Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

Come join me!
Not so inspired but I do so hate being threadless.

Zembo, so sorry, and please look after yourself.

Oh Zembo I am so sorry for you. Please make sure you take some time for yourself. I know that is harder said than done but whatever the news, you'll need some time to think, recover. I send you a big hug.

Zembo - your wish is my command. Back to A&W but still enveloping you in a hug. Please keep coming back here so we can listen - I think you know that there is a lot of collective experience of what you are going through and we will help you every step of the way.

I was out last night at the aforemetioned L'atelier De Joel Robouchon. wonderful food, company and many compliments for my leopard print heels and black sweater dress.

NY ? ? let it be las vegas if only for the blingtastic outfits we can deck you out in. it?ll be A&W heaven (or possibly hell!)

Onto NLP ? wouldn?t they have a thing or two to say about your MN nickname? Surely it?s time to change to ?yummy?

at DD and her big chunky willy!

Tracey ? I really felt that the first 2 days were the worst. I hope you are waking feeling better today (I found I actually got more energy in the end)

Bonsoir ? I?m looking forward to the secret photos?I?m not quite there with the animal print so it will be inspiring to see a shining example

Reine ? three cheers for brother!

Bloss ? I don?t think you have enough stripes get more.

Vino ? I am a 10ish (!) and I would say a j-brand 27 would be about right (28 is very comfortable?.27 a tight squeeze for me so would be better on a smaller 8-10). Another vote for paris.

Fritzi ? you are lovely! Lilac labels?gorgeous.

Mrsjuan ? have you got the new nigella book? I think that?s good for Christmas lists?it?s a lovely one.

We could do a Janneece flash mob (with heels of course). Perhaps in a Chloe store?

LTEC ? bet you look wonderful in the swallow blouse . Sorry you are unsure about the scarf - I haven't worn mine yet but do love it. I can?t find the navy jumper on the website?may have to go instore. Do you think it?s worth it (I always feel very very old when I venture into topshop)

I got the coated gap jeans and love them...though they are a little short.

I'm at work today - lots to do. Better get to it.

too many smileys. Sorry

Zembo, so sorry to hear your sad news.

On the subject of lighthearted clothing related chat, I just love LTEC's take on retail therapy - prancing around in skin-tight fake leather, gold lurex and a feather mini .

Ciao belle

Sorry I've been off line for a few days - the flu that hit last Friday kept me bed ridden all weekend . That never happens to me but I literally couldn't lift my limbs on Saturday. None of it was helped by an attempted break in on Monday at 3am. Anyway, rl can wait.

I've been quite avid through my illness . Lots of eBay purchases including a divine Reiss black jersey dress with sequins on one shoulder. Looks fab with black shoeboots and opaques. Also the owner of several camel coats now and need to organise selling the ones I don't want.

I think I may be personally responsible for today's news that Topshop is making a big profit. Only skim read posts but Cakey I am soon to be the proud owner of the fake leather trousers (my Paris leather ones from last year don't fit atm ) and many other bits including a lace jumper and several jumpers. I think most of it will go back but I had fun ordering it all.

I wanted to share the revelation that over the knee socks are fantastic! I've been wearing mine with dresses and skirts instead of tights and it stops them clinging. I love them.

Those of you with leather skirts - what shoes/boots do you wear? I have a knee length black leather skirt I want to wear but can't find the right shoes.

Right, best rush off - got to get showered, dressed and out in half hour. Sorry very me, me - will read back later on phone.

A presto.

I'm all for a flash mob at Gare du Nord as we help carry Vin's bags off the train Wearing Jaaaaneece of course.

Had book club at my house last night, by the roaring fire. Twas lovely, and made me realise that what I love about this thread is the girl gang aspect. It's that group of girlfriends thing I haven't had for years - what with moving around the world and the marriage/babies bit, that all evaporated I suppose. So nice to have it back.

Now, despite having 57 pairs of shoes, I am considering buying these any views?

Vin you are on my friends list now.

OWW we dance to that song every day in my house, and also to 'don't phunk with my heart' which made me do a pretty big double take the first time I heard the dc singing it

Lol @ dd ny. Ds2 said in public not long ago 'Daddy's willy is really enormous' rofl

I have a knee length brown leather a-line skirt which I used to wear with Tods python skin stilettos, but it's a bit big now and I keep not getting around to taking it in. It looks frumpy with flats.

Oh yes vin, Paris sounds nice. If your website thing works out I suppose you could work from home anywhere?

Commuting from Paris is a lousy idea though, it's too far. I do Bxl-London once per week, which is nearer, and I'm out of the house from 6am to 10pm for a not-very-long day in the office. Also v ££££

Roma Boots are nice, not so sure about the buckle. Don't ask me why!

I like them Roma. And not £££ either. Right am off to do some boot gazing.

Oh zembo, hope everything's ok. Big hug!

Had only seen your post from early this morning. So sorry for your loss zembo.

Gosh...catch up...

Zembo my lovely...hope you are okay, and am thinking of you too...

Roma- lovely pics of you (so toned), and boys...my, even the dog is gorgeous....!
I'm sure most people would be a bit of 'our virtual friendships' but we've all 'known' each other for a while now and its so lovely....I agree!

