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

[notyummy]

There we go!

Wearing new Topshop Baxters today. They are a perfect shape on me, thanks whoever it was on here who recommended them. My legs look properly long. Which they are emphatically not . Have paired it with tan Whistles silk shirt (via ebay for a tenner).

Right, lots to do today.

Will have to take a proper look at everyone's lovely links and news later.
Last day of school for my DD, just back from school drop off and the hand-me-down uniform sale - it's 9.30 and I'm already all hot, sweaty and flustered from the tram ride. Will have to go back in an hour for the festivities.

I fuss over running clothes and then leave the decision what to wear for the last day of classes to the very last minute (a big chunk of the school parents are extremely, intimidatingly stylish - some of them do red carpets and appear in glossies). Woke up late, no time to do a proper blow-dry. So resorted to my salmon-colored slub silk Farhi, navy Castaners and smoky blue Lily bag. Very comfy, very easy (the Farhi is like a nightdress), and - I hope - quite stylish.

Need to get some work done before returning to school, so I'll catch up later.

Yes I love them I forgot to say. Can highly recommend Avedon skinnies for super stretchy and comfy, even dark indigo. I have only just acclimatised to 100+ for jeans, not quite at 200+ so thank you Decam!

reine they are all fab, really love the balloon ones!

Wearing floral skinnies which I still love but am in dire need of new tshirts as so many old ones. Another thing that's good to get during sale time.

Have school play today so HN and Marant will have to wait.

I can't really cope with 3 figures for jeans, though am planning on making an exception for the C/E star print ones because I love them. Would also make that exception for the leopard if I could find them anywhere in a 27. Will go into the village tomorrow and try my luck.

Me too. I have to really love them to pay that much and wear for ages. Good luck, maybe ring Liberty too for 27s.

Hope all you southern ladies are enjoying sunshine!!! Rather here as its freezing and very very wet- and our schools break up at lunchtime. AND the weather is to get worse!!! I am becoming a tad obsessed....after buying a few new pairs of sandals I am still in skinny jeans, thick socks and ash Thelma wedges, jumper and raincoat! Watched Wimbledon bits on breakfast news jealously as there was glorious sunshine!
So hope if you have sun you can get out and enjoy it! Thinking of a silver lining......well the sandals will last an extra year if this continues!

Morning all.

Hopefully - your trip to London sounds AMAZING. Well done to your DH!

Reine - The exhibition is the Travel Photographer of the year at the Royal Geographic Society here. Free entry - think I will definitely try and get to it.

In other news, we have found a friend who has a v small work flat that he rents in London during the week who will be on holiday for when we are going to the Olympics and has given us the spare key - result! DH was grumbling about additional travel costs as we have already bought return travel costs on the day.....but it cost only £16 for all three of us to travel down the afternoon of the day before (presumably because we ae booking in advance and it is not peak time.) Am so pleased we will not have the stress of rushing on the day and potentially missing Jessica Ennis!

Am slightly kicking myself for missing the boat over the Avedons, although also feeling feeling smug at sticking to my no spend ruling. May have to treat myself to something next week though!

Off to see the Olympic Torch this afternoon with DD. Very easy walk from our house and there is going to be bands/parade/dancers/BMX displays etc so should be good.

ollie I'm glad you kept the blazer!

Off to DD's school concert in an hour. It is suddenly warm again! Have repainted my toe nails and will probably wear my trusted navy WC maxi from last year, Sam Edelman glads and take denim jacket in case in gets colder in the evening. Was thinking of wearing the maxi I bought for Christmas in Cape Town but it is very long and requires wearing without bra. Not sure I would feel comfortable playing games at the party after the concert in that.

Have great days everyone. Trying to catch up tonight, mwah!

SE well done on sorting childcare! My biggest outfit problem is a complete lack of shoes - I have nude M&S patent heels, which are comfy but very 'worky' and suede ankle boots. And that s the sum total of my not-toms-not-boot-and-not-sandals shoe selection. Am not at all averse to buying a new pair of shoes, but absolutely no idea what might be useful. Any outfit/shoe inspiration much appreciated!

May have to go shopping this weekend to Brighton or something - can hunt down some clothes for wearing on mini-honeymoon too maybe...

Morning all, am without a car for the day and am gearing up to embark on a logistical walking nightmare to drop both DC at their childcare places and then walk to wok and back. Yuck.

Sounds like a lovely weekend you'll be having Hopefully, how considerate of your DH.

Pickled I have one day in school in July to get up to speed with everything. Had a fantastic conversation with my HOD who was asking me to select the A'Level texts I would like to teach. Am not used to autonomy, or even much collaboration, in the workplace, so am thrilled. Hope you enjoy the drive with the hunky German.

Love the C/E star print skinnies Amber. They appeal to me in a way floral one don't so much. I'm lusting over the J Brand version, as sported by MrsCB. Think I need the smaller pattern so my legs don't stand out so much.

Your dress sounds lovely Blue!

Have returned early from toddler group with a distraught DS. He couldn't find a seat for the snack they serve, so he tried to sit next to another mum, who told him, "That chair is taken". Obviously a 2 year old has no concept of taken chairs. So he got all tearful that he was the only one without a seat. What pee'ed me off more was that she was holding the seat for another mother. DS's behaviour then took a downward spiral of tears and tantrums, so we left.

