A for Avid, B for buying, C for Chatting... W for Wise!

[OllieWollieWoo]

Credit to Everything for the lovely new title!

roma - writing job apps is HARD! I have had quite a few jobs 9and applied for even more..) and getting what you say tailored to the post/researching the firm etc can be really brain intensive. You have my sympathies! Depending on the results of the election I may also be joining you in a few months...

Hope it doesn't put the kybosh on our planned dinner here tonight. What shall I wear? I was thinking rats, McQ shattered glass tunic, black Gina stilettos, but that might be too informal? If I wear rats and heels all the men will double take, which may encourage him to pay attention....

Romana - 5 hours of dc's and 5 hours of job applications is definitely a busy day.

Will you be staying where you are for the foreseeable future - must make jobs hard when you have to move because of DH's work.

Oh LTEC - have you watched 24 this week - sooooo sad - so don't watch it perhaps. I am so in love with Jack

thanks notyummy it is hard. I've put so many hours into preparation recently with no success that I'm getting quite despondent, so don't need dh to make me feel useless.

Thanks Blossoming - very interesting re how to cut sugar out! Will investigate further! I lack any willpower but our holiday is in 6 weeks and want to look nice for that!

Helped take DS1's class to a farm park this morning - he was motified! Kept asking if I could go home now! Very funny - he is only 4 - I thought all that stuff came later!

Oops that should have read mortified!

No-brainer Romana.

Rats and heels it is

I didn't want to come here, but I don't hold that against dh as I agreed to (ironically enough because I thought it would be a cinch for me to get a job here). I'm not sure how long we'll be here. On the one hand I don't want to disrupt the children too often - ds1 is on his 3rd school now at 8yo, and our next move will likely as not mean a 4th language for them to learn (a good thing in one way, but also a pressure). On the other hand this is not an interesting city in which to have time on your hands, so there's a limit to how long I'm putting up with it. Another 2 or 3 years I guess.

Rats and heels then. Good

OWW that's hilarious. I went to Antwerp zoo with ds2's class and he behaved appallingly all day. The teacher was amazed - she had never seen him other than good as gold . I'm never going on one again!

Looks like Yasmin's been busy again:

i likey

everything I don't particularly like the new look ones and isn't lace a bit last season? (not sure about this - cakey please advise). Did you have a plan for when to wear them?

Sympathies Roman a couple of my friends were brought up in Brussles because of their fathers jobs, and I know their mothers found it a difficult place to live. Of course in the 70/80s it was different for women but it's still hard to live in a city that's not of your choosing, particularly if it limits your career choices.

Men NEVER seem to think that time spent attending to the needs of children is work

I went with ds2s class on a school trip, and he ignored me completely, just acted as if I wasn't there! In contrast I went on a farm visit with dd last week and she was thrilled

romanarama, that looks like a lovely place for dinner. Post photos of your outfit, I'm sure you'll look amazing.

I agree with traceyb re looking good in clothes v bikini.
Even in my 20s though, I never wore a bikini. I've always been apple-shaped, so if I take care to look my best all year, why would I wear a bikini which shows off my very worst part? I thank the lord for miraclesuit, and especially the lovely bandeau styles which wil show off (hopefully) toned shoulders and arms instead.
I think Jen Aniston has the best beach body.

Forgot to say, verity, is that you in the photo? Lovely shoes though. Do the hoovering in them, that'll wear them in.

ollie, where are you off to on hols?

Blossoming sadly not me, but you can picture me like that

Everything Grevi are very high up in the millenry pecking order so well worth splurging on!

Everything - clothes are beautiful - I love the dress and the nude heels.

My bmi is the same as blossoming's - that seems to be where I sit if I don't make much of an effort to lose weight and don't go crazy eating wise. I would love to be at least half a stone lighter and I know all I'd have to do is to eat like a normal 5'3" woman instead of a 6' man .

My other problem is that I have quite a sporty build and don't actually carry an awful lot of fat except on my bum and my thighs so I don't think I'm ever going to look how I'd like (like Cheryl Cole ) and there are some styles which I know I can never pull off.

