Karl, Marc and Oscar might be three WISE men, but if it's AVID women you're after, this is the place

[PlumSykes]

new thread

ABO, that is very annoying. My credit card was used a while ago to buy saddles in Arizona! I usually use my credit card online but sometimes my debit card when I want to hide online purchases from DH.

Tulpe, hope you have a great holiday. I usually take Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse away with me, you can use it on your face, body and hair.

Tracey, great news about the house.

Esher, hope your DD's appointment goes well tomorrow.

Tulpe - your holiday sounds amazing as does your tummy and wardrobe!

tracey wonderful news about the house, how exciting! We're slowly making the changes we want to the house we bought earlier this year. The minging main bathroom (which currently has no floor because it had to be taken up to find the source of a big water leak pre Xmas) is being replaced this month which I'm v excited about.

esher I hope DD1's appointment tomorrow goes well.

Kildare lovely coat.

verity glad to hear your aunt is a little better.

everything - any news on the house?

Esher these are the puffas of my dreams, they have them in Harvey Nicks here and they are as light as a feather and soft as silk. Maybe worth a look.

Good luck tomorrow, hope it all goes well

Tracey if you are remodelling there will be endless site visits, you'll need a good scarf to keep you warm, it's essential

Tracey, your boys sound so sweet. My two boys have moved in together over the hols after previously having their own rooms. The little one was asleep tonight within minutes. Is it this Friday that DS2 starts nursery? I take it the new house is within the same vicinity as you are now. I would buy the scarf tracey as stroking it will probably help you through the next few months .

Verity, continued good wishes for your Aunt's recovery.

OWW, is Zumba a bit like salsa then? It sounds fun anyway. We've never has a Stokke related accident here but I must admit to being hyper vigilant since reading you tales of woe. Stunt men in the making your boys.

Fleecy, yes it does begin with L. In fact, DD and I went to see the new HP movie tonight and said village featured in one of the scenes.

Georgina, I'm sure I saw that Warehouse blouse in pink on the website, but it's not there anymore.

I have my first meeting in London on Friday and plan to spend the afternoon shopping. Do any of you London ladies know where I could shop (hopefully with a Warehouse so I can track down lovely pink floaty blouse) that's near Russell Square?

Do you ladies like tailored shorts as a look? I have discovered that I quite suit them, having tried on an old pair of gap ones with some shoe boots and wooly tights last night .

Brunswick Square is near Russell Square, but I don't think they have a Warehouse. You could always hop on the tube to Selfridges/Oxford Street.

Pickled I love shorts, shoeboots and opaques, esp with a pretty blouse, hope you find the one you want

Thanks Choo and Verity.

I have another quick question (having just looked in the mirror). Can any of you recommend a product to shrink big hair other than wax? I normally GHD mine but I've had a nice cut so I would prefer not to bother.

pickled you could get the tube from Russell Sq to covent garden (it's 1 or two stops) and there's a warehouse on long acre along with reiss, Hobbs, gap, jigsaw etc. Does this mean you've accepted the role at IoE?

I've got some tailored shorts from zara which I really like. I wear them during the day with opaques, biker boots and a jumper and then with shoeboots and a blouse in the eve.

DD's hosp is next to Russell Square and I quite often pop over to the Brunswick Centre inbetween appointments - but there is no Warehouse. From memory, there is a French Connectioon, Space NK, Hobbs, LK Bennett (I think), Oasis, New Look, Benetton, Gap kids (but not adults). Lots of nice places to eat/grab a coffee though including Carluccio's and Patisserie Valerie ( I dd likes to go for a choc eclair as a reward). Also a big waitrose down the end.

I like winter shorts and tights, in fact am planning on wearing some tomorrow (Whistles browny tweed). Am a bit disappointed (but not surprised) at how badly my cheapo H&M grey tweed shorts have bobbled horribly. Such a shame as style and shapewise, they are shorts perfection, just need a more £££ pair in a better quality i.e. non synthetic fabric.

reallygrumpy, it's just an invitation to join an advisory committee. I'm a SAHM who dabbles a bit IYKWIM . Still it is very exciting to be involved in education research on any level. Are you in education/research?

