Hi all! I arrive back as the thread ends!
Well, Italian holiday was fab-u-lous. A couple of days of rain, but we planned activities around it, visiting Verona etc. We were staying just outside Salo on Lake Garda (Portese.) I don't know the area particularly well at all, but it appeared we had lucked in, as it was nowhere near as touristy and overun as some of the resorts around the lake. Gorgeous views straight over the lake, and Salo itself was lovely. VERY chic and full of beautiful people and lovely clothes shops (unlike some of the other places we drove through on the lake, which were full of, well, the opposite tbh. Life would be boring if we all looked the same, but surely its nice to take a bit of pride in your appearance..?)
As usual, I had overpacked! Spent most of the time casual in bikini/sarong or shorts and tops. Did wear ALL the maxis though and whafted furiously around the place. Got some compliments, including from a (slightly creepy...) Dutch guy staying in the chalet opposite who said that he and his wife had been watching me and were convinced that I was Italian because of my clothes/looks and they were shocked that I was British. Not sure what that says about our general image abroad, however....
Will stick some photos on FB shortly. The place where we were staying had 2 young, buffed Italian gents who ran some stuff to for the kids. This involved them stripping to the waist and prancing around in the pool. Somehow this may have snuck on to my holiday snaps..... DD (3.11) loved the guy who ran the little informal sessions (literally...she kept on shouting 'I love you Maurizio' at the end of each session....first crush perhaps?)
Have only had time to skim read the thread very quickly and have done clothes shopping so no links.
Reallygrumpy - congrats!
Dukan - may be joining you! Don't think I have gained on holiday, although def drank more than usual. Exercised most days though. Will step on scales later. Felt I measured up to most ladies round the pool bikini wise, although there were def a couple who I was eying up jealously. I want to be them!
Carciofi - I am an only and dont feel in any way disadvantaged - although I guess I have nothing to compare it to! I would like to have another, but it isn't going to happen so DD will be an only, and I will count my blessings for what we have. DH has a number of siblings and HATED being part of a bigger family and really feels strongly that he wants a small family as a result of that. This is due a lot to the dynamics in that particular family though. I think we over analysis the impact in most (happy) families tbh. Children have no 'frame of reference' to compare against. As long as they are loved and we do our best as parents, then I think they will be happy regardless of whether they have a big family around them or not. There are clear advantages and disadvantages in both choices, and children will probably at some point bemoan their lack of siblings or having no attention from parents because of interfering siblings. The grass is always greener I think!