to feel that if I cringe any harder, my head might retract into my neck like a tortoise.

[Psammead]

Long story short - we just moved into a new house in a new town and have a new baby. And no friends...

... and one of the stepford wives slightly standoffish mums from the mother, baby toddler group that I attended this week for the first time caught me in my shabby PJs, hair in plaits (with sticky up wispy bits from the nighttime), and slippers, wielding a mop. We have no nets yet in one half of our living room and the cat keeps making muddy paw prints on the floor.

She walked past. I tried to hide. She saw me through the window and waited for me to come out from behind the book shelf. Had to open the French windows to talk to her (don't even remember what I said, it's all a haze). I realized half way through the conversation that my pyjama top was still partly unbuttoned from where I had fed DD. Mor-ti-fied.

Fuckity fuckity fuck. She's going to tell all the other mums. I could tell by the way she walked away.

Do I stand a hope in hell of ever being able to show my face in this group again? I'd like to think I would be able to laugh it off, but I'd always be suspicious that they are picturing me in my PJs.

Jamieandhismagictorch they are a bit stepford wifey. When I went to the group on Thursday, they were very cliquey. I tried to talk to them but they were not interested. We also had to bring breakfast with us for the whole group. One of them had made brioche (maybe that's perfectly normal, but it's way beyond me!). I am going to try again with them - I get that they might not necessarily want to talk to me just because I want to make new friends.

I did get the impression that the reason she stopped was because she noticed that I was in my PJs. She kind of smiled and carried on walking, and then looked harder and stopped, if you see what I mean. Maybe it was just because she recognised me all of a sudden - probably, to by honest. But I was feeling a bit vulnerable!

The 'I could tell by the way she walked away' was meant to be a bit jokey - although she DID smirk!

Meh, I'm over it now. Next time I'll do the housework nude and really give them something to talk about!

Well I hope they make a bit of an effort with you next time. I cannot stand unfriendliness. No call for it IMO

Thanks! They were chatting about other people they know, and groups their kids all go to together so I couldn't join in much. One woman did talk with me and she was nice. But then, when I left, I called out goodbye and no-one answered! I think that's why I assumed the worst about the woman this morning. I'll see how it goes! Can't expect to make best friends for life based on one meeting, I suppose!

Oh don't worry... let them think what they like.

Maybe I'm beyond the pale but I've just moved to a quite "naice" area with a lot of very well-turned-out/Stepfordy types. I have a new baby too and tbh I look a fright in the mornings - I have short hair which sticks up when I've slept on it and of course with a 2-month old, I'm not really looking my best. Until I've got myself up I probably look like this. But that doesn't stop me going outside in my pjs to put the bin out, if necessary. Who cares? I'm a considerate, friendly person, I try to be a good neighbour, I'm buggered if I'm going to look like Mary Poppins from 7.30 am to boot.

Be who you are and you'll make friends with the nicest, funniest, most genuine people anyway.