Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

maman

Apparently buses and trains are being reimbursed 100% for losses so they'll keep running so that key workers an get to work. 

My friend and her DH had coronavirus tests today. He's a key worker and she has had symptoms last week although fortunately feeling better now. They had to drive a 50 mile round  trip to Twickenham Stadium for their appointment but they were lucky to get one as the website soon closed down. 

We've had a lovely walk along another stretch of the Itchen. This part has beautiful scenery and then a stretch where people's gardens come down to the river so nice to be nosey!   We did almost 9 000 steps. I'd have liked to go a bit further but we stopped at a convenient point to access the path again for the next stretch on another day. 

I trimmed my fringe again today. It's not particularly even but I think it looks better like this than pudding basin straight. I sprayed a bit of the John Freida lightener on my hair yesterday, mostly at the roots and hairline,  so that'll help maintain my highlights. I've cut my nails back so will complete my manicure later, shaping, buffing, oiling cuticles and yet more hand cream!!  

I was impressed to read that Wednesday and sugarbaby had put on really well thought out outfits for their trips out. You both sounded very glamorous and summery. Well done.

sugarbaby125

chanie said:

Wednesday I ageee, it does feel busier this last week.  I think people are becoming more complacent and are venturing out more now.

Chanie, I expected free travel on all of the buses in London to make them a lot busier and unfortunately they all are. Lucky for me it is only a 3 stops to and from Camberwell Green. I am still getting the cough and fatigue, so I am not really doing any walking when I do venture out to get shopping. Thank goodness that I am finally getting some Tesco grocery online slots, so on the weeks that my shopping is delivered, I will not need to go to Camberwell Green to shop at Lidl. 

There are far more cars on the streets locally as well, let alone far too many people in local parks. I cannot understand why so many people and families think that the lockdown guidelines do not apply to them. 

The only safe place for me is when I am at home. I enjoy relaxing in my own home, so I have not missed going for nights out, to the cinema or to restaurants. 

savingfortomorrow

Sugar- i think people overestimate good stuff and underestimate bad stuff. For example the odds of being struck by lightening is 3 times more common than winning the lottery. Prople hope for the best but don't prepare for the worst. I just hope that they realize soon. Keep well and am delighted to read that you are improving and keeping active. 

Wednesday2000

Thanks Maman. 

I had a sort out of my stuff last night as I had to find some space to store the cat litter as I had it in three different places in the house. I realised I have 11 bags! I kept buying more as I knew that would be annoying to run out of as we don't drive and I don't know anywhere near me that sells it at all.

I had to move my hand bags and now they are on the bottom shelf of my CD shelf which I don't really like so I will have to organise my bedroom more later. I did find a brown bag I had forgotten I bought just before this happened. It has a long strap and is the perfect size for my phone and keys so I will use that for my daily walks now.

It feels much chiller today. I am waiting in for a Amazon delivery of the new electric fan and a book. I bought another fan as I thought it would be horrible to be stuck indoors if it got really hot this summer.

My husband is doing overtime this weekend as he thought it would be easy money. They told him that some London Underground staff will be furloughed but I don't think that includes his job. We will have to see what happens.

maman

Don't know if you've read her book but that's one of the Marie Kondo principles Wednesday. She advocates having one place for every category of item rather than having them scattered through the house. So then when you need, for example, cat litter you'll just need to check one place. I find it works pretty well. For other items it's so much easier to put things away when everything has a 'home'. 

You're buying a fan and I'm buying an electric blanket! Mine has stopped working (old and had my money's worth) and as I'm changing the bedlinen today I thought I'd get a new one. I can get it from Argos on click and collect from our local Sainsbury's. I've yet to get DH to decide on which sun lounger he'd prefer but that has to come from a larger branch about 5 miles away so that can wait until next week. 

I haven't developed much of a tan yet but I think I have enough colour for a white tee shirt instead of the darker ones I've been wearing. I was going to treat myself to a couple more from Jack Wills but I'm put off by the delivery charges. I'll wait until they have a sale or drop them. I'm expecting there will be good sales of summer clothes this year.

Wednesday2000

maman said:

Don't know if you've read her book but that's one of the Marie Kondo principles Wednesday. She advocates having one place for every category of item rather than having them scattered through the house. So then when you need, for example, cat litter you'll just need to check one place. I find it works pretty well. For other items it's so much easier to put things away when everything has a 'home'. 

I have read her book, but it was ages ago now. It was really winding me up having the cat litter all over the place so at least it is all in one cupboard now.

Speaking of decluttering I have been looking at what I can get rid of (mostly my husband's junk ) after this is over. I moved two pairs of trainers out to the garden storage box as it is waterproof and I don't want lots of charity shop donation bags cluttering up my home while I'm indoors so much. I will add some books once I finish reading them.

savingfortomorrow

After a horrible night sleep with dresms that where nightmares, I have awoken early. Tiredness is a strange feeling now, less exhaustion from exercise but draining from the stress of the day to day. 
I'm worrying about money I'm down income, not massively but enough and want to keep money aside for large bills and end of year tax in December. I have reduced the stupid shopping I did in February to nil. Ironically all the stupid shopping was very needed and good investments during a pandemic but was questionable before as I bought loads of summer leggings and t shirts, socks, underwear and a weighing scales. I got in extra food and a few major household projects. It was too much at the time but now I'm delighted to have the extra clothes and stuff.

