Avidly plotting to Wisely splurge. Come on the sales!

[blossoming]

Just bought the Me & Em maxi. Well I had a code..

for ollie and Fritzi's day.

Have fun ladies!

A good plan, if you have it.

Now my turn to feel grumpy as dh is out somewhere nice. Last minute so no babysitter.

And no run on this lovely late night. Grr

Oh well had lovely day and friends liked my dress.

Oh have fun in Brighton!

I'm in a grump today too. I call it post nice weather trauma syndrome. Also I want to be 26 again and going straight from work to drink pints with the boys (half term starts today). Have booked to go with them at the end of next half term though.
Hope you have a fantastic time ollie and fritzi. Really .
Thanks for the heads up on the Me & Em returns decam. What was I thinking. A bit of heat stroke there I fear!

That's good Bloss, booking it in that is.

I wish dh would plan in advance so I could join in. Have sent a cross text. Luckily he sent a nice one back!

Oh just heard from friend, going out next week. Phew! (argh too many posts)

Am browsing Boden preview. There's an awful lot of stuff I like, but not a whole load that I love. Which is unsurprising, but I had high hopes after the sneak peek. Still too much bloody Fun.

Most definitely everything. You know you're right. Well done for speaking out.

Hope you all have lots of nice events planned for the Jubilee weekend. Pimms, cucumber sandwiches and coronation chicken anyone? I haven't tasted Pimms in years, and remember thinking at the time that it was like drinking a glass with coppers in it. I'm sure my palate has matured by now though
Long weekend here, weather muggy, but at least it's not raining.
Took today off, so an extra long weekend for me, but spent the whole afternoon, doing pickups drop offs from school, dancing, birthday partying. I deserve that nice Chataneuf tonight. Mind you, I'm having burgers to go with it! Homemade, with sirloin mince, but still. Clearly I'm a chav.
Great buy Decam, I love that Farhi top. Saw our mutual friend today at one of my many pick ups, and she mentioned your homecoming and dinner!
I often get that Friday grump too Bloss and hanker for those times, when I had absolutely no responsibilities and could just head off. It always strikes me when I am going through town on a Thursday or Friday evening, and think fondly of the times I could just go late night shopping if I felt like it, or meet people in an impromptu get together.
You lucky, lucky ladies Ollie and Fritzi. A style day in Brighton. The glamour. Sound like you got good buys as well Ollie. I like the sound of those chinos.
I bought a pair of "trousers" last weekend. Can't link as they were from a boutique. They look like a maxi skirt on, and are a lovely blue with a print of swallows. Plan on heading to Zara to search out a white knit to wear on top. (as recommended by the shop assistant)
Have you been watching Dublin Housewives Portia? When you come home on Monday Decam you must watch on the player. (TV3) It. Is. Hysterical.
5 air heads who are deluded by their own importance and that they are a valid template for anyone else. It is car crash tv at its best. I was showing it to my Dsis yesterday evening on the player. She was entranced, and kept shutting the kids out of the kitchen, so she wouldn't miss a second! Must. See. Tv. I even had DH watching, and that is a first. You just can't tear yourself away, and are transfixed with traumatised fascination.

You are resassured SE. I know someone who fell asleep with their 1 day old on their chest, and they fell on the floor.(from a hospital bed to a hard floor. Imagine the impact) Fortunately they were fine.

Have fun, Fritzi and Ollie. I am in my pajamas and browsing the Boden preview. Yeesh. In days gone by, I would have been on my third glass of white wine by now. Now I mostly have wine in the kitchen and I don't mean U2's place.

Rufus, you can't beat a good burger. I will look out for the show. From what part of Dublin are they?

I tried on the darn shoes I bought today and the grippy bit is missing from one of the heels so I will have to trek to Russell and Bromley with the two girls tomorrow afternoon to exchange them.

Everything, you are right to say it. I remember being warned about it in the NCT class.

Yes it can be a bit dangerous. I remember it too.

I quite like this dress with the belt. Otherwise could be shapeless.

Good for you Everything.

Share the desire to be flitting out for drinks. I am going to be building a 2 foot high dolls house and knight's castle after another attack of the over-generous step-father. The kids are going to be so excited in the morning. Shall do so with a few glasses of white wine though.

Good idea. Hope I have them as I need them for my two, yes, TWO nights out next week!

Rufus, we had Pimms at our wedding, DH's uncle (a teetotaller) thought it was iced tea and had a big glass. He was horrified when he realised it was an alcoholic drink, poor man.

It's going to be like Christmas, Red.

Great dress, Marsha.

They are from all over Decam, both sides of the city. Google it. You'll probably recognise some of the names. Truly laughable.
Agree Red, wine always helps assembly of those items! Christmas Eve is always a terror here, and DH loathes assembling. He gets all cranky, and loses essential pieces etc. I quite like it though. Feel a sense of achievement afterwards!

rufus, this is a great knitted vest top. I have it in navy. You'd need to size down though, mine is a S.
I have compromised and redone my make up and straightened my hair, just for DH's arrival from London. Then I shall drink copious amounts of red wine!

Ooh! I like that Bloss.
I'm off to put on some fake tan. Have got some Vita Liberata for face now as well. Mitt at the ready!

Childcare is hard red.

It is all expensive in this country as v little subsidy (compared to other European countries, etc).
The nursery costs sound fairly typical. It might be worth looking around at other nurseries as I'm sure that some will agree to just term times. (Our next door neighbours are both teachers and she is shortly returning to work after her first and they are doing term time only care for her). I also know that quite a lot of childminders will do term time only as it can work well with them as their school aged DC get more of their attention during the holidays!
I have never employed a nanny but have looked into it and the sort of wage will be usually be £9-11 per hour gross depending on the area of the country and experience so that works out even more expensive potentially. They may also not want to do term time only working as it may just mean less income (unless they can do holiday clubs or something else the rest of the time). The advantage of a nanny is that there is less charging around in the mornings and that the nanny can get the DC dressed, fed, etc. Also, they can still after the DC when they are poorly so you won't have that stress to deal with as they do tend to pick up lots of minor illnesses at nursery. Also, potential flexibility if you are delayed.
Advantages of nursery are that you don't have to worry about the whole employer aspect and all that pitfalls that can come with it, they are always available (i.e. no sick days), the mixing with other DC as they get older and generally a bit cheaper.
Annie- I would personally be a bit miffed with a nanny that didn't clean up after herself and cook for the DC! Basic tidying up, kids laundry/ ironing and cooking for the DC is a standard part of the job, surely? It's not as if you have three pre schoolers. :) You are obviously more lovely and tolerant that I am.

bloss- lovely WC maxi. I also like the pleated V neck and the twisted neck one. The good stuff at WC does seem to feel out prior to the sale doesn't it?

I am thinking of buying some more Lotta high heeled clogs as they were so useful last year. (I am v comfort driven at present)!!