Crepeys/Hagsnet - the moonlight beckons!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Because moonlight gives you a nice glow and doesn't show up your wrinkles or grey hair.

The Warehouse dress is multi-coloured really - you can't tell from the pic, but the pattern is purple, coral, teal and yellow. Is jazzier than it looks. Have trialled it with tights and boots. I think I can wear it without feeling too self-conscious = result!

Am considering doing bollocksy-colour thing, but all the "consultants" look a bit offputtingly pantomime-dame-ish. Am worried they will tell me that bright green is my "Wow" colour and I must dye my hair ginger and wear green suits. This will make my eyes "pop". The only thing that would make my eyes pop would be putting them in the microwave.

Like the dress Strop, but would be waaaayyy too short on me. Why do they make all the nice dresses mini-skirt-length?

Dukes, are you coming to the meet-up?

Aww BTM, thanks for asking whether I'm coming to the meet up Not sure. I'm I think I'm much too scared busy. I also hate being out late and getting very drunk both of which I feel might be a requirement.

Might there be an early drinks contingent from 6 or something?

I can probably manage an early drink - am not planning on working later than 4.

I have two wrap dresses in my wardrobe that I ordered from Emma Ness (not Pruner - think Limited Collection or Autograph or something). They are OK, but knee length. I don't usually do knee length; my skirts and dresses are usually longer. (I spent some time in Israel, largely with the Orthodox community some years ago, and I think this is a hangover from that - as it was easier to wear longish skirts and elbow length sleeves, to avoid offending anyone, and it just stuck. It could also be because I have fat legs, of course.) I am going to persevere with the dresses, as I think they will be fine for work, even if I am not sure they are entirely me.

I would quite like to do Color Me Bollocks. Khaki suits me, as does coral and some pinks, turquoise, teal and greens too. I cannot wear yellow in any shape or form (my mother says that amber makes me look all the same colour, hair, face, clothes, and I think she might be right), or that sort of colour which used to be called puce, but I think is now cerise. Ditto maroon. (Burgundy!) Any ideas? I have reddish hair and brown eyes.

I am secretly tempted by CMB - do you think we could get a group discount? :) I think I am cool winter.....

Hey Dukes! You must come. I don't really want to get totally smashed or stay out too late, as I have to drive to Wiltshire the next day on a choir tour. Which I think you'll agree is both rock AND roll.

This may be difficult to resist, however, as I have the hagsnet 'party animal' reputation to live up to.

herbs, we are counting on you

So where are we going? And what time?!

I've just remembered this place. Bar and Kitchen. The food is always nice ? well, the two times I've been there ? and I think there's a bar bit too. It's not as glamorous as Skylon, though.

One option would be to have glamorous drinks somewhere like Skylon, then eat at the B&K? Or just do B&K? If there's a bar area there, could work nicely.

We could decide to have a decorous early night for all of us.

(And then some of us you could lurch home later...)

I can get there for 6ish, I'm sure.

I have just sent DP an email (yes, I know this sounds weird but much of our domestic admin is conducted this way) saying 'MrsS is in London so we are meeting for a drink'.

I shall have to visit TWO secondary schools the following morning...

The other place I remember as being cosy and not too noisy (although I have not been there for YEARS) is RSJ in Coin St, also near Waterloo. Have just looked at their website and they have a prix fixe here which might make things easier when it comes to drunkenly working out the bill. Elsewhere on the site it says there are veggie options so we could check that they would do a vegetarian prix fixe if there isn't one one on the night.

Ah, I'm liking this meeting at 6 idea. This means that I could probably revert to my Plan A of staying with aged relatives in suburbia.

Dukes - do come. I am also a little bashful about meeting people in RL, but everyone seems so lovely, I feel that I will be able to string a few words together even before we crack open the vino.

I can try for an early drink, will coordinate with dh. There is a bar at the back (front?) of the National Film theatre, next to the bookshop, which is nice too.

Yes, please come, Dukes. I am an utter lightweight in the drinking dept and will definitely turn into a pumpkin if I stay out late. (Although that is often the impression that my face gives me in the morning anyway, but still..)

Ooh yes - the BFI bar is super, too. 'Eclectic' furniture, just trendy-enough bar staff, and a faint intellectual air. Tho less of that on a Friday night.

Whether I can meet at six depends on what time DP gets back from work. It could also result in unseemly drunken-ness, and being the first in and last out.

Ooh, I'm sure I can make 6ish too - even if DH isn't back, the DC are old enough to fend for themselves for half an hour

Herbs, you couldnever look unseemly, you party-animal, you!

I haven't been to any of the eating places, despite living 3miles down the road for the past 24 years, but I think I went to the BFI bar a couple of times about 20+ years ago If it's the place I'm thinking of !

MI, I'm sec schooling on Wed, It's ghastly, isn't it?!

Ah you are too kind, I don't feel scared now. I get random bursts of mild social anxiety and find it easier to pass things by but that's Not Right.

It's neither Rock NOR roll.

I will be there. Wherevs.

Yay Dukes! T'will be fun.

I will go with the majority vote on where we go, I really don't mind. I can turn up anytime because I am child-free that day - the kids are going to PGL for half term. It will be strangely liberating not having the usual hurried baton-change as DH rushes in late from work.

Strops, I like the wrap dress. Warehouse is quite good at the moment, isn't it?

We had a little shopping trip to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth on Saturday, which was expensive fun. I finally succumbed to DS's demands for a Superdry hoody (as they are half price there), but consoled myself with the purchase of some lovely bedlinen from the White Company and a giant bag of Mis-Shapes from the Cadbury shop. Did some Christmas shopping too.

Yikes! Christmas shopping

So it sounds like 6pm drinks are on

It's only 2 weeks on Friday away!

DEFINITELY
BTM
Herbs
CV
MrsS
Wilbur
Orangina
MI
Strop
Dukes

MAYBE?
BD?
ruby!

That RSJ place does look good, and very 'hidden gem', which I approve of.

BTM - the new incarnation of the BFI bar is only a few years old, but is 'rather fun'.

I suppose the downside of meeting up in a restaurant is the reduced opportunity of mingling when sat at a table. One always ends up talking just to the few people nearby. Especially when one's hearing is crepey. Maybe we can have some 'inter-course shuffling', to mix us up a bit.

And yay to Dukes! You are a brick.

Could we meet in a bar and move on to eat somewhere?

Or somewhere which has a bar and a table to eat at later?

Googling the BFI bar I found that there is a lounge to relax in (with cocktails) and a dining room to enjoy a meal in. And you can book a table. No idea what the menu is though!