I think I may have my tailored shorts made by a tailor - if they are to be at all flattering. You could do the same using your H&M ones as a pattern/template esher

I noticed the hospital on the map when I was looking. Are you going tomorrow esher?

I had to laugh, loobylu3, at "After all, soon they will not be wanting to holiday with you and their father and will escape with their friends". We cannot wait for this to happen . Please bear in mind that these teenagers have double sets of holidays - they've just spent a fortnight in the US, will spend a week ski-ing and another week in the US in February, DSS1 and DP are going to the US together for a week in April and DSS2, DD and I will go to England for a week together and all these holidays include full-on child and teen-friendly activities. The summer holiday really needs to be a rest for DP (and me) - he finds the long stretch from summer to Christmas almost untenable if it isn't

Happy New Year everyone..

finally caught up on the thread having been away since just after Xmas(nothing earthshattering..visiting family..but a nice change of scene

Am so podgy post excesses am slightly nervous someone will give me the tummy prod/big congrations tomorrow on first nursery run posthols but your links will make me smile again.

VB so sorry about your Aunt,majorly stressful for you,but hopefully things are moving in the right direction now.love the hasbeens and those matches dresses are sublime..if you find anything as wonderful in oyster please link as brother getting married this year and fiance dress hunting but very pale and blonde so don't think either colour would work..looks at bloss for guidance..

looby love the star earrings.also very impressed you are juggling being a gp with 3 little ones.hardcore!

abo you look stunning in your nye dress.while I was in labour someone used my card details in Malaysia and the woman dealing with my case asked me if I was sure I hadn't used it..ummm..I was kind of having a baby at the time..even I couldn't be that avid,could I?

oww you suprised me..I expected a brunette but you are a pretty blonde..gorgeous boys..hope you're all o.k post hospital.

notyummy have to confess I think I'm getting a crush on mrnotyummy the lovely cake?the thoughtful gifts?the help with the breathing?(really hope dd on the mend now)..no..it was the mention of bathroom cleaning that swung it

please could you put me down for meetup,no accomodation required..still bfing avidly so maybe I could join you all for drinks post dinner,if that's o.k?

love the coat kildare

everything I have everything crossed for you..I really hope you catch a break as you have plenty on your plate.

ltec I had ordered the MB dress you linked to but didn't arrive before we left..haven't picked up parcel yet..am a bit worried that esher described as blingy..did I end 2010 on a low note?Already have the P and J and DD has owl dress so I guess we could start a weird group on facebook with mums and dds matching.also up for birthday buy.

bunny I love your phrase 'seam of happiness' with regard to this thread..as usual you have a great turn of phrase.well done for bfing E and L up to now..I don't actually know any mums of twins who managed it all so you've done an amazing job.

tracey you are such a cool cucumber.well done re-house!

epic post there and still forgot to say hope all goes well at hospital tomorrow esher

pickled post sounds very exciting especiallyfor-shopping I like the city shorts thing but my legs are made of ferrero rocher at the moment

bonsoir horrific about Dp's friend.You are very kind to invite friends for the DSs..I hope they appreciate that

The funeral was this morning. We have now learned something really dreadful: the murderer was in fact a tenant of the couple in question, who rented a small studio apartment from them in the same building as their family apartment.

Beware who you let into your life...

esher- sorry to hear re your DD's hospital appts- hope all goes smoothly tomorrow.

bonsoir- your DSSs do seem to have rather a lot of holidays! Personally, I would love your villa holiday but sadly that sort of holiday is not a possibility for us at present :(

Really must go to bed!

Posting whilst babies take breaks in their neverending feed...

Tracey - CONGRATULATIONS re the house - this is Very Big News! Oh, I likes a bit of property porn, I does! DSs sharing is v sweet.

MrsJuan - I cannot begin to describe the mess that was formerly known as my stomach. Seriously, a twin pregnancy is v destructive on the old tum tum. Am wondering whether a tummy tuck will be needed if exercise and diet do not radically fix it. We shall have to see.

