Frump to Fab 2019 - Here We Go Again

lessonlearned

Ooh I'll ask him.

Feeling tired, Fed, up grumpy and indecisive. Just been to a fireplace showroom. I've been looking both in RL and online for weeks now and can't find anything I really like at a price I want to pay. It's a big purchase so I want to get it right.

I'm obviously not in the right frame of mind, so I'll give it another couple of days and try again.

Maybe I'm just too fussy.

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

Ooh I'll ask him.

Feeling tired, Fed, up grumpy and indecisive. Just been to a fireplace showroom. I've been looking both in RL and online for weeks now and can't find anything I really like at a price I want to pay. It's a big purchase so I want to get it right.

I'm obviously not in the right frame of mind, so I'll give it another couple of days and try again.

Maybe I'm just too fussy.

Not sure what you're looking for. We have a gas fire in the sitting room which doesn't work. It's one with 'real' coals. I'll replace it one day but meanwhile I have fairy lights and candles in the hearth. We really don't miss it except for rare occasions when heating isn't on and just heating one room quickly would be needed. The fire (when it did work) plus heating was too hot. Perhaps you could just choose a fireplace and ensure that a gas or other sort of fire could be added when you find something. Just a thought.

lessonlearned

I hate mediocre meals and poor service in restaurants. I would rather go out less often rather than compromise. Without being cocky I'm a good cook and I do begrudge paying for substandard fare.

Last nights was a Wetherspoons pub. Ok nothing posh but the meal was really good, a nice steak, good chips and a few nice trimmings and a glass of wine, All for £9.25. Excellent meal. Same when I went to their curry night. £7.50 for a great curry and a drink.

The other good thing about Wetherspoons is they seem to site their pubs in nice historic buildings, often rescuing them or repurposing them. Without their input some of them might be lost.

Since joining Meet Up I have been able to reacquaint myself with some of our old old city centre pubs. We have some really nice old ones. Some fell on hard times and have disappeared but we still have some nice ones left. The ones that remain are fighting hard for custom - great news for customers. Many offer good food and often free entertainment. They have had to reinvent themselves and go a bit more upmarket......no more spit and sawdust.:rotfl:

Tonight I'm going to another nice old pub. There is some live entertainment, an acoustic band. No idea what they are like, but it's free entry. I can give it an hour and if I don't like it I can come home, nothing lost.

Still saying "Yes!!" :rotfl:

lessonlearned

maman wrote: »

Not sure what you're looking for. We have a gas fire in the sitting room which doesn't work. It's one with 'real' coals. I'll replace it one day but meanwhile I have fairy lights and candles in the hearth. We really don't miss it except for rare occasions when heating isn't on and just heating one room quickly would be needed. The fire (when it did work) plus heating was too hot. Perhaps you could just choose a fireplace and ensure that a gas or other sort of fire could be added when you find something. Just a thought.

I think you're right. I might put it on hold. The fireplace itself is very pretty and does suit the style of the house. But, like yours, the gas fire itself is more decorative rather than energy efficient. It works fine but gobbles gas, not too bad on the economy setting but then it doesn't throw out a lot of heat.

I'm aiming to have a new window installed. Currently a wooden one, very pretty but single glazed and very draughty. Luckily it's not a listed building so I can replace it with something more energy efficient but replicating the style of the old wooden one. That might be enough to make the room warmer and more comfortable without guzzling too much gas. As you say burning candles also gives off extra heat and a nice cosy glow.

Currently I can heat the room nicely it's just the cost. Although as I have also switched energy suppliers and saved an estimated £200 or so hopefully that won't be quite such an issue next winter.

As my plumber rightly says....the problem with upgrading energy efficiency is that if you are not careful you can spend thousands to save a few hundreds in fuel costs. There has to be a cut off point. He has a point especially as I don't think this will be my forever house.

I like it here and love the house but I think I will want to move back into the city at some point, especially if I want to give up driving.

So any work on the house has got to at least pay for itself even if it doesn't add much value. The bathroom was expensive but worth it because not only will it have added value, it also improved my quality of life.

A freezing cold bathroom and a tepid shower wasn't much fun.

Wednesday2000

I used a peel pad last night and this morning used the Calm facial oil and then the Vit C facial wash from Superdrug, followed by sunscreen.

I have had the worst nights sleep the past four nights, first at the weekend when I was grinding my teeth and then because my husband is working nights. I only got 3 hours Monday night and then 3 hours last night. I did get back to sleep around 7 this morning but I tossed and turned so I just decided to get up.

Luckily, due to the fabbing I don't look too bad!:rotfl:

I am starting using a dry body brush mitt before showers and baths as I saw a YouTuber yesterday and she reminded me I had one!

I was looking on my phone early this morning as I couldn't get back to sleep and I saw a tutorial on how to use illuminating concealer under your eyes if you are over 35.

You are apparently supposed to just do it under the inner part of the under eye and only skim over the outer third of the under eye to avoid the fine lines. I'm going to look for one when I go out next week.

