Stepping into 2012 in style, remaining WISE and AVID all the while

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New thread.

Very true - got carried away there for a bit. icey and MIM might help A even out the score soon so he's not the only one

Will PM you now. Thanks so much!

MIM you missed a treat at the first MU..I managed to slip down the stairs and my shoe flew into the air Mr Bean style..unfortunately my life is peppered with unedifying moments like these but it was great for letting me know that all the S and Bers were kindly as well as stylish girls as they didn't insist I leave the group

MUs have definitely been highlights for me..I'm afraid I am better at keeping in touch with this thread than my RL friends and as a very erratic poster that is quite worrying.

ants I am very impressed by your hangover purchase..I have just put onto the ebay pile a coat I bought the morning after a spectacularly big night many years ago in my yoof because it was cuddly [sceptical] ..not really the ideal critea for coatbuying but I was in a bad way!

thanks for the lemon juice tip carciofi will try it now

SO what is everyone doing this evening then? We are staying in and going to bed early. Crazy times! But poor DH has been working very late to make up for a bit of time off over the last week. Worked through the night until 7.30am last night/morning Working again today on 1hr sleep but taking Sun/Mon off - yay!

Also icey and mim I have two Isabella Oliver tops if either of you want them? The ruched tank, one in french navy and one in khaki, size 1 which is 8/10. Any good?

Aww, lovely posts!

Well due to an irritating baby who will not take milk from any source but her mother (nice now she's teething), DH and I are staying in and doing the Pub Quiz Night In kit I got him for Xmas! I will be stylishly attired in what I have on now - white Vince T, J Brand jodhpurs and purple Superga trainers. Sartorial elegance personified!

amber if it helps I am wearing black leggings, a long white vest and my DKNY cozy. Topped off with a santa hat (thanks DC). Very much loungewear and not remotely glam. But hey, if you're not going anywhere, might as well opt for comfort!

fleecy meant to say your possible move to Spain sounds very exciting.

am impressed that both you and amber are not going to be in pajamas..my outfit of choice for the last 2 NYE but since we are going to friends round the corner I will probably go with the red Paul and Joe

annie if you don't want your hair can I have it?

what are you cooking red and how many people are you having over?

So many lovely posts. This thread has meant an awful lot to me this year and I second (third? fourth?) the sentiment that it has helped me through a lot of emotional and physical upheaval. Thank you one and all. I have loved my mini-MUs and the bigger one and have been thrilled to discover that all ladies are as, if not more, lovely as they appear online. An early Happy New Year to you all.

WAN i''m stealing your resolution to look after the marriage a bit more.

Cooking for 10 but I'm only doing the main and it's Nigella's Beef a la Carbonnade. We're going to drink much champagne. Had my hair cut this afternoon and it's a bit mushroomy about which I am feeling slightly morose, but will crack on with the drinking to overcome.

red I am sure your hair looks lovely.....am just glazing a massive ham. Will change into sequins in a bit

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Thank you for the kind offer fleecy, but I suspect that they would be a bit small for me. Really kind of you to offer though.

DH came back from the supermarket with nice food for tonight, so looking forward to strak and chips.

red I am never happy with my hair the day the hairdresser has cut it, I think it always needs to fall into place a bit which takes a few days.

Hope everyone has wonderful evenings.

Our neighbour friends have changed the plans - cocktail party will now start after midnight . Oh dear, I feel it will be a messy evening! I may even have an hours sleep later on to help me cope!

DH and I have just let off a few fireworks with DSs (fireworks on NYE are huge over here - the ones in our street will go on for at least an hour at midnight as all the neighbours come out, let fireworks off and pass bottles of champagne up and down the street - most of which end up empty around our house - no idea why.....!).

About to make coq au vin with mashed pots for DH and I and I've done a coffee roulade made with chocolate chip cookies dipped in coffee and sandwiched then covered with cream - so easy and v calorific tastey.

Speaking of which, DH weighed ourselves earlier - I know I'd put on a 'bit' but was genuinely shocked by how much - bigger than this time last year when I started shredding and not drinking the week etc which I've obviously not stuck to since about October!

Ladies, I have much work to do to get back into shape - once the roulade, champers and cocktails are finished obviously!!!

Hope you all have lovely evenings - looking forward to a few drunken "I love you guys" messages later!

