Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

thepurplepixie

Candygirl one of mine was born at new year, in the next room as mum was labouring dad passed out drunk and they had to take another bed in.  He work up on 1st January with an angry wife and new baby in the bed next to him.  Not sure what use he was.  He wouldn't have done my blood pressure any good.  Hope you get your insurance sorted, so frustrating.
Floss I was thinking about the shredding, I have got a full black bin bag to get rid of.  I've cleared so much today, he can't do it himself so it is me going through piles of stuff and him saying throw or keep, now I've got the bag to throw and piles of stuff I've sorted.  Next we have to have a clear out of his filing cabinet so I can put all the sorted stuff in.  I've also cleared all his boxes from under the bed and found homes for some stuff, some is ready for charity shop and I'm booking a trip to the tip next week.  So I've returned son's old bedroom to order, and the lounge.  Some stuff stacked in the dining room and his office and the bedroom still looks a bit shellshocked but all in all I am really pleased.  He is very stubborn and nagging him just makes him dig his heels in, now he is in the mood to sort stuff I need to press on.
The look of pity in our doctors eyes told me all I needed to know.  LL that was exactly how I was, it didn't matter when DH pushed him and he finally told us, I knew by then without words.  Next year is 30  years since diagnosis but 35 years since the troubles first started although not serious at first.  Good job we don't know what we are going to have to cope with in life.
I think it is hard to know if it is easier to do lockdown in solitary or not.  I do think children and money worries trumps the other options, I know my son and DIL with the two young children found it really hard, they've come through it and are a strong team but it was definitely tough.
So I'm trying to decide if I should treat myself and have a Friday night fish and chips supper instead of cooking.  I think I might deserve it and one thing about living at the coast is we do get some lovely fresh fish.  I think you know where this is heading.

helensbiggestfan

Yeah get those fish and chips......you can't beat them when they are fresh at the coast. I've got meatballs for later that I batched cooked the other day, much rather have fish and chips.   

Sounds like you are making progress.  And yes I can understand  you need to Press on whilst yiur husband is in the zone.......😂.   I'm just having a breather, going to make myself a cuppa.  I have planted 2 trees and 6 shrubs so far - doesn't sound much but it's back breaking  work....
  
I'll have a little break and try and do another half dozen shrubs.  Then water them all in and call it a day. Plenty more to keep me going over the next few days. 

Candy   What a nuisance about your insurers. Bet they were quick enough to take the premiums.  

My nails and hands are taking a battering.  They are actually quite long but I think I'll just cut them short again - soil under nails isn't a good look. They are going to need some TLC when I've finished.  

candygirl

Aww PIXIE n LL, you've both had such tough times with your hubbies illnesses  
My nails are sooo bad, break off all the time. My friend recommended coconut oil for them,  my skin n hair, so I'm giving it a go, n will report back xx

chanie

pixie and LL I don’t have envy direct experience of caring, but I do have relatives who are caring.  I can’t imagine how draining it must be for you all.  I’m grateful for you sharing your stories and your strength is amazing.  

Today, I went to Bicester Village Outlet for my annual birthday splurge.  I hadn’t been before, as it’s quite far away, but it has been on my bucket list for years.  Although I had a nice wander around, it made me realise that it’s not my favourite way to shop.  I have decided I want to buy a designer bag, so I’m saving up my birthday money to put towards this.  I’ve seen the bag I want, so I’m going to start stalking it so I can get an idea of sales and discount.  

I didn’t come away empty handed, so here is a picture of my mini haul:

cath Kidston lunch bag £12 down from £20 - something chic to carry my lunch in, when I get another job.
calvin klein knickers £8, down from £10 - not a great bargain and probably made for the outlet, but just a frivolous purchase.

loccitaine shower oil £13 down from £20.  Just used it and my skin is lovely and moisturised.

jeans - not from the outlet.  These are flares and I’m looking forward to wearing a new shape other than skinnies.

sweaty Betty running leggings £55 down from £90 - hoping they will encourage me to exercise!

Woolford tights £12 down from £37.  I loved the pattern on these.

thepurplepixie

You are kind but I'm no saint, miserable so and so some of the time. 

Chanie that looks like a nice birthday haul.  I've never been to Bicester but I occasionally go to Clark's Village in Somerset.  I've got a few bargains there over the years, DH likes the Cadbury shop as you can choose which Rose's you like, I like the nutty ones but he likes the soft centres - we are totally unsuited really, can't even agree on chcolates.

I've had my fish and chips and feel disgustingly full.  The cod was lovely and tasty and the batter was crisp and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I'll be good tomorrow.

Wednesday2000

PP and LL - I think it is normal for us all to get such up and down moods at this time. It is so gloomy at the moment.xx

Candy - how annoying!

Chanie - I meant to ask what you finally planned for your birthday. Looks like you got a very nice haul there.

chanie

Wednesday we will probably just go out for a meal for my birthday. I haven’t decided where though.

purple having just had a declutter, here are my tips, which I hope may help you.

Tackle the jobs that can be completed quickly and efficiently first eg stuff that needs to be thrown away.  Anything going up that charity shop should go before you start the next area, otherwise you are just moving the clutter from on area to the next.
 

When sorting out paperwork, I put them into piles; keep, shred and recycle. I started with the recycle pile and literally just put it all in the recycle bin.  With the shred pile, I only shredded confidential waste.  For many documents I ripped off the confidential info eg names and addresses on the letter header which I shredded and was left with a rather meaningless document which went into recycling.  This cut down the shred pile significantly.  With the keep pile, I just filed it away  properly in the way I wanted to store the documents.

i set myself targets based on bin collections.  We have fortnightly collections so I made sure my bins were full.

savingfortomorrow

chanie- excellent shopping. It is great to get a few items in for the winter ahead. 

wednesday- Our moods are going to be very variable for the next while. It will be a harder winter with less of the normal socialization and events. However, In the solitude and shorter days, we will have to pull together, communities alone together.  It is not going to be easy but we can weather the storm. During the lockdown a lot of people were quoting seamus heaney “If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.” 

We are going into pure winter mode. I keep thinking of hard winters in my life. We each have weathered storms and vicissitudes of luck and fortune - we are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. We will get gloomy but remember we have roofs over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our belly. I look back on history a lot in times like now and think of the poor people who died in famines. I just found out that I live very close to memorials for famine victims. Oddly, it gives me hope that if people survived death, illness, and heartbreaking poverty a few generations back- I can get through a dull winter with my creature comforts. 

maman

Sorry to have disappeared in a puff of smoke! I was banned for 2 weeks. Probably best not to explain any further in case I'm banned again for not being 'nice' enough to mse. There seems to be no warning, appeal system or any consideration of previous 'good behaviour'. It's left a really nasty taste about the workings of mse but wanted to return to the thread so decided to log on. Thanks so much for your messages of support which I read when I logged on. I do appreciate having so many virtual friends. 😊

Best fabbing today : I called into CS. I'm dressing a baby for a 17th century display. Lower orders, so I just wanted something rough for a makeshift shawl. I went to a shop that sells everything for £1.Got an old, grey skirt for the shawl but for me a Jigsaw. burgundy velvet slip dress. For £1!! It would be ideal for Christmas parties. ☹️

sugarbaby125

I am so glad to see a post from you Maman once again.