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

indiepanda

Ellsbel wrote: »

Love reading about your activities, Indie, especially your hiking trips. Do you belong to a club or just arrange them on your own? I'm trying to convince OH to come on a walking break - trouble is his long legs mean I have to run to keep pace with him on my decidedly shorter ones and I end up shattered
x

I belong to a social club called Spice and book my hiking trips through them. I belong to the London branch, but there are a number of others including Bristol, Thames Valley, Manchester, Midlands and Scotland. They all use a small company called Walkwise for hiking trips and there are a number of Spice members who are mainly or even exclusively members of Spice because of Walkwise. Spice is not a singles club, though I think more of the members are single than are not - there were a couple of couples on the last overseas trip I went on though.

They do lots of weekends away in the UK and 2-3 weeks overseas each year. On all their trips they offer a choice of two walks per day so you can decide how challenging you want that walk to be based on how fit you are / how you feel on the day. Plus the level of toughness depends on where the trip is based. So I might do a hard walk in the Cotswolds but the easier walk overseas as the ascent will be less in the Cotswolds and the overseas trips attract some super fit people I can't keep up with on long walks.

I love the fact all the planning is done for me, and as I've done so many of the trips now (5 overseas and I reckon over at least 20 and possibly 30 in the UK) I always find I know someone on each trip I go on now.

I am also planning to check out some of the meet up groups or Ramblers (we have some younger groups in London) for day walks as I don't always want to commit to a whole weekend, especially in winter when weather less predictable. They all seem to do weekends away as well.

Ellsbel

Glad to hear you're feeling more positive shandy, hope things pick up for you and stay that way:)
Thanks for that indie off to have a google of walkwise now:) we do have rambling groups in the area so I'll look at those too - I have to confess to being quite shy - even at my age - so it would be difficult for me to take the step to join a group if it met on a weekday when OH is at work but on the other hand it might be a good thing for me:)
No plans today other than catching up with housework and a bit of a walk.
Hope you all have a good day.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies

Don't forget........Fab Friday.

I Am up early, bathed and fragrant already. No that's not an April Fool.- you heard it right. :rotfl:

Going to pop out to aldi in a bit - still nursing my back but I can at least drive again. Just need to make sue I don't try and carry too much.

Might do a bit more Kondoing later.

It is DSs "stag do" this weekend so I shall have the house to myself. i I will take DIL elect out tomorrow and do something nice other than that no real plans.

Hope you all have a fab weekend.

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

I have booked to see an aesthetician on Saturday. I cannot delude myself any more - my face is definitely lopsided as a result of the cancer surgery and it has gotten worse.

I had to google that as I'd never heard the term. I'd assumed (wrongly) that it was plastic surgery. It'll be interesting to know how they can help LL.


Have a lovely time with DIL elect tomorrow as I'm sure the boys will:).


I'm still full of cold but the feverishness has gone, it's just irritating now:mad:.


I did join in Fab Friday. Usual smart casual as I tend to have an easy day on Friday unless I'm working. I wore skinny dark denim jeans, my navy Jack Wills sweatshirt, tartan scarf and quilted jacket. I wore ballet flats today as the sun was shining to give boots a rest.


DD1 and DGD1 are in New York for a week's holiday but we pick them up on Sunday from Heathrow. Sounds like they're having a great time from the various WhatsApp messages and the weather's been good to them so no need for thermals as they'd anticipated.


ellsbel, I think you should push yourself and go on one of these organised walks. It'll do you good to get out. If you want to start small try googling Health Walks or Walking for Health. There should be some in your area to try. One of my friends leads a local group and it's quite informal.


:wave: to all. Hope you have a lovely weekend.:)

lessonlearned

Good morning

I'm feeling half dead...

Got a call from DIL 11 pm. Someone had hurled a lump of concrete through ds1s car rear window. He's in Wales on his stag weekend.....

Was over there till 3. dealing with police. They were fab, they've got the guy, apparently they caught him doing another one of their neighbours cars an hour or so later.

He had only just been released on bail, so obviously none too bright ........::rotfl:

DIL a bit shaken at first but she's ok. Definitely a keeper that one, she has the fiery Latin temprement and can seem a bit fragile or flakey by phelgmatic Brit standards but underneath she has a core strength and can deal with setbacks without undue flapping.

Nice to see she is made of strong stuff......my baby boy is in good hands.;)

I'm as stiff as a board this morning - going to have a nice long soak in the bath to loosen up.

Still going to see the aesthetician this afternoon. I don't think I need to have surgery. I think they can "rebalance" my face with Botox and maybe fillers. It's worth a try. Anyway it's just a consultation today to see what they Can come up with.

