Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Crepes and Mulled Whine in your pants

999 replies

Auriga · 12/11/2013 23:18

Somebody had to do it Grin

OP posts:
herbaceous · 26/11/2013 17:26

Blow me down. I opened DP's birthday present this morning, which he'd led me to believe was 'uninspiring', and it was a Selfridges gift card for ....

< drum roll >

£250!!!!!!!!!

What to buy? What to buy? What to buy? A single 'investment piece', such as an Anglomania dress, or 10 pieces of tat from Warehouse.

QueenQueenie · 26/11/2013 17:44

Happy Birthday Herby one!
Good call Mr Herbs, very impressive...
If it were me I'd buy one lovely thing... and a VW dress is an excellent idea and wont be something you get sick of after a bit. DON'T SPEND IT ON THE CAT'S TEETH!

Hope dd's appointment went well Stropps. Never apologise about chatting about your worries on here, I think it's really lovely that we can offer a bit of support / a shoulder to cry on here.

Much sympathy MI re stupid charity. Stand firm (and cross your arms resolutely).

bigTillyMint · 26/11/2013 18:24

Ooooh Herbs, how fab!

I would also go for an investment piece. And VW is a very good idea.

Have booked the dentist appointment!

addle · 26/11/2013 18:40

Happy Birthday Herbs ! fab present, second the VW dress idea - they look lovely.

Stropps - I think we all benefit from the incredibly supportive conversations on here - I often think of them.

Lots of sympathy MI, sometimes the tiny charities are the worst because they just don't understand that aspect of what they do.

Auriga · 26/11/2013 18:44

Stropps, teenage blathering is exactly what I want to listen to. And other child-related blathering, tbh but teenage especially. How was appointment?

MI, can you allocate time to the job based on a viable hourly rate? For example, if £X/hr is reasonable and you have £Y left after commissioning, then you limit yourself to Y/X hours on the editing. I sometimes try to apply this to reports. I set a kitchen timer to go off every 15 mins, dictate standing up and am extremely strict with myself. Quite helpful even if people are not trying to get away with under-paying. You get good at knowing exactly how long jobs take and you (mysteriously) get faster.

DD's concert was a delight and she had a gorgeous solo that she'd kept as a surprise Grin

OTOH got an e-mail from head of Upper School about her drop in effort grades. Trouble is, the grades were more than 5 weeks ago and HoUS seemed unaware of the effort she's made since, including changing one of her GCSE subjects, re-doing coursework etc. Still, this was promptly acknowledged when I e-mailed back.

Presentation at work today for someone who's done 10 years without a sick day. Whole senior team turned up, all of our team and some others, to applaud her and give her armfuls of flowers and compliments. Interesting how there seems to be a tacit acknowledgement that, in her line of work, sick leave is partly a choice. But fun all the same.

OP posts:
Auriga · 26/11/2013 18:45

And happy birthday Herbs!

OP posts:
frogs · 26/11/2013 18:52

Ah, MI, this is where you hang out!

Can I join in your game too? [needy] [snurk]

motherinferior · 26/11/2013 19:27

FROOGGSS!!!

Let me introduce Frogs. She is lovelyGrin

And I am most heartened by your helpful advice and suggestions.

motherinferior · 26/11/2013 19:30

And Herbs, go for the knockout dress. Otherwise you will fritter it on socks and pants and suchlike. I am very fond of socks and pants but a frock is a frock.

beachyhead · 26/11/2013 20:13

Can I be very S&B stupid and ask what a VW dress is? Whatever it is, it sounds better than pants or cats teeth!

I am stuck in the 'Fire outside London Bridge' train hell but just listened to XTC on my phone so all is good.

I bought shiny blue ballet flats today. Quite pleased with them. In the sale... Is this the January sales brought forward or the Summer sales slipping back?

Do vent here Stropps... It's very important to have the space to vent.

bigTillyMint · 26/11/2013 20:21

Oh God Beachy, just read about that LB closure on my local forum - you poor thing!

Shiny blue ballet flats? I have shiny pink flats that I wear all the time at work which have been much admired mainly by children

VW - Vivienne WestwoodSmile

Cremolafoam · 26/11/2013 20:33

Bonsoir Mesdames .
Herbs double yes to the Vivienne dress of Dreams. Would love one myself. And bag. And fabulous Anglomania edgy jacket or Biba or ...
Can you tell I haven't been out lately?

