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[largeginandtonic]

Mornin!

Hello my lovely! How are you?

PJ, have dropped you an email on FB x

If our ayah died it certainly would be tragic. For me that is

I do love her books but don't all her plots have some kind of deep emotional twist to the heart going on?

Did you go on holiday or just to the bank?

April I think I may have to send ds1 over to stay with you when you are next racing. He would think he had died and gone to heaven.

The wedding we went to was lovely, very chi chi and must have cost a fortune. For once we took Elizabeth with us and i felt very colonial, and very guilty at all the opulence and extravangance. Still not guilty enough to prevent me leaving the kids with her at 7am in the morning.

Do you make her walk 2 paces behind you? Does she genuflect in your presence? Does she have a uniform? You're so posh.

Maggie O'Farrell's a good time whiler. I like her most recent one. It's extremely poignant. More like her first one 'After You'd Gone' in essence. The ayah dies early on, it's not a spoiler.

Farking bank. 3 weeks now, still no money. We literally ran out of food. My parents have bought us some to tide us over. I wasn't here because our phone line died. It's extremely old and took BT a week to fix it. We now have a modern phone line which should be more reliable.

It's been lovely. Read 5 novels, been to a gala, swimming in the river, walking, cycling. It was like being on holiday. Even written a few chapters of the old book.

AM, I'm still very about your mini meet. I'm going over to Ms Colony 2008 for a meeting of Large Babies.

I need to be on large baby meet - Farkin flowergirl dress is too small (its 18-24 months). Grrrrr

Glad the wedding was lovely TMAM

Going on holiday on Saturday - 2 weeks of sun - can't wait. Ok - give me your "must read" holiday books please. DP is taking his bike and I get reading time by the pool whilst he takes Tilly on the bike.

What do you read on holidays? Do you just want something good or does it need to be frippery? No dead ayahs for example...

Mathilda is in some 2-3 year clothing... It's ridiculous. She's tall more than anything now. She used to be chubby but now she's just a beanpole.

AM - sounds like you had a lovely family weekend. Glad you enjoyed it.
SOH - I can't believe the bank are still messing you about! Have you tried a sit-in protest? Don't they know you have a tank hungry girl to feed? Seriously though, it is so stressful when things like that happen and you don't know where you're going to get money from. Hope it gets resolved soon.
I am very of the mini-meet too. One day I will get to meet you all.
AM and Cam, you ladies inspired me last week and at the weekend I had my very long hair cut into a short bob with a sweeping fringe. I like it but it will take a while to get used to.

Dead ayahs sounds fine - will check out Maggie O'Farrell. Recent favorites have been Khaled Hosseini's, The Book Thief, Half of a Yellow Sun, The Shadow of the Wind etc. Not adverse to a bit of frippery either (can cope with Jodi Piccoult but have read quite a few of hers and they're a bit samey now)

Still no money

No phone line sounds dreadful delightful.

Of course she walks behind us, I have to get my ego trip somehow. She wears a delightful blue and white gingham check. In fact I think it would suit you down to the ground, shall I send one over?

Tilly, the more bouncing bonny big babies the better (were you all impressed with my alliteration?)

Bugger about the dress, is it easy to change? Black turned out to be fine in the end, all the ladies were wearing black-ish!!

Tilly (I always find it quite odd calling you by your daughter's name, I must find another nickname for you, how about TSM? Then I might get a bit confused with myself..??) Whilst i was on holiday I read Peony in Love by Lisa See, about a young Chinese girl way back when, and her arranged marriage. It is a book about the strength of love and a reflection on the traditions of those times. It is so beautifully written, so descriptive with incredibly detailed and prosaic language. It is very poignant and unputtdownable (did I just make up a word O Thesp One?) A slightly fanciful plot but a good read all the same.

x posts Abby oooooooh we need some pics please! We will set a new MN trend, instead of the Pob it could be the Mob.

SOH, we saw one of my sisters who we've not seen for over a year the other night, and she's now worrying that all the clothes she's given D have been too small (actually, most of them weren't at the time he was given them, he's just grown out of them a bit fast, although she does buy from places which do clothes a bit small).

Some rude people have called him chubby, but there's not much fat on him, he's just a bit of a giant, especially with long and wide body (most of his jeans and shorts in 12-18 months are fine size wise but the tshirts aren't).

Tilly, do you like more serious or literary fiction, crime, chicklit or something else entirely?

