Gracii Guns

FYI, to clear things up, female genital mutilation isn't actually connected with any particular religion. The practice is widespread throughout northern African nations, many of which are primarily Muslim populated, but it's a cultural practice and not a religious one. 

I don't subscribe to Islam, but I've certainly been on the receiving end of plenty of misunderstanding regarding my faith, which isn't an easy thing to live with (in addition to all the genuine atrocities comitted). 

@Towelie @ssiscool Thanks for your responses.

It's such a emotionally awkward situation. Ditching friends and family because it's easier to aquire a possession elsewhere. It is shelter though. 

Absolutely not moving to the country. Most suburbs have good enough air quality. I grew up in the countryside and was lonely. I missed out on so much with friends because I lived in the middle of nowhere. Sounds trivial, but I was 19 years old before I ate a delivered pizza. Horses and cows and country walks get boring really fast. 

I'm thinking realistically about the friends I have here. One lives in a council house. One lives with her parents. The rest are older so could buy when it wasn't as expensive, or bought with help from family. So if any of those people were in our shoes, they'd be looking at leaving too. I have two acquaintances who live in a camper van/caravan full time because of similar problems we're facing. 

Thanks for helping me think about this more clearly. I'm really sad that just at the point where we thought we'd have enough money, the target is raised again. It's a losing game. We'll stay here for another year, then go. 

In a bit of a pickle. I'd like to hear your thuoghts on this, please.

We have been saving for a deposit for a house for years. Have attempted to buy a few places, it has never worked out. We live where we grew up and would like to stay.  Unfortunately the house prices in our city have risen to the point where they're just not delivering value. Especially if we're expecting to pay the higher interest rates too. (If you're interested, there's an ex-council house on the market in an area rough as sandpaper for £265K).

We decided to live here initially because my mother in law is disabled. She doesn't need a full-time carer yet, but when she has an accident, we're nearby. My MIL isn't old, so it's not like we can wait until she dies then find our freedom. My brother-in-law would still be nearby if we moved, but he's not reliable.

My husband now works a remote job and unless childcare costs reduce I'm likely to be a stay at home mum for the next five years.

We have friends here who we've known since childhood. We've made many more along the way and I know that I'll be dependent on them as my twins come into the world. Our daughter is due to start a school nearby in September.

We don't drive, as we've been putting all our money into saving for a house. If you live in a UK city, it's quite easy not to drive. In any case, moving to the nearby countryside won't get us better value.

So the obvious answer is to move to a completely new city which is cheaper. We're thinking the city where my sister lives, although we have no friends there, and I'm not best friends with my sister. We get on OK, but we're very different people.

Thanks, if you got to the end of this post. I really don't know what to do. I'd feel like a traitor moving away from all my favourite people, we're not poor (according to the government, my husband is classed as a 'high earner'), but it really feels like our city is for wealthy people now. I suppose our friends would understand our situation. They wouldn't want us to be screwed over.

Huge thanks x

On 6/1/2022 at 4:57 PM, ssiscool said:

Ok married people, what's the stupidest argument you've got in with your spouse/significant other?

I asked my husband to tuck his shirt in. It had a proper dress shirt hem and not a straight hem, it needed to be tucked in. He didn't react well. Haven't asked him since.

Oh the grand old Duke of York

He had twelve million quid

He gave it all to someone he never met

For something he never did! 

@downzy

I don't know a lot about this, and certainly can't provide legal advice, but...

It's only four days and as long as the Canadian company can provide you with a press pass (or equivalent) and you can demonstrate that you hold an adequate insurance policy, that should be enough. I would classify what you're doing as "attending a conference/meeting" for work. It's the kind of thing people fly in and out of London all the time for. You of all people wouldn't be a concern to immigration officials at the airport. 

Hopefully someone else can provide better info than me!

She initially claimed not to be seeking any payment, but justice. I guess she found her price.

I'm annoyed at this conclusion. Him losing £12m isn't justice. 

I could live without Facebook, but Instagram is good for my business.  

Facebook works well for a lot of small businesses. They're never going to give up that ad spend. 

