Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

lessonlearned

Good afternoon lovely ladies.

What a lovely day, I had feared I would come home to rain, fog, sleet and bitterly cold winds but it's lovely here today. I've been for a walk and have some washing on the line.

First of all sorry to hear do many of you are struggling to cope with work related issues. The world of work seems a very difficult place these days - stress, insecurity, overly high demands from customers, unreasonable bosses. I feel for you all.

I'm currently having a little rest with Stray Cat curled up beside me. He's physically recovered from his surgery although has a slight limp and some stiffness, but the poor little thing does seem to have had the stuffing knocked out of him. Hopefully he will get back to his old self in due course.

I'm a bit tired after my long journey yesterday so just having a couple of quiet days. Lots of washing and of course a pile of mail to deal with. I've opened it all and dealt withthe most urgent.

Ok now the cruise report.

What can I say - it was fab.....:D

The ship, the food, the weather, the Atlantic was like a millpond and even the Bay of Biscay was calm. So no seasickness or tummy problems. :T

Loved the West Indies, but my favourite places were Madeira and Lisbon. I would love to revisit both and spend more time there. I'm in no great hurry to revisit th Caribbean just yet, maybe one day but would rather visit some new places first.

I met some fabulous people, and exchanged contact details with several ladies so hopefully a couple of new friends there. I have had invitations to visit a couple of ladies who I seemed to build up a very good rapport with, so hopefully that will be on the agenda for next year.

I had lots of fun times, plenty of good laughs and have some very fond memories.

The food was good and for the main part I found it very easy to stick to my paleo way of eating, although of course I allowed myself a few treats and indulgences - after all one really should try the different "cocktail of the day":rotfl:

I can thoroughly recommend cruising as a good way to travel for singletons. You are very safe and very well looked after.

I treated myself to a couple of treatments in the ships spa - a couple of full body massages and a pedicure. My toenails are currently painted a very fetching shade of Chinese Red. I love it, very decadent.

I thoroughly enjoyed people watching. Some ladies were very elegant, some were decidedly frumpy.......some of the men looked dreadful. What is it about the average British male over a certain age, bad hair cuts, dreadful teeth, beer bellies.......and of course who can resist an overweight male wearing socks and sandals.....:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I only went on a couple of the ships excursions - most of the time I teamed up with people from off the ship and we just did our own thing. Much cheaper. And of course you get to do exactly as you please.

I did a lot of My Christmas shopping, some lovely knitwear for the lovely M and my boys from Madeira, some pretty jewellery for my sister, niece, M and of course a little something for myself. Lots of spices, cooking sauces, pure vanilla etc for stocking fillers, some very loud colourful shirts and t shirts for the boys.

On Antigua I spent a very happy afternoon drinking beer with a couple of Rastafarian Disc Jockeys who made up compilation CDS of reggae music. Don't worry I wasn't at risk, there was another lady with me and anyway the guys were pure gentlemen - no funny business.

At each of the islands we made a point of "going native" - (yeah mon, easy - no problem!!!!!) and I've discovered the joys of real Caribbean food. Will definitely have to buy myself a good recipe book and get cracking with those spices.

We went to one restaurant, looked like a right dive from the outside but the food was fantastic - and dead cheap. I think we were the first white tourists to set foot in their restaurant because they asked if they could take our photo.......probably for marketing purposes. Lol.

On the way back I decided to do something productive with my time on some of the "at sea" days. I have starts writing my memoirs - about half way through......

I really have had the most wonderful time. As you know I as a bit nervous but I needn't have worried. I had a couple of melancholy moments when I missed my husband - of course I did - I guess I always will but I can truthfully say that the holiday has been a turning point for me.

Whilst I will always hold my husband in my heart, the holiday finally helped me put all the sadness behind me. I went out a widow and came back a singleton, having finally shed the mantle of grieving widow.

I can now look forward with hope and enthusiasm to a new beginning.

No I'm not about to look For a new man, I am perfectly happy as a singleton. If one day I do meet someone special then that would be nice but I can truthfully say single is good........

I have proved to myself that I can cope with solo travel and there is a big wide world out there just waiting to be discovered.

Right now it's back to catching up with myself and planning my future. I've got lots of ideas and plans.

But first.......

It's "Carry on Christmas" - starting with a trip to Chatsworth with the lovely M and the boys on Sunday.

Chatsworth is lovely at Christmas, they dress up the house, this year the theme is "Toad of Toad Hall". So it's view the house, a slap up lunch and then a trip to the farm shop to stock up on Christmas goodies.

