child. I'm due in February so I have some more time to choose. My husband and I want a vintage name, we don't want a overused name. We want a simple vintage name that is easy to spell that is still vintage.