I am finally on the mend - wound has rezipped thanks to being anointed with manuka honey. In other news dd has received 3 offers from her Ucas choices. Yay! Am delighted for her. Poor thing is working so hard she fell asleep between school and dinner today. In the mean time dh has actual flu. I mean hot sweat, can't move body , croaky , temperature, sneezing fit, tubercular wheezing flu. Has been bedridden for 3 days. As a result I am now driving again after 8 weeks. Needs must.

hattymattie · 26/11/2013 20:34

Let me be the last to wish you a very happy birthday Herb's. I've had one glass of wine and think I will be falling asleep imminently. I really can't take the pace anymore.

Have spent today decorating the gingerbread houses which we made on Sunday, so have eaten rather a lot of liquorice allsorts.

I thought VW was volkswagon!

MrsSchadenfreude · 26/11/2013 20:51

I am howling at "Don't spend it on the cat's teeth!" YY to one piece, nice dress preferably or bag or something lovely that you will have for a long time . And happy birthday.

I went for cocktails at Le Meridien on Piccadilly tonight for a friend's birthday, then trotted along to Fortnum's. There was obviously Some Event going on in the perfume department, as I got a glass of champagne thrust into my hand as I stepped out of the lift. I did some Sniffin' then went downstairs to buy some cheese and wafted off home on the bus. Must stop spending money as if I am still on Paris salary.

bigTillyMint · 26/11/2013 22:03

Cremo, all good (apart from the man real flu)Flowersall round!

MrsS, you lush!Envy

frogs · 26/11/2013 22:14

Hi MI, and everyone! [selfconscious]

Beachyhead, did I meet you at one of the Pizza Pomodoro meetups years ago? Of course I may just possibly be terminally confused. Confused

Blackduck · 26/11/2013 22:32

OMG Herbs how fab!!!

Boots - I'd buy boots.... Grin

Blackduck · 26/11/2013 22:33

Hi Frogs - waves

Lovely choir tonight - a personally written carol (long story), three kings and winter hymnal (bloody freezing though!!)

CointreauVersial · 26/11/2013 23:46

Um, Hattie, I think I shall be the last to wish Herbs a Happy Birthday. Hope you have had a nice day, Herbs; very Envy at your voucher.

Interesting that HerbsCat and MrsS are apparently sharing an ailment.Grin

Strops, seriously, don't worry about downloading on here - that's what we're here for.

Hello Frogs. Welcome to the madhouse.

BTM - if you're still awake - the priority Tesco slots have been released!

bigTillyMint · 27/11/2013 08:00

Thanks CV - just booked mine for 23rd!

Hi Frogs!

beachyhead · 27/11/2013 08:12

Sorry Herbs, I quite forgot my manners in my three and three quarter hours journey home last night, so belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY and yes to a significant piece, rather than a host of tat.

Yes Frogs that was me - part of the City girls meet ups. We did quite a few, didn't we, in Spitalfields and in that underground Pizza Pomodora with all the tiles Grin That feels a very long time ago!

The shoes are these and I only bought them as I needed shoes to wear with some navy trousers I foolishly bought for work. They have been hanging in the cupboard 'waiting' for me to sort out shoes. Every other navy shoe seemed to look like some Tory wife nightmare. Still not sure on these, but I hate buying shoes, so they will do!

Blackduck · 27/11/2013 08:55

I am feeling very unwell this morning (and, no, I did not drink copious amounts last night... one glass only), I feel like I want to throw up (TMI I know)
I still can't decide re job - does that mean a 'no'? I did have a revelation (curtesy of ds) that moving jobs will cut (pretty much) my ties with where I used to live and will probably tie me more to where I now live - do you think there is something psychological going on there? Some 'no way back' fear?

herbaceous · 27/11/2013 09:20

I think your DS may be v wise. Inertia is a powerful force!

CV - I'm wearing my Wool Lovers guernsey jumper in racy red. It's so warm! Not the most flattering shape ever, but a winter staple.

motherinferior · 27/11/2013 09:25

I'm in my moss stitch one, cosily.

beachyhead · 27/11/2013 09:35

Sorry you are feeling so bad this morning, BD. I think there is some truth in the 'cutting ties' theory. Maybe evaluate why you don't want to be nearer home, what is it about the old area that you need to maintain links with? Massive disclaimer: I think QQ would be better doing this sort of analysis!

You could work it out very factually: 2 hours saved per day versus £x less. Perhaps think about the things you would do with that extra time or how much less stress you would have with less travel. It's a hard decision, but once made, the trick is not to look back.