User: paula1287

Hi Rebecca and Emily

I thought about time I posted again! I've been looking in from time to time and keeping up to date with your news and your lovely outfits.

I do love those vintage dresses you both wear, I imagine you both looking really beautiful in them. I so agree that dresses like that need stockings rather than tights!!No-one knows but you (and Andrew or Joel!) but they would always have been worn with stockings in 'vintage' times.

Changes for both of you recently... Rebecca, Andrew has now joined you on the cruise ships and is sharing in what you do. It must be lovely to no longer be apart for months on end, and at last able to enjoy a regular sex life. It must have been so difficult when you were separated, the alternative isn't the same! Emily, moving into a house with a garden, you've already made progress on getting it into order. I agree with Rebecca that work in the garden is a good stress-buster. Already turning your house into a home, it will be yours for 3(?) years so you want to make it feel 'yours'.

We had a lovely summer, we went to the Yorkshire Dales for 2 weeks and stayed in a cottage, self-catering but often eating out in a pub. We had the glorious weather but further north it wasn't as intensely hot as it was in the south. With Matthew teaching, and now Livvy at school, we are completely tied to the school holidays (that's not a complaint!!).

Livvy is now at 'proper' school and thoroughly enjoys it. She has no problems at all, gets up very excited each morning and is so eager to go. She has made lots of new friends which is good being an only child. She looks so smart in her uniform, at the moment wearing the summer dress. She wears her black knickers which she loves!

We are pleased there is progress with Livvy's lazy eye, now much stronger! Her time with the eyepatch has been reduced from all day to just 4 hours till Christmas, then it should reduce again to 2 hours daily till Easter. She now has a cloudy film stuck inside the left side of her glasses - she can see light but not much else with her left eye, it looks better as it's less noticeable. She's very happy as she had our holiday without the patch, and if she puts the patch on straight after school she can do the 4 hours without needing it at school. She will need the cloudy film for the next year at least. She doesn't mind the film as she sees double without glasses, she sees better with one eye and the film. So it's progress...

Matthew is now back into the routine of school, he has a year 6 class this year so they are going to open days at secondary schools and deciding where to apply. My work at the GP surgery is still going well, very much enjoying what I do and so pleased to have changed from Law.

So that's an update on us! I'll keep looking at what you are doing.

Love Paula

Hi Rebecca and Emily

I'm trying to look in a bit more, we were away last week for half term- we're tied to school holidays now Matthew is teaching, which means everything costs more. Not complaining as both very happy with our new careers and enjoy very much what we do.

You both seem to be very happy with your career choices. I know some teachers aren't always happy but Emily you seem to be and your friend Fiona, Rebecca. You appear too have settled in to life at sea and are capable of handling whatever happens, routine and the unexpected. You must be thrilled that Andrew is soon to join you, should help your relationship further to be spending more time together.

I'd agree with Emily that 4-5 years appears a long time to wait until you marry. As Emily has said parents would probably be willing to put you up when you are on home leave, I agree with so much time away it would be pointless having a property. You would have a chance to save for a deposit for when you settle back at home. Would it help with getting postings together if you are a married couple?

I can quite see that with your daytime colours it would feel good to change into a vintage type dress and slip into stockings for the evening! You must look quite different then.

it must be a big surprise seeing your mother in trousers, I well remember when you joined here that not being allowed trousers was a big issue for you- now she wears them more than you. Just as well you stood up for yourself and won the right to wear them- even if you do still prefer a skirt or dress.

You had a good result from your day at the shops, a good selection of dresses, trousers, hosiery and underwear- in colours that are rather different from the white-only when you joined!

I forgot to say that we bought a house with a garden, about 3 years ago. As well as needing somewhere bigger we wanted to be near good schools for Livvy. I agree that time in the garden is very relaxing, also rewarding seeing what you have planted growing and flourishing. It's great for Livvy to play too, another reason for moving from our flat.

We have accepted that Livvy is to be our only child- though will be delighted and surprised if we do have another. She has brought us so much joy.

I understand about your eye now Emily, you appear to have found a way to cope well with it. But the frosted glass, if permanent is that something you will be wearing all the time- or have I misunderstood and it's just a different type of "patch glasses"?

Livvy's eye is getting stronger but she still squints, she has double vision when using both eyes which is why she needs the patch all the time. She will probably need a small operation to straighten her eyes as they aren't straightening with exercises etc.

