Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

savingfortomorrow

Chanie - I would imagine a lot of people will shop online this year or avoid the big shopping centres. I have been shopping in off-peak hours and hate crowding. A lot of people are getting stuff organized now.
A lot of shops will be stocking the bare minimum of stock as who knows what will sell. 

I took a leaf out of sugar's book and bought an additional large size of persil as on offer. I am trying to get a mini stockpile going- got extra tins in, glass jars of food, and frozen veg. I am concerned at the minute as in the last week 3 people I work with have been tested. It's getting closer to home. 

helensbiggestfan

I've bought a few Christmas presents too.  

I heard On the news that Birmingham has cancelled its annual Christmas and German markets.  I suppose most places will be cancelling their Christmas markets. I don't fancy real life Christmas shopping this year.  I cant see it being much fun. I think I'll end up doing most of mine online,  I doubt I will be visiting Chatsworth this year (don't know even if it will be open anyway). I usually buy nice goodies at the farm shop there.  It's going to be strange old Christmas.  I heard a lady saying it will be a "Puritan Christmas" (like when Oliver Cromwell did his best to squash it). 

Here's a little snippet.........did you know that if you eat mince pies you are breaking the law.  Apparently Cromwell passed a law saying mince pies were forbidden (well technically the mince filling, not the pastry) and  that law has never been repealed. It is still on the statute books.  😂🤣 

ive just watched David Attenborough's latest programme. I think it was called Extinction. It was sobering stuff.  It said we could expect more pandemics and that SARS, Ebola, Swine Flu and Covid are all linked by a common thread. That is that they were all caused by viruses crossing species, a direct result of destroying so many natural habitats and upsetting delicate eco systems.  There were a lot of warnings about climate change, over consumption, pollution etc.  The Extinction title not only refers to the 1m species (out of 8m) currently in danger of becoming extinct within the next few years, it also pointed out that humankind is in danger of making itself extinct too. 

I hope the powers that be sit up and take notice and that when we rebuild the Worlds economies after Covid we do so in a more thoughtful and sustainable way.  Or am I wishing for the Moon on a Stick.  

I shouldn't have watched the programme.  😞.  Maybe a Puritan Christmas isn't such a bad idea.......

chanie

Extinction sounds very interesting LL.  i have always recycled and started using bags for life long before the plastic bag tax.  About a year ago, I decided to increase my efforts and try and make 1-2 green changes every year.  Last year, I invested in reusable daily panty liners, reusable cotton face pads and period knickers.
This year, I have tried using tea leaves.  I didn’t realise that tea bags are made of plastic!  But I haven’t found a decent strainer yet, so that’s still a work in progress.  My sunflowers attracted a lot of bees, so I want to grow more flowers and plants next year for my front and back gardens, to attract wildlife.  I have also invested in a bird feeder and have been trying to keep it stocked for the birds.

helensbiggestfan

Chanie.......You have made some great "green" changes already.  I'm trying too.  Less consumerism for me, no more cheap fast fashion, that really does bother me now.  Hardly any food waste now, long life bags etc.  The garden is a work in progress as you know But I have lots of plants for insects, bees and butterflies.  I also seem to have acquired a squirrel😂.  l have planted fruit trees and bushes, no harvest to speak of this year but hopefully they might start producing next year. Hoping to grow some salads and a few easy to grown vegetables next year.  My tomatoes this year have been a real disappointment but I think I started too late. 

 Like you I'm  on the hunt for a proper tea strainer.  Let me know if you find one, 😂  

I am afraid I'm a committed carnivore, having stomach problems and not being able to digest grains means I would really struggle to cut out meat from my diet but I try to buy ethically produced meat and only ever buy local free range eggs. I do have the odd veggie meal. 

I try to remember the mantra, reduce, reuse, recycle.  I don't fly if I can avoid it, mainly because I hate flying.  I don't really use my car much because I hate driving. 😂.  I'm still wondering whether I could let it go.  Before Covid I would have said I was ready to give up the car but now I'm not so sure I want to use public transport.  

After watching that programme I have decided to look at the food miles of the produce I buy. I dare say I could Live without imported cut flowers in winter and out of season fruit and vegetables.  But thinking about it even if I were to only buy frozen fruit and veg, I should imagine it's still imported anyway.  I am also going to try and shop locally more often, preferably from small businesses, and use local crafts people, artisans and trades as much as possible.  It does concern me that I use Amaz*n and Fleabay too much rather than trying to source locally.  Maybe I need to be a bit More proactive on that one. I think buying online is maybe just too easy and has become my default position. 