TMAM - sounds good - having a trip to Waterstones this afternoon

Can't be bothered to send the dress back (its from the States) - it only works out at about £30 so by the time I've messed around with postage etc., its not worth it. Have ordered the bigger size and will get rid of old one on ebay

Cross post Tilly - have you read Purple Hibiscus by the author of One Half of a Yellow Sun? I thought it was very good but still have to read One Half. Another girls growing up in another country book I loved was Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (India).

Yes I recommend Purple Hibiscus too. I am currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns and it is shaping up nicely.

Just off now to a new parents meet and greet for dd's school. The sun is finally shining here again and school starts again tomorrow yippee.

I heart gingham.

I'm trying to read The Time Traveller's Wife atm and can't get into it. Not sure whether to give up.

Recently enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox (that's Maggie O'Farrell and the dead ayah), Notes From an Exhibition, The Poisonwood Bible, Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Tuesdays With Morrie (Five People You Meet In Heaven was excellent too). What about Amy Tan? She's quite good for a holiday read I think. Or Joanne Harris. I like Blackberry Wine in particular. Isabelle Allende?

SOH at no money still! They are totally shite!

AL we need to see pics of the MOB

TMAM hope you have a good time at the meet & greet.

Ella is still wearing her 9-12mth pj's! 12-18mths are ok in dresses or t-shirts. Tops the sleeves tend to be too long and trousers can be hit or miss. Depends on the waist and the leg length.

I will be having a session on the wii fit this afternoon as i have set a target of losing 3lbs in two weeks and missed 2 days of 'training' due to being away..... but first i have the house to clean.

Back later my lovelies x

Good morning everyone. Nothing too interesting to report. It has been quiet on here lately. I've got two monkeys that make me crazy, and are so cute at the same time.

It's funny to look at them because Mateo weighs 35 pounds and is 39 inches and Cruz is 24 lbs and 33 inches. I swear it won't be long before Cruz towers over Mateo.

Am 13 weeks tomorrow and am happy to be getting out of the first trimester, however it's kinda sad to think that this is probably the last time that I'll be pregnant, so am trying to enjoy it, but at the same time I just want the bean to be here.

Watcha.I am made up with cold and in a grump because September is Detox month chez Scoot.

I liked the Time travellers wife-stick with it, its a grower.Have you read The Outcast?I know it was a Richard and Judy book club choice but its really very good.

M has walked!Two steps.Then straight back to crawling and nowt since.Both kids up all night cough cough.And so it begins till probably next spring.

Have just called up about getting L into a pre school two sessions a week.It will do her good I think, as she needs to socialise with other kids her age without us there.But I think she will hate it at first

Thanks all. I saw The Outcast in supermarket the other day and thought it looked as though it had potential. I forgot I have the Ukranian Tractor's one as well. Nice and compact for the flight.

SOH - took me a couple of attempts to get into Time Traveller's Wife. I did finish it and it was ok but no sure it was worth the hype. Ditto We need to talk about Kevin

Loved a Thousand Splendid Suns though.

Tilly has a temperature of 39.4 this morning She was also awake from 3-5 am this morning. I think its the dreaded teeth again but really hope she's not coming down with something just in time for the holiday.

AM - have fun on the WiiFit - I love mine and have just reached my target (5 days early, I'll have you know !).

How early on Sunday AM? At yours is it? I would love to come but probably couldnt make it before 11 or so...

Crikey Pebble!That said one of my customers got chased home by a gang of local yoot last night and they broke a window at the service trying to get in after him..The police have just been and we are on alert in case they come back..quite scary really..Im not cut out for this kind of work.I would be far better at home doing some embroidery or something..

I will have a raw carrot.Thats sure to pep me up..Today have thus far had, no fat yoghurt and berries, a green salad,an apple, a satsuma and a banana.And two cups of detox tea.Have checked for signs of newly glowing skin etc, but none so far.In fact I look half dead!
On the bright side, mercifully my GHD's came this morning (my old ones finally gave up the ghost two weeks ago) so at least I will be able to do something with my barnet...

Yes, that Kevin thing..I didnt get half way through that...

lovely wii fit.It weighs me very light.It is my friend

Mine weighs me light as well - but that's because I always say my clothing is heavy, even when standing there in my bra and knickers

Will be about lunchtime Scoot

Yes at Meadow Towers