She's getting very excited and can't wait to start proper school. She's been wearing her summer dresses for school now it's warmer and looks really cute.

Best wishes to you both

Paula

Hi Rebecca and Emily!

It's me, Paula!

Gosh this topic is still running- I used to get a notification when you posted but I haven't had one for over 2 years so thought this had fizzled out. Only looked in as clearing emails over the Bank Holiday and found an old notification. I was 15 when I started this, was 31 in February!!

I've had a fascinating time reading through your messages over the past week and catching up on all your news, your lives and your loves...

It's brilliant you both have enjoyable and fulfilling careers. Rebecca I'm so pleased your decision not to go to University worked out well, I remember you bouncing the idea around and wanting my advice (among others), grateful it was the right advice for you. You have been to some fascinating places since starting on the cruise ships, places I can't imagine going to, in years to come you will have some interesting stories to share with your children. It seems it won't be long until Andrew is able share these experiences with you.

Your love lives too, both of you have found really lovely young men, Emily already married and Rebecca engaged- any plans for a date yet? Like me you are both still with your first and only love, such a good thing you waited for Mr. Right and didn't go through lots of casual relationships and flings.

I just love your descriptions of your outfits particularly those vintage style dresses, you both seem very stylish and elegant young ladies! You both must look stunning when dressed up, and those stockings with seams are different, a real finishing touch to a vintage outfit- I've had them before but tempted to try some again.

Speaking of which, I see you are both regular wearers of stockings. Particularly impressed Rebecca that you wear them so often as I recall having to persuade you to try them and persevere, now a frequent part of your wardrobe for work and pleasure. Also that your mother now wears trousers a lot of the time, unbelievable a few years ago when she was so against you wearing trousers!

I too regularly wear stockings with suspender belts, I've never worn a 6-strap suspender Emily, how are they with the extra straps? Only wear tights with a short skirt- though my days in short skirts aren't that frequent at my age! Wear trousers sometimes, once or twice a week at work, but with a skirt my choice is stockings. Stockings are my preference but I know Matthew prefers them to tights- I expect Andrew and Joel prefer them too.

Our Livvy is now 4, where have those years gone!? She is our only one, we started trying for number two when she was about 18 months old but nothing has happened. Had some tests but no particular reason found. We've both decided to keep trying and let nature take its course, not go for IVF etc- and anyway 'trying' is good fun!! Makes Livvy all the more of a miracle as she beat The Pill, most definitely wasn't planned- but very much wanted!

We have both had career changes post-Livvy. Matthew retrained as a primary school teacher and loves it, he has year 5 or 6 classes so the older ones. I went back to Law after maternity leave but had lost my enthusiasm, and despite working part time it wasn't 'family friendly'. I left and became a receptionist at the local GP Medical Centre, they quickly recognised my potential and past experience so after going on various training courses am now Assistant Practice Manager and being groomed to take over when the Manager retires at the end of the year. I love it, apart from all the NHS stuff there is HR, Facilities Management, IT, Pensions, Complaints, Rotas etc etc. It makes excellent use of my legal training but not in the way I expected!

I'm particularly interested in what your Joel is doing, Emily, as my mum did exactly the same after retiring early from secondary teaching- she had to go through that process and the BAP panel. She had to train for only one year because of her past experience as a Lay Reader and RE teacher, she already had a degree in Theology, in fact she had been teaching for the Diocese.

My dad took early retirement from being a GP- though he is useful to bounce off ideas for my new work- and like your mum Rebecca volunteers with a charity, mostly as a minibus driver for a charity working for those with disabilities, he finds it very rewarding. He has those 'is it/isn't it' times when he picks up an old patient... !

Emily I see you had (and still have) a 'lazy eye', I had that too but my treatment finished years ago, only have glasses for driving and reading. It must be very difficult still needing a patch?

Livvy unfortunately inherited the 'lazy eye' from me, about 9 months ago we noticed her eye squinting. She has worn glasses since- luckily kids' glasses now are really stylish. For 6 months she's needed a patch too, she has to wear it all day- we have to stick a plaster patch over her left eye. I feel for her having been through that myself. Otherwise she is an extremely bright and healthy little girl with a phenomenal memory, has lots of common sense, can already do some reading and writing, a chatterbox and very observant- even with one eye!