I can remember my late husband and I visited a local craft fair in the run up to Christmas.  We bought all our Christmas gifts  there except for the childrens presents. They were hand made by local people.  The things we bought were lovely, original and different form the usual run of the mill stuff on the high street.  And tbh they were no dearer than the high street. And at least the makers got more profit themselves.  We do have several proper craft outlets near me, so maybe I might try And see if I can visit one or two and see what's on offer, Covid permitting.  

I'm not perfect and It's easy to slip up and make mistakes but I am trying to be a bit more mindful of how I live.  I know it's not much and my efforts won't make much difference but it's better than nothing.  

Wednesday2000

I watched a few of those US shows about hoarders and it did seem like quite a few of them had a bereavement that triggered it. There is a woman on a forum I'm on who was a hoarder and it got so bad that her family had to move her into an assisted living facility. She wasn't even that old, late fifties. She had lost her parents.

I'm going to make more effort for my husband's birthday (November) and also for Christmas this year. I want to get a real tree as I have been saying it for years! Some years we don't even get each other presents. I want to have a special meal as well as I think one year we had pasta and pizza on X-mas day!

The forum had logged me out for some reason today. I had to get up early as I ordered a new hand held vacuum from Amazon for upstairs as I got rid of a heavy one I had when we last went to the tip.

I'm going to catch up on some of the frugal blogs I used to follow. There was a post on the OS section that reminded me about them.

thepurplepixie

FreetodoasIlike said:

Oh pixie - I feel for you!  Have a nice soak in the bath and then get something simple for dinner- like beans/cheese/egg on toast and pour yourself a glass of something.  I’m like you and if I had to leave my house in an emergency I could leave with all my important documents and the few things that are dear to me.  We sound very similar. Before we got the loft conversion, my OH, who is a radio amateur with all his “gear”, occupied our second bedroom (which also housed a bike which he had built from scratch and was too “precious” to live in the garage). Not that there was room for it in there as the garage was full of “important” stuff that was too good to waste (i.e. think of old kitchen cupboards which were used to house tools etc.).  I LOVE looking at my clothes in my wardrobe knowing that they are all worn and loved (even if I’ve replaced them via eBay which I’ve mentioned before).  To be fair, my OH doesn’t have a lot of clothes as he has no interest in them and I tend to buy what he needs, but his problem is “gadgets”.  The guy who came to look at our electrics recently was totally dumbfounded at the “man cave” my OH has.

I‘ve watched programmes on TV about hoarding and I get really upset when I’m see how some people live, to the point when I’ve had to switch channels.  These people have a real problem - luckily your husband doesn’t but I totally get how you feel.  I feel calm and can connect with my inner world when I sit in a totally uncluttered environment and feel peace with the world.  OK, that was probably a bit OTT but I’m sure you get where I’m coming from😁

Keep up,the good works!  Rome wasn’t built in a day remember 👍

Oh my goodness we lead parallel lives!  I did have beans on toast (with a rasher of bacon) and it was actually really nice.  My husband is also a radio amateur (well I am as well as I qualified as seemed the only way to get him to talk to me.)  So yes we have all the radio stuff, I don't know how many radios he has, I think he still has the one he built almost 60 years ago.  He is very much gadget mad so he has laptops, desktops, tablets, mobiles, Alexas, etc etc etc coming out of his ears.  We have early home computers going back to Sinclairs ZX80 and pretty well everything since, we have the early games consoles, if you want a game of electronic ping pong we are the people to visit and of course there are Ataris and Nintendos and who knows what else.  We have been told more than once that we could open a museum and going to the Science Museum in London we realised we have more of this electronics stuff than they do.  We've sold some of his early electronics duplicates last year and 2 items are actually in museums, one in this country and one abroad.  Of course he does like proper toys as well and regularly buys old items to relive his childhood.

The only reason we don't have a home like one of those terrible programmes is that I do fight it and he has got places to store stuff.  Once when he was really unwell and decided this was it, he was dying, I told him the first thing I was going to do was order a skip and dump all his stuff.  I honestly think it a) gave him the incentive to get better and b) made him realise that if all this stuff was as important as he thinks it is then he should damn well sort it out or it will eventually just go to the tip.

I'm a horrible person aren't I.  Thank heavens no one heard that conversation.

