A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

GreyQueen

fuddle wrote: »

Well good news tonight. DH has won some money in his fishing match. £40

:j Congrats to the DH!

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

I used to have a VERY short haircut, dyed regularly - now I'm letting it grow out and am at the still short but very fuzzy stage. Would never have let it be like this before but now I don't care if it's not office-style smooth. Not dyed either.
ETA back in the day the "utter trollop" was the person who did dye their hair - how times have changed

Yup, not so many generations ago that a "respectable" i.e. non-prostitute woman, wouldn't dream of wearing makeup or dyeing her hair. Just wasn't done. My Grandma (1897-1970) left Mum with a mental list of things which were considered common and bleached hair was at the top. Curlers left in and walking to the shop in your slippers were up there, too.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I beg to differ. Back in the day (before The Flood) it was the girls who bleached their hair who were the real trollops. Now, every second woman is a tabby-cat blonde of some description. I couldn't be bothered with it, even if I wasn't a natural blondie, the price of the upkeep. EEEK! Now, a bleached-blonde with dark roots truly is trollop-looking. It must be like being a hamster on a wheel once you start

I'm a redhead in her late forties and my mane is currently several different shades; mahogany brown at the back where the sun doesn't fade the underlayers and light at the front and the top where the bits still red have sunbleached to strawberry blonde and are liberally mixed with pure white strands. Last time I went to a hairdresser was about 18 months ago and she was incredulous that the light locks weren't coloured artificially. I'm sure she didn't believe me that it was sunbleaching. Not that I give a monkey's if she thought I was fibbing but I'm actually far too lazy and cheap to be bothered.:p

If I put my hair up on the top of my head it looks so funny with all the different shades together. I'm actively enjoying the process of watching my hair progressively change colour over the years and because it's happening slowly, it's easing other people into the updated version of me, also. Having pondered on this for some time, I think dyeing your hair can be a problem if you leap for the dye-bottle as soon as you get a few noticable greys and carry on until your roots reveal that it went completely grey/ white and you have a badger stripe along your parting. When are you ever allowed to stop?

I was visiting my Nan in hospital about 15 years ago and she and 3 other elderly ladies were on a side ward. They were all in their seventies and eighties and three inc Nan had their hair au naturel in soft greys and whites and looked lovely. The eldest, who was pushing 90, had her hair permed hair dyed a dark brown which sat above her face like a lego helmet. It wasn't flattering and it wasn't fooling anybody.

I just love seeing a woman with white or grey hair and once approached a complete stranger in the library, a pretty girl with silvery-grey hair but only in her early twenties to say how much I liked her hair. I wouldn't normally pass personal comments to strangers but this was stunning and she did look pleased with the compliment.

Anyroad, dyed hair doesn't make a middle-aged or elderly woman look like a young woman; your face and your figure contradict your barnet. You can have a little bit of fun with people tho, if you follow the patented GQ tactic:

Rude Mare: "OMG your hair is really going white!!!!!!!!!!!"

GQ: Over-reacting like a very bad B movie actress, clutches locks and screams in torment for a couple of seconds, stops and deadpans; "And your point was............?"

They never do it twice, believe me.....:rotfl:I think if I did dye my hair, I'll wait until it's completely white and then do something rather amusing with the blank canvas like pink. Haven't had my hair pink for 30-odd years. Or perhaps green. I have form for both colours.

Lovely to hear your successful sofa-stories. There is so much super second stuff out there, in mint condition, that I almost regret having a fully-furnished home. I'm sure Mum will want The Armchair. The one it'd replace on it's last-legs is the sole survivor of their suite from 1984. The sofa went first, and was replaced by a second-hand sofa-bed and the other armchair was replaced by a reclining armchair which an acquaintance of mine was turfing out. We did drag that across to their town from the city and it's the most sought-after seat in their house. Even the cats love it, and you know the best chair is always the ones the cats favour.

The Sofa isn't my Dream Sofa but that wouldn't fit anyway. The Dream Sofa would be an antique button-back Chesterfield in a rich chestnutty leather, worn and comfy. It would be in a different home, a bigger one which also has a fireplace and my shabby chic armoire holding a tasteful miscellany of old country crockery. That's the home with the walled vegetable garden, the stables and the staff to take care of it all.:D:p:D

B&T my Dad is very far from hen-pecked but he is extremely laconic and got a very good bargain when he married Mum. She cooks, she irons and she does the DIY so he can read his history books and go for long country walks. On matters of the house, he takes second-seat. She lets him rule the garden. The last time I went into a secondhand furniture store with Mum was last year when I got the DVD cabinet I keep my sewing kit in. She got a chest-of-drawers at the same time. If that chair is still available, I'm pretty sure she'll have it.

