Avid and wise trying autumn/winter for size..

[blossoming]

Hi everyone. Come and join in with your lovely links to autumn/winter clothes!

NY re think the au pair. Really once there's a tv in their room, and WiFi you generally don't see them for dust. Don't go for a young girl, go for 25 year old, and you will find they are very independent. My current au pair is 30 and a teacher (and it shows) from Romania. She has come to bring her English from intermediate to advanced. She has completely revolutionised my life! Not to mention that it costs me a quarter of what o had to pay a nanny, with tax etc. This year they are all in montessori or school so I only needed the au pair hours. And the baby sitting is fantastic! DH and I have used it to go for runs or walks together (!) as well as the social events. Don't forget with your skills, you would have no difficulty in ferreting out the bad ones! Also Skype and face book makes it easier to get a handle on people.
Red that is truly awful. That poor man. It's so unsettling to have something like that happen close to you. Really gives you a jolt and makes you fearful.

leafy my sweet you are right! Actually spent the whole morning thinking how much harder it would be to be totally on my own, and how different and then logged on to see your post. Bad use of language on my part! Will do better.

I quite fancy the style day myself. Could be like you deepleaf which is way I haven't taken to my maxi dress so much.

How awful redllama. You must all be quite shaken.

Really hope you make MU roary.

Yes Deepleaf - you are very right. It is easy to bemoan your life, but usually there are people who manage brilliantly in far more difficult situations. Even if DH isn't around much, at least he tries to be - and is completely focussed and interested (albeit from a distance sometimes) on us. Although she has her faults, I am a bit in awe of his mum, who brought up 4 children as a single mother.
Off to London tomorrow for work - what to wear in these changing seasonal times??!!

DH's 40th today. Have made the baked raspberry cheesecake from the Good Food website - looks good but think the bottom is a bit soggy (I'd get voted off the GBBO!). Doing Coq au Vin for the main course and ignoring likely impact on wasitline for MU!

Red thats horrible news. Hopefully if the Police know who they are looking for, they will catch him very soon. Know its hard but try not to let it dampen your excitement about your new home and area.

Interesting views re au pairs. I wouldn't want someone in the house either but think thats to do with the size and layout of our house (would have to share a loo etc). Some houses are really suited for them tho. A Mum from school uses a South African agency and has had 7 au pairs over 7 years and ALL have been wonderful apparently. I've known 3 of them and they were all lovely - great with the kids and mixed well at the school gate etc. Like Rufus says, its getting the right one.

Im really interested in a style day too. Maybe something for a future meet up?

Re MU waistline. It has been decided that we shall go to Chester on Wednesday, and DS has requested Pizza Express as my b'day meal! I have not eaten pizza since Easter in Rome such was the damage!

How horrible red - but the sense of shock you've been picking up from people around you suggests it's really out of character for the area. I hope it isn't affecting you too much - and obviousely hope the guy makes a full recovery quickly.

Deep, that sounds like a great day, I might be tempted sometime (maybe I'll wait until you're up and running, then we can book you for a A&W style day!).

I'm gradually learning the ways of village life, never having been out of towns or cities before - I've realised that people here are vaguely friendly when I first meet them, and then when I say I have actually moved to the village then it really steps up a gear. I texted DH earlier, saying 'Just been chatting to the vicar's wife - she's on the case to find us some babysitters!' An hour later and she's texted me two people's details that she can vouch for!

Thanks ladies - feel a bit silly as it isn't my drama, iykwim, but has left me a little shocked. DH has reminded me that I used to walk past signs asking for witnesses for robbery at knifepoint with some regularity in SE London - maybe it was commonplace and I just didn't notice it. I guess it is more disturbing when these things happen to someone you know (albeit vaguely) and very near to where you are.

DLE I agree with you whole-heartedly. My Mum was on her own with the three of us and the juggling she used to have to do was crazy, even with help from her XP - not that I noticed it at the time. I have such huge admiration for her now (despite my occasional mother-related whinge) and for all she did for me and the emotional sacrifices she had to make because of her circumstances in order to put us first. The bond that you and DS have/will go on to have will undoubtedly be unbreakable (not to suggest it wouldn't be for anyone else, but ykwim). Good to hear you've got people coming round in the evenings for some down time.

MU-waistline issues a -plenty -my stomach is bloated beyond recognition at the moment...

Ollie your meal sounds lovely, hope you and DH enjoy!

Au pairs - I think that if you have the space, it's a fantastic solution for childcare. All the au pairs I've met have been great and, I have to say, the really great ones have been South African too Ollie. Maybe there is something in this?!

red how horrible, senseless violence is always awful bet especially so when in close proximity. Hope the police catch the perpetrator!

DLE style day sounds fab, can I ask who you did it with?

I am still hanging on to a stone of baby weight so suspect I would win the MU pie eating trophy. However looks unlikely I will make it as DD still strenuously resisting all other forms of feeding so doubt I could leave her :(

My dad bought the GBBO book today (he is a keen baker) so looking forward to sampling some delights in the coming weeks.

