Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

phoebe1989seb

Voluntary self-isolation sounds sensible under the circumstances, LL. You - and of course your DS, DIL and GS - must be getting very excited at the prospect of the impending arrival 

It's been a busy few days here again - and will continue that way certainly till our family visit us from the south coast of England during mid October, but more likely until Christmas as the work we're planning is several months' worth! - as DH ploughs ahead with relocating the bathroom.

Annoyingly, the tradesperson he'd intended using for the more complex aspects of the plumbing - and who we'd used previously/been pleased with - has now gone AWOL so it looks increasingly likely we'll have to do the lot ourselves. I honestly don't know what it is with the unreliability of trades locally!

Fortunately we're not hosting our family here. Instead they've booked a cottage break nearby which was their suggestion as they are aware that our own cottage is still not in a fit enough state to accommodate a toddler, particularly overnight. Still, we'll be able to have them here during the days - between visits to the beach, countryside walks etc.

DS's partner (and GD who was two in July) haven't been here yet, so whilst it's a far cry from our previous homes, size-wise, it'll be fun showing her our progress and letting GD explore the garden. We had hoped to have chickens by the time of GD's first visit, but these are on hold till next year......

Our only real fear is that a new nationwide lockdown will occur prior to their visit, scuppering it. For now, all we can do is assume they'll be coming 

Anyway, with regards to the bathroom, over the weekend the framework for the new panelled wall with jib door was put in place, so we now have two newly defined spaces....so exciting and a real champagne moment!

My plans for the main bedroom walls have changed. No magnolia branches (lol at savingmore!!!), but instead some blowsy blue blooms on gnarled branches with small perching birds and a large peacock taking pride of place over the fireplace... the whole inspired by a Little Greene wallpaper design. The colours are not what you'd expect! Painting in earnest begins tomorrow.

DH hadn't wanted to use the Voysey wallpaper on the chimney breast and fortuitously for him, there wasn't enough anyway...so that has returned to the box to await another project.

Having purchased upholstery fabric and sponge foam over a year ago, I was undecided what to do about the headboard - our beautifully carved original art nouveau bed having been relegated to the guest room. Suddenly and very spontaneously, on Friday I began painting a huge faux headboard directly onto the wall - intended as a temporary measure till I'd made a decision - however we both love the result so it's going to stay 

The foam won't go to waste as I'll use it for the furniture we plan making for the rustic garden shelter. A large chunk of the fabric is going to become an extra throw for the super king bed and a smaller piece for the window seat, whilst I'm going to offer the remainder to DS.

This week I need to get that mural done and I, too, have bulbs - mainly about 80 alliums - to plant. I also have to transplant/divide 20+ primroses and move a few perennials. Evenings will be spent labouring for DH in the bathroom.

If I don't get around to the planting before the weather breaks, I'll just have to take a leaf out of DH's book and start extreme weather gardening, lol!!!

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends,  

Sounds like you are dong well with the renovations, Phoebe.  Have to say I'm not One for extreme weather gardening either so I really need to push on in this next couple of weeks. So am putting diy to one side for now.  

  Have spent most of the day in the garden today. .I'm now shattered.  Pleased though with what I have achieved.  Going to have a nice salad now and take it easy.  Read a book, watch a nice film maybe.  

Phoebe.....hope we don't go into a National lockdown and you get to see your family.  That's the problem at the moment - so difficult to make plans with any real certainty. Keep those fingers crossed. 🤞. 

My exercise regime is going well, managing to do both cardio and tai chi every day. And of the gardening Helps.  

champagne moment this morning......2" off my waist. Wahoo. 

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment today was getting on my bathroom scales and realising that I have lost another pound in weight. I have lost my first half a stone   

joedenise

Well done @sugarbaby125.  Onward and downward!

phoebe1989seb

That's brilliant, sugarbaby, well done 

Wednesday2000

That is good Sugarbaby!

I felt very confident in one of my new outfits today as I bought a few new clothes lately.

Another champagne moment today was getting a few bargains at the charity shop. It came to £10.75 but the woman only charged me £10. A man before me was asking for a discount and she wouldn't give him one. She must have liked the look of me more than him. Maybe it was my new outfit.

helensbiggestfan

Good morning my lovely friends. 

Well done sugarbaby.....that's great going.  We just have to keep at it.  I had to rest  my shoulder for a couple of days so no exercise. Think I overdid the gardening.  

