Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

chanie

I have booked a hairdressers appointment for early March to have a colour. I'm 37, so I'm getting grey hairs and want to cover them. As I only have a handful of grey hairs, I want something low maintenance, so I'm thinking of balayage.

I lost about 1.5lbs this week. I haven't been doing WW strictly, so it's good to see the scales going the right way, particularly as I've had lots of work lunches recently. I do acknowledge I need to focus more though.

I've booked for my laser hair removal tester session too. Plus I have a facial in March, so lots of treatments going on. I rarely get treatments as I don't often have the time (or money) so I have lots to look forward to.

maggiem

LL thinking of you today. I hope the funeral and service go as well as possible.

sukeyboo

Hope all goes as well as it can today LL.

Sorry to have gone AWOL recently - as you may remember my cat was diagnosed with kidney failure by the vet a couple of weeks ago and wasn't expected to live for more than a week to 10 days but he has rallied round and although still poorly his appetite has improved and he is eating by himself and enjoying cuddles on my lap in the evenings

Not too much happening on the 'fabbing' front but have tried to keep up with body pampering (I have been treating myself with my Espa body oil after showering) and working hard on trying to improve my hormonal breakouts on my jawline - it seems to be responding to a bit more TLC

Hope your cold is finally on it's way out Maman

Have a great weekend everyone x

Ellsbel

LL I hope you're ok and that the day went as well as could be expected.
I've just had a call from my Mother, who was seizing the chance to call me to have a massive moan about my Dad, whilst he'd popped out, as she often does . I thought of you, and wanted so much to tell her to stop, and that they should stop the constant bickering and make the most of their time together. Sadly though, Mum doesn't take any kind of criticism very well.
Hope you can start making some plans for you from this point onwards. Take care x

lessonlearned

Ellsbel.....you are so right......I sometimes hear people moaning about their partners and I feel like shaking them.......

I feel like saying if you hate them so much then leave them.

If you love them and they just irritate you then look beyond the silly minor irritations. Look at them properly and remember what you made you fall in love with them in the first place.

If that love is still there appreciate it, cherish it, nurture and protect it, because it so precious and one day it might be gone. Life can turn on a sixpence and we need to appreciate all the blessings that have been showered upon us.

If we don't like what our relationship has become then we should walk away. If we still value it then we should give it our all.

Love is a rare and precious commodity.

If we are lucky enough to be blessed by love we should treasure it before it is snatched away from us and lost forever.

Here endeth the lesson.......... :rotfl:

lessonlearned

Ok so here's the "match report" of the funeral. :rotfl:

As some of you will know my father and I didn't have a perfect father/daughter relationship. It was often strained and In many ways he was a bit of a stranger to me. We weren't close and didn't really have a lot in common. I irritated him and I found him difficult. He had a ferocious temper and I was often on the receiving end.

He doted on my sister and seemed to merely tolerate me. Obviously it was hurtful and I therefore grew to have very conflicted feelings about him. On the one hand he was my dad so I loved him, on the other hand I disliked him intensely because of his harshness.

I eventually came to learn that much of his bad temper and awful behaviour was down to undiagnosed PTSD (he was on active service in WW2 and he struggled in the aftermath). As I got older I did become more forgiving and understanding but unfortunately our relationship never really improved, just too much water had passed under the bridge. I had hoped for a few "Golden Pond" moments before he died, but alas it wasn't to be. We weren't estranged but we weren't close.

I always knew that his death would be problematical for me because I wouldn't be able to feel a natural and pure grief, it would always be tinged with regret for what might have been and what should have been. It was always destined to be "conflicted grief"

So as you can imagine I was not looking forward to the funeral. I even contemplated not going at one point but then I thought not going would probably make me feel worse. It was very difficult but I am glad I forced myself to go.

Anyway we did him proud and gave him a good "send off". We draped his coffin in his old regimental Tartan and a simple white spray and displayed his medals.

His old regiment sent two representatives, one a very handsome young highlander 6ft 5ins tall, very handsome and resplendent in his dress uniform and kilt to help bear his coffin and a Retired soldier nearer to dad's age. He was in dress uniform of Tartan trews, blazer and bonnet, complete with his medals and badges. Very smart. He laid a wreath of poppies on dad's coffin and delivered a very moving eulogy. A couple of other young soldiers of dad's acquaintance and my sons carried his coffin to the strains of Nimrod and we said our final goodbye to "I Vow to Thee My Country".

One of my nieces friends sang "Glory, Glory Alleluiah" the old regimental song. We set up a screen presentation of dad's life to a bit of Michael Buble.

Apparently I looked "very glamourous". :rotfl:

I wore my new dress, black jersey skirt with a cream lace bodice. When I first tried it on I was worried I looked a bit like a baby elephant but on the day with black tights and kitten heels and the help of a good bra and some magic pants it actually looked ok.

