Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

mrsmac10

Good morning all

Just popping by for a wee catchup

LL Well done on getting an interview for work and wow on the weight loss I am sure you will look and feel fab in a size 10 Such a boost to the moral Also delighted for your son and can understand the proud mother moment

mrsmac10

House elf Were you a member of the MSE elite? Your ref to MOC's and cashback seem to fit there

Did you move with us to the new site?

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment yesterday was going to Clapham Picturehouse with a free ticket to watch the film Inna De Yard

As a black woman sitting down to watch a film about reggae music full of some of the early pioneers of this genre of music, I had quite high expectations, which sadly were not met.

It is a very interesting film, but I felt the only female singer Judy Mowatt included in the film was somewhat sideline which I found frustrating. Judy was as relevant a study as all of the men; Ken Boothe, Derajah, Kiddus I, Jah 9, Kush McAnuff, and Cedric Myton but was featured far less in this film.

Seeing the abject poverty that most of the male singers and musicians featured in the film has ended up in despite having recorded records that have stood the test of time is enlightening. It is a shame that they were unaware of royalties and of how to protect their own intellectual property rights over their song writing and recording talents. Only Ken Boothe has ultimately ended up with a very successful career over 5 decades and is wealthy by Jamaican standards.

I would give this film 6/10 as the soundtrack is good and you learn a lot about the culture and the infrastructure of Jamaica

phoebe1989seb

Lots of champagne moments yesterday and today -

Popped into Wyevale garden centre, somewhere we don't usually frequent preferring small, non-chain nurseries with a better choice of unusual plants. We only went in to see if they had some weed suppressant membrane for our gravel paths. Noticed they had up to 70% off. Came out with £593 worth of plants/garden furniture items for £193 All things on my garden list too, so no guilty feelings!

DH is jyst finishing building a pair of 8' wide, 7'6 high arch-topped, close-boarded gates for our undercroft. They look fantastic (will be even better when I've painted them later in the week ) - and at a fraction of the cost a carpenter would have charged or if we'd had them custom made. Materials came to less than £400. Absolutely delighted with my talented DH, especially as he has no training in this field

I've been the unpaid gardener/labourer - lifting and shifting troughs and planters - and have created another garden Room that should give us plenty more champagne moments!

Lunch alfresco yesterday and today and we'll be eating outside again later......

Hope everyone else has had a super bank holiday weekend

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone

Sounds like you are all doing well and building some lovely champagne moments.

Phoebe.....I just want to say how I enjoyed reading about the way your husband and you are enjoying working together. Don't take this the wrong way but it made me feel just a tad envious. I still miss my husband so much at times. Hey ho. Life goes on. I'm ok really -most of the time. I just have the odd "moment" and bank holidays etc can be a bit difficult.

But, despite feeling a little melancholy, what a glorious weekend. Had a lovely day at Carsington Water and then out for a meal afterwards. Im off to the cinema later to see Once Upon a Time in America. I'll let you know what I think. .

Got my interview tomorrow.

Tbh I'm starting to feel bit nervous about returning to work. It's been 13 years so I guess it's natural to feel a little apprehensive. I'm sure it will be good for me though. Obviously from a financial point of view but I also think there might be other intangible benefits. Since losing my husband I sometimes feel that I have lost a bit of confidence. I think going back to work might help.

If It doesn't work out and I hate it or if I find it too stressful I can always quit.

Nothing ventured.......;)

Kantankrus_Mare

Good Luck with the job interview!!

We went to Carsington Waters last year and thought it was lovely.
We plan to go back and do some serious walking sometime.

tunathe_cat

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Lots of champagne moments yesterday and today -

Popped into Wyevale garden centre, somewhere we don't usually frequent preferring small, non-chain nurseries with a better choice of unusual plants. We only went in to see if they had some weed suppressant membrane for our gravel paths. Noticed they had up to 70% off. Came out with £593 worth of plants/garden furniture items for £193 All things on my garden list too, so no guilty feelings!

DH is jyst finishing building a pair of 8' wide, 7'6 high arch-topped, close-boarded gates for our undercroft. They look fantastic (will be even better when I've painted them later in the week ) - and at a fraction of the cost a carpenter would have charged or if we'd had them custom made. Materials came to less than £400. Absolutely delighted with my talented DH, especially as he has no training in this field

I've been the unpaid gardener/labourer - lifting and shifting troughs and planters - and have created another garden Room that should give us plenty more champagne moments!

Lunch alfresco yesterday and today and we'll be eating outside again later......

Hope everyone else has had a super bank holiday weekend

Do you hire Hubby out for garden d.i.y. :rotfl:

phoebe1989seb

tunathe_cat wrote: »

Do you hire Hubby out for garden d.i.y. :rotfl:

Actually, I do, lol! Well, more that since moving to Wales last year he's started a business doing that kind of stuff

LL, I'm so sorry if all my talk of my DH has been difficult for you to read..... sending hugs your way.......

Very best of luck with the job interview, btw, I'm sure you'll wow them with your experience and eye for all things property

lessonlearned

Phoebe......no need to feel guilty or apologise. In a world where so many people moan or grumble about their partners it is so nice and refreshing to hear about people who are genuinely happy and who appreciate each other.

So often when I'm out and about I see couples who are thoroughly miserable and who are bickering or even worse, engaging in a full blown row. I have been known to say something to rowing couples at times.......:rotfl:

I once heard one couple giving each other hell in a supermarket queue. It was excruciating to witness Before I could stop myself I told them off and told them how lucky they were to still have each other, that they shouldn't take each other for granted and they should be kinder to each other. :eek: me and my big mouth. .

I know I shouldn't have interfered but I just couldn't stop myself. The look of astonishment on their faces but then they said thank you, and yes I was right.

I would love to meet someone nice and have another crack at romance and happiness but I am extremely fussy. It would have to be someone very special. My mantra has always been better no man than the wrong man. I doubt I shall meet Mr Right Again, but who knows, never say never.......lol.

Anyhoo.....I have just saved myself £30 on renewing my home insurance, not much, but every little helps.

Thanks for the well wishes for the interview. I'll just do my best.:rotfl:

house_elf

mrsmac10 wrote: »

House elf Were you a member of the MSE elite? Your ref to MOC's and cashback seem to fit there

Did you move with us to the new site?

Hi Mrs mac :wave:

I was, and still am, an avid follower of the elite. :cool:

Yesterday's Champagne moment was a trip to Leicester Museum to see the Ladybird Book art exhibition.

We spent a happy time, feeling nostalgic about books we had read at school and home. The artists biographies were very interesting, and the company ethos did not feel the need to dumb down their illustrations for children. There was a lot of research into getting the historical stories and illustrations as accurate as possible.... before the advent of the internet! We also enjoyed the social history recorded in the Peter and Jane series......Peter doing and Jane watching :rotfl:

My best moment of the day was seeing DH and 2 friends sitting on a bench seat, reading Ladybird books, (average age of 60ish).....and not looking at their emails :rotfl:

We were very surprised at how much we liked Leicester. Only an hour away, yet we very rarely visit. We liked the museum, (Free entry). We will be back!

Have a lovely day