Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

lessonlearned

Good afternoon lovely ladies.

Beautifully sunny day here. Cold and windy but fresh, nice to blow the cobwebs away.

Had a fabulous time at the costume exhibition. As I thought mainly evening dress but also shoes, hats, bags etc. Chanel, Worth, Norman Hartnell. All from the 20s and 30s. What struck me was how timeless they were, especially Chanel. They really would not look out of place as formal wear today. And of course the craftsmanship was exquisite, all that beadwork must have taken hours. Everything made by hand. I bet the seamstresses would probably have been paid a pittance too.

But so inspiring. I really must buy myself a new sewing machine and start sewing again. . Although tbh with the price of fabrics it's cheaper to buy ready made, especially if I can pick up something from a charity shop.

Once again seeing costumes always reminds me just how spoilt we are these days with our ready to wear, off the peg, affordable clothing.

Then had a nice lunch at an Italian restaurant, went for a nice healthy salad and non alcoholic cocktail (I was driving). So a lovely day. It was so nice to get out at long last. Being so ill meant I was practically housebound for nearly 3 weeks. I was beginning to get cabin fever.....

SUgarbaby.....so glad your daughter is now recovered. She had a tough time of it, hope you aren't hit so badly and you start to pick up soon.

Omg. Candy. Hope you are ok hon. Take care. At least no bones broken but obviously very sore and painful. Hope your neurologist can help you - when you eventually get to see them. An awfully long wait for you.

Pixie....sorry to hear you are feeling low. I don't see why you can't have lemon merangue pie after a curry. Ok maybe its not traditional but who cares. I actually find most Asian style deserts far too sickly sweet so I never eat a pudding when I eat in Asian restaurants. I think a nice tangy lemon desert might go very well, quite refreshing. I don't eat pastry myself but I do love a lemon sorbet or lemon roulade after a rich meal. Nice and light.

Going to have a light supper, probably just an omelette and take it easy now.

I am really into reading at the moment. Just finished Katie Hopkins auto biography. I know she's a bit like marmite, love her or hate her. I like her, and thoroughly enjoyed her book. I'm now reading Grace Jones memoirs.....another strong, controversial and opinionated woman. Only just on chapter 1, so too soon for a verdict yet.

I have also been reading some academic tomes and feminist critiques and for light relief a bit of chick lit. Last night I didn't fancy reading so binge watched "The Devils W h o r e", set during the English civil war. I had seen it before several years ago but thoroughly enjoyed watching it again. Great story.....History made easy.

I am really looking forward to watching Catherine the Great (Helen Mirren) when its available. I confess I don't know much about Russian history and I find ploughing through Russian history books or literature is just too much like hard work.....so I take the easy way out and wait for the films or tv documentaries. Lazy or what. :rotfl:

Wednesday2000

I'm glad your daughter is feeling better Sugarbaby.

I have been busy decluttering and still cleaning! It never ends!

I am off out at the weekend to see my brother. We are going out around Leicester Square/Covent Garden area. We always used to go out there but now I go out much more in east London so it will nice to go back there for a change.

I'm going to be casual so I will wear my black New Look short dress, a top, my faux leather jacket and my skechers. That is becoming my uniform at the moment!:o

thepurplepixie wrote: »

Feeling a bit down, not sure why. Decided to make myself a lemon meringue pie for lunch, just had a slice with a cuppa and I have to say it was lovely and I'm trying to resist having another. Grandson coming for dinner tonight so making a curry, does lemon meringue sound right for after a curry? I sort of think it doesn't but on the other hand I think I could eat it after anything. If he doesn't fancy it then it's more for me so a win win really.

Sorry you are feeling down. I love lemon meringue, delicious.:)

candygirl wrote: »

Not really feeling fab at the moment
Had a really bad fall on Monday night.Went out to get a parcel n slipped n fell.Couldn't get up, as my right leg had gone completely numb.My neighbours came to help, but I had to literally crawl back into the house, n sort of drag myself up on the sofa! Very scary , n I'm full of bruises n very sore now
Still waiting for the neurology appointment :mad:

Oh no. :(That is a really long time to wait!:mad:

maman wrote: »

That's exactly the weighted blanket that I bought Wednesday and DGD loves it.

Oh great. :A

silvasava

LL - the costume exhibition sounds fab. Many years ago I saw a display of a designer called Fortuny who designed for Lily Langtry. The detail and the intricate beading was absolutely stunning. He also pioneered fine pleating. I also went to the V&A some years ago that was displaying clothes from the 40's and 50's. The main impression was how sombre the colours were, browns, greys, black - no bright colours at all except Princess Margaret's ball gowns - she was so tiny!