All very trivial, but stressful at the time when dealing with it plus a baby and sling.

Now what to do for the rest of the day....

I have a day off and am lurking from the living hell that is school reports. However I am past half way, and reckon another 3 half hour sessions will have them finished, and deadline is Friday. Unfortunately I can't go out as am awaiting an important delivery of a rugby shirt themed lunch box for DS. Cannot imagine the despair that would ensue if I missed that. He has his school trip Friday. I believe the forecast is atrocious.
On that note I am agog at marsha in a bikini yesterday. It is warmer here but drizzling - like being in tumble dryer a bit. I am wearing my new Jigsaw stripe vest with agnes. Really like it, but with a grey vest underneath so the orange is not next to my skin Loving the 'urban' colours pickled
The bag purchase is still a few months away marsha. Please come decam! But it won't be the pink!
Think I've been drunken purchasing recently (one glass is enough these days), and am embarrassed at the packages arriving and at my presence in the post office. The Kew trench was too big, and possibly not right anyway, but a military style coat is on my wishlist. The scarf was really nice, and will keep.
I ordered the boden beach dress, knowing the sweetheart neckline was wrong, but had been stewing about it since the preview, so at least got that out of my system.
Think I'm procrastinating now...
Good call on the maxi fritzi. Lots of school activities on today, hope you all have fun. We have another 3 weeks after this alwaysrunning.
Oh, and am off timetable next week to teach year 12 (age 17) Spanish for their Welsh Bac. 6 lessons a day... Am wondering about outfits.. Would like to 'funk' it up a bit I think.

How awful mim. Bloody hated toddler groups. Especially with a little one. I remember getting funny looks when I wouldn't help with tea making at one I used to go with. Like I was supposed to leave DC2 on her own with all living hell going on around her [seethe]
Your new school sounds great red. Will be great for your cv and interviews to have such autonomy.
What is your new job pickled. I have missed some vital clues I think..
Where is rufus?

Yes I hate toddler groups too. There is a child at mine who has behavioural problems of some kind - has not been diagnosed yet as I understand it, but she is awful, really violent towards the little ones (she is about 4) and her mother just ignores her and chats while I have to stop her battering my little boy with the plastic buggy have has just taken from him. I do realise it must be wearing to care for a child with those problems but I don't think a toddler group is the appropriate environment to 'check out'.

So sorry your DS was upset MiM. How stupid to deny a toddler a seat so you can sit with your mate.

Glad to be of service, Marsha :)

I do like those star print J Brands too, Red.

I've failed already at the no shopping, bought a great pair of red Cerruti sunglasses in TK Maxx but only £12.

What a mean woman, MiM!

Excellent, Bloss. And a glass of champagne afterwards! I was thinking of you in HN yesterday as I passed the Balenciaga bags.

It's quite muggy here, I am in a Me&Em jersey dress, very old R&B sandals and about to head to the park for a birthday party.

Thanks everyone, glad it's not just me and toddler groups.

Shame about the trench Bloss. I have totally come round to your way of thinking about coats since being on this thread. We wear them probably 80% of the year in the UK. They are a good investment.

Muggy here too Decam, no sunshine.

Love the sound of the sunglasses.

Good grief mim that woman sounds dreadful. It would be nice if later she appreciates how ridiculous her behaviour was....alas it often seems such folk are too wrapped up in themselves to see how their behaviour affects others. Toddler groups were one thing I was glad to wave goodbye to when my DD started the school nursery!

I have a very not S&B question- and one that is frankly ridiculous as I wave needles at work with gay abandon but I want to give blood! I have been trying to do this since January when I found the dates the blood donation centre is open- but tomorrow will be the first day it is open and I am not at work. Has anyone given blood??? Does it hurt terribly??? Take long??? How do you feel afterward??? I will have the 3DC with me which does wonders for my ability to plaster on a smile but I am scared- but want to do it! Please tell me what it's like if you have done it!

Muggy here too with only tiny bit of sun.

mim I find a lot of playgroups ghastly so only do one a week that is actually quite lovely.

Red sunglasses sound fab dec

I may have had a glass of fizz before I posted last night so excuse the big love -in.I had just completed an order that was a bit outside my comfort range and ended up having a brilliant time doing it.

I am going to do a few bits today but am giving myself a bit of a break as woke up feeling very dizzy and left my keys in the front door

So will spend less time planning blog entries and concentrate on what to wear to mums' night out.probably a raincoat over whatever it is!

ollie I am going to send you, emo ,fritzi and every a pm later so look out for it.I am sorry that my promise to post a tutorial has yet to be fulfilled.I take ages to write posts and I have loads to say!

Big wave to looby

Well done reine! Glad things are hotting up for you!
What a great thing to do alwaysrunning. notyummy will be able to advise. I was eternally grateful to all blood donors when dc2 was in scbu. She needed a few transfusions.
On the subject of ny, I am beyond excited by new Jillian dvd. Did I mention that DH has taken to shredding like a hardcore new convert. Straight in the door and into his shorts, sweating profusely, shouting out insults, not coping with the bicycles..(l1 shred, c3) Completely not believing my HRM on calories used.... It is quite funny really.
Mmm yes to champagne decam.

Never given blood, as ironically I am not allowed, having been the recipient of no less than 7 blood transfusions, back in the days when they weren't screened. Very grateful to those who donate though, I wouldn't be here without them.