Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

Moll

maman happy anniversary to you and your husband. 
sorry to hear you havent been well Pixie 
Nice that you had a good holiday LL   where did you stay ?????????  Im curious to know which village, Sorry the weather wasnt great , but as you say its just nice to get away .  , I think the house ( Chatsworth) is open if you book , They are only letting a few in at a time , We drove through Chatsworth last night  on our way to Monsall Head, , All the sheep have been sheared , and the lambs are growing . 
The beauty place i go to for Electrolosis sent me a text weeks ago to say they are now open , including facials? and now the government say no facials  ???? Needless to say  i havent been , 
We got a charity bag through the door for the air ambulance, saying they are collecting today . Id already got 5 black bin liners ready , from when i did de cluttering at the beginning of lockdown , so i was really pleased, as thats where i wanted them to go , and they collected this morning, took everything away and i havent had to haul them to the charity shop , 

chanie

moll my laser hair removal clinic were preparing to open on 4th July along with hairdressers and they sent emails saying they were taking appointments so I booked in.   Then, when salons were told they couldn’t open, my appointment was cancelled.  That may have been what happened with your salon.  

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies 

fantastic sleep last night......don't you just feel so much better when you get a full nights sleep.  Popped myself on the scales.😱😂.  Let's just say it's time to get back on track.😉

As you know it was my birthday this week. 69.  Which means...........yep next year is the big one. My family have already started talking about it......DIL is already thinking about the celebrations.😂. So it has got me thinking......Time to set some goals. 

  Lockdown has changed the landscape in so many ways and so many of the plans I had for this year haven't come to fruition. No matter I have used and will continue to use this period as productively as possible.  I won't be rushing out to pubs and restaurants because I still have to shield DIL and help with childcare so I will be very circumspect with easing out of lockdown and will continue to live quietly. But I can't still make plans and think ahead.  I have two goals.  Improve my health and fitness and finish this house. 

I have a new mantra to keep me motivated.   "Sensational at 70". 

That gives me a year.........😁

Have a great weekend. 

Moll.....we stayed in Darley Dale.  The cottage was at the end of a small private lane (full of ruts and potholes 😂) so lovely and quiet but with the advantage of being within easy distance of the A6 so handy for everything.  

Moll

LL   Unbelievable ive just come through Darley Dale  lol  Glad you enjoyed your break  x
My friend has gone to the sea side for 2 weeks ( Actually looking at houses to buy , as they want to move there to live ) and shes so excited that outdoor swimming pools are now open , What is everyone elses views on them and gyms , Im not ready for using them anytime soon , 

helensbiggestfan

Felt a bit blah today......probably just post holiday blues, and of course it's the run up to the anniversary of my husbands death next month......always a difficult time.  You would think it would get easier with the passage of time but it doesn't really.  Hey ho.  

So I didn't do much today. I Slept in the garden this afternoon. I think part of my problem is that I was just overtired so I decided not to try and fight it but just to rest and take it easy. As My husband used to say "there's nothing spoiling". 

On the positive side.....yesterday there was a lovely birthday card and a Next voucher from DS2 waiting for me for my birthday and then this morning  there was another sum of money from FILs Estate.  Totally unexpected.  

Seeing as it is a "bonus" so to speak I think I will buy something special to keep as a momento of him.  Not sure yet, maybe a nice piece of jewellery or maybe a painting. There's no hurry, I can decide later but I will make sure it doesn't get swallowed up or is left to languish in the bank.  

 I think that his estate Is just about wrapped up now, just one final block of shares To be transferred and SIL has that in hand.  She's done very well. There's just the issue of his ashes but we have had To put that on hold due to Covid.  I don't suppose we are the only ones.  At least we managed to have a proper funeral just before lockdown struck. A lot of people haven't even been able to do that so we have been fortunate,  

Moll......I am just taking it very slowly easing myself out of lockdown mainly because DIL is still needing to shield until the baby is born (October).  She is well enough but it's not an easy pregnancy.  Already the bump is very big and she is getting very uncomfortable, a lot of backache and she Is struggling so I want to make sure I can be on hand to help as much as I can without putting her at risk, so other than shopping trips and a few medical type appts I shall continue to more or less semi shield myself. 