I'm going to tackle the garden slightly today as it is a total mess.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

Wednesday....hope you slept better. It's horrible when you are tired but can't sleep. I'm not too bad at the moment. Getting around 6 to 7 hours but as you can see waking early. Forgot to close the blackout blind, the early morning sun woke me a bit too early.

Car needs to go in for a repair today so will have a home day. Do a bit more skip loading, make the most of it.

Another lb off this morning, so now back to where I was before I regained iyswim. So now its back to the actual last 10lbs or so. Getting there.

Going to go through the freezer today and do an inventory, I need to rotate stocks, and use some of the meat and home made ready meals before I add any more.

maman

Well done on your 1lb off LL.:T I'm going to weigh shortly, I'm still trying to get rid of my holliday gain.

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I am starting using a dry body brush mitt before showers and baths as I saw a YouTuber yesterday and she reminded me I had one!

On a similar vein, I have a number of body exfoliators (mainly Clarins from gift sets) and some face ones. I'd like to use them up. Does anyone use one, and how/when?

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I was looking on my phone early this morning as I couldn't get back to sleep and I saw a tutorial on how to use illuminating concealer under your eyes if you are over 35.

You are apparently supposed to just do it under the inner part of the under eye and only skim over the outer third of the under eye to avoid the fine lines. I'm going to look for one when I go out next week.

I use this Benefit concealer. I like it because it has a built in moisturiser so isn't claggy.

https://www.johnlewis.com/benefit-boi-ing-hydrating-concealer/p3256000

It may not be what you're looking for but it's worth stopping at a Benefit counter and asking them to try it out on you.

I agree about Wetherspoons using historic buildings LL. We have one in an old bank and one in an old docks building. Unfortunately both (and the third in an ordinary pub) are all in need of some money spending on them so I rarely go into them any longer. We used to use the docks one regularly after cinema trips. It's a shame as some of their meals are surprisingly healthy. My favourite one is in Harrogate as it's part of the Pump Rooms.

Not a great deal planned today. DH and I were saying last night how pleased we are with the plumber (recommendation from DD1). He's very tidy, hardworking and a pleasant guy to have in our home but it's still an intrusion of sorts as we have to work around him and keep put of his way. Yesterday, I cleaned all the old chrome fittings from the bathroom. They're all in good condition so they're off to the CS. Maybe I'll fill another bag to go with them.:D

It's still dry and warm here although overcast. Calm before the storm if we believe the forecasts. :eek:

Wednesday2000

lessonlearned wrote: »

Wednesday....hope you slept better. It's horrible when you are tired but can't sleep.

I only got 2 hours last night, I kept jumping at every sound.

I just realised this morning it was because I had moved my hepa filter across the other side of the room the other day!

I moved it back and got three hours sleep, thank goodness!:) I only got up about 11.30. :rotfl:

It's funny as the hepa filter isn't loud but it must block out a lot of street/neighbour noise.

maman wrote: »

On a similar vein, I have a number of body exfoliators (mainly Clarins from gift sets) and some face ones. I'd like to use them up. Does anyone use one, and how/when?

I use a facial exfoliator almost everyday as it suits my skin and I do my feet once a week.

I was actually thinking that as I do that and more recently the skin peel that I should make sure I use sunscreen every day.

I looked at my sunscreens and one bottle is quite old (may have expired?) so I think I will just use that up as body lotion and put my newer face and body ones out with my normal daily routine stuff so I remember.

lessonlearned

Well I have never felt less fab in a long time.....

What's that little ditty about "Mad dogs and Englishmen going out in the noon day sun." It's boiling and I have been working like a demon.

I'm filthy, bathed in sweat and absolutely shattered....after a morning of shed cleaning, (You wouldn't believe the cobwebs) garden clearing, skip loading. Talk about being an unpaid skivvy.

I have already chalked up over 4K steps, plus all the lifting. Who needs to join a gym. :rotfl: I must have burnt off quite a few extra calories and hopefully sweated off another lb or so.

Resting now in the shade. Will maybe do another couple of hours when it's cooler and then a well earned soak in the bath later.

Tomorrow is maintenance day....acupuncture and getting my hair done, I might treat myself to lunch out in between the two appts. I think I have earned it...:rotfl:

maman

humptydumptybits wrote: »

Shortages of prescription meds seems to be getting worse. I took my prescription in on Monday, a year ago they could have given it to me within half an hour but they didn't have any. Chased it today and they are trying to get it for tomorrow. My med runs out tomorrow so I need it for my morning dose on Saturday. Don't know what to do if they don't get it. I could take it late on Saturday if they get it in for the morning but if not I'm lost.

My DH has been having similar problems. He's on the third brand (same generic drug) in a matter of months. Before we went on holiday he went to 6 pharmacies with no luck. In the end he had to take 3 'smaller' pills to make up the dose. #Rattling!
Hope you get sorted. Would your GP prescribe an alternative?
It's no joke.