Frump to Fab - Summer Solstice Sizzler

lizzie157

Thanks LW and Skymist it's good to know someone else understands. I wish I could be more content although I was beginning to count my blessings before all this DWP stuff blew up. I am gonna try harder to appreciate all the things I do have, after all like LL says probably better off without friends than with those who grind you down.

Joie de vie

I do still find some of this in life they haven't robbed me totally:o
When I'm in the woods or up on the fields I frequently stop and take in the wonderful views and watching the dogs chasing the squirrels never fails to bring a smile to my face, as do my kids when they're being silly.

PP- I think you're right it's not worth risking making my arm worse so I'll just have to carry on with physio and hang on in there till it improves.
Hope you feel better soon, you too Bratz

Adela that's terrible but what's also terrible is I'm not at all shocked!!
LL-I'm lost, deflated, exhausted and utterly p****d off.
me too
they've now lost the form I filled in about 2 weeks ago so I have to fill in another :mad::mad::mad:
Sorry ladies for the winge - you must be bored stupid

I second this too am sorry to keep going on about all this stuff:o
Hi to everyone else best get meself to bed x

maman

Willow92 wrote: »

I have thought about SW before but I was too scared to ring them and arrange it! I think the meeting's on Wednesdays and I'm off that day plus it's round the corner so I have no excuse really... I'm just terrified of meeting new people.

I've met some lovely people at SW. I just decided to go one morning and went before I changed my mind. What's good is lots of my new friends there are people I wouldn't have normally met in other areas of my life and we all have something in common!! I promise you, you'll feel so pleased with yourself as the weight comes off. And as evilsquid said, if for any reason you don't like the group you'll have all the books and info for £10 after your first night so you and your mum could plan from them and use the thread on here for support, questions and ideas.

adelight wrote: »

If you're OH isn't interested then sod him, maybe he will follow your lead in the end?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Maman i find volumising products very sticky too. The best I've found is alternating volume shampoos with light clarifying ones, dry shampoo in the roots, conditioner before shampoo, no conditioner and oiling the ends.

Thanks, I may try some of those ideas. I've got a John Frieda mousse which I have found a bit sticky and heavy but definitely better than nothing. It's almost all gone so I was wondering where to go next.

My interview day went okay, it was going really well until I fluffed the last technical question... I really don't know if I have a chance at getting the job or not, I hate not knowing
I felt ever so grown up swanning around Westminster and wearing my visitor id card :rotfl:

Good luck. When will you know?

Not done much fabbing of me today, just dressed nicely and make up for my dance class. DH and I did finish of our spare room today. New blind arrived so put that up and curtains and pictures and wall mirror so room is looking fab. Well, strictly speaking, DH did all that, I issued instructions and supervised!;)

lessonlearned

maman wrote: »

Not done much fabbing of me today, just dressed nicely and make up for my dance class. DH and I did finish of our spare room today. New blind arrived so put that up and curtains and pictures and wall mirror so room is looking fab. Well, strictly speaking, DH did all that, I issued instructions and supervised!;)

Well it's the brains and the creativity that count the most. The rest is just "execution" :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Morning Everyone

Feeling a tad brighter today. I've come out fighting. New Day, New Tactics.

Going to write to them all (in triplicate!!!!) sending copies of everything, with enough "evidence" to please a high court judge:rotfl: Will send it all recorded delivery, so no arguments there.

Have been musing over the whole friendship/loneliness thing.

I read the Esther Rantzen article too and was impressed that, as ever, she has decided to campaign and do something about it. I agree there are loads of lonely, isolated people out there.

She was referring to the elderly and empty nesters etc but the way I see it there are plenty of young people who feel cast adrift too. There are plenty of students who leave home for the first time who are desperately homesick, lonely and unhappy, many young people have to move away from their friends and families to take up jobs away from their home towns, many young mums isolated with small babies and no-one to turn to. The list is quite endless really.

I found being a carer very lonely at times. I couldn't just leave OH to his own devices and shouldering the burden on my own made me feel very isolated.

I don't know the answers, except to try and get out and about and "join" things. TBH I'm not much of a "joiner" either. I've had to up and move sticks several times in my life for jobs etc and I too found it very difficult. I forced myself to join a few clubs, night classes, hobbies etc. It does take time, patience and courage though. I found Slimming World and Weight Watchers were both very welcoming to strangers and not a bit intimidating.

As I explained yesterday I'm now at the stage where I actually like solitude, time to be alone for peace and quiet. There's a world of difference between solitude and isolation though. As a species we are programmed to be social and gregarious. Too much solitude is bad for us, leading to loneliness and depression.

Anyway time for a bath, some fabbing, physio, some errands to run and then get down to those wretched letters.

Have a good day. X

lessonlearned

lizzie157 wrote: »

Joie de vie

I do still find some of this in life they haven't robbed me totally:o
When I'm in the woods or up on the fields I frequently stop and take in the wonderful views and watching the dogs chasing the squirrels never fails to bring a smile to my face, as do my kids when they're being silly.

[

That is lovely. Nature, animals and children bring such joy. I think it's the simple things - often free - that give us the most pleasure. OH really enjoyed watching those pheasants yesterday afternoon. On our walk we stopped to look at the buds on the trees and hedges, the bulbs starting to flower - sounds a bit soppy but it was so nice and especially nice to see him turning his face to the sun and see him smile.

