Update please Carrot! What did you decide?

Well I suppose at the end of the day, it depends on how you define a friend. Frienship means different things to different people.

I agree darling x

Well I've always socialized with them. I've been lucky enough to have worked with some brilliant people. Many of them I have kept in touch with over the years but it's probably just birthdays and Christmas that we contact each other. But then in this busy world we live in, it's better than nothing.

I never actually had an engagement ring. My ex husband was very cheap! Nah, just kidding! LOL! It just wasn't important to me. But if I did, the style would be more important than the stone. I'd prefer something very arty looking and unique, rather than the usual engagement type bling. But if I could choose I would go for a turquoise (my fave stone) on a silver band. Not at all conventional but then neither am I!

I'm part Italian and my children's father is from Brazil. So when our kids were born, we chose names that were typical to both countries but were also well known in Britain. It was important that my kids had names that people were familiar with, even though we chose names from our cultural heritage, as we didn't want their names to forever be mispronounced or have them always having to spell them. And luckily, everyone likes their names. I suppose I like a lot of classic names that aren't old-fashioned but might veer on that side of things. I do quite like the name Beatrice for a girl so if I'd had a daughter I would've considered naming her that even though I know it's not a name everyone's crazy about.

Thank you Green Diamante 😘

First of all, not everyone has the close bond with their in-laws that they have with their own families. That's just how it is even though you may like and get along with them. I was lucky enough to have had a good relationship with my in-laws. Sadly it was my husband who was the problem! LOL! 😂 And even though we're now divorced, I still keep in touch with some of my former in-laws, especially my mother-in-law who I still consider my mother-in-law. But as my ex and I have two kids together, that's one of the reasons why we all keep in touch. I wouldn't though if they were not nice people. OK back to you, well I think you're doing the right thing in putting away anything that's likely to be broken or misused. If they are as careless as you say, then it will only lead to resentment in the long run which obviously you don't. And also does your husband know how you feel? I know that sometimes it can be very hard to have that awkward conversation with your other half about their family. But if you're able to talk to him about them then do so. As they're his family, he might know the best way to handle the situation.

But if you wanted to stay friends with an ex and your husband wasn't happy, what would you do? Or vice versa?

Haha! No, simply put I wouldn't let my children stay at the home of someone I barely knew or wasn't comfortable with. My children are the most precious things in the world to me - all parents can relate to that. So naturally I wouldn't allow my kids to stay with someone I didn't trust implicitly. I know of people who have allowed their kids to stay at the homes of people they're not too familiar with just because the children are friends from school or whatever. I've never understood that.

I think that community sites and groups are a great idea. But wherever you are, you are always going to encounter people who are going to try their luck and are just out for what they can get. I have many a time. I don't suffer fools gladly and don't put up with that kind of nonsense once I've identified that kind of character. But I wouldn't refuse to help someone who genuinely needed my help. That's not the kind of person I am and I won't let some chancer turn me into that.

I was six months pregnant when I got married so we didn't have a lot of time to ourselves as newlyweds when it was 'just us.' We were so preoccupied with our child that we didn't really worry about things like date nights but we tended to do things as a family. Looking back of course, I see that we should have had regular date nights and things like that. The occasional weekend break even as we had lots of very reliable babysitters - ie. doting grandparents! Sadly our marriage didn't go the distance and we ended up divorcing a few years later. Not because of lack of date nights I hasten to add! Haha! But I do agree that every couple needs to have time to themselves every now and again. I've been single for quite some time now but if I do meet someone, I will definitely be making time for just the two of us.

A very, very warm welcome to a very, very new member! 🤗

Sending you hugs, BettaDaze!

Hugs to you, Green! 🤗🤗

Always lovely to have a bright, zingy personality on here. Welcome Miss Orange Coat xx

Thank you. And from one language teacher to another, big 😘

Hello Carrotstix. Fingers crossed that you do!

Hello Jane. I do hope you get to come back and see more of what London has to offer. It's a great city and I'm not just saying it because it's my home city!