Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

doingitanyway

Good to have an update. I missed your posts.

WFH and deferring retirement sounds like a plan. It will be easier anyway as you know you will be going.

It is hard to concentrate on personal goals such as diet when so many changes are taking place. I'm sure you'll be back on track in no time.

Scotland in the NY will be something wonderful to look forward to. 

milann

Here’s to Scotland in the New Year. It’s good to have you back.
Don’t be too hard on yourself about the diet....it seemed very extreme....I couldn’t have done it. Concentrate on keeping the stone off and losing the rest slowly when and if you can 👍

Seasidegal58

Thanks guys - I'm consoling myself with the thought that at least I haven't wasted the cost of the shakes as they were still used. 

I've just got back from brunch with my friend - vegan breakfast and very nice it was. I paid this week and she'll pay next. Still teeming with rain though and I got blown down the street as well!  Feels very wintry and chilly today. ☔️☔️☔️💨💨💨
Other social things I've done over the past month - managed to keep up at least one meet-up for coffees with my pal during the week days to help me sanity wise otherwise it's all work!  

I had a really nice evening out a couple of weeks ago - it was a friend's significant birthday so six of us went out for a meal. I wrote about this friend some months ago as she was diagnosed with throat cancer - she's been a real fighter and has come out the other side - unfortunately she can't speak but we can read her lips. We went to her favourite local Indian restaurant as she finds it easier to eat soft things such as dahl, etc. We had a great time -and she was so generous - we didn't realise it but she paid for us all whilst we were nattering. Unfortunately she has since had a fall in her garden and has had to have a pin put in her hip and carers will be going in to her for the next six weeks. We all are so upset that she has now got to go through all this as well. ☹️

I also had a lovely catch up with a another friend over lunch last week - I hadn't seen her since February. . She brought her little boy along - he's nearly four and every one keeps saying he looks like Prince George!  He was so good - he brought along his toy bulldozer to put together and my friend gave him a toy catalogue to look over to keep him quiet as well. I said I remember that I used to love looking through the winter edition of my mum's Littlewood's catalogue when I was a child as it had all the Christmas toys for sale. She said the difference now was that we would look at them and get just one as a main present - now the kids look through and point out all the stuff they already own - or that their friends own!  Too true I think!🤣
And I had a day off and went up to the City to have my hair done - met one of my besties for lunch who again I hadn't seen since the New Year. She lives in East London so quite near the City. One of London's famous long-standing restaurants began opening branches throughout the UK a couple of years ago so we treated ourselves and booked into the City branch. I thought it might be quite empty but it was packed and buzzing. Meal and wine was delicious and we had a lovely natter. 

I was also surprised on how busy the City was. All the shops were open and there was quite a few people about - even though it was lunchtime I was surprised on how many had obviously gone back to working in the office. 

I also found that my rail line now sells something called a Senior Rover ticket for those 65 or over. It cost me £10 for a day return as long as you travel after 09.30. Worked out cheaper than the usual cheap day return so handy now that I don't have a season ticket. 😀
Have ironing this afternoon - started watching new series on Netflix called Emily In Paris - if you liked The Devil Wears Prada you'll probably like this. Apparently the French are up in arms about it because of 'French stereotypes' but I've found it easy, escapist entertainment with great clothes (made by the people who created Sex and the City). 👠👜👡🧤 Ooh la la!😀

milann

Sounds like you’ve had some lovely outings.....we’ve got a local lockdown and I’ve really missed meeting up with friends.I’m not too bad as I still see ds as he is in our bubble and I see dh and the nurses are coming out everyday atm.....it must be hard for those who live alone.
It’s surprising the city is busy - the news portrays it to be deserted. I do wonder what the media sees fit to report sometimes 🙄😳

Seasidegal58

Hi milann - thanks for your post - funnily enough I've just been catching up with your diary and have posted. 

Re the City - yes I was surprised with the amount of people. I went into the large M&S near my office and the food hall was really busy!  However the clothes and beauty sections seemed to have shrunk significantly!

Sun_Addict

Sounds like you’ve had some lovely catch ups. Sorry to hear about your friend having a fall after all she’s been through, she must be so fed up. Hopefully she’ll be back on her feet soon.

Glad you’re ok and looking forward to reading your updates x

Seasidegal58

Thank you SA - my other friend has been to visit her and says she is comfortable and much happier now she is out of hospital and in her own home. I'm hoping to get over to see her in the next week or two. 

Today was the usual busy, busy work day. Also had a mandatory online training session and test but have got that done and dusted with. 

I popped out lunchtime - had to buy stamps, post some cards, and pick up a couple of bits in the Co-op.  Weather has been very changeable today, dark skies and rain one minute, sun the next. At least the wind has dropped and it's been quite mild.
 

SSG Clothes and Beauty Update
Update from beginning of last month - clothes wise I've not bought anything as hoping to fit in next size down clothes quite soon !🤞. I did take some winter things to the dress agency last weekend - grey faux fur trimmed M&S cape, Dent black leather gloves (present - too small), two tops and a silver pendant. Waiting to hear if they accept them. 

Beauty wise - nothing much to report here as well - usual periodic hair, nails and pedicure. Apart from the usual toiletries I bought the new No 7 retinol night cream to try as I needed a new night cream and it was on offer. Haven't noticed much of a difference so far though!🤣. 

I had £25 left on a Space NK gift card so thought I would try the new Charlotte Tilbury mascara that has had good reviews. It was nice but didn't think it was as good on me as the Benefit one I usually buy. And it seemed to smudge a bit.   But I'll use it  - it only ended up costing me a couple of quid including the postage as I had the gift card. 😀

Sun_Addict

I’ve been a tester for the Beauty Bible for a few years and have tested a fair few very high end products and some not so high end. I can honestly say I haven’t yet come across anything that’s particularly earth shattering. I love Benefit mascara. Have you tried their primer underneath mascara it makes your lashes really long and thick? They were selling it on a Jet2 flight a couple of years ago and I commented how good it was, I should’ve been on commission, every other female passenger was buying it 🤣

milann

🤞for fitting into smaller clothes soon 👍

doingitanyway

I'm surprised the City is so busy. You wouldn't think so to hear the news.
Sorry about your friend. Life can be so unfair sometimes...
Catching up with your friends and getting your hair done sounds good. It is nice to have some normality back.