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.

I wouldn't want DH mucking about with the washing tbh, he would only make a meal of it. Best he stick to his area of expertise - the bins.

Dh good with laundry, although for a man with a large number of talents he really struggles to remember all the laundry symbols and ends up texting me .

Did my first Insanity fit test today Hopefully- big improvement! Glad your course is going well.

Like the sound of those jeans Ollie- do they have a name so I can look them up...?

NY It was these but think they look awful in the pic. Mine are far less patchy in terms of worn bits if that makes any sense at all??? They say straight leg but are more slim than straight and v comfy cos of a little bit of stretch in them. Sure my legs look longer and DH asked if I had lost weight off my bum

marsha I have a Miele washing maching....I know the excitement....but I have an uncanny way of finding things like washing machines break quickly so I bit the bullet and bought the one with the 10 year guarantee. Needless to say 4 years in countless nappy washes, dog basket washes and general use and it died a death. Free replacement. And it does a feb job.
Can't believe I have gotten to the point where can be excited about a washing machine!

Hello all! Little man lovely and so alert but still tiny. Had a lovely peaceful day today as a v kind friend took them all out for several hours !

Happy birthday to pickled and icey. Hope you enjoyed your Co-op chocolate cake and hope you get a Patisserie Valerie on next year!

icey- probably stating the obvious but do you tuck him in tightly with a blanket? Can you put something on either side of him to decrease chances of him rolling? Hopefully, it will be a short lived phase as he will learn to turn back soon!

decam/ portia- delayed response by several days but was shocked by the sexism/ racism you both had to deal with in your City jobs- particularly that they let you go when you stood up for yourself, decam- shocking! I had a vaguely similar situation at work myself (made different type of complaint with same outcome). I took it much further but it was incredibly galling not to be taken seriously by all the bodies in power- depressing state of affairs. However, several year later, it now appears that at least one of the people involved may be getting some degree of punishment (naturally not by the medical establishment naturally but with criminal charges).

ollie- ice blue is fab! Minis are great! We really need to do the opposite and get a 7 seater pronto as we can't all fit in either of our cars!

Totally agree re ant's gorgeous jewels (especially the lovely Dinny Hall earrings)! You are v brave to be considering surgery. I really hope that you are pleased with the outcome.

hopefully training sounds v exciting. Let me know if you need a guinea pig (any of you aspiring stylists) :)

Zara looking good this season.
Am going to give this pretty top a try. I like this too

These aren't for me but I wondered if they might appeal to someone else.

Can someone tell me if I am crazy to be drawn to these?

Apologies for missing masses. I'm hoping to make it to the shops next week (after nearly 2 months) so quite excited!

We have Bosch appliances, love them: dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. No issues whatsoever and we've been here over 4 years.

And..... we have a black Smeg. The only decision DH took all by himself. It looks amazing with black granite tops and black venetian blinds. You've got to believe me on this one, 'tis cool.

You must look amazing decam. OP is new to me, and I have loved following pictures of her on Pin. Hate her recent high fashion clothes though.

ollie, those jeans are perfect for you. Really like the photo you pinned yesterday. I think you know your own style really well now.

looby, I have a Renault Grand Scenic (the glamour). Converts to 7 seater though.

Meant to send best wishes to dauphin and her dad and to ask after your DS, always.

Have you noticed how much Halloween and Christmas stuff is on Pinterest today? Is summer over?

Thanks bloss. Is it reliable and safe? Any other 7 seater recommendations gratefully received !

Lovely to hear from you looby.
Happy birthday icey and pickled. DS is 3 tomorrow and I'm more excited than him! He loved his bouncy castle party and gruffalo cake though. Can't believe how fast the past three years has gone.
Jealous of the appliances talk. Bah to poor quality rented property appliances [glares with hatred at the crap oven and washing machine].
My DH's only contribution to laundry is kindly leaving filthy clothes on the floor. Often next to the laundry bin.

Thanks for all the kind wishes for my friend and her poor mum. Funeral was distressing but full of love. She was a very stylish, fashion-mad lady so the church was full of beautifully dressed older women and I don't feel too inappropriate telling you that I wore my beloved black patent Prada heels and a gorgeous belted broderie anglaise jaeger dress. She will be dreadfully missed but my friend is coping as well as you could expect and I feel really proud of her.

Looby, I know, they were scumbags. Glad at least one of those involved in your situation got his comeuppance. Those Zara blouses are both lovely. I can't open your last link, for some reason.

Dauphin, I've never seen the hairdresser cut my hair so fast.

Marsha, I'd go for the Miele. All the appliances in my dad's house are Miele and have lasted years.

Pickled, no photos, I'd scare the horses! I had two back-to-back playdates here afterwards so a bit tired now.

