Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

lessonlearned

Thanks Maman. This house is 1930s and although I don't want it to look like a museum it would be nice to find some appropriate lighting, an eclectic mix of modern and vintage style.

What previous owners have put in are mainly garish lacquered brass 80s style chandeliers or wall lights.

Not quite my cup of tea......I would rather have those Japanese style paper balls seen in millions of student digs. In fact they are my usual go to cheap fix solution whilst I play find the light fitting game. I already have a nice big one I can use in the lounge. I might just get a few more for now and then do each room properly when I decorate.

chanie

maman thanks for your post on lighting, we want to get new lights throughout the house, so it was very helpful.

We ordered our flooring today and it’s being fitted next week. That’s the final big job we have and we can start to get the house back in order after that.

DS is now an alter server at Church. Me and OH were so proud of him at Mass this evening and DS was excited to serve.

chanie

I had an early morning trip to the tip today. We had lots of waste materials from our DIY, including wood and polystyrene packaging, which we had piled up in our front garden (lowering the tone of the street). None of it was heavy, but was bulky. Luckily, I managed to get it all in the car. I wanted to go early as I know the tip gets really busy, so I got there before 9:30am and there wasnt a queue. We will have to go again next week as the flooring company have said they wont remove the old flooring.

Now, for the setbacks. They are minor in the grand scheme of things, but when you are short of time, they can be very annoying. Firstly, I found out the tip wont take old paint. We were given two huge (10 litres each) tubs of emulsion by a relative, that were going spare. The paint had gone off, so we didnt use it, but now we have to get rid of it. I was given the contact details of a contractor for the council who will take it for free, but I had to go online and fill in a form and someone will contact me blah blah blah. I am a responsible citizen, but I was tempted just to stick them in the bin, as it felt like such a faff.

The second setback was that we needed some skirting board. I decided to try a wood merchants yesterday, as we literally need two pieces totally about 20cms and wanted to see if we could get an off cut. The wood merchants all seem to be closed on Saturdays. So today, after the tip, I popped to Wickes and they had it, but dont cut wood. The piece they sold was too big to fit in the car. I guess I could have bought a saw and cut it in half myself, but I just couldnt be bothered.

I am really missing my fab Fridays, as I am working 5 standard days rather than compressed hours. I used my Fridays to run errands, but I cant do that any more. I may see if I can work a 9 day fortnight in the future, as that would really help, but I dont think my manager is that keen on flexible working, so we shall see.

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone

Chanie......I feel your pain. I have had a lot of setbacks this last few days......I won't list them all or I'd be here forever. Nothing too serious but They are annoying, frustrating, time consuming and yes they cost money to put right.

When I worked in housing we used to have a saying "Vendors lie". I'm am afraid it is often true and it is only when you move into a house that you uncover their lies and dirty tricks. Then you are faced with a load of niggles you have to put right before you can even begin to put your own stamp on the place and call it home. Surveyors reports are no help......they aren't worth the paper they are written on. :rotfl:

Hey ho. I'll just grit my teeth and work my way through the list. Luckily I have struck gold with my handyman (so far, just hope he doesn't run out of steam:rotfl:).

The front garden was a nightmare for him, a mass of tree roots - even a hidden tree stump (I'll have to get that ground out). It took him 2 days but it looks nice now, all freshly planted with an acer, a magnolia and a nice mix of evergreen and pretty flowering shrubs. I could never have got through it in a month of Sundays. He had to use a pick axe. Poor man really earned his money, so I gave him a small bonus.

And you are so right about trying to recycle responsibly. No wonder people resort to fly tipping or just dumping stuff in the dustbin. One of the issues I have here is the amount of stuff that was left, including gone off paint. Luckily our recycling centre is pretty helpful on the whole. My handyman has said he will shift the big stuff for me and I will do the car runs with the easier stuff.

Apart from my house trials and tribulations I'm doing ok, except backache. I sound as though I am on a bit of a downer. I'm not because I do like the house and everyone who visits says it's "me". However I am glad I managed to move in now rather than the depths of winter. It wouldn't have been pleasant. At least I can get the worst of the remedials done before the really bad weather sets in. The forecast is still pretty good for the next few days so I will be able to crack on with things.

Anyway, I had a nice weekend entertaining on Saturday and spending time with my grandchild yesterday. He's just three months now and is starting to get more interesting. My son and DIL have excelled themselves, he's a very happy, contented baby, very gurgly. DIL is still a bit nervous but DS is like an old pro, he's taken to daddy duties like a duck to water.. . Knew he would.

It's back to the grindstone today. However I am going to take it more slowly from now on. I need to nurse my back. I have acupuncture tomorrow and a massage on Wednesday and then I will need try and restart some gentle yoga. In the meantime I will use a heat patch today and just take it relatively easy.

My tumble dryer arrives today. I'm getting there. .

It's really autumnal now, time to dig out the knitwear.

[Deleted User]

LL i’m In awe of your decisiveness and action. I just dither until things become urgent and my husband is no better. . We can’t decide on a hall wallpaper for our 1930’s bungalow which is rather dark.

Went to see an am dram production of the musical Priscilla Queen of the desert. It’s very funny. People watching. I was struck by how many different shapes us women come in. Men too. Show is about drag queens. Tall, thin men looked stunning in drag but others not so. Confused what that means! Was surprised and encouraged by body confidence of many of women on stage though in some of less flattering/more revealing outfits.

lessonlearned

Priscilla is a great story. I've only seen the film but I loved it. I used to have a serious crush on Terence Stamp. :rotfl:

I am reading a couple of books about about glamour and they talk about body confidence. If you look at some of the celebs and beauties dispassionately many of them are not beautiful or even pretty in the accepted sense. But what they do seem to have is the ability to hide their (perceived) imperfections and to flaunt their assets.

