We're AVIDly buying Agnes, Anya & Ash (all very WISE buys!)

[OllieinOrange]

Time for a new thread.....

Ooh amber how was Lollibop? We might go next year - didn't hear about it this year until quite late.

Happy birthdays and anniversaries to icey and pickled

Bet you looked fab in your chambray jumpsuit fritzi

marsha we went to Rhodes the second week in October one year and they were having a bit of a heatwave - it got up to 40 deg!

Things that made me happy this weekend:

Double shred yesterday and 9 mile run today (note- I may not be 'happy' the entire time whilst sweating heavily, but I feel great afterwards.

3 vest tops arriving in the post (on 2 4 1 deal!) and all fitting nicely.

DD and I having a dancing competition to Abba. (I won and was awarded a sticker....)

Curry with friends and their kids yesterday evening.

Scone and clotted cream today after my long run.

Making rhubarb crumble with DD and watching her eat double helpings.

(Ermmm, there's a lot of good references here, no .

Watching the skyplussed re- runs of ER with DH- he originally rolled his eyes at me recording it and he has rediscovered the love too!

food references!

Ha ha Fritzi, that would have been some feat! Had the chambray jumpsuiton on Thursday and thought of you, actually.

How was lollibop Amber? Thought it looked really lovely. Would be great to see you on the 8th. Did you get the IO dress in the end? Any feedback?

Petit I hear you on the loud front , but try and adopt a 'sod it' attitude. Try, that is. Good JohnnieB spot, shame that the jacket would cut me off a bit, as I love it.

Things that made me happy this weekend (nice idea Bloss); seeing DH behaving like a 16 year old (in a way that gave me a glimpse of his gawky teenage self) with his old school friends, seeing DS have a full-on chat with a calf at the farm, spending a luxurious 1 hour on hair, make-up etc yesterday, listening to the DCs laughing at each other in the car today and lying on the sofa chatting about purchase decisions for the house.

Back from seeing Bridesmaids - haven't laughed so much in ages. Great film.

Love it that my wardrobe requirements need to take account of my bike and cycling! Very good point re the cardi Fritzi! (Did you like the mini??? I loved the one we had in London. My next car will be a mini or a Fiat 500 - love them both!) One of you will have to try the P8 cardi on and let me know what its like before I commit to internationl P&P!

I rushed into Mexx as it was closing and tried the poncho on - I quite liked it but really needed a second opinion. Would have taken pic but assistant was loitering in changing rooms so will go back in during the week and try and sneak a pic! Very nice wool and arms were not hidden under masses of cloth - just not sure if too voluminious on me.

Things that make me happy:

• The fact that John Lewis now delivers over here (yes, I'm still on a high about that one!)
• Small, frippery-like purchases like a notebook with birds on it or a lovely mug
• The first day of a French holiday
• Unexepected presents in the post (friend sent me the Orla Kiery for Tescos bag which I love)
• A rainy Sunday in the Autumn which includes a family dvd with popcorn and apple crumble!
• Something in your wardrobe that you either brought on a whim or for a complete steal that you can't imagine not owning (eg my tan NL sandals or my bird print blouse)
• My apple shaped clutch bag (will design new MOAMU outfit around it to show to the newbies!!!!)

Sure thats lots of other things too....

So pleased that the apple clutch will be making a reappearance ollie

Hi ladies
Sorry to disappear as usual. STILL NO INTERNET AT HOME. Sigh.

We've kind of moved! I'm here till mid-Sept then I return with the kids till early Dec and that's the final move. I'd only been back from mat leave 5 days when DH took his job so I couldn't really go any earlier (and this has only been possible as it's the summer hols).

But the good news is that if my brief scan of the thread is correct and a meetup is being proposed for 8 October I will be there wearing some of my Saks gear! V exciting.

Love all your happy Sundays. Yesterday we went to the beach in the early evening and watched the kids dig holes and chase seagulls, and dip their toes in the ocean, and then a picnic supper, and then frozen yoghurt, and then bed, all of which made me happy especially as it is mid-winter here (equivalent to early Feb in the UK).

Oooooh, and happy birthdays to all you birthday girls who are not us (any other fans of Frances the badger?)

One last thing in a v me-oriented hello: Help!! i may have to sack a babysitter and it is very awkward and I am not good at this at all. She has come through a fledgling nanny agency here run by a friend of a friend, she is lovely and I'd love to keep her for evenings but plainly has almost no experience with under 3s (dd is 3 and ds is 16 mos). She looked at me stunned when I told her DS was not allowed to play on the unfenced front yard near the road and I had to tell her how to change nappies. I would love to use her for evening babysitting but this is really not going to work and i just have to man up when I get home and tell her. Unless of couse I am being too quick to judge??? sigh.

No S&B news to report but big mwahs to you all and looking forward to home broadband, allegedly Wed to catch up.

Roary - great to hear for you and 'hurray' for being able to make the meet-up.

• got major Monday-morning-itis here. Got into the office at 0735 and struggling to get focussed (hence the mning...)

Have a big night out in Glasgow next saturday with 3 old friends. Bit torn on what to wear. Glaswegians are like Liverpudlians in never knowingly being underdressed (hugely into clothes/fashion and fantastic shopping - which I wont have time to take advantage of. Boo!) I am 2 dresses in mind, but if the weather forecast is really rubbish then I may have to change my mind....

This time next week I will start boring you with my holiday packing list. We have so much to fit in the car (as we are camping for 2 nights on the way back after 2 weeks in a chalet, so have big tent, chairs and sleeping bags.) DH has announced that he is 'getting medieval on my ass' about the number of dresses and shoes that traditionally take. Help!!