My sister & BIL are going to visit him today. They are taking the dog. I know the other residents will just love having a dog visit them. It will make their day.

podperson

Morning all,

Bratz - hope you're feeling better hun x

Adela - how rude :mad: I really do think some of these people seem to think because they work for 'the government' they have carte blanche to say whatever they like and we just have to put up with it. Have had some truly horrid people over the years dealing with benefits (think the worst was a jsa advisor when I was signing on, I asked if I could have a later appointment as I wanted to go to a friend's funeral, she basically accused me of lying to get out of it and said if I didn't come in on time I would get no money and she was see I would be sanctioned so couldn't reapply. Then when I did show up she turned round and said 'oh, I thought you couldn't make it today' - don't think have ever wanted to hit someone so much in my life!)

Willow - I'm sure you would be fine at SW, everyone is in the same position so you have one thing in common with them/to talk about straight away.

adelight - fingers crossed for the job

Bitsy - sounds like it's all coming together - am sure you can't wait to get your house back to normal glad to see puppy is doing well too.

Lizzie - don't feel like you're 'going on' - can help to have a good whinge sometimes and we are happy to listen, only sorry we can't do much else

LL - glad you're feeling a little brighter, would second sending everything to them recorded - I learnt a long time ago that otherwise things that they had already said they had would 'disappear' so now I can produce the evidence that they have received and it's amazing how many times it can suddenly 'show up' then :mad:

To those feeling lonely, I do know how you feel to some extent. As I may have mentioned before it got very bad for me over a year ago and while I'm also 'not much of a joiner' I forced myself to go out and join some groups and meet some new people. Some were good, some were not so good, some trailed off and some are still going now - but they were all experiences and they got me away from staring at four walls feeling probably a bit lost. I agree with Sky that am not a clubby/pubby person (well occasional pub sometimes!) but when I started looking round I was amazed at how much was out there and related to things I'm interested in. Anyway, I suppose what I'm saying is that if you're content with your own company that's fine, but if you do want to get out more then if you make the effort there can be lots of choice And believe me, I'm not a natural extrovert by any standards so if I can do it anyone can.
Sky - if you ever fancy a change from chatting to bus stop people and want to go for a coffee (with cake!) or something sometime just poke me

Anyways, I mentioned we had a new lass starting yesterday to help me out as I'm currently doing about 3 people's jobs. She lasted a day :rotfl:called in this morning and said it was 'too much for her' and she wasn't going back. I mean, it's only admin and telephone work, it's not like it's rocket science. Apparently she used to work for a bank and got quite a big payoff from them so doesn't really need to work, she just wanted something to keep her busy - must be nice to be able to pick and choose! Ah well, back to being snowed under until they find someone else!

Skymist

maman wrote: »

..... I issued instructions and supervised!;)

Right-on as surely this is THE rightful position of any self respecting woman!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

podperson wrote: »

Sky - if you ever fancy a change from chatting to bus stop people and want to go for a coffee (with cake!) or something sometime just poke me

That'd be great...I'll PM you

S

Inazuma

lessonlearned wrote: »

That is lovely. Nature, animals and children bring such joy. I think it's the simple things - often free - that give us the most pleasure. .

I once did a course on something called NLP ( really interesting to examine our way of looking at things, btw) and one of the things we did there was to actually list all the stuff we got joy from, whether it was seasonal, and what it cost. Most of us had stuff like babies smiling and dogs fetching sticks and I still have my list - the idea was to use it to remind ourselves of our pleasures when we needed it. It sounds a bit twee but just doing the lists lifted my spirits and of course most of the stuff was not expensive (just the gold, and the view of Montego Bay!)

So...what gives us all Joy? For me it's things like the sea, a sauna, sunday papers and driving fast. Oh, and loud rock music while I do it.

Anyone else?

lessonlearned

Inazuma wrote: »

So...what gives us all Joy? For me it's things like the sea, a sauna, sunday papers and driving fast. Oh, and loud rock music while I do it.

Anyone else?

All of the above, especially the sea. Re driving fast? I've got my Speed Awareness Course tomorrow from when I got done for speeding.

Meals al fresco, sitting in the garden listening to the birds, sunsets, bonfires. Time with OH and/or the boys. Giggly girly times with my sister or a girlfriend, galleries, museums. And they're all free:D My new favourite - decluttering.

Train journeys - that rail card is fab.

LameWolf

Could anyone please lend me some GUAG? Mine has gone AWOL to the extent that I nearly fainted when I got up to go to the loo earlier on today!:eek:

I've decided to remain resting til 16:00; at that point I need to attempt to make myself presentable, as Sadie (elderly GSD/Collie cross) will be arriving some time after 16:30, to stay with me til Sunday.:o

I'm informed she'll be best exercised in the back garden, as she doesn't get along with other dogs, and is doddery on her feet; so I shan't need to get the scooter out, at least.

bratz81

thanks for the well wishes all, much appreciated
I'm still feeling very weak/drained so not the biggest amount of fabbing going on but I did manage to paint my nails before work today and put on some mascara and lippie so we're on the mend I think