Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

candygirl

Talking of holidays, it makes me so grateful that I got to Goa before all this chaos .It was my first hot hols in ten years, so lucky timing
LL my Mum's friend is always on cruises , She is very sociable and loves meeting people, n joining all the clubs.
Just been on the phone to Mum, She's so cheesed off at the moment, n is sick of lock down .Think we're all feeling similar, but glad the ASDA trip was fruitful LL.I've got Home Bargains withdrawals, but every time I've been recently, the queue outside is so long, n I can't stand long enough  
Anyway , I'm off to sort naughty pooch out, She's just run in with half a bush in her mouth 🙄🙄🙄

chanie

Helen the timing of shopping can be strange.  I went to Lidl and walked straight in but when I left, there were about 10 people waiting in the queue outside.

candy it was fortunate that you’ve had your holiday before lockdown.

We have just saved £55 a month on our tv package.  We needed to update our broadband so took the opportunity to review our usage and saved £1000 on the contract.   We need to make some cutbacks as my contract finishes this week.

candygirl

That's a brilliant saving CHANIE ! I got a letter from EDF saying they're reducing my monthly DD, every little helps, n I can treat myself a bit more when things get back to normal ish xx

savingfortomorrow

today im really tired- I made a flat bread and the carbohydrate just hit my head and dozed off. I try and limit fast releasing carbohydates but I never knew it was so sleep inducing for me.
A lot of the shops are opening up now, it is great. I don't mind queueing as I usually have a podcast to listen to. i can people watch. 

chanie

I was hoping you lovely ladies can help me to decorate this wall in the dining room.  The wall is a light grey.  I was thinking of creating a gallery wall.  I have two frames I can use, but i will need a couple more (needs to be cheap).   Or, if you have any other suggestions, please send them my way.  We may put a small sofa in front of the wall, so whatever we do needs work around that.

helensbiggestfan

fantastic saving there Chanie.  😞 to your contract ending this week.  Are you looking for something else.  

Candy.....sorry your mum is struggling.....it must be hard for her.  I think a lot of people are starting to find lockdown difficult now, even yours truly who is usually insanely optimistic. I have had the odd meh day, although thankfully I'm feeling much better now.  

My poor DIL is really struggling.  She is starting to suffer from anxiety now.  She did a bit last time when she was pregnant but this time it seems much worse. A combination of tiredness and hormones, but I think definitely exacerbated by lockdown.  I have been watching her for the last couple of weeks and I could see she was dipping. My grandson was a bit off it yesterday. nothing serious, he is back to his old self today but she got in such a state. 

She has confessed today she has been worrying about my son, whether or not he will get sick and die like his father did.  What can I say.  Poor thing.  She said she hadnt wanted to tell me about how afraid she is because she didn't want to upset me by talking about my husband.  

Fancy holding that worry a secret, especially when you're pregnant and more susceptible to fear and worry. The poor girl.    I've done my best to reassure her today, telling her that the consultant says that he is pretty certain it was a one off and not genetic.  Anyway I've told her that I wont be upset if she wants to talk it through and that she can ask me anything.  I've also told her she can call me whenever, day or night if she feels anxious or panicky.  She seemed a bit calmer just now and said it helps her to know that. 

She's invited herself over for the day with GS tomorrow.   I'm going to take them to the park, cook a nice lunch and will just her talk if she wants to. I will answer her questions.

 I did this with DS2, going through everything in detail, explained how to minimise the risks, what warning signals to watch for and where to go for help, which consultant to see - a different one.....a world renowned expert in his field.  All these things I found out once it was too late for my husband because the illness was too firmly established.  It seems whilst there is as yet no cure, if caught early enough there is a good chance it's progress can be halted in its tracks but of course I didn't know all that stuff then. (And of course the optimist in me says that if they were to be unlucky, then if they follow the same sort of timescales and pattern as my husband, then stem cell treatments should be available by then).  

DS2 took it all on board but DS1 didn't want to know. He wouldn't discuss it.  Even now he never talks about his fathers illness.  He didn't back in the day, he just couldn't face it. He's a typical bloke, bottles it all up and thinks he has to be strong.  He hardly ever speaks about his father, he just can't. He just threw himself into his work, never even took a day off and has never let up since, it's just his way.  

Both boys are a bit like that, but DS1 is much the worst of the two. Neither of them hardly ever speak about their father.  I guess maybe men are just different in the way they grieve.  We women talk about our lost ones, men rarely seem to. Men really are from Mars sometimes.  

I think DIL wants to talk though.  I think she realises she needs to. She's a smart girl with a "science" brain so hopefully she will get a much better understanding and hopefully I can allay some of her fears. I will have to tread very carefully though. She will want the full picture, she's not the sort to be fobbed off but I don't want to scare the poor girl.   There's a strong chance that the boys and their children are well in the clear but, as the consultant said, there are no cast iron guarantees. Just like Covid, they don't know enough.  My husbands illness was very rare rare and they are still learning.  

 I push the niggling doubts that the boys might be at risk to the back of my mind but whenever either of them gets ill or even looks a bit peaky the fear comes rushing back. I never voice those fears to them though, I just keep the feelings of terror to myself. It's very hard to live with and I wonder if it would just be kinder to her to keep "the no cast iron guarantees" bit to myself.  She is not an optimist like me, I doubt she could cope with "the whole truth".  What a dilemma, -  it is most definitely not a conversation I'm looking forward to. 

Hey ho, just another hurdle to overcome..... just when I thought it was done.   After almost 6 years since his death you would think it would be over but no, it's still hangs over us. I guess the ramifications of such an illness never really go away.  DS2 has never said as much but I think the uncertainty is the reason he doesn't want children.  I understand that, if I was in his shoes I would probably make the same decision. I had a close friend once, sadly dead now, who had Fredreichs Ataxia, which is genetic.  The day he received his diagnosis he broke off his engagement, saying it stops here. He never went back on his decision.  

Sorry to pour it all out......thanks for "listening" though.  It's very much appreciated.  

The good news is the virus figures are finally coming down. 

chanie

ll your poor DIL. I Can’t imagine how she must be feeling, but at least she had you all to look after her.  I hope you all have a nice day together.

Wednesday2000

I just saw this today. I've never heard of the Grandma trend!

9 Grandma Fashion Trends That Are Everywhere | Who What Wear UK

I just did a face pack and I have a hair treatment on before I have a hot shower. At least the sun is out today. I felt almost like putting the heating back on yesterday.

maman

chanie said:

ll your poor DIL. I Can’t imagine how she must be feeling, but at least she had you all to look after her.  I hope you all have a nice day together.

I'm sure you'll do all you can to help LL. There are so many pressures and worries on her at the moment, it's no wonder she's not coping. I expect she's missing her family too and worried about them. 

[Deleted User]

LL - I'm so sorry that you're going through this! 😔 It must be so difficult for all of you at the moment- I'd love to be able to say something to make it easier but there are no words ... you're in my thoughts x