ELEVENSES - the next chapter

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Sorry, just realised that sounded rude I didn't mean that we were boring, just that we now know so much about each other's lives, that it probably sounds a bit like gobblidegook to other MNers! Infact, could we be called a quiche????? Not that we are...we would warmly welcome others with a common love of Elevenses

arf hotcross !! I hope people don't feel excluded,but it has become our 3 part chat room...though BIWI is always welcomed !
Have had a long and tiring day out in London..it was my agents meeting day. Got myself to Hoxton and it was very interesting -a useful day I think,lots of ideas discussed and nice to meet the others. A bit intimidating as some are very prolific/have tons of work - I always feel very inadequate - and to compound that feeling she'd brought along a handful of our published books including a very old one of mine which certainly doesn't represent my current work - gah ! Hoxton might be trendy but it's quite grotty-the place we met,an old music hall was tatty and freezing and there was no lunch laid on as I'd rather hoped,but we all went to a really nice pub and I had some really nice parsnip & chestnut soup. Am totally shattered though !
Hope you have good w/ends

Roffle at hotcross - I do know exactly what you mean though!!

MAS, trip to London sounds exhausting! How are you feeling these days? (don't want to keep asking but think of you often)

Hope you are both having a good weekend.

Yesterday was E's swimming lesson. She is struggeling in the deep pool and has now decided she does not like swimming anymore She is doing absolutely fine but no longer the best in teh group and that irks her. I think it is a great lesson in life personally as she has mostly found things (be they sport or acedemic) easy. So this is new to her, and I call it character building
We then popped into Woking and I have bought all I need to make O's Dodger costume. Found a great jersey-fabric blazer in Primark in just the correct shade of grey/blue which I am going to adapt into a tailcoat. (wish me luck) Dh is busy making a cardboard top hat, I have some old dark grey school trousers adn an old green/gold brocade waistcoat onto which I am goign to sew a random assortment of scruffy patches. Still need to buy a ladies silk scarf type thing to use as a cravat. (have seen one in the charity shop at the top of the road will pop back for it on Monday) So that is my project for the week.
Am on my training course again Monday. Looking forward to it

poor E - it is hard, but as you say 'character building' !!
And well done with all the preps for O's costume - it's going to look amazing !
Enjoy your course on Monday too !
Am recovered after Friday - in retrospect it's made me think of ideas and sparked a new project (encouraged by dh and my dad as we were talking about it yesterday evening) so that's v good - I've also hooked up with 4 of the illustrators on facebook,which is a good way perhaps to stay in touch/see what they're up to-which might spur me into action !!
Thanks so much for thinking about me - it means a lot - am fine really-I get tired and anxious,but as I often think,that's normal for me- I think too,though it pains me to admit,that I am getting hot spells caused by tamox. (although feasibly it could be proper menopause too -yick) - just aware of feeling hot at times. Nothing terrible- look and feel pretty much as normal - no aching joints,nausea ,headaches and I think no weight gain (please God)
Have a good week both xxxxx

As usual, off here for a few days, and lots of exciting news to catch up on!

Glad your trip to London was productive MAS. Hope you're feeling a bit more rested today.

Poor E - character building but upsetting at the time. B has reached a similar plateau - happy to jump in the deep end, can swim, but slowly and a bit sloppily. TBH she was swimming much better a couple of months ago I wonder if they'll suddenly make a huge leap forward and surprise us?

O's costume sounds fab! He's going to look great and really get into character!

We went to see Up at the weekend. It was great, but B was terrified so we ended up leaving early and just sneaking back in for the last few minutes to check the characters survived TBH I think it could have been a PG - the dogs were scary!

Just off to get B from tennis. She's so excited about the ballet exam on Friday - let's see if that continues!!

Sorry didn't mean to ignore your health MAS - somehow managed to delete that part of my post - must preview

Sorry you're feeling not quite right. It must be difficult not knowing if you're experiencing something because of the tamox, or just because... I know I'm on so many different pills and potions that I've stopped reading the side effects leaflets, or I'd be too scared to continue with them. Mad really!

FWIW I think you're doing fabbly

aww thanks hotcross - am fine,really I am - it's just hard to know if anything's connected to tamox. or not ..I think I've been lucky as I haven't any of the horrid side effects some people report - don't want to tempt fate by saying that though !
Poor B - yes,the dogs are quite scary,especially the head dog - hadn't thought of that. It's good that she's excited by the prospect of her ballet exam - will be sending good vibes to her on Friday !

Morning I've been trying to get on with the myriad of household chores that are piling up, so have kept the computer firmly off for a couple of days. Amazing how much paperwork I've got through

Hope you're both OK and haven't been blown away. I'm bored with this weather now and dream of lovely bright crispy days instead!

