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!!!)

PS Yangy Dh and I have a convo along the lines of your last post nearly every day, but it will be 2012 for us.

notyummy and dolcee Thanks for sharing your wedding/engagement ring stories. Don't be embarrassed, it just shows that you're passionate I think.

What is going on in the UK? Sorry about your and DH's work stress notyummy. On the other hand I think you can really be proud of your DD. She is apparently doing excellently at school and I agree with others that a bit of rebellious behaviour is absolutely positive (as long as I'm not at the receiving end ). DD (4) is also very much into "experimenting" with anything she can put her hands on.

yangy Glad things are better but can see why you are so frustrated.

Have changed my clothes after reading about your outfit marsha. Had on an ill-fitting knitted cashmere A-line dress from last year. Looks like a sack of potatoes now and will be passed on to my sister if she wants it.

Window-cleaners have been here for more than 4 hours now. We have a lot of glass here and our windows haven't been cleaned for a year while but I'm a bit concerned about the bill we are going to receive

NY, very funny about your DD. Sorry about the job situation.

Cool dress despite the name.

I loved the Chalet school books and wanted to go to boarding school because of it.

I am not looking forward to night-time wakings again. Hopefully the next one will be a good eater because DD has no interest.

Bloss, stall sounds good as does weekend away.

MM, hope you are ok. I am thinking of getting a babysitter one afternoon a week as my dh works long hours, so it would be nice to have a little mid-week break sometime. Would you think of doing the same?

Sadly I have no Manolos.

I fainted this morning, poor DD was worried but I told her I was just looking on the floor for a toy. I feel fine now.

We are moving the w/e of Dec 12th so won't meet you yet again.

Esher, glad you made good use of the code!

Vino, why thank you very much.

Ollie, I would have gone off the top too!

Dolcee, thanks for the moisturiser tip.

I heard that the new Burberry make-up range is good, has anyone tried it?

LTEC really is a fashion fairy!

Roary, I agree completely (about the birth and the cardigan ;)).

I look like a convict today in a black and white stripey top.

Yangy, sorry you are down. I think relocating sounds great, a fresh start and all that.

We often argue about when we will move back to Ireland.

Weekends. Hmm. Well, depending on which one you go for ladies, I will probably not able to come along. At the moment the only one in DEcember that is free is on the 5th.....and the only one in January is the 16th. Bloody ridiculous!!

See you there, yangy!

I'm wearing a knitted dress from Iro (ivo? Parisian I think, but came to me from outnet ), with grey and black fine striped poloneck under, black boden leggings and massive grey fake fur slippers that I can't wear downstairs as my dog appears to think they are rabbits

Morning,

ny what a bummer. Cheery day for you!

yangy glad to hear you're feeling a bit more positive. I think there are some tough times ahead here as well.

tracey naughty Bea! What do you do though if they take nappy off and everything?!

Sun 12th good for me too. But you'll never guess... I have a night out on the 11th so I will definitely have a good smokey eye on me - the previous evening's make-up blended attractively with dark circles

Roma - I used to have a very attractive pair of huge hairy 'fake monster feet' slippers many moons ago. I shared a house in St Andrews when I was in the RAF, and my housemate had a dog that could not stop savaging my feet everytime I moved in said slippers. It's a bit impractical isn't it?

Ds just erased whole heartfelt post about our own relocation dramas now rearing head again - have been offered a job in Australia that i don't want and cried. THen felt awful because it's kind of an abnormal reaction to being recruited for a senior post (am 33). Gah. Post also full of sympathy for Yangy and yes the childcare in Singapore is great.What do you do, Yangy?

Tracey we went to Lacock on sunday and I loved it. Dolcee was it you with the short sleeved cardi and if so from where??

yummy was reading paper today and thinking about you and DH. Hope it all goes ok. BTW, I think the Woolley Grange hotel family must be full of services families, judging by my nosy people watching (there were a lot of wildly coloured trousers which in my experience belong to army officers :) )

Busy morning on the thread!
Thank you so much for the link fritzi, they're perfect!

What a week notyummy. I am sure you are strong enough to overcome difficult situations like these.

Thanks for sharing dolcee!

Gap is having 25% off their merino wool

Sorry to those expecting belt tightening news today. We are off to meet my sister at the MoJ to try and cheer her up later. Depending on the announcement we might join the protest too.

The Petit Bateau cashmere dress will be making her debut today.

Carciofi getting a babysitter didn't even cross my mind. What a good idea.

Dp is working longer and longer hours and so many meetings end over dinner and drinks. Last week we didn't see him for 5 days as he was in late and up early and then at the weekend he worked Saturday and then went out with friends so was exhausted on Sunday. I hate moaning about it (especially as I know I'm lucky to be a sahm and that 5 days isn't much compared to some dps) but I do feel a bit put out sometimes. I'd had the meet up in our calendar for ages but it was just accepted he had to work so I wouldn't go. I suppose what I resent long for is the feeling of freedom of knowing dd is well looked after and being able to go out and feel a bit carefree. Everything I've planned recently has either been cancelled or changed so I can take dd with me. Not good. It's odd but when I feel like this the one thing I really want to do is go out and buy a packet of Galouise and sit somewhere quiet for an hour and smoke and drink & read the paper. It's such an obvious desire for a bit of freedom I must do something about it (that doesn't involve cigarettes or alcohol!)

Roma and Yangy we have that discussion frequently too. Dp lived abroad for many years and used to yearn to go back whereas I'd do anything to move back to Italy. Neither will happen so we make the best of it in London. It is a compromise but we have made it knowingly iyswim and that helps.

My fake fur gilets have just arrived (Cakey I blame your blog) so must rush to try them on. If you see an oddly dressed protestor on the news later it'll be me debuting all my new things in one go !

fritzi, can I ask what you think of this fabric?
or this one?
or this one?
or this?
Would you buy something for a child in this type of fabric?
TIA

ny sorry, I just read your earlier post. I also have prof interest in the sdsr, and am bracing myself for this afternoon. I hope there'll be some good news in it somewhere for you - have you applied for any other jobs?

Great Phase Eight Code!
Am liking
www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Knitwear/Circle-Ribbed-Cardigan/400995153

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Knitwear/Cable-Knit-Poncho/401007109

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Knitwear/Chunky-Cable-Cardigan/400988109

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Celia-Knitted-Dress/201100421

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Pleated-Dress/201036383

Interesting to hear that there are so many discussions about relocation at the moment - we are having the same sort of conversation, but only about moving to Bristol! Not so adventurous, but it's still creating some angst as it means DH leaving a job that he enjoys.

But my piece of great news .... just back from the baby clinic and Baby A has gained a whole pound in the last fortnight! I knew he was doing better, I've switched almost entirely to bottle feeding, with as much ebm as possible, and it seems to have made all the difference. Now I just have to put aside the nagging "you couldn't feed him yourself and should have switched sooner" voice in my head - can you tell I've just got off the phone from MIL?!

As long as we carry on, the paed should sign us off in two weeks.

So much for my carefully planned breastfeeding wardrobe - but at least I have some freedom when it comes to new purchases! Following on from Libra and others, I have booked in to have my colours done at the start of December, after which I plan to shop shop shop.

carciofi, I hope your're okay. Can you get some black stuff down you?! .
I loved the Chalet School too. Probably why I studied languages . I also made sure on my year abroad I went to study in the Alps!

That is brilliant news apuski. Send that nagging voice over here and I'll give it a good talking to!
Excited about your colours session. I'm such a convert (no, really!!)

everything, you don't like the dog one?!!!