Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

floss2

We've had a mad busy week & weekend - DH was client-based about 6 miles away, so in his own bed each night...which meant 3 nice long walks through various bits of the Illuminations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then We went to Settle yesterday and walked over to Malham Tarn and back - in the rain. It was so wet that my fingers were all wrinkly as if I'd been in the bath, not just holding a walking pole! :rotfl: Upshot is that I am now almost a stone lighter than I was in February :cheers: :T :j and I now fit my size 12 walking trousers again!!

lessonlearned

tru wrote: »

=2]

My hip still isn't back to normal. I dosed myself up with painkillers, brufen and balmosa cream so I could walk up and down hills and steep harbour steps. The exercise has done it a world of good, I can now go up the stairs without using the handrail and step into my over-the-bath shower without having to steady myself on the wall

Sorry about the hip - however, I agree exercise is the way to go - at least that's what I find with my back. What is balmosa cream, is it any good.

lessonlearned

American Tan Tights.

I remember them well:D Along with thigh high mini skirts, my Mary Quant hair cut, Miner's make up, "Panda" eyes, white lipstick. Gawd I must have looked awful.

Later I discovered white sheer tights, then of course there were American Tan tights worn under white knee length socks - what was that about. I even had a pair of black "Beatle" tights - they'd be worth a small fortune now.

Derby/Notts/Leics were the epicentres of the hosiery industry - in fact George Brettle & Co are just up the road from me in a little town called Belper, although they no longer make hosiery.

And of course, Richard Arkwright built his mill just next door in Cromford - the absolute birth of the industrial revolution - right on my doorstep.

Arkwright's Mill is now a world heritage centre, complete with museums, shops and cafes etc. - set in glorious countryside - well worth a visit, whilst Matlock next door has some fantastic fish and chip shops:D

Anyway - history lesson & tourist info-mercial over:rotfl:

At one time, when hosiery was the norm you could pick up a pair of tights from every open all hours corner shop, every petrol garage - they were ubiquitous. Now you seem to have to source them at department stores and supermarkets and of course many of the old companies went bust years ago.

My favourites were Pretty Polly (for luscious legs as per the advert) and Charnos. I particularly liked Charnos because the leg lengths were good for taller people. My favourite colours were "Chiffon" and "Mink". I usually went for 15 denier for work, and 10 for best.

I've just looked in one of my drawers and there is a stash of "Hold Ups" in 10 denier, some "glossy". There's "Chiffon" and "Nearly Black".

I'm afraid that I'll have to wait until I've had my VV's done before I will be able to wear 10 deniers again. Until then it will have to be opaques. I reckon I've not worn sheer tights for about 15 years.

Sparkles & Floss - well done you pair :T:T great weight losses and also glad you're happy with the improvement in fitness etc.

You're right Sparkles - it does take a while for exercise to really kick in. I seem to remember reading somewhere that you should allow about three months or so and then you should see real results.

Back in a mo

Willow92

floss2 wrote: »

Don't worry - even a blob of handcream every now & then counts, as does a squirt of perfume to cheer yourself up!

I keep forgetting to take my perfume to my OH's ^-^

lessonlearned

Anyway - not done much pampering lately, although the grooming is fine - it's really just day to day routine stuff. I really need to set some time for myself to have a couple of really nice facials etc.

This morning I "groomed" OH, gave him a haircut, eyebrow trim (otherwise he ends up like Dennis Healy), and a relaxing head massage with lavender oil to help his dandruff tendencies. Talk about pampered pets!!!

Whilst I was out shopping I bought DS2 some Sally Hanson cuticle stuff.

As you know he works in a garden centre and his hands are in a dreadful state. He has started applying for jobs in sales - one of which is with a nationwide builder. He is desperate to get into my old job of house sales. If he manages to get an interview he will need to be very well presented and his hands aren't really fit to be seen. Mum to the rescue with a few manicures I think.;)

When will it be my turn.

Noticed in Sainsbury's today that Gok will be doing a range of clothing for them as part of their Tu range. Wonder what he'll come up with.

Yesterday I was very good, back on the bike, yoga and hand weights.

I'm back in business folks.

Bye for now x

podperson

Hi all,

Little rushed today so haven't had time to catch up with all you lovely people fully yet - hope everyone is doing fab Little annoyed with myself as seem to have got nothing done this weekend - but did go to a vintage fair on Saturday which was great fun. I could have gone a bit mad if I'd had the money but settled for treating myself to some lovely enamel bracelets -I love the colours on them, really bright and eye-catching without being tacky, not sure why so much 'modern' jewellery seems to miss the mark on that. Potrait class tonight so trying to think what I have in that's quick for tea!

Hope everyone's having a great day x

Bitsy_Beans

lessonlearned wrote: »

And of course, Richard Arkwright built his mill just next door in Cromford - the absolute birth of the industrial revolution - right on my doorstep.

