Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

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

Good luck today Zembo, sorry about dd reallygrumpy sounds horrible.

Bonsoir what was your job before you quit to have more fun instead?

LOL Roma, having a bad start to the week?!

I was a strategy consultant in two very different environments, a mega-glam one pre-MBA and a more traditional one post-MBA, and then I got completely fed up with the lifestyle (and was shattered... long story) and worked in Executive Education writing programmes (which was actually the most fun job of all and not tiring, but not family-friendly either - too much week-long travel).

zembo - thinking of you today.

Me too Zembo. xx

LTEC - here you go As recommended by India Knight and Caitlin Moran afficiandos of big hair

I hope today goes as well as it can Zembo.

Nice to hear of more Spurs fans enjoying Saturday reallygrumpy. I was there with half my family and had a fabulous day!

Any recommendations for straighteners? blow drying my fringe makes it too curved and 'bouncy'.

Bonsoir, I'm filled with dread on Mondays. I don't want to give up professional activities, but want to be in control of myself and my time. My working week is like being in a pit with someone chucking stuff at me, and I have to scurry around frantically picking it all up. If I'm ever not there, then it's piled up and so it's even worse when I get back. The individual tasks could be interesting, but put all together the way it is it's deeply unpleasant. So I'm always intrigued to learn about how other people make the decision to change and how they feel about it afterwards. Did you get your MBA from Insead?

We've got the bike!
Still laughing at ollie's shower cap!
Thinking about you today zembo.

The long drive home now.

Yes, Insead - in a promotion with a record-breaking percentage of women. Lots and lots of whom no longer work!

Why do the women all give up and not the men? You just inspired me to email an insead-grad friend I haven't spoken to for ages!

Thinking of you today Zembo

Tracey have paypalled you for belt. I'm loving it. Thank you

RG sorry to hear about your DD - sounds like you were both

bloss glad you've got the bike - worth all the effort!

New neighbours moved in next door to us yesterday and DD decided to welcome them by waking up screaming at midnight and refusing to be put down until 3am, then waking up screaming again at 5.30am. I'm hoping it's a blip in her otherwise much improved sleeping.

I have just made the most awful scones. Must have forgotten a vital step or ingredient but can't think what! I have been making scones since I was a Brownie so thought they were a safe option - obviously not!

everything happy birthday to your DS.

RG... both very brave (is what I meant to write)

Thanks MrsJ!

Am faffing around wrapping up huge empty boxes for stuff for christmas fayre - and had to use my 'nice' paper which seems such a waste.

Actually, I haven't paypalled you - did bank transfer but you know what I mean

zembo thinking of you today

RG what a brave dd and wekk done you for clear head.

have been trying on bits and pieces ordered..am definitely prefering topshop coated to the gaps..just seem to suit my (pear) shape more.Dithering over the esher marant-a-like..love the dress but am being won over by blossom's colour know-how and think pale grey a no-no for a winter(though stuck a raspberry scarf on with it and suddenly worked!)

have ordered 2 more grey dresses from oasis to try.
http;www.oasis-stores.com/oasis/fcp-product/3660024414£GBP
and
http;www.oasis-stores.com/oasis/fcp-product/3660024216£GBP

sound like lovely and stylish weekends for fleecy and ltec

And cake I keep forgetting to thank you for the(grey!) kookai dress tip last year in anticipation of breastfielding..it's brilliant and looks and feels fab.

can't do links..huff!

RG _ sounds like your DD was very brave!

MrsJ - Sorry about the broken night! DD was up early (for her) on Saturday and Sunday - and then this morning I had to DRAG her out of bed for school. Typical!

Zembo - Hope the scan goes as smoothly as it possibly can, and the staff look after you.

Roma - I am sure you would be successful in some sort of self-employed consultancy role - but what??

