Frump to Fab 2016 - Lets make it AWESOME!!!

ScarlettMcCain

PS are you going to this, indie? I would love to but it's OH's birthday weekend, what bad timing when I have no social life at the moment!!

https://www.ents24.com/london-events/o2-forum/star-shaped-festival/4885224

indiepanda

Rubyslippers77 wrote: »

PS are you going to this, indie? I would love to but it's OH's birthday weekend, what bad timing when I have no social life at the moment!!

https://www.ents24.com/london-events/o2-forum/star-shaped-festival/4885224

Yes I am, such a shame it clashes - I take it your OH isn't a fan?

chanie

My sofas were delivered today. The children are obsessed with the electric reclining on them, but we may unplug them so they they don't get broken. When the sofas arrived, I put a new rug in the living room and it really completes the room. I'm feeling very MSE about the rug - I'd bought it in the sales for a house that we nearly bought, but then pulled out of. The rug didn't match the decor of the house we ended up in, but works now we have decorated.

Tomorrow we are off to the shopping centre to meet the bearded man who wears red. It's going to be heaving, but we aren't going to hang around for too long.

chanie

Today has been spent preparing for Christmas. We went to visit Santa today at Westfield. As soon as we walked into the room, Santa said the children's names and they were very excited!!! We've just finished decorating the tree and wrapping some presents. I buy throughout the year and I make a note of what I've bought and for whom, as I found a couple of items that I'd forgotten about.

lessonlearned

Hello lovely ladies.....

Meat in The slower cooker, veggies prepped, just about to write the Christmas cards and maybe start wrapping the presents.

Not got the tree yet - I do like a real one and I like to try and buy them in a pot so we can plant them outside afterwards. Next week I will pop into the garden centre where DS2 works so I can advantage of his staff discount.

This is my third Christmas without my late husband. It's getting easier.

I now find my thoughts turning to the new year, thinking about my future. Now that dad is also dying I will have had three deaths in as many years, and as I will be 66 next year it does tend to rather focus ones mind. I feel like time is catching up with me.

I feel that my "real" retirement hasn't actually got going yet, that I have been in some strange kind of limbo. Still grieving and not really living in the present.

I definitely need to change that next year.

Time doesn't stand still - I need to get a wiggle on whilst I still can.

Tick tock.

chanie

LL it's funny that you seem to have such a different perspective about your retirement than from how you post. I've always thought that you seem to have a lovely time, with lovely sons, lots of trips and of course, fabbing.
I would have thought that many retired people feel similar to you. My Mum is a similar age to you and her and other family members are starting to retire and they are all saying that they are busier than ever. There's helping out with the grandchildren, plus medical appointments for declining health etc. They literally aren't stopping.

Like you, I've also been thinking about my future and 2017. Here is a quick run down

The lows first (so I can end on the highs)

Haven't made any progress on my overdraft (although our finances have only recently improve me since DD started school in September).

Haven't lost any weight either. This is something I really need to work on as a matter of urgency.

Both these things require planning, as I've just tried to take a relaxed approach, which clearly isn't working


The highs

I got lots of nice fabbing treats in 2016 and I know what I like and what suits me.

We decorated two rooms in our house and got new furniture.

Whilst I haven't read the Kondo book, I have adopted the principle of only buying stuff which 'sparks joy'.

Ellsbel

LL I agree with Chanie; your posts are so full of energy and inspiring plans that you never come across as anything less than someone who makes the most of every minute, and who handles whatever life throws at you with gritted teeth and a can-do attitude- even on your low days you always seem to battle through. I hope you get to have some new and exciting adventures in 2017.
The tick tock of the clock has been a theme here today, too, as my mother-in-law applied some emotional pressure over something in a phone call to OH earlier today and I got a bit upset, and was reminded that she's "getting on" - which is true and makes me feel bad about getting wound up - and about feeling that getting old shouldn't necessarily mean you get away with murder!
We lost a family member a few months back who was so loved by all, and the kind of larger than life person that you think will be around for ever. It gives a jolt when you're reminded of time marching on and "stealing" loved ones - it's certainly something I'm becoming more keenly aware of and so I too am trying to make plans for new experiences while I still can.
So my good and bad for this year:

I haven't lost the weight I promised myself I would lose - a little bit in the past couple of months but it could have been much more if I'd not prevaricated over it so much.

I didn't sign up for any courses or join a gym - and I want to change this next year and exercise mind and body!

On the plus side though, - my days are much busier; I'm another who has learned to ask myself if something would really bring joy before wasting money on it, and I've made a habit of moisturising my body daily rather than just my face!
It's all progress

ScarlettMcCain

I hope this Christmas is a lovely one for you LL; like the others have said, your posts come across as full of optimism and plans for the future, but of course we can't always post exactly what we're feeling and in great detail! It's completely understandable if you feel in limbo, each bereavement hits so hard and as soon as you start to recover a little, there's another shock round the corner please know that we're all here for you though.

Your Santa trip sounds amazing chanie! We took the boys to a Santa's grotto today too, they weren't too impressed with the actual meeting (although they did like the toys afterwards!) but the elves' kingdom and toy workshop were beautiful.

Like you and Ellsbel, I'm going to try to make money matters and losing weight priorities for 2017. I've offered some of my redundancy pay to my debt management company to see if they can pay off a chunk of the debt by offering (say) 75% to all my creditors. If they accepted then that would be a real weight off my mind, but on the downside it would use most/ all of my payment :eek:

The weight loss has stalled a bit because if I'm honest, I'm just so flipping tired all the time! Running round after the boys should help me lose weight but I think the biscuits/ cake I consume to give me energy outweigh the exercise not sure how best to tackle that really, I can't see them getting less tiring any time soon, and I am literally exhausted a lot of the time.

I'm very jealous indie!! That music isn't OH's cup of tea at all, and as it's the weekend closest to his birthday, he'll probably want to do something. How annoying, and they're only doing the one London date too, such bad timing!

maman

It's a busy time of the year but good to keep up with what everyone's up to. Loving the resolutions already.


I love the talk of Santa visits, makes me miss having little ones (but not for too long;)).


My skin is responding to the serum and a lot less dry than last week. It was good this morning not to feel that it just soaked up the moisturiser. I'm also trying to keep my water intake up as I think dehydration plays a part.


I've been out for coffee with a friend this morning. We meet up regularly but this time of the year we go to a rather nice country hotel as it feels really festive. I wore my black pencil skirt with opaques and black suede heels and my fine knit red jumper. That's about as close as I get to a Christmas jumper.:xmassmile

Ellsbel

What a lovely idea to have coffee in such nice surroundings, maman
Your outfit sounds lovely and very festive too.
I've got a hair appointment tomorrow and will get my nails done on Friday - I'm going to make sure I've finished wrapping by then so as not to damage them:D
This evening I'll be writing the rest of my cards - I want to be all done with Christmas shopping, pressie buying and wrapping by the weekend.