What would you wear ...wise & avid girls?

[blossoming]

In reference to a question by ltec the other day.

I would only add that, while State primary provision is excellent in and around Esher, the secondary situation is dire, particularly at the Claygate end.

I had a place for my dc at ECS but ultimately didn't take it because there seemed to be absolutely no diversity - just white, rosy- cheeked, middle class, C of E kids as far as the eye could see. All the Jewish, Muslim, atheist, Catholic, Methodist, Buddhist, and non practising Christian families are effectively disenfranchised by the C of E entry prioritisation, so we joined them over the road at Shrewsbury Lodge, which was a much better mix imo, like Rowan.

Welcome back everything - we have missed you! Glad you had a relaxing holiday - and that you loved the maxi! Money well spent!

Mumsnut, thanks, I have just had a look at Shrewsbury Lodge's website and I'm impressed that they start teaching French so early.

I do agree with Mumsnut - there is absolutely no ethnic/religious diversity at ECS, however the mix at the other state options is far better. That being said, I am not particularly sold on the idea that private schools' version of "diversity" is any better tbh, although Esher isn't exactly the place to test this thesis given the average profile/earnings of inhabitants anyway! However, many people use ECS like a cheap pre-prep, with 2 children you would be saving around £60K so I can see why they do it.
That being said imo, the biggest factor in my choice was whether I could walk to school, but that's a bit of an unfashionable view in Esher - you do have a 4x4 don't you Carciofi ?

TraceyB, can you wear cream?

Just been ebaying, and saw this that you might like, and also this

Also, I haven't been to visit SL since it became SL but we visited it when it was still ML and they were very clear that it was a boys' school that took a few girls, they made it v clear they were not co-ed at all. I was a bit at their attitude as it's not as if the fees are less for a girl so not sure why they were so keen to stress that they were not really catering for them.

Mumsnut - I know you are sending your dd? Is that just for the nursery or long-term? (Sorry if I am being too nosy but really interested as SL is our nearest school and if I thought it was suitable for DD1 I would be there like a shot. Do you really anticipate sending your DD all the way through?)

good grief, should I even try to catch up??

mm what a pile of lousiness. I would've cried too. Hope your day got progressively better/

Plum how was Dukan day 2? I skim-read a friend's copy today; it does sound interesting and effective. I'm interested to hear how it works for you Marsha as, like you, I love veg and avoid carbs - not sure whether my system would get the requisite kick-start?? I think I could do a couple of days of the pure protein though, even as a non-meat and poultry eater, since there's an allowance for fat-free dairy (mmm, yoghurt) and fish ... anyway, keep us posted!!!

tracey glad you are feeling better, love the jumpsuit, I have been pondering a similar one from ASOS, although fritz said it was quite think cotton so am unsure .. is yours jersey?

re: mothers and style icons. No, not at all, Probably the other way around actually!! BUt she definitely taught me a lot about looking for bargains, trawling through charity shops and markets etc. Taught me nothing about hair, diet, food, makeup or exercise, however (a fact that she acknowledges and apologises for )

vin glad your stuff turned up. I think it's totally fine to send sympathies after a short delay .. when you;re grieving, you get this flurry of attention and sympathy and then life moves on for everyone and you're left with your grief. It's nice to have constant reminders that people are thinking of you, iykwim.

bloss hope dh (and you) had a lovely day

re moving out of London. OMG, would not be able to handle the countryside thing I'm afraid, as city chick through and through. But London + 3 dc is just not feasible nor fun, long term. Thank god we have the option to go home; I'm not sure what we'd otherwise.

Verity I want to hug your dd. Little poppet.

Dolce glad you had a good night out with your tasty dh

all this talk of property .. after dropping P at nursery I spent the morning (after changing my flat tyre .. aaaarrgh) dropping keys of at estate agents. Our tenants were meant to be staying until the end of July, now leaving end of June ... don't want to lose a month's rent but it's looking likely

OWW ha ha Class Mum!! what did you say? what a position to be put in.