Reine - Am having a childish giggle at your breastfielding. Thats the kind of typo I make all the time.

oh dear NY well spotted!..conjures up some very bizarre images

So lovely to come here on a Monday and read what everyone's been up to over the weekend.

fleecy Your night out sounds great and fab outfit. Seems you can never go wrong with Janice.

vin I need a training partner for the Shred (otherwise I will give up after the first session). Tell me when your weights have arrived.

reallygrumpy Love your DD's attitude on her outfit . Hope you both got over shock of rushing to A&E. When are you going to rip the offending bidet out?

ollie Not sure how to solve your swimcap dilemma. I only pull on the hood of my puffa coat when it is really cold. I remember earmuffs from the 80s. I had a pale grey fluffy pair which I loved. Would't have the nerve to wear them today. That was not very helpful, sorry.

cake Yay for Halstonesque outfit, I'm sure you looked very cool and glam!

zembo Hope you can rest after the scan. Is there anyone around who can look after DCs for a bit?

roma I know that feeling of dread on Mondays all too well. It's awful. My job was by no means as high-powered as yours or bonsoir's but I felt so relieved after I made the decision to quit. I had stayed for all the wrong reasons for too long.

bonsoir Oh Insead! I used to liaise with them while I was working for a Corporate University of a German company. Was only a short time as the environment in that job didn't suit me at all. Just realised that I have had so many different jobs already. When I was younger I was desperate to find THE job that would fit me perfectly and which I would do until retirement. Fast forward 10 years and I feel much happier with what I do although it couldn't be more different from what I originally intended to do.

blossoming Great that you got the bike! Get home safely. Why does it take so long to fix your car? Will wrap up some Christmas presents and stash on top of the cupboard in my study so DD will not accidentally discover anything.

mrsjuan DD also slept badly last night. Was full moon though and I definitely have sleeping problems around that time. Fingers crossed your DD returns to her improved sleeping tonight. Don't worry about the neighbours, they probably haven't even heard it.

reine Can you maybe link again?

Sorry for mammoth post!

ollie Forgot to say: So lovely of your friend to get you a dress for your birthday! I'm always taking extra care to get my friends a real surprise or treat they wouldn't otherwise have gotten for themselves. (Have the feeling that the last sentence doesn't make complete sense...)

Busy morning involving trip to Drs (have a couple of moles I am keeping an eye on) and Ikea for a stool so I can actually reach the top bits of the kitchen units!

Zembo - have been thinking about you this morning and hope you are ok.
Reallygrumpy - how horrible for you all re DD's accident. Sorry that you ended up having to use my 'tip' but glad it was of use. Kids are amazing in those situations aren't they - I am in bits and DSs are acting like its no big deal.

Blossoming - glad you got the bike. Sure your Dad was more than happy to act as courier for you and the bike! My Dad never seems to tire of wanting to help. When I brought my first house, he came to stay for a week and helped me paint it - having done the same for both my sisters. He seemed a bit put out when we moved here and we got it painted professionally! My Mum always encourages us to let him do things, saying it means a lot to him to still play the 'Dad' role. Sweet really.
Fritzi - my puffa coat has a huge hood on it that falls down over my eyes! I am warming to the idea of ear muffs tho- seem v popular over here. They can't look any worse on me than a shower hat - tho I am tempted to give this one a go here but can't remember if its the one that had my sister in stitches in M&S when I tried it on the other week!
Forgot say I agree with all the other comments Bonsoir - your daughter is very lovely.

ollie My dad is just the same as yours. Have lost track how many of my and my sister's flats he has painted, built kitchen units for us, put up furniture etc. He was also a bit when we moved here last year and there wasn't anything for him to do in the house. We left him a tree in the garden he could fell .

Off to pick up DD from kindergarten, and then when she is in art class I'm going to pick up a microwave as birthday present for DH. Not very romantic, but I'm sure he'll love it...

"Why do the women all give up and not the men?"

In that population, where one income can generally provide generously for a family - because the women want to see more of their DCs than corporate life allows; men don't seem to want to see their families quite as much.

Zembo thinking of you and really feel you should be taking the week off if you're still bleeding and feeling weak.
Well done on the bike Bloss, the lenghts we go to for Santa. I have Santa's "mobile number" stored in my phone. Very handy at this time of year "I'm going to text Santa right now"! As DD can read it's partvularly effective!
Had a lovely weekend, friends over for dinner Saturday (Thai Red curry), and yesterday my 4 year old twin neice and nephews birthday. It was a big family occasion with GPs and all the siblings, and lots of yummy food (and wine!) for the grownups!
TraceyB I was going to buy that volume styler at weekend! Wonder if it's any good?
Bonsoir my BIL went to Insead! He was there in 2003. Loved it. Works for a pharma company now.

rufus101 - doing an MBA at Insead is a lot of fun! I did mine a long time ago now, but have happy memories and lots of friends from that time.