And so we Wisely turn away from any summer purchases to Avid thoughts of stylish winter coats. Which means (surely) that the sun will shine, after wool jackets are bought....

[notyummy]

Stamp

Thanks Ants! I'm not sure how much the Dries VN ones are. Will have to compare!

Evening,

Congratulations on the solo driving MiM. Can I ask when you learnt to drive if you had weekly lessons or did an intensive course and did you drive much with your DH? I am deciding whether to try and do a 9-5 thing over the summer or say 3 lessons a week when DD starts preschool in September.

Broke my shopping drought spectacularly today by ordering these boots, two pairs of sale Baxters, a new top and a Barbour for DP first thing. Then went into town and bought two more pairs of trousers, and a white cotton shirt.

Saw lots of nice new season stuff in Gap, really liked the zippy trousers I think MrsCB has. Really like these jumpers but were almost entirely acrylic and unnecessarily cheap I thought. Would happily pay double the price if there was more wool in them.

I love Zatchels, bought a watermelon one last year when I was obsessed with the watermelon Alexa, but it was too stiff for me to be able to ram all my essentials in so didn't get much wear which is a shame.

Hope you all feel better soon Blue DD has got a cold which probably means I'm next.

The DM reckons there will be a heatwave next week, I am not holding my breath.

Hi all.

Echoing the congrats on the solo driving MIM.

Quick hijack to ask a question of Hopefully - I have all the Insanity workouts but nothing else and have no idea what I am supposed to be doing with them! 5 days a week? 6 days a weeks? One after another, or repeat each workout a few times before moving on? Really not sure! Did the foit test today and was pleased to be able to keep up with them for everything other than the plank jack press-ups, which come from a special circle of hell. That's right ladies - plank jacks like the ones Jillian does .....WHILST doing press-ups as well. Not much fun tbh.

NY pm me your email address and I'll send you over the schedule etc.

Thank you!!

Thanks All.

Tomorrow will be the big test - need to collect DS from nursery, where the parking is hellish and then park back at home, knowing that DH is away and so not able to direct me in. Oh well, I suspect it's the only way I'll learn.

Suburban I have had numerous attempts at lessons for the last 15 years. This time I started with an intensive course, which was 2 hours a day, every day, for 3 weeks. However, I wasn't ready for my test at the end of it. I had another 4 weeks of 2 hours per week and then I went in for my first test. Personally, I found the intensive lessons hard - and felt that I learnt better doing the two hours a week. I never went out with DH or anyone else though, so my learning was all in my lessons.

Thanks MiM that's really helpful. I had some lessons when I was 17 but was hopelessly vacuous and uncoordinated at the time. Went out a couple of times with DP when I was pregnant which was much better. Think I'll go for the little and often approach maybe 3/4 x hour long lessons a week. Amber what are you doing??

Good luck with the nursery run tomorrow.

(sorry for driving lesson related hijack)

Suburban it's difficult not to succumb to sales . Will stay out of shops now. Oh and what size is your Zatchel? I may be interested if it is large enough and you want to declutter...

Marsha the Celines are lovely.

Not raining any more but gray and overcast.
Having a lovely night in with lots of glossy mags.

Inspired by the mags, I've been thinking about some of the most over the top shoes ever. Won't link as just one pair left - in my size.

NY will email you ASAP.

I learned to drive pretty efficiently having weekly lessons. I was never nervous though - I suppose intensive might be quite good to 'kick start' if you were nervous, before going onto weekly lessons. I tore my shoulder muscle appallingly badly falling off a horse the week before my first test though, and it took me about 2 months of lessons to get back up to scratch after having 8 weeks off to rest it. Bloody expensive.

Suburban those boots look v useful.

Sent the McQ back today. Blow softened significantly by having the De Manta to stroke .

Have comedy amounts of work to do this week. Argh.

Thanks Dona I think am going to hold on to it and hope it's still relevant for the days I don't have to lug bags of cheddars and wet wipes round with me . I also bought a softer leather one from ASOS in the same colour which gets marginally more use.

Am hoping to return some of today's buys after I have had a good trying on session this evening. Feeling guilty now, had to use my credit card which never normally use because of lost debit card so didn't feel like real money if that makes sense.

Thanks Hopefully. I am not really that nervous about driving, my problem was being hideously self concious ie panicking about driving past ex boyfriends and having zero sense of direction. Just want to get it done as quickly and cost effectively as possible.

I chose the boots because of their low heel (skulks off to Mum boot thread).

The De Manta is beautiful and will have much much better cost per wear than the dress. Best of luck with the work

MiM, Suburban, Amber mucho good luck with the driving. It's nerve-wracking at the beginning.

NY, Hopefully plank jack whilst doing a push up? Blimey!

Hopefully good decision on the McQ. If it's not completely right I think.

Dona ooh exciting. Are they in Vogue?

That green and purple combo on pin is one of my favourites. Such rich colours.

