Frugal Frump to Fab-u-lous Dharrrrrrrling Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

maman

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Morning all!
Its very quiet here this week - where are you all?


I picked up a book called the Rough Guide to Wales at the library and am now toying with the idea of going away for a few days during the Easter holidays. Only to Snowdonia - nowhere tropical. I've found a nice hotel that has a great midweek offer on at £35 a night for me and the dog so its not going to break the bank.
Was thinking about just doing a bit of walking and having a change of scene to give me something to look forward to.
Will mull it over today and maybe book it later if the idea still appeals.

Hope everyone has a good day.

I've been very remiss about posting lately:o but I do keep up with the thread as best I can. Sending hugs to all!:)

I noticed in my paper today that Rhossilli came third in the list of 10 best European beaches. There's so much to see in this country that we overlook. I'd book that holiday if I were you ww. I'm hoping to fit in something in the spring.

Maintaining my fabbing and still managing a bit of decluttering too. When I was in the city last week (remember when we had sun;)) I did browse at some spring clothes. Strangely my mse mindset is more about how I can accessorise/resurrect stuff I've got, to make it look current, rather than wanting to buy loads of new stuff. What I did do was buy a couple of new bras in TKMaxx. When I lost weight I changed size so I went to be measured properly. I did buy one expensive full price bra but since then I check TKMaxx whenever I can for my size. Generally I'm paying £8-10 for brands that I know cost £25-30. I think it makes a huge difference to how I feel and the look of clothes.

:wave:

[Deleted User]

Just back from Mr T where I have bought a selection of nuts, seeds and dried cranberries to make my own healthy snack box to take to work. I am quite looking forward to getting started on them. I really need to start getting organised with food to take to work for snacks and lunch. This is part of my fabbing too.

Tonight I am going to my first ever craft class at my local community centre. I am looking forward to it. It is one night in the week that will be set aside for just me with no school work to do!

lessonlearned

Hello Everyone

Not much news this end. Have been having a quiet couple of days just catching up with myself. Tuesday's marathon at the hospital just about wiped me out. It's been so cold I've not wanted to do much at all.

Hopefully I will have an energy burst tomorrow.......:rotfl:

PP - couldn't help but laugh about the women who is leaving your office - cheeky madam.

WW - sounds like a wonderful idea to get away for a mini break.

Maman - I keep threatening to lash out on some new undies, especially bra's. I'm quite ashamed of mine at the moment:o

Hi Carmel - welcome aboard.

Allie - I have made a real effort too this week to eat healthily. I don't know if I've lost any weight but I certainly feel better for it. My tummy is happier too.

Fab Friday tomorrow

WelshWoofer

Had a nice windfall today - mum gave me a cheque for £5000 left to me by my grandparents. I wasn't expecting anything at all but the sale of their house (the one that was rented after my gran moved into a nursing home) has been completed and apparently my lovely grandparents had left me the money in their will after the house had been sold.
Made me happy and sad at the same time - my nan and bampi were fabulous people and I loved them both to bits so its a lovely surprise tinged with sadness.

I'm going to put the whole amount away in an ISA or bond (will have a proper look at them before deciding) as part of my emergency fund which is now up to just over £8000 :j (was aiming for £5000 for a rainy day never-to-be-touched-unless-absolutely-necessary-dire-straits type account, in addition to my other savings accounts for everyday saving, holidays, redecoration etc).

That would have made my grandparents happy as they were very prudent with money and it takes the pressure off me a little now I'm a single person running a house alone.:)

podperson

That's lovely WW - so nice to think they're still 'looking out' for you. Probably prudent to save - though maybe take a tiny bit for a nice treat that you could think of them when enjoying? x

WelshWoofer

Thanks Pod.
I think that I'll book the couple of days away and use some of the money from salary that I would have saved to make sure I don't scrimp whilst I'm away. So not only have the grandparents (god bless them) given me a little nest egg, they have given me a month off saving and a little holiday as I won't feel guilty about not saving next month as I'm putting a big wodge of cash away in the bank. :beer: Thanks Nan and Bamp xx

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone

Hope you remembered it's Fab Friday.

I'm neatly dressed, hair styled but not too over the top - I'm only doing a tip run today and then nip to the local shops - the diamonds and pearls don't need to come out today:rotfl::rotfl:

Actually it was our 30th (pearl) wedding aniniversay a couple of weeks ago, we didn't do much because OH was ill. I've told himself that he owes me some pearls so we'll go shopping when the weather is better.:D

WW - how lovely that your Grandparents thought about you. As PP said they are still watching over you. Bittersweet I know, but it was a lovely gesture.

My husdband's father did something similar for me last year. According to him it was a "token gesture" - a payment on account from his estate - thankfully he's still very much alive.

It may have been a token gesture to him, but it was a very generous £10K and I have to say it was a lifesaver at the time because at that point I was really struggling.

Anyway this morning I got up early and got into "organisation mode".

It's now time for Stage 2 of my masterplan - ie get mum and dad moved into more suitable accommodation. Ideally I would like it done sooner rather than later because they are really struggling and I definitely want to do this before I attempt my own next house move.

So.............I have booked 2 estate agents for valuations of their property and also booked a preliminary viewing on a new property for them. I will do all the preliminary leg work so that I can draw up a small shortlist. I've also got another meeting with their solicitor to finalise POA's etc.

Dad wants everything sorted and up to date. Very wise of him.

I'm more or less going to have to do everything for them now as far as "officialdom" is concerned although my sister will pitch in too.

TBH my sister already does the lions share of the day to day organising , shopping etc so I'm quite happy to do the big one offs such as sorting out housing, legal niceties etc. After all it's what I'm good at!!!

I've already also done one set of exercises this morning - so today has got off to a cracking start. Hopefully will manage a second go later.

But first - time to load the car and head off for the tip.

So Rock'n'Roll :rotfl::rotfl:

floss2

Hope you find somewhere suitable for your parents LL - I'm sure they will appreciate their lives being made easier, despite the upheaval

lessonlearned

Not sure.

In his more practical moments I know Dad is up for it but I'm afraid Mum is finding it all very difficult to accept.

However, to be honest she will not be part of the equation for very much longer. She will have to go into care at some point in the not too distant future because her mental faculties are deteriorating fast and dad is finding it increasingly difficult to cope. In reality it's now about making sure that dad will be ok when he is left on his own.

I think I've found the perfect property though. A ground floor flat in a small warden controlled sheltered housing complex - only 19 properties in all, nice and quiet, with a little stream running through the communal gardens.

It is in the same village where my sister lives, a 5 minute drive for me. At the moment he still drives but there are plenty of shops, banks, library, doctors, dentists, optician etc all within easy walking distance/mobility scooter distance when the time comes.

Enough to enable him to remain independent for some time to come and yet with the added bonus of a house manager on call and a safe and secure environment.

I could certainly live there quite happily when the times comes.

We will do everything we can to make it as seemless as possible but at their age it's going to be a massive upheaval for all that.

Anyway time for my second lot of exercise, and then a nice healthy dinner.

fedupandskint

Thanks for all the get well wishes x

I went back to work on wed, long long day yesterday and early finish today thankfully and altho' I felt mega tired all day AND read the wrong amount on the petrol pump - stupid! - do feel better and back to normal.

Busy busy after work cleaning, tidying, long winter chilly dog walk and then back for hard work shred.

Planning an early night to get some rest