Ok, so talk to me about nail polish ...

[NotQuiteCockney]

I bought some. Haven't worn any for ... 20 years?

Does a topcoat make that much difference? What can I do to keep it from chipping? What brands are best? (I want strange colours, green, blue, purple, but not too dark as my nails are short.)

base coat - for dark colours to stop staining the nails and to help it last longer

if you want some whacky colours then go for Barry M

rimmel fast finish is brilliant - i have a couple of their colours and they are excellent

i have a purple one as well as a dark, rouge noir colour

to stop from chipping, a top coat does help, and try to use rubber gloves when washing up and using detergents

Does swimming totally bugger them up? I used NYC, did two coats, no top coat, on Thursday. My thumb chipped on Friday, and then today, four fingers are chipped.

Hmm, given I bike, swim and climb, maybe painted nails just aren't a realistic plan for every day - save them for dressing up?

Good whacky colours from Barry M, Urban Decay and Hard Candy (if it still exists). Keyboards are the worst thing for painted nails; not sure about swimming.I have only three pots of nail varnish - black (which I wear a lot), dark blood red (only on toes), chocolate brownie type colour. I quite fancy some grey.

I think I may just do my toes for now. I'm alwways using the keyb, but I don't have long nails, so I was figuring the keyb wouldn't be a problem? Pretty sure I've used it since Thursday night.

I bought some Barry M and I think it's brilliant. They do a clear one which is a base coat and hardner/top coat and it's amazing, it keeps the polish on for ages. My favourite new colour is a plummy kind of purple one.

I had a manicure on Thursday with Leighton somebody polish in Doing Thyme. Still no chips which is amazing for me as I never get away with long. BTW my manicurist said not to use a nail hardener but I don't know if she meant me or in general.

meant just me......

gosh nailpolish lasts ages i've found.

i dont use top and bottom coat as i find along with a layer of colour the polish gets too thick and flakes quicker. just top coat sometimes. barry m one sounds good bluebump.

Ah, more layers = thicker = flakes? The colour I'm using is a sort of pearlescent green, and is flaking like mad. Dunno if it's my nails, my lifestyle, or the polish.

i find swimming takes it off my toe nails double quick. v. annoying.

Hmmm, a quick google shows that swimming = nailpolish comes off. Ah well, then at least I know. I'll save it for special occasions. Annoying, I only really started swimming a few weeks ago, but have been twice this week.

scraping your toenails along the bottom whilst chasing children really doesn't help... have you been to the london fields lido? it's fab.

I've heard good things about it, but haven't been. I have been at Mile End (open to 10pm!) and Britannia (waves - great for kids).

i spend quite a lot of my life at britannia... lido is great without kids . and they do a mean falafel in the cafe.

I had a really hard time getting the kids out of the pool at Britannia today - and unfortunately hadn't eaten enough and got really really really ratty afterwards. Whoops.

I always seem to be hissing at them in the changing room. I had nuts, but it was clearly Not Enough.

ha, we almost went this afternoon. i would have ignored hissing in favour of doing my own i suspect!

I think we're committed to going next Saturday - DS1 made a new friend (as usual), and they agreed to meet. I think we might try to get there for noon or one or something, eating right before. Oh, arse, no, I lie, we're at a party in the countryside next Saturday.

it is blissful during the week, sometimes dd & i have the pool to ourselves.

Yeah, we used to go after Scallywags. One I saw a little boy pee in the water, stand up and have a wee into it. Ugh.

I should try going when my two have school holidays but nobody else does.

Only, of course, my two like the crowds. And they adore the waves. Hmm, so much for that palns.