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

deca If you love red, then go for the Pistols!

Oh mim I would agree with Decameron that I would want her to know that you know. So a simple text saying she obviously sent the previous message to you by mistake would bbent approach. It sounds so dreadfully hurtful! Take care And hold the family close that matter.

Do any of you know where to get Le Chameau wellies cheap? Best I've found is a site with 10% cashback via quidco but I want really cheap.

I thought you avid and wise ladies might know!

Decam I think the terracotta is edgier - but whichever goes better with the rest of your wardrobe. (Seen lots of red boots around here on middle aged women, often combined with slightly too short stonewashed gray denim - not always a great look - red shoes can be tricky to pull off, can be really mumsy if the balance is not right).

Back to thelmas- thank you for the suggestions. Now are these And these the same colour or not???? I can't decide!

Oh, she'll know I know alright.

always yes, I think they are the same.

Decam, I just googled the red Pistols - they are gorgeous. However, they are very similar reds! Depends how you wear them, you'd need to show off the buckles of the rockerfella's in order to tell the difference, so would you be wearing them with jeans tucked in or tights and skirt/dress combo?

FC top not in store yet. Was very taken with this dress in Reiss, and I do have a night out coming up...

However, still love the animal print top in Whistles that MrsCB bought and also this dress as a possible trans-seasonal piece. Also there is a beautiful scarf in there sort of mauve/green and brown animal print.

Dec - I've been wondering about Dolcee too - hope all is well.

Suburban - oh I love those boots!

Am halfway through massive wardrobe clear out - god there is a lot going to the charity shop.

And I have a lot of jeans and am buying no more this year. For sure. That's definitel.

However I am loving this jumper marant. Such a gorgeous colour and shape.

mrscb oh how I'd love to go into the charity shop you'd just favoured with your cast-offs! Some great outfits on your blog lately and the leopard jeans look super stylish. Still waiting to see the shorouk though...
suburban now I will clearly buy those boots and I blame you. It's tops I need, not boots, do you hear?!
dona having drooled over your life in Italy for weeks you now have me coveting a sunny morning of island hopping. Gorgeously evocative writing as always. By the way, I'm depending on you to sort me out with some colourful, summer-suiting, A/W items to transform my collection of black and brown coats/jeans/boots into some stylish outfits. I have every faith in you!

mim I'm so sorry to hear that you don't have the lovely mum that you deserve. You sound to me like you cope amazingly well and that she is the difficult one and certainly not you. I have the world's worst father and even knowing this I still find it near impossible to not let him hurt me. I try to concentrate on all the lovely relationships I feel so lucky to have instead and hope you can get some comfort from doing the same. Big sympathy on the PND and congrats on being so brave and positive about dealing with it. And good luck on the nursery run! Pat yourself on the back and tell yourself how brilliant you are when it's done!

Hope you feeling a bit brighter now MIM

Whistles animal print skinnies have arrived and I am about to try on....

Any computer whizzes here??? If so any idea why when I have saved a heap of files in a folder, why when I try to open the folder it vanishes? Makes no sense but I am panicking as its copies of all the staff P60s....... Arrggghhh help!

MIM I am outraged on your behalf. Firstly well done with getting help with PND- it is non trivial.

With your mother could you write to her letting her know how hurt you are by her behaviour? Might be easier than face to face and at least you will feel you have said everything you wanted to say.

Ultimately though your mother is not going to change. I have a similarly tense relationship with mine. She certainly has the ability to make me
feel like crap and has had very little involvement or interest in her grandchildren and I know this has been a similar issue for you. Ultimately though she isn't going to change. You need to have your say and then you have to work out how best to deal with her ap she does not upset you in this way. With me I have distanced myself from my mother. It's terribly sad but I just cannot cope with her. I would not say I am fine with this and I still get terrible pangs at times- generally when I see
My friends with their 'normal' mothers and their normal relationships with them. So I expect nothing from her and so am not disappointed (too often) when I get nothing.

Rest assured though from what you have described your mother's attitude to you and your DC is not normal. I just wanted you to know that because it is so hard when you are in the middle of an unpleasant situation and thinking 'is it me??". It's not you it's your horrid mother. Xx

Ants i felt a lump in my throat reading your post to MIM. Beautifully written - and v applicable to my own relationship with my mum. Thank you x

On a brighter (and possibly prosecco) induced note. DH speaks fluent French. Id forgotten how 'tres sexy' it is! He had a chat with a French guy earlier and i stood there in awe. C'est magnifique!

Oh mim, that is awful. I'm afraid it would be a two word text from me, but appreciate that is not good advice. Mothers are funny old things, I love mine with all my heart and she is a great friend and an amazing granny, but my god she has no tact. After 15 years of bulimia she'll still cheerfully point out to me that I've put on weight! I've got much better at tuning her out in the last few years.

decam I just cannot make red accessories work, no idea why. I would keep the terracotta if you have red rockafellas.

Just bought a pair of charcoal 'perfect trousers' from Gap for £11 in the sale. Not exciting but useful for work.

Oh and I passed, by the way!

Ollie

Ants ((hug)) to you, I have a similar situation with my dad. I wish it was different but you're right you've got to live your life regardless

MiM what a horrible thing to happen to you. I'm so sorry. I think Decamerons suggestion is excellent. Brief text, let her stew, don't engage with her for a while. Remember you are lovely, and you are a fantastic mum to your dc, and she is the one who is missing out.

