Whoever said money can't buy happiness, simply didn't know where to go shopping - or the Wise & Avid lot!

[OllieWollieWoo]

Stamp on the new thread (quote from Bo Derek btw!!!)

vino Nowhere particularly exciting. Only Germany, near Frankfurt. Not sure if red dress is kids-compatible. And it hasn't proper long sleeves which I personally don't like in winter.

Oh well done baby cake...! A lovely time, but nerve wracking and emotional too...

Ugh...fraught supper with dcs tonight...more in the mood to play with the food than eat it, and despite myself I got all stressy and shouty ..... phew....dh on way back now and the little angels are colouring in quietly

Sorry to those with bad news today...every cloud does have a silver lining. Keep strong.

Oh, colouring in session has abruptly ended with much screaming and whooping going on... .... time to go! Good evening all!

not loving that dress Vin, think it doesn't look v. kid friendly - maybe a Uniqlo sweater dress might be better?

quick note on stressy tea times. Like I Said, my kids are okay eaters BUT

AIBU to not want to eat with them??

it's quite full on, all the encouraging and spoon feeding and stopping stuff from flying around the room (they are aged 4, nearly 3 and 1) ... but dh has 'helpfully' suggested more than once that I should 'set a good example' by eating with them, esp when he is going to be home late or away. Am I wrong to want to enjoy my dinner in peace rather than shovelling it down between having to manage various behaviours??

Thanks for comments I have deleted that thought- it's sooo easy to think 'oh that's nice' when judgement is clouded entirely by discount codes, it may explain the piles of unworn clothing at casavin!

YANBU on the eating with them LTEC. I am currently on laptop at kitchen table with DS spreading cauliflower cheese (homecooked, it's the limit of my culinary abilities) in his hair. Nice.

fritzi you have beer and scenery and excellent christmas markets. I'm on my way!

I don't eat til DS is asleep, food always ruined in some way otherwise! Nice idea though...

en homage to esher I have just looked at spacenk for first time in months and seen : 'most luxurious collection ever: Terrybly'

who comes up with these names!?

maybe it's someone called Janice

vino Windows are clean and house reasonably tidy, so if you need a change of scenery and love Christmas markets, you're more than welcome!

Dinner, laptop and a glass of wine after DD is in bed is heaven!

oh child now throwing food at me while escaping highchair..parenting duties call! over and out

Tracey - my apologies - you did buy the same skinny cords from Zara in olive for your DD as I did! Went in today and saw them in olive and chocolate. Guess what colours DD now has?

Cakey - cannot bear eating with DD. DH and I always eat once she has gone to bed. Highlights of my day are DC-free meals. Maybe just have the odd carrot stick w them if example is important, but leave it at that if you do not enjoy.

Will read rest of thread once DD is asleep...

Vin how old is your ds? (I probably know this already)

Well done baby LTEC - and on the food thing, I try and eat main (Evening) meal with DD at least twice a week. Plus breakfast 2 times a week, and lunch twice a week. Basically I like some meals on my own...but think there is a bit of a point about demonstrating Mummy/Daddy eating up their food (same food as kids or it misses the point) nicely with good table manners. As long as i don't have to do it at EVERY meal....

That should be breakfast 3 times a week..she is still asleep when I leave the house on the other days.

NY, sorry about your job.

I feel ok now thanks, not actually very hungry which is not like me. I will buy a box of ginger biscuits, good idea, LTEC. Going to the GP on Mon so will mention it.

DKNY jacket and Boden cardigan arrived, both keepers.

LTEC, I'd say that you would definitely be a small in Gap.

I don't eat with DD either. I sit and have a cup of tea and pretend to eat her food. My father never ate with us as children, he said he couldn't bear the noise and mess!

Sorry didn't mean to imply I never eat with the dc. Yes to breakfast and lunch, plus at least one weekend dinner

But during the week, when I'm with one or all of them all day on my own, i just want that half hour of enjoyment to myself after they go to sleep. God knows I have enough issues about enjoying food as it is, without having to eat while frazzled!!

