So, Spring has Wisely sprung and MU was Avidly done, now we're planning for Summer sun!

[AmberNectarine]

new thread!

Thanks for caring pickled. I'm going to pass though. Just saw my CC statement. It's been a £££ one, with MU and everything!

Reine, thanks. Btw, excellent cake. DH thinks I am mean to have ordered DD1's birthday cake but he wasn't offering to make it either. I can do Christmas cake, banana bread, coffee cake and chocolate cake and I think that's quite good in an age where Waitrose deliver. And I was brought up by a woman who didn't bake!

Everything, very unfair to be ill during your time off work, get well soon.

Emo, maybe get the Me & Em dress in another colour? I also found workwear harder when it was hot.

I hope they make another series of The Killing. I am on a Good Wife extravaganza right now.

Missed your post there reine. How exciting about your venture! And how lovely that you have nice people at your school gates. My school gate mums are nice too but I think there are cliques everywhere, sadly where there are women. Swimming on a Friday is full of them. I really hope DS moves out of this level tomorrow, so I can change times.

Bloss I love baking but I bought DS2's first birthday cake. I just could not be bothered . Nobody seemed to mind a Waitrose butterscotch cake though.

I am kind of looking forward to a week or two of cooler weather, even though I have loved the sunshine - I need more time to organise some kind of summer wardrobe!

Mrs CB Am trying DP maxis as well!
Am normally a 12 but wonder whether to size up for less cling......

I am very lucky and have made some really 'me' friends with children since having DS - through my ante natal group and then through his various activities. I've had some funny looks and snubs too though! No school gate experience yet as he hasn't been to nursery or preschool as yet but wil start at a lovely school in a local village in September. I am half excited half dreading seeing my baby all grown up - and in a uniform! Looking forward to meeting the other mums; hope I fit in!

I don't feel I have made as much as I could have of the lovely weather, mostly due to tiredness. Enjoyed pottering in the garden though, even just hanging out the obscene amounts of washing in the sunshine. Also, I feel the cold so badly that even this week has only really been jeans and lightweight long sleeved top weather for me, although I have shed jacket and boots! It's annoying really as I do love summer clothes and have masses of dresses (similar number to you red!) but barely wear them all owing to extreme 'neshness' (not a word but hope you know what I mean!) and also laziness with fake tan on the stupidly white legs. Must do better this year.

Got ID-d buying wine at the supermarket this afternoon! My delight short lived though. 'I'm 34!' I shrieked merrily. 'Oh yes,' the woman agreed, 'now I look closely I can see you're much older than I first thought.' Oh. At least I look young from a distance!

Jealous of the primark sprees. Feel very short of money at the moment as bought quite a bit and stopped tutoring.

Another plea for a great hotel in the Cardiff area? bloss?

Get well soon fleverything. Sorry to be rubbish about responding to everyone. You are all great comfort to me during these night stints. Difficult with just my phone and one hand though.

Right, back to sleep I hope. DD is snoozing on my shoulder. 6 weeks already!

ooh nearly forgot..have an amazing holiday red ,also have to thank you for turning me onto 'the good wife' I love it!have been watching werner herzog's death row series and recommend..intense but brilliantly done.

blue you must be exhausted,just remember to be kind to yourself.

well done annie's DD1 and great you can make the concert.have pmed you.have you done 'my naughty little sister' my girls are loving it..sums up my dd2 to a tee and I think your's may be similar

pickled I loved your description of 'snuffly newborn rooting' ..very evocative

Morning everyone. You're up early reine!
blue, sorry, I did mean to get back to you re hotels near Cardiff. There are 2 five star options: the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport (very traditional and golf, my cousin married there), and the lovely St David's Hotel and Spa in Cardiff Bay. Well worth the prices if it's a treat you're after. We had our wedding party there, and they upgraded us to a suite afterwards. Lovely, and lots of bars and restaurants, but a taxi ride into town. Last year for the rugby I stayed in the Radisson Blu: opposite the new John Lewis complex in the middle of town. Had a great time there. Really liked it. There's also the Hilton, also in the middle of town, with a stainless pool on the top floor - a bit weird! Great location though, and the Park Plaza is round the corner. I haven't stayed there but have eaten there: it has a lovely bar and restaurant. I have heard good things about an apartment boutique hotel on Cathedral Road, which is walkable distance into town and surrounded by parks. Cardiff has improved so much since I left. The shopping is great, but no Russell & Bromley. That's a deal breaker for me!
My last day of work before the holidays today. I have had a great half term. I have found some brilliant books for my kindle and have been reading avidly; I really enjoyed the MU. I have lost 7lb thanks to MFP and I have been avidly riding my new bike. And the sun has been shining. Happy days.
Hope everyone has a great Friday.

