Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

maman

Wow! This thread is busy but I love the chat!:)


Is there much reparation to do now that the wall's down LL? Didn't take them long to get this far and the extra light will be brilliant (:o) now daylight's getting shorter.


You know I'm an inveterate people watcher too and very judgemental (especially in M&S;)). One of the reasons I've started buying house clothes is so that I can happily nip out to the local shop or postbox and know I don't look like a bag lady. The idea that the people you saw had 'dressed up' in greige specially for the occasion is unbelievable. I'm all for comfort but I draw the line at frumpy.


I like heels pollypenny but I rarely wear them now without taking a flat pair of shoes to change. I have some Dune, suede ballet flats that fit in my handbag so they're ideal. DH and I often use public transport round the city so the flats come in very useful.


CSs are always very hit and miss. You have to look through a lot of dross to find good stuff. I just browse when I have the time. I could say that about many High Street stores too like TKMaxx or Matalan or Primark or even M&S:D. They sell a lot of hideous stuff but with a few nice bits hidden. I agree about clothes being arranged in sizes but also categories. Mixing everything up or spreading it around the store (another M&S mistake IMO) is very irritating.


We use the 'magazine' test too money, especially for second hand books.


Well done for fitting in any yoga sashy. Don't forget to keep trying to set aside that Me time, it's good for you.:)


How are you feeling today sugarbaby? I though I had a cold coming last night and woke with an awful headache this morning. I still feel a bit heavy eyed but an hour's walk in the fresh air this morning helped blow away a few cobwebs. It was chillier than recently but the sun's out now.:)

Toni'sfriend

I've just spent the afternoon booking our seven train tickets and hotels for our trip to Europe in January/ February. We'll be away for four and a half weeks. Some serious fabbing needed before then and I have to start looking for appropriate clothing and footwear. Light but warm. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

lessonlearned

Gosh TF - a rail journey across Europe - how exciting. That's definitely on my bucket list - maybe 2020.

What's your itinerary. Re clothing Will you be visiting cold countries or chasing the sun. Maybe try shops like "Go Outdoors". At any rate you will want clothes that are lightweight, warm and waterproof and that are as flexible as possible so can adjust to different weather conditions. And also which you can just wash and go with the minimum of fuss.

Thanks for the tips about humidifiers. I have one that I travel with because air conditioning is too dry for me and gives me nosebleeds. I'll dig it out.

Clippy.....sorry to hear your guy let you down. Hope you don't feel too crushed. His loss. . Sri Lanka for Christmas sounds wonderful. Are you visiting family.

Money...thanks for the ethical clothing links. I shall definitely be trying bamboo towels when I next replace mine. They are so soft and fluffy.

SDW.....William and Morris print curtains for £4. Wow.

Toni'sfriend

Hi LL

We're going to Amsterdam, Berlin. Munich, Salzburg, Budapest, Vienna and Frankfurt so could be pretty cold. We're going to the Lake District in December so I'm hoping I might find something suitable there. Lightweight, warm and waterproof but still smart.

lessonlearned

Having to split posts because my iPad is playing up.

Had a great morning. Met DS2 for a quick coffee...poor lamb he is either at college or at work 7 days a week at the moment. I know I know.....I've told him to pace himself. I pointed out that he's not 20 anymore. :rotfl: anyway it's his half term next week so I'll see him properly then.

I did a bit of a reccy, looking for house stuff. Saw some nice light fittings in Next, just need to check with the Sparky that they are suitable so took a photo. Whatever did we do without mobile phones.:rotfl:

I nipped into a furniture shop purely to have a nose at the range of sofas that Louise Rednapp is currently advertising on the Tele. Lovely but the prices are a bit steep. Velvet and gorgeous jewel colours. Whilst there I kicked up two gorgeous pure wool rugs for £60 each. One had been £299 the other had been £337. Wow. Absolute bargains. Even the guy putting them through the till commented on the reduction.

anyway, Re the sofas......I would love them but I need to watch the pennies. So......I have a couple lying around at DS1s house. Velvet but beige.:rotfl: no I didn't buy beige sofas, someone gave them to me when I was renting. Lol. They are in good nick but just a bit past their best. I have decided to rescue them and try and dye them.......If it works it would save me around £1500 so well worth a shot. If not I could reupholster them.

I'm afraid my heel wearing days are more or less over too. I can manage up to 2" if they are chunky. I often take a leaf out of Maman's book and take a pair of flats with me as well. At least you can get some nice pretty flats these days.

Oh well time to cook dinner and then back to sewing curtains.

Oops Maman forgot to answer your question about reparations to the wall. There wasn't too much mess at all. He took the wall down brick by brick rather than just walloping it with a sledge hammer, so no damage to adjoining walls. He even managed to remove some the nice wooden finishing shelves that sat on top in one piece. I can reuse them as floating shelves. I will need to get the shoulders and supports of the arch plastered and of course I need to sort out the floor.

I am aiming to remove some kitchen wall units - again to open up the space so I'll wait until they are down and then I'll get all the plastering done at once. But I can't remove the wall units until the plumber has been and sorted out the boiler.....:rotfl: He is on holiday at the moment so I'll just have to be patient. I can however make a start painting the dresser for the dining room and the sideboard which will form the base of the centre island unit. I am aiming to get cracking on those this weekend.

Progress is being made.

And, as a bonus, although I haven't weighed myself, I think all this work is making me feel quite trim. Some of my clothes are starting to feel loser, so even if I've not lost weight I'm definitely getting more toned.

lessonlearned

TF. Yes all pretty cold places. Lovely though. I'm "well jell" as the kids would say.

moneyistooshorttomention

For those of us that like people-watching - one forgets how different things were:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zk0eyKzp1c

For anyone that needs an incentive to stay on a diet....same country/50 odd years ago:cool:

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Maman I am feeling quite rough again today. My chest is still tight and my throat is still raw. I am still using over the counter medication.

I am really tired as I had less then 5 hours sleep last night. After 45 minutes of trying to get back to sleep I knew my efforts were futile and got up and got on with my day.

So far today I have washed my bedding, the blanket and the pillow protectors from my bed. I just need to tumble dry the pillow protectors. I also washed and dried a load of light coloured clothing. I still have 3 more loads of washing and drying to do today because I want it all finished by tomorrow morning.

I cooked 2 trays of chicken thighs and drumsticks and then I put the thighs and 2 of the drumsticks in gravy with onions, a green and yellow pepper, a punnet of mushrooms and sliced carrots. I want a home cooked family meal when I return home from Birmingham so I cooked it, cooled it down and put it in the fridge. I will only have to cook some rice to go with it on my return from Birmingham.

I have also done a small amount of washing up and drying up then I mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors.

My son is coming to stay for half term next week and he needs some healthy home cooked meals.

moneyistooshorttomention

1970s street scenes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP6hCx5_pYs

lessonlearned

SUgarbaby......sorry to hear you are still feeling so rough. Hope you feel better soon.