Avidly gazing at spring/summer looks, while Wisely purchasing caghouls......

[notyummy]

Hi all!

Sorry about the rain/hairdo situation Hopefully.

I am eating G and Bs Mint dark choc as I write Verity.

Bloody cold here. And wet.

Absolutely not to Kiefer. Have you seen Band of Brothers Amber? That's when I fell for Damian. And like you, NY, am not normally a lover of the red-headed man.

Bloss what sort of green skirt were you thinking of. Would this Monsoon one work? here

I am a bit predjudiced against redhaired men, as I dated one once who was a total tool. I feel the same about Greek-Cypriots. Unfair, but hey.

Tie dye jeans coming along.

DH has annoyed me, swore blind this morning he was going for one drink then coming home for dinner. Needless to say dinner is going into the fridge for tomorrow. Tuna sandwich for one.

When I was 15 I dated a red head who was trying to grow a moustache (he couldn't...) He had grey trousers and slip on shoes.

In my defence, it was the 80s.....

Here you ladies are!

I have been too intimidated to host childrens' parties after the age of 2 and have shamefully outsourced them year upon year. Too much stress, and at the age of my elder son, they are more interested in things like laser tag than pass the parcel! HOWEVER, I think that the chocolate game sounds like something that any age would enjoy.

suburban, looking forward for the spread in the DM (or Daily Hate Mail as I think of it). Just be your stunning self, and we will be prepared to disarm any red arrow who would dare to show up!

Hopefully, hope that the blow dry was salvageable. Sounds like something which would happen to me with my car - I always get my car cleaned just prior to a massive rainstorm .

Verity, G&B almond is the creation of the Devil! I cannot have just one square. Oh no, must scarf down the whole bar - and sometimes 2. Have you tried their toffee bit one, or their crispy rice? Aggggghhhhhh!

Marsha, I have a classic Burberry trench given to me from my mum. Have never worn it, but I can't seems to give it away due to guilt. Incidently, the Korean word for trench coat is "bar-bar-ie" - i.e., a Koreanization of Burburry!

Reine - definitely enjoy the cava - you earned it!

Ants: Happy Birthday! Love the dress and the bag. DVF is just perfect for any occasion, and so comfortable. Hope you do something fun to celebrate.

Ollie: hope your mood improved. You can use the sprays on bags (obviously try on an inside bit first). I have done so in the past with no harm done to the bags.

blue: SO what did you get at Bicester? I had to restrain myself at Anya...but might just have to return and get a clutch. In terms of the dress, what shade is the pink?

Amber: One of the key reasons I did not seek to work immediately after having DS1 was the fact that DH just physically was not around. He missed the first 18 months of his first child's life as he was in NYC for 95% of it. When one partner (man OR woman) has a time consuming career which requires that they are absent, I think that the other one has to be there for the children.

karbea: so sorry about what you are going through. IVF is such a roller-coaster ride, and I cannot even imagine what it feels like to go through the ups and downs which you and your partner are going through.

Sorry if I've missed anybody!

Fingers crossed for a less wet weekend.

Oh yes blue so of Bicester. Might have to make a trip. My glittery AH clutch I took to MU was a Bicester find.

Mominatrix that must have been so hard, at least I have my DH at weekends!

SE I did not, would have involved boiling some rice (was waiting until he got home) and just couldn't be faffed when there is a sofa to be lain on and prosecco to be drunk...

Happy birthday Ants fab dress and great bag. I did laugh at the bag being described on the website as "perfect for holidays on the beach" which was obviously written by someone who doesn't have children. did you get your colours done in London? And if so would you recommend the person you saw? I'd like to get mine done but would prefer a recommendation.

red lovely picture, your little boy is so cute

DMBL40 lady has done a new post which made me laugh out loud.

Decam DD1 also had a playdate today, she and her little pal spent 3 hours charging round the house dressed as princesses, they both refused to eat any vegetables so I gave up and let them have cake for pudding.

I'm having a sad evening, friends have lost a baby late in pregnancy, I'm trying to write a card but i can't seem to find the right words.

I am drinking red wine and waiting for my PM from Reine...I'm thinking knitting now - am I hot or cold?

Red, you look so gorgeous in that photo, thank you so much for sharing. How old are the students you are tutoring? Are you excited about next week?

Amber, I'm so sorry I didn't get to chat to you at the MU, you're such a hoot. Where are you from originally? Don't worry if you don't want to say.

DD and DH are learning to row and have been attending classes this week. I am so . . I really want this job I'm interviewing for next week and if I don't get it I may be in need of virtual hugs.

Oh yes, Toby Stephens is rather nice too.

