Crepeys/Hagsnet - the moonlight beckons!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

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

Ooooh MI, have you met me?

Sorry, know it sounds like an excuse, but I have PhD induction that week and I am not in london so would have to get south. If I can do it I'm sure anywhere would squish me on the end - I really am quite small.

I don't think so, Tilly, but I am quite nosy and tend to see MN as an extension of my life, what with not having a life, iyswim.

A vote here for table booked for 8.30 rather than later. Otherwise I will fall over.
I am spending that afternoon in London, but now I am all undecided as to what to do. Any good exhibitions on that anyone recommends? Bumpkin needing direction here!

Can't have us on page two...

Not sure about current exhibitions, Strop.

MI, I don't think you've met me, although we were at the same university, I believe.

Strops, I can't help on current exhibitions either; I'm such a bumpkin I even had to google BFI.

Bah, I shall have to rely on Mr Google, then. :) I think I will probably go to the V&A. Heh, all the years I lived in London I never went near anything remotely cultural. Well, not on purpose, anyway.

I think there's an Annie Lennox exhibition on at the V&A!

Yes, the Annie Lennox one looks fab, if you're style person, as we all are on here.... I really enjoyed the BP Young Portrait Artist of the year at the National Portrait Gallery, which has the added bonus that it's free. We did the 18th and 19th C galleries at The National Gallery the same day and that was good too. Not sure what their big exhibition is at the moment. Might be worth checking out what's on at The Hayward - at least you then won't have far to walk to the bar!

YY The BP Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery! I HAVE been to an exhibition this year. Oh I did enjoy this. I bought the postcard of the portrait on the banner. It's/she's wonderful. I think she's called Tonya. It's in a foolish place near my hob and I am always saying 'sorry Tonya' when I splash her with soup.

Poor Tonya.

I have sorted out Eurostar, now off to book hotel.

Looks like the BP Portrait thing at the National Portrait Gallery is finished and nowt of interest to me at the Hayward, as far as I can tell, so I think I will mooch about in the Tate Modern.

Survived two secondary school open days today, and my new boots have arrived Just need to get the rest of my outfit together now!

Nice boots, BTM.

Why are you having to look at secondaries? I thought your DD was Y8 already. I'm relieved that, having got DS1 into the nicest school in the area, the DDs will follow him there under the sibling rule and I don't have to worry about it again (ah - lightbulb - is it an all-girls school?).

Cripes, that reminds me, DD1's application has to be in fairly soon, and I haven't given it a moment's thought. I'd better check my dates.

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to let DS see the competition. He is still adamant he wants to go to the same school as DD, so I'm just praying that I don't somehow cock up the application!

I have to admit, I did find myself looking far more critically at the other local comp - even though it is just as good, my heart belongs to DD's school too

I am now worrying about all the other parents who are looking at schools I thought We Had No Chance Of. (I suspect it's them not me. I did do a comprehensive first trawl last year.)

So where are we meeting and, ahem, what name are we booked in??

In other news, today I discovered that (a) I have to produce an entire section of the mag that I thought had been binned this issue, in TWO WEEKS or something crazy (b) the textbook I'm co-writing on Diversity For Early Years Practitioners (rock'n'roll!) has a deadline not of December 2011 but December 2012. Am drinking, to forget (a) and celebrate (b).

MI, do you mean other parents are looking at schools you thought you had no chance of and you are thinking you should be too? Be realistic - some people put down totally unrealistic choices and then don't get offered anything on their list.

I think we are meeting at the BFI bar at 6, but I don't know if anyone has booked a table. Herbs seemed the most knowledgeable about the venue....

And your book sounds interesting!

That's the one, Tilly. Thank you [heartfelt emoticon]

Lovely boots. I don't dare buy another pair...

3 new pairs to buy, or 3 old pairs to chuck out?

Don't ask me - I love boots!

I am too embarrassed to post on the "how many pairs of boots have you got" thread. Although part of the reason I have so many pairs is because I keep them forever. I even have a museum-worthy pair that my mother bought for me in 1980. Keep 'em all, Ruby :)

BTW, Tilly, your boots are v. nice. I am because I cannot generally squish my square feet in to Clarks boots these days.

Hello. Lovely, lovely boots btm. How burnished is the toe bit? Must say I prefer to do the burnishing myself iykwim.

Can I ask you and MI to say which schools you've been looking at? I am in SE26 with a year 5 dd and am forward fretting planning, so have been to Harris Crystal Palace and will go to Kingsdale, Sydenham, Harris Bromley. Prob have a look at Sedgehill. Share pretty pleasey mc please.