As we AVIDly await the joys of spring and the new fashion finds that it will bring, we WISEly contemplate our winter buys and return all goods that are unkind to the eyes

[macmama]

Couldn't resist!

Oh Tracey, not fun at all.

Reine, hope tomorrow goes well and isn't too horrible for you as an onlooker.

Think MM covered all bases on the Nudie recommendation - it must have been as a lurker that I got the recommendation from you - thank you, best jeans ever!

Love the idea of a commissioned mural, but doubt this is our 'forever' home. Will reserve it for then! Te really bad cracks were plastered today and it has already transformed the place. Lovely.

Oh - bad news on the Gap skinnies then!

For those who have the Nudies, I'm usually a 27 inch in 7FAM High waisted Roxannes/straights - but find them very stretchy and forgiving. But Roxannes not really skinny enough really and can't afford J brand. Are Nudies "tougher"? Should I go for a 27in?

Lots of sympathy on the flat tire/car wait Tracey.

Oh, you poor thing tracey. Sympathy from here too.

tracey Hope you are home by now and can relax tonight.

ollie Well done on getting that bargain jacket. Sounds great!

notyummy I like both dresses but my mantra for this year is not to buy summer stuff too early (but not leave it too late either or everything will be gone by the time I have made up my mind)

reine All the best for DD tomorrow! Can well imagine that you are worried no matter how many people have told you it is routine surgery.

Reine best of luck for tomorrow.

OWW what a find!

Red I can never do anything really exciting to the house, as we never live in our 'forever' house. It makes me a bit

Tracey what a nightmare. But everyone you must learn to change tyres - it's really not so hard. We got so many flats in the countryside that I ended up a dab hand. The first time it took me ages, following the instructions in the manual, but after that was OK.

Bonsoir I would love the contact. I'll ask around here too, but my friends are mostly Eurodrones.

exhausted SO envious of a child free shopping trip. Can't see the selfridges top but really like the dress and reiss top.

plum, it's ridiculous as I have spent a fortune on boots recently but I am still in bargain bucket mode and cannot bring myself to look at scarves that are that expensive! i need to train myself as I imagine that a fabulous accessory can make an outfit sing.

Is Cake in shock at having topped the most-prolific-poster charts?!

Unfortunately my tyre was shredded as clipped a sharp stone and my stupid s-max doesn't have a spare so had to wait for AA man to rendezvous with DH to purchase new tyre as they wouldn't take payment over the phone and I couldn't take 2 small dcs in the AA van.

But children remarkably good natured thankfully as was scrabbling for food and could only find one left over xmas decoration which they shared. So must put a little bag of water and snacks in car for emergencies.

Reine - hope all goes well tomorrow.

tracey - sorry to hear about the tyre - such a pain! Have to admit I was at the no spare - don't cars legally have to have one (or a spacesaver tyre?) or am I just making that up?! You should complain to the manufacturer.

Its a design-fault I think - the extra space for the additional seats means no room for a spare.

Roman, re you Warhol pic. Do you want an actual painting, or a digital print on canvas that has been done on the computer from your photos? I have no idea on the former, but have a friend who had the latter done, for about £100 I think. Is very effective.

I too have no spare and what are known as run flat tyres, seems to be the new thing .

Tracey I have availed of prep after school and found it to be really beneficial, it elimated all homework related stress at home for DD1 and DD3 so far!) With DD2 have just ceased day boarding to keep an eye on her, so I guess it depends on the child.

NY Love your circus dress, that's a great website.

Reine Best of luck tomorrow - I know how you feel.

Oh yes thanks Kildare - thats what they're called - its because I clipped the side of it that it punctured in such a dramatic fashion.

Also thanks for comments on prep stuff - think I'll try it out a couple of nights a week when he starts yr3 - its very flexible so will see how it goes.

Sympathies tracey. We have an S-Max too and got a flat on the way to swimming a couple of months back. I ended up getting cash from a nearby cashpoint and sending the AA man to buy a tyre with it. Bonkers that these places won't take payment over the phone!

