Frump to Fab - Summer Solstice Sizzler

lessonlearned

adelight wrote: »

I'm trying to make more of an effort with my teeth too. I know it's bad but this year I've only bothered to floss once a week and gone to bed without brushing them on several occasions

Consider your wrists well and truly slapped, young woman.:rotfl:

Good news about the clothes - like pp says you now need to start wearing them.;)

Hi Everyone

You all remembered it's Fab Friday didn't you - of course you did.

Maman, WW & Evilsquid (& anyone else)

How wonderful that you feel more confident now. Who needs Life Coaching when we have this thread.:D

It's true though - all this Fabbing malarky does seem to spill over into other areas of our lives. I definitely find that I feel more confident, happier in myself and just generally more serene if I just take a little time and effort.

To all you newbies - I know this sounds like new age hippy stuff but trust us on this - the softly gently approach, the little bit of taking care, the daily fabbing, really does pay dividends.

The fabbing of, not only ourselves, but also our homes and environments, seems to encourage us to take a good look at our wider world and make the changes we need.

That could be jobs, relationships, friends whatever. The "Fabbing" is just a stepping stone to greater things. It gives us courage, faith in ourselves and confidence.

Today I've been to physic - feeling so much better these days. I have been doing my physic homework faithfully every day. As soon as the weather improves I will be walking every day too. Need some new comfy walking shoes first - noticed yesterday that my normal everyday walking shoes have sprung a leak.

DS2 off today so we've planted up the trees I bought the other day - just a couple of small ones left to go into large pots - will do them tomorrow.

Lizzie - hope you hear from DWP soon - just keep chasing. Agree with LW - keep copies of everything and I know it costs more, but I always send it recorded delivery too.

On one of my "progress calls" a few weeks ago the guy was about to fob me off saying they had not received my form. I told him that I had in fact sent it recorded delivery. He asked me to hold the line, came back with 10 seconds and said "Oh yes, it's here". :rotfl:

I think they just try delaying tactics. I think it's best to give them no excuses.

Yesterday I chased them because although they had written to me on 27th March confirming that they had awarded me ESA, I had still not received any money. I was told that they would look into it. I rang them again today and lo and behold the money will be in my bank on Tuesday.

If I had not rang yesterday how much longer would they have taken. I think you just have to keep badgering away. Frustrating I know but I don't know what else to suggest.

PP - Good luck with the moneymaking. Multiple Income Streams are definitely the way forward. They may not make you a fortune but they mean you always have that extra cushion to soften the bad times.

As you can see from my signature I'm doing ok at the moment. It's all dribs and drabs but it does mount up. I've also gone back to keeping a spending diary and trying to curtail the grocery spends.

Like WW - I'm on a mission to save and/or make as much as I can. Preferably both. I'm determined to have a nice holiday next winter.

Picked up some "stock" to sell this morning, some ceramics and a silver plated "Georgian" style tea pot which was filthy but will clean up nicely. £4 the lot. Should fetch £20 to £25 on a good day.

I have a couple of large wicker hampers where I keep my "stock" all cleaned, repaired and neatly wrapped in readiness. Every so often I weed them out, auction what is "hot" (yes even antiques go in and out of fashion) and keep the rest until the market is ready for them.

Obviously I'm not trading yet because I am claiming benefits. However there's no harm in snapping up a few bargains and putting them to one side until I'm ready to start.

Once my pension kicks in, then I will not be claiming benefits and I will be able to get a little part time job and run a couple of little sideline business.

"Next year Rodders - we"ll all be millionaires"........:rotfl::rotfl:

In the meantime - it's off to cook dinner and then tackle the ironing pile.

Keep Fabbing.

lessonlearned

lizzie157 wrote: »

LW -Lizzie before I ever send anything to DWP or any other Gov't agency, I always scan it and keep a copy on the computer; then when they lose it, it's easy to just print out another and send it with a covering note - "here's a copy of what I sent you on X date, for your convenience, as you seem to have misplaced the original":D

Good idea LW. I don't have a printer though so it would mean a trip to the library but I think it would be well worth it. Phoned them this afternoon - less than productive phone call and wasn't too impressed with the bloke who answered the phone :mad:. Talk about treated like s**t. Like I've said before could so easily turn the air blue but must be polite.:o

'The friend' text again today as I hadn't replied (no credit). From the tone of the texts I'd say she's upset with me but not really sympathetic to what I'm going through atm. It does get me to wondering if it is me that's at fault but the overwhelming fact is that I felt ok before the texts ( alright I'm not over the moon I've got problems atm but as good as I could be considering), and after the texts I felt upset ( I was nearly in tears) at the lack of empathy. I mean would it have cost her to say " you sound like you could do with a break why don't you come up nxt mon/tue??" or whatever but it's my turn to invite her here so nothing. Again could so easily have told her to sex and travel tbh. Told her how the bloke on phone made me feel like a worthless piece of S**t the way he spoke to me and ended the text with "see you" and all I got back was "ok" x
I know if I had other friends I could count on I wouldn't be bothering with her. Thing is before her OH got his current job she wasn't like this - it's like the money has changed her - or again maybe it's me - I don't know.:(:(


Anyway sorry for the wallow just needed to get it off my chest.:o

Hi Sweetie - posts crossed.