Morning

Summer hols have been hectic so far, so I'm getting a bit behind, but love all the coincidences! Happy birthday, and anniversary, to icey and pickled, and I love that ants and reine are neigbours

WAN I really feel for you, hope you are rid of the morning sickness and ILs very soon.

Carciofi hope you sort a babysitter soon. I thought of you and Rufus last week, we were out in Howth, it was freezing and swathed in fog, but the dc loved the seals!

Bloss love your capsule wardrobe and releived you were able to replace your cardigan.

Things that have made me happy recently:
Spending lazy mornings in pyjamas watching movies with dc
Taking the eight kids who were here the other day to the park with a picnic and being able to spend most of the afternoon reading Vouge. It is bliss not to have to shadow them around in case they fall off the slide or something.
An afternoon alone last week when all dc were on playdates, I was going to deep clean the bathroom, but instead watched 4 episodes of The Good Wife!

There was a bit of A&W excitement last week with the arrival of a Mullberry Bayswater clutch in gold. I spotted it, was desperate for it and ebayed furiously to fund it, so it was free in effect! I love it, it has a short strap, but looks great with a long strap that I made for another bag so I can use it messanger style.

I have spotted some lovely stuff for AW, will try to do some links soon. Have to go out this morning and buy school books and uniform. I will be spending the equivalent of a Joseph shearling coat

Morning everyone! Big wave to roary and verity.
I am Chester shopping and have been here since 9! I have just bought my first pussy bow blouse here and another bliss top in Dalmatian print. I am buying no more work tops!!
I am hanging around for eye test/contact lens test, the kids are with MiL. It is bliss I tell you!!

Meet up will be fabulous with so many attending. As you're away and so am I notyummy, can I nominate ollie to take over arrangements via pm? Would you mind ollie? You have done brilliantly so far. And of course, you may need new stationary !

this spotty top.

I have just been strutting around LKB with the annina in smokey quartz. It could be 'the one'! Colour went very well with my monochrome palette.

Hello all,
Haven't posted for ages, I know, but have just been baking a batch of Ollie's shortbread, which made me think of you all.

Hope you are all surviving the long summer holidays, and remaining stylish in the face of wind, rain and play-doh.

Hello All

Loving all the happy lists. Annie, it's so lovely having one to one time with the DC isn't it? You sound really upbeat, long may it last .

Bloss, lol at you in Chester for doors opening.

Great bag Verity.

I'm mning in my bikini, it just arrived in the post. It's this Zimmermann one from MW. Would def. reccommend for those of you who still haven't found the perfect El cheapo bikini - Marsha?

bloss I love my Annina, capacious enough without being big enough to lose stuff in and v stylish! She got an outing this weekend after being shamefully neglected in favour of a v sensible cross body Mulberry (a must when pushing one in a buggy and wearing the other - why did I think 18mo was a good gap?)

petit am definitely up for some hand holding!

red yes, got the IO dress, afraid it is on its way back - showed off far to much suspension bridge nursing bra, have gone with green p8 maci instead. Am not ruling out ordering the sleeved version for winter (when my undies should be more delicate) as it was lovely!

Lovely bag, Bloss. I have a terrible yen for the snake Anna, but can't buy, as have just had my white sale Alexa

Excellent news on the perfect bikini hunt front Pickled.

Did you get the annina Bloss? Looks bloody gorgeous.

So good to hear about everyone's happy moments; particularly annie's - must have been uplifting, as weekend go.

Good to see you Plum - am firmly in the South-West now, so do give me a shout if you fancy a meet.

What a bag VB. Just gorgeous.

Roary I think you trumped us all with your beach location. I'd be very upfront with your friend and get her to do the 'dumping' for you; is her agency and imagine she'd be completely mortified to know that she's sent you someone so badly suited to your family.

DH and I are watching the news aghast as both of our London stomping grounds are going wild. Really unsettling news.

Not too unsettling mind, as have been shopping around for a fab winter dress to cover the gamut of slightly smarter events - wardrobe is completely lacking as this time last year I was about to have DD/bf'ing round the clock and have nothing to cover this eventuality. Have come up with a few and would really appreciate any thoughts.

Reiss blus, although maybe a little long for me

Whistles viper print - my current forerunner

Anglomania red number

Amber's IO dress

Oh, and this DVF, which is so out of price range that I shouldn't be anywhere near it.

Sorry red like the DVF best!!!

What are the events?

So do I Ants...

Am now completely glued to the news on tv and online - I can't believe what is going on. Places incredibly near where we were have been looted/burnt and my sister sent me an incredible picture from Dalston where groups of men are bolstering the Police presence and have diffused riots.

Thinking of all of you in London and all of you with friends/family in London.

Just caught up on the London news - just awful. Hope everyone okay and not directly affcted by the madness.
Will be off-radar this week - my parents arrived for a visit yesterday and Mum tuts everytime I come near the laptop or tries to read over my shoulder (!) so will limit MN'ing to avoid any moaning! Lots of deep breaths required to see me through this week.....

Bloss thats fine about helping with the MOAMU - love an excuse to crack open a new notebook .

Will need some help with venues tho so please have a think or ask around (*Emo - where are you, we need your inside knowledge!) Those of us staying over - shall we use the same hotel as before? I will send a PM out with details for those of you who don't know where this was. Also let me know those of you who would like to share a room???

This is the latest list of names - have I missed anyone?
Ollie
Fritzi
Marsha
RLYL
PetitDonkey
Bloss
Ants
Apuski
Notyummy
WAN
EMO
PORTIA
Pickledsiblings
IceCreamCastles
Ambernj1
Roary
Annie ? (will know nearer the time)