Confession time over and today my plans are to take my library books back, to clear the last bits out of the bedroom and hire the carpet shampooer and shampoo the bedroom carpet, I've scrubbed a bit and it looks like it might clean up OK but it does get messy as he drags his feet and the carpet gets very flat and lifeless not to mention him rubbing any dirt on his feet very firmly into the carpet.  Fingers crossed the shampooing will bright it up again and I'll probably do the lounge carpet as well while I've got it.   I've also got to wrap a parcel for something I've sold on ebay for my son and get that posted.  I'm also on a washing binge and as I sort things out I'm giving lots of stuff a freshen up so the house looks a bit like a laundry.  Day one of new med (well it was my old med which was replaced with a lower dose version and now they've decided I did need the higher dose after all) so I'm hoping that is going to give me a boost.  The engineer has just phoned to confirm the new boiler is being fitted tomorrow so another busy day.

Hope everyone is well.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

I got an invite to complete the MSE Forum User Audit Survey. I completed it as it was only 9 questions. 

Another gloriously sunny day here in South London. I have a hospital appointment this afternoon, so I am wearing a vest top and will wear sunglasses when I go outside.   

helensbiggestfan

Hello lovely ladies.  

The countdown to my lockdown begins. Aiming for Saturday.  I have my to do list and I made a start this Morning  by doing an Aldi shop.  It looked like other people were on the same track, it was very busy and lots of people had lists.  Noticed the meat counters had a few gaps.  No panic buying though, no trolleys loaded with toilet rolls. 😂. 

I called in the Chazzer and bought a nice shades of blue patterned velvet midi winter skirt for £2, quite heavy so should be nice and warm, and 6 books for £2. I've managed to book a hair cut for Thursday so at least I can start Lockdown looking half decent. Tomorrow I'll go to Asda and depending on how busy the city is on Thursday I might have a little browse round the charity shops.  There is a good Cancer Research clearance shop where everything is £1 so I always pop in when I am passing.  I could do with popping  into Superdrug as well.  Then hopefully, that's it. I have an eye test on Friday and I am aiming to get a flu shot either this Saturday or next, just waiting for confirmation.  Apparently they are doing it in the surgery car park as a "drive thru". You just stick your arm out of the window and they jab you.  😂. 

I don't normally bother with flu jabs because a few years ago I had quite a bad reaction but given the circumstances I have decided i will get one this year.  One thing less to worry about.  

A glorious day here, will finish putting the shopping away, have a spot of (healthy) lunch....no more scones or chips, it's back on the healthy eating plan....😉.    Some of my clothes are feeling a bit snug 😱 - time to take action and then I'm going to sit out and enjoy the sun.  

candygirl

Laughing about the flu jab method LL😂😂I hope my surgery does the same .
It's a gorg day here too, so I'll be in the garden with Madam Bon Bon,  probably playing fetch all afternoon 😝
I've had to resort to my strong painkillers this week, as my right leg went numb on Sunday,  n the pain after was horrendous.They make me feel a bit smashed, but I'm not complaining , cos at least I got some sleep last night.
Have a fab day Girlies x

thepurplepixie

My surgery has had new doors knocked through where windows used to be!  Seems a bit extreme but we will be directed to which room we are to go to for the flu jab and then exit through main door I think.  My appointment is Saturday morning, DH is 3 minutes after me.  All seems very precise.

Well I've hired the carpet shampooer and thrilled with the results, not quite 100% but looking very good, I'm going to give it another run over in a couple of hours then bring it downstairs and do the lounge before bed.  The woman in the shop said I'm not the only one doing a late spring clean, she says the sales of cleaning products and equipment is really high at the moment.   I'm very pleased with the bedroom with the bed gone and everything moved out it has had a good clean, things like skirting boards I could quite reach.  So hopefully tomorrow the carpets will be looking good, lots of the house has laminate flooring as it is easier for me with my dust allergy, the new boiler will be fitted and with all the rubbish gone yesterday I think that is a good weeks work and it's only Tuesday.

Do forgive me if my clear out is boring, I don't like moaning to friends about DHs junk and can't say it to kids as they have no sympathy with his mess,  it is so nice to have somewhere I can offload it all and get some encouragement.

Our treat for today was breakfast in a seafront open air cafe.  Felt like holidaymakers for a while sitting there with a latte looking out over the sea.   Anything to keep our spirits up.