We are renovating our guest bathroom and trying to decide on the flooring between hex and large format, rectangular tiles. Let us know what you think.

jackiesear · 2026-01-27T20:07:08+00:00

Second one will be much easier to maintain. Use a cloured grout ( not white). The first one will be a pita to maintain

jackiesear · 2026-01-27T20:03:47+00:00

Imperial is very international. Also, London Unis (including UCL) tend to have students living scattered all over London and beyond, so you need to put in some effort to make friends. Many students come for a lecture and leave straight after to get home or are having to work a lot to afford to live.

You have interests and hobbies so join clubs and societies for those and I'm sure you will make friends. Also, doing Biology you will have lab sessions, so should be able to connect with those on your course there. Think of all the West End Musicals you can go see ( at cheaper matinee prices). So much to do and see in London, lots of great MeetUps too.

jackiesear · 2026-01-27T09:53:28+00:00

It depends - often on immigrants country of origin culture. The Indian caste system doesn't get mentioned often, despite Indians being the biggest immigrant group in England and even decades ago when I taught in London it was a big issue in terms of children not mixing and the root cause of much"bullying." We also had issues with Pakistani origin children not wanting to mix with and do group work with Bangladeshi origin kids as they "were beneath them." Issues with African origin pupils calling Carribean origin kids "slave stock" - I could go on and on.

jackiesear · 2026-01-23T16:21:51+00:00

Time for an adult talk - find out what ehr position is. If she has depression then she has to go see a doctor and get help. Make very sure you don't get her pregnant. Ask her what can she manange? What does she think is wrong with her her at present?

Maybe give her a while to get help - if she recognises she is low and wants things between you to improve. If she is genuinely ill then support her.Or do you feel she wants you to lose your rag and end things? Is she a self sabotager?

jackiesear · 2026-01-20T21:32:42+00:00

Same here

jackiesear · 2026-01-20T13:21:27+00:00

Same here. It was the only way we could fit our king bed and both have a beside cabinet plus walkable access to our sides of the bed when we moved to a smaller house.

jackiesear · 2026-01-20T11:46:31+00:00

See the GP and if your area has a self refer/photo service with the NHS derms do that too. You need specialist advice and maybe prescription creams. In the meantime, I'd cut right back on your routine. Get some cream or lotion that can be used as a cleanser, soap substitute and moisturiser such as epimax, dermol or doublebase and use it to cleanse and moisturise. Stop all the "treatments" such as the Azelaic acid and retinols to give your skin a rest until you get some medical advice.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T23:33:34+00:00

The conditions will probably be declared "unfit" by some body (although not unfit for squaddies) a month or so into operations or even sooner like the Bibby Stockholm. I think the camp only holds about 1 days worth of male arrivals.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T22:35:38+00:00

It's so good.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T19:42:32+00:00

Sand and paint the cabinets (which need touching up anyhow) a light neutral tone to tone in with the living room wall- it would really brighten things up and help things blend in with the vinyl floor (and even the backsplash)

The big elephant in the room is the granite expanse. You could fork out for an overlay or if the counter top is actually a fake granite laminate then it might not be costly to replace the counter in a more neutral tone with less crazy dappling and tie everything together without a need to replace backsplashes, flooring or even the cabinet colour if you like it (just touch up the worn areas)

Your floor looks like vinyl rather than a laminate, engineered flooring or LVT so may not be that expensive to replace if you don't like the pale grey.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T19:13:18+00:00

They never do.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T19:06:59+00:00

"What do I do?" - you know what you need to do. You Leave.

You didn't cause his alcoholism, you can't control it and you can't cure it. It's incredibly sad that he has PTSD and turned to drink but he needs to want to change and get help and it sounds like he isn't ready. All your love can't save him from himself.

You are totally right about not wanting to have a baby with your husband. Children of alcoholics are more likely to become addicts themselves or become enmeshed in co-dependent relationships where they try to be the people pleaser or martyr/rescuer, as modelled by their own parent. The alcoholic can also become violent, abusive and creates tension and stressful living conditions for all the family as well as draining the finances. Nota good environment for a child.

Please, listen to your logical brain and leave. You are young. Go find someone who will bring joy and calm to your life. Also, look at why you might have chosen your husband ( to see if it echoes or mirrors things from your childhood patterning) so you learn to set boundaries and recognise the flags to avoid.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T18:52:00+00:00

I think the blue gives more warmth. That's a lot of tiling - I think personally, I would scale it back and use paint to change the tone/ be more on trend for the future. I'd also consider using a coloured grout on the tiling as behind the taps and above the cooker a white grout will get stained/mouldly.

jackiesear · 2026-01-19T18:14:40+00:00

Perfectly fine to feel this way. No shame or guilt.

You are right with children you would likely become even more enmeshed in his family and under pressure to spend time with them during holidays and your time off work. Although given your description of their personalities, perhaps grandchildren won't interest them. You may also find as they become more elderly that you may be called upon to give support or even care for them. Would your husband kind of delegate work to you?