Just read back from page 5 of this thread as missed many posts! Wanted to just say?.
Fritzi - did you see the Coast code Hells posted - has it made you buy the lovely teal dress yet? (Put me down for visit - only 4 hrs by car!!! I like the sound of your house with lots of windows!)
LTEC - I love the sequin jacket ? Claudia Winklemen has one which she wears with white tank and black skinnies and it looks fab.
Yangymac - hope you are ok ? sorry re your job news.

Fleecy - v envious of your clothes storage ? DH has the walk in cupboard ? not sure how I let that happen!
Notyummy - think I saw your sweater dress today as I walked past H&M ? I loved the colours.
Carciofi - great idea re getting a mid week babysitter. I know my sense of well being depends on me having time off each week (currently 2 mornings, reduced to one after Christmas as taking DS2 out of crèche prior to him starting school in March).

Roary - not sure if I read your post right but have you been offered a new job or were you talking about one from the past? Congratulations if it?s the former ? big decision to make! Re wildly coloured wearing men ? sure they weren?t Dutch????
GW - I was eyeing up the P8 chunky cable cardigan too!
Apuski - great news re Baby A?s weight. Sure you will enjoy getting your colours done as much as I did.

Speaking of which, the lady that did mine has emailed me to ask that I submit a photo of me wearing an outfit I put together after our consultation which has received lots of compliments so she can put it on her website with a testimonial! Er, no!

Looking forward to watching Wonderland on BBC2 in a minute ? on High Society brides (DH out on posh work do ? drinks etc in a car museum ? his idea of heaven!

Yangy - so so sorry. I find it hard to believe you have to hear it along with the rest of us on the news rather than being given proper prior warning. Not on.

ltec - surely if they are sharing lunch with you that is doing the trick? Not aibu at all. And bravo to Baby L!

did you get the see by chloe dress? Is it lovely?

I've been taping the Jamie's 30 minute thing. Very please to see Mr Cake is not using that annoying camera work beloved of so many cookery programmes...that actual makes me feel sick (all jerky, following the cook round like a demented chicken)...it's lovely to watch) Can you believe it too watching that to learn I don't have to carefully peal garlic before crushing it? I am such a rubbish cook!

Vin - shopping sounds wonderful and Roary I will certainly be checking out the houlilikes! Thanks for the tip

Views on these ankle boots please. Have been looking for some grey suede ones that are not too high - which so many of them are! These are from Mexx to be worn with skinnies - not sure if the heel is a bit too chunky. They seem quite similar to some burgundy ones I had in the mid 80's - should that tell me something? here

Yangymac, I missed your bad news, so sorry.

Ollie, that is a lovely compliment! Sorry, I like the heel but don't really like the fold-down bit (probably because I also had something similar in the 80s ).

And Roary, well done on the job offer.

OK, bed time. Life is wild atm!

I don't like them, sorry ollie. A bit too Robin Hood, it's the cuff!

Robin Hood boots - of course they are! I can't be trusted with any sort of footwear purchase! I will continue to look! ta for feedback blossoming and carciofi

OWW you must absolutely submit your photo!! Fly the the W&A flag!! what a fab compliment! you modest loon.

wow roary. That is huge - but tough!! congrats and salmon all at once

Just finished watching the doc on BBC2 tonight about Ingrid Betnacourt, the hostage who was kept in the rain forest for 6 years. Listening to what she and her fellow hostages endured- one if them had a baby in the jungle that then removed from her At 3 months and she didn't see again for 3 years.

Has put my woes into perspective!

OWW I cannot believe you let your dh have the walk-in

I eat with the kids sometimes now that the youngest is rising 5 and they do amazing stuff like use cutlery and even sometimes napkins . Generally grown-ups' supper is 10pm in our house though, so family meals are a weekend thing.

Oops - I didnt write that right - she wants me to think of an outfit that has had compliments and submit that - not that thats happened tho as only got a chance to reorganise my wardrobe and let along buy new contents!!!

BBC2 programme re Society Brides is bloody irritating!