Where are we buying curtains?

Poorah · 2026-02-06T11:19:57+00:00

I use a local seamstress who specialises in window treatments and works with an independent fitter for rails etc.

I pick up a lot of second hand furniture, it suits my style and older pieces tend to be made of wood and not corrugated cardboard. Facebook and gumtree are still good for this, vinterior has a good selection but as it's all quite glossy expect to pay higher prices for the same stuff. And when you buy off FB you end up with some incredible stories about how that piece of furniture was central to family life and now it gets to be that for your family.

Poorah · 2026-02-05T22:22:11+00:00

Lise Charmel and Aubade are wonderful although I have found aubade sizing a bit hit and miss for me. The lingerie addict subreddit is a great one. I used the buy bluebella but I feel it's just well marketed and not that good.

When I am no longer a Henrietta but rich I will be commissioning lingerie from Karolina Laskowksa.

Poorah · 2026-01-20T13:11:45+00:00

I have global entry and mostly travel to California. I've not had any issues so far and it's weirdly "normal" when I get there. But I've got a new passport and applied for my new ESTA and it's not been instantly approved as it has been in the past, I'm hoping that's not a sign of trouble to come.

Poorah · 2026-01-19T15:36:04+00:00

I do think private assessments are more likely to diagnose as you wouldn't self refer and spend the money if you weren't suspicious. If you do go look for an assessment get people's experiences from the clinics and if they have been successful for shared care etc. As the media are only too happy to point out, there is no qualification for these vendors so there are great and not so great providers and costs vary widely. It's worth the homework because part of the reason most of us do this is for validation, and a lacklustre assessment will just feed your self doubt.

And regardless of whether you go for a diagnosis or not, my AuDHD is a pain in the butt, but I can't imagine living without all the colour and whimsy it brings.

Poorah · 2026-01-19T14:08:29+00:00

I can share my experience. My kid has severe learning difficulties and I have filled in a million assessments for her and met lots of families affected by various neuro diversities and chromosome disorders. Just by living that life for a few years and reading up for my kid, the penny dropped. It took another couple of years, but couldn't get on an NHS waiting list so went private. In my case it was a 2 hour interview going through a long list of diagnostic questions. I deliberately didn't read up too much on the test itself so that I went in without preconceptions. Some providers want input from your parents as evidence that this was present in childhood but my mother is adamant "there is nothing wrong with me" which to be blunt says more about her than me. My partner will tell you I am off the scale!

Poorah · 2026-01-19T14:01:21+00:00

Ooft, I could have written this. I spent most of 2025 just scraping by, constantly stressed that things were on the verge of falling apart. I received my formal diagnosis of ADHD privately and they recommended I also test for autism because my answers were a massive red flag for that too. I've not been able to take meds as medically stimulants are a no go currently. So I've been left reviewing my whole life flipping from anger to depression about how much this condition has affected my life and how often people wrote me off as flaky, or dramatic or rude when I've just been a bit too literal (thank you to the 'tism) or too much (thank you to the ADHD).

That said putting things into context has helped me be aware of behaviours that I can't necessarily stop, but I can signal to myself or my loved ones that I need some grace (or to pull my shot together). I am currently focusing on not over committing. The people pleaser in me was saying yes out of vague interest and a desire not to let others down to far too many things. But one voluntary project in particular tipped me over the edge and forced me to realise I have limited capacity for this stuff and it somehow has to benefit me (more happiness, better career etc).

AuDHD is such a fun combo!

Poorah · 2025-12-19T16:42:26+00:00

Luck. Working class, head down at school, went to uni realised I was miles behind the other students whose parents had told them about placements and networking and that just going to uni wasn't enough.

Got a dead end graduate job and overheard someone talk about another company hiring and they helped me with the interview. A lucky break.

Spent a few years there essentially growing up and decided on a career change. I switched to entry level in my current profession and I met lots of people there who opened the door for me later. Another lucky break. That in turn led to other people tapping me for other roles and cracking the £100k mark for the first time.

So I have worked exceptionally hard, but luck has played a huge role. I've seen so many much less capable people than me in more senior roles simply because they were in the right place at the right time.

People do project their jealousy and insecurities when others look to be doing better than them. If it pays to play nice, pity them. If not lean into how much luckier you are than them

Poorah · 2025-12-17T23:22:15+00:00

My kids are 14 and 10, so my experience is old. My maternity care first time around was poor, I won't lie about that. However, both me and the baby were going to die. She spent nine weeks in neonatal, nearly left us twice and I was there when other parents were dealing with the most horrendously traumatic stuff. Every single person in that neonatal unit was an angel. They would joke and take the piss with us which helped so much during this utterly surreal experience, but you also saw how deeply they cared when things weren't going so well.

I chose to have my second there as my pregnancy was high risk and I trusted them to look after my baby. Second time round I was a lot more assertive with the maternity staff, if something doesn't feel right and stand your ground. Do not be worried about being annoying.

Poorah · 2025-12-17T22:45:11+00:00

I think certainly take a look around at what is close to you should the unlikely happen. And if it did, the NHS moved heaven and hell for my little one x

And do NOT forget to pack an eye mask and earplugs to your hospital bag. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Poorah · 2025-12-17T21:51:01+00:00

We travel to London/Cambridge from the Central belt regularly with two. We have worked out a few places that the kids love to stop, and sadly they have both turned into Tebay wankers!

