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

Jilly could be my specialist subject on Mastermind

Bloss I agree with Seventh - start with Riders which is the first book and then move on to Rivals [my absolute favourite] and then Polo and then The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. They are the best by far.

7th I have the Alfie Kohn book somewhere and should read it - just to enlighten myself. Had some very good novels on my nightstand last night but instead, read local glossies (have missed Swedish Elle) and To Buy or Not to Buy (love the latter - such a lovely book - talks about sometimes women seek release in overshopping and helps to understand the underlying patterns. I read it a little bit every day and hope to get ready for a much more wise fall - I've certainly been avid enough this summer.

The weather is still amazing. I have some teriyaki salmon in the oven, my aunts took the DC to park and DH went to a gym. Am thinking of making a long walk along the sea shore and parking at a cafe there. Wearing the watermelon Maxmara dress and Dayanas. Love the sherbet colors.

Dec no champagne last night - the bottle is still waiting in the fridge. I've cut down the amount of wine I drink significantly and am not really missing it.

Issimma I'm not a professional editor but have written and edited several books and I also suffer from the mental red pen function. If I feel I'm editing or rewriting most of the sentences in the book, I really cannot enjoy it - and it's not easy to switch it off. Suburban I love Mme Bovary. Another book I should reread...

Ants sorry about the shoes. Such a pain when you have it all figured out and then it doesn't work... My NAP order will be delivered tonight - last night I got the D&G boucle jacket. Size 12 is perfect, worth the trouble of exchanging and hunting for one online.

Marsha during periods of intense work I just read magazines and fluff. During mat leaves, I needed the Economist and lots of nonfiction and more challenging and experimental novels and short stories...

Autumn types SE, Hopefully, anyone else, I currently have this Vince T-shirt languishing in my wardrobe having been worn twice. The shape is great but colour obviously completely wrong for a Winter (bought before colours done), so it needs rehoming (free of charge, obvs). Is a size L, which isn't massive actually, slightly relaxed fit on me (10, ample bosom), would easily fit up to a 14 nicely I would say. Let me know if you fancy it!

Good morning.

Well, spoke to my Mother. She was bordering on the point of hysteria, and telling me how upset she was, how I was punishing her etc. Maybe bit of a lightbulb moment for me though. I thought I can either be bitter and let this eat me, or so it for what it is. I am the bigger person here and I have the upper hand. I am the stronger person out of the two of us, and for that I am thankful. I know it means that my family and I have a happy future ahead of us.

However, karma does exist ladies! After a testing few days, of which I am full of cold, fed up with the building work and DS has been pushing my limits, I found the Whistles animal print top reduced to £25 this am in HoF, with just one left in a 12! Will be ready to collect tomorrow. A little treat in the midsts of all the madness.

Back later, sorry for not acknowledging anyone else. Taking DS to a soft play, yep another attempt at parking in a public car park.

Lovely MiM - love the good karma. You deserve even more of it!
Dress ironed, fish done, sunscreen on, freedom calling!

Morning all - just a quickie.

Weather here utterly abysmal although everyone keeps saying it will improve in the next 48 hours....fingers crossed!

MIM - Well done on your calm and adult reaction. Really impressive. Love the animal print top find - I love it when that happens. Makes me love an item even more!

Enjoy Dona! Love the outfit.

MiM well done. So much better to feel good. And great karma!

Good for you MiM I hope you will swell with pride every time you wear that Whistles top now.

Really like that shirt Red

I've read To Buy too Dona but hasn't worked on me lately. Must get hold of Overdressed and some JC. Salmon sounds delish. I am the opposite to Marsha and Hopefully and need to read to switch off in the evening, it's such good escapism.

Weather terrible here too NY keeps being terrible all day then brightening up about 8pm

Sympathies to all those with early wakers. That was me this time last year Coffee all round.

Boring day of returns today I'd happily just go back to bed...

Morning everyone,

It's a beautiful morning here, but I fully expect it to pour with rain any second. I'm on campus today and enjoying watching the rabbits frolic on the grass outside my window, whilst I check footnotes. I've got a full-on afternoon of MA scholarship interviews in person and via skype - should be interesting though.

blue I'm so pleased you're getting the boots - will you have to buy clothes to go with them or will you be shopping your wardrobe?
Red I love that shirt. It'll be lovely and cool once this much-heralded good weather arrives.
Dona I need to give 'To Buy or not to Buy' a go, I think!
MiM Sounds like you handled things brilliantly and fully deserve some good fortune!

