Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

thepurplepixie

I've been off to Plymouth for the day to do some shopping.  Bit depressing, so many empty shops that don't look like they are reopening.  Stopped on the way home and had a holiday maker cream tea so I feel like I've been on holiday today.  Bought a few bits, nothing very exciting but I seem to have destroyed half my clothes during lockdown as I went a bit mad bleaching everywhere and I seem to have splashed myself.
Is anyone having problems with flies?  We seem to have loads and as fast as I kill them more arrive, not sure if it is the weather as neighbours are saying the same.  
I found out what was causing all the bird action in my garden, we have a nest of birds in one of our overgrown bushes and one of the parents is standing guard and fighting any other birds that come close.  It is quite a small bird but very feisty, I saw it fighting a crow which seemed a real David and Goliath thing and lots of feathers were flying but that protective parent thing is obviously strong.  Gardener is due to come and cut all the bushes down in October but I am assuming the chicks will have flown by then, I hope so anyway or I will be left with one big overgrown bush.

savingfortomorrow

I'm planning on doing very little. I have a lot of paperwork  to get sorted and getting caught up on that will remove pressure  from  me. 
Booked in for the swimming  tomorrow.  I am not being terribly  exciting but trying to keep as active as possible.

I'm down a little weight but it is harder to loose it than when I was 21. Weight would fall off me. Stuff it, no point looking backwards, metabolism  changes. 

I have no interest  in eating  out yet, I'm in a hot zone. My coworkers have decided that i'm on the super cautious  scale. I bought cups of tea but I  would feel to anxious to enjoy food. Each go their own  and no judgement.  

My skin is getting a bit spotty, 6 months of daily mask wearing for 9 hours  a day will do it. I'm slapping in the glycolic acid. I might try the ordinary azelic acid if the glycolic is not enough. I can deal with spots if everyone  is safe. 

Purple pixie .. I find bananas  attract flies terribly. If you have a lot of them in one location ie a light or small bit of wall, sometimes a mouse has died behind the plaster board and  it takes a few days to clear. 

FreetodoasIlike

Oh dear - I’m having problems with my iPad too. I’ve just tried to post twice and I lost both of them. I think it might be our internet connection and storm Ellen. I live in the North-West and we have been having torrential rain and winds most of the day. I am giving up now and will try and post tomorrow.
PS maman Happy to be known as FT. I chose the name when I retired last last year as it seemed apt.

thepurplepixie

We are lucky in the South West as the infection is very low, only one covid patient in a Devon hospital last I heard a couple of days ago.  I must admit I really thought it would rocket when the visitors arrived in July and the holiday hot spots near me are packed but so far it doesn't seem to have affected the level of infection.  All credit to the visitors as they seem to be being very sensible, people respecting social distancing, hand sanitizers everywhere which are being well used and everyone in shops seem to be wearing masks.  At the moment where I am I think the confirmed cases are 1 in 100,000 and I know in some places it is more like 70 in 100,000 so a big difference.  We did a hard lockdown due to husband's health so we have decided to enjoy what we can as I think it will get worse in winter.  I'm not sure what the pubs are like as we don't drink and the only place we'd go in the evening is a walk by the beach when it is quiet.  To be honest down here people describe it as being like the "phoney war" as we have been so lucky.
I wonder how the schools going back will turn out, I do think 30 teenagers in a small classroom must be a risk but I got it wrong about the holiday makers so maybe it will be fine, fingers crossed.  It must be hard in a hotspot particularly when you have to mix at work.
I do always have bananas in the house so maybe that is it, they don't seem to have a favourite place.  My husband thinks they are sand flies and are being stirred up by all the wind and rain we have had this week.  Hopefully they will buzz off soon.

