Avidae et prudentes, because the classics never go out of style

[AmberNectarine]

Here we go..

Hi all, starting to plan clothes for my African trip - I have to fit semi-formal, business, smart casual and casual/field trip in to a carry on bag (as the second leg is to Madagascar via Jo'burg and I don't expect checked bags to make it...) AAAGH. I will definitely be using the first legs hotel laundry/pressing service and expensing it! I am going to start a thread on this matter as it is something of a challenge, especially my hair and beauty products needing to get in to a small plastic bag - boo hiss.

However it's started well with a try on of this red dress which I got in the asos sale - their website is down at the moment though hence the Oasis link. Anyway v pleased with it- good price for anyone in warmer climes or heading for some winter sun!

Happy Sundays all of you - pickles your stew sounds fab!

lovely dress Emo.
I am a chortle at the fusion irish/chinese stew! Bet it's yummy.
I got a code from mywardrobe for £60 off a spend over £180, so I blew it on these Ash bikers I absolutely love them, and haven't taken them off, since they arrived. They are so comfortable, and just the right amount of bling.
I am also loving my Helly Hansen waterproof jacket which arrived just in time for the awful rain we have had over the last few days. It's actually nicer in reality than on the site, nicely fitted, and a lovely colour. It has the best hood ever, with a little peak like a cap. Lots of people have admired and commented on it.
Carciofi looking forward to hearing from you! I'm not working Friday this week, so that's a possibility for meeting up!
I'm just dashing off now to watch Downtown Abbey, and have time to make a cup of tea, and have a few biccies!

You've got your work cut out for you on the packing front Emo. Challenging. Are there any other bits you still need to get?

WAN i've always wanted to eat at Petersham Nurseries. Sounds like a lovely day.

DD's rash is subsiding but she's so wheezy. We just worked out that she was hospitalised with Bronchiolitis at this exact time last year, poor thing. 2 hours to settle her tonight -unheard of.

We had a lovely meal tonight - Nigella's beer-braised beef casserole. Was sublime. Our friends popped over to join and we ended up having a cheese and a pudding course. Rest of the evening to be spent on the sofa in a stupor, i think.

Morning everyone.

Yes, tricky wardrobe needs there emo, good idea about the laundry service though. Would recommend Muji for excellent decanting bottles for shampoo etc.

red that stew sounds good. What book is it from? DH would love it. Poor DD. Hope it passes soon for you all.

Great boots rufus, I was in my bikers all weekend too. Perfect for this weather.

pickled, liking the fusion stew!

I am sat in Starbucks, as I have 15 mins before a meeting off site. So nice to be out of the hospital. I only have today and tomorrow left and then I am off for 12 days. Can't wait.

In fact next week I have 3 child free days and I really want to do something special with them as this will be the last break I get before I get too pregnant if you know what I mean.

Any ideas/suggestions? I am considering a Bicester trip by train to look at the purses. Would love to combine that with going to Oxford too but suspect that would involve a over nighter.

Oh, the M&S platforms were just too narrow for my fat trotters. Lovely shoes though and would second NY's praises of them.

Right, off to discuss workforce winter planning!

emo How many days do you have to pack for? I often start with deciding which shoes to take as you don't want to end up having to pack an extra pair of shoes for just one outfit and shoes just take up too much space in your bag. Can you get by with a pair of flats for travelling/casual and a pair of heels for smarter occasions?

Morning.

DH working from home this morning - its funny how much its disrupting my Monday morning MNing time routine! I feel the need to look busy!

Sounds like lots of us has nice weekends - ours was v relaxing too and seemed longer than just 2 days which is always a nice!

WAN Bicester sounds like a lovely day trip - pleased you have some time off. I used to like popping down to Brighton for the day when I lived in London - for sea air and shopping in The Lanes.
Emo I am a hopeless packer (always take far too much) but WIT had a good blog a little while ago about holiday packing and another one for when she was at Paris Fashion Week. She advised sticking to a limited colour palette for mix and match purposes?

NJC any coat news?

Am still thinking about the Zara sequin jacket. May try on again tomorrow!

Morning all. Building work has begun in earnest this morning, DS had to be cajoled into the car to go to nursery after the arrival of a digger!

WAN how lovely to have a fw days to yourself next week. I would head to the cinema (We Need To Talk About Kevin is out) and like the suggestion of a trip to Brighton. Will report back on the purse situation at the Mulberry Outlet, we shall head there later in the week. Recipe is from her Kitchen book, is here but has been converted into the annoying American measurements.

Glad you had a lovely weekend Ollie.

Off to make tea round 3.

ollie Just say you are studying for your Dutch classes and you can settle down at your desk with a cup of tea .

njc Coats:

Oasis. But I know you said single breasted and wool content is not that high either...

Next. Don't know if flared style would work

Again not single breasted but the colour is lovely

Would this colour work for you? High wool content, great price

Mustard from LaRedoute plus 25% off

Maybe the right shade of purple?

NJC, I can't link as I'm on my phone but Isabella Oliver has a lovely slim fit dark green single breasted coat - and 25% off at the moment.

ooh, that is nice apuski

Hi everyone. I have a house full of tired people. I cannot believe I feel this bad after one late night. And it wasn't even that late.. I was asleep on the sofa at 8pm last night, but DD did decide on a wake up call at 4am I suppose, although did manage to get straight back to sleep.

I am very conscious today of my lack of run-around boots. Wore my nice R&B ones to softplay, and was, of course, overdressed. If anything, going there this morning made me realise that I really did make the right decision in going back to work, and letting the childminder do it.