Hi all! I am loving the descriptions of the preparations for tonight with fab good and outfits. Have a great time those of you who are partying! Ants- you are a brave woman to do it all over again . Reine- Hope the lemon juice trick works. Tonight is a very quiet night. I am cooking a new steak recipe from the Jamie Oliver cookbook I got for Christmas- and I suspect I will be in bed long before Midnight . I am absolutely knackered (not sure why- could it be the MIL departing today...?) I need some rest before we hit London tomorrow. Have cut back on the packing and am wearing TS polka dot dress (another great buy I forgot to list yesterday) with opaques and grey biker boots for the daytime tomorrow, with coated skinnies, M and S heels and sequined top for the evening. Same jeans, different top and boots for the following day. Got the swimming costumes packed too!

Hope you all have great NYEs!

Quick question for Londoners- where would be the single best place to go for Christmas lights that will impress 5 year old dd?! Am not trailing around loads of places as we are only on a flying visit and I suspect there will be an awful lot if people around because of the parade. Really looking toward to The Railway Children as well!

NY here for info re lights.

ollie you'll just have to brace up for tonight by the sounds of it.

Ooh thanks MIM! Looks like Oxford St and South Molton mean I could do two in one....and perhaps St Pancreas on the way home....

Did anyone else watch The Borrowers? Not much like my memory of the books tbh, but fab cast and I thought it had a lovely feel.

olly I WANT TO MOVE TO HOLLAND!

love reading everyones NYE plans and prep, we are having night in, DH cooking an asian tuna dish which I love. Might go to bed before midnight! I have decided next year we will do "something" after ten years of doing not much. And spend xmas on a beach. hmmmm, better get saving.

keeping my eye on the sales as the discounts rise. Can always use flats for to and from work, have my eyes on this navy and red knit breton dress as seen on WIT also seen on Pixie Lott but that hasn't put me off.

DH reading over my shoulder SO ANNOYING! Laughing at me wanting to move to Holland

PS reine I grinned at hoisery armageddon!

Yes, yes, yes move to Holland Emo! The house next to ours is for sale and its lovely - I would love that!!!!

Actually Im serious about having a W&A meet up over here - we can all wear frocks and waft around on bikes - and of course, there could be a special guest appearance by MIL - just for Pickled who always enjoys an OiO MIL story

Ollie, the plans for tonight sound fab, very envious! (actually if we had an hour of fireworks here, I'd probably start grumbling about keeping the baby awake, but hey, in my imagination and with slightly older children, it sounds fab!). Actually A is almost 18 months now, I should probably stop calling him a baby - but as he isn't quite walking, he is not yet a toddler!

My preparations for tonights are well underway - quarter crispy aromatic duck, spare ribs, chilli beef, chicken satay and fried rice! Wine in the fridge, sorted!

Have a great night everyone!

Yes - the hosiery armageddon made me laugh too. I am also guilty of this - I have ridiculous numbers of tights!!

love the idea of a Dutch meet up, could we all wear an orange item of some kind for purposes of identification....?! With enough notice count me in! and yes yes yes to MiL special guest appearance. Also Mr Olly ?

hope everyone has a fun evening whatever they are doing, NY enjoy your London trip, I recommend the lights in Elizabeth Street Belgravia for grown ups - so so pretty, chandeliers seemingly in mid air. Also there's a Peggy Porschen oink oink cake shop at one end for a light snack....

I threw out about 20 pairs of socks the other day. So liberating!
I have friends from Cardiff staying. The mutual friends at whose wedding DH and I were witnesses and the rest is history! Made a buffet tea, made boiled ham, quiche, pizzas, salad, charcuterie, pâté, etc. Finished with M&S chocolate panettone. Delish.
Ready for bed now!

DD and I have just had the biggest laugh making mini baked alaskas, meringue everywhere!

Would definitely love to meet your gorgeous hubbie boys Ollie, not sure about your MiL though .

Family bowling this evening, DS1 won and 'the baby' (he's 4.5 Apuski) came 2nd. I am a rubbish bowler however I am fab at scalextric and qwirkle. Jolly japes with the kids here this evening and The Last Airbender to watch.

Love the sound of your evenings, have lots and lots of fun everyone, see you next year .