Hi Red!!!

esher glad dd is okay, hope you get a good night of sleep tonight

congrats on the job fleecy carciofi my dh went to Claremont and it is a right weird school. Avoid!!! Avoid!!!!

welcome back everything really happy to hear that the holiday was a tonic.

phew!! okay, so on my own A&W note for the day, had an email from Frockaholics in Australia saying that not only was my dress sold out in a small, but they'd noticed that the medium was damaged when they were packing it. Hmph. So no dress. Of course, could buy here in the UK but don't love it enough to buy at full price, I don't think. So I bought those shoes instead. Have had a quick look through the m-w sale but nothing takes my fancy; most galling as I have credit note that I want to use up before I forget about!!!

The sunglasses are Dior Troika. The thing is, the colour and size of mine were limited edition - they were extra large frames and a silver coloured lense. The ones I now own are the non limited edition Troika but the smaller edition. They'll do maybe. I don't know. I'm just really disappointed. Fool. Bought a £1.99 grey pair in H&M today which look so much more expensive.

Having a tan makes such a difference. Every day I've had a number of compliments on my outfits.

Did a H&M sweep today - 3 boob tubes, 2 bandeau tops, few pairs of tiny shorts, beautiful scarf and a belt I'd recommend Cakey - lovely tan leather for £7 odd. Mainly for Spain weekend after next.

Nice to hear from you Everything - asked about you
a few times. Sounds like you're taking time
to do good peaceful things for you. Good.

Took possession of a stunning, massive photo from
a local photographer today. Of Greenwich Park. It's so beautiful it makes me want to cry. (I'm so emotional )

Kitchen worktop fitted tmrw then last bits will be done by next week I hope. Then the reflooring starts .

Thanks for your nice messages everyone.

MM - all this weeping, you're not PG are you?

Cake - glad you went for those Ash heels. I hadn't seen link to antipodium dress before - very nice, shame you can't get it discounted.

Am also quite cross that despite spending money at MW they have not invited me to sale but had a quick look and can't see anything I like in my size anyway so maybe for the best.

Waiting for NAP to start Monday - thanks Hells

Everything - nice to hear from you. Sounds like holiday has given you some space to clear your head and make positive changes (some of which I really ought to be adopting myself)

esher are you signed up to the loyalty thing? It's only for those customers ...

am on asos looking at playsuits God, I really want a playsuit!! It's wrong, isn't it?

oh I say!!

I love my playsuits. I have Loads though they include a blue & gold towling Baby Phat one so am probably not a good example .

Ha ha. No, not pg though did wonder myself. All this emotion is irritating me now.

Meant to ask - does anyone have experience of colour blindness? Had a end of year meeting with DS1's teacher today. They did some basic tests last week and he did really well in most areas but got 7 questions - all about colour - wrong. It was the type of question where there was a picture of 5 balls of different shades of blue and DS was supposed to mark the lightest blue or darkest etc. Teacher asked if we had noticed anything before. I know that DH has trouble seeing differences between pinks and purples etc but have never looked into it with DS1. Not too worried, just interested to find out more and how we do this without making DS1 too paranoid..... Teacher just said that she would keep an eye on it next term.

Roman - your class mum experience sounds horrible! I really don't know what to do esp as the teacher asked me - she chooses them everyear apparently. One Mum said it was a honour but think she was probably relieved she wasn't asked!

OWW my ex-boyf was colour blind and it caused him no significant probs at all; he even worked in TV. Was funny when we first started going out though; I remember him soppily looking into my eyes and saying "You have the most amazing, big ... um, what colour are your eyes??"

My long lusted after Swedish Hasbeens arrived today and after all that anticipation, they are too tight across the toe.

MM I can relate to your disappointment over your sought after sunglasses.

Tracey am glad the hayfever is at bay. I like your jumpsuit, it is similar to one Ltec linked to which caught my eye too.

Verity, sorry for your little one. I think when I was that age it wouldn't have occurred to me to be body concious. What a shame.

