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

[AmberNectarine]

Here we go..

We watched Toy Story 3 again at the weekend Bloss. I think it's lovely actually. Such clever filmmaking. DDs latest love is The Goonies, which I recorded for her from C5. I hadn't seen it for years and it's actually quite scary in places but very anarchic, adventurous and funny - she loves it!

Gorgeous purse red, you can't beat a bit of Mulberry - dug out my Roxanne tote today, DH got it for me for our first Xmas together so it has lovely memories attached.

Actually didn't buy anything for myself today and DH further disgraced himself by packing the Bugaboo in the car without the rear wheels, so I had to buy a sling in Mothercare (the baby is huge now) and couldn't try anything on. Sigh. Did buy some kitchen bits and some clothes from the White Co for the DCs, but still feel a bit unsatisfied!

In the spirit of W&A outfits I am wearing my Agnes with a grey marl T, leopard print TS loafers and the fabled MN scarf. love the sound of all the outfits today btw!

verity oh my goodness. I am so sorry you have had such a drama. It must have been such a shock. All my love.

amber You should have made DH carry the sling. Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight!

frtizi I would have but it was just myself and DM, DH's only responsibility was putting the buggy in the car, sigh. He spent the day swanning around London meeting friends and failing to assemble our new lawnmower, which now sits half finished in the living room. I have forgiven him though because he is 99% lovely and not totally useless. I have also furnished him with my birthday list as it seemed a good time

Good for your amber!
Have just had an email from Pure about new Winter arrivals, and salivating over the cigarette pants, the chiffon sparkly top and the sequin cardigan here.
Our anniversary today, and just made a nice chicken balti. Drinking red wine on a Tuesday. Big treat!
Struggling with clothes for the style day tomorrow. Struggling with 'favourite' in particular. Thought I'd take Davina for formal, Bec for dressy and the maxi dress for don't wear.

Amber - love it that you had the presence of mind to give DH a bday list today, briiliant! The pram wheels thing made me smile tho, just the sort of thing that DH would do.
Bloss - enjoy your day tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing what you are! Loved that Jigsaw top you linked too, you're right about it looking good with Agnes.
Verity - thinking of you. Hope the process of getting back to normal has begun.

Some lovely sounding outfits today. I wore my dark blue funnel neck coat from KM today - for the first time after buying it in March! I like it a lot.

My sister arrives tomorrow morning with her DSs. Looking forward to getting my hands on the TS sequin top, some Farrow and Ball tester pots for the kitchen and a shed load of dairy milk chocolate!

Happy Anniversary Bloss, love the Pure stuff. Could see you in the cig pants and sequiny top. Hope the style day goes well- are you taking Agnes? Don't forget your leggings .

I'm not sure where Agnes fits pickled. Definitely favourite in the summer, but yet to find something great to wear with it for winter. Panicking now...

Who has tried on the Whistles biker jacket? Just being looking at Emanuelle Alt photos, and realized I have nothing on my Christmas list.

Good timing Amber!

Bloss happy anniversary. I've tried the biker - was ok on me, but would probably be much better on you. It is gorgeously soft and very nicely designed. I nearly, nearly bought it. Hope tomorrow goes well - look forward to hearing all about it.

Hope you have a lovely time with your sister and nephews Ollie.

Hope the coat is perfect NJC - it certainly looks it.

Christmas dilemmas here. Original plan was to be here, but now we will have no kitchen. MiL has invited us and now my mum has got wind of this and invited us too - attending one and not the other will put noses out of joint and each of us would rather be with our respective families. My BF has just invited us to her place, which would side-step our argument, but incense both of our families. Every bloody year...

Morning all. Gorgeous day here, although a little chilly at the moment. Definite sun glasses weather though!

Verity - am still thinking of you and hoping that your living arrangements are manageable. Do you have family and friends you can stay with to avoid long term hotel accommodation? Such a shock.

Bloss - Happy anniversary! Hope you had a nice evening and your day today at HoC is great. Come and give us all a few tips on your return!

Red - Tricky. Very tricky. I guess there are two options - toss a coin and do Christmas with the 'winners' and see the others on Boxing Day/Xmas Eve (explain that you were so lucky to be invited by both that you had to decide somehow etc) or do the friends thing and come up with some reason why.

NJC - Great coat! Am now getting coat envy. I had promised myself no coats this year and so far have stuck to it?.must be strong! In fact, realistically I must now focus on Christmas shopping for others and the Big Trip in terms of spending, and save any more clothes shopping until the sales. Once again I face the trouble of deciding what to buy DH. He has everything he needs. But he likes getting presents.

Ollie - Hope you have a great time with your sister!

My mum and dad are up to help us out with childcare over half term, and also to have DD overnight when we go on our anniversary trip at the weekend. That is all good, and I am so grateful?..but having them with me for nearly a week is probably going to drive me insane. My mum tries to be so helpful, but doesn't do things 'my way' (spoiled brat control freak?.moi? ) Must.Be.Nice.To.Them.

Happy anniversary Bloss. Chicken balti sounded yum.
NJC really like that coat, will keep an eye on it for the Christmas sales. Do you think that blue is a good colour for winters BLOSS?
NY, I am the same when my parents come. I seem to revert back to childhood, except I'm the parent. Being really irritated with them, when they want meals at certain times etc. I feel like exclaiming " you're under my roof now, and this is the way we do things in this house"
Verity really hope you're ok, and that there isn't too much damage.

Verity - you poor thing - I really can't imagine how you must be feeling right now but I can only echo the sentiments of tea and sympathy.

