Avidly assessing Autumn buys, whilst Wisely still wearing summer styles...

[notyummy]

Evening all!

So glad someone shares my pain Amber - I have to rap on tap for DS and also have to sing 'Accidents Happen' whilst we run alongside each other in any open space. I was hoping the Thomas phase would be over now - it's been a year and a half...

Does anyone have any good ideas for DH's 40th bday present? Its a month away and all he wants is a boat (!). I seriously think he is expecting me to do a Sweet Sixteen party style reveal at our party venue - which has a mooring point on the river! I wouldn't have a clue about what makes a good boat - may buy a plastic dingy and cover in flags as a joke!

Seriously tho - guess I could look for a new watch but DH doesn't really ''need'' a new one. Posh cufflinks maybe? (wears them for work) Its so difficult as he doesn't really want for much.

There were some yachts for hire at 40k a week today ollie. quite reasonable I thought .
Sorry can't stop, back later.

Oh and if anyone suggests one of those "for your eyes only" photo sessions, I will bop them on the nose at the meet up !

ollie to my shame I have actually had that done...

Hi back again. I had a great day. Sea was rather choppy, but it's only 15 minutes so I was okay (although slightly regretting rich food last night)! I love the yachts, the crews, wandering through the town. There wasn't much that took my fancy in DvF apart from the new Julian dress, (no collar and shorter sleeves) in a dark navy.
I had moules frites for lunch in the square and found my sea legs by the return trip. Dh mentioned going there for the evening next year. Could be good!

ollie, how about hiring that open top car again and driving off somewhere romantic? Like a 'memory' present instead?

I've just booked my flights for meet up
Verity and Rufus Due to the pressues of work and family commitments I'm only going for the day ,if your interested in joining me?! Pm me and I'll send you my flight details.
Bloss sounds like my kind of day!
Hope you're all having a nice evening - into work for me tomorrow due to seasonality of business I'm in
Prosecco here I come!

Rufus, happy birthday! Are you going anywhere nice tonight?

Bloss, glad you had a good day.

Ollie, is he into music? I am thinking of getting this for my DH. I forgot to admire your Lego cakes, very impressive.

Dolcee, I could easily buy 10 Mulberry bags (money permitting, of course!).

Something technical ollie? As in iPad, iPod? I once bought DH good quality travel speakers and dock for his iPod which he loved.

Now, DH's 40th is coming up so have been giving this some thought as well. As it will co-incide with my 30th, we've been thinking about a trip to New York sans DC, but this is quite pie in the sky. I very much like Bloss' idea, which is in a similar vein. My DH has a lot of stuff and whenever I buy him more stuff, it always seems I'm doing it for the sake of it. That's not really much help. Perhaps you could pop out of a very large cake at the party?!

Happy birthday Rufus!

And Pickled there was some lovely leather shorts in the ASOS magazine - Pepe and about £110. Wide leg, lovely tan leather.

And also, I'm thinking of returning the Warehouse swallow print dress and going for this Whistles one - a similar shade and I think I'll get a lot more wear from it as it is more versatile.

Happy birthday rufus!

On the subject of birthdays, I don't fuss too much over dh's. Just get him some clothes, a DVD boxset, a new album, cook him steak open up the champagne and wearsexyunderwear. Works every time!

Oh, dh just said: ipad, sports tickets.
Maybe I should step it up a little!

Gosh, i sound proper Brizzle in my post to Pickled - were, not was.

Yes Bloss, when consulted, DH has always expressed a preference for the presebts you detail.

hi everyone just skulking in after significantly raising the average age in a far too noisy pub in Clapham. DH's birthday was yesterday, I got him some cufflinks from Prada which he is probably going to swap for credit towards some shoes - I did try!! bloss your holiday sounds dreamy, enjoy! portia that is so excitng re flights, I am looking fwd to seeing you again! amber tell us, was it (the photo sesh) actually quite good fun?

I have "NOTHING" to wear yet a wardrobe of clothes (some of which are too small) and a book entitled "practical princess" about sorting my style out. Also I finally have a set of weights and have put on enough holiday pounds to consider breaking the Shred out of it's plastic. DH off to Belgian grand prix tomorrow so I am in charge and it's crunch time, fed up with feeling chubby.

Meet Up stuff - just been emailed the booking form from the venue and see that they've put us in the private room (no hire fee).

