Advantages: Some stunning buildings Disadvantages: Hard to get to know locals, run down with few signs of regeneration
"How did you find the people in Banja Luka?" asked a Slovenian friend of mine when we met up recently. We had just been to Bosnia and Herzegovina and had made a point of visiting both parts of the divided country. Under the terms of the Dayton Peace Accord in 1995 Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into two territorial entities - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska; the country has one government and people live under the same laws no matter which entity they live in but this symbolic division of the country more or less along ethnic lines is what keeps a fragile peace on the country.
I knew Darko's family were Serbian but I didn't know they were Bosnian Serbs. Maybe I wouldn't have been so honest with my answer had I known this. I told him I found the people quite unfriendly though, admittedly, I hadn't had ...
Advantages: nice maternity clothes Disadvantages: a bit pricey
Being pregnant puts you in a bit of a tight spot wardrobe wise. I don?t want to wear a bin liner whilst I expand to the size of a small house, but going overboard on a wardrobe that is only going to be worn for about five months seems a waste of money.
I never realised just how limited the choice of maternity clothes are. Few high street shops stock maternity clothes and those that do don?t necessarily have a maternity collection in all their branches.
Blooming Marvellous is a bit of a godsend. Unfortunately there are only ten branches throughout the country. They have an internet site www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk, where you can order items and see a range of their clothes. Half the stock is maternity wear, whilst the other half is baby wear. So it?s very tempting to pick up some baby clothes whilst I?m looking for things ...
Advantages: Good selection, decent value, stock available Disadvantages: Fashions could be more up-to-date
When you are pregnant, choosing clothes can be a bit of a nightmare. Even for someone who loves to shop, like me, when you?re carrying around a big bulge and none of your clothes fit you anymore ? desperation can sink in.
I am now 3 months pregnant and all but one of my trousers have stopped fitting me. I knew it was bad when the flies on my jeans started spontaneously unzipping themselves!
But as a first time pregnant woman, I wasn?t sure where to head in a hurry. So my first stop was the mail-order catalogues: Blooming Marvellous and JoJo Maman Bebe. In this op, I?m going to tell you about my experience of Blooming Marvellous.
** CHOOSING WHAT YOU WANT **
Blooming Marvellous has a 100-page catalogue, full of maternity fashion, baby clothes, furniture and toys for the nursery, and maternity ?essentials? such as ...