It was very cold so I wore my lovely warm cream mohair and cashmere coat (a charity shop bargain) and a bright red pashmina and red leather gloves.

Quite a few people wore splashes of red. My sister wore a bright red coat and her "oriental" dress, dark green silk with colourful flowers and bird patterns. She looked lovely.

So all in all, it went well. Some laughter, some tears, some great speeches and then retiring to dad's favourite pub.

It was very good of his old regiment to rise to the occasion like that. Maybe he was not the best of fathers and at times he was a less than perfect husband but he was a brave and courageous man who served his country and I am glad they saw fit to honour him.

I am now very tired and somewhat drained so for the next few days I am going to take it easy and get some rest.I have finished all dads paperwork so I can draw a line now and look to the future.

I intend it to be a good one............so watch this space....;)

:j:j:j

Ellsbel

LL without wishing to sound too "gushy", your posts today have inspired me:)
Your words on relationships are so true; this is something I'd never say to anyone outside of this board but I think both my parents would have been happier people if they had gone their separate ways years ago:(
But they didn't, and quite often I'll have to listen to one of them moaning about the other, which makes me incredibly sad.
You did your Dad so proud yesterday - sounds like a beautiful send off. You did your absolute best for him despite your difficult relationship, and now you can focus on making exciting new plans for the future.
This is all I can do for my parents - my best. I can't live their lives for them, but I do have to live mine. - I'll listen, visit, do whatever I can for them, but when I put the phone down, or go home, I've got to draw a line and get on with doing things for me.
I really look forward to hearing about your plans - as well as making some of my own;)
Right - need to book a hair appointment and have a soak in the bath before wrapping up warm and going for a long walk. I bought a new nail colour yesterday so will give myself a manicure this afternoon. Have a good day everyone:)

P.S - maman, may the best team win;):) Are you going today?

maman

Thanks for the report LL. It sounds like you did your father proud and the regimental touch sounded just right. Now you can focus on yourself. That's after a good rest!!:A


I'm hopeful my cold is on the way out. Yes, I am off to the game later ellsbel. Who knows, can we pull off a second 'giant' killing in a week?:D


It's not that cold here today so yet to decide whether I'll need thermals.


We went out last night, met up with friends for a quick bite at Wetherspoons and on to a local history talk. Smart casual was definitely right and I wore my black jeans, ankle boots, a green woolly sweater and tartan scarf. Looking around the room it was surprising how many people wear wearing the same 'uniform' but hadn't got it right IMO. I know I bang on about M&S but IMO if you have jeans that are too baggy or a jumper that looks more suitable for gardening or a top that's over embellished it can turn smart into frumpy very quickly.


Had my chiropody appointment yesterday and was mildly reprimanded for not creaming my feet as regularly as I should:o. I've creamed them this morning:D I really must keep it up. Any tips for remembering?

lessonlearned

I dont "do" football as such but do take an interest in what Derby FC are up to. DS1 still has a season ticket but didn't go last night.

It was a big night last night. Anyway apparently we did ok.....a draw but not without honour.

Fingers crossed for you today.

lessonlearned

MAman..... I love the way you people watch. It's a great way to learn isn't it.

Right.....here we go again.

POSTURE .......yes that old hobby horse of mine........:rotfl:

We were talking about dad yesterday. MY sons carried the coffin and
DS1 mentioned that it was "bloody heavy":rotfl:

My dad was not fat, far from it he was always lean and muscular, and did in fact suffer weight loss at the end. I mentioned that despite being 90 he had not shrunk with age. He was still 6 ft. My son said that was because he had such good posture......I guess due to his army years.

Right to the end he still stood tall and straight.

So ladies......if you want to avoid shrinking with age, rounded shoulders and the dreaded "dowager's hump" remember to think about your posture.

A couple of little exercises for you.

1. Next time you stand waiting in a queue take a good look around you and notice how people stand and move. I can guarantee most are really badly slumped, round shouldered, bellies sticking out, shoulders hunched.

2. Try this. Walk down the steet as normal. Notice how people react and respond to you. Now straighten up. Shoulders down and back, tuck that tummy in, lengthen your neck and head up. Now observe how people respond to you. You should notice quite a difference.

Slouching along makes you invisible. Standing straight and tall makes you look more "commanding" and gets you noticed and treated with more respect.

Remember the models and actors mantra.......

"t*ts and teeth Dahhlings":rotfl:

So smile and stand straight.

Good posture is good for your health, it strengthens your spine, reduces neck and shoulder tension, helps you digest your food more easily, and makes your bones and muscles stronger.

It also makes you look slimmer.

Good posture can take half a stone off you.:D

And it's free!!!