Just hang in there - keep on and on at DWP. I know it's hard but sooner or later they'll cave in.

Re the "friend" try not to let it bother you too much. The "friend" I mentioned is exactly the same - she was extremely rude to me because I hadn't returned her call immediately - it was whilst I was in the middle of transferring OH to his nursing home.

I calmly told her I simply hadn't had time, I was up to my ears in stuff with the transfer and I was feeling dreadfully unwell. "Oh" she replied. "I didn't know your OH was that bad".

No of course she didn't - because she had never bothered to find out, offer any kind of help or even pick up the phone for a chat.

Seriously - if your so called friend makes you feel that bad - forget her, let go. Friends don't do that. And no - it's not your fault that she cannot empathise. She's not a friend - she's an acquaintance. She plainly doesn't know how to be a friend.

When you are ready, feeling good and strong, secure in yourself - then will be the time to get out and about, making new friends and rebuilding your life. Good friends will find you - all in good time.

In the meantime, just take care and enjoy your family - they love you.

WelshWoofer

Lizzie - I found two groups through this site www.meetup.com You put your postcode in and they'll tell you what's around near you. Might be worth a go?

Actually haven't done much this afternoon - fell asleep on the sofa for an hour and a half which is not like me - must have needed it. Just walked the pooch and about to do tea and finish the hoovering. I have made an inventory of what's in the freezer and cupboards though and have decided not to do a food shop this week apart from a few bits from the greengrocers - I'll use up what's in - that will save me around £30. I'm often guilty of going shopping just because its "shopping day" not because I really need to:o

LameWolf

*Wanders in, kicks off shoes, groans in relief at getting instruments of torture off feet, slings coat on chair, thinks better of it and puts shoes and coat away tidily, and flops onto sofa*:D

Been into town.... posted some stuff, bought stamps, dumped dead strimmer off at tip, banked cheque, made abortive visit to B00ts (they didn't have what I wanted):(, got Mr LW tidied up at barbers, and went clothes shopping - not for me I hasten to add; we got two pairs of trousers and a new waxed coat for Mr LW, for £130 for the lot.;) He's awkward to buy trousers for as hardly anywhere round here stocks 29" inside leg, so when we found some he grabbed them quick! And his old coat, 20+ years old, is falling apart. So all in all, a productive afternoon, but oh boy, am I cream crackered now!:eek:

Service and MoT for the motor tomorrow, so we'll be up at stupid o'clock to get to the garage by 08:30. If I'm feeling well enough, I'll see if Mr LW will let me drive.:eek: So if you're planning to be on the road between MK and Northampton early tomorrow, Be Somewhere Else!!:D

fedupandskint

Planned a good day for tomorrow by arranging to meet up with a friend for a coffe and walking to town and back. Hoping to get out on the bike tomorrow for a jaunt to drop off a present and have a cuppa

Time for a deep cleanse and moisturise then an early night to try and ward this cold off

maman

fedupandskint wrote: »

Planned a good day for tomorrow by arranging to meet up with a friend for a coffe and walking to town and back. Hoping to get out on the bike tomorrow for a jaunt to drop off a present and have a cuppa

Time for a deep cleanse and moisturise then an early night to try and ward this cold off

Have a good day sparkles. I've been meaning to ask how your garden is doing?

ww, I thought of you this evening when I was walking past Aldi. Do you have one near you as veg is really cheap there. I've become a convert to Aldi and Lidl recently. It all helps save a few pennies.

LW, wow! that was some day you've had. Good that Mr LW is all kitted out and if he gets the same wear from his new coat as his old one then it's money well spent!

Pod, hope tonight's choir gig went well.

Lizzie, glad you had a good day in York and well done for making the effort. It is difficult with teenagers as they know about money. It's not like little ones. It must be very hard for you having to tell them you can't afford much. Finances sound really tight for you at the moment.

On the subject of friends: to be honest, I know loads of people that I socialise with but have never really been one for close women friends. The couple that I do have, I've realised that the dynamics of the friendship go up and down like a seesaw. I don't mean that in a dramatic way but that one leans while the other leads and vice versa. I have to say that I'm usually the strong one (outwardly at least) but when I was going through my 'bag lady' phase I was grateful for any invitations, calls etc. I don't think anyone meant to sideline me, I just felt bad about myself and they were really busy with life. If I were you, I'd contact your 'friend' and just take it as it comes. Just enjoy a bit of a chat or a night out but don't expect too much.

'night all.

fedupandskint

Morning everyone.

Up and about early to get some washing out and make sure I look sparkly for my trip into town.

Maman - unfortunately the garden is taking a back seat while I am fighting my way through lots of assignments. Hoping to do a bit of a tidy up next weekend and plant a few seeds as I 'm very behind this year. Damn this masters!

