Shall we Avidly sprint to the sales for some Wise purchases? Trench coats and cover ups, sadly.....

[notyummy]

There we go!

Were I to get a Mini Gracie, I'd go for the green one. But I'm saving up for the big navy 2.55. So I oredered a green Zatchel in the smallest size. The green goes well with all of my summer clothes. And I suspect it will be an one season only bag.

Getting dressed for a big party. Will wear my DvF dress.

Amber I would love to join you but most of my float around spending budget goes on cc. And it's a risky investment! Might have some good news from dh soon. A small thing then.

Red is a nanny cheaper?

Oh MiM I'm gutted for you, I know so well that feeling of dithering over something you want because you'd have to a conversation to explain why you want it so much. I really feel for you. On the other hand, the sales are only starting and between us all we will find one for you

Decameron I could write the book on disinterested grandparents, it's hard not to take it personally isn't it? My MIL couldn't care less about our dc. They are lovely children, it's her loss. Your poor dh, he must be wrecked. Are you getting a break during the holidays?

Dec and Red we are settling in now, the house is lovely, I really, really love the kitchen, and considering that's where I spend 80% of my time, it's just as well! I have unpacked all the boxes here, but theres more in storage and we are building an extension which for ridiculous reasons couldn't be done at the same time as the rest of the house. Should be finished in a few weeks though and then I'll be very happy

It's a nightmare isn't it? To work/ not to work/full-time/part-time/nursery/nanny/ have kids early in your career/have them later. It would fry your brain. There's no perfect way, it's all about muddling through and hoping your dc don't need therapy in the end.

So funny here, the "Catholic Olympics" are on across the road from us and all week we have had the constant background of choirs singing hymns, literally morning, noon and night. It's a bit surreal!

Ok, ladies what do we think of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=massimo+dutti+floral+skinny&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1920&bih=1018&tbm=isch&tbnid=jHn3e1SirOKCQM:&imgrefurl=www.frockcontrol.com/tag/monkee-genes/&docid=JR_P4SodFQPU4M&imgurl=www.frockcontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/5038845401_1_1_3.jpg&w=364&h=553&ei=60nbT7P5HeKP0AX76ezKCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=319&sig=103138997355263946081&page=1&tbnh=157&tbnw=113&start=0&ndsp=48&ved=1t:429,r:28,s:0,i:162&tx=56&ty=155" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these? One season wonder?

They look great there Verity. Sure you could wear them well too.

Oh I should just change my name to sheep....I have just taken delivery of previously mentioned floral jbrands a la fritzi! Love em!!!! Mhhhh and the sequin jacket from DMBL40 lady!!!
verity I love the sound of the catholic olympics......we have the Olympic bake-a-thon here tomorrow and am upto my elbows in cupcakes, rollos and chocolate chips.....prefer the sound of hymns at the moment!

Thanks Marsha, I think I'll keep them, I have lots they'll go with.

And thanks to a fashion fairy friend, I've just bought the shoes I missed out on this morning here and they were 180E in Brown Thomas. Isn't the internet great

Well, my dc probably don't think so, as I've barely looked at them all afternoon Better make a good dinner to make up.

I'll swap you a hymn for a cupcake Always!

yummy thanks for new thread and enjoy tonight,I'm sure you will look dynamite!how did the dentist go?

mim hope someone finds you another one soon

verity am jealous of your wonderful kitchen..we have a typical London shoebox!

the dec scarf arrived and I love it.highly recommend it looby
I wear tonnes of charcoal so will look great.

hopefully your mum is talking smack as my DH would say.I hope she is just being a ninny rather than aiming to wound.

Have playdate too fritzi am about to make chocolate chip muffins with them..dreading the sugar rush!

ollie I'm really sorry I wasn't around earlier.Am so busy with Fair stuff..am sure your DH will appreciate the boobs on sticks.would love to see your butterflies.I am drafting some tutorials at the moment so hopefully that might be useful in future.

can't really help on the childcare while working thing red as haven't been down that road yet.is it like the school thing where it feels huge at the time but a year on it's such a non issue?

ooh love those verity and meant to say fritzis too.

dona love love love! the coral dress (maxmara?) you bought from Matches.

always rollos is genius!

verity Catholic olympics,whatever next!

reine so not s&b but is your choc muffin recipe really chocolatey???? My darling children have signed up to make cupcakes, tray bakes, shortbread And chocolate chip muffins......have no really chocolatey recipe. Had been thinking of "forgetting" about the muffins as havent found a good recipe! What Are you using?

Thanks for all the Gracie sympathy! Good idea about about HoF at Westfield Decam, but I'd still need to have THE conversation with DH!! As I have said before thats the biggest challenge I have faced post DC's, for many years I could have made the "Gracie" decision alone and then made adjustments as I felt fit.

I have lots of sympathies for everyone in a work/life/money spin. I am in a similar position Red in that on return to work, with 2 in childcare and the crazy costs of travel (£25 a day..ouch) there will be little left over. However, I lose a lot of annual leave entitlement if I have a break in service and also due to a massive mortgage we cannot afford to rely on the security of one income. Sadly, we bought in the peak of the market so we have £££ costs on a small house that needs £££ spent one it!!

So, I have to go back but I have to keep a lid on a bit of creeping resentment every now and again, but then that's my own doing of being stuck in a career that I am not happy in. If I am totally honest, I suppose I am a bit burnt out from it all.

But, here's the silver lining...hopefully when the childcare years are over, things will be much better at chez MiM. Short term pain for long term gain, blah, blah, blah...

Anyway, I really must apologise for my comment about working hard, I really don't think that I work any harder than anyone else just because there is bodily fluids involved in my job. [grins] I sounded like a right sour puss!

MiM I can guarantee you work harder than me, fannying about doing research. And it's not like I'm researching anything worthwhile like a cure for cancer either, so hats off to you and people in your profession, who make a massive difference. Civilisation could easily cope without my skills, but not without yours!

Mulberry sale has started

Hi Reine- def a wisdom tooth. Looks ok and nothing dodgy thus far, but could cause problems later. Did an x ray and roots look ok. Decided to wait and see if it comes through more, which will make it easier to extract as he reckoned it would be a bit tricky at the mo. Am using mouthwash and brushing assiduously to try and avoid any infection, as it is hard to reach!

Sorry to hear about the handbag MIM- you def deserved it!

Sti in hairdresser with no end in sight and taxi booked for 630. DH is going to go ballistic!!

Agree with SE, can see you with tan or coral MiM

always I used this recipe and added choc chips and vanilla(because 5 year olds have such discerning palates I doubled the recipe to make 12.I haven't tried this particular recipe before..mine cooked in only 15mins(I have fan assisted oven)They do look and smell good though and must be pretty rich as the older girls are couch surfing post bowl licking and the 2 year old is staring into space!

will try one (for your benefit of course) in a bit and report back

He's a local boy to your parents Seventh and I believe single

Hi

I am a lurker

Just wanted to let you know the Anya sale has started

Come on MIM run like the wind

Thanks dumbo