I didn't buy anything in Chester, just books as I had a voucher. So nice to browse in a bookshop though. I normally don't bother and get everything from the library or amazon. Also Chester can be a little inaccessible to buggies. So I indulged my passion for self help books and got one called 'how to talk to anybody' (feel a bit uncomfortable in some situations with all the different people I meet with my college job especially), and another 'how to get things done'. Love it. Have told DH he can read it after me as he is the world's greatest procrastinator. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about!

I have my style day with HoC on Wednesday. 9.30 till 4pm! And a long list of things to bring. I have to arrive with fitted clothing or loose clothing, no jeans, and bring a formal, casual, favourite, non favourite... I forget all the categories. I hadn't figured on homework. I thought I'd just to turn up and we'd have a nice chat! Looking forward to it though.

Off to the library next, before we all fall asleep! Back later.

Nice top to wear with Agnes

Hello! Holiday was fabulous. Very warm, except for a couple of days. Perfect sun-lounging weather. Our first 5* holiday... big pools, beach for resort, that type of thing.

Did notice the mothers looked really good. Younger girls too, but tended to be some chubbier ones. Then a medical conference turned up in pencil skirts / suits and intelligent faces. (well in contrast to our sun struck hair etc ).

But very nice to be back home, in London. I do love it.

I need to catch up properly but Ollie I am so pleased you had good news.

Fritzi snap! I did a mini-Stella for ds2. Now I just need to work out how to get him to wear a wool scarf.

Glad to hear you had such a good time Marsha, sounds perfect.

Sorry to hear you are so tired Bloss. Same here though just after one late-ish night. Would you consider bikers for run-around boots? The Kew ones are great, they are so comfortable. Sounds like you need to be organised for the style day though, although it'll be worth it.

Like the Boden on NotJust, and its fits your style day brief perfectly.

Great idea about Brighton Ollie thank-you. I suspect the sequin jacket would be a good buy for you.

Yes, if you could let me know what the purse situation is like at the outlet red that would be great. Thank you for the link to the recipe, I have Kitchen so I'll dig it out later.

Am praying that DS goes to sleep at a reasonable time tonight, he has been dreadful for the last week or two. I just want to cook, eat and collapse.

Hi Everyone, just lost my post with all my links !
Marsha Glad to hear that you had great hols.
Bloss Sounds like you had a fab time in Chester, nothing worse than tired kids though, you have my sympathies!
NJC Exciting news about HOC, best of luck
Emo Sticking to a single colour pallet always works for me when packing for Ryanair! Although where you are going is a lot more glamorous!
WAN 12 days off, how lovely, you lucky thing..
I bought the wedge Massimo Dutti ankle boots linked to here but can't decide whether to keep them or not.
I am taking a leaf out of Petits book and buying nothing else until Christmas!

Hi all - hope you had good weekends. Glad the holiday was good Marsha and am sending sleepy/get well soon vibes to those with sleep refusing/poorly DCs (WAN and Red if memory serves. You weekend sounds great Bloss - and now a HOC day to look forward to! Re the boots - I have taken delivery today of a cheap and cheerful pair of biker/worker boots and between these, my Clarks flat knee highs from last year here and my flat grey bikers I think I am all set. Would recommend the worker style ones - work with skinnies/leggings or dresses for day in a slightly 'studenty' way. These biker boots are nice I think.

Just lost my post half way through, grr!
notyummy and wan, I think I'm too classic a dresser for biker and worker boots. I'll have to wait and see on Wednesday!
Enjoy your time off wan. A trip to Paris would be nice! Treat on Eurostar?
How long will the builders be there for red? I remember constantly baking home made cakes for my builders in Cardiff. It made them turn up every day at least! (Although nothing could stop them from putting the cement mixer in the middle of the sitting room... Happy days.)
I am lacking a pair of indigo skinnies. My 912s aren't on NAP any more, they were heavily discounted in the summer and I missed out. I have been on Shopbop and bought these 910s. I like the ankle length on the Agnes, so I'm giving them a go. According to my currency converter, the cost of the jeans and duties will be around £126. Selfridges have a grey pair for £250. Hope it works out!
I may have to join all of you lot on a no spending till Christmas challenge after this though!

Day one of building going well - we are cut from the same cloth Bloss - I made peanut butter cookies yesterday in preparation for today. The one builder's eyes lit up when he realised I'm not currently working, meaning plenty of baking. They are here for 8 weeks. Argh! Like the 910s very much.

Very nice Zara bikers there NY, like that shorter length.

WAN hope things are better tonight. Is DS aware that a new baby is on the way? DS' ability to sleep/settle at night and his behaviour towards me completely changed (suddenly pawing at my chest a lot despite being weaned, very clingy etc) when I was pregnant and he wasn't really able to understand that I was as he was so young.

Glad you had a lovely holiday Marsha - sounds absolutely perfect.

Good luck with that too Portia - I have no willpower and would not even begin to attempt such a feat.

Ollie's TS sequin tee arrived today - I love it but it had been flung into a bag and was really crumpled, with some of the sequins bent. Annoying.

Possible coat for you from Cos NJC?

notyummy, ripped in 30 is ready for pre-order! Yipee!!

It's on MU amazon wishlist already! Along with Killer Buns and Thighs....

Did most of Burn Fat Boost Metabolism today, along with some pilates. Quite tough.

Took dd and her best friend (who is nearly 6) to see 'Dolphin Tale' today. They enjoyed it (although little friend dissolved in tears near the end 'because I am so happy (!!) and had to sit on my knee.) When her mum picked her up she explained that she had never been 'out' with anyone other than mum, dad or grandma before so the cinema visit was a big deal! She hadn't told me because she didn't want me to worry, but apparently she had (the mum) been in tears at home after we left. I was blithely oblivious . It all went very well so hopefully her tears were unwarranted!