savingmore

Haven’t been on for a few days and the thread has been very active😀. Loved reading tithe threads of those of you who worked in m&s, I am another one!  worked saturdays and holidays during sixth form and couldn’t college.  Loved it as several of you have said - they were such good employers.  we also had yearly chest x-rays on top of the other perks, my mum loved all the food at the end of the day.  I remeber the canteen, it was 10p for four food vouchers, one for each tea break, i found you had cake, and to vouchers for a two course lunch.  I too had my own island (doing, stock, ordering etc) started on menswear, then ladies jumpers and then tights - my preference as it was so busy.  American Tan was the most popular colour followed by black and mink grey!  my first daily wage was £2.60 - I bought a beach towel with my first wage (still use it) and a leather key ring with my second weeks wage, still use that too!  started work the july after my olevels and got six weeks wages at christmas - based on summer holiday working, it was so generous.  i will share my blushes in explaining how i started measuring men for trousers without any training....i can laugh at i the now, but it was pretty embarrassing at the time to a 16 year old!

chanie

pixie we have lots of flies at the moment.  Me and OH we’re just watching a film and a fly kept on walking across the screen, but neither of us could be bothered to do anything about it.

I had my Mother’s Day facial today and tried dermaplanning, Which is where they shave your face. My skin does look fresher, but I’ll be interested to see how it looks over the next couple of days.

helensbiggestfan

Morning. Welcome FT.   

I don’t what’s wrong. My iPad is fine. It’s just once again can’t access MSE. Currently using mobile so won’t write much.  
All is good. Decluttering and painting.  Have booked a massage for Tuesday. 👍.
Have a great weekend. 

thepurplepixie

I'm hanging on for hair cut on Tuesday, it has grown like wildfire so I will book my next cut for 6 weeks, I normally go 7 or 8 weeks.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Welcome Free To Do As You Like   

I went to eat out for the 1st time since the pandemic started at Morrisons cafe inside the Peckham store. Years ago when I was a weekly Morrisons shopper, I would sometimes eat in the cafe. Times are different now, so I did feel some anxiety, so I planned my visit for a later lunch and left home at 2pm. Most employed people will have returned to work by 2pm, so the cafe was not busy. Each of us could have a table meant for 4 diners to ourselves and I was happy about that. There were so many hand sanitising stations in the Morrisons store, which was good to see. 

The only downside was that I was genuinely surprised to see lots of the shoppers were not wearing a mask.    There were so many members of staff working and there was a security guard stationed at the entrance to the store, so I do not understand why customers were being allowed to enter the store without wearing a face mask or face covering of any kind. I will  not be returning to this Morrisons store or the integral cafe. In future I will stick to the Camberwell Green Morrisons for any top up shopping as they do not allow anyone to enter the store without a face mask or other face covering. 

I did really enjoy the fish & chips but the green peas were undercooked so I did not eat them. I would not repeat the experience, as putting myself at risk to have a meal out is not worth it. 

I worked for Marks & Spencer as a seasonal worker for only 8 weeks in their Walworth Road store about 20 years ago. I took to working on the till like a duck to water. My family never ate so good before as I bought cut price food every day.           

I worked for BHS on Oxford Street for a few years stating work there when I was about 36 years old. 

My 1st ever job was a Saturday job working in the Membership department of the Youth Hostel Association which was just off The Strand. I was only 17 years old at the time and my sister R was working there and had put in a good word for me. I had an interview and was offered a job on the spot. I could touch type and there was a lot of typing involved in the role. I really improved my touch typing skills and my typing speed working there. I left when I managed to get a full time job working for a local council in the Rates Department. The fore runner to our existing Council Tax department. 

A friend has invited me to his birthday party on Saturday 5th September and I am super excited. The dress code is all white. A real chance for me to get fabbing. I am trying to get my finger nails into a good condition as at the moment they are dry. I am using No7 Strength & Growth Treatment on them. 

I wish I had not gained the 21 pounds that I gained in recent months, but I will not allow the weight gain to stop me from getting all glamorous for the party and having a good time. 

I have already started to make better, healthier food choices, but weight loss is proving to be hard this time round. I will persevere and see where I am in 6 months time. 

I have also started to do a little exercise each day. I am taking it easy as otherwise I get breathless, but I know my stamina will increase eventually. 

thepurplepixie

Amazing how many of us worked for M&S!  I don't know if it was true but I do remember  a friend who worked at Woolworths and she reckoned they were better paid but no perks.  It would have killed me if they put me on the pick n mix.