I'm in the middle of a dilemma and would appreciate insights and advice from my Minti friends.

My husband, his best friend and I have organised a nearly 3 week trip to the UK at the beginning of next year. We planned to go so that we were over there at the time of my husband and my first anniversary and at the time of my birthday (they are both 2 days apart) and we managed to buy plane tickets at an awesome price - with the condition that they are non-refundable, no name changes, no date changes.

Anyway, I have just discovered this week that my university are making dramatic changes to the way the study terms are next year, with the result that the first term is starting a month earlier than in previous years. So when we were planning to be away - which previously was just before uni began - is now in weeks 3-5 of term. That's usually a very busy time in the uni calendar. I fear that if I'm not there I will be pushed quite far behind, and possibly even fail the unit. If I fail the unit, I will be a year behind which puts me further away from achieving my goal of being an architect and working in a career that I love.

Until the beginning of next year, I won't know who the lecturers are. So I can't discuss it with them to find out if I can organise something to accommodate the trip until about 3-5 weeks before we are scheduled to fly out.

My husband is not coping with this very well. He's very concerned about losing the money we've already paid for our plane tickets. He has suggested no one going, which is not appealing, and he's suggested just he and his friend go - which I wouldn't mind, except for the fact he'd be away for our 1st anniversary and my birthday. The idea of not being with him for those events feels devastating to me. And if I had my way, I would really like to go too! The reason we chose to go to the UK rather than anywhere else is because that's where I wanted to go to see a special friend of mine as well as visit some places that are on my life goal list.

I'm at a loss as to what to do and would so appreciate others prayers, insights and advice to help me work out what to do. Thanks heaps!!