Oooof, time's getting on. Must have brekkie, more tea, then turn myself into Office Barbie for a few hours. Have a good day, peeps.

kidcat

Thanks Byatt you are spot on, am arranging to cancel all his cards and swapping accounts today.

prepareathome

Byatt wrote: »

Kidcat,
Edit, remembered what I came in here for...DD just told me that her case was broken into and some of her meds taken (they must have known what they wanted as they only took an anxiety med, a months supply), plus a phone and jacket from other members of the family that were with her. DD's case is completely broken even though it was locked. Could have been anywhere from between the ship and the airport. I assume they should claim on their insurance but should anyone else be informed. Not sure why I am asking as it's not my problem really, other than DD needs her meds. Why does she tell me these things late at night!!

Obviously she will have to let cruise company know but also police not just for the theft but as drugs were taken although that might only be ones like mine which are class A - no assure you not on heroin but my Oxycontin and Oxynorm are Class A drugs and if I lose them or have them stolen I have to inform the police even have to always take a letter from doctor with me when I go abroad - not actually been abroad since on them but have flown to NI and need letter for all airports, stating I have medical need for them. A police report might make it easier for her to have them replaced as doctors can be funny about replacing some meds.

What a horrible thing to happen after such a lovely cruise, these B's just don't care. One thing her going off on this cruise by herself it must give you mixed feelings - she is managing to cope with the adult world more on her own which is great but your little girl is growing up and not needing mum as much, that is the hard part.

Sun is shining and it seems so warm out there, so just waiting for pain meds to kick in a bit more and will go out and take fleece off plants and let sun get to them, they won't know themselves as poor things have lived under fleece all their lives. I want to put some flower seeds straight into the ground, wonder if I dare do it plus some more vegetable seeds. Need to also go and check potatoes - dug long trench at end of side garden and put them in a few weeks ago but not got over to see them since. Be nice if no rain for a few days and back ground gets dry as its totally soil out there which for months now has been mud and am fed up being covered in mud just popping out into back garden even if its only cleaning up after dogs never mind doing any gardening.

Well better move my butt as need to get washed and dressed before woman from Freecycle comes to collect some turf, hope she takes a good bit as more will follow soon when can get energy together to dig the last two beds, only want 6 beds and started in February to dig them and still only done 4 ( son was supposed to do it but well .......)

lizzyb1812

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I beg to differ. Back in the day (before The Flood) it was the girls who bleached their hair who were the real trollops. Now, every second woman is a tabby-cat blonde of some description. I couldn't be bothered with it, even if I wasn't a natural blondie, the price of the upkeep. EEEK! Now, a bleached-blonde with dark roots truly is trollop-looking. It must be like being a hamster on a wheel once you start

Yes, that was what I said

smileyt_2

I have to say, reading all this, I'm so glad I'm single! And even more glad that I'm a lesbian!! I know that there are horrible women out there, but on the whole we do not demand to be waited on hand and foot and expect everyone else to do all the work!

My own Mum and Dad are happily married and approaching their golden wedding anniversary but I think they are two of the lucky ones!

katieowl_2

Morning all - goodness you lot have been chatty.

I had a run in with a doorstep chugger in London - She was collecting for the blind, and we were brassic. Correction she was collecting DIRECT DEBIT instructions.... Anyway I very politely said as is my usual response something along the lines of Oh yes I AM aware of the challenges that partially sighted and blind people face in their daily lives...reflecting back what she'd aimed at me, and said that I very much regretted that I was unable to help at this time. Her response was to get very sarcastic and angry and she started yelling at me "HOW DARE I tell her that I KNEW what challenges blind people faced!" :eek: Afraid she got both barrels off me, best fishwife style. I told her to remove herself off my doorstep. She'd apparently been really snippy with a couple of the neighbours too :mad:

When my kids have been looking for work, I have refused point blank to let them be used as chuggers. All the charities that do it have very top loaded admin as far as I can make out, and I'd far rather donate to one of the smaller ones directly.

I feel rather poorly in the tummy department today...which is not good. I've been really quite careful this weekend avoiding eating things that make me poorly so I don't know why?

I've a ton of things that need to be done today and zero motivation to do any of them...but I 'spose I'd better quite prevaricating on here and make a start.

Kate

fuddle

I don't understand why charities would want to associate themselves with chuggers at all. They have such a negative vibe, annoy many people and the rudeness will only have people not wanting to support that charity ever again. That is what should be happening in the real world - if you think about things logically and sensibly but obviously there's a lot of money to be made from them. *confused.