Vin - oh, yes, Paree! Sounds lovely, and you'd of course have the indispensable Bonsoir actually on hand in RL to copy assist you!

Keep meaning to say that we have a couple of Corolle dolls for DD-DH bought one in Clifton toyshop for her birthday in Oct, teeny baby doll in pink stripey babygrow,to go with the Playmobil farm funnily enough MrsJ and MIL bought soft doll in France...

Mine want Playmobil this Xmas so thats easy!
Oh and DD wants a Barbie (oh gad!)....ILs arrive later and have made venison casserole, and am about to make a cake...MIL will be pleased!

Oh and Bloss bought her the Raspberry cashmere lined leather gloves for her birthday, on your recommendation! She is a winter I feel...dark hair, blue eyes, light skin (Irish heritage)...? Whaddaya think?

How's your little one by the way?

The raspberry gloves are for MIL by the way, sorry if not clear!

Oh and I'm an autumn I think...maybe a touch of spring thrown in but essentially autumn, so thanks for that! I think you should start this up as a business you know!

Oh and quickly...NLP...yes, I agree, it works...used it after having a bit of training as I used to have to do big scary presentations to hundreds of people in last role...always felt calm and focused when using the techniques I'd learned...so can recommend as really useful lifelong tool!

I am a big believer in mind over matter anyway, and used visualisation during labour to feel centred and focused and found it worked too! That and a bit of gas and air at the end got me through 2 labours!

zembo, I'm so very very sorry.

zembo - I'm so very sorry. I've had lots of miscarriages... horrible. Hugs.

zembo am thinking of and praying for you today. Please don't worry about posting here on non A&W related topics - surely that's the beauty of this thread, it goes beyond that. And as someone else said, there are a lot of lovely ladies on here who have experienced difficult losses themselves and would no doubt have some very wise words.

roma you gorgeous thing. Not at all boyish though - think you're doing yourself a disservice there! Boots won't load for me. Stupid internet!

Another vote for a Paris flashmob with all of us there, wearing Janice, to welcome vin Perhaps they'd make it into an advert and put it on telly

cake am envious of your late night shopping. We have a lotta shops here (Norwich the 3rd best in UK, dontcha know) but they close too early for me to get there after the DC are in bed. Sympathies on the late night working through - 12.30 here last two days. Have just finished a piece and am about to nap...

Thank you dolcee and those gloves sound divine. My dd is the cutest thing ever atm. She's wearing a flouncy denim mini skirt from Boden that used to belong to her sister. (I've sold, given away all her clothes, but this skirt and some bootlegs in this age group have survived somehow). She's not walking but climbing everywhere. Yesterday lunch she clapped when she decided she'd had enough, then pointed at the biscuit cupboard!

I saw the worst sight this morning, all the co-op staff in their pjs. Lumpy, mis-shapen, grubby. Yeuch.

Maybe not as bad as someone I saw yesterday in pink crocs, grey socks, brown polyester midi skirt, anorak and proper French beret.

On that note I second hf's gare du nord flash mob janice extravaganza!

Bloss They could have least worn nice PJ's! What a sight.

Well I am home alone for the next 4 weeks. DH is racing across the Atlantic - what an adventure!

Ah Bloss..she does indeed sound gorgeous. I am loving this stage, well love all of it really...lovely that she is wearing a couple of her big sister's things..think that's nice actually

Agree with Co-op anyway, When I venture there never fail to feel the same whatever time of year! Now the Co-op in Weybridge is different...totally different vibe!

Just popping in quickly to say that I saw the LTEC leather leggings/lurex top outfit in Grazia and it looks fab-u-lous. Same feature also had that lace dress from Peacocks - that must sold out surely after the love it is getting on MN and the press?!

Roma - Like the sound of the Book Club!

Dolcee - Our Corolle doll for dd arrived last week and it looks great.

Bloss - Your DD sounds very sweet. Be careful though...it wont be long before she is prancing around shrieking about genitalia...

HF - Hope your DH stays save and enjoys himself. What a challenge. When I was serving I nearly did ocean going sailing on a number of occasions, but as I already took a lot time off for military sponsored skiiing and surfing events, I never felt I could really justify the time!

Oh, and Zembo - I hope that the change of tone feels right for you and serves as some sort of distraction. I am sure you are in everyone's thoughts.

Also meant to say that I am off for the weekend away later this PM. This is the one when I am staying in the country pile with landed gentry and visiting DHs work.

Have packed purple Oliver Bonas dress and Circus print dress I linked to further down (after it appeared to help garner so many compliments.) Both can be dressed down with falt boots, or up with lace tights and heels. Also have the Vin COH skinnies and grey jeggings plus asymettric breton and new Ruby Rocks dress (or tunic top as it is on me!)

I think you might all look a bit suspect hanging around the Gare du Nord waiting for the right cue to bring you in. It would be hilarious though.

Fleecy I didn't know that about Norwich. I do love shopping there though . In fact DD got kitted out for this winter in Zara. I am most ious of her cape - she constantly gets compliments when she wears it. That reminds me, has anyone seen any children's wrist-warmers other than at Monsoon?