Frump to Fab - Summer Solstice Sizzler

findingmyway_2

Hi everyone,

Lesson Learned, thank you for all the tips. I think when I get back I will have to broach the subject with my parents. Something I am really not looking forward to.

Fedupandskint, some of those clothes sound lovely, but I agree, return the things that dont fit, there is no point keeping things just because they were a bargain.

I have only been doing very basic fabbing, and even wearing very little make-up. I heard the dreaded news that my ex has moved on, and found someone else which has knocked me for six. I'm just feeling rather alone and miserable and the future seems to hold nothing but fear and dread at the moment. I know time is the only healer, I just wish I could get to that point as right now I'm feeling like I have been punched in the stomach. I think fear of being alone is what gets to me most. Oh well hopefully I can plod along and come out the other end feeling better.

Hope everyone has a fabulous Tuesday.

bratz81

maman - thanks for the clappy smiley I'll be honest the last 7lbs dropped off without me realising or trying so although I'm not hoping or trying to lose more I'm a tad worried it might disappear anyway - so definitely will be waiting to get my dress altered.
The nice thing about it is though, it's not one of the typical wedding dresses and is floaty so as long as it fits on the top half (straps etc) the rest is fine if I lose or put on a bit.

WelshWoofer

Just a quickie with some hugs for Findingmyway.:grouphug:

lessonlearned

FMY Just sending you some virtual hugs. So sorry to hear about your break-up - hope you feel better soon.

Just Focus on You for a while.

Well good morning everyone and a very big thank you for all your kind responses to my story. Hope no-one took offence at my advice.

Like Maman said my story is a salutory one and there are a lot of lessons to be learned.

I know that over the next few weeks I shall most definitely be getting to grips with the all the legal issues. I may have been a bit of an ostrich in the past but no more. From now on I will be on the ball.

I always used to be "Little Miss Efficiency" but six long years of looking after OH, never having the proper time to deal with stuff and continually coming up against a brick wall meant that any tolerance I may have had for dealing with officialdom just evaporated. It meant that I was a bit guilty of burying my head in the sand at times. Now I've got a lot of catching up to do.

True to form, I'm nibbling away at that elephant.:D

I have just spent some time on phone calls - finally plucked up the necessary enthusiasm to chase up the DWP.

Apparently there is a letter in the post as we speak. :rotfl::rotfl: Do people actually still use this one.

A quick half hour sorting out a few more files, some shredding, some fabbing and then off to physio and then visit Mum & Dad.

Another busy busy day.

Hope you are all well.

Good work on the DIY WW. I have decided to get a little help with some of the bigger jobs. And I will be using local people, small traders and businesses - they need all the help they can get.

As my mum pointed out - the money I'm paying out in physio could be used to pay someone to help me, thus not aggravating my back all the time. Mum's do know best don't they.

podperson

Morning all,

Bratz - yay on the weight loss :j but a little annoying on the dresses, not much help I'm afraid as am a bit useless with altering things myself - got a pretty top from the charity shop over a month ago that needs the straps shortening - is probably only a 10 min job but still putting it off

WW - thanks for the sympathy, I'm one of those who really needs her sleep - I feel really sick in the morning if I've only had a few hours. Then will just struggle through the day till I've come round and then won't be able to sleep again Bathroom sounds like it's coming along nicely. Glad your parents are starting to plan ahead, sounds like what you've been saying them has sunk in on some level.

evilsquid - sorry about the job rejection, but that is a big outlay so hopefully it will work out for the best and something more suited for you will come along soon. Hope you enjoyed your meal and movie

LL - thank you for sharing a knowledgeable, but rather sad post, I do hope it helps some of the people on here who may be facing similar situations. Unfortunately hindsight is a wonderful thing, we can only do the best we can at the time x

Sparkles - loving the clothes bargains

Findingmyway - I know it's hard to hear an ex has moved on, but am guessing he is an ex for a reason! Could you try and arrange something fun with friends to take your mind off it - or do something you'd never have been able/allowed to while with him. You sound like a lovely person and I'm sure no matter what happens you won't be alone x


Anyway, had a much better night's sleep last night so in a more positive mood today - am also wearing a skirt, haven't worn it to work before but am in an all male office so doubt they'll notice :rotfl:Is quite hard to describe is like a patchwork effect, different sections with patterns and they overlap so an assymetrical, floaty style at the bottom. Have on with purple tights, black boots and a purple jumper so not feeling too bad. Have to go to choir again straight from work so thought would be nice not to feel like too much of a mess (we'll see!). Had a very relaxed night last night, caught up on my tv programmes and did no work at all Ah well, we're allowed a night off once in a while.
Boss has told me this morning that he's interviewing at the end of the week so hopefully should have some help in soon - do hope they pick someone decent this time. I will be happy to have anyone at the moment but it does baffle me sometimes how people who can have a stack of qualifications and an amazing cv and work background are unable to show the slightest bit of initiative. The last girl we had in was really qualified and had worked in some very high up jobs - but would be calling me about 20 times a day to ask about the most basic things, most of which she'd done 100 times before but she was just 'double checking'. Quite funny because I only got the job in the first place because the very qualified girl they picked before me had some very dodgy things come up on her references :eek:
One of the things that I hated about job searching, that you know you can do a job very well but the employer would rather go with someone who 'looks good on paper'. Anyway, have waffled a bit there!
Hope everyone has a good day x

LameWolf

FMY Have a (((HUG))).