Take my favourite animal charity Dogs Trust. I have seen with my own brown eyes the super work they do. The amount of money it cost my local branch etc etc. Super friendly staff who are falling over themselves to help you out for the good of the dog, or puppy in our case. They've operated on him since and all I paid was £80 adoption fee. I am determined now to support the charity for my days because my pup is the best. So I have that side and then I think about the idiotic people banging on my door in bright yellow doggy vests, clip boards and attitude. Had I not had that experience I would be turned to never support DT anymore - rude little people. These people are the faces of the charities. It beggars belief.

I have so much to do, I've only managed to take said dog for a walk so far and have to do the nursery pick up in an our. Best get moving!

Hobsons_Choice

The sun is shining here in Worcestershire! OK..there's a fair bit of high cloud but still..
My eyes hurt coz I'm afraid to blink in case it disappears, but at last I know my Reactolite lenses really DO work. Thought I was going to have to go back to the opticians.
Husband and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary next year. Ups and downs, but we go with the flow. Neither of us have the energy anymore to argue much! I DO practice though, doesn't do to lose the skill now does it?

VJsmum

Hello all - I am back from Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen (all together now "friendly old girl of a town") Wonderful, sunny and WARM Copenhagen. I think I may have brought some nice weather back with me - you are welcome! Didn't do a lot of "Clink and drink one down" though - not at those prices.:eek:

I see you have been having a good ole natter whilst I've been away.

GreyQueen wrote: »

I was raised with second-hand furniture, a motley collection, and have followed the trend in my adult life.

I, too, was raised with a sturdy collection of second hand - some good some not so good. We now have a sofa that was the MIL's, a stereo that was a friend's, we are about to get a dining table from another friend, a desk that was from OH's work. OUr bedroom furniture, whilst not second hand, is extremely old and was going to be replaced last year but we would struggle to get the same quality at a reasonable price. I am going to get it stripped and dyed at some point instead.

Enjoy the sofa! It reminds me that both our sofas need reconditioning.

Pooky wrote: »

I'm o e of the "doesn't do clubs or pubs, love my cosy little house, my crochet and my patchwork and my well mannered, thoughtful kids and hubby". I pottered around a boot fair this morning, I've pottered around the garden this afternoon and I've pottered in the kitchen this evening.

I don't really have many friends, a couple that have been there over the years but I seem to have outgrown them....or they me? But our priorities are different. I delighted in spending some spare cash on some wool this week to make a crochet blanket to tie in with my living room....one friend phoned me to tell me she'd spent nearly 4 times as much on having her eyebrows tinted. I just don't get it?

GreyQueen wrote: »

Yup, not so many generations ago that a "respectable" i.e. non-prostitute woman, wouldn't dream of wearing makeup or dyeing her hair. Just wasn't done. My Grandma (1897-1970) left Mum with a mental list of things which were considered common and bleached hair was at the top. Curlers left in and walking to the shop in your slippers were up there, too.

Hmm - I may be cast out of the thread now, with you all throwing metaphorical stones, as I dye my hair and have my eyebrows dyed - and those (and other bits ) waxed. Although I don't walk to the shop in my slippers, I have been known to drive the kids to school in my pyjamas.

I recently joined a facebook group which has reminiscences (is that a word?) from "the old days" - i.e. 1960 - 1980 with photos of my clubbing days. I certainly don't miss those and only went at the time as all my friends did. I'd much sooner sit and have a meal with friends now. There are a group of school mums who like to go out and drink as much as possible every so often but I "belong" to the boring group who go to my local pub for the £5 for a curry and a glass of wine deal. At times when the twain have met the "rowdy" ones tend to avoid being with us "boring" ones but I think in the end we have the nicer time as we aren't getting hammered, talking about our sex lives and shrieking at any stray men who are unfortunate enough to be passing. I like a drink - but try not to get so's I don't know what I'm doing. Anyway, I can't be doing with the hangovers!

I really must get cracking and sort out the house that's had OH, MIL and kids in for 3 days without me. So god knows what it's like when I really look at it.:eek:

katieowl_2

" My Grandma (1897-1970) left Mum with a mental list of things which were considered common and bleached hair was at the top. Curlers left in and walking to the shop in your slippers were up there, too. "

You've forgotten earrings GQ - pierced ears were apparently DREADFULLY 'common' :rotfl: Lets not even go there with other bits with rings in, or tattoos!!!


I still dye my hair, in fact it's on the list for today, I just look dreadfully washed out if I don't, I'd LOVE to find a way round it and was wondering if I lashed out and got some streaks or highlights put in over the badger bits if it would grow out enough to be acceptable? Anyway attacking the offending bits with bottle of aldi's darkest brown every few weeks is the cheap option...it's less than £3 a bottle and I only use it a few spoonfuls at a time.

Kate