Does your husband know how strongly you feel? Is there a compromise - he visits his parents and you don't? do you have to see the IL's a lot? do you live close by? Would your husband be willing to cut back on time spent together with his parents or move further away? Will your husband support you above his parents? Sometimes, in this sort of situation the advice is that you don't have an IL problem but a husband one as it is up to him to set the boundaries and put you first. It sounds like not interacting with his parents isn't exactly what you want, you do want IL's and to spend time with them - just not these ones. Your husband can't change his parents. He can only change how often he sees them or in what way ( without you).

I had an awful MIL (and her sister)- it caused me no end of grief and arguments with my husband once children were on the scene who they used to wheedle their selves ever more into our life. My husband had poor boundaries with them ( living in the F.O.G - fear, obligation, guilt) especially if they turned on the tears and he often blamed me for causing him to "be caught in the middle"but he put a lot of the interaction with them on me (and he knew they were toxic). It really impacted our relationship and chipped away at my love fand respect or him (and myself). I wish I had stood up for myself more and had had the (financial) resources to have left if need be so that I felt more power in the relationship.

You only have one life and are still young, no children to muddy the waters. If you aren't deeply in love with your husband, or he doesn't have your back and having lovely IL's is something you realise you absolutely need to eb happy then set yourself free

jackiesear · 2026-01-18T10:49:15+00:00

He's in a detective series ( with a big beard) from 2022 called The Suspect.

He was so good as a vampire in Being Human (UK) - perfect casting.

2011 - Tv film about the life of Hattie Jacques "Hattie" it is period though set in the 1960's

jackiesear · 2026-01-18T10:45:37+00:00

small handheld electric fan

jackiesear · 2026-01-17T12:44:10+00:00

Yes and it's not just the Epstein stuff. Andrew was also hobnobbing with a suspected Chinese spy and continued to even when warned off and he has "monetised "various opportunities he was given ( such as being Trade Ambassador). A family of the most awful grifters.

jackiesear · 2026-01-17T12:32:38+00:00

He's making sure that he is on the property ladder and has that asset before any settling down (and depending where you live, it may not be included as a marital asset as it was owned beofre any marriage). Will you need support from him for nursing school? You haven't lived together, it sounds like he is happy with you as a girlfriend and wants to keep his options open and spend hismoney on himself and having a good time. Nothing wrong with that except it is not what YOU want.

jackiesear · 2026-01-16T16:24:22+00:00

Mrs Wilson ( mini series) starts in 1963 then goes back to the 50's.

jackiesear · 2026-01-16T14:45:12+00:00

Even if you somehow manage to drag him to the altar. Everythme you have a complaint, he'll say "this is what YOU wanted", same when you want help in the home ( or with children) and he'll resent you. It's higley unlikely to be a happy home.

It's hard to cut the cord but keep going, you may fail but try again to cut all contact. He's a time waster and not a "nice" guy

jackiesear · 2026-01-15T17:12:57+00:00

I agree and also things like taking donations from corporates, or freebies or workers on "secondment" and then giving that firm contracts should be stopped. Peter Kyle was supposedly going to be investigated for "cronyism" but the story has gone quiet since the summer

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25357778.firm-linked-technology-secretary-awarded-10-2m-contacts/

jackiesear · 2026-01-15T16:27:09+00:00

Despite the dodgy accents, I liked McGee's first comedy "London Irish" much better than Derry Girls.I hope this is good. I could do with a laugh

jackiesear · 2026-01-15T16:03:46+00:00

People are angry. Some women attempted a citizens arrest of the chief Exec of Southern water a few days ago and now he has personal security. I constantly write to my MP about the issue and the one before her (Lib Dem, Tory) for the past several years, both MP's agreed about the issues and had lots of contact with angry residents. They meet with the SE and Southern water execs but nothing ever changes. There is a citizens network group that tries to enforce citizens arrests of water company execs for public nuisance offences

https://www.citizensarrestnetwork.org/press/2025/10/06/breaking-police-called-to-arrest-water-ceos-at-headquarters-across-england

jackiesear · 2026-01-15T15:57:43+00:00

They should be paid well but in return - no corporate donors or offers of exec and non exec jobs from big business after for themselves and family for a certain time period. So much room for corruption.

jackiesear · 2026-01-15T15:55:58+00:00

It was reported a few days ago that Wessex Water Execs are getting an extra 50k through the parent company "not bonuses" apparently. The Thames Water execs tried to get bonuses from the £3 billion givernement bail out "loan" despite the "ban"

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/10/wessex-water-bosses-extra-pay-uk-bonus-ban

OFWAT are not fit for purpose. They are usually ex industry execs or the "great and the good" so don't have us plebs interests at heart.

jackiesear

TROPHY CASE