The race is on to (finally) wear our summer clothes. It's the Wise and Avid Olympics - off we go!

[Russianred]

Athletic leap on To new thread.

hope all enjoying weekends. 4 tiny arrivals here very cute.

Welcome back Ants, nice blog.

Cute GoS!

Anyone know a good site to use to book a nice villa?

marsha you are on fire with socialising (and outfits!)

yes welcome back ants

i have just this week booked tickets away for winter - family wedding and holiday combined

That sounds lovely! And thanks!

I'm a bit at sea with holidays. Could go in the next couple of weeks France, Italy - purely for warmer weather or at Christmas to some where warm Mexico, Thailand?. (parents here now in Oct instead).

I agree with seventh re the dvf hopefully.
That's a nice dilemma to have marsha. I am really on a countdown to my France trip now. Is it CV travel that do fab villas?
Glad you had a great time ants.
That does sound cute gos. You'll have to pin photos!

Ooh just had a triumph from Dorothy Perkins www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=5709080&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&searchTerm=66738523&resultCount=1

Ordered before I went on holiday and have just opened and tried on. Boden preview stuff has also arrived. Have just tried on wedge shoeboots. I think they might be rather marvellous. Really need to try them on with tights etc but can't be arsed! Cannot face ankle zip skinnies yet either. But look good.

marsha anyway you can do both

Am feeling a bit post holiday now. Trip to sainsburys looms.

Thanks Bloss will check it out. We seem to be ok at the resort type place or city break but still haven't cracked the villa that feels so nice that we go back each year. I need one of those. Would be so much easier.

Yes to pinning pics of adorable kittens.

GOS. Congratulations on your new arrivals. Yes please to kitten pin!!!

Nice shopping Ants.

Yes both would be nicer!

ants they had every colour under the sun at Bicester for £20 a go - wish I'd bought more now! Great top.

mim yes, I have, they have no more of the bag, so want me to send it to them at my own expense 'for inspection'. I will do it, but am a bit galled that I need to prove the item is faulty. Whatever happened to 'customer is always right?' Twitter for you, I think.

SE good outfit advice, I like. Don't worry, I was angry at both of us too. I shouldn't have raced back, but tbh, I don't like to think of her in distress. Trust me, he got very short shrift from me. We are slowly working on changing his behaviour I.e. the way he speaks to me, his tendency to blame me whenever something goes wrong etc. we're getting there. Slowly.

Ants, nothing like a few packages at home to help banish the post holiday blues - glad you had a lovely time with your £9.99 M&S trainers .

Ollie, could house swap with the owners and overlap at yours and theirs for the start and end weekends? That way you can keep up the friendship and keep costs down leaving you to spend a few lovely days on the Ile de Re. Great to have you back btw. A friend makes (just started so no website) silver jewellery, I could let you (&Bloss) have her details if you like.

Totally uninspired to go abroad this Summer, may try a villa by a loch in the Highlands.

Amber, I hate that 'at your own expense' thing. Some shoes I bought recently have seriously worn down on the heel after a few hours of wear - the sole is like an eraser, soooo soft. Anyway, they are totally impractical as after a few more wears they will be down to the wedge which is patent. I can return them for free but if they decide there's no problem then they will send them back to me at my expense . Good luck with the ExW btw and agree that on this occasion less is more, just make sure that the less are £££££.

Right, have gone with Comptoir black lace T, skinny indigo Goldsigns, rose gold Sam Edelmans and bright pink Marant silk scarf. If in doubt, go French, I say.

Ah, luckily she's not the ExW pickled, she won't give us time of day thankfully. This is his first ever girlfriend, who is still utterly in love with him and basically propositions him at every opportunity. She has just moved back here from Oz, and knows no one. Their families go back a long way, so he feels obligated to meet her, but wants me and the kids there to 'set the right tone'. As far as I'm concerned the wedding ring should do that, but she is a determined one.

Ah, I see, just be your lovely self - outfit sounds great!

Ants thats a nice blog. Keep looking at the Boden wedges - did you get the navy?

Pickled nice idea re house swap but owners stay 'on site' throughout the summer to manage the 2 gites. I love the idea of a beach holiday but as DH has pointed out, I don't actually like the beach very much, esp in the heat. Get annoyed by the sand..... Much better lounging by a pool. Loved the day we spent cycling round the Ile de Re when it was cool and not sunny tho. Such a beautiful place.

Marsha James Villa's are supposed to be good. Owners Direct is always worth a look as you can search by availability and date?

GOS oooh kittens. Please post a pic. You should give them Olympic themed names?

Amber Good luck today - she sounds a bit tricky to deal with! Outfit sounds lovely.

Started to think about winter coats. According to my HoC analysis, this darpey wool style is supposed to suit me. I can't quite see it personally.

Feel bad for DS1 - its his bday this week and whilst we have been away, 3 parcels have been delivered to our neighbours - who have now gone away for a whole month. You would think they would have handed them over to another neigbour before leaving.

He has requested a cake covered with sweeties. Will have fun making that one!

that should be drapey - not darpey.

Ooh, I can see you in that ollie.
Thanks pickled, I do love a website though!

Yes get on twitter amber and mim! Still so chuffed with my phone call from Sarah Curran.

ollie I ordered the Boden wedges in black. I am thinking they would be great with black opaques and a skirt....

Am mainlining fizz and doritos.6 more sleeps till holidays and have finally finished some work for corporate client so can finally indulge in 'thread time'

gos glad you had some lovely time with your dds.

Welcome back ants post holiday packages sounds like genius.

ollie great coat!

bloss how do I pin my (primark!) holiday wardrobe please as obviously not online.thanks.

dec I think once you are a mother some people feel they can pass comment freely.ignore!

hopefully I love the way you shop even though it is so far removed from mine.your attention to detail is impressive!

verity I loved Miss Guam too.Also now considering the Cook Islands after finding out total population 14,00.Probably that many people in our street

Have just realised that I am officially a lightweight and am struggling to drink and type so will just wave weakly.

Hic!

Oh my Oh my. Just been looking on etsy for a silver necklace likes the one Ants brought in gold and typed in tiered silver necklace into the search box.
Look what was suggested. very 50 shades no?

ollie, your post should come with a health warning!

reine, download the pinterest app for iPhone and there's a camera attached to it. Take photos of your clothes, then tap photos and add to the right board.
If you don't have an iPhone, take photos and upload to pc, then copy image and paste after you've clicked on 'add pin'. HTH

hahaha Ollie - am i now going to be followed around the net by ads for similar? the only shades of grey here are the last of my post baby undies - I have ordered a job lot of "everyday" styles from M&S

welcome back ants - sounds like a good hol.

nice work reine a break is very well deserved by you!