Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

bratz81

Speaking of the solstice, being Pagan these are the things I celebrate, not Xmas, and I'm really looking forward to my Yule ritual and circle meet on 22nd

I haven't been posting much as I haven't been doing any fabbing other than what is now routine and it seems redundant to post to say, oh I put makeup on today go me! but I did so there and I'm keeping up with everyone else's fabbing.

maman

It's still good to hear from you bratz, so don't be a stranger! Be sure to post after 22nd to tell us about Yule.

That's an interesting theory skymist. I haven't had a cold in ages
() and I eat loads of pickled beetroot and also cornichons. Baby beetroot is £1 for a kg jar in Asda so I've been stock-piling it. I'm keeping my eyes open for pickled cabbage bargains to stock up on too.

Film group sounded fun podperson. I've got a party with my dancing group tonight (Scottish) but that will be alcohol free, just cups of tea and nibbles and lots of dances that we know well (no teaching tonight). So no chance I'm going to be 'following the star' on my way home.:rotfl:

tru

I've been putting up shelves, painting skirting boards and making curtains.

I've got a busy day tomorrow, then peace on saturday so I'll spend the day looking after me. At 6pm I'm going to the work Christmas do and will have a hangover on sunday

lessonlearned

Good evening ladies

Some lovely interesting posts today.

Molly you were up very early this morning, sorry you can't sleep, hope things improve soon. I'm sure if you can manage to clear the clutter just a little it will help you relax more.

Very interesting about the pickled veg Skymist - of course before freezers people used to rely on pickled or salted vegetables to get through the winter. Both my grannies used to do shelves and shelves of the stuff for winter. Our old grannies knew a thing or two about how to stay healthy during the winter when there wasn't much fresh fruit and veg around.

Mrs W Interesting about the elderberry capsules, I suppose they must be really high in Vit C.

You menus sound great, what kind of spiced lamb. I had a friend who married an Iranian and they used to cook the most wonderful middle eastern dishes and they used to do a fantastic spiced lamb. Is yours easy??

I loved hearing about your Christmas rituals - I think it's the little rituals and traditions that make the festive season so special. All those funny little things that families do.

Of course you miss your Dad and even more so at this time of year. It's only natural. Hopefully over the years the pain will ease and you will be left with the fondest of warm memories. You will always have a special place for him in your heart and you will always grieve a little. That is natural and right. There's no need to apologise to anyone for this, you are not wallowing in self pity - just letting nature take it's course.

My dear Aunty S was a widow for over 40 years, she thought about her late husband every day and would often shed a quiet tear. And why not.

One of our little Christmas rituals is watching some Festive films as part of the run up. I watched Elf the other day - lovely.

Well today was another one of those "Oooh your look pale". And "Are you alright dear". Went to pick up OH's meds from the chemist and the pharmacist was all concern. Went to the co-op and they insisted on helping me carry my shopping out to the car. Perhaps it's the Ape Walk that does it.:rotfl::rotfl:

I know they all mean well but it doesn't do much for the ego. Thankfully the back is starting to ease a little now.

Just a quick last word about the Solstice (or more accurately next year's).

Did you know - that according to some bright sparks - the world is set to end at the next Solstice. 20.12.2012. I'm not listening la, la, la - fingers in ears

Actually I like the ring of the numbers, I think they sound auspicious.

So ....... I'm ignoring the doom mongers.

There's no Armageddon lurking on the horizon. The four horses of the apocalypse are not riding our way.

If anything I'm starting to notice a slight, almost imperceptible shift, in (most) people's attitudes, less greed, less materialism.

Maybe our economic woes will finally teach us a little humility and a little respect for the earth and the cosmos.

Maybe 20.12.2012 will not be the harbinger of our destruction but the herald of a new dawn for humankind.

Told you I was an eternal optimist.;)

And in the immortal words of Jeremy Clarkson

And on that bombshell, G'night X

Molly41

Good Morning x
Many thanks for all the good wishes.

I am feeling a little brighter but the postman brought me three pieces of rubbish post (including a tax underpayment for 1000 pound plus:eek::eek::eek:) which sent me off into an anxiety fuelled cleaning frenzy. Again my appeal was rejected for my nerve stimulation and I seem to have lost two parcels that have not been delivered in the first place. I have managed to declutter the christmas decorations but feel like I have the worries of the world on my shoulders. Still the house looks lovely now and the boxes are away now!

Ok I need to get perspective....

The tax will be paid through my tax code next year at 100 pounds a month so no need to worry (but Im paranoid about any contact with HMRC or DWP)

The parcels will be sorted - going to ring in a minute

I need to be patient and see what develops regarding the Nerve Stimulation. I need to start saving and campaigning.

My pension issue is in the process of being sorted - there is nothing more i can do today.

Hope you all have a good day. I have a DEXA scan today so need to go and get washed and dressed - FABBY routine...of course xx

sophistica

Hi All rushing out to meet decorators, so i will be brief. Have a great day. Skymist, i have found the best way to ward off flu and colds is to a) have a flu jab b) really wash hands. Soap hands and turn off running tap. Wash backs of hands, nails and thumbs before rinsing off. Dry on a very clean towel. C) avoid touching your face especially your eyes, nose and mouth. D) use a hand samitiser when you leave public transport etc. I reckon that my incidence of viruses has reduced to a quarter since following this regime. I also wash my hands as soon as i get home. Now you will think i have OCD :.)

podperson

Morning all,

Bratz - glad to see you're still around, your Pagan celebrations sound really interesting - it is something I do find fascinating.

