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

[AmberNectarine]

Here we go..

Oooh WAN, hope all goes well and you get a good view! Glad you enjoyed the beef. Kitchen is decided on - solid oak worktops, white matt units, art deco-style handles (and an oak floor and bevelled white metro tiles and a double oven and an island with induction hob and breakfast bar and pan drawers and a huge larder which will feature a marble shelf for cheese and butter and 4 of these lights hanging over the dining table - we've not thought about it at all ).

NY have a lovely day and an even lovelier weekend - you must be really looking forward to it; I know I would be!

Amber sorry to hear you're feeling unwell - how cruel after your first night out in so long.

Am doing not very much whilst DH helps the builder pour concrete and the DC are sleeping. Popped to Cribbs this morning to get them shoes (DD's first pair - so cute) and for lunch. Nothing for me, although I did spot this glorious jumper in Whistles, which is exactly what I've been looking for.

Kitchen sounds great red. It's worth getting it right. I spend ages in mine. I have pale wood and black granite tops, and a big black smeg fridge, oh and black Venetian blinds!

How lovely that you and carciofi met up rufus. I am looking forward to investigating scarves further! I got in a bit of a bind watching the videos last night!

Something else I must share with you from my Style day. She suggested giving yourself a budget, ie a percentage of your monthly income, like 10%, putting it in a separate account and then knowing it is there for you for shopping so you don't feel guilty. It also makes you really focus on what you really want as you're not going to waste it on something that's not quite right.
Something I am going to aim for I think. I like the idea of saving for that cuff, but forgetting the 3K+ Chanel J12. I might get an oversized Swatch watch.
Dh noticed the new jeans straight away. He really liked them though.

Even your kitchen is Dramatic Classic Bloss! Sounds gorgeous. We've been dreaming about this kitchen for a very long time, so most of our ideas were formed before we began planning.

I am visiting my Mum in London from the 12th - 18th December. Might any London-based (or others who might be around) W&A'ers fancy a pre-Christmas drink?

I'm in on the London mini MU if it's on 17-18 as we are away the previous week. Will also have pink ticket re. babysitting as it's my birthday on the 19th.

Kitchen porn making me - we need to hurry up and move so that I can indulge my fantasies. I have a friend who has the most amazing kitchen, bespoke German designed, it is just unbelievable. Of course she is neighbours with some incredibly famous people so has rather a bit more money to play with but whenever I go round there I just feel like I'm in an episode of Cribs (with taste)...

Scan was fine, held off finding out the sex, despite itching to know!

red, that sounds lovely, and very similar to what I would like. In fact I had something like that in my old house that I put in. I have put some pictures on my profile for you. Love the sound of the marble pantry too. Yes, I would be around for pre-Christmas drinks. Nice jumper, I saw it on the Elle website earlier. Love the sound of Like, btw.

Bloss, very interesting what your consultant said about saving some money. I was thinking today that I need to put by some money every months so I don't get stung next September with my annual nursing register fee's, but saving for quality purchases sounds like much more fun. Oh, don't forget the £1.5K for a 2.55 as well!

NY Hope that you have a wonderful weekend with DH.

Great to hear that carciofi and rufus met up, and funny that you have so many people in common.

Sorry to hear you have been ill Amber, but it sounds like you had a great night out though.

We might be putting the building work back to start next spring, which would be a nightmare in terms of a new baby being about, but saves us £££ in mortgage redemption fees. So any thoughts I had of starting look at interiors have been banished. No clothes, no farrow and ball....I'll be chucked off the thread soon!!!

I mean, I love the sound of LUKE, not Like.

Thoughts of his toned body are effecting my typing.

Just read my original post back, full of mistakes and typos.

Please forgive me.

It was Luke's fault.

Hello all. Sorry to have not kept up with everything. Have had a busy couple of weeks. Had weekend away just DH and I. Our first weekend away without children for 3 years!!! Our lovely nanny stayed over at our place and took on the DCs. So now we know we can go away.......