Grateful I can be excused waistline issues. Backside issues are more of a concern for me.

What a shame Amber - are you close enough to come out for drinks after she's gone to bed for an hour or so? Or is she not a reliable enough sleeper yet? DD certainly wasn't at that age so I feel your pain if not!

Not nice at all red, especially not for victim and family but think your DH is right with his perspective.

Icey drinks could be a possibility actually, once she's down she tends to do a good 3 hours or so... I'm in SW Lon so not too bad, where are you all going?

DLE I know, it's such a lovely time and I don't resent it much at all, just wish she would have the odd bottle so I could do things like take DS to his swimming lessons. You're right though, she is delightfully snuggly!

Ollie I can't seem to be able to pm you, but can I settle up on the day as I'm not on paypal.
Really looking forward to catching up on the day

Would anyone like a one-off £25 off Brora code. (have clearly not been spending enough with them lately!). I've been through everything and am not tempted by anything even with money off, so thought I'd see if anyone else wanted it. It doesn't look like there's any minimum spend (but full price stuff only). I'm assuming it'll work if I pass it on.

If anyone would like a pair of very dark (chocolate) brown silk trousers with cuffed bottoms, fairly slim fitting, from Jigsaw, then PM me. Size 12. Free to a good home. Worn once.

Amber will be fab if you come for drinks! Not sure if you have a pm already but will send one just in case.

Dh and I have had a weekly bad fix of MiC. Funny.

I haven't been feeling very inspired by NaP lately or anything, so not much S&B news.

Up far, far too late working - am gripped by my latest project. I'm under a confidentiality clause which is why I'm being subterfuge, but shall, no doubt, reveal all at the MU after a little champagne. Speaking of which, I successfully harassed my sister for information for you Marsha!

Can I check what the plan is with moving on from one venue to the other - I'm going to be with you until 8ish, I think.

Amber I hope I don't miss you if you do come for drinks. I second what DLE said about bf'ing being so lovely and just for a short amount of time - sometimes I wish I hadn't stopped when I did with DD (9mths) - I miss it a little bit now. In fact, I'm beginning to feel the stirrings of the broodiness I felt when DS was this age. Am trying to convince myself to hold fire until DS is in school, so that I will have been back to 'work' work for a bit.

Did anyone watch It Takes Two last night with Zoe Ball - I thought she did a good job and loved that she wore a pair of sparkly heels as an homage to Claudia. Looking forward to the GBBO tonight too.

Spending this morning tidying up the house which is a real mess - piles of stuff everywhere which I hate. Homework to do this afternoon too so not in the most cheery of moods.
Back later.

Morning all. Just about to arrive in London on train after an early start involving a 6am run. It is fair to say that I was not feeling the love at that time, but I am conscious that a good social life over the past few weeks has led to serial food and booze offences, so I really can't let the exercise slip as well or I may not fit into all the new clothes I have bought! Had an email FTP
M and S to say that the platform patent heels I ordered are ready to be collected so will get them tomorrow which means I can have a MU clothes trying on session in the evening.

Wearing a plain black shift dress today that I haven't worn in years and is slightly big. Have added a skinny belt (DH advised in one of his Gok moments .) also purple and blue scarf, black fitted blazer and grey leopard heels. I have black canvas shoes in bag for walking though as fairly long walk from tube station.

As you may have guessed from the small clothes ad I posted yesterday, I had s bit of a clear out and moved all the summer dresses etc to spare room wardrobe. Also found 4/5 things that aren't bring warn at all- I think one may have found a home already from this thread- and I may have more to post!

Hope you have good days all! Red- hope you are feeling okay after your shocking news.

DeepLeaf - so sorry if I offended you with my moaning about DH being away - I have 2 good friends who are single parents and I would never compare my situation to theirs. I'm full of admiration for anyone who has to/choses to do it on their own. Anyway, he's home all week and doing my head in....

NotYummy - you sound very glamourous and 'put together' today, hope the feeling of looking great puts a spring in your step.

Red - your project sounds super exciting, love a bit of subterfuge but why did I think you were a teacher....?

Ollie - didn't see ITT but why did Claudia leave?? I love her. (Speaking of which, I think that I have a bit of a girl crush on Kelly Rowland!!)

Amber - I can only echo what the others said about the breast feeding, I don't know how you do it, especially with an older child (I failed miserably at it). You must do whatever is right for you and your family. As for hanging onto a stone of baby weight - she can't be 3 months yet is she???? My eldest is 7 and I'm still hanging tight to some of that weight

I really do have to make an effort with diet and exercise - I'm thinking about doing The Cambridge Diet, has anyone tried it? My colour day has thrown me into a tailspin and I'm so much less confident since having it which really wasn't the idea! I did buy an airforce blue jumper yesterday, suits me but so sodding uninspiring! It's my make-up that I'm most upset by - I've always thought that I do it really quite well but all the coppers and corals that I like are wrong, as is my hair colour. Don't know what to do about it all now really Maybe I should do the Style Day?