Drawingaline

LL sounds like a fab exhibition, I love looking at old clothes like that.

I also know little about Russian history. I found some historical fiction books set in Russia around WW2, but harking back to pre WW1, found them really interesting, the stories were good too. By an author called Sam Eastland. They follow a 'policeman' who has to negotiate the people in power while solving crimes.

Today I was doing two cleaning jobs, although I did spend the morning revising for my exam I sat this eve. I also bought a fleece to wear on walks and some walking shoes, so now I have boots and shoes. I also bought a new pair of pj's, I rarely buy new bedwear, but my favourite matching set is flannel and I am just too hot all the time to wear them now.

Came in had a shower and made the effort to just wash my fringe which was looking awful. Put some new jeans on to sit my exam.

Sat my exam. Its part of my fab journey, doing a course to help change my job.

thepurplepixie

Wednesday I know I shouldn't say it but it was the nicest lemon meringue I've ever made and two big slices did alot to raise my mood. Maybe they should put it on prescription, well not with me making them all obviously that might lead to a very low mood.

Drawingaline, good luck with the exam, I hope it went well.

chanie

Ooo…. Russian history. I remember studying this for my A-levels (The Royal Family, Rasputin, Lenin etc) and finding it interesting. I'm going to read up on it.

Apologies for not posting for a while (although I have been keeping up to date). I have been busy with work (but in a good way) and I always think that no news is normally good news.

maman

Thanks for posting chanie. Glad everything's OK.:)

Oooh what course are you doing drawingaline? I wish there was a nosey smiley, I'd use it daily.:o

I really enjoy historical fiction and then I read up on Wikipedia or one of my reference books to make sure I haven't confused the fiction with the historical facts. I don't know much about Russian history though. Does Dr Zhivago or Anna Karenina count?:D

A friend and I went to the exhibition of the Queen's dresses across the reign in the Buckingham Palace state rooms a couple of years back. It was the detail that impressed me too, amazing embroidery and beading.

I bought myself a dress in the CS today. It's a Warehouse multicoloured sort of beach dress which will look good over a bikini. It was in the everything costs a £1 shop so didn't break the bank! I also bought a book for 50p and a journal from TKMaxx that I'm going to use as my food diary/menu planner. And I went into Holland & Barret and bought a bottle of flaxseed oil as that will be easier to use on my face as serum than cracking open the capsules. All in all a good little shopping trip although I only went to buy some veg!:D

I wore a different skirt last night. It's a Monsoon one in a taupe and black printed velvet with a deep black band at the hem. It's another keeper although I need a top other than black to wear with it and also need to lose a pound or two more of my Christmas weight to feel comfortable in it as I noticed it's a size 10. I had a compliment on my nails too. That surprised me as they're not painted but looking really neat and tidy plus my hands are very soft. I think it's probably because we give hands a lot when we're dancing so maybe that's why they were noticed.

Sunny here first thing bit rain arrived.:(

lessonlearned

Hello lovely ladies

Blowing a gale here now, lashing down with rain. What larks. Luckily I managed my walk today before the rain started.

Roll on spring.....:rotfl:

maddiemay

Hi all, a foul weather day here today, dark, wet and windy, but I keep reminding myself not to moan (just comment) about it as all those poor people in Australia would so welcome some of this wetness.

Not been doing anything much, still have after effects of virus, but at least have stopped loosing weight (apologies to those that would like to shed a little).

Had another fun afternoon at Knit N Natter yesterday. Maman - I used to knit a lot and quite well, but found concentration difficult, so it has been mainly scarves, hand warmers, shawls and neck warmers in lovely yarns and interesting colours. Now the RA is causing major difficulties with my hands so not much being produced. I optimistically bought some gorgeous Rowan yarn to make a loose tunic style sweater to wear over T shirts or slim roll necks, but have had to admit defeat and ask yarn shop owner friend to have it knitted up for me. It will be an expensive garment, but I have already spent a lot on the yarn, and it will be one of those investment pieces in the end.

LL - pleased that you are beginning to feel better, sugarbaby - I hope that you too feel better soon.

Apologies for not replying to the other posts at present, will try and catch up later.

misstara

Hi everyone
The lurgy has now passed but I have an infection in my tooth so still not feeling particularly fab. Just waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.

Haven't worn make up since last week due to feeling rubbish but have been continuing to body brush and apply moisturiser every day after a shower. Also continuing to use up the hand creams and foot cream.