Miserable day here.

maman

How infuriating about DS's car LL. I wonder how it'll affect his insurance as it was malicious. The reason I asked is that my insurance has shot up by almost 50% since last year. I know all insurance has gone up but I'm sure ours is affected because we made a claim back in July. A deer jumped out of a hedge when we where driving back from Gatwick, dented the bonnet and then ran off!:mad:


Where in Wales has DS ventured to?


To report back on my Sainsbury's buys which I managed to try on today: Definitely keeping the 'girlfriend' jeans. These are meant to be rolled up to calf length, which will look good when the sun shines, but nice and straight otherwise. I'll probably keep the joggers which are only intended for around the house. Jury's still out on the denim skirt. It's a knee length pencil skirt with a slit in the front. It's OK but I think I might look around and see what else is about.


I had a mooch around Asda when I went to fill up the car and bought two new bikinis.
http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/swimwear/monochrome-bikini-top/G005289444,default,pd.html


http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/swimwear/stripe-twist-bikini-top/G005335009,default,pd.html


What I like is that they have proper shaped cups and conventional straps. I'm not a fan of halter straps. The tops fit fine so just need to try on the bottoms. I sometimes go for a size larger with those to prevent any hint of muffin top.


So I've made a start on my new holiday wardrobe.;)

indiepanda

Good to hear they caught the guy who damaged your son's car so quickly LL, hope the bath helped with the stiffness.

Maman, sounds like you had a successful shopping trip.

I've been debating whether to get a bikini for my trip to Turkey in May. I really don't like my stomach, but I hate having to wriggle out of a swimsuit whenever I need the loo. Not sure if I can get over my belly anxieties though... got more than just a muffin top... Oh well, I have a few weeks to make up my mind, can always go for last year's swimming costume, it wouldn't be a disaster and would save some money.

Had a nice day out today, went on a walk from Teddington to Wimbledon via Richmond Park and Wimbledon common, was really nice and sunny. Just got home as the rain started so really feel like I made the best of today's weather. Had a nice soak in the bath and got into my pajamas. Nice to have a rare Saturday night at home relaxing. Trying to sort out my hands - been neglecting them a bit lately and broke a few nails so have filed them all short and put some nail envy on them and am slathering on the hand cream. Managed to squeeze in a mini facial before going on my hike this morning so at least my face is feeling nice and hydrated.

lessonlearned

Hello everyone

Well I've booked my procedure.........

The aesthetician was lovely and very professional. He Did a full medical history, so he's fully conversant with my skin cancer and dental problems. Said my surgeon had done a fantastic job and was really impressed with my scar.

He said the misalignment was not too bad - considering how much skin the surgeon had to cut away to remove the cancer - he said he'd seen much worse. In the flesh hardly noticeable until you really looked hard but definitely more noticeable on photos.

Apparently he can realign my face to make it symmetrical again using a threading procedure, so no need for more surgery. Maybe a bit of filler to complete the job. No Botox required. It's quite a simple procedure, can be done under a local, no cutting, no scarring.

I'm nervous but am going to do it. A week on Thursday.

I think the damage to the car might be covered under the windscreen replacement section of the policy and might not affect his no claims duscount, fingers crossed.

They have gone to Cardiff - real male bonding stuff,:rotfl: laser quest, big football game Derby County - v - Cardiff.

Actually it well be quite sedate as stag dos go, lots of sport. They are all in their 30s, all professionals, some married with babies, so they will have fun but it will be "gentlemanly". No strippers or leaving him naked tied to a lamp-post. :rotfl:

Sounds like the summer clothes shopping is going well.

goodnight ladies. Early night for me - I'm done for.

chanie

ll that's good news about your appointment. I'm sure it will all go well and you'll look even more lovely in the wedding photos

Ellsbel

Morning all
**LL** sorry to hear about the car. Hope it didn't spoil your Son's stag trip.
I didn't know what an aesthetician was either! Sounds very positive and exciting; you'll knock 'em out at the wedding:)
**Maman** thanks for tip about health walks:) I've googled and there are a few near me. I'm going to email the group leader for more info later and will take the plunge and join one next week
OH back to work today after a few days off, and DS1 is heading back to uni later. Not sure if DS2 needs Mum's taxi service today yet but at some stage I want to pop to the library and the shops and I absolutely must chain myself to the ironing board for an hour to make a dent in the pile
I have a hair appointment on Friday and can't wait! I'm wearing it in a scruffy up-do today as it's got so long, and I'm beginning to feel like I'm too old for long hair!!
Have a good day fabbers x