She starts 'proper' school in September and already goes to the nursery class at the school. She wears a school uniform- black skirt, white polo shirt, red sweatshirt and black socks or tights, or a red/white checked summer dress with white socks, she looks very smart. She loves both the school and wearing her uniform.

And to go full circle with the original topic, I'm now the mum buying school knickers for my daughter!! Livvy used to wear knickers with her favourite characters- Peppa Pig, Frozen, Paw Patrol etc. I wanted plain white for school, with no gaping or 'builders bum' but surprised to find black knickers for her age- let Livvy choose, she wanted black to be like me! The black ones are her new favourites that she wears all the time. The only snag is when she proudly says "I've got black knickers like mummy wears"- that's too much information!!

Yes I do wear mostly black knickers, bikini style or nowadays the 'full brief' sort too.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, will try to look in from time to time and would love to hear from you.

Very best wishes, Paula

Hi there Rebecca and Emily too

Yes I do look in at the posts from time to time, but not as often as I should. Life is rather different since having Livvy, it's amazing how she takes over when she's awake and when she's asleep it's time for other things. But as it's the end of the year today I thought it's time I replied rather than merely read!

We had a lovely Christmas, we went back to stay with my parents and Matthew's parents joined us for dinner on Christmas day. Everyone enjoyed having Livvy there for her first Christmas though you are quite right she didn't know much about it. She seemed to enjoy the wrapping paper more than what was inside the presents- and a lot of them went straight into her mouth!!

She's growing fast, now 8 1/2 months, shuffling around on her bottom and trying to stand. They are keeping a close watch on her as I had a lazy eye when I was little (it's fine now) so we want to make sure she doesn't follow after me- and if she does, to treat it ASAP.

It's good hearing about your life at sea, now in the Caribbean- what a year you've had. An inspired decision to go for a career in travel rather than to university, your career seems to be going where you wanted it to.

I've enjoyed reading too about your vintage style dresses that you and Emily have been getting into recently, I can just imagine how lovely you look, it does seem to be an interesting style and one that has brought back memories for your clients, isn't that what you call them!? I see you both have some seamed stockings too, seams are just the thing to wear with fashions from that era- and I quite agree that stockings would be far more appropriate than tights with such styles!!

Rebecca, I'm pleased to hear you still wear stockings fairly regularly as it was me that persuaded you to try them and then to persist with them! I wonder, will you go to wearing them all the time...?

I'm pleased too that you are both still enjoying your relationships with Andrew and Joel, you have both found some great lads. Also that you both enjoy the intimate side of things too.

Anyway my best wishes to you and your young men for 2015, hoping you both enjoy tonight and have an amazing year ahead of you!

Love Paula (and Livvy and Matthew)

Hi there Rebecca and Emily

I hadn't realised how long since I last posted here! It's good to read all your news and to hear how you are both getting on. Well done on keeping this going here.

Rebecca, it's good you are doing so well at work with all the trips that you are now going on, you must be feeling very competent and experienced by now. It's a good opportunity for you to visit the Battlefields with the anniversary of war starting next week.

I like it that you are managing to wear skirts on your trips, I do think they are more comfortable- and even more so in the weather we've had recently.

Emily- well done on passing your first year exams, now the real work begins when you start your second year and grades will count towards your degree I imagine? You must be getting the keys to your new house shortly, an exciting time ahead. It's a very good idea to use the house as a base to stay for a cheap holiday, after all you are paying rent for it so might as well make use of it!

Good to read you are both still going strong in your respective romances, you have two good chaps there- over a year for both of you. It's good you can spend some time with Joel, Emily. Rebecca, I hope you and Andrew can get away together over the summer - even a weekend will be good for you, but something longer even better.

Those vintage style dresses sound gorgeous Rebecca, and Emily I hope you find some too. I can imagine the pair of you looking so stylish in them. Emily, what a lovely idea of your parents- seamed stockings would be perfect to add the final touch to a dress from the 1940s or 1950s! I agree that wearing tights with something like that would just be wrong- even if no-one else would know.

Young Livvy is doing really well- now 16 weeks and growing fast. She is still feeding well and I am really enjoying the breast feeding. She is getting really responsive now, lots of smiles and chuckles. And sleeping is brilliant- she got into a routine of going down to sleep around 7, sleeps till 5, then a quick change and back to sleep again!! It means that Matthew and I can have some lovely evenings together.

Will keep on looking in to stay up to date with your news!

Love Paula