OWW - oh poor little chap! Glad he is OK, though.

ny - glad DD is improving. Told DH about Mr Yummy and he is declaring that he will be making cakes for the DDs, too. He is that besotted w his daughters (esp DD1 as they have really gotten to know each other) that I don't doubt it

Verity - very glad to hear of your aunt's improvement. Think you asked about babies? They are in newborn clothes, but are too tall so about to move them into 0-3 months. They are really getting so chubby, too, that look like singleton babies.

Who asked if I have that diastis? Yes, that's the technical term for separated stomach muscles, isn't it? That's what I have. So have lots of hard work to do on my body.

Bonsoir - got chills reading who the murderer was. How frightening.

Esher - good luck at the hospital today!

everything - thinking of you!

abo - oh what a hassle re your card!! Its happened to me, too, and was v stressful (was poor backpacker and only discovered the fraud when card declined whilst withdrawing much needed funds in Florence). All OK in the end, though.

Waves to midnight bunny!

Jet lagged house. Children awake, and so hungry! Dh asleep. He has cracked it by having to take meetings at work. Poor thing turned up last night like a (tanned) zombie! . Ds1 has school today, hopefully he won't fall asleep into his cursive.

Bunny you are doing so well, with your two beautiful chubby babies. I am so impressed with you, I think we all are .

Tracey Congratulations on the house. That is such a good example of holding fort, if we buy a house in the future I am going to remember it.

OWW love your photo, you are very pretty (the quality images on here are always terribly bad)

Verity so glad your aunt is improving.

Bonsoir you poor things and their family. Very frightening.

Esher hope all goes well at hospital.

Everything good luck, fingers crossed for you.

NY you are doing an excellent job with the party organisation!

Which leads me to my middle of night thoughts. What is the general feeling re dinner vs a party type thing? Sit at a big table for two/ three courses or swan around, with reserved area with tables/eat canapés.... Hope I'm not jumping in here by asking NY, I have been thinking about it!

What do you think?

MrsJ no link I'm afraid. Todd and Duncan cashmere which doesn't really mean anything to me. It is an amazingly deep bright colour (like magenta I guess).

So awake! Am washing the walls (literally) .

Marsha - hi!! Jet lag is awful - my sympathies! Re dinner v party thing, at the last meet up, we sat and ordered and ate, but then all moved around after eating (and I think maybe some moving before food came) so we could talk to more than just those around us. Which I think worked well, but I am easy as to what we do.

Reine - would you find some nursing tops useful?? Vin gave me some and I haven't used them - PM me if I can send them to you?

marsha sorry about your jetlag - grim

bunny you're doing so brilliantly with your twins. One of my closest girlfriends had twins 4 years ago and said it took ages for her stomach to recover but she looks amazing now and is back to being size 8. I did buggyfit classes after I had DD which was a nice way to start exercising but I don't know if it would be doable with twins.

pickled I work in research but not educational research.

bonsoir so horrible for your poor friends.

Well I've now been ill with whatever disgusting flu type bug DD has given me for over a week and I feel awful, at least DD is at nursery today so I'm sitting on the sofa feeling v sorry for myself. I may have to break my resolution to buy nothing in Jan to cheer myself up. Oliver bonas has some lovely necklaces, I'm off for a browse...

Reallygrumpy, Living15 for 15% off at Oliver Bonas. Get well soon.

Bonsoir, that is awful.

PickledSiblings, I would go to Covent Garden.

I love shorts with tights, I used to have a really nice wool pair from Sisley, don't know where they are now.

Bunny, great that the girls are doing well. I found Pilates really good for my stomach after DD was born.

I hope the rain stops. I want to walk over to Putney and buy new shoes for DD.

The Cocoa cashmere cardigan just arrived, it is a really nice fit, mucher better than the DVF rag! It came with a comb, free returns label and was free delivery. I might order a beanie from them now. So thank you, Plum!

Much better, not mucher better!

Oh and it seems good quality cashmere.