Arkwright's Mill is now a world heritage centre, complete with museums, shops and cafes etc. - set in glorious countryside - well worth a visit, whilst Matlock next door has some fantastic fish and chip shops:D

Anyway - history lesson & tourist info-mercial over:rotfl:

Oh lord now THAT takes me back to my senior school history lessons. Really the Industrial Revolution was the dullest thing on earth to me, four course crop rotation, James hargreaves and his spinning jenny (to which I constantly got referred to in class as spinning by one particular oik - I've leave you to guess why )
I have however been round Cromford Mill which is nice, never been in the big mill and sadly never been to Mr Arkwrights big house on the hill which I believe he never actually saw completed. Really how is it I can remember all this random information and yet remembering other pertinent dates is a real struggle :eek::eek:

Anyway no pampering going on here just the usual basics. I don't know where my weeks are going :eek: I seem to be constantly busy and yet not really achieving as much as I thought

Can't pamper tonight as I want to catch up on Dowton Abbey.

Tru - well done on the pasties, bacardi's and improved hip

LL - sorry but the term Tan tights is enough to make me shudder :rotfl:

Keep up the fabby work

betony

Well, my second SW weigh-in ws today. I've lost 31/2lb, and I'm quite pleased. Not bad considering I didn't get started till Wednesday, but then I have been an :A :rotfl:

I have also been fabbing in other directions, wearing make-up to go to SW, painting my nails, wearing perfume.

Lizzie157: I hope you are keeping up with this thread and are doing ok. I am still thinking of you

There is a sign in the window of lovely local independent department store: "Happiness is not a destination, it's a way of life" which I think more of us need to keep in mind. In fact, I'm going to put that in my signiture now...

lessonlearned

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Can't pamper tonight as I want to catch up on Dowton Abbey.

Tru - well done on the pasties, bacardi's and improved hip

LL - sorry but the term Tan tights is enough to make me shudder :rotfl:

Keep up the fabby work

I'm loving Downton.

Violet (the Maggie Smith character) is my Aunty S reincarnated

So funny and outrageous, and underneath all the snobbery, Grande Old Duchess stuff and hauteur - a real genuine compassion and "noblesse oblige" and... a wicked sense of fun - just like Aunty S. A true English eccentric - barking mad of course but all part of the charm. She even looks like Aunty S.

Can't stand American tan tights either.

DS2 and I have just watched a fab programme on demand - first shown last Thursday - called "The Perfect Suit". I think someone pinched one of my extended essays when I did my fashion course - the programme was almost identical - cheeky b *ggers.:rotfl::rotfl: Where's my fee???

Betony - love your new mantra about Happiness.

Off to bed, G'night all x

maman

Congratulations betony on your weightloss. It's a fab feeling. I remember getting off the scales after my first week and saying 'So it really does work then!' I was amazed. Do call over to the SW thread on this board. They're a good lot and most people post their daily food diaries, ask questions, post recipes etc. Bratz, I know just what you mean about feeling sluggish after eating carp. The lovely thing about SW is that the food is so healthy and fresh.

What d'you all think about the new 'fat' tax they're putting on 'bad' foods in Denmark? It's mostly things with saturated fats in.

:wave:Lizzie, do post soon!

And we've not seen Mrs Woolfe lately. So :wave:to all lurkers.

Sorry to hear about the hip tru but I hope you had a lovely time in Cornwall. I love pasties but I haven't had one for a year. It's a naughty treat I'm saving up.

I'm loving Downton too Bitsy, I've even got DH interested. I remember after the first episode there was a very snooty review in my newspaper. Have they changed their tune now that everyone loves it! I'm always a sucker for period drama but the historical background is very interesting too. What I find hard to remember is that it's supposed to be set in Yorkshire. The 'real' Downton Abbey is actually Highclere Castle which is just a few miles from me. Actually I'll be right near there on Friday doing some work. It's the home of the Carnarvons (It was Lord Carnarvon who went with/sponsored Howard Carter when he discovered Tutankhamun's tomb). Gosh we are having a day of history today!:rotfl:

I found that since I've been keeping that manicure 'block' in the sitting room I tidy the shape of my nails, smooth and buff them while I'm watching TV. Not when Downton is on though, I'm glued;) Like LL, I've been mostly just doing day-to-day grooming although standards are going up all the time and little extras being added. Today I've had my shower, shaved my legs, slathered with a little fake tan in the body lotion, tidied my eyebrows, creamed my hands and blowdried my hair with mousse. Just a light make up as it's sunny and then got dressed up in a pretty skirt and sprayed myself with perfume. This is all on top of healthy eating and my dance class! Wow!! have we moved on!!!

'night all.