Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

LL you are doing a great job of organising your new home so that it is a reflection of your own style while it is comfortable and stylish

None of us need to 'settle' for any man that is not going to make our pulse race and make other parts of our bodies go all a quiver. Better to be single than to 'settle' just to have ourselves a partner.

I have been divorced for 24 years now and still enjoy being single. :D I had a brief relationship 19 years ago that resulted in me being pregnant with my youngest son. The man I was in a relationship with subsequently disappeared from my life after I told him I was pregnant. :mad: He had shown his true colours. As I was already a Mother of 3 children I had with my ex husband, I knew I could cope with being a single mother of 4 children.

Years later I ran into this man on the street and he wanted me to take his number so we could keep in touch, but I did not want to know. There has been some difficult times with my younger son as a teenager when he wanted to know why he had never had any contact with his biological Father, but in the end he came to accept that not all Fathers were worthy of the title and he had not lost out in not having that man as part of his life.

I had nausea with all 4 pregnancies, but by the 16th week it was over. I did not gain more than 3kg in any of my 4 pregnancies, so I never had to purchase a single item of maternity wear ever. I breast fed all 4 of my children and did my pelvic floor exercises after their births. Even though I gained very little weight in my 1st pregnancy and did not look pregnant until the last few weeks, I still looked pregnant after giving birth, which was a real shock to me. :eek: It took very little time for me to be back to my slender shape once I was a busy 1st time Mother at home. I have a high pain threshold and when I was in labour, I was always being questioned about if I was truly having contractions 5 minutes apart on arriving at the Hospital but it would soon be confirmed by all the machines they would hook me up to. I had to have a C Section with my last birth because the umbilical cord was wrapped around my son's neck twice.

When I look at my 4 adult children I always feel such pride that they are all adults that reflect so well on me and my parenting skills.

lessonlearned

Just resting my back now. I'm really having to pace myself today. I do an hour or so and then have a little break. Still little and often is better than nowt. I am hoping I will get fitter and stronger soon. It's not for the want Of trying. I'll get there.

SUgarbaby.....you have every right to be proud of your family, and yours and their achievements. Motherhood is not always a picnic even when you have a loving husband who dotes on his kids. It must be even more difficult as a single mum. I take my hat off to you.

I dote on my boys (well I think you've all sussed that) but there were times when I really struggled, especially when DS1 got sick. DS2 was healthy but could be a handful, dyslexic, arty, dreamy but also a bit prickly and at times wilful. The teenage tantrums were volcanic, the stuff of family legend. It's a wonder our doors had any hinges left.:rotfl: Oddly enough he has turned out to be the most delightful charming man, and very caring towards his mum. .

Having had two MILS from hell I am especially gratified that I have such great relationships with their womenfolk. The MIL/DIL dynamic can be very tricky but I'm pleased to say we all get along famously. I am very fond of the girls. I love the way they both dote on my baby boys :rotfl: the way they support and encourage their ambitions, even the little pushes and nudges they administer when necessary. My babies are in good hands.

Relationships are a minefield at times which is why when we find good people we need to nurture them, partners, lovers, children, friends.

John 1 is a widower and very keen. He is a very nice man, witty, charming, intelligent and easy company. He reminds of Rick Wakeman. He is wealthy and I would want for nothing but he's not for me. I know this sounds awful but he's too old 76 and probably too sick. I am sorry but I don't want to be a rich man's nursemaid. That makes me sound very selfish I know but I nursed a man I adored for 9 years. I know the score and I just don't feel I could do it again. I can't date him because he wouldn't be happy with that, he wants the whole ball of wax, wedding bells the lot.

John 2 is divorced. I know he wants me but he is playing hard to get. I dont know if it's shyness or whether he's just carrying too much emotional baggage. Either way, if he wants to be in with a chance then he has to up his game. :rotfl: he's sexy and attractive and a great kisser and he certainly makes me quiver in all the right places but he needs to be more than that. Lol.

Hard to please. Moi?? You betcha!!

I agree with all you lovely ladies, better no man, than the wrong man.

My DIL keeps sending me pictures of men she thinks would suit me. She thinks I would favour someone like Andy Garcia.....:rotfl: I am not really into Latin lovers, suave Englishmen are more my style.

lessonlearned

SDW Good luck with the selling the caravan. Hope you get a good price.

seven-day-weekend

silvasava wrote: »

We sold our tourer a couple of years ago as we wer'n't using it to get the full benefit. We've now been taking more trips away in the UK to places we havn't seen before - not regretting it Dont mean to be pessimistic SDW but some times the sites pay well below market value sp hope you get a good price x

I don't think they necessarily have a market value, it depends on so many things, but I am aware that it will be less than if we sell it ourselves ...