Do we want this or shall we ask to go in the restaurant? The description of the room sounds ok - just worried it may be a bit boardroom like and lacking atmosphere? On the plus side, we would be able to chatter away....

What do we think?

More present pondering....
We've both love a few days away together but for various reasons unable to ask either set of parents to look after DSs for the time being. We had one of those late night chats the other day where we thought about where our first child-free holiday would be when the boys are say 18 - we came up with a long list in 10 seconds flat!
Emo I was looking at some Mulberry cufflinks for DH (then maybe he would return the favour with a Mulberry handbag for me
Bloss a memory event is a good idea - maybe I could get him a days sailing on a type of boat he's not sailed before? He's already done performance car racing. Laughed at the steak (and undies) idea too!

Carciofi that sound system looked great but we've literally just ordered new speakers. Will put on wish list tho for when something needs replacing.
Ambernj1 Did the pics put a on DH's face?!!! Good on you!

Red which Whistles dress did you link to - I only get the JL homepage.

Am trying to persuade DH to buy an ipad this morning - maybe steak and undies are needed

Ollie it was this one. hope that works.

Emo I am feeling just the same at the moment - everything is digging in a little as I always over-indulge when DH is around. Will Shred tomorrow.

We're just about to embark on a day trip to see PiLs as MiL has been resorting to all kinds of emotional blackmail tactics to get us there. You'd have thought we'd moved to the end of the world.

Good Morning.

Ollie I really dont mind about the meet up. Looking at the room and the number of us, how do you think it will feel? You could ask them what is their usual capacity for the room. I am happy either way though!

Emo I am sure a few days of eating light will do it, don't restrict yourself too much, you need your energy for being alone with DC.

Red have fun at the IL's. Are they far? I can empathise with the emotional blackmail, although its mostly from my side of the family.

Have a lovely evening with my friend last night, wore your top again carciofi. One thing to say about the Jalouse that I find annoying, they look soaked through as soon as its rains. My feet stay dry, but they look stupid when its raining. For those in London, you'll know what I mean when I say I was caught in the storm at 17.30 last night. Awful.

We have more viewings here today, and off to see a few more houses too. Then a M&S dine for two tonight. Total Rock and Roll in surburbia

Hope the viewings go well wan; anything you're keen on? Know exactly what you mean about the jalouse, at least they dry out without staining though. Ils are in Surrey, 112 miles to go...

I also don't mind - what do you think will be most conducive to everyone talking to everyone iwkwim.

emo yes it was fun actually - done for myself more than DH, had it done when 5 weeks pg with DS as a memory of the figure I once had! Re. weight I am over a stone heavier than normal, finding it hard to lose the weight this time as always grabbing convenience food when with DCs. Might have to break my shred out of its plastic too!

wan you poor thing - DH went to pick the car up from the mechanics at that time and came back looking like a drowned rat! I wore my Jalouse yesterday so know exactly what you mean!

Lovely dress red - good luck with the ILs, my MIL does a great line in emotional blackmail.

DH went off to Paris on a stag do this morning so am home alone with the DCs. I wonder how many times someone has to watch a Thomas DVD before being declared clinically deranged? Will take them to visit my parents later and may slope off for some sneaky browsing...

ollie I too am easy about the room, happy to go with majority.

Ollie if they can accommodate us in the restaurant (ie not too many tables) I probably would prefer that. But I am happy to go with majority or what you prefer.

Marylebone High St today might have a little look in Matches and Sandro.

(Although must admit I haven't seen the restaurant. I could swing by if helpful)

Hi everyone, have been devouring all the lovely links in the car on the way home from holiday much to Dh's annoyance!

So pleased for you apuski- what a fab excuse to buy lots of new clothes.

Can deffo recommend the isle of Wight for holiday for those with young children- lots for everyone, beautiful walks and plenty of good pubs, seafood places and cream teas.

Saying that I am very envious of all the mediterranean holidays discussed above!

That's a beautiful dress fritzi- you'll look incredible at the meet up. I think I will be at the horrible in-between stage of being too fat for normal clothes but not enough bump to fill maternity clothes. Now there's a challenge for you all!

Love the wishlists for a/w. Mine will have to be fairly limited due to the house move. I like your folder idea dolcee- may have to copy that to house my growing collection of interiors clippings.

Glad you're feeling better now wan. Funny about the limes and cheese slices. I seem to be eating a lot of corn on the cob but no real cravings I don't think.

Suppose I'd better converse with my husband- see you all soon. Ooh, will actually see some of you soon!