Have just got back from little trip away with DD. I took her away for the night last year just to have some mummy daughter time. Otherwise her brother tends to demand all my attention. Anyway this is something we are going to do every year. We went to the new forest and I had a go at horse riding for the first time in 30 years. OMG. They had me on a horse which was half shire horse. Apparently he is the most docile horse in the yard for a hopeless case like me. He had feet the size of dinner plates! He was huge. They had to take me to a special high mounting block to get on him. It was like riding an elephant. DD was completely fearless on her ride and kept asking if we could go faster. Luckily the lovely stable girl who was leading us out saw my White face and kept us at a sedate walk. DD got her revenge today though as we went back for another ride. Just my dd this time and she wasted no time in trotting off leaving me to jog beside her.....

I have only skimmed the thred but in no particular order...

bloss your style day sounds spot on. I see you as dramatic. Love love love the AMC scarf in blue. It is absolutely your colouring. Get it!! EMO I am not sure I see you as natural. You are too striking...by the way have posted your top. Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy few days.

frizi your school run outfit sounds spot on.

NY do you ever just slob?! you always seem to be going off/just back from a run. Admirable.

WAN so pleased scan was good. I admire your restraint. Ignore your mother. That is a totally useless thing to say...

Amber so sorry you have had a rough night.

red your kitchen sounds lush (as does yoursbloss). I am definatly up for a cheaky christmas meet up....

Red count me in for Christmas do. Can non-Londoners make it?

There is a good sale on at Elias&Grace atm. I bought this silver dot dress for a friend's dd for £10 (rather than over £60. cheap!).

That was a general, can any non-Londoners make it question....

Thanks marsha. I would love to do Christmas drinks, but it's a difficult time of year, so can't say for sure. My hair's going to need seeing to by then though, so will be in London at some point in late November/December.

wan, I meant to wish you well earlier about your scan. I admire your restraint!
Re the chanel 2.55, my consultant said that the annina wasn't really structured enough for me, so it seems that it I should save up!

Also meant to commiserate with you amber. Hope you feel better soon.

Laughing at the image of ants on a shire horse. Good for you! How lovely to spend some quality time with your dd like that. And how good you can go away with your dh.
I shouldn't laugh because there is a slight possibility I will be on a mountain bike tomorrow.

You know, I love my kitchen, but it was DH in a rare moment of decisiveness who insisted on the black Smeg!

Some lovely stuff on that site marsha.

Glad the scan went well Wan, it's lovely to get a little peep at them isn't it?I used to feel all fuzzy for ages after a scan. (And I'm not a really clucky, clucky person)
Would really like a 2.55, would have to put away 10% of income for a long time I fear! Love the sound of a black Smeg as well.Carciofi paid me a lovely complment when she said that I reminded her of you Bloss.
I really like the sound of your kitchen Red, especially the large pantry with the marble shelf for cheese.
I've really enjoyed the scarf video. I default to the European knot, which I term the chimney sweep look. I like the Mira and the braid, and I am off to practise!
Have a beef rendang on the go, and chocolate brownies are just out of the oven! Coming over all Nigella!

Great to hear about your time with dd Ants. I managed a girly break away at the Turnberry Hotel a couple of years ago (absolutely lush spa btw) and we all went horse riding whilst we were there. None of us had ever been riding before and despite being given docile old nags we were terrified .

WAN- delighted the scan went well and well done on restraint.

Like the kitchen chat. Ours is.... Ok, I suppose. Nice big double range cooker, room for dishwasher etc. But overall not that big and def not dream kitchen but more than serviceable for now.

Christmas drinks great idea and will def make it if I can, however I am with Bloss as a non-Londoner at that time of year may not be able slot in a trip to London. You will never find a dare that suits all though- so just go for it and I am sure as many people as poss will show. That week at the moment has 4 social events in for either DH or I (3 of which I am going to) and that is before I think about DDs 'stuff'. I could possibly see you all though!

That is lovely rufus!
Your dinner sounds great too. Don't know what we're having yet. I made quiche for lunch and sticky gingerbread. Need to get back on the wagon pronto! May just do tonight!

Hope you have a great weekend away notyummy. You'll have to tell us where you went after you come back!

