Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

shanks77

sheilavw said:

hope Maman is back soon. I have pledged to walk/swim etc 100k throughout September to raise money for MND charity, the cruel disease that I lost my Husband too last July. His MND team usually do a walk but due to covid this is their challenge for this year so I have signed up. Yesterday I had 18.513 steps in just running round the large school that I work in. Tonight I hope to go and do my 40 lengths at the gym.  I've done about 37km in 3 days so expect to reach my target in a few days. I really miss my bath, we had a wet room put in last year. I went away with my daughters to Wales last weekend, I had a bath morning and night in my room!

I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I am caring for my ex with the same disease. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. He raised money to do the kiltwalk for MND but it didn’t happen. However everyone was very kind and let him keep the money so have put that to them as our small contribution. Well done to you for the amount of exercise you have done already will need to up my game. Sending hugs your way xx

sheilavw

Thanks everyone, sorry to hear that Shanks. Mick only lived 11 and half months after diagnosis, he was 59, we were together41 years and married almost 35. As a family with funeral donations, and other donations , fundraising etc we have raised about 2k. I just wish that there was a cure for this vile disease.

I've just watched the film Fishermans friend. It was one that was on our list to watch. I enjoyed it. Nearly time to turn in! I am reading the Yorkshire Shepherdess on my kindle. Some of you may have watched the TV series about Amanda and Clive Owen and their 9 children who farm.

savingmore

Been awol for a few days whilst looking around new diaries.  Some inspiring posts on here as usual.  That really was great wisdom and advice the other day LL about exercise and food.  Will go back and read it again.  You are right, it is the small, persistent steps that make the difference.  This is what I am desperately trying to do with saving, to make a difference for my retirement, hopefully in 2-3 years.  I don’t want to put off life, but small, seemingly insignificant steps can add up.  i.e just free choosing meals, realising some cost a lot more than others, or budgeting, meal planning can make a big difference to weekly food budget.  I love beans on toast for instance, having those a couple of times a week can save a bit, and I am then trying to squirrel away a £1 or so if have a cheap meal.  or savings in a supermarket.  I have a pot from my bank account and squirrel money over if I ‘save’ something, then invest it straight into my online stocks and shares ISA a couple of times a month It is making a big difference and helps to feel you are doing what is possible with focus and intentionality.  it’s also helped with losing weight as not buying and eating snacks has helped the bank balance too.  Onwards and upwards😀😀😀. need to do the same with exercise.  just couldn’t get off the couch yesterday 😂😂

savingfortomorrow

I know what you mean saving more. J started saving in earnest. I pay myself first and have been saving a good amount since June. J spent s lot on structural  work for the house that I wanted to get done as soon as lock down  ended. However it removed a lot of  savings from this year. 
I pay myself 60 a week in a work based scheme. I'm at over 1060 now. I have been transferring  100 into another account just randomly and  it had totalled  up s lot in the last few months. I don't check the balance daily so it is nice to see it build up.
Then I transfer more into the saving account linked to my current account.  
I am saving a lot because it is raining now, it is our rainy day and the sky is looking dark. I want peace of mind that I can weather the storm. 
I could view it that eating better, exercising better and setting aside more will prepare me more of the times ahead. 

I hope that all the unforeseen  purchases are done for the year but if I need to replace something I will sort  out. Whilst I have a wardrobe  filled with designer  clothes: they are all from ebay and charity shops. I went into primark and tk maxx and had zero interest  in  shopping. I prefer shopping from my wardrobe  and  using what I have now. 

I am going to try and do 90% click and collect with the groceries.  I will aim to only shop in the small Asian and eastern European  shops that don't do online shopping. I really like lidl and aldi but I could spend a lot on the middle aisle. You run in for lemons and leave with an angle grinder and  a beach bag. 
It will save me time that could be spent getting  fitter not fatter. 

thepurplepixie

Saving that made me laugh, it is so true about the middle aisle and we call it the Isle of Crap although to be fair some of it is great but it is nearly always things I could live without.  I'm not a big spender by nature, bringing up 4 kids and having to take over as sole earner when DH became unable to work meant I always needed £1 to do the work of £2.  We seem to have spent less this year but I have two big spends coming up, the first is a new boiler and the other is to completely redo the bathroom which is a total disgrace.  That will be a few thousand gone but they can't be avoided. I'm also going into "birthday" season for a few months with Christmas in the middle.  I am going to have to be very disciplined about that.
It is a beautiful morning here, I'm looking out of the french windows at a blue sky through the trees and it looks like a picture.  Once DH's painkillers have kicked in we will be going to the carboot sale at a local farm, hoping he makes it round this week as in the last few weeks it has been too much and we only got halfway.  
I'm trying to encourage eldest GS to manage money, he has bought some expensive stuff with birthday and Christmas money and has grown out of it in a few months and much of it hardly worn due to lockdown so he is coming round later and we are going to take photos and list it on ebay.  Fingers crossed he does OK.

helensbiggestfan

Ah Aldi and the middle aisle........I call it Treasure Aisle or The Aisle of Dreams. 😂.  Who knew that when you went grocery shopping what you really "needed" all along was an angle grinder.  

Having said that.......there are some amazing bargains in the centre aisles.  😉

Despite (or maybe because of my economy drive) I did pick up a few clothing bits in Asda the other day......a pair of slippers, a pair of casual soft pyjama type trousers but more substantial than pjs, and a couple of medium weight tops, perfect for lounging round the house so I can save my really nice knitwear and smart skirts and trousers for going out. I belong to a generation that had it drilled it into us to keep our nice clothes back for best and I guess old habits die hard. I still get changed when I get home into "Slobbing out gear" but even so there are limits and I dont want to wear worn out, paint spattered  clothes round the house when I'm not actually decorating. 

