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!!!)

Oh I'll definitely size up then - thanks for the tip.

Right - better go to bed as DD will almost certainly not be allowing us the extra hour tomorrow.

ltec, * Royal Mail. I must have sent it two weeks ago.

I read that article in Elle on the way to the meet up ltec. like fleecy said, eat little and often (protein and complex carbs each time. I'm not sure where you're getting these from. I eat shredded wheat, oatcakes, brown rice, baked potatoes, ryvita etc for complex carbs).
I also enjoyed the article by Hilary Rose (Saturday Times magazine, fashion bit) of spending her way out of cancer by buying designer clothes. So people could focus on something positive. Struck a chord with me as I did similar with dc2. And maybe doing it a bit to myself since we lost her.

Spotted these beauties in the Weekend section of the Telegraph yesterday

Hmm, I forsee a baby boom hf!!

- DH & I have 3 sets of those. Very cosy.

Esher - as always your links are beautiful. The blouse in particular. I am keen to find a similar necklace but silver toned.

MM - yes please do link to the life changing trousers! They sound wonderful.

LTEC - is there a danger you will have a lot of lovely new clothes that will all be too big very soon?

I was planning a big catch up of links to illustrate my recent avidity (DH is going to be away for a few days which gives me MN time). But DH has informed me that he has to take the lap top. While I am rather looking forward to a few nights of solitude - I am very jealous of his planned 'work' which will basically be a big jolly with his best mate.

Bloss - so sorry - didn't see your post. I certainly do think there is something in that. I have mentioned before how upsetting it is that such a big percentage of our avid and wise ladies have suffered losses. Quite an astonishing number actually.

I think if we are doing it in a positive way - making things and life more beautiful then it's o.k. isn't it? Thank goodness I found this thread though - I had gone a bit wrong and misdirected my avidity while on bedrest. I ended up with a housefull of 'kitchen appliances' from QVC. Bad for two reasons...I have a tiny kitchen and I wasn't able to use them (as stuck in bed) . I'm still finding homes for these 'handy' appliances 2 years later!

hells, I have a certain thing for kitchen stuff myself! Bedrest must have been so awful for you.
Re what I said earlier, I'd rather people saw me and thought, mmm nice top, rather than aww, poor thing.

Morning my loves,

Ugh, day 3 of MIL's visit, and have discovered as well as being tee-total and vegan, which are acceptable but inconvenient, she is also a racist, which is less so. She actually used the P word. Am sure my face was thus .

Fortunately, she and Dh have taken the Dcs to a BNP rally swimming, and I am taking a friend of a wedding fair.

be back in a bit...

Bloss Hells I think it is doing what ever makes (or appears to make) you happy. Looking good, spending (as long as you have the money!), exercising etc can be great healers.

OMG Plum - what did you say? My FIL has these tendencies as he bases all historical knowledge on Lawrence of Arabia

Esher - love that maxi! Hmmm unforgiving dress - need to lose some lbs to even contemplate trying it on.

Morning ladies

You made my night when I checked in before bed and saw lovely things about me . Thank you Esher and Cakey - I really did go to sleep smiling. I must now never meet either of you . I love the idea of us all hanging around toilets playing hide and seek alla A&W though.

I'm crap at organising things but smiled at Vin's meet up dream hence my beer suggestion. Would love an informal gathering of us SE London gals one evening soon. Shall we arrange something Cakey?

Esher I am so pleased with your lovely comments. I really like your style and have bought lots of things you've linked to too. Indeed I've just ordered that Wallis dress from your link and am hovering above the button to buy the necklace too. I ordered an ASOS maxi last week that was really horrible so am hoping this will fill the winter maxi gap in my wardrobe. What shoes are those of you with winter maxies (spg?) wearing with them?

The trousers are a bit like this. I got my first two pairs in Italy from Carla G which are the nicest and two pairs from Sisley but I can't link to any of them. I have also ordered the Isabella Oliver peg legs Cakey but they haven't arrived yet. I am not sure how much you thin ladies will appreciate them tbh. I am a fan of the smart sport luxe look in general but am sure part of my love for them is that they don't give me muffinage. I have put a lot of weight on again and am revolted by the fat hanging over my skinny jeans. I realised the other week that I wasn't enjoying being in the park with dd because my jeans were too tight. Not a good feeling in either sense.

I must ask - what is a g-banger?

I've been up with dd since just past 5 again and am so tired I am going to have a nap with her now then off out for a big Sunday lunch before Shredding starts tomorrow .

Plum that sounds horrible. Dp's uncle made a racist comment when he visited the summer before last and was totally stunned when I challenged him. He was so vile I almost punched him and dp asked him to leave for his own safety. We have not seen him since. I have very strong political views but never air them unless invited to or I am in a forum where it is appropriate. When is she going?