 Tbh I'm not a fan of gyms and public swimming pools, some of them are little better than Petrie dishes at the best of times.  I have had the pleasure of catching infections from them in the past so I do tend to avoid them now.  I wouldn't countenance them whilst Covid is still rife.😱😂 but maybe that's just me being over cautious.    

thepurplepixie

The nearest open air pool to me is Shoalstone in Brixham.  I was surprised that Torbay Council aren't opening it despite what the govt have said, it is a seawater pool and the tide means it is emptied/refilled every day so I would have thought it was safe.  The other  advantage is that it is free.   I'm not sure if Tinside in Plymouth is opening.  

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies.    

Well “Operation Sensational at 70” begins today.  😁.  I have just been to Aldi and have stocked up on healthy foods.  No more grains or starchy carbs allowed.

i have set myself a target of 25lb weight loss by Christmas.  Should be doable at an average of 1lb per week.  Physio assessment first thing tomorrow so need to fill out some forms for that and get organised. 

Have also set myself a goal to repay my mortgage in 5 years. I know I know.  I’m a glutton for punishment.  Lord knows where I will find the extra money so It’s a big ask but hey you need to aim high right.  😉. 

Gorgeous day here.  Going to get out there and make the most of it.  

Have a great day Y’all and soak up that lovely vitamin D.  

savingfortomorrow

I am in two minds about the gym and swimming. I need the motivation to do something  and the regular routine. My exercise routine in covid has been walking to the kettle and washing machine. I have lost motivation  to even do basics honestly. 
However given the swimming  pools  are enclosed and a lovely place  for  nasties to spread should I avoid it? The gum really scares me given the risk of the exhalation of virus with exertion. Do people wear a mask, no not in the gym. 
I was in tesco and honesty  I was the only one in a mask. Some people were not socially  distancing themselves  from me and walking so close that mere inches  separated us. With behaviour  like that I'm going to wear the mask still, I don't care if im the only one,  I look out for me and you (even if they don't).

Lessons don't put yourself under too much stress financial or weight wise. It's not going to be a plain sailing few months and it might be good for everyone to have a plan b that is slower. I wonder if  having a greater access to ready or short term  money might be useful  before reducing low interest debt. I don't know  and I'm just asking because with so much in the air due to the economic  downturn coming and  potential  second  wave are we better of having more liquid assets?

I have tried up a lot of money in long term assets and now am cash poor for the next few months.  If I had known what was coming would I have tied up 95 % of money in property ? I don't know because I have complete  security  for housing but I left myself without much wiggle room for the emergency  fund for the next few months. My plan is to build up  the saving account  over the next few months and pray that the car lasts a few more years. Despite it all, there is no financial  advisor who can honestly  give great advice because so much is in flux- this is a time where we really need to be careful  with money. 

candygirl

Sensational at 70!! That's a brill mantra LL
I've also caught loads from pools, mainly really bad ear infections, which even the swimming ear plugs didn't prevent! It's a shame as I loved swimming at the gym  

helensbiggestfan

What a glorious day.......I ended up falling asleep in the garden again.  🤣. Luckily I was in the shade under the awning otherwise I would have been burnt to a frazzle.  I guess I must just be tired.  

SFT.  Don't worry I won't overdo either the weight loss or the mortgage overpayments. I will be happy with a steady weight loss of 1lb per week and I Will ensure that I still have a financial cushion in case times get rough.  I think you are right, now is the time to be extra careful with our money.  

  I am going to come clean and admit the only reason I can now afford to start overpaying my mortgage is because of my late FILs generousity.  His legacy has made a huge difference to my financial well being and I'm extremely grateful. 

I think your advice is very sound. As you say we don't know what lies ahead and having some savings that are easy to access is probably the safest way forward.  I would advise anyone not to go on a mad spending spree at the moment.  Better to squirrel it away for now and protect ourselves.  I won't be making any major purchases or splurging on exotic cruises for the foreseeable future.  I do need to replace my cooker and there are some remedial works I still need to complete but I won't be spending on non essentials such as landscaping or new furniture.  I shall continue to do as much of the gardening and renovations myself. I would love some new sofas but that's a want rather than a need, there's nothing wrong with mine and they are a neutral mid grey so I will just make do with some new cushions and throws to match the new rug.  They won't  cost much.  I might even make the cushion covers myself and be really thrifty.  

I'm in a similar situation with my car......it's getting a bit long in the tooth but I really don't want to have to replace it just yet.  The MOT is due next January so I'll wait and see. I don't do a high mileage so I might be lucky and get another couple of years out of the old girl.  Luckily I don't "need" a car. I could manage perfectly well without one if I had to but I admit it's a nice to have. 

My biggest expenses in the next few weeks are medically related......physio treatments and new glasses.  Both definitely needs and non negotiable.