Wise and Avid Gals this way please. Just don't call us WAGS.

[PlumSykes]

new thread

Thanks cake - I'll email you on FB. How exciting!

I must admit, in a smaller size, I get that little pinched bit at the side where my bum ends and my bum and the tops of my thighs are a bit too big, iyswim. So I tend to size up on the waist. esher makes a good point about the lycra and I find straight leg are usually better for this as they don't have so much stretch in them.

Are you not a belts person?

I would def try a size down LTEC. I can wear a 28 in Top Shop for example with a bit of wiggling to get into initially. They feel tight at first, but give a bit and stay put. You are smaller than me so should be a size down again. I dont wear low rise either. Long and lean probably as low as I go. I fancy getting fitted with the new Levi curve jeans though, out of interest, as they seem to be trying to work around the exact hip/waist ratio thing that can cause problems for us pears.

I do think they should be fitted for skinnies, just have to be careful not to be that little bit too tight if you size down. That's what I was trying to say!

Right, I'm off to eBay to save a Burberry search...

{blush] i know Cake, my sending back thing is very nearly out of control atm.

Lace tshirt (and a dress iirc) on Zara online (althoygh for some reason they call it a "body" but it looks like a tshirt to me

here

You are all so nice. I stuck a picture of ds3 on his bike, one of the dog, and one of the swimming pool in the book and he was very pleased about that. Basically the kids have not failed to notice how extremely boring the last few weekends have been though. When they're little they don't mind, but ds1 is 8, so not old enough to make his own plans, but old enough to be underwhelmed by playing in the garden and going to IKEA. Ho hum, won't be forever. I do think about packing in the job very often, but I want to replace it with something part time, and that will only be possible to do from a job, not from being at home.

ny those shorts are absolutely hilarious! I'm not sure I would wear shorts and tights, I'd be afraid it's too much of a little girl look. I might come around to it though if it starts being commonplace attire on the tube or something.

I'm now safely ensconced in a South of England conf centre and quite happy at the thought of not having to cook or washing anything for 4 days

And Tracey you put your finger on what might finally lift me out of the gloom. I think Burberry it is

oooh I say that's nice esher! Just the right side of doily.

yangy will PM you re: shops!

was interested to read about going out/ staying in with the dc. I am useless at staying in. Constantly drag them out, am sure they would prob rather be at home watching Shrek. I get cabin fever. DS2 wearily pulled on his trousers this morning and said "Where we going today mama?" He looked quite relieved when I said that we had no plans and would see how things went with the weather.

oh, nearly forgot. I ordered the IO pegs in the end in a 12. Thought that I may as well get them while the 25% disc applied and then exchange them for a smaller size once they get more stock in. As I remember their exchange period is reasonably generous - that'll work, won't it?

Fleecy I do wear belts but they are gathering the waistband of my jeans so that they don't sit flat iyswim?

Awww, Esher, I love SW London! Like the Barbour and am tempted too.

LTEC, try 27s/28s, they will stretch a little anyway.

Oh well if they're that loose then do size down. I hate when that happens!

If I remember rightly, you have a gap between your thighs whereas mine just touch and I wear a 28 so you'd be fine.

Have just bought these http://www.mytights.com/gb/brand/trasparenze/trasparenze-kuma-ribbed-tights.html tightsto keep me toasty at work. I also have very similar shoe boots to wear with them.

The legs, however, are still a work in progress

dammitt

Lace for cake

i know you didn't say skirt, but quite pretty...

too much...?

Quick wave to all.

NY those shorts are hideous. I can't imagine, how an average punter would look in them. They look like something youd wear "footing turf" in the bog. (You know, the stuff, that is burned in fires here?) Like the boots.

Esher and HF what serendipity!

Wedding was fantastic fun. Loads of food, wine, and chat. It's so lovely to be able to share these kind of events with close friends.I get all emotional.

Cake your drowned rabbit outfit sounded fabola!

Helles you can get these tablets that you dissolve in a basin of water and you soak tootsies to bleach your nails. I got them in M and S.

I love those glasses everything

The look I was going for was similar to this but my face shape is different and I have longer hair. Opinions anyone?

esher and hf how spooky!

I had to come back as I suddenly thought that my previous post about doing stuff with the dc could be misinterpreted, as if I do loads of fun stuff with them. I don't - it's all park/ library/ soft play/ museum/ pool/ shops type stuff, very dull, but point was just that I think we often put pressure on ourselves to go and 'do fun stuff' with the children, when really, they're perfectly happy with a story, a bit of rough and tumble in the living room, helping out with the dinner and a DVD.