Wednesday....loving the fact that she gave you some discount and not the guy in front.  It's considered bad form to ask for discount in chazzers.  I used to volunteer in one and I never gave discount to those who tried to haggle.  I found it was nearly always  men who try to haggle, they must think chazzers are a bit like street markets.  😂.  More often than not I round up and tell them to keep the change.  

All is good here (apart from the shoulder). Nothing very exciting, still in isolation so champagne moments have mainly been visits from my family bubble and nice long phone chats with friends. 

Garden is looking good, new planting  seems to be doing ok. Just need to do some weeding and then decide what to do about all the bulbs I bought for the front garden.  I think I might put them in pots this year rather than in the earth Because I really need to use that claybreaker stuff over the winter.  

Other  than that, not much to tell really.  Aiming to start decluttering next week.  Not exactly what you would call a rock and roll lifestyle at the moment 😂🤣.  I wonder what life will be like after COVID, whatever it brings I think it looks like it's going to be quiet Christmas.  Looks like we are in this the long haul doesn't it.  

Stay safe and well. X 

sugarbaby125

Thank you ladies. I have started my weight loss journey, but I have a long way to go. I have not been hungry as I am eating satisfying healthy meals for my lunch and dinner. I am not really a breakfast person so I just have a cup of tea and 2 slices of toast or some fresh fruit. 

My Champagne moments yesterday were my younger son popping in with his washing and my having a nice long chat with my son and a quick chat with my youngest granddaughter on her 14th birthday.   

phoebe1989seb

After a lovely sunny weekend, it's drizzling here today. Warmer outside but indoors I'm having to resort to three jumpers as it's not worth having the heating on/lighting one of the stoves just for me. The joys of old stone houses

I'm really tired too, no doubt a result of working so hard over the past week. However, it's DH I feel sorry for as he's been doing five days gardening for his clients, then coming home to more - albeit indoor - work here......a couple of hours most evenings. Over the weekend we worked solidly both days, then at 5pm on Saturday he was off to see his new customers half an hour away, showing them the plans he has drawn up for reconfiguring their upstairs layout as they want to squeeze in an extra bedroom. Sounds almost like déjà vu, lol!

I also managed to get the bathroom muslin curtain panels hemmed, made a cushion from a vintage Liberty tea towel, began tidying the polytunnel and  painted a little more of the peacock    A few champagne moments there as DIYing stuff is always so rewarding!

Thanks to all our efforts the bathroom panelling is now complete (sans jib door as yet), so today I've been priming it.

There's been a change of plan regarding the bathroom flooring. Last year we purchased dark grey limestone 'flags' as we were hoping to recreate a flagstone type look more in keeping with the age of the cottage than the 'modern' slate installed by the previous owner 13 years ago (this had to go anyway because we've reconfigured the space), but over the intervening months our thoughts on how we want the room to look have evolved. Suddenly we concluded that these were not right. In a complete reversal, we've decided to opt for brightly coloured Spanish encaustic style tiles, although fortunately at £45 per sq m they're loads cheaper than the real thing!

The limestone is far better suited to our terrace area which we'd been dithering over for ages and the 12 sq m we have will cover a good expanse, so it's a win win 

Another great champagne moment was that on Thursday DH finally received a hefty tax rebate, so we're happy to splurge a little!

Last Tuesday we took the evening off and headed to Homesense and TK Maxx, correctly predicting that this may be our last opportunity before the local lockdowns put those areas out of our reach. I was hunting for a laundry basket plus a pair of mirrors for the main bedroom, but found nothing suitable - nor anything for Christmas gift purposes. However, I did buy a dress for £29.99 (RRP £138) and a candle (also £29.99, RRP £144) that we'll be keeping for Christmas.

Fortunately we are still not locked down here, but I fear it's on its way. DS and I spoke over the weekend and we agreed we'll have to monitor the situation wrt to their visit due to take place in about three weeks. They have till mid October to cancel their cottage booking and still obtain a refund. If they can't come we'll be incredibly disappointed, but so be it.......

We're going ahead with trying to complete the bathroom and main bedroom anyway as these are both long overdue. Hopefully there'll be plenty of time to get together with our family when the virus has finally receded.

Anyway ladies, I hope you're not letting the latest lockdown news get in the way of those champagne moments....back to the decorating for me, lol!

sugarbaby125

Wow Phoebe, you and your husband have achieved so much with your house fabbing   

I got a CYO make up bundle worth £56 from Boots online last Tuesday for only £10. That is my 19 year old granddaughter's Christmas present bought.