Happy Birthday Wise & Avid Girls!

[blossoming]

New Thread

Thanks all for the sympathy; and thanks Dolcee and macmama for the advice. I'll get more feedback and then consider my options then. At least I'll have something in writing then. I think it's inevitable that I'm leaving and therefore job-seeking.

I will need to hold on purchases for now (although my sales purchases should keep me going for a bit). The only thing I will need at some point is a killer interview outfit, so if you spot anything suitable for a tall size 8/10 autumn let me know!

I've managed to partially use the laptop so can see profiles - I agree bloss that the jacket looks great and you look chuffed with it; and Looby, your family photos are gorgeous!

everything and mac have added you too.

carciofi- raspberry sofa covers sound lovely! Can you link?

apuski- I missed what you said re your job but am kind of interested in employment law (won't say any more on here and am not a lawyer). Have your work downgraded you job since mat leave?

ABO-grey woks fine on me. I wear am fair bit of grey actually.

bloss- I love the jacket/ coat, so much so that I am tempted myself! You look great. Have you done something different to your hair because I remember some other pics of you trying on dresses and I thought you had longer, lighter hair?

copying over from thread:

apuski sorry about the job that's rough.

Thanks for welcoming me everyone...

I have a dilemma:

due to post babyfication (and greed) I have bit of a jelly belly. So the tops that suit at the moment are straight down (narrow shoulders, big norks 30G normally 32G atm). I'm living in some uniqlo sweatshirts that I bought when I was pregnant as the colours are great (I'm a winter and they are very bright blue and green and a grey) but I'm getting sick of them. I have NO tops other that that that I'm wearing at the moment. I need the same kind of sweatshirt shape but something a bit nicer than a bog standard sweatshirt?

Or another idea for top...I've always been rubbish at them because of the big norks. I don't know if it's my small frame but the 'wrap over'/v plunge just doesn't work at all on me. I can wear a high neck very happily vis this dress looks great on me (grrr at buying it full price though it was for a big event).

Should i go a smocky route (makes me feel pregnant again).

my every day look is sweatshirt with long vest underneath in contrasting colour and then skinny jeans/jeggings with biker boots.

boooring.

Gorgeous family looby (and you too!)

Hi Looby, in a nutshell - my function has restructured whilst I'm on mat leave, my job responsibilities were split across two new jobs. One job was allocated with no interviews; the other (my first preference) was advertised internally and externally and I was invited to apply. After 1st interview I was on a shortlist of two, but after 2nd interview they've offered it to external candidate. They have suggested another role, not at this level, and said they would protect my terms ie. pay, but it effectively takes me back 6 or 7 years in terms of responsibility.

Sorry, not that short a nutshell!

looby, grey would be a summer colour I think, so maybe cream isn't for you? Mind you, my mum wears cream and looks fine although better in white. Will she listen?!
My hair has always been chestnut brown apart from when I was growing out my crop, but that was 10 years ago! I did go a fair bit shorter last time though.
I'm in between salon visits and my fringe is driving me crazy!

I'm sorry to hear that apuski. I missed that as I hadn't noticed the second thread!
That is absolutely rubbish of them. Is the other person they have employed a man? It might be worth speaking to a lawyer for some advice at the least. I guess the decision as to whether to take action or not might depend in part on how difficult it is going to be to find another job and whether taking action will cause you more problems in the future in your field.
Good luck with it all.

dolcee- have added you too!

LTEC- I forgot about your house move and totally understand re you wanting some family time- we have the same issue here!
Shame things weren't better with your mum. Sadly, I can't rely on mine to help out at all either which causes stress++ if we are both working and a child is ill/ childcare issue occurs. Infact, I have just rung work with a v heavy heart as DD2 worse again this pm and probably not well enough for nursery. I have also rung to see if my mother would help tomorrow/ Friday and will wait to hear but feel it is unlikely as has never happened before!
Tank top- I think the attached scarf would annoy me tbh.

bloss- maybe cream not so good then. I am wearing it with a sort of slightly browny stone kind of colour so maybe that helps to detract from the cream and it isn't a high necked tunic. I definitely wouldn't choose a polo neck in white or cream.

Thx for compliments on family- I am v lucky :)

Hi all! So busy on here. Am delayed in Leeds and gutted as it means I am unlikely to see DD at all today as she may be in bed by the time I get in. She us with lovely mothers so in good hands, but still. Meant to say- mothers help made DD a teddy to her exact specifications for her Christmas! She got her chatting about what sort if teddy she would like santa to bring and then rang when we were away and asked if she could pop round and put it in dds bed with a note from Santa so it would be there when we got back from Xmas at my folks. Dd was beyond thrilled- really great.