Bloss - really look forward to hearing about your style day. I saw my HoC lady on Saturday in a coffee shop and hid!! I just don't think that I trust her judgement enough. I want to go to see NJC

Amber - yay for the bottle and boo to your DH (just for today of course!). Hope you have a brilliant night out on Thursday.

rufus - I hear your frustration but I couldn't help but smile at the costume debacle!! - Could only happen to a Mummy eh?

I'm doing well on my no shopping but my adjudicator friend said it was silly to waste my free £50 NAP voucher so I bought some leg warmers - (to poke over top of Ash boots) and Falke merino tights in charcoal. It came to exactly £50 including postage so I'm feeling very smug. On the subject of my Ash boots though, they have peeled off a little at the front which I'm not happy with - anyone else have that?

DD2 was vomiting all night last night so we are housebound today, the older two are actually being really good as they were supposed to be having sleepovers which I've had to cancel. DH is away and very stressed at work so I haven't told him she is poorly. Feeling a bit lonely and overwhelmed by washing sheets!!!

Thanks so, so much for the good wishes, really means a lot
we are in a hotel for the moment, the insurance assessors are so busy that they won't get to us until thursday. Our builder had a look this morning and thinks we will be out of the house until January. Problem is finding somewhere to rent, everyone else in the area is in the same position and are all trying to find houses/apts here too. Smell in the house is awful, need to get our clothes and things out quick before smell permeates. Can't believe how much destruction a foot of water can cause! I am so, so livid with the council who knew since Friday that we were due heavy rain and a high tide. There are always consequences in this area when those 2 factors combine. We should have been warned to prepare. We only found out when the Dodder river started coming up the street

I am in starbucks for the wi-fi trying to find a house to rent so better get to it.

VB I am so sorry to hear what has happened to you all, what a nightmare. I hope you manage to find a rental and get settled as much as can soon. You are right to be livid with the council, so frustrating.

amber, congratulations on the bottle. Hope you have a wonderful time with your friends. You have been very restrained with DH, although nice timing with the Xmas list.

That's a tricky one red. Not much to offer really, but I understand as our families being so far away causes much angst.

Bloss I am too really looking forward to hearing what your day was like. I would have lept at the chance of Paris, but DH was at the thought of just going somewhere in the UK for the night on my own. He thinks its a waste of money.

DS has just climbed out of his cot and run into my room. He could have gone straight down the stairs. Looks like it's stair gate and cotbed time here.

Having lunch at local health food store. Place is busy, next to me a couple in their forties having a meaningful conversation. Lots of cuddling, he has his hand between her legs and now they even started kissing and are all over each other ( while having lunch, eww). I am not against public displays of affection as such but I am not even sitting an arm's length next to the woman. Oh well, better finish and get a takeaway coffee

Fritzi that's outrageous! Think they'd know better at their age! As I've heard say "while it might be autumn on the roof, its still spring in the basement!"
Verity that is soul destroying. Hope you find somewhere soon, can't believe you'll be out of your house till January.
I never got stair gates WAN. I'd have had to get one made especially, and every time I say I'd get around to it, but didn't. They all survived clearly, and I now think its a viable option. It's amazing really, how clever they get about it. It was a rule in our house that they had to shuffle down the stairs on their bum! Once they started that way, they just continued it. Not for everyone I know.

We did have stairgates and DD still managed to fall down the stairs - twice! I was out for the first one but came running out of the bedroom the second time to hear the audible as she hit the wooden floor at the bottom of the stairs having fallen from near the top (she was going down them 'carefully' ) I nearly had a heart attack, but was actually relieved when she lifted her head up (she had gone down face first) and started howling. I think most children will find a way to fall down them... Dh was thrown over the top of the bannister and down the stairs when he was three by his older sister because he was annoying her. (There is a reason he only wants one child .)

verity January??? Hope you can rescue all your things from the house and be as comfortable as possible in the meantime. Very irresponsible of your council not to issue any warnings I think.

Has anyone heard from carciofi??? Think she is in Ireland with the DDs this week.

rufus Maybe I should have posted in AIBU . Or maybe I am just jealous that for me it is autumn "on the roof and in the basement".

amber What do you have on your birthday wishlist? Oh, and have you decided on an outfit for your night out tomorrow?

ollie Hope you have fun with your sister and your boys! Do you love the TS sequin top?

bloss Belated wishes for your anniversary! Looking forward to your report from style day. Pure sequin cardi is great and similar in style to my charcoal Zara one I wore at meet-up.

njc Reiss coat looks great! Hope it's a keeper.

red I can relate to your christmas dilemma. One of the reasons why we are escaping this year .

petit I admire your restraint in spending that NAP voucher. Very wise investment! Hope your poor DD makes a quick recovery.

wan Go and elope somewhere for a night. It will be lovely!

notyummy Sounds like the relationship between DH and his sister is a bit strained .

We never had stairgates with DD. Nothing ever happened.

Sorry for loooong post.

They clearly needed to get a room, rather than a table, Fritzi.

It must seem like a long list of mammoth tasks ahead of you Verity. Hope you find somewhere quickly and all the red tape of this insurance assessors can be pushed through asap to get you going on restoring things. Thinking of you.

Hope DD is better soon Petit.

I have just purchased the H&M peacoat in navy online (love the red but figure I'll never wear it) - 50% off any single item with code 9536; seemed rude not to.

Our plumber is on his way round to discuss showers. Never have I been more excited.

And WAN - DS must have given you a fright there - we have always had stair gate as DS is completely fearless and we have had very steep stairs in all the houses we've been in. I like to know exactly where my roaming pair are at all times and this way, they can be contained to at least one floor at a time!

bloss, how about this elegant biker boot to wear with agnes

bargain J Brand (I wouldn't fit them even without the bump)

What size are they herecomesthesun?