Have just booked a personal shopping appointment at Selfridges on Thursday afternoon in order that I may begin the search for a 40th birthday frock in earnest. Woo hoo! (It's with a bloke apparently...)

Oh that sounds good ABO.

I ordered a whole load of things last week and they are taking soooo long to arrive. So dull waiting for slow online stuff.

Ooooh that sounds much fun ABO.

Unfortunately was a fair distance away from any cashpoints but have decided am going to shove some cash in the car as well for emergencies.

Good luck for tomorrow reine.

Well done on the Selfridges booking ABO.

Ladies, my name is Notyummy and I am an addict. A maxi addict. I bought the dress I don't have a navy one - or a winter style one like that....and I have an event that requires 'calf to floor length dresses' in 3 weeks time. (The fact that I have, oooh, 20 formal dresses that fit the bill is obviously irrelevant.....)

That sounds lovely ABO.

Florence - I find the Nudies to be very 'tough' and true to size in dark blue, but also have them in black and they seem to be a little more loose.

Met up with a close friend this afternoon who is returning from Hong Kong after some time away. She is an excellent enabler; wearing this, with black opaques, a breton and leopard-print pumps and it looked fab. In my size and at £13.50? Had to have it. It is my first official Boden purchase .

Yes, but NY, it's so gorgeous and is an excellent price too. Also, really like the Kookai dress; I haven't looked in Kookai for ages, might need to start doing so!

Red - official boden purchase - have you been buying black market boden then

I am terribly influenced by what other people wear/buy.

Spent a lot of time in car today thinking about the LV scarf when not playing I bloody spy.

I think a homework club sounds like a useful idea tracey/ bonsoir.
I find that DD1 (yr4, age 8) gets very easily distracted at home, with two younger siblings around. Actually, she is pretty easy to distract even when they are in bed!
(The teachers say that she works really well at school).
She also has an after school activity on all my non working days so the homework usually ends up being done at 8pm and she is frequently is only in bed at 9pm .

Sorry to hear about your flat tracey- that's something you can do without, especially with two little ones in the car!

Thanks - am very excited although fear everything may be terrible expensive...

Loving the orange Bec. Wonder if that might be a good birthday dress; Choo would it work for dinner/boogie type party?

And may also have to try the Boden skirt; as you say, at that price it would be almost rude not to! Only hesitating becuse the Boden clearance sale is coming to town on Wednesday and I have a child-free morning to go a-rummaging.

plum I'd like 3 paintings really, but would also go for a pic. I've investigated getting one of those here, but couldn't find anyone who would do it - I would be interested in a link.

That reminds me: need to find some photos for 'ds's' homework

not yummy love kookai dress.
rein hope all goes ok tomorrow.
tracy sounds hideous. Hope you are indulging in bubble bath and glass of wine tonight to regroup!!!

First day back at work. Was fine. Weird was not more weird. Am exhausted though. Slobbed out on bed waiting for bath to run. Outfit in the end was purple leopard print wrap dress from LK Bennett last season, purple patent high heals from Jigsaw a couple of years ago, new Kew double breasted coat www.kew-online.com/fcp/product/womens-clothing/coats-&-jackets/-Wool-Double-Breasted-Coat/99902151 and new crumpett scarf.

New shoe boots from M&S arrived today www.marksandspencer.com/Ruched-Wide-High-Heel-Boots/dp/B0047RD8KQ?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_2&nodeId=432768031&sr=1-2&qid=1296505021&pf_rd_r=0JBN91P1P489BG169GE3&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=432768031&pf_rd_p=215570647&pf_rd_s=related-items-3

They are lovely so I may debut them tomorrow either with green and black DVF wrap dress or Isabella Oliver dress.

Actually, a little bit. If an NCT Nearly New counts as Black Market . I'm constantly getting things that I see on other people. This thread only encourages it!