Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

Wednesday2000

chanie said:

Me and OH went out last night to celebrate 17 years together.   

Aw, I'm glad you had a lovely time.

maman

Happy Anniversary to you chanie. 💐💞

chanie

Thank you everyone.  We rarely get time when it’s just the two of us, so it was nice to go out.

helensbiggestfan

Belated  happy anniversaries Maman and Chanie.  💐💐🥂🥂.  

savingmore

just popping in to say this is still my favourite diary, catch up a couple of times a week.  went through a stage last month whenever I was so done with everything, but the sun has helped, and two long weekends away really helped.  your jerk chicken looks scrummy sugarbaby.  I know it’s a staple for you.  would you mind sharing how you make it?  I love all things Jamaica, and to learn properly would be a treat!  keepfabbing and posting, these virtual friend diaries really have been a lifeline this year, and I so look forward to catching up with everyone, even if I don’t post so often.  I need to get over my online shyness🤣🤣.  don’t know what that is about.

sheilavw

Belated Happy Anniversary Maman and Chanie, you both sound like you had a lovely time.

Sugarbaby, your chicken looks delicious, I eat a lot of chicken and fish rather than red meat.

Just off for early morning swim, need to keep up with it!

helensbiggestfan

Well hello lovely ladies

Savingmore......glad you're feeling a bit more cheerful.  We all go through it at the best of times but I think the pandemic really does seem to make it harder to stay upbeat and positive sometimes.  I know there have been times when I have had to dig deep, especially as I have decided not to find a refuge in comfort eating or alcohol.  Or at least trying to restrict the comfort eating to healthy options.  😉

Fab looking chicken there SUgarbaby.  One of my favourite Caribbean recipes is goat curry.  Was only talking about it the other day to my DS1.  I have promised to try and find some goat meat and have a go.  Tonight  I'm doing myself a "cheeky Nando's".   I'll keep the WW points down by having a healthy green salad with it and going without the garlic bread or chips. 😂. Nice to be able to use the oven again now that it's cooled down a bit.  

Woke up this morning feeling a bit cheesed off (no reason, just lockdown ennui) so I took myself off to have a browse round the chazzers.  Saw nothing I fancied but popped into the local ASDA and mooched round the housewares. Picked up a few bits to go with my new mustard coloured rug which is designated for the lounge.....when I've painted the hearth.  A couple of cushions, a throw and a jug vase.  Just £14 the lot.   The hearth tiles are Currently a nondescript yukky beige, edged with some fake mahogany trim which has seen better days. I am paint the lot black to match the cast iron black insert which is actually rather nice.  What on earth possessed someone to go for cheap modern beige tiles to offset such a pretty fireplace is beyond my comprehension.  Anyway a tin of mat black paint will sort it.  I have got the paint already. 

Getting ready for a cheap and cheerful Autumnal refresh next month. This year mainly mustards and purples.  Should lift the blues and greys nicely. I do like to ring the changes through the seasons.  I know it might sound extravagant to change out accessories regularly but I don't spend much. I have a big whicker chest where I store spare cushions, throws, pretty objects so I can ring the changes with a minimal spend. That will see me through till December when I can go to town on Christmas.  Luckily the front garden has finally decided to perk up and I will have plenty of flowers for cutting through Sept and October that will match my chosen colour scheme.  The purple dahlias are looking great.   

Noticed there was a feature on being attractive and glamorous  in our 70s In today's Daily Mail so my plan for Sensational at 70 is on the right track.  😂. 

Now that the temps are down my plan is to get out and do some gardening this weekend.  

Right that's it, lunch break over, time to wash out the blue and brown bins.   

My life is just too glamorous by half.  😂🤣. 

maman

Thanks for all the good wishes. We had an absolutely marvellous time last night.  I can honestly say that our visit to the (same) restaurant as we last went to 5 months ago was just the same with the exception that the waiters were wearing masks. It's quite a high end restaurant so they don't pack the tables in anyway so the social distancing wasn't a problem. I'm so pleased we made the effort. Having toyed with the idea of getting a taxi we decided to brave public transport in the end. The buses were so empty it was like having our own private travel anyway. 😀

We had some rain yesterday afternoon at last so the heat wasn't oppressive but it was warm enough to wear my strappy dress from Zara. I wore my gold Fitflops with it as they were the most comfortable to walk in as we weren't taking the car. I did some light make up and minimal jewellery and I felt a million dollars. It was so good to have something to dress up for. 😊

No need to be shy on here savingmore. I'd pleased you enjoy reading all our chat but do join in if you want, everyone's welcome. 