Podperson I'm with you on the sleep thing - I'm so sick and tired of lying staring at the ceiling all night and then flaking out on the sofa the minute Mr LW has left for work. Still scratching my head on how to stop being nocturnal, though - I've tried all the "standard" methods, none of them work!

Bit miserable today, as no canine company, so I'll keep this short, but just wanted to mention that when Mr LW and I married, we made our wills (as one should);), and included Enduring Power of Attorney; when my old house sold, I used my share of the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on the bungalow (which Mr LW already owned when I moved in with him), and we went for the Tenants In Common thing, also got my name put on the ownership documents.

I've been using my DLA to buy stuff to help me - anything from mobility buggy down to silly stuff like kitchen utensils for dodgy paws.:D Actually, the netbook comes under that category - I can still go online when I don't feel steady enough to sit up at the PC.;)

Uh oh, sorry, I'm rambling again - perhaps I'd better go and do today's Brain Training and chase away some brainfog.;)

Have a good day, all.

WelshWoofer

Lone Wolf - any advice you can give from the other side of the fence would be greatly appreciated!

Just back from the hairdressers and it looks loads better - Darren (a bald great big lump of a man) can just make anything look better without even touching it! He's put a lot of layers through it and shaped it a bit but managed to only trim the length. I'm at collar length now (started as a chin length bob)and want it on my shoulders at least (it used to be bra length) - £30 well spent.;)
I also got my eyebrows done - there was an offer on and it only cost £4.50:T

Defuzzing and a bath also done this morning so quite spruced up for once.
In fact on my way into the hairdressers I got wolf whistled:eek::rotfl: - it was only by the middle aged fishmonger but I guess it all counts and its been a long time since I got noticed.
I think that just making a bit of an effort and feeling more positive and confident works.
Thank you ladies for all of your support.:T:T

adelight

ww brilliant! the best hairdressers are always bald

LL that post was really helpful thank you several of my close relatives are "going down hill" health wise and it is quite a worry to the family how we will afford care. we are not fortunate enough to have huge savings or vast sums of money tied up in property (cheap small houses, council & ex-council worth about £1.50) and I know my mum would instinctively cut her hours in order to care but obviously that isn't the best solution.

evilsquid how did you afford to do your 2 degrees? or rather how did you find an affordable way to do it? i have started a second degree but am having it to do it through the OU as traditional fees are too much for a second degree but even the OU fees are quite an expenditure at a few grand a year.

I was discussing fees and living costs of my postgrad with my dissertation supervisor earlier today so my brain is all "arg money". More stuff going on ebay this week me thinks, and sign up for some overtime at work. I found out yesterday that my work could actually make everyone's lives easier by letting us do some work from home but no... even though it would help the whole company and the office is over crowded grrr!
I've been to lectures, two meetings and done an OU assignment and am absolutely nackered but still need to do lots more today. I am very much looking forward to soaking in the tub and eventually going to sleep tonight. I have tried to fab a bit and didn't wear sweatpants or jeans today for a change (leggings, long top and a chunky cardy so still very casual) but couldn't go without my beloved uggs. The weather is really awkward right now and lots my clothes from this time last year don't fit me as I've gained 2-3" on my hips and gone up two cup sizes. I know what I "should" be wearing but I feel like a page 3 wannabe in fitted clothes but loose stuff makes me look huge so I somehow end up mostly wearing sports and lounge clothes looking like i'm forever on my way to the gym. What a plonker.

evilsquid1603

adelight wrote: »

evilsquid how did you afford to do your 2 degrees? or rather how did you find an affordable way to do it? i have started a second degree but am having it to do it through the OU as traditional fees are too much for a second degree but even the OU fees are quite an expenditure at a few grand a year.

i did the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course with the College of Law and if you complete both you get an LL.B in addition. my parents paid the fees for me and i got a job in the college library and took out a professional development loan to live off. i think most of those have completely dried up now - too many people have found themselves in my position 6 months on with no job so the banks aren't getting any money off us because we have none to give them. DH and I are having to move back in with my parents and it looks like over half our monthly jobseekers is going to have to go on the extortionate repayments for that if i don't find a job and do it like, yesterday.

adelight

evilsquid1603 wrote: »

i did the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course with the College of Law and if you complete both you get an LL.B in addition. my parents paid the fees for me and i got a job in the college library and took out a professional development loan to live off. i think most of those have completely dried up now - too many people have found themselves in my position 6 months on with no job so the banks aren't getting any money off us because we have none to give them. DH and I are having to move back in with my parents and it looks like over half our monthly jobseekers is going to have to go on the extortionate repayments for that if i don't find a job and do it like, yesterday.

bum i hope someone gives you a job soon. Is the interest really high on the loan? I imagined they wouldn't be that bad as so many people I know have got bank loans for uni stuff.
I actually hadn't thought of doing a sort of conversion course but that would be a really good idea. Would you say it's "worth it" or will be? Not sure if I'm just in panic mode trying to amass as many qualifications as possible.