@dontdamnmeuyi2015 A comment such as the one Whoopi made as a a highly intelligent, Black Jewish lesbian has actually led to some interesting discourse. I didn't get the full story, but from what I've heard, at best, she was being over simplistic, and she's apologised. I've since learned that the Jewish people are an ethnicity, not a race. There must be so much pressure on celebrities to say the right thing, without sounding ignorant should it be taken out of context.

19 hours ago, Graeme said:

Ooft! Amazing news, Grace! Massive congratulations to the three (soon to be five) of you! <3

Thank you G-unit. Five feels like a big number! Hope you're doing OK. 

All the best with that! You're the right person, in the right place at the right time. 

Has anyone else still managed to avoid it? 

And regarding all the Yanks wanting their freedom back. The UK has had a series of lockdowns where most people were compliant, paired with compliant mask wearing and an extremely high take up of vaccines, with highly accessible testing. 

That's why the sheeple are free! You can't choose to be free of mask wearing or a vaccine without consequences. 

We've booked a week in Malta in May. It will be my daughter's first trip abroad. I really wanted to get a nice holiday in before we're chained to the term time calendar and the prices which go with it. 

On the topic of celebrity divorces in general, it's kind of odd that despite having the greatest access to therapists, being able to live in huge houses so they have their own space, and not being dependent on one spouse's career, their marriages are so short-lived. 

Kim K has just been divorced for the third time, I don't think she's even 40 yet. She can't be a happy person, despite appearances*.

*I have a bit of respect for the Kardashians. They seem to be a very smart family, and Kim's campaigning for penal reform is commendable. I don't consider myself a fan, I'm just clarifying that I'm not trying to speculate about her out of a general distaste for her. 

I'd just like to bless you with the opportunity to appreciate how much hotter I am as a dude. 

A 15 year relationship is a lifetime in Hollywood. It's a shame it didn't work out though. 

Lisa has a habit of getting men who are absolute beauties though, so it will be interesting to see who she pulls next. 

On 1/6/2022 at 8:21 AM, Chris1989 said:

Staunch Brexiteers will never question Brexit. They're not capable of stepping back and examining the facts. 

If it looks bad, it's just remoaner propaganda. The end.

One thing I don't like about Brexit is that you can't even risk talking about it, as there's a 50% chance that the person you're talking to voted the opposite way to you. 

Another thing I don't like is that I never understood the case for Brexit. There was a lot of fluff, but the core ideas were to do with overreaching governance and a reduction of sovereignty. I thought the UK operated fine being a part of the EU, but because the Brexit campaign was 'facts lite', I was provided with very little to convince me. 

On 12/8/2021 at 6:34 PM, Chris1989 said:

It's just been pushed through 

Congratulations! What kind of role are you moving into? 

Is there anyone else out there who doesn't have one definite passion? As in, you enjoy most aspects of life in moderation, but aren't committed to one above anything else. 

There's a lot of pressure to find a niche in business, but I can't say I'm into anything to the point I could charge someone for my expertise. 

I'm interested to find out what the long-term cultural effects of Covid will be. 

I liken it to when rationing and other home front efforts were made in Britain, for the sake of a greater good. Since then the British have valued food in a different way to other nations. Culturally, we don't like food waste, don't think bigger portion sizes are necessarily better. 

I hope that Covid will make us all kinder, hand shaking has been binned and that flexible working in regards to time and location will remain.

On 11/6/2021 at 8:13 PM, lame ass security said:

I read that Marilyn Manson attended a church service lead by Kanye West and it was attened by Justin Bieber. They were all wearing these white robes, you seriously couldn't make this shit up.😄

That sounds like one of those cults celebrities join, for massive donations in the name of peace, love and tax evasion. 

One hell of a life. 80 years are all you get, if you're lucky. I can't be sad about that. My sympathies to his family, friends and fans. 

I saw the Stones play Manchester in 2018. Not one of them cracked open a beer the whole night. Rest in peace Charlie. 

On 8/16/2021 at 9:12 AM, -W.A.R- said:

Fuckin LOL

 

In 2002 healing crystals held far more promise than Chinese Democracy.