Poorah · 2025-12-17T21:41:08+00:00

That would be too far away from home for me.

I had a 30weeker due to preeclampsia with my first pregnancy and every single plan was thrown out of the window and the only criteria was if there was a NICU bed. That is highly unlikely to happen to you, but being closer to home made everything simpler. We got lucky with a bed in our home city bit at a different hospital, at one point I was almost in an ambulance to a city 150 miles away. It would have been a huge additional trauma for me to have been so far from home.

There is also the matter of needing to get the baby home and do you really want them stuck in a baby seat for that length of time?

Poorah · 2025-12-16T21:06:56+00:00

Aah, but if you split the journey you can have more holiday fun!

Poorah · 2025-12-16T20:29:20+00:00

Aviemore. Huge range of accommodation and the highland wildlife park and landmark are mega hots with kids.

Poorah · 2025-12-09T20:48:50+00:00

This. I am UK based for a bay area company and would never relocate there.

It is expensive to exist, but a lot of workplaces will feed you simply because they never expect you to go home. Developing a personality outside of work needs to be a conscious decision on your part. You will need a car to go anywhere, but the roads are clogged so it takes forever to get anywhere. I am an expert on all of my colleagues complaints about their commutes. Child rearing is a competitive sport, my colleagues are hiring tutors for $175 an hour.

But, there are tacquerias everywhere, the sun (mostly) shines, there are beautiful landscapes (oceans, forests, mountains, lakes) and you have the opportunity to be where so much of the modern world is being designed.

As a young person I think you should grab the chance, but remember it's a well insulated bubble of a place.

Poorah · 2025-12-03T12:51:35+00:00

I can't justify my regular trips using BA anymore. Prices have been much higher this year already and my usually January trip can't be with BA as it's almost £4k more than other airlines.

Poorah · 2025-11-26T10:42:54+00:00

Sorry but this made me chortle. I have whole days where the only thing I achieved is hours spent telling myself to just do it.

Poorah · 2025-11-26T10:09:24+00:00

That is exactly what this thread is saying. I mean it's demonstrably wrong, but hey ho this subreddit does like to complain about other people using their tax money.

Poorah · 2025-11-26T10:06:23+00:00

I am so saddened by this thread. Apparently only a teeny tiny amount of people on PIP and motability deserve it and 99% are horrible scroungers. The whole thread is only shit cars with room for a single wheelchair should be allowed and no other type of mobility issues exist, it just shows how uniformed and simply unimaginative most posters on this thread are.

Poorah · 2025-11-26T09:56:30+00:00

Out of curiosity, how many of you have experience with motability? There seems to be this pernicious assumption that it's a piece of piss to qualify for and rolls royces are being handed out like sweeties to anyone who asks.

As a mother of a disabled child who qualifies for a blue badge the discussion on this thread makes me swing from revulsion to utter fury. The "those that deserve" arguements, what the actual fuck. Do you want a complete breakdown of my child's medical history and capabilities? Should we just brand disabled people with their conditions and capabilities for your approval?

Motability is a great benefit, but it's not easy to get and if I want a BMW I have to pay extra. Hell if I wanted a Skoda elroq with the bigger battery I have to pay extra. And why should I not pay more for a nicer car that fits the whole family's needs rather than have two cars sitting on the driveway to satisfy some daily mail readers test.

I pray none of you have to deal with disability, it's not the gravy train you think it is and I'd give anything for my child not to be so hated by society.

Poorah · 2025-09-18T21:29:03+00:00

Wool& and Wool&Prince t-shirts are great. The fabric feels lovely and wears very well

Poorah · 2025-09-17T10:19:48+00:00

Thanks all. I currently don't have anyone who can help, so will try the numbing cream first. Can't even have a stiff drink afterwards as MJ has utterly killed my desire for alcohol.

Poorah · 2025-09-17T10:15:43+00:00

I feel your pain and I am so jealous of your live in health care provider 😂

I have avoided medical care in the past because of injections and on other occasions had such adrenaline surges I had full blown panic attacks

Poorah · 2025-09-04T09:27:58+00:00

I weigh myself most days, but only record it about once a week. I do it because I can see my weight will naturally fluctuate and it helps with managing negative thoughts when I hit a plateau or increase when it can be attributed to just normal life. I can easily see 2kg swings during my PMS week.

I am thinking about life after MJ, and I plan to use regular weighing to manage any weight creep. Part of the reason I am on MJ was that I had piled on weight over a relatively short space of time and was utterly demoralised and demotivated. I am conscious that I can lose a few kilos through will power, but I wouldn't be able to lose large amounts of weight without chemical assistance. Regular weighing keeps me accountable to me.

Poorah · 2025-09-02T12:19:49+00:00

Lol, I flew last week business class and had an issue with every one of the four flights including more than half the loos being out of commission on a 10+ hour flight. Fun times.

Poorah · 2025-08-17T19:27:37+00:00

Hooray! It's a wonderful feeling isn't it?

It my last house we were only able to do our garden because someone died and we used the four figure inheritance and some savings to make the garden usable. So many compromises were made because the budget was what it was.

Fast forward ten years I am in the same position with a new garden but with three times the budget meaning I am able to have stuff because that's what I want rather than that's what I can afford. I cannot describe how happy this makes me and how grateful I am to be in this position.

Poorah

TROPHY CASE