And forza to all those with early-wakers. We had long periods of 5.30 starts. I'm sure you've already tried this but perfect blackout really helped us: we have these and it's now like a cave in DS's room!

I have a shoe question to pose to you all, but I'll save it for later as this post is already too long!

mim well done!!!!! Hope you are smiling! Karma is a good thing!

Now very intrigued as i missed all the riders etc books when growing up. I think it was the thorn birds that was a big hit where I grew up. I have a strong memory of the priest at our local church being very upset with Richard chamberland and requesting that the parishioners avoid book/tv which was a red rag to a bull really........ Have to go into town later so may pick up one as I really fancy light relief.

blue now jealous re shoe order! May have to follow! Sheep!!!

WE HAVE SUN! Not that it will last.....

I have arrived and enjoying some calm before storm

Lovely Tee Amber love that colour its one of my best.

Reading... shameful confession. I don?t read novels anymore. At all really. Maybe once a year if I go on holiday somewhere where someone else does all the work and I can justify lying around.

I do read various self improvement & other non-fiction books ? things I can dip in and out of but things that have a practical implication in my life or that introduce concepts for me to ponder as I shower, cook, use public transport etc (ie, any chances I get to think).

I did love reading growing up then I studied and got this job which involves reading large documents all the time and also being very busy and time pressured. Reading stopped being relaxing its what I do all day so when I read non-work stuff then its got to be either got to be something useful (hence all the non-fiction) that will aid my life or something vacuous that needs no concentration (like the Metro on the train).

On the odd occasion I do read a novel my style is to read it all in one go very quickly and intently, skip boring bits and not really take it all in.

Sympathies to the early wakers. I have had 4-5 hours sleep for last 3 nights so do understand although mine has been work related. I think you build up tolerance to less sleep.

Good attitude Mim

I don't mind reading fluff but it still has to be well-written. Like issima and dona I find it hard switching off my red-pen mentality. Speaking off which: Project is finished and I have a couple of days before the workshop begins. Will celebrate with a leisurely browse in Zara

Excellent fashion karma MiM. Sounds like you needed that conversation in order to have the lightbulb moment - hopefully from here you can yourself at an emotional remove as much as possible. You are fantastic and your children, husband and wider circle are very lucky to have you. As an aside, what's the sizing like on the top?

Darkness that does sound like an interesting afternoon. Enjoy it!

Am meeting up with a coupe of friends and their children today and then off to Comedy Festival tonight with my sister. My two were u at 7.30 today, which is nothing short of a miracle. Their late night last night seems to have done the trick and, as yet, they're not too grumpy. Will see how the day pans out...

Glad you can enjoy the benefits of putting kids to bed late Red. This is how I roll!!

Gos it was great! N is marching around repeating your DC's names this morning. Think they made a good impression!

Haha when I was putting them to bed last night I said to DD1 I thought your DC were a lot of fun and not at all boring (!) and she wholeheartedly agreed.

Riders, The Thornbirds, brings back memories of boarding school, all that delayed gratification! The Thornbirds really was The Fifty Shades of Grey of it's day. I wonder if Fifty Shades is doing the rounds of boarding schools, I must ask DD2!

Today I'm wearing MD navy and white spotty top with White skinny flares and navy RL jacket, with White Hasbeens, it's much colder than yesterday.

Well done Mim seems that you handled the situation perfectly.

Early risers you all have my sympathy.

The soft porn novel I recall doinng the rounds at school was Clan of the Cave Bear series. Then anything by Jackie Collins!

We had Are you there God it's me Margaret

I can't bear bad writing, or bad visuals for that matter. Too depressing!

I'm very tempted by this from Matches for AW. Might be topping the list atm!

It's good this pin thing, can assess what sticks and what doesn't before AW is in full swing.

I read that too Marsha. Not quite in the titillation league of Clan of the Cave Bear with all its mad throbbing and thrusting (ewww) I was like

I know. We were so light weight.

And I bet you were! (shocked that is)

Anyone remember 'Forever' by Judy Blume? That definitely did the rounds at my school and ruined (forever) the name Ralph for me

And Marsha that Matches ensemble is fabulous!

Thanks! It might just be the thing.

Yes to Forever too. Yes that was the big one.