I've been pottering around most of the day but I do need to get out and do some food shopping. We're having fake KFC tonight LL. It's a SW favourite that's become something of a Friday tradition. Instead of deep frying the chicken it's baked in a crust made with dried potato powder (Smash or similar) mixed with herbs and spices. I do my own oven baked chips so they're healthy enough and then sides like tomatoes and mushrooms and something green. I'm making myself hungry. 😋

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,
Maman it sounds like you and your husband had a fantastic night out.    

LL we say curry goat. It is actually mutton that is used rather than actual goat meat. 3 of my sisters make this regularly, but I only have curry goat if I buy it from my local Caribbean take away about every 3 to 4 months as a treat. I just buy the small lunch time meal, which is enough to satisfy my craving for curry goat without me eating a take away meal too laden with calories. 

I have been busy shopping today as the weather was so much cooler. Even when it was drizzling, I did not mind, as it was welcome after all of the extreme temperatures we have endured here in south London. I went to Lidl in Peckham in the morning, then later in the afternoon, I went to Boots in Brixton and Streatham. 

I wanted to buy some No7 make up and skincare items, while they are giving out £10 off No7 vouchers. I bought a sparkling drink for £1 for my daughter in order for me to receive the 1st voucher at the till. So after doing 4 separate shops and spending only £35 I made savings of £122.50.  All the items are for my sisters and other female members of my family for Christmas presents. They are safely packed away in a storage box until December. 

savingmore

helensbiggestfan said:

Well hello lovely ladies

Savingmore......glad you're feeling a bit more cheerful.  We all go through it at the best of times but I think the pandemic really does seem to make it harder to stay upbeat and positive sometimes.  I know there have been times when I have had to dig deep, especially as I have decided not to find a refuge in comfort eating or alcohol.  Or at least trying to restrict the comfort eating to healthy options.  😉

Fab looking chicken there SUgarbaby.  One of my favourite Caribbean recipes is goat curry.  Was only talking about it the other day to my DS1.  I have promised to try and find some goat meat and have a go.  Tonight  I'm doing myself a "cheeky Nando's".   I'll keep the WW points down by having a healthy green salad with it and going without the garlic bread or chips. 😂. Nice to be able to use the oven again now that it's cooled down a bit.  

Woke up this morning feeling a bit cheesed off (no reason, just lockdown ennui) so I took myself off to have a browse round the chazzers.  Saw nothing I fancied but popped into the local ASDA and mooched round the housewares. Picked up a few bits to go with my new mustard coloured rug which is designated for the lounge.....when I've painted the hearth.  A couple of cushions, a throw and a jug vase.  Just £14 the lot.   The hearth tiles are Currently a nondescript yukky beige, edged with some fake mahogany trim which has seen better days. I am paint the lot black to match the cast iron black insert which is actually rather nice.  What on earth possessed someone to go for cheap modern beige tiles to offset such a pretty fireplace is beyond my comprehension.  Anyway a tin of mat black paint will sort it.  I have got the paint already. 

Getting ready for a cheap and cheerful Autumnal refresh next month. This year mainly mustards and purples.  Should lift the blues and greys nicely. I do like to ring the changes through the seasons.  I know it might sound extravagant to change out accessories regularly but I don't spend much. I have a big whicker chest where I store spare cushions, throws, pretty objects so I can ring the changes with a minimal spend. That will see me through till December when I can go to town on Christmas.  Luckily the front garden has finally decided to perk up and I will have plenty of flowers for cutting through Sept and October that will match my chosen colour scheme.  The purple dahlias are looking great.   

Noticed there was a feature on being attractive and glamorous  in our 70s In today's Daily Mail so my plan for Sensational at 70 is on the right track.  😂. 

Now that the temps are down my plan is to get out and do some gardening this weekend.  

Right that's it, lunch break over, time to wash out the blue and brown bins.   

My life is just too glamorous by half.  😂🤣. 

I read that article LL and immediately thought of you!  trend setting again!!! I am fascinated with you putting mustard and purple with the the blue and beige, I wouldn’t have thought of that combo, but i know you do interior design.  Would love to see photos when you change it all over.