Bloss- you look great. Apuski - sympathies on the job. Sophable- hello! I would steer clear of smocks; they add bulk IMHO. What about some sort of ruched top that is kind to tummy? I find they have helped in the past when my hips have been less than ideal! Can't link as am on iPhone on 3G.

Back much later when home and showered. It's going to be a loonnnnggg day.

meant to say yes yes to nappyvalley thing. Have been slowly selling off baby stuff via a local forum - a tenner here, £20 there - it's not much but it's all money (which immediately gets spent at Sainsbo's ) and it's better than chucking it out to the tip.

On similarly environmental note - have got a buyer for our cloth nappies!! - again, . Personally I wouldn't use used cloth nappies (And mine have been used for 3 dc!!) but hey, how much more green can you be? More than me, who has given up with prob a year of nappies left to go - but then, think I have done my bit or at least quite well by lasting 4.5 years with cloth and no tumble dryer.

Also bloke coming round tonight to collect job lot of our DVDs for £80. Quite enjoying the declutter/ wheeler dealer aspect of moving

ooh mac I did clock that tank when I was perusing UO site too.

no offence everything Matter of choice, as is the disposable v cloth thing.

Yes freecycle also good. Used that a lot last move. But all of this baby stuff is quite good quality and I just thought, well, we're not rich!

Looby, I have ordered these www.sofa.com/shop/sofas/bluebell#130-BLCRAS sofas, the colour is nicer in reality.

Apuski, sorry about the job.

NY, your mother's help sounds like a gem.

I have found a lovely post-natal doula to come for the first 6 weeks. My mil is not really able and dh works long hours so she will be a great help.

Hells, I really like the MiH jeans. I am justifying scarf purchases as at least I won't grow out of them!

I like having a clear out (but hate packing!).

Sophable, what about slightly higher rise jeans?

Sophable hi, I'm new here too. And a 32f so I know what a PITA big boobs can be. I have found that subtle cowl necks work really well. Not too much cowl - if you have too much material it adds bulk, and also if the fabric is reasonably fine that works better too. It can look quite glam. Things like this Smedley number which I've worn to death at work.

Also Bretons work well as long as there's a block of colour up top before the stripes start. It seems to shorten the boobage area. Like this.

Apuski I'm sorry, that's proper miserable. I hope you have a pampering plan for tonight? I'm with the other legal beagles in that it sounds like you have a claim; do look into it, these things are very often settled quite quickly so it needn't get messy or prolonged if you do decide to kick up a bit of a fuss.

And no no no to smocks. They just add volume and I've quite enough of that thank you!

Running out to Book Club but just wanted to say Carciofi - I am in love with your new sofas! Fab-u-lous!

Looby - your Mum sounds just like mine. I've learnt not to let it get to me now but just wish she would actually help me instead of just having opinions on stuff thats got nothing to do with her. DH plays MIL Bingo - ie mentally ticks off all the topics DM usually mentions on a visit (eg garden needs a tidy up, still not got a blind up in the attic bedroom etc" and then he texts me "Bingo" when she's completed his list! Helps me smile under sufference!

sophable this is a lovely light fabric if you're after a cowl neck.

looby it is fascinating having your colours done if you can manage it.

Right, off to tap class. Back later.

everything No worries, I'll be busy trying to grasp for words in English . My big handicap are prepositions - in case anyone hasn't noticed yet

blossoming Can't remember if I have posted on other thread or here already, but: You look great and so happy in that coat. I have ordered it too in the hope that it will transform myself into a shredded body with a perfect haircut.

bonsoir French schools sound horrible to be honest. I remember DH telling me that some of his French colleagues are a bit, ahem, peculiar in general and always keep boasting about the schools they attended. But German schools are not that great either in fostering a love of learning and creativity in children. This is why we are going to send DD to an English-speaking school.

Oh sophable I must have completely missed your posts and links.. Belated welcome anyway!

Our gold Laura Ashley sofas are the same design as those carciofi. I love them, especially the feet.
Sounds like great advice there oooh. Great to have all different body shapes on this thread so we can help each other out.

Carciofi - beautiful sofa. Very elegant.

Sophable...I have been a G in my time and also have a 30 back. I think the narrow back actually makes a difference and you can often get away with things that traditionally wouldn't work with big norks if that makes sense. So the only things I avoid completely are very tight tops and those that require no bra! I have very recently been able to wear strapless thanks to this which one of our A&W ladies found. Not sure if you are currently BF though - if so that will need to wait!

cholet For the price of a coffee and a muffin those trousers are surely worth a try! Which colour did you order?

Sorry, you said "in yellow"...

apuski Your work situation sounds complicated and it must be stressful for you. Do you have anyone in RL who can advise you what the next best steps would be?