You get the odd movie star or celeb who is a classic beauty - but for every Grace Kelly there are dozens of stunning women who are just as quirky as the rest of us mere mortals. I think what they have is polish and the ability to "project".

There was a piece about Marilyn Monroe. The author says she was with Marilyn when she was "off duty" one day. She was dressed down, no make up and had been going about her business completely unnoticed. All of a sudden she decided she didn't want to be invisible so she simply switched on and "became Marilyn". Within minutes she was the centre of attention.

I think this is what body confidence is actually all about.

If anyone wants to experiment try this little exercise.

Walk down a street or shopping mall, in a fairly normal way, slouching, avoiding eye contact, maybe frowning like we often do when we are concentrating. . What happens. By and large people more or less ignore you. You might get the odd cursory glance.

Now slow down a little, straighten up, shoulders back and down, head up, have a ghost of a smile playing on your lips and make eye contact. The difference is astonishing. If you really want to push the envelope you could try a suggestion of hip sway Not a full on Marilyn wiggle but just a gentle "sashay".

Be prepared to be amazed......:rotfl:

Report back and let us know what was different.

lessonlearned

Re the decision making. I think it just comes with practice. I worked in construction and design for so long that I usually can "see" the finished result in my minds eye so I find that it very easy to make design decisions.

In life I agree decision making can be a bit more complicated, especially in complex situations.

I learned a lot from my husband......if ever I had a problem and could only see two choices, neither of which particularly appealed, I could guarantee he would find at least one other. He was just one of those creative lateral thinkers. He taught me how to think round a problem and how not to dither.

He was paid to make multi million £ decisions and often had to make them "on the hoof". His mantra was that adopted by the ancient samurai. "No fear" :rotfl: study, think, strike.

It works.

There are very few decisions in life which are irreversible. Mistakes can usually be rectified. If you choose the wrong paint or wallpaper it can be redone easily enough.

I have made plenty of stupid mistakes in my time :rotfl: both in decorating and in life.

A decision is rarely life or death and if it was then speed would be of the essence anyway.

If your hallway is very dark would light reflecting emulsion paint help. Dulux light and space. Or if you really want wallpaper there are some lovely papers with light reflecting metallics.

silvasava

Totally agree with you LL about body language. I walk up to my village a few times a week and I always try to make eye contact and at least nod and smile mostly I get a response but I am amazed how many people studiously avoid eye contact and look down.
No fabbing for me today - just helping DiL get fab! DS2 is taking her to Prague this weekend for her 50th and I'm shortening the sleeves of a lovely cream lace and georgette blouse she's bought. Its SO pretty and she'll look lovely in it. She and I have totally different colouring - I'm mainly blues and greys and strong primaries while she suits the autumn shades. We're also very different body shapes too - I'm an ectomorph and she's and endomorph! Happy to say we meet in the middle!!

maman

Flo61 wrote: »

LL i’m In awe of your decisiveness and action. I just dither until things become urgent and my husband is no better. . We can’t decide on a hall wallpaper for our 1930’s bungalow which is rather dark.

Welcome to my world flo! DH and I can always find something else to do rather than get on and sort the house. I was full fuss about our bathroom. I'm pretty certain what I want but the plumber we had lined up is out of action for a bit. Meanwhile metered water carries on literally going down the drain from our dripping shower!:eek::mad:


We have this wallpaper in our bedroom. It's light and reflective and the pattern is barely discernible. I think the damask look fits well with an older property.


http://www.lauraashley.com/uk/view-all-wallpaper/annecy-linen-damask-wallpaper/invt/3320199


We only have it on the wall behind the bed and in an alcove, the rest is emulsioned (over lining paper) in one of the barely whites but it wouldn't be overpowering if you used it everywhere.


I've made a hair appointment for this afternoon. My fringe needs cutting so I thought I'd treat myself and have a blow dry too. I'm out at an art appreciation group this evening so I might as well look good. I totally agree about the body confidence. You don't have to be an actress to act a part!;)

moneyistooshorttomention

Making progress slowly. I've lost track of my scales - but am checking myself against clothes I've got re sizing.

I can now put on some label size 12 clothes/do up the trousers/etc - but they're not "right" yet. Getting there though. According to my "clothes" I've lost about 1" and probably around half a stone weight so far. So I've got around 5" and about 1.5 stones left to lose. I have to keep myself motivated - as no-one in the 2010's thinks I need to lose any - but I'm sure people from 1970s/1980s would agree with me that I do - so I'm going to.

Stomach is noticeably flatter - and that's important to me - as, when I'm at correct size, I think my stomach is my best asset (ie because it's nice and flat and I can wear clothes that cling on it). Will get there...

Friend admired some of my new clothing yesterday - albeit her eyebrows shot up when I said the boots I was wearing had cost me £175 (but that's equivalent to the sort of price I used to pay for my clothes - so that's okay with me).

So I was wearing a blue "coatigan" over my blue jeans and blue jumper and a suitable modern-style "bead" necklace from one of "my"shops (White Stuff?) with blue and colour in it. With those black calf boots with strapping around ankles.

Am going to go back and binge watch that YouTuber Audrey Coyne at some point. She's got a style I like - classic with odd fashion touches and her clothes always look reasonable quality/fit her well. I guess it helps that she has a similar body shape to mine (bar my boobs being a bit bigger than that). Classy and elegant with a touch of "modern" and that sounds about right for "my" style I'm aiming for.