Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone.,

Just a quickie........Running late today after staying up till 3 watching the meteor shower - wonderful. Obviously there is a lot of city light pollution here but I still got a good light show. Must have
Been fabulous in the countryside or at the coast looking out to sea.

If you missed it, then you should still get a chance again tonight.

I'm off to Coventry tomorrow for a few days so shall be missing In action......

Have a great week and keeeeep fabbing!!! :rotfl:

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Maman well done on your weight loss. Happy Wedding Anniversary to you and your husband. I hope you are both enjoying your special day together.

Lainey, I hope your eye is okay today. I am glad that you are so pleased with your new haircut and colour.

Allie you have made a great start on your personal fabbing journey

LL you did not sound nasty or paranoid. Sadly you too have just had too many negative experiences with the Benefits system.
Enjoy your time away in the company of your friend.

Chanie, sorry your waxing experience this time around was such a horror story. That particular salon has now lost your custom forever, their loss. I hope you enjoy your upcoming holiday.

I could not go to the cinema/club night last night as health wise I was not up to it. I still get odd days when I am totally aware that I have an 'Enlarged heart' which will inevitably interfere with my planned social life.

The sun is shining again in London, so my mood is more upbeat today. I am getting plenty of rest today, in the hope that by this evening I will feel well enough to return to Karaoke tonight. If not, then I will enjoy my evening at home watching television and reading my current book.

indiepanda

Rubyslippers77 wrote: »

I think we have similar taste in books Lainey - I'm currently enjoying the St Mary's series by Jodi Taylor, have you tried those? Time travel themed and very entertaining! The first one is only 99p on Kindle at the moment if you want to give them a go.

Lovely to catch up on your plans and goings-on indie. I hope you enjoy any dates you have planned I may have missed it, but how did things end up with your 'flaky' friend? I think sugarbaby may be right about my friend, she cancels on me so often that I wonder if actually she can't be bothered to meet up (although if we met at a party or whatever then we would have a great time!); she's suggested meeting up over the bank holiday weekend, we shall see..... she doesn't have kids and I don't think understands how difficult it is for me to arrange things in the first place, I have another couple of friends who have been the same. It made me a bit sad on my birthday actually as none of them made an effort with presents (and it was my 40th!) - I know I can't meet up often, but I do always send birthday cards and buy presents which I know they'll like. LL's comment about women becoming butterflies once their kids go to school and they have more free time was a revelation to me, I definitely think that will be the case for me.

In happier news I've sent the money to my debt charity to (hopefully!!) pay off my debt, they have enough to offer 75% to all my creditors, which with any luck will be acceptable. It would be amazing to finally get rid of that!

Hi Ruby, I love the St Mary's books too, got one on special and then promptly ordered all the rest, such good characters and entertaining plots.

Sorry to hear your friends didn't make an effort for your 40th. I wasn't feeling that like celebrating mine when it happened as I was a week off a court hearing for my then boyfriend's visa appeal after he had been deported. Nonetheless, we did have a good night out - must have been about 10-15 of us out for drinks and then 5 of us (including my sister) went to an indie disco at the Islington Academy. This year I already have tickets booked for 9 of us to go to a 70/80s disco night at the Rivoli ballroom for my 45th birthday, and it's not for 6 weeks yet. But the Rivoli nights sometimes sell out so I figured best to book that turn up all dressed up and ready to dance and not be able to get in. I haven't seen the slightly flaky friend since we were meant to meet up a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't have plans to meet in that time anyway and she's on holiday now so won't be at our group meet up this week. Am not that cross with her, it was just the way she backed out on me rather than the fact she did. I don't expect to have to give someone permission, I expect them to be more adult about it and take responsibility.

I have had three dates in the last week, two with the same guy, one of which was last night. The other guy won't be getting a second date, it was hard enough getting a conversation out of him the first time. I am meeting another guy tomorrow who if he is anything like his emails seem, I am going to get on very well with. But we will see, he is definitely more of an introvert than I am and has no interest in dancing, whereas the guy I was out with last night has done salsa before so I reckon might be up for learning Ceroc with a bit of persuasion. Still, not mandatory for any date to be a dancer - just have to deal with the fact I am and that will mean I will go without them and dance with other guys.

Congratulations on sorting out your debt, that must feel amazing :-)

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

Indie I have no other personal pension. I only had that small amount in the one pension plan and less than 2 hundred pounds in savings. I have a sister who is a HR consultant and she concurred with me that the decision to divide the £4,5000 into a 52 week personal pension is incorrect, as I am not able to retire until I am 67, so technically, this 'small lump sum' has to last me for 12 years not 1 year. Lambeth Council only had the right to divide this 'small lump sum' over 624 weeks not 52 weeks which would be a weekly pension of £7.26 which would not have affected my claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

Yes, that sounds rather more like it - spreading over a longer period makes a huge difference. I would even wonder if you would be allowed to spread it further as in theory a pension is meant to last till the end of your days not just to state retirement age. Good luck with getting your appeal through, sounds like you know what you are doing in challenging them.

maman

Wow indie, you're doing well on the dating front. So pleased for you.:)


You made a good start on the wardrobe allie. What sort of styles do you like? What's staying and what's going?:)


Thanks for the good wishes everyone. We had a great time yesterday for our anniversary.


DH told a friend today that he'd taken me to the theatre and for dinner afterwards. What he really meant was we'd watched a Punch & Judy show then had a fish & chip supper!:D We had a great time just wandering. Fish and chips is the law at the seaside isn't it?;)


I bought myself a dress while we were out yesterday. One of those little indie shops that sells 'stuff'. It's 100% linen and perfect for my sunshine holidays, loose and floaty. £20 in the sale, can't go wrong.