I wore the trousers yesterday and DIL admired them saying she fancied some.  I might get another couple of pairs, they are more flattering on me than leggings.  

Anyway.........Good morning lovely ladies.  

How are we all.  

Didn't sleep too well last night (nor the night before) so I'm getting pretty tired, my eyes are that awful gritty and itchy you get with tiredness.  Yesterday was full on with the family visit so I'm going to have a day off today.  Well it is Sunday.....and I've got a busy week next week so I'll take today as a chance to have a breather and catch up with myself.  

Going to give myself a facial and a manicure later, then just potter about and tidy up a couple of kitchen cupboards, but first my coffee and then try and do some exercise - get my body moving.  Going to add some tai chi and then resistance training with small hand weights to the routine ......just a few minutes of each for starters.  

Well done on the economising and savings, Savingmore and SFT.  I think it helps if you have a definite goal to save for. Mine is overpaying the mortgage. It is surprising how much we can save when we put our mind to it.  After my overspend for the last couple of months I'm determined to get my grocery budget down a bit......so I'm going for a zero waste policy.  Food is too expensive to throw away so I'm making sure I check the fridge regularly and not letting food spoil.  

Today I have some salads beginning to wilt and some scraps of vegetables that really need using.  So for brunch I'm going to make a frittata, using up the scrag ends of some peppers and courgettes and then for dinner it's a nice steak and salad.  As part of the kitchen tidy up I'm going to do a freezer and cupboard inventory so that I can "shop from my stocks" a bit and keep the food bill down.  Make a proper list for a top up shop of essentials tomorrow and STICK TO IT. (Avoiding the Aisle Of Dreams).  😂🤣

Enjoy your Sunday.  

Wednesday2000

Freetodoasilike - I'm glad you were okay, that must have been a shock!
((Hugs)) to Sheila and LL.

There are too many people to respond to as people have been chatty on here. Thanks for the comments about my weight loss.x

It's a glorious day here too, very bright and sunny. I keep feeling a chill in the early mornings, though. I did buy some winter new slippers and socks online. I had to order some more vitamins as I was running low and a few other bits too. I bought a bulk load of tinned beans as I reorganised my kitchen cupboards and thought about lockdown again. I want some new pyjama/ loungewear as well but I will wait to see if I lose more weight and just wear what I have in the house at the moment. 

I am going to have a shower, wash my hair and use my new leave in conditioner afterwards and then read some more of my book.

Maisie_Moo

Beautiful morning here, I do love autumn even though its means that winter isn't too far away.
Glad everyone seems ok and Sheila I did see some episodes of Our Yorkshire Farm, what an education those children are having and what a credit they are to their hard working Mum and Dad, to see a 4 year old delivering a lamb was magical.
I have been really enjoying seeing the children go back to school, we live very close to a primary school and to see the children skipping excitedly down the street again has been great, also we can hear them out to play at lunchtime and I realised how much I had missed this.
I love Asda for a few bits and bobs of clothing, plus it doesn't break the bank.
Well my washing has just finished so better get on and hang it out then maybe have a coffee in the garden.
Off tomorrow for a few days in Norfolk so really looking forward to it especially as the weather looks ok, hopefully manage some long walks on the beach.
LL  at the beginning of lockdown I did an inventory for my freezer and stuck to it rigidly for a few months, unfortunately that's gone out of the window now so I must get back to better habits. I have a very bad habit of not labelling things, a couple of weeks ago we ended up having chilli with spaghetti as I thought the bag contained spag bol DH said it was quite unusual ! He's easily pleased though.
Have a good day everyone

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Free I am so glad that you were not seriously harmed when you fell into your shower door. I am sure that your bruising has gotten worse before it finally begins to heal. Thank goodness that your husband was home to help and comfort you when the accident happened. 

I shop in Lidl rather than Aldi but only because my local Lidl shops are all near bus stops and as a non driver that makes life easier for me. I must admit in all the years that I have been a Lidl shopper than I rarely ever bother to take a look in the middle aisle. I am very disciplined when I go Lidl shopping and usually make a list and stick to it. 

I am slowly eating better and over the next year, I expect to have more healthy eating habits ingrained and to lose weight slowly and steadily. 

I went to the 'white' party last night and I had an absolutely fantastic evening.  I danced a lot, even though I had to do some of my dancing sitting on a chair. I am aching all over today, but having so much fun last night was definitely worth it.  I am going to have a relaxing day today after all of my exertions last night. 

helensbiggestfan

Just done my first attempt at tai chi......loved it, it's so relaxing. It really loosens tight muscles and reduces pain. Not quite as good as a massage but a close second.  I can recommend it. 

Btw. Pixie  mentioned Morgan Freeman.  I agree he has a wonderful voice, so deep and mellifluous. It's like warm honey.  Did you know he too was a late bloomer, his first major film role was in Driving Miss Daisy when he was in his 50s.  Apparently he also suffers from fibromyalgia.  

I often play a little game, thinking who I would like to have dinner with.  Not as a romantic date but someone who I think would be a good conversationalist, so it could be Male or female, dead or alive.  I think he would be a great dinner companion, courteous and charming.  Not that it's likely to happen.....😂🤣. 

Right - time for a late brunch. I'm getting pretty peckish now.