Poor DD is still not right. She's been coughing and crying all morning so I managed to get her into the doctors & have got some antibiotics for her. She's hardly eating anything and I can tell she's lost some weight and she's tiny anyway. Thankfully she's drinking quite a lot of water so not dehydrated. Makes me feel useless though.

Cake - I can understand why you don't want any paid help but why not call in a few favours with friends? Get together with another mum then the children can play while you get to chill out a bit?

Verity to be fair I think bxl is a lot better now than it used to be - at least it's pretty international, and also well-connected to other cities.

My dh certainly thinks looking after kids is very hard work when he has to do it. He once gave me a hard time about having to take ds1 and 2 to a museum by himself, as though he was doing me some massive exhausting favour, when ds3 was 4 days old. I'll just say that day was a low point in our marriage

Sorry about your dd MrsJuan Cake I didn't really mean to leave the kids with someone else, but when mine were 3, 1 and 0 I got a lovely au pair from Canada for a year and she used to come along and be the extra pair of hands, and clear up the wreck of tea while I blew bubbles over the babes in the bath etc. It made it infinitely easier to have fun with the kids rather than being an exhausted wreck all the time. Mind you, the au pair has to be nice to be around.

We are going for the third year running to a lovely house in SW France - close to St Jean d Angely/Ile de Re/La Rochelle. Owned by a great English couple who have lovely taste in interiors - garden is big and safe with a pool (shared with one other hoilday house). We love it. Making the most of being allowed to take DS1 out of school for a couple weeks (can do that here til they are 5) so going in June. For the past 2 years we have gone with friends who have stayed in the neighbouring house and then had a second week on our own somewhere else in France but this year are on our own here for 2 weeks. We also have a week booked in Norfolk in July and DH has just booked a sailing holiday for him and 2 friends to the British Virgin Islands (no less!) for a week whilst he is on gardening leave between jobs! Pleased for him but its going to be a long week knowing he is sailing & eating lobster in the sun and I am here munching cereal for dinner as too tired to cook! Wonder what the shopping possibilities are in the BVI tho?????!!!

Its a big national holiday here tomorroow - everyone wears orange! Not my best colour I have to say but kids look cute in it!

Meant to ask - where are all you lot going on your holidays???

We are doing Lake Garda for 12 nights in June, and Tuscany for a week in August.
Also a few nights in the north east in August for the Tall Ships with wider family - and a couple of nights in a canal boat down south with friends in August. (Am looking forward to Italy somewhat more than tall ships and canal boats tbh.)

Well yes, I too was a tad optimistique this morning ref the weather and have had to cover my pink and white halter with a navy bf cardi, indigo jeans and Havs....

Awaiting my Office order...leopard ballets and flat brown sandals with discs (sound hid but lovely).....

Rainy and chilly so even popped heating on for a bit to warm up the place! Kids happily playing dress up!

Think Jen A has a fab physique and aiming for that lean, toned but feminine shape.... I am starting running as a means of keeping really fit and toned!

Mrs J sorry DD still under weather ....

I do think I look better thinner, weight is ageing, and I keep a close check never to go beyond 8 1/2 stone (but constantly being on-the-go means real dieting not nec!!!!!)...

Cake - I am the same ref the kids....endless people think I need some help, because yes, 3 small ones of our ages is constant, but I wouldn't feel comfortable either....and never like to take up the offers of taking mine to Toddlers etc, although its v kind of people to offer. Happy enough for them to go to Nursery when of the appropriate age (i.e. 3)...but until then I see it as my role and responsibility.. I even have trouble handing over to bsitters, unless they are family or v close (ours is a Nanny from nursery)....They are just so precious....

If I don't get a job I'm going to Umbria/Rome (our house then mil's) with just kids for the whole of July, then 3 wks in California with dh too (he has just apologised btw), then one wk at friends' in Toronto on way back. If I get a job then only California.