On the subject of Luke WAN, even DH gets distracted by him. He keeps on talking about how big his hands/shoulders/arms are. Honestly, he looks like some kind of Gladiator. DH confided that he felt rather inadequate when raking concrete next to him! Your ex-kitchen will be very similar, colour-wise; looks just as i want ours to. Love the butler's sink, but DH wouldn't budge; thought I'd break it. Lovely to hear your scan went well, like Rufus they make me all fuzzy too.

Ants you had me LOL with your horse-riding rendition. Hilarious. How lovely for you to have that time with DD. My Mum took me away at 8, just the two of us, to Barcelona. It's my strongest memory from childhood and one I still cherish. And, fantastic that you have got the nanny set-up in place for weekends away with DH.

For a mini (or not so, as the case may end up being) MU to celebrate Christmas/WAN's b'day/Amber's b'day should we say Saturday 17th December? A Saturday could maximise potential for out-of-Londoners to pencil in a spot of Christmas shopping and a drink.

Am very much enjoying these through the keyhole type glimpses at W&A houses!

Am loving the letching at the builder .

Your story about Barcelona made me remember a similar (but not as glamorous...) story Red. My dad took to me to Brighton for the day when I was about 9 or 10.I'm not sure what my mum was doing tbh. We had a ball! We went round the Royal Pavilion and then had a slap-up lunch there and then went down the pier and went on every ride there, tried our hand at all the side shows and generally had fun (and icecreams..) I remember it vividly.

Such lovely memories red and notyummy.

My builder gave me years months of fantasy material. I see him in town sometimes. He gives me a slow wink out of his piercing blue eyes.

Great! Sat 17th in the diary.

Ah am alone. Children are asleep. Dh in Birmingham. (he hardly ever travels for work! Some show, private view thing).

Builders. No good looking ones here.

Just lost post grr

Ants thank you so much for top you are the best top picker in town ! Please send me payment details !

Back tomorrow to report on fake tan and packing for SA trip

Struggling to keep up with thread sorry x

Evening all, sorry for being awol-have missed you all!

verity how awful. Sounds like you did well to get yourselves and possessions safe. Really hope things are sorted as soon as possible. Look after yourself.

wan congrats on scan & restraint. Did you get some good pictures? Mine looks decidedly chimp like!

bloss style day verdict sounds spot on. I would ignore jewellery advice though and stick to your expensive classic pieces.

Ooh- kitchen porn- v timely. We're making some decisions on ours tomorrow and am v unsure about worktops. Have only ever had cheapy ones which have been fine to be honest so don't know where I am with granite/wood etc. Am definitely having an island but don't know what to have on/in it. Lots to sort!

We are visiting my parents that weekend in December so will be nearby. I did have a half formed plan to bring dd to London on that Saturday anyway if anyone fancied a lunch or coffee with children before you all go out -and get trashed on champagne again for more sophisticated adult drinks

Running in to say sorry for not posting for a few days - very, very, very busy visit from sister and her DC. They leave this evening so Im looking forward to catching up later. Has felt most strange not reading/posting the thread!

Distraught to find the Top Shop Sequin top is not a keeper - I really love it off the hanger but its just the wrong shade of pink for me - my skin disappears when I put it on. Tried to convince myself it was fine but my sisters reactions was "God no"!

I will post a pic later to get your opinions (which shows you how much I want to like it as I NEVER post pics of me!)
Gutted esp as it means I now have to start afresh with a a party outfit with 2 weeks to go! So I now have a size 12 sequin top up for grabs if anyone is interested?

Did you see the Spring 2012 Boden Preview site is up? here

ollie Get the Zara sequin jacket and wear with simple white T, black Agnes and M&S patent heels.

Well said fritzi!
I just had the best time mountain biking! I wore all black: north face puffa jacket, sweaty betty bootcuts (grim indeed!) and Chanel Rouge Coco ballet rousse lipstick (quite dark but more wearable than rouge noir). I am now mud splattered. I found it exhilarating and often left the other 2 behind. Such fun!