 I only wish I had gotten a hair cut. My hair is about 4 inches above my wsist. It's too long but the colour is fine. I have s few strands of white since childhood but honestly they blend in. My hair is not going to be dyed at all as it is fine, the length is bugging me. 
Ive been watching the tutorial online to cut hair. The return will be scary for hairdressers as the proximy of clients to colorists and stylists. Life will be strange. There will be barriers between people, pods and altered flow of people, this will be big changes and challenges. 
I have been eating a pantry special for dinner, jar of this and tin of that. I've loads of tuna, pasta, rice, beans, buckwheat, lentils, flour and bread mixes. I've so much even before the pandemic that I was prepared. I found a cake mix but needs oil which I don't have, could something else work? I found bread mixes from 2017 still sealed. It's a change to really clear out everything before I have to stock up again. 
Keep well and keep safe! 

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies

oh dear SFT.......and breathe........

Poor you, those dreams must have been rather unsettling, you  sound so hyped and stressed.  All I can suggest is that you try to find something to calm you today.   I know that is easier said than done but I think we need to try and live in the now and not panic about the future.  Sounds so simple doesn't it but of course it's no such thing.  However, one valuable lesson in life I have learned is this............ worry doesn't solve anything. 

In fact, I believe that worrying actually makes matters worse, it robs us of our sleep, depletes our energies, impacts our immune systems and affects our decision making processes. Sometimes we just have to "shelve" issues and deal with them later.  

 I can't begin to imagine what the future will be like. When I hear people say "I can't wait to get back to normal"  I do find myself thinking about "well yes but what kind of normal". I think life will be different, maybe less spontaneity and less personal freedom for a while but I think there might be some positives too. I think the world of work might change, maybe making better use of technology so less commuting and more home working, hopefully leading to less traffic congestion and pollution.  And I think in future people (in general) might start to think about spending less and saving more.  I think a lot of people have been caught out.....unable to service debt and worrying how to put food on the table. I think the biggest effect, at least in the short  to medium term, will be the effect on the world economy.   Massive government debts (not just in the U.K.) and a global recession.......Whole industries will be decimated. 

Last night I watched a documentary about the effects of the virus in America.  We think we've got it bad.........New York is a like war zone, mass graves, bodies stored in refrigerated trucks, running out of body bags. And places like New Orleans are like something from your worst dystopian nightmare.  

Although I don't agree with the backlash against the lockdown in some parts of the States because of course It will only backfire and increase the death toll, I can in some part understand what motivates some of the protestors.  They don't have our safety nets.....they don't have universal healthcare and benefits.  The poor have just been abandoned to their fate.........absolutely shocking. State governors are having to try and sort things out without any help or guidance from the federal government. The Trump administration has shown itself to be woefully inadequate.  In fact, I think it's time Trump was impeached.  Watching some of his rants I seriously wonder about that man's state of mind,......the kindest word I can use is "delusional".  

Whatever our politics and yes, I agree our government have made some mistakes in their handling of the pandemic, but then what government hasn't?  All across Europe there have been errors and misjudgements.  We are all working in the dark but at least our government has tried to provide economic succour and we are blessed with a fair and just healthcare system.  Unlike our cousins across the Atlantic we haven't been thrown to the wolves.......so I'm cautiously optimistic.  

Chatting to my neighbour whose wife is chief nursing officer in ICU ....as of Thursday there were 297 CV cases in hospitals in Derby and Burton....apparently the numbers were beginning to decrease.  

So, In the meantime just trying to keep busy and cheerful.  😉.  Hoping for the best, 

Took my last antibiotics  last night so looking forward to my tummy settling down again soon.  Hopefully I should be feeling more like my old self by tomorrow.  I have felt so queasy I had to constantly nibble and graze to fight the nausea, so completely blew the diet.  No biggie.  Not the end of the world.  

I actually feel wiped out, despite having had lots of sleep.  So today I'm just going to do very little, a nice relaxing bath and a little pamper and then just enjoy the sunshine and try to regain my strength. I'm going to put a small joint of beef in the slow cooker, and make myself some cauliflower cheese......nice good food, rest and enjoy the warm sunshine

As Scarlet O'Hara said......"tomorrow is another day". 

Wednesday2000

savingfortomorrow said:

 Ironically all the stupid shopping was very needed and good investments during a pandemic but was questionable before as I bought loads of summer leggings and t shirts, socks, underwear and a weighing scales. I got in extra food and a few major household projects. It was too much at the time but now I'm delighted to have the extra clothes and stuff.

That was lucky!

Wednesday2000

I'm doing some laundry and listening to the greatest hits of The Spice Girls. It's gorgeous and sunny again.

I have added 4 books to the donation bag outside. I have underlined some parts in a couple of them so I hope the shop won't mind that. It wouldn't bother me if I bought a second hand book.

I'm wearing the dress I bought from a charity shop just before this happened. It's a navy blue to the knee Next dress. I might venture out in bare legs for my walk later on! I'm very pale but who cares. I saw some men walking around the other day in the park and wondered if they owned mirrors! Lol.