Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

fedupandskint

Lots of lovely pampering going on here!

I'm going to drag myself out for a walk for an hour and a half with the dog as part of my exercise today.

Later I will have a hair pack, face mask and exfoiliate etc and sort out my toe nail colour as my pampering today.

Bitsy_Beans

LOL Tru MR Bitsy asks me the same thing about my packing. This from a man who packs 8 t shirts and a couple of pairs of jeans for a weeks holiday!!!!! Sometimes it's not fair being a girl.....one has to pack so much stuff to loom fabulous. H doesn't even bother to shave and he still looms gorgeous.

lessonlearned

tru wrote: »

Morning :hello:

When I've finished my coffee, I'm going to stretch all my muscles (could do with a rack actually, ha ha)

I could do with a good stretch out on the rack too. :rotfl: I'm practically doubled up first thing in the morning. I definitely need to book some physio again - probably the chiropractor too. My body is definitely out of alignment again (one hip ends up higher than the other). I'm starting to walk like a chimpanzee again.:o

Anyway - enough moaning.

Good morning everyone (suppose technically that should be afternoon now).

How are we all today. Sounds like there's plenty of pampering going on.

Yes Willow - a nice new pillow definitely counts, after all, as you say, a girl needs a good night's beauty sleep.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday Tru - sounds lovely. I adore Cornwall - it was always our plan to retire there.

Floss - enjoy your Spa day - sounds really fab.

Well I'm sitting in a lovely clean study/guest bedroom - I've just blitzed it from top to bottom. Just having a bit of a rest then the bathroom and OH's bedroom.

My bedroom is an absolute :eek::eek: It will take some time - so will leave that one until tomorrow. Why is it my room that always ends up as a dumping ground. One of these days I shall prettify it properly and have a proper "boudoir" - all shabby chic, joie de toile etc.

At the moment it's just plain shabby. The problem is it's got far too much furniture in because OH's bedroom (and indeed most of the house) is given over to all OH's gear and paraphenalia - disability equipment, wheelchairs, rotundas, stairlifts etc, bath lifts you name it.

Alas not for much longer. OH and I had rather a sad heart to heart this morning.

I've booked him into respite for the end of October. He said to me today that provided that this one is as good as it looks then he's ready to go into permanent care.

We are aiming for one weeks respite in October, one or two in early December and then permanent care sometime in January. It's heartbreaking but he's right - the time has come. Both myself and DS2 are really struggling now - transfers are getting very difficult and OH is starting to sustain a few minor injuries. I'm nervous that one of these days he will fall and really hurt himself.

OH currently has a sore hip/back and it's probably down to a pulled muscle when we do the transfers. In a nursing home it will always be two person handling and of course they have much more equipment such as hoists etc to minimise risk of injury.

Obviously I've known all along that it would come to permanent residential care in the long run and I do realise that it's for the best. It's just such a wrench - it's certainly not going to be the retirement we'd hoped and planned for.

However, I've had a quick look at WAV's (wheelchair accessible vehicles) and have decided that will definitely be the way to go. At least that way the nursing home will take care of his practical needs, food, personal care. nursing etc.

Hopefully - when my back and neck are better and I've had a rest - then I will be able to enjoy doing nice things with OH. Just being able to spend quality time with him and when the weather's half decent being able to take him out and about a bit.

No sun here today - just a steady drizzle. Hopefully the "Indian Summer" starts tomorrow.

Just a few yoga stretches today, then a bit of nail painting.

Bye for now x

floss2

:grouphug: for LL and her OH xx

Molly41

Still following you all on your respective journeys. I am trying very hard, in particular I am wearing skirts with tights and leggings/ winter boots. I have so many nice clothes and it is lovely wearing them once more. I got into a jogger / PJ habit so Im feeling much better for wearing them once more. I also need a declutter though and to move some summer bits into DS3 wardrobe (which he very kindly shares with me).

I need a more regular skincare routine though and think i will be working on that over the coming weeks.

Tru - have a lovely holiday. Cornwall is my most favourite place in the whole world and I would love to live there.

Lesson Learned - sounds like a heart breaking conversation with your OH. However it sounds like there will be lovely outings to be enjoyed in the future x

podperson

Morning all,

Tru - sounds like you're having a lovely holiday -am quite jealous lol! Hope you enjoy the rest of it

LL - yay on the house blitz - I so need to do mine it's a complete tip at the moment. Saw a wonderful post on a friend's facebook this morning - 'always keep some old Get Well Soon cards on the mantelpiece, then if anyone calls round they will think you've been too ill to clean' :rotfl: Sending *hugs* to you and OH, sounds like a difficult conversation but try to keep thinking of the positives, like you said, will be able to enjoy quality time with OH rather then feeling you're having to deal with everything and having no time left for the nicer things.

Molly - glad you're still with us and sounds like you're doing great - I bought a new skirt the other week and haven't worn it yet need to dig out some decent boots to go with it I think. Have been trying to make a bit more effort with outfits in general though.

Bit of a busy weekend, had the traffic survey thing on Saturday which was a very long day, basically got home and collasped afterwards Ended up snapping at OH and having a big fall out. Sorted out on Sunday, think few things had been building up as he's been having a few issues lately. It sounds a bit selfish but I think because he does have quite a few problems then while I try and be supportive I sometimes feel a little bit like it's a one-way street and it's always me supporting him while if I have a problem I kind of just need to get on with it. Anyway we had a good talk on Sunday and made a bit of an action plan so hopefully things will improve.
Did my shred Sunday and have lost about 5lbs this week. I may complain about it killing me but it really does give great results, especially since I haven't been that strict with the diet this week. OH even said he could see I'd lost some round my middle - can't see it myself but would be nice Did my hair last night but really need to sort my nails out - they all seem to be breaking at the moment which is strange as normally I have really strong nails. Trying to think if there's anything I normally eat that I'm not doing at the moment. Going to be a busy week I think, have portrait class tonight and choir tomorrow, must get organised!
Hope everyone has a good day x

bratz81

well, after a nice relaxing weekend I'm feeling so much better. Caught up on most of my sleep and just had a nice stress-free few days.
Haven't got any yoga in since Wednesday though, which I can feel, so will get back into the routine of that tonight after work.