I also have been up since crack of dawn.

Have so far made christmas cake, prepared lunch, supervised completion of holiday homework and done various dull class rep chores. Am tired and grumpy.

Talking of meet-ups - is anyone still up for the 12th of december?

I tend to laugh in disbelieving way and say 'You seriously can not really think that - lordy do you believe everything you read in the daily mail' with a patronising smile

MM - some men particularly of older generations are just not used to being challened are they?

tracey you have been busy!

Racism is just plain ignorance.

I used your word "Lordy" the other day Tracey and liked it.

I've just been shopping again. I've bought two pairs of over the knee socks. I hate wearing a slip almost as much as I dislike my tights and dresses sticking together so figure long socks may be the answer. I plan to wear the olive coloured ones with this dress and cardigan with a tan belt (all of which I already own).

Also bought this stripey dress. Having avoided the stripes thing for so long (apart from very ill advised striped jacket I wore once) I'm embracing it with gusto this weekend . This in the creamy colour is also on way to me. I have it in the blue and it is very easy to wear.

I forgot to mention my Halloween pumpkin masterpiece which I will put on my profile now. I don't even like Halloween!

Really am going for a nap now.

Oh god, my father, himself the frequent subject of racism, is horribly racist (against one ethnic minority in particular) It really makes me cringe. Fortunately I don't see him often.

I was once introduced by my boyf's father to aunt as ' this is cake, dan's darkie girlfriend'. I smiled, with the mega wattage of a 21 year old, and held out my hand saying 'hello, I'm cake. Dan's exotic girlfriend'.

Deffo up for 12 Dec meetup and SE London massive.

Thanks for diet advice Bloss. sorry about the post

mm that stripe dress looks good. Have not ordered sequin jacket yet, still contemplating.

My dc woke at 7 today but I am having one of my horrid, hemmed- in feeling days. Panicky and stressed. Can't wait to get out later on. I am really not good at being at home. We've made some quite cool bats this morning though. And pumpkin risotto served in mini pumpkins for the dc's lunch

Off to look at mm's pumpkin

Oh g-banger is the crude word that my friends and I use for g-string/ thong

Plum - hope there's not much longer left of MILs visit - she sounds like a real stunner. My inlaws have similarly dailymailist tendencies and I am getting better at challenging them in the style of Tracey but without the use of Lordy - might try it to see if it adds any gravitas though.

MM - I love your pumpkin - very clever.

Bloss -I still think you are amazing for having such a positive attitude - so glad you have been able to find some happiness - you so deserve it.

DD managed to sleep in this morning but only after yet another disturbed night involving hours of rocking her back to sleep. She is learning stuff at such a rapid rate at the moment that I think her little mind is whizzing and she can't settle back to sleep if she wakes up. Yawn.

Janice is on order - what shoes are people wearing with it?

Am back from hilarious tack-fest of a wedding fair. Chocolate statue of the bride and groom anyone? Was good to spend time with friend though, as we usually have at least one DC each with us when we meet up.

Wore brogues with a skirt for the 1st time. Navy knitted SS tunic dress, plus knitty cable tights and a LS tee. I like!

MIL thankfully goes back tomorrow am-do hope there won't be an of 'the wrong sort' on her train. When she said it, I said 'Actually we don't use that word here', and just left the room. Not sure how that went down, but frankly, who gives a ...

Lovely stripes, Monkey

That top is gorgeous and bargainous mm

I was wondering about shoes for Janice too. I have some nude sandals and some gold heels and thought they would both work. Also black patent courts if wearing them for work and possibly grey ankle boots.

tracey I always think of you if I hear/read 'Lordy' anywhere too

We don't have a lot of racism here - I suspect it's because almost everyone is Caucasian here. But we do get a lot of homophobia. When PIL married, FIL (who is lovely in other ways) invited gay nephew but not his longterm boyfriend.

And DH went out for a curry with a group of his friends, one of whom is openly gay and was living with his boyfriend at the time. One of the lads made a horribly homophobic and offensive comment, forgetting this other bloke was there. DH said it was just awful

Good for you plum. I'd like to think I'd challenge such a remark too.

I think of Tracey when I see Lordy over mn too and yeay.

Wow you poor things and the horrible people. Plum your reply was perfect.

I realise I have had quite a privileged / sheltered upbringing in an educated household. Some people are quite bleurgh aren't they.

Am working here, while ds sleeps and ds1 draws. Love Sundays.

Funnily enough my father is very educated, and from a very privileged upbringing himself. Go figure

re shoes for Janice - when I tried it on in the shop I was wearing suede shoe boots and opaques which actually looked quite good.

dinner last sat, I wore it with these

think it would look great with metallics.