.....although we have now had an estimate for it from the sales team and it is only £4k less than if we sell it ourselves for top price.

So we shall see.

humptydumptybits

Maman I was huge when I was pregnant. All my babies were 9 or 10 lbs. I'm 5'4" and very thin when I got pregnant with the first, 22" waist and it was almost 60" when I gave birth. Big babies who always managed to lie awkwardly. With my first two, in the 70s and never had a scan, they were convinced there were 2 in there with one hiding but no just a big healthy but slightly awkward baby. I didn't put weight on me if you understand, it was all baby belly and my little thin legs looked a bit pathetic so I tended to wear trousers.


Isn't skin marvelous when you think how it stretched and then went back. I don't think it is that elastic now unfortunately.

humptydumptybits

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

When I look at my 4 adult children I always feel such pride that they are all adults that reflect so well on me and my parenting skills.

I've got 4 as well, and six grandchildren. I had some photos with them all and when I look at little me in the middle of my big sons plus daughter and grandchildren I can't really believe they are all mine. My own little tribe. Mind you it is a different story at Christmas, with three of them having November birthdays 2 January and 2 February I suddenly think maybe an only child would have been a more MSE idea :rotfl:

lessonlearned

Wahoo.....sunshine.:D

I'm off out in a minute on a shopping trip, mainly diy stuff. Going to look at secondary glazing systems. There are two large original single glazed wooden windows 1935, to the front elevation, gorgeous but freezing. :rotfl: Although the house isn't listed And I could replace them i think it would be sacrilege - just my opinion of course. Hopefully I can get the glazing ordered and fitted fairly quickly. The windows are in mint condition and fit well with no drafts so secondary glazing should do the trick.

Unfortunately the house is very poorly insulated and I'm noticing the gas usage for heating is very high, and it's not even that cold yet. I will be upgrading the insulation of course next year when I start knocking the house apart but I need some quick fixes for this winter, so I shall be buying draft excluders, fleece fabric, thermal curtain linings, a couple of extra rugs etc. I have been reading that we are in for a cold winter. So like a good girl guide I shall "be prepared".

The decluttering went well. I have a car load to drop off at the chazzer.

Whilst I'm out I shall have a nice lunch somewhere. :rotfl:

I shall wear my nice new green coat. It's fairly lightweight but nice and cosy.

sugarbaby125

humptydumptybits wrote: »

I've got 4 as well, and six grandchildren. I had some photos with them all and when I look at little me in the middle of my big sons plus daughter and grandchildren I can't really believe they are all mine. My own little tribe. Mind you it is a different story at Christmas, with three of them having November birthdays 2 January and 2 February I suddenly think maybe an only child would have been a more MSE idea :rotfl:

Humpty I have a 19 year old grandson, and 3 granddaughters aged 17, 13 and 12 years old. They too are bright lights in my life.:D

My 2 eldest children have December birthdays, so December has always been a month where I have to plan and be very organised as I have always refused to give them joint presents to make life less costly for myself.

humptydumptybits

I don't do joint presents either as it feels unfair. My youngest two haven't got children yet so I think I will have more to buy for in the not too distant future. I think I need to set up a special "presents" account to even the expenditure out over the year. Nov/Dec/Jan are so expensive for me with Christmas, lots of birthdays and things like my house and car insurance being due not to mention the MOT. I've just realised the way my SRP works out I get two payments in December so that will be useful.

lessonlearned

Great shopping trip.

Took a load of stuff to the chazzer, mirrors, paintings, clothes. Spotted a nicely carved sideboard £40 which I can turn into a centre island unit for the kitchen. Wahoo. Also a cute little oak rocking chair. Not quite sure where exactly I'm going to put it yet but ultimately it will end up in my writers den/summerhouse.:rotfl:

Bought some draft proofing stuff so will get Cracking with that over the next couple of days. Didn't bother with lunch out because I have developed a poorly tummy. Think it's the CBD oil I have been trialling.

We have decided to scale back a little with gifts. We are all watching the pennies at the moment, DS2 is now a penniless student only working part time, DS1 has a new baby and of course I now have the money pit. :rotfl: we shall still have a lovely time anyway. Just resting, eating, making merry and chilling.

I think I will be "doing Christmas" this year. Give DIL a break, she did it last year.

It's not long now is it. I always think once half term is over then Christmas is not far behind.