Pickled I have 2 yr 7s, 1 yr 9 and 1 yr 10, so a nice mix. I haven't been given much info from the school, so will be winging it a bit, but am really enjoying the planning I'm doing and very much looking forward to it. Everything crossed for you for the interview. What kind of post is it? Anything you need to teach or just interview-based?

NSG, sorry to hear of your friend's loss. It is so difficult to know what to say I'm sure.

And NSG I am so sorry to hear that; completely heartbreaking for them. I am not very good with words and bereavement, but am sure you will find the right thing to say.

Red, that's a lovely mix of students, you'll love it. Do you have an iPad? I've found mine v. useful when tutoring one to one. My interview is at a rather nice Uni for a collaboration with an Indian company (have always wanted to spend some time in India). There will be 2 interviewers from the Uni and 2 others via Skype . I 'passed' the pre interview task and it wasn't my finest work so on that basis I am hopeful . [What's for you won't pass you by and all that (as my lovely mother used to say)]

I'm from about 5 miles from where I live now pickled - SW London in other words. This apple didn't fall far from the tree. My DM is of Indian descent though which is why I look a bit jaundiced. I wish I'd been able to do the rounds more at MU - DD managed a whole evening without me last week so there is hope for the next one.

NSG how awful, happened to a friend of ours not long ago when I was pregnant with DD and I felt awful, to the extent I dodged her DH's birthday party as I felt I'd be flaunting it or something. Silly really, but she'd had enough heartache, I didn't want to risk causing any more. So hard to find the words.

How awful is it that I've just washed a pair of my maternity trousers which have been lurking at the bottom of the basket? DD getting on for 10mo. Skanky.

Best of luck pickled - I'm sure we'll be congratulating you soon!

Pickled that sounds great! Will have everything crossed. I have an Ipad; how do you use it in tutoring sessions (out of touch)?

Marsha my sister is going for some journo night out tomorrow at your place, look out for her should you happen to be there.

Does this 'place' have a rooftop pool?

I believe it does, Amber.

Ah, think I know where you mean then....

Well, my jeans look pretty good - will post pick tomorrow when dry!

Hello all!

I realise I have become a particularly slack part-timer on the thread, but I need your help! Having been initially uncertain after my first interview, I am now convinced I want the job I went for, but they have now asked me to come along for a third interview, this time with super senior glam Parisian lady. And I've used up my two interview outfits. So I plan to buy something new. Doesn't need to be a suit, but needs to involve a jacket in some way, which I do not have. Would rather dress or skirt, rather than trousers. Am deep autumn colours wise.

Help!

Red, I have an app calles iannotate that is essentially a pdf reader that you can annotate. So for example you could save some text as a pdf and let your student read it on the ipad and they could use the highlight function to highlight adjectives/nouns/connectives etc. You can also word process 'worksheets' and save them as pdfs and then students can fill them in on the ipad drawing lines from one column to the other to match synomyms and such like - all good fun.

Amber, no wonder you sound right at home where you are now ,

NSG simply say how sorry you are, offer practical help (don't know if they have DCs, if so say you would be delighted to take DC for an afternoon/ morning etc) do not say let me know what I can do, say that you will call and say that up would love to talk but equally understand if they don't want to. Call. Call several times if your friend is not up to talking she will want to talk at some time. Go round (if your friend wants you too) let them talk about baby if they want to. They may well have a name, memorial etc. alternatively they may just want the company but not to talk about the baby. Take your lead from them. Don't send flowers, everyone sends flowers, their house will smell like a florest and it will be overwhelming. Think along the lines of bubble bath, nice book, latest glossy mags, chocolate, a home cooked meal etc.

You are a lovely friend to be thinking of them.

Thats so sad about your friends NSG . What truely amazing advice Ants.

Would second the homecooked meal suggestion. A friend experienced the same loss and she said she was hurt that more friends didnt make contact at the time. She knew it was because they just didnt know what to say or were frightened of saying the wrong thing but its what she remembers most.

Have been smiling at the red hair posts. I was always a bit meh about red hair on boys (love it on girls) and then produced a red haired son. I adore the colour of his hair - and so do some of the girls in his class apparently. It makes him a little bit unique - and easy to spot in a busy playground.

Good advice there ants. So sorry for your frien nsg. For me the worst thing was still having to prepare food for everyone, so when people bought cake it was a relief as I'd have something to offer. You just have to say you're sorry for what happened. Those are really the only words.

Lots of lovely links for me yesterday, and a good edit there from fritzi I thought.
Which blue dress was it red? My linen one from JB, which is one of my best colours, like a chinese blue HoC call it; or my maxi? Don't like the maxi much!

Aarg, was just about to link the green skirt for ollie, when I saw this dress
was reduced. I've been looking at that dress for months! What is their sizing like I wonder. I ordered the M in the jumper.