Frump to Fab 2019 - Here We Go Again

humptydumptybits

Oh dear, that must have shaken you up LL. I suddenly realised this week that I don't feel as confident about driving as I did. I'm not sure how to explain it but I have been an enthusiastic driver for over 40 years, happily doing 5 or 600 mile round trips with kids going to uni or such like but I suddenly felt like I can imagine the day when I won't want to do this. Not sure how I feel about it.

Wednesday2000

humptydumptybits wrote: »

There must be a huge stash of lost umbrellas somewhere. Fortunately I quite like the rain and arriving home like a drowned rat doesn't bother me, I always say I was designed for the climate on the west coast of Ireland and it does rain there from time to time.:rotfl:

My brother did an ancestry test and that is where we are from.:D

lessonlearned

I am exactly the same Humpty. I have lost confidence about my driving in recent years. I just dont enjoy it any more and can find it very stressful. I have to plan my routes so I know exactly where I'm going, which lanes I need to be in and I try to avoid rush hour if I have to drive in the city.

Driving and owning a car is now just a means to retain independence and get out and about. Even so I mainly just stick to short hops now rather than any long distances.

Like you I can foresee a time when I just won't want to get behind a wheel any more. Hopefully not just yet although I have to say, this last little incident, despite being minor, has really shaken me up.

I wondered if it was just an age related thing but I got quite a surprise the other day when one of my DILs admitted she felt the same.

It came about because my son was having a bit of a chunter about not be able to drink because once again DIL didn't want to drive home. He was actually getting quite irritated at always being the designated driver. I could sense an atmosphere between them starting to brew so I asked her outright, in front of him, if she enjoyed driving.

She broke down in tears and admitted she was struggling because she had lost her confidence. Like me she could manage local hops but she felt anything else was beyond her.

My son was astonished. He had no idea she was struggling, she hadn't said a word, she had just made lame excuses each time. Needless to say he was very good and gentle with her and said not to worry he was happy enough to drink soft drinks and drive. He could have a drink at home whenever he wanted. Bless him.

I'm just waiting to hear from the garage to see if there's any damage. I'll take it from there.

My eldest son has already said not to worry about me providing transport for Alton Towers. He said the Venezuelan lot have said they are happy to go on the coach .......apparently they love riding around on buses. :rotfl:

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

My eldest son has already said not to worry about me providing transport for Alton Towers. He said the Venezuelan lot have said they are happy to go on the coach .......apparently they love riding around on buses. :rotfl:

Result!!:D

It’s interesting but my experience brings both conversation topics this morning together:
About 10 years ago I went to your neck of the woods LL (we hadn’t ‘met’ then otherwise I’d have called in to see you). We went to Stoke because DD wanted to visit the Emma Bridgewater place and the next day we had 4 tickets for Alton Towers for DGD. I’d braced myself for making myself enjoy it. DGD’s dad was working in Crewe and at the last minute he asked if a work colleague could come along. I gladly gave him my ticket!:D I had a brand new car at the time and so I just dropped them off and then I had a day to myself to just drive around getting used to the car and pleasing myself. I’d planned to go to Kedleston but it was closed so I enjoyed Sudbury Hall instead.:)

I enjoy driving but in recent years I’ve become a much worse passenger. I think it’s a control thing. I’m happy to drive anywhere. Although I was perplexed with my sat nav’s choice of route the other week I really didn’t mind driving in London. On reflection I must have been close to sugarbaby as I drove past the Oval and then though Camberwell, Peckham and on to Greenwich.

That being said, I also enjoy public transport. We took the car to London for the gradation the other week but then left it in the hotel car park and used the DLR and the tube. When DH and I do city breaks we always buy a travel pass to get around. You get a much better feel for a place and its people than in a taxi. I use buses around the city here too as it's so much easier than finding car parks (and paying!).

It’s a miserable wet day today:( so I’m hoping to get some more decluttering done. I went back to the kitchen cupboard yesterday and consigned some crockery to the CS bag. Not sure what to tackle today but I’ll do something.

lessonlearned

Alls well that ends well.

No damage to the car....how it escaped Scot free I'll never know but I'm not complaining .......