Got ID'd for a lottery ticket yesterday, SE! Was wearing Zara pink tie-dye sweatshirt, skinnies and silver Hunters. Obviously a young look. I didn't have any ID, but I think the way my mouth fell open suggested that I had passed my sweet sixteen some years previously, so they let me off.

I went quiet on the project and the interviewer rang me at home. I feel a bit weak.

I have whittled to two days a week. If I do it I am getting something nice.

Well done on purchases suburban; driving mim and being in demand marsha!

Lazy day at home snuffling away with the cold but DS has been a delight and we have had lots of games, cuddles and stories.

Have been pinning my existing A/W wardrobe and am rather depressed: it looks so bland and colourless! And loads of gaps. Need tops, tops and more tops. Find them so easy in summer but really struggle in colder weather.

Showed DH my pinterest boards. He suggested new board "things to buy DH"

Ants I could do that board for my DH by visiting the apple website and pinning everything I see.

Boo to returns postage SE. I am disciplined, otherwise I forget and have mad scramble before time expires. Also I know I just don't use things that I don't love, so no point keeping.

Marsha hope you find a work balance that's right for you.

NY have been packing orders all night and completely forgot to email, sorry! Will do tomorrow.

I laugh in the face of a mere plank jack with a push up. There is a ridiculous exercise in month two that requires you to JUMP from a standing-and-touching-your-toes position to a full arms-bent-press-up. I nearly face planted in the carpet the first time I tried it.

Am lusting after something I saw in NAP sale. May order tomorrow if still available.

Oh, and naturally you have to ping back to touching your toes again.

Morning all. The sun is shining, DH went to swim (before the sunshine is over), I've cooked lunch already and done some laundry and am now supervising DD2's bath. As soon as my aunts come over, I'll get out too - to do some returns

Our local post office moved to an island where the ferry terminals are. It's a nice long walk when the weather is clear, but very unpleasant in the rain. Hate doing returns but oh well, need to get that out of the way.

Wearing the Marant and Dayanas around the house to take advantage of the sudden summery vibe.

Will look at your links and boards!

Bonjour from France. Hope all in well in W&A land. Having lovely holiday so far. So lovely to be back. We all relaxed straight away. Weather has been good so far so lots of time spent outdoors. Have over indulged in lots of lunches involving bread, cheese, wine etc but totally worth it. Off to a chateau today which has a big maze (DHs choice). Need to wear something visible for when i get lost and need rescuing!

Harrumph.

Ollie is in the sunshine in France. Dona is in the sunshine in Italy. Am SERIOUSLY fed up with the British weather. Don't be begrudge your sunshine though ladies - at least some of us have it! I applied Dove facial tan moisturiser this morning in an effort to stop me looking positively peaky due to the weather.

Only slightly stiff from the fit test yesterday, so thats good. May do the first proper Insanity workout later on today. Will obviously be disappointed if I am not a size 8 with 0% body fat within about 3 days .

Amber - Am very that you were IDed for a lottery ticket. I don't think I was ever asked for ID even when I was actually 16. Being tall and forthright, I spent my teens being the one that could get away with 18 certificate films and pubs from about the age of 13 . I cultivated an air of righteous outrage if anyone questioned my age 'ID?! I don't carry any with me routinely. I have never been asked before - my age is fairly obvious, isn't it?!' My brazening it out almost always worked. Of course now I am trying it in reverse. 'Of COURSE I am in the 25-35 years bracket. Isn't that obvious..?'

The sunshine is coming - oh yes it is.

From next week apparently.

Morning wise ones.

I am enjoying reading all the chat but not much time to post.

Ollie, glad you are having a fun time in France.

MiM, my tips for successful driving when you are not 100% confident is to give yourself plenty of time and go over unfamiliar routes on google maps. Hope the nursery run goes well.

Marsha, life is too short/important to spend your time doing something you don't enjoy if you don't have to/can't see the benefits/any percieved benefits are superficial. Especially when you have such a talent for your other line of work.

Bloss, a few more days to go...don't drop your stylish persona now

I was always the one who got served ny, I'm a bit weirdly ageless, I've looked pretty much the same since I was about 14 (though a few more frown lines and grey hairs now). Hopefully I am ageless and will continue to look the same into my 60s ha ha

I too am so bored of this weather. Am attempting my theory test again today. Hopefully I'll get past the doors this time. Wearing very boring faded 910s and a plain black crew neck t shirt which I am glamming up with silver Marni for H&M sandals and gold LKB Annina.

suburban I am doing 2hrs per week, which seems to be going ok.

Thanks Pickled

The project is only 2/3 days a week for 6 weeks so a blip really. But the timing is off. I need to indulge and concentrate in the other thing (there's something really nice). Otherwise I'd definitely do it for the experience, which would be good.

Ok I'm saying I just can't sit in there all day. Feel bad, the guy is keen. Best to tell him quickly I suppose.

Lucky sunshiners. Sun here for 5 minutes then it left.