Maman - hope you enjoyed your dancing - maybe no alcohol but could have been skipping home in a caffine rush from all the tea

LL - I love Elf - I always forget just how funny it is! Loving the positivity - it would be nice to think people might be a little less materialistic but unfortunately I'm not as much of an optimist and can't see it happening, at least in a year anyway.

Molly - hope you're ok, bad news always seems to come in bulk doesn't it

Sophistica - good advice on the cold prevention, I think I may have to get a sanitiser for after I've been on the bus. I hate sitting there hearing people coughing around you - and half of whom don't even bother covering their mouths - and then having to get up and hold the poles and stuff!

Anyway, my quiet night went a little to pot (as usual!) since OH needed help with yet another assignment. Got a bit cross with him as he had assured me he would either get sorted or go to the doctors to try and get some help and doesn't seem to do either - I'm sure he just thinks 'oh, it's ok, she'll help me with it.' And unfortunately I do tend to end up giving in as I don't want him to fail the course. Anyway that was his last one for this term so think we need to sit down and have a good talk over xmas about what's going to happen in the future - as I can't be doing this every time!

Am going to watch Nightmare Before Christmas being shown in the cinema tonight - is my favourite xmas film ever and have never seen it on the 'big screen' so am quite excited Having a few drinks with a friend first so should be nice.

Then tomorrow night his mum and dad are up so we're meant to be meeting all his family for a meal - not looking forward to as much! I do get on with his mum and dad but it just always seems to be hard work when they come up. Some of you may remember me moaning about them last time when they made his gran get the bus on her own, his mum was supposed to meet her off it but didn't and we had to go instead, then they'd picked somewhere they knew she'd had problems with before as it has a really steep spiral staircase that we had to help her up - you get the idea!
Anyway OH spoke to them last week and asked what was happening, they agreed they wouldn't go there again but would look for somewhere else in the centre and would give us a ring when they knew where. He also said to them that someone needs to pick up his gran as it's too cold at the moment for her to be outside waiting on buses for ages. Still hadn't heard from them last night so spoke to his gran who said they called her on Sunday and told her where they were going - it's miles out of the centre and we will need to either get 3 buses each way or a taxi there and back, which will obviously be expensive. They also haven't confirmed that they will pick his gran up. Anyway had an email from his mum this morning saying where they are going and the time, no other information. I am pretty sure she's done this because she knows if she called he would be asking her why she picked somewhere so far out (I know why it's because his aunt likes it and they always listen to her!) and if anyone is taking his gran - and I'm guessing they're just expecting her to get a taxi as well.
It just seems like they have planned it around what his aunt wants and we can tag along if we want to - and to be honest I'm slightly feeling like why should we bother when they're just making things hard work for us. But then I know we won't see them before xmas otherwise as although they're up for 3 days they never come round to see us, even for an hour or something.
*sighs* was rather hoping that being up here we wouldn't have all the xmas family hassle!

maman

:D

podperson, this is the fixed smile you need to wear (one for you and one for OH) while the rellies are around. Then after that you can enjoy Christmas!!!

podperson

Lol, that's what we usually do Maman and tbh if it was just us that were being put out we would probably just suck it up and spend £20 on taxis so that OH can talk to his mum and dad for about half an hour between them going round all the other rellies. But it really annoys us that they also treat his gran like that - I doubt it will be under £15 each way for a taxi for her to get there and the rest of them are taking at least 3 cars between them so not like it would be that hard for one of them to swing by for her. I just can't imagine ever treating my mum like that!

Skymist

To address your 4 points sophistica.....

A) I wouldn't touch the flu jab with a barge-pole!!! Firstly, it is all guess work as to which viruses are chosen to be included in the vaccine for any given year, which vary from year to year, and that cannot be predicted...yet that is exactly what is done!!!

Secondly, the efficacy of the flu jab is also VERY questionable, as far as I'm concerned....just Google "efficacy of flu jab" to see!!!

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=efficacy+of+flu+jab&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnt&tbs=qdr:m&sa=X&ei=XUPrTvSyMuj74QT6iqmMCQ&ved=0CCQQpwUoBDgK&biw=1010&bih=550#hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbs=qdr:m&q=%22efficacy%22+of+flu+jab&sa=X&ei=gUPrTribA4Kb8gOpqInzCQ&ved=0CEcQtQE&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=57c75dcb4d115986&biw=1010&bih=550

Here are a few examples:-

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa011604a.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm

http://douglassreport.com/2011/11/25/read-before-flu-shot/

etc. etc.!!!

I TOTALLY agree with this, and it's something I have ALWAYS done, yet it still didn't prevent the bug-attacks I experienced earlier this year!

C) Ditto my response to .

D)"Alcohol rub sanitizers kill most bacteria, fungi and some viruses", from:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_sanitizer

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090503175107AAe6GxA

(http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=+do+hand+sanitisers++kill+viruses&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a )etc. etc..

So, this is why I am now trying out the use of pickled/fermented vegetables, to boost my immune system from the inside, in a completely natural way and without putting any....in my mind....nasties inside or on the surface of my body.

S