Decam tricky decision. Are the R&B boots v different from the Pistols? I love red boots, and am not mad about terracotta!

Something very exciting happened today! I saw these in RL I have been spotting them on the internet for ages but actually saw then in the flesh and they are v lovely indeed. I am mega fussy about toe shapes and heel angles and they are really perfect. Good enough to save for I think.

Dona chuffed you like my dress! Going to go for a version of your maxMara watermelon dress next! I couldn't find any fabric in that beautiful shade but got some cobalt cotton which should be good I think.

Bloss I bet you rock that waterfall cardigan If anyone can, it's you

amber well done! Congratulations!

Well done Amber!

Meant to say I got this jacket in Zara today, really nice cut and colour is good for me.

It is actually warm and sunny here today Maybe summer is here

Ants what a moving post. MiM so hurtful, I really feel for you. Big hug to you both.

I like those Marants Verity.

Well done Amber!

Oh Ants your post gave me a watery smile, you are so wise and I can tell you understand where I am coming from...painful isan't it?. Sorry to hear that your Dad still has the capacity to hurt you too blue. I suspect it's because we always cling onto the smallest hope that they will change and met our very basic expectations of them.

Ollie, Ooh la la!

Congratulations Amber!

How are the skinnies Georgina?

Well, we survived the nursery run, gave up trying to reverse park into our street so parked up in a simple spot....er, a few streets away. . Still, we made it in one piece!

DH away tonight, looking forward to a night of sofa, wine and TV.

Thank you all for your lovely words...

So sorry to hear of all of you with unsupportive parents, and amber sorry to hear what you've been through. You are all amazing.
mim, no worries re parking. I still take the easy option of a different street sometimes, and I've been driving over 20 years.
Hope we get the sunshine next verity! Love the sound of your holiday ollie, and dona.
Have bought a white shirt. From Seasalt (runs and hides..)

Argh just lost a message - and Pinterest is acting up too

Ooh Verity can you make me a cobalt dress too - sounds stunning! The ruffled bits have raw edges done with those special hemming scissors - it's a special touch to give secret attitude to the otherwise very prim and princessy dress. (I used to sew a lot - still have old Vogue patterns and stacks of Burda magazines. Threads magazine was my favorite - they taught special haute couture construction tricks - loved it. No time and patience any more for that, but am knitting a pair of socks right now.)

Blue thanks for your kind words - I've been in Northernmost Europe since Saturday. I've relearned my local ways and keep a firm eye on the rain radar - it is amazingly accurate. Today has been dazzlingly beautiful except for a 2-hour downpour I guess I'm fortunate, I can see the port and the cranes from our apartment, and this city is built on many, many islands, so the most mundane errands (such going jogging, to the post office or DH going to work) involve island-hopping. The public transportation fleet even has some small ferries that connect the more outlying ones with the mainland - they are free if you have a pram or stroller with you.

Afternoon was sunny but chilly: wore my old 7FAM Roxannes, a smoky blue long-sleeved tee, my bright pink Goat jacket, green Zatchel and blue Havaianas (tbh Uggs would have been better).

Why don't shift dresses have detachable sleeves? Would be very useful in this climate. Also - why always acetate or silk linings? Fleece would be much better!

So sorry that many of you have difficult parents...

Ollie's your DH sounds great indeed. We went to an Italian restaurant and I realized that my DDs are probably the only ones there who speak Italian... (they often switch into Italian when they are playing together). It's funny because they are blue-eyed blondes with a Roman accent

I lost one too bah

Fritzi good luck for your workshop. I really hate being committed to something I don't really want to do too. Hope it's not too bad.

Bloss well done on the shirt!

Ollie very nice indeed.

Dona your family sounds gorgeous.

Bloss a white shirt is a white shirt is a white shirt! I'm sure it will look lovely on you.

Funnily enough, I've realized the tuxedo shirt (bib front) is the most flattering shirt shape for me. Hmm, might wear one tomorrow when I'm going out - paired with the crazy shoes?

Incredible! You will be so tall

Blinking washing machine is kaput and next one won't be here for 10 days. Daily washing here, really need it!

Well tried skinnies on,not sure at first...thought I looked too short and stumpy in them.
Changed my top to Jigsaw cowl neck in navy and added tan wedges and I think I like them
DD2 aged 13 approved.Will ask DD1 who at 23 has a sharp tongue and unremitting honesty when it comes to my outfits!

Verity I ordered the Dickers and sent them back because of insanely thin soft leather sole. Remember to factor in cost of re-soling about every 3 months if you intend to do much walking in them.

Speaking of dressmaking, Verity and dona I bought the most gorgeous petrol blue lining for the blazer I have given in and started making in the absence of one suitable in any shop. It is a lovely deep royal purple, and the petrol lining will look awesome. Assuming I ever get time to actually finish it. Dona I love knitting socks, I do it a lot in winter.

MrsCB that marant sweater is gorgeous.

I think my absolutely-must-buys for A/W have been narrowed down to:

• A lounging around the house cardigan
• leather trousers
• a piece of civilised looking knitwear, of some description. I have practically none.
• winter boots
• overcoat
• a work dress. I am wondering whether either the green carven from the other day or the joseph I linked earlier might be work appropriate with a blazer.
• A handbag. Argh.

Loving these C/E corduroy leopard print jeans, but can't justify, sadly.

Saw some nice red patent round toed courts in the LKBennett sale today, think I might pop back and get them tomorrow, would be v useful work shoes.