I got given 3 long cardigans yesterday, a black one, a grey one and a turquoise one. Which is great as I was thinking of trying to pick up a few cheap ones for winter. But these are from Wallis and M&S - good makes so should last ages.

LL - really sorry to hear about your heart-to-heart, but hopefully permanent care could be good for both of you and it could be such a weight off your mind seeing him looked after properly. Not that I'm saying you don't, but these guys will have all the equipment and so on, and more than one person for lifting etc.

Molly41

Well instead of prevaricating i decided to sort my wardrobe and drawers:T:T:T

Three bags to the charity shop, summer trousers to DS3 wardrobe and a few bits that Mooloo might be able to recycle. DD dropped them off at Charity shop so no second thoughts.

Im having a rather anxious day though. I think it is because Im tired and hassled/ worried about a few issues. Im waiting on funding for an operation and it is quite likely to be declined and then I will have to appeal. I have spent the past three years fighting decisions and tbh and am very tired of it. Im desperate for the operation but it costs 18 grand so out of my reach, although Kids Dad has talked about re-mortgaging:eek::eek::eek: So I am fighting the urge to comfort eat and have had a couple of hundred calories worth of ice cream which seems to have curbed the urge. Hope you are all having a good day xx

betony

Well, I'm off to Slimming World at 5pm, hope I can stick with it!

:T to those who have lost weight/made an effort/achieved what they wanted etc

:grouphug: to those who aren't feeling on top form or having problems

Carry on fabbing, everyone

lessonlearned

Where has the day gone

Have achieved very little today - no exercise or treatments.:o

I'm just feeling extremely tired at the moment. Mind we were without OH's main pa/carer today (or tomorrow) so everything takes much longer and a lot more effort.

We did manage to sit in the sun for a while. Other than that - nothing much happening today.

Nice to see so much positivity today - good luck with SW Betony.

Well done on the decluttering Molly - sorry to hear you having such a long wait for your surgery - must be very difficult for you. Dealing with the powers that be can be very draining. Sounds like you are doing very well with your "new look". I agree it makes us feel better when we wear something nice.

No point in saving everything for best or special occasions. Just be bestish and a little bit special each day. We are soooo worth it. I've now consigned my joggies to real cleaning/gardening/diy jobs. When I'm done then I get changed into something a bit smarter - even if it's just around the house. (Not "bestist"- just a bit nicer). Makes me feel better anyway.

I'm afraid I've not been eating very well of late. Lots of carbs. I don't know if I eat and crave carbs when I'm tired or if eating carbs rather than proteins and veggies makes me feel tired and lethargic.

Probably a bit of both - either way it seems to be a vicious circle. However, tomorrow I'm going to try and drastically reduce my carb intake and eat better. I'm determined to turn things around. I must try and find some energy from somewhere.:rotfl:

PP - sorry to hear you've got a few problems at the mo - think you are doing the right thing trying to get OH to talk and open up. Mind you, getting men to "talk" can be a bit like pulling teeth.:rotfl:

I've noticed that most men do tend to like to have a plan though. Seems to suit their practical "me man/me hunter" mentality. Focussing on a goal seems to fight off any depressive tendencies, woe is me feelings.

I'm very impressed with your sig though and your money making challenges. TBH that is something that I'm really going to have to get a grip with. When OH goes into care - money is going to be an issue for me.

I have today been looking long and hard at my finances and have decided to review my banking/savings etc. I am going to try and live very frugally for the next few months so that I can build up a bit more in savings to help me through what I think may be a bit of a lean patch.

I need to have an in depth conversation with the welfare rights officer. He has promised to guide me through it all but has already intimated that until I actually draw my state pension I'm going to find myself in financial Limbo, reliant on "discretionary" state benefits. It's going to be tricky. TBH I'd rather go back on site for a year or so but at 60 plus and with the housing sector in tatters it's highly unlikely to happen.

The welfare rights guy cheerfully admitted that my age was definitely against me as far as the workplace was concerned and yet at the same time the benefits people would keep hounding me to job hunt. Wait for this - he advised me the best way out of my dilemma would be to try and get my Dr to say I was incapable of work and therefore I could claim benefits on that basis. This would - to quote him "get them off my back".

What a crazy screwed up system.

Whilst I doubtless could do with a few weeks r&r to recoup my strength I would hardly class myself as incapacitated.:eek: There must be countless women in my position - having given up work to be carers, then be cast adrift, not able to find reasonably well paid work but not able to claim our pensions because they've moved the goalposts re the age criteria.

Anyway no point worrying about it. Luckily I can be very frugal when the occasion demands. I've lived on very little before - I can do it again.

I know what you mean about the Wallis & M&S cardies Bratz - I was given a couple - a lovely pale green one from Wallis. It's so soft and snuggly I love it.

Having talked about the need to be frugal - both OH and myself do need a few winter bits and pieces. Time to hit the Charity Shops:).

Had a quick look at women's wear in Sainsburys the other day but didn't see anything particularly inspiring. Will have to try ASDA/Tescos/Costcos and the usual suspects.

Feeling quite frumpy at the moment - need to book a haircut soon and still haven't spent any of my birthday treat salon vouchers yet.

Methinks it's time for some serious pampering.

In the meantime - off to bed. G'night all x