Can I ask for night out advice again please? I'm meeting up with my old NCT group at a pizza place this weekend and just don't know what to wear. They're a stylish bunch generally, with big clothes budgets. How dressed up would you go? I've also put on weight and all my clothes are straining at the seams a bit, so my confidence is shot to pieces. Gah!

what about your outfit -the one you wore with leggings and boots the other day-the Next thing - you'll look fab in that -suitably trendy and
stylish !

Hi MAS. Am just worried it'll be a bit too bright and dressed up... Was a hen night last time, so a bit posher...

ok...so what have you got that you like and feel good in ?

Nothing I seem to have lost my way tbh. I probably need to buy something, but need to second guess the type of thing the girls will be wearing. I've tried on loads of lovely tunic tops, but they all look shapeless and like a sack on me...

Do you think jeans and a pretty top would be about right?

jeans and nice top with perhaps a cardi -layers look nice- bit of accessorising with beads/necklace/scarf ?

Thank you

hey hotcross - have done a bit of research for you ! Last night at book group the assembled women,all in their mid to late thirties were wearing skinny jeans or trousers,some tucked into boots, long tops/tunics, beads/necklaces..one had a plain black dress over a longsleeved t shirt.

You're so lovely! Thank you I think I'll wear my leggings in boots and a long jumper dress. I may be too hot though!

Outfit sounds nice

Whilst you are dishing out fashion advice MAS, I need a top for the works Christmas do. Most people will apparently either wear jeans and a pretty top of black trousers and a pretty top (it is a meal at a nice pub 'do')
Now, as I am still hoping to lose weight I don't want to buy any jeans so I was going to wear my black work trousers. I have spotted this top which I really like. I have some mustard/yellowy jewellery to match. What do you think? Yey or ney?

Will post more later, have to go and collect E from sewing club

gah, not of black trousers, or black trousers .... (in my original post)

pretty !!! yes,that'll be lovely !

You sure? Thank you - I liked it the instant I spotted it in the catalogue but was not sure...

Phew!

Will go and order it - have a 20% discount voucher so it will be a bit cheaper too

All well here. O has had some hassle in the playground and as a result the girl he was going out with has 'dumped' him (boys saying to her 'you are going out with O, ewwww' because they want to go out with her themselves). But he is being typical O and shrugging it off
And E is fretting because we handed out her birthday party invitations and some of her friends are already going to another girl's party (to which she was not invited)...

Can I break up for Christmas now? I'm done I think...

Hotcross, your outfit sounds lovely, fab that MAS is good at giving us advice

yes, you'll look really lovely in that I reckon ! (hark at me-fashion adviser what do I know ?)
Poor O - everything is so advanced these days isn't it ? I was listening to my 7 yr old niece and was shocked at the sassy,confident chatter - because it's not what I think of when I think of little girls - S is very 'grown up' too.
Poor E and party - am sure everything will come out right - it's a minefield though...

That top is gorgeous Hippi! And you've given me a new website to browse... It's the sort of top I'd like but haven't seen around. Everything seems to be very 60's in jazzy patterns, and no shape.

Sorry O and E aren't having a good week. The whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing scares me, because it's so fickle and transient, but very very important to our dcs. They will no doubt have their hearts broken many times Poor E too. Birthday parties are tricky, but I'm sure she'll have a lovely time with the girls who can come.

I'd happily break up for Christmas now too!

Ballet exam tomorrow - eek!

fingers crossed for B tomorrow xxx

Thanks girls I have ordered the top. I hope it looks as nice on me as it does on the page of the catalogue!!

GOOD LUCK to B for her ballet exam today!!!! How exciting!!! (and nerve-wracking...)

O is very philosophical about the girlfriend thing. It 'girlfriend]' does not really mean much at this age - they are good friends and hang around at playtime (but not always). It is more the 'idea' of havign a girlfriend/boyfriend that appeals.
But apparently one of O's girly friends took it upon herself to find him a new 'girlfriend' and he is now 'going out' with a girl he was best friends with at nursery. It makes me laugh, it really does!!
E does not seem too fussed about the party thing. She today wrote out an invite for another little girl who was missed off the list first time (she is not in E's class and we had filled up the numbers so could not write any more) And if it ends up being a small party rather than the big bash then so be it. I ahve decided though that this is the first and last big-hall party I am doing for her. I would much rather take E and her best 3 friends ice skating for example. Next year... roll on next year...

Thanks for the link to the website MAS - your pictures look lovely I love the dog one, but the frame makes it a bit too nursery-like for E's room. (otherwise I would have been flexing the old credit card) But you are one talented lady, that's for sure!!

Right, better go, will be back later