Looby we considered both a Ford S-max and a Galaxy (both v safe) when we considered a 7 seater, but decided to go for a smaller budget and no debt in the end - they ain't cheap.

Hello Birthday girls! Hope you are having a good day.
I like making a big deal of my birthday. It kind of eases the pain of getting older!
I am sporting a fabulous black eye. Courtesy of DS (aged 4) who flung my iphone into the bed and managed to hit me in the eye. Not.A. Good. Look.
Worse still. I hadn't looked at it (as I'm a little squeamish about injuries to self), was still in pjs (as planning a run) at 12, when a friend called round to drop back the lawn mower she had borrowed. I had been cutting up about a kg of red onions as was making red onion marmalade (this.is.true). She looked at me and I said "sorry, I'm just cutting a load of onions". I just gasped when I saw my eye later. Didn't realise it would be so bad. This is how rumours start ladies!
Bloss I am sure you will look just as good in your VL bikini. Daily Mail should follow you on holiday!
Re appliances GoS, re fridge freezer. My own is on the blink as well at the moment. I have to replace the seal around the fridge door, but one thing you could try is to defrost the freezer. Apparently the tubes get blocked all the time (despite the supposed no frost system). This worked a treat for me.
I was tempted to get a Miele Dishwasher to replace my Fisher Paykel last year, but it had the same lenght of guarantee as a cheap one, so I didn't see the point. In the end Fisher and Paykel replaced it for cost (ie a third of new price. Result) Bosch always does well in consumer ratings from my research Ollie, so your mum is probably right!
Glad to hear you're doing well Looby. Sounds like you had a bit of a scrape yourself. Medicine is not a good place really, or wasn't. Think it's better now that there's more women around.

NY well done on fit test! Will be demanding a PM of all your results after month 1

Blue sounds like an eminently suitable outfit. Your friend sounds amazing.

Looby you sound like you're doing well. Would love to analyse all the remaining A&Wers. Just as soon as we book the official A&W weekend country house retreat

Blue that sounds like a fitting tribute. I'm sure your friend really appreciates your support.
And Decam, liking the sound of your hair. And very brave to bring DDs. I have only ever brought DD aged 8 with me!

Your poor friend, Blue. We are renting too, I check the kitchen and appliances first. They are deal breakers - I walk straight out if there is no dishwasher!

Decam my checklist for new house was gas hob, decent oven, dishwasher, a washing machine brand I had heard of and a good shower. Everything else is negotiable.

I would have cancelled but it was too late, Rufus! Ouch, poor you.

I was lucky with this house as along with my requirements, it also had to be less than 350 metres from the school. When do you move, Hopefully?

I had a dreadful day today. Who was it coined the 'time going backwards' phrase?
DS had a playdate from 10 till 3, so was managing to 'entertain' dd withIpad well: walk into town in the morning; park in the afternoon, when the playdate mother phoned to say they wanted another 30 mins. In the end they turned up at 5. Both me and DD going spare with boredom, and me having done some ridiculous pre holiday purchases which are not going to get here in time. Absolutely love these blue sam edelman gigis. Fit so well with my colour scheme. And then, I must have been bored, bought a playsuit. How old do I think I am???
Thanks for that rufus. You are too kind. Hope your eye gets better soon, sounds very painful.

Now, I am curious, noticing bloss has a black fridge, what does House of Colour say about fridge and car colours??

blue I am glad things went OK on what must have been a tough day all round. Very fitting tribute to dress well for your friends mum, and lovely that others did the same.

big wave to looby - I can't see what you are crazily drawn to on that Oasis link, give us a clue!

olly Love your outfit - yes yes Jennifer Aniston style is very you I think.

a mix of appliance brands here, worst buy was a siemens dishwasher which totally went on the blink after 18m, three repair attempts then replaced by John Lewis under warantee - perhaps not such a bad buy after all as the new one came with another 2y one.

decam thanks again for the fab Donna Ida discount code you posted a while back - my Jbrand white Maria's are a total keeper so too the 7FAM gwyneths in black (sort of work trousers, not denim). cheers!

oh and I meant to say rufus hope you heal quickly, what a mare!
and bloss I love those sandals, not sure about the playsuit though but if anyone has the figure to rock it I think you do!

That Oasis website is playing up. The link was to the check print cherry jeans.

Will check out 7 seater recommendations- many thanks.

So sad re your friend's mum, blue. Life isn't fair is it? I watched that v well made documentary on the Soham murders last week- so sad but the family has been amazingly strong. I remember it so well- was just before I had DD1 and was living quite close by at the time.

Also wanted to link to this- interesting Horizon programme from yesterday- v well worth looking into, I think.

Honestly, bloss- you probably do look equally great/ better than OP in the VL, at least in the sense that I don't think it is a great choice of bikini for her figure.

Right, must go and feed my little man!