Raining here too, but not before I managed to clear all the weeds and deadhead the flowers in the front garden, so it's all neat and tidy now.

I've booked a massage for Thursday and have a couple of nice social engagements in the pipeline this week, as well as Alton Towers:eek::rotfl: And, talk about expensive, even with the discounts it's still £32 a head. I can think of better things to spend money on. But, if they enjoy it, who am I to pass judgement.

I truly hate theme parks and I'd be happy never to set foot in one again but it's a combination of a birthday treat for my son plus the Venezuelan lot are as keen as mustard to go so I can't really wriggle out of it, however we travel there.

Thankfully I've got a free evening tonight because I feel absolutely shattered. So a nice early dinner and then maybe a film and finish my book.

Builder here tomorrow so I'll get out of his way and meet with a friend for lunch and a bit of light retail therapy.

Back to the driving thing......I always used to joke that if ever I won the lottery (fat chance I dont even buy tickets.......lol) my luxury items would be having a personal chauffeur at my beck and call and having all my shoes custom made......

My husband ended up being my chauffeur but he couldn't make shoes for toffee..........ha ha.

maman

Good news about the car LL . So you and it had a lucky escape.:T

If I could have personal service I'd like my own hairdresser and perhaps a masseur.

The rain stopped at lunchtime and now the sun is out. I did some sorting in my dining room. Lots of bits (mainly belonging to DH) that needed returning to their proper places. My DH has so much stuff. I can live with it but not in every room in the house!

humptydumptybits

I think I'd have a cook. I have a husband and two kids who are fussy eaters with various allergies so have spent many years cooking 2 or even 3 options for dinner. It is my 49th wedding anniversary this year, my husband can't cook but even when he was well he was a can't cook/won't cook sort of person so I feel like cooking has become such a chore.

lessonlearned

Ooh yeah, definitely a cook.....

I remember my mum once saying the same as you Humpty.

She sat there and in all seriousness said....."I have been washing, ironing, cleaning, shopping and cooking for 64 years and I'm absolutely fed up with it all, but especially the cooking"

They say every cloud has a silver lining and I guess one silver lining of now travelling solo through life is the complete freedom to live as I please. To cook or not to cook, that is the question. :rotfl:

The other silver lining is I no longer have to suffer Match of the Day......:D

I'm currently watching reruns of Downton Abbey ......mmmm.....a lady's maid would be nice.

When I went on the Amazon cruise I shared a cabin with a friend. On formal nights when we got dressed up to the nines we acted as each other's ladies maid, helping with zips and fasteners on our evening gowns and jewellery fastenings etc,

Now that my son no longer lives with me I don't have anyone to help me with fiddly clasps or fastenings on some of my jewellery.

So yes I'll add cook and ladies maid to my list.....

Mind, the way I feel after gardening sometimes, I might have to add gardener too.......:rotfl: I could just see myself wafting around the garden with one of those fancy trug things, doing nothing more taxing than dead heading the roses......lol

Wednesday2000

I would get a cleaner, a gardener and also a personal assistant to do everything I can't be bothered to do.:D

I would like a masseur if they actually used a massage chair instead of a table. I really need to find a place that does that!

I don't really mind cooking as I usually just eat quite simply. It would be absurd to hire someone just to make me toast or pass me a packet of crisps.:rotfl:

I don't do ironing, i never buy any clothes that need it. I bought a linen shirt from a chazzer recently and that was donated as soon as I saw it after washing.

silvasava

LL - I'm getting to the stage of disliking cooking. Its the faff of deciding what to eat and make all the time - especially now DH sits and watches his favourite car programmes while I'm getting our evening meal. Yup love,you just sit there while I carry on working....and then he comes to help after its all prepped and underway, at least he always clears away and makes a coffee for us afterwards
You were so lucky that your car wasnt damaged,I bet you breathed a sigh of relief!
Very little fabbing going on here - kitchen fitter here last week, DS2 here today to fit worktops so I have to be on hand to run to the DIY places to get any odds and sods that are needed. The best I've done is facial moisturiser every day (as usual) and Palmers Cocoa Butter on my dry arms and legs...smells lush though