Mind you, it is very cold here still so maybe not a bad idea to not plant anything yet

WelshWoofer

Maman - yes i have 2 Aldi stores near me, in fact I'll probably go to one today for a bit of fruit. Funny isn't it,that even though we don't really "know" each other that we know a lot about each other! Only the other day I was thinking about LL whilst out and about buying a cheap pair of jeans and a Tshirt in the sales (would LL approve of the burnt orange colour of the Tshirt rather than the black I originally picked up?) and I had a dream that LW was going to look after my dog when I go on holiday!:rotfl:

Just back from the park with the dog- its a lovely day here so far. Going to jump in the shower do a body and face scrub and then head into town to buy a few bits and some of the dreaded hair dye:eek: to make me presentable again before I go back to work.
Then I MUST finish the cleaning and do some schoolwork. I won't be watching the Grand National - I hate it, its so cruel and pushes the beautiful creatures too hard - how people can justify a race that regularly kills the horses is beyond me:(:mad:

I did go a bit mad last night and book an "abseiling for the terrified" day - its not until the beginning of June so I have plenty of time to prepare myself! Talk about life begins at 40 (or a midlife crisis begins at 40!)

lizzie157

LL - thanks for your kind words they really touched me. I know I shouldn't let it bother me and I am working on that I suppose I'm just having a blip. Its good to hear that things are improving for you and you are feeling so much better.

WW- I have tried the meetups site and gumtree, but there is nothing that doesn't involve a trip to the nearest city and as I don't drive it's difficult. Just now I couldn't afford the activities (unless they were free) or the fares to get there. When I'm feeling stronger I have thought that maybe I could start something a bit more local perhaps - its an idea but just now I don't think I'm in the right place mentally but thanks for the idea.

Maman- If I were you, I'd contact your 'friend' and just take it as it comes. Just enjoy a bit of a chat or a night out but don't expect too much.
Thanks Maman but atm I would struggle to do this. We only ever visit each other for a cuppa, any mention of doing anything else, even a coffee in town, just never happens. She'll say yes but later finds an excuse and it never happens. That I can cope with but it's the lack of understanding of how I struggle with low mood (she knows I've had counselling), and my financial situation. Maybe she's just fed up of me being up and down. I don't know. All I know is that when I first got to know her she didn't make me feel like this and it was after my OH went onto incapacity benefits, so all the time I've known her I've had struggles.(though admittedly I bounced back). I have always been there for her, kept in touch when she was having problems, helped in any way I could. She just hasn't been there when I've needed the same, I've been in tears at her house over stuff but the next time there's been contact there's no " how did you get on? Are you feeling any better?" As I've said it may be me, but I think LL 's right anf friends shouldn't make you feel like that so for now I am backing off. In the future I may feel differently I don't know. Now I must concentrate on mine and my families well being.
Sorry this was meant to be a short post and I've ramled again .
Just wanted to say thankyou to you all :T:T. I may not have RL friends I can rely on but being able to offload on here has been a godsend.:) x

lessonlearned

WelshWoofer wrote: »

MamanI did go a bit mad last night and book an "abseiling for the terrified" day - its not until the beginning of June so I have plenty of time to prepare myself! Talk about life begins at 40 (or a midlife crisis begins at 40!)

Wahoo:T:T

Are you looking to switch careers - are you sure you are not secretly planning to join the SAS. :rotfl:

BTW Yes the burnt orange t-shirt would meet my approval - it's a great colour if you can take it. Being a "Deep Autumn" it flatters my colouring - black makes me look death warmed over.

DS1 does the BMF training (British Military Forces) real SAS stuff - he loves it - but then as I've mentioned before he is a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He's off to Wales this weekend doing something crazy and dangerous as usual. I just have to trust him.

Speaking of fitness - I am in agony today. My physic gave me a real pounding yesterday - I feel like I've done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Still no pain, no gain. The soreness will ease off in a day or so. She did say she could tell I'd been doing my exercises - she said my hip was much better and I wasn't dragging my leg any more. Getting there.:)

Lizzie - chin up Pet. Doing something nice today, just potter about, watch a nice DVD - a comedy to make you laugh. Just keep going. In the words of the old George Harrison song "All Things Must Pass" - told you I was just an old hippy at heart.

I know it might not seem exactly exciting (certainly not in the same league as abseiling:rotfl:) but is there a Women's Institute near you. Shouldn't cost too much. These days the WI is very trendy - not all "Jam & Jerusalem".

My house is a tip but I'm just too sore and stiff today. I'm off to see OH later, good job the car is fully automatic otherwise I would struggle to drive today. I can just point and go - watching my speed of course!!!!

Maman - glad to see you back. How was Devon. Which reminds me ............

Carmen, Mrs W where are you - are you ok.

Sparkles - agree about the gardening. It's bright here but very cold. I think probably too cold for seeds and tender plants anyway. Tomorrow's forecast isn't great either.

Have a good day.