Goodness i feel rough this morning. All self inflicted tho, met friends at one of their homes and got home at 2am! On a school night no less! Head is throbbing and i have get the house ready for my sisters early arrival tomorrow. Not good.

Poor ollie I just did a 10 minute blitz tidy-up in the worst rooms and it looks so much better already. I'm sure your sister would rather you had a lie-down now and share a bottle of Prosecco with her tomorrow than exhausting yourself by cleaning the house

bloss I find you are such an inspiration health and exercise-wise. Hope you get to show off your well-earned figure in a bikini on your holiday!

Bloss you are so impressive with the diet and exercise! I am struggling hugely at my parents (just down the road from the celtic manor, as it happens) as they basically live off carbs - I should have brought more stuff with me.

I have decided to start running, purely so I can eat more food - I much prefer exercising to dieting!

Ollie back to bed with you!

Blue aren't you quite small? Prob why you feel the cold. I have plenty of insulation

Thanks so much, bloss. Very helpful indeed. I'll check them out today. We're going to my cousin's wedding at Canada Lodge in June; it'll be a nice little break for the two of us, though not sure how I'll feel leaving DD.

hopefully you definitely don't have lots of insulation, we've seen the pictures! But yes I could do with a little more padding, both to keep me warm and to smooth all the wrinkles...

Just dropped DS off at MiL's and have whole day free with DD. A gentle stroll, coffee in the sunshine sounds good. Funny, I'm wearing indigo j brands with my whistles stripy sweatshirt and the jeans feel really wrong, just realised I always wear colour nowadays!

Have lovely Fridays everyone.

I too am very lucky with great people at ds' school. Really lovely, happy, positive. We all get on really well. Tis nice!

Lovely coffee in the sun...

And drum roll. I have started running. Feeling good!

Afternoon all - am going a little crazy in the throes of packing/unpacking/organising/collecting tiles and sundries for bathroom/kitchen. Am meant to be going to an overnight hen do tomorrow, but can't see how I'm going to manage it - would mean DH getting me and going straight to airport, but I just opn't trust him to bring/remember everything and empty bins/clear fridge and so on. Think I may have to bail, which is a shame, but the right thing to do, no?

Reine am so glad you are enjoying The Good Wife. I find myself wanting to reach in and give Alicia a good firm shake. Am I the only one? Decam?

Blue I know what you mean - I always feel odd in indigo jeans now. Lovely Whistles dress.

Bloss you sound so happy, hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Pre-School gates for me are truly comprehensive and wonderful because of it.

Right, must pack. How are you feeling Ollie?

So DP finally home yay ! and the weather turns cold typical.

I`m looking forward to hearing about your venture Reine

blue have a lovely day with your DD all this baby talk is making me broody.
I loved St. Davids in Cardiff not been to the Celtic manor yet.

Decameron I`m sure I will be when you get your AH.

I was looking at the sell stuff website that ebay`s for you, they collect it and you get sent a cheque when it sells. One idea to fund a new AH :)

Well done bloss you must be at your goal weight now ?

Get well soon fle & Ollie

Have a fantastic hoilday Red

Well done on no/low spending annie lucky you re DHs cake making. I suspose its lucky mine can`t replicate his skills or I would never mind any clothes to fit.

Off to start DP`s mound of washing and cook lunch while he plays cars !

mind= find

red, you were my inspiration to try coloured denims this week. I thought you looked lovely in your blue ones at lunch that day. Maybe I'm too old, or I'll just count grey as 'coloured'!
Thanks for the comments aswell andFritzi and hopefully*. I hope I don't annoy people with my positive outlook sometimes. Maybe I watch too much Jillian!
Only 2 lessons left this pm. And a maximum of 12 remaining with my Yr 9 horribles. That's bad isn't it!
Sunny again today. Having beans on toast. Making room for wine etc later.

X post slay. I think I am at goal weight. My mum just said to me not to lose any more weight, which is a good sign! I think, because I carry all my weight on my belly, when I lose enough weight to have a nice toned belly, the top half of me gets maybe a bit too thin. Worth it though.
Must be so nice to have your DH home, although I guess it will take some adjusting to at first!