Avidly plotting to Wisely splurge. Come on the sales!

[blossoming]

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

Fine words from your sensitive mother there Hopefully. Everyone has their stretched too thin moments and everything is just a phase. Take no heed.

Thanks for looking Amber, will pass on the pink, the only colours I need now are the more conventional; grey, indigo etc. Those Goldsign jeans are such a bloody bargain (relatively speaking, that is).

Bloss that is fantastic; OFSTED criteria is completely different and Outstanding is nearly unattainable, so take the credit where it's due! I saw this top and thought of you.

Have just had my offer letter sent to me - childcare is going to wipe the lot out! Boo hoo.

Also, in true fit of motherly love, she has decided to help out my appalling mothering not by occupying the boys for ten minutes or even sitting and playing with them with me (Ds2 teething, help to keep both happy would be useful). Oh no. She is defrosting, bleaching and scrubbing our fridge/freezer. Helpful in her own, very unique way

Red that's depressing. Will you start making some when one starts school or the other gets funded hours?

Fleecy I think re probably only ok of it's a very classic shape, fwiw.

red only ok.

I will Hopefully - but that will only be in a year's time. I'm not sure that I have any leverage to negotiate a higher salary (you can't really cite the expense of childcare as an option, can you?!). We need the extra money now! At least there'll be savings on the money I can't spend whilst I'm working.

Can you be very frank and instruct your mother with what it is specifically that you need help?

Oh what a shame red, but it is still worth it. That is a good top, although lacks structure [fussy]. Thanks for your kind words everyone.
I cannot believe it, but hot on the tail of red's 'benefits story' in our favourite website, I know someone in it today! Won't link, but hilarious. And well done him.
You are being very wise rufus. Did you read about the man from Westlife?

I like these shorts in the blue (ignores howling gale outside). Are they the ones dauphin has?

Well done Bloss.
And excuse all the bad punctuation and grammar.
Damn iPhone.
See what I mean?

What about the man from westlife?

Like those shorts!

Is bankrupt. Has £18 million pound debts after trying to build a housing estate in Ireland. Read it in the DM !
School run beckons. And I didn't buy anything yet.

Not really Red she gets all cross and tells me I'm bossy and demanding. Maybe I am. Will be great when we sort childcare as soon as we move, I don't think it's very good being at all dependent on her for childcare.

Bum re the childcare costs, we've had that problem repeatedly, and have basically ended up just not being able to afford anything at all. Not ideal, but I am a master of feeding a family for sub-£50 per week.

She sounds a bit like my Mum Hopefully - she says similar to me, only I saw it back to her. We're a bit more like sisters than we are mother/daughter. It's always been a bit like that. Not a useless skill at all - in fact, I need to get better at cutting our food bills down a bit. We spend a lot of money on food and I know if I were a little wiser, we could be spending much less. In about 2 years, when both DC are at school and DH has been promoted further, I am higher up the payscale and we have cleared a couple of bills, we will be in a much, much better position. I think I just have to hang on to that and keep my head down. This is why I should have waited for a bit longer before having children!

Red we're just coming out the other side of the awful poverty since I gave up work (although we will temporarily be worse off when we move, the £40 food shop and avoiding car journeys will be back in full force). I tell myself that people like us who had children young at least won't be taking career breaks again, so can keep on earning more from here on in (further DCs notwithstanding). It's a nice theory

red hopefully we are in the same position, it's fairly galling at the moment. I try and tell myself we will never be as poor as we are now but it does feel a bit never ending.

This is the thread I was talking about earlier, pretty interesting.

I am very close to my mum but there are certain issues including childcare I just have to bite my tongue over otherwise we would never speak to each other.

On a brighter note, am v pleased with this Gap jumper

Oh yes! Thats old hat here Bloss! In fact when he "relocated" to the UK, we knew it was so that he could declare bankruptcy there. Ireland is just too small.

Hi all!

Bloss - so good to hear your positive result. Well done!

Hopefully - sorry to hear about the less than helpful mother.

Red - look at the childcare as a joint cost (i.e if it wasn't for you DH would have to pay for it at the moment) and an investment (your pension provision/higher salary in the longer term because of career progression) etc) and it feels slightly better? Does take the shine off the initial success/excitment I know.

Pickled - glad to hear your start went well.

Fleecy - I wore the Chintzi and Parker today in a fairly conservative environment with opaques, courts and a blazer. Think it worked - and we are the same height I think? I am usually pretty careful about that sort of thing but think it was alright.

Massive trade show was very interesting and I learned all about farming/supply chain/research and development of different crops, plus got taken round loads of different stands. I was there as a guest of the National Farmers Union and they had pushed the boat out, so lots of presentations from MDs etc and a big push for why this sector is important for UK PLC. AND - I was complimented on the glittery hunters, which is obviously much more important than the rest of the stuff . Have never seen as many tweed jackets in my life though. It is not just a sweeping generalisation - they really do wear them. A lot.

Those farmers had good taste notyummy

I might get your sweater suburban. What's the sizing like? My favourite 'go to' sweater after work is also reduced here

Hi Bloss well done on the assessment must be such a relief to have it out of the way. I have got the jumper in a small, am usually an 8-10 on top and it's just right. Am so pleased with it might buy another colour too. I really like that stripey one, got something v similar in Oasis yesterday.

Fleecy I'd say Chinti and Parker rather than red.

Red so irritating about cc costs. It will get better but it's a bit harumph in the meantime.