Certainly my only memories of childhood are of trailing my mum around endless shops and doing housework (I had a red feather duster shaped like a dolly with a big feathery skirt, loved it) My idea of a big treat was to put the sugar in her cappuccino and watch it slowly sink through the foamed milk until - plop! - it disappeared. Funnily enough, my kids love this too.

Roma your ds must have been chuffed with his pics. Hope you enjoy your 4days of abstinence from household drudge.

Morning all. Had a rubbish nights sleep last night, and annoyingly, I had no reason to at all - apart from it being a Sunday night. I don't know why but I quite often sleep badly on a Sunday - it is obviously some subconscious thing about going back to work/worrying about sleeping in (which I have done about twice in 20 years!)/thinking about what I need to do at work. But I am not aware of worrying about these things....I just lay awake last night getting crosser and crosser as I knew I would be so tired today.

Anyway, moan over. Rufus - glad you enjoyed the wedding. Sounds great! I love a good wedding. Haven't been to one in a couple of years, but a very beautiful friend of mine has just got engaged and wants to marry in March. She is having an intimate wedding and we will def be invited - but the pressure is on ladies! Her fiancee is a well known male model (he was the lead model for the Dolce and Gabbana show at the recent Fashion Weeks) and so he is bound to have some some ridiculously well dressed and stunning friends. I sense a clothes dilemma!

Weather ok here, but afraid I am wearing a very boring combo of plain black trousers, flats and green fitted top.

Hope you all have a good day.

Urgh...awful night! DS literally woke every half an hour screeching...bit disorientated! Ended up taking him to guest room to sleep with him. He still did it but was quickly soothed back to sleep...so am slightly hyper feeling this am!

I agree that you can make interesting little excursions out of the most initially dull seeming outings....a walk to the shops/to school turns into a nature trail for us...picking leaves and identifying birds along the way....and good behaviour on a shopping trip is rewarded with hot chocolate and muffins in a swishy Italian cafe...I also try to take them into independent shops - butchers, deli, bakers, grocers etc...as more fun! This is backed up by a large online supermarket sweep I hasten to add! They always love trips to the library, where they read books/lounge around and I get some quiet time too....

Right, baby needs nap, so catch you later!

Oh you are so organised notyummy...I am still in my dressing gown ... okay, the lovely one from the White Co with white linen pjs and bed socks!

Where's Bunny?

Oh yes - libraries, excellent places.

Just got to share my new smug money saving tip (so I have more to spend on clothes, obviously!) Have just started ordering all the books I want to read online via my local library. Book them at home (even the brand new hardback, just released ones...), wait around 5-7 days - and then they send me a text to say the books have been deliverd to my local library. 20p a book. Can't believe I have only just cottoned on to it! Am currently reading a new geeky sci-fi that didn't think I would be able to get hold of until it came out in paperback - very pleased.

You're all absolutely right about not needing those organised activities, but I'm also feeling bad about not talking to them enough, or spending time on the nature trail walk to the shops. I'm always dog tired and in a big hurry. Yesterday I just kept telling them to stay out of the way and amuse themselves because I didn't have time. I miss collecting them from school and stopping for an ice cream from the van outside the gate. So a part time job is the holy grail for me. Has to be real part time though, not one of those jobs where you end up working full-time hours for less money

Anyhow, I'm very pleased with my packing. 4 work dresses, 4 pairs of shoes, 2 scarves. All in a little samsonite with laptop, papers make-up bag, tights, etc. I feel very organised. And today the work doesn't start until 10am (though was up working until 1am, so deffo deserve it!).

Can't do that library thing as would have to read everything in French or Dutch, and can't be bothered with that. I agree they're very good for children though.

Roma...we all have those times...when we snap and hurry instead of encourage with patience...don't for gawd sake beat yourself up about it! Just start the ball rolling on finding part-time work..It's so much easier to find good work when you are in it, so that's a positive start.

I am actually envying you right at this minute with the sussed capsule wardrobe,and a chance to be chore free for a few days...dh and I were moaning that we felt bad because baby didn't have fab birthday as we'd planned because we were housebound due to pox and doing chores! But we still tried to make it wonderful - hanging bunting (!), birthday cake, beautiful pressies to open, special tea, games-despite the situation (she didn't notice for example that we didn't take her out for the day)...and neither will your boys. They will only pick up on your chagrin. It's our own expectations and standards which damn us every time...

By the way, the dcs wanted sweet potato wedges, beans and fish fingers for the special tea and baby ate with complete and utter relish!!!!!!!

Okay, so...anyone found the 'perfect' biker boot...one to wear with skinnies and skirts?