Right rest time over, time to crack on.......

maman

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I'm soooo delighted you had a good holiday and it all went as you'd hoped. Madly envious of course.:)


I've had a week in Lisbon and I, too, loved the place. You must go back on a mini break and while you're there take a trip out to Sintra, that's lovely too.


Enjoy Chatsworth, the boys must be delighted to have you home.


Catch up again soon.

indiepanda

Ellsbel wrote: »

**indie** if you don't hear from the date, it's his loss - the least he could've done was offer to carry you home!
As for the ex - it must be hard at times, but now you've taken the first tough step to move on, I'm sure it's best to stick out for the kind of two way relationship you deserve - hope that doesn't come across as too cheeky or intrusive x

Oh, you're right and it's not at all cheeky or intrusive of you to say so.

If the date was worth seeing again he would have texted to find out how I was after the weekend.

And yes, though I miss the ex, I still know I've done the right thing in freeing myself to find someone who puts as much effort into the relationship as I do. I ended up feeling starved of affection despite having a boyfriend, and you just know that's not right.

I pushed off at a sensible hour for a change tonight, home by 6:15, bliss. Think I will get my Christmas tree up tonight - don't have much space so it's a little fake one - and it's super fake, teal blue tinsel. Need to do a bit of fabbing too, manicure and facial coming up.

chanie

llI knew you'd have a nice time. A work colleague goes on holidays by themselves and meets lots of people who are also by themselves. They all have a fab time.

indie enjoy decorations your tree.

I think the fabbing God's were conspiring against me this morning.
1) we are really behind on laundry, so I didn't have much to wear.
2) chose a top which didn't go with my bra.
3) changed top then realised my underarms needed defuzzing (was planning on getting a wax).
4) put make up on then realised I had a laser appointment, so I had to take it off again.

The good news is that the laser hair removal seems to be working well even though it's early days. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos) and am really hairy.

Rummer

LL It is truly lovely to have you back posting and I am delighted to hear that you had a good time and that you are ready for more adventures

Indie It is always hard when someone significant leaves our lives however you are now in the position to meet someone fabulous and to have fun while waiting on their arrival! It is disappointing that your date did not at least text to ensure you are ok, clearly not the one for you.

3forholidays

LessonLearned Welcome back! Glad to read that you had a wonderful time. Hope that this is the start of many wonderful adventures. You wil never forget your beloved husband but carry him in your thoughts as you travel.

Indiepanda Disappointed that the date didn't even text to find out if you were ok. He is definitely not 'the one'.

Floss

LL we spent our honeymoon in Lisbon & near Sintra, and have been back a couple of ti.es. Caiscais on the Lisbon coast is like a Portuguese Nice, lots of beautiful people!

Maisie_M

Hi all

I was wondering if I could join you. It's normally what I do as one of my new year's resolutions but I normally only last a few weeks and it tails off. However I am doing the no buying toiletries thread and this kind of links into this as if I am fabbing myself then I am using up the stash of toiletries that I have - there is logic honestly.

Anyway made a start this week by wearing my foundation. I have always worn eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick but during the summer I took to wearing tinted moisturiser and just did not get back into wearing foundation.

Weight wise I would like to lose 3 stone by the summer as we are off to France and I want to be able to wear nice stuff and to be fit enough with my boys and not hold them back.

Well enough drivel. I am going to have my brekkie now having treated myself to a lie in (very rare event).

lessonlearned

Floss wrote: »

LL we spent our honeymoon in Lisbon & near Sintra, and have been back a couple of ti.es. Caiscais on the Lisbon coast is like a Portuguese Nice, lots of beautiful people!

I always wanted to be one of the "beautiful people" :rotfl:

Maybe now I'm older I could settle for chic and elegant........;)

That's my aim for next year.

I was going to talk about goals etc after Christmas but yes I'm ready to reinvent myself.

Miserable day here, dark, wet, grey but nice and cosy in my little nest. It's so nice to be back in my own bed. Travelling was fun but there's no place like home;)

The washing machine and tumble dryer will be working overtime, I need to finish unpacking and put everything away, having a bit of a sort out as I go.

Then hopefully start wrapping Christmas presents later.

Have a great day, keep warm and dry.......x

sofarbehind

LL I'm so happy you had a great time, it was lovely to read about it. You sound so positive and excited about the future, I'm really happy for you.


Indie you deserve better than an idiot who can't be bothered to check if you're ok. It's good to find out early that someone wouldn't be a good partner so if he does get back in touch make sure you don't see him again. You're doing really well post break up but the odd wobble is to be expected. Take care of yourself.