I like rural living, when I was growing up our nearest neighbours were about 20 mins walk away. Now I live in a small village which feels positively bustling! I am a renter, currently thinking about a move back up to Scotland before DS gets settled into secondary school. I might buy then but am not in a very strong position - even with a deposit, having only the one income to draw a mortgage on is not going to get me the sprawling mansion and gardens I deserve!

So please would you tell me what your AW staples are?
Obviously tall boots are on the list. Someone mentioned a pea coat - what is one of those?
What about woolly items? I saw a spread in Elle magazine showing AW trends but tbh not a lot of it grabbed me and shouted "Buy! Buy!"

Awwww Cain I actually feel your Hasbeens pain with you, you deliberated so hard over them and now they are too bloody tight! Too tight for the A&W patented sock-loosening method?

Oh my goodness, no point in even catching up, but hello all!

Verity there was a thread on hairy armed DDs a few days ago - will try to find for you. I have fair skin and hairy arms as well and I feel for her. I think the best thing, personally, is to arm with a good dose of self-confidence and let her bleach them when she gets older...I think it is sad that in addition to all the other things we need to worry about apparently arm hair is now one of them (saw rude comments on Go Fug Yourself or similar about some female celeb's hairy arms, which weren't even that hairy!).

I think this is really cute - how does Johnnie B size?

Anyone seen any good skirts recently? I love skirts but have seen none.

FInally, an exciting mission for you all: my dear friend is visiting at the moment and is getting married for the second time (fairly swiftly after the first, but v happily and we are all delighted for her). But she needs something to wear that is Not Too Bridal due to recent first wedding. She would like knee-length, fancy, preferably in a neutral close to white (taupe, blush, etc) that is good and glam. Budget £200 or so. We are willing to make a shopping trip to London to investigate further

OWW old schoolfriend profoundly colourblind. No real problems other than his wife has to choose his ties for him at first and he memorizes what goes with what and he can't be a pilot. BUT there is a very easy test they can do, why not have it done? Your GP probably has the necessary things and if there is a problem you will know straight away - it's not going to correct itself if it is colour blindness and the test is like a game so it wouldn't be a big fuss.

My DH is not colourblind but must also memorize his shirt/tie combos.

oooh, colourblindness tests here

only just finding a moment to catch up.

Awful,awful for your friend to lose her life in such a sad and painful way vin..I can't imagine you being anything other than a sterling friend since your posts are always insightful and warm..'if onlys' are really not warranted.

roary..gross question..but i know you had a maxi incident..what is the best way to remove bf poo stains.

over halfterm we did the diana memorial gardens and I looked out for well dressed a and w ers but unfortunately realised why some of the threads on here have been so down on maxi dresses..there were some v alarming sights so when I finally swa someone looking lush I was keen to complement but turns out she was a personal trainer..made me think of NY!

stopped another woman in the street to ask about her grey vest(was thinking of ltec,glad you sorted it)but she bought from Saks and when checked online flogging some styles for $200.

vb..I have 2 girls and I'm dreading the day they start to worry about their looks..your dd sounds a real bobbydazzler.

re parental style input..my mum died when I was a child but I remember clearly she had a shoe thing too so I like to argue it's genetic.

I am formerlyknownas,formerly bodsmum..a bit too much namechanging..the indecision

Definitely no point in me trying to catch up!

To those who have had trials and tribulations today may tomorrow be a better day

To those who have had good days may tomorrow bring more of the same

Cain Are you a fellow jock? Shame about the Hasbeens - try the socks!

Reine like your new name! THe easy answer to BF poo is to wash it IMMEDIATELY. It can be a bit nuclear otherwise. If it is set in it will depend on the fabric. Napisan does the trick but obviously not on delicates....

Thanks roary..was very impressed the maxi survived and I've had a couple of close calls this week..

reine maxi went from my person into the machine ;) and it is navy so that helps. Childless visiting friend horrified by explosive poos!

Thanks EM and hf, I have emailed the company and they have said I can return for either a full refund or the next size up, so I think I will get the next size and then try the sock trick if need be.
hf I am a fellow Scot (I'm a Highlander), but please don't make me be a 'jock'? That word always makes me think of sweaty sportsmans' rancid undergarments