I've booked a hair appointment for later this afternoon just a cut and blow dry. Definitely not having it as short as last time so mainly a tidy up. It's still quite fair from the sun so no need for highlights yet.


I'm also in the process of booking a city break. We enjoyed the Prague/Budapest one so much that this time we're trying Krakow/Warsaw. There's a £200 pp difference in price between the October and November dates I asked about so we're going for November. It'll be colder but £200 would buy a nice warm coat!:D


It's an OK day today, bright but not massively warm.:)

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Indie, you sound as if you are having a great time with the dates you are having. I must admit I do feel a little sorry for date who was the bad conversationalist. Some people just go to pieces on first dates. I hope your next date goes as well as the 2 dates with the other man. I enjoy hearing all about your busy social life.

Maman I am glad you and your husband had such a lovely Anniversary day out to the seaside.

I had to take it really easy over the weekend, because I kept on falling asleep in the daytime due to exhaustion. I did get time to watch the film Hidden Figures and it was an excellent portrayal of the black African American women who were instrumental in ensuring that America's Space Program was a success because they were human 'computers'. It was absolutely fascinating. I would give it 10/10.

I could not go to Karaoke on Sunday night, but I will return at some point, when my health has improved even more.

indiepanda

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

Hello Ladies,

Indie, you sound as if you are having a great time with the dates you are having. I must admit I do feel a little sorry for date who was the bad conversationalist. Some people just go to pieces on first dates. I hope your next date goes as well as the 2 dates with the other man. I enjoy hearing all about your busy social life.

Maman I am glad you and your husband had such a lovely Anniversary day out to the seaside.

I had to take it really easy over the weekend, because I kept on falling asleep in the daytime due to exhaustion. I did get time to watch the film Hidden Figures and it was an excellent portrayal of the black African American women who were instrumental in ensuring that America's Space Program was a success because they were human 'computers'. It was absolutely fascinating. I would give it 10/10.

I could not go to Karaoke on Sunday night, but I will return at some point, when my health has improved even more.

Today's date was a bit of a disappointment - by email he seemed just my type, but in person I just didn't fancy him at all - something about his body language perhaps... or even voice? Saturday's date messaged to say he didn't quite see us as a couple, which was ok with me as I wasn't quite feeling it either - cute and kissable but I couldn't picture him as a boyfriend either.

Decided to take a little break from actively seeking a date as I don't have that long to go before my next overseas trips (go on 9th Sept for just over two weeks with one night at home in the middle) and am quite busy already between now and then, including a long weekend in Edinburgh for the festival. Think I might restart in October - my first weekend back in the country post holiday is already spoken for with birthday and other plans. On my birthday itself we're off to the Rivoli ballroom in Brockley for their 70/80s disco night which is always a good night out.

To be honest, I should really just try flirting with the guys I meet at Ceroc, I'd really like to meet a guy who enjoys dancing. Am just not very good at working out if someone is single and might be interested with a bit of encouragement. At least on a dating site if a guy bothers to message you, you have some sense he finds you attractive!

I really wanted to see Hidden Figures, will have to get hold of it and watch on a rare evening at home. Hope you feel well enough to get back to Karaoke soon.

Belated happy anniversary Maman, glad you enjoyed your trip to the seaside.

chanie

Just a quick one..... I think the Sainsbury 25% off clothing has been confirmed for tomorrow.

chanie

I had a bit of a splurge in Sainsburys today, although I did most of it online this morning, but then I ended up in a store as well. I bought DD a school coat, tights and a dressing gown.

For myself, I've ordered some boots, which I plan to wear to work. As I have a long walk to work, I figured it was better to buy cheapy shoes which are easily replaced. But I'm getting fed up of wet feet when it rains and they get smelly. So, I've decided to try and get a more expensive-but-cheap pair, which are leather, but only £25.

ScarlettMcCain

Thank you for the heads up chanie, I went to Sainsbugs today only to find that that don't do the bras I wanted in my size! Will have a look online instead, our local store is quite small so they don't have a full range.


How disappointing about the lack of a 'spark' indie, but better I think to find these things out quickly rather than email for ages and get your hopes up! Your plans sound very interesting, what lovely things you have planned


I'm a bit upset at the moment; OH & I are supposed to be going to a wedding this weekend, but as his mum & dad will only just be back from hols, I emailed the bride to ask if OH could attend alone if we had no-one to babysit. Turns out she has taken great offence at this, thinks I'm unreasonable for not mentioning it sooner (I didn't know they were going on holiday, it was a last minute booking!) and told me that it was either both of us or neither. Anyhow, I think we have it sorted, MIL will babysit despite being shattered after her very busy hols, but the whole episode has left a nasty taste in my mouth and actually now I'd rather not be going I find social occasions anxiety-inducing enough recently without adding this into the mix, and my confidence is really low as I'm struggling with my weight.


Happy belated anniversary maman and what a great plan about a city break, I've heard that Krakow in particular is beautiful. I went to Prague in March once and it was pretty nippy :eek: I've just been looking at coach holidays as I would love to visit the Black Forest and doing some of the Christmas markets round there, but I think that will have to wait a few years! Will you be there at the Christmas markets time?

Floss

Ruby let bridezilla have her hissy fit, go with OH but leave early enough to go for a quiet drink together on your way home