Frump to Fab 2021

thepurplepixie

Sounds like your chiropodist visit was worth it Wednesday.

I'm waiting for a plumber to come and do a quote, he was due 50 minutes ago.  Why is it so hard to get jobs done?  So frustrating.

Grey miserable day here but I do want to go out but hoping the plumber will turn up.

sugarbaby125

Positive thought for today:

True courage is not the absence of fear, it is taking action in spite of fear (Katie Piper) 

maman

I do hope your plumber turns up pixie. I have to say that the various trades working on the house next door to mine are incredibly punctual. Probably a bit too much so as they turn up on the dot of 8.00 a.m. every day.  Very commendable but a bit early for banging and a blaring radio. I don't think Absolute 80s is a station I would choose! 🤣

That's brilliant news from Lambeth Council sugarbaby. I'm so pleased for you. My Council Tax is going up by 5.1% for the coming year. I do understand that the council is desperate for funds but that's way above inflation or any increase in income that most of us are likely to see. ☹

It's dull here but still mild and dry. DH has a few cheques he wants to pay into the bank so that will be our excursion for the day. 😉

I wore my suede ballet pumps when I went out yesterday, so not boots but not sandal weather yet, like you said Wednesday. I'm a bit miserable today with the anniversary of lockdown. I think we've coped quite well through the year but I think the ban on holidays has depressed me today. We had hoped for late June but this third wave across Europe seems to have killed that. I'll get over it I'm sure. 🤔

Wednesday2000

It seems weird that it has only been a year since lockdown as it feels like much longer to me.

I felt quite ill last night and fell into bed about 10 and fell asleep with the lights on as I was so tired. My stomach was upset this morning as well today. I don't know if I caught a bug or it was something I ate. I do often feel exhausted after my husband comes off a week of nights as I get such broken sleep all week.

Hmm, anyway, I feel fine now. I just got my Amazon and Superdrug deliveries. I got myself a pink umbrella and I bought some geranium essential oil for baths. I have a ton of loo roll and kitchen roll. I won't be running out anytime soon. I got a new lipstick, foundation, scrubs and body lotion from Superdrug.

I'm about to go out for a walk and to buy some wild bird food. The roses I got from the shop still look lovely. I got some Moonpig flowers delivered to my house from my brother for my birthday and they were really poor quality. I looked up the price of them as well and that was a total rip off. I think I might buy some each week from the local shop in future as they are much nicer and about a quarter of the price of the Moonpig ones.

thepurplepixie

Well no plumber, he is now 2 hrs 40 minutes late so I think we can write that one off.  I do hate the laid back Devon attitude, the locals will kill me but I find they moan about outsiders coming in and running successful businesses but I think there is a reason.  Maybe I need to check if they are local or incomers when I book an appointment.  Actually I have got another chap coming tomorrow and he is an incomer, he was telling me about moving here for his young family so maybe he will be more reliable.

The positive news is I have had a tree guy out as my flowering cherry tree isn't very well.  He has cut some dead stuff off and treated it with something so hopefully that will save the tree.  He actually turned up bang on time, I bet people who work outside are more keen to take advantage when it is decent weather.

Sorry you aren't feeling well Wednesday, it is disruptive when partners are working shifts.

Sorry you are feeling down Maman, it is difficult.  I am just glad we didn't know how it was going to go this time last year, sometimes ignorance is bliss.  Holidays don't worry me much as we can't really do them due to DHs health, the best we normally manage is a long weekend and I haven't been abroad in 10  years but I know it will be depressing for lots of people.  I'd really like to visit my kids, one I haven't seen since a quick visit last August, two since October and one since December.  

We will probably be overrun in Devon this summer so lots of businesses will hopefully be saved.  

maman

I've cheered up now! 😊

Glad you're feeling better Wednesday and boo! hiss! to the plumber for not turning up pixie. Better luck tomorrow. 🤞🏼

We decided to visit a bank branch in a different part of the city rather than the city centre. It's strange but where we live there are absolutely no banks left at all while other suburbs have several bank branches and building societies. Any way it meant we could have a walk in a different area which I enjoyed, even the sun came out. 😊

While I was waiting for DH to come out of the bank I noticed a branch of ShoeZone. It's obviously not been touched since the beginning of this lockdown and the windows were absolutely packed with boots! Obviously staff will go in before they reopen but they'll have loads to do getting out spring stock. here might even be massive reductions on boots!

I think what's made me miserable about holidays is that we have one booked for mid June rolled over from June 2021. If nothing was booked then I'd wait until we got the all clear. What's even worse is that we were meant to travel with a friend who has since died (suddenly last November) so it's both sad and complicated. 🤔

chanie

purple I hope your plumber turned up in the end.  Your experiences with trades folk aren’t uncommon.  We’ve been let down by a few people over the years. 

Whilst we are on the subject of refurbishments, we have a big project coming up as we are getting a loft extension.  We had the age old dilemma of stay and extend our current home or move.  The deciding factor was what secondary school DS got in to.  As he was given a place at a really good school, we’ve decided to stay.  The loft extension will give us the opportunity to undertake some associated works, like removing some chimney breasts, so it’s going to be a big project, which affects most of the house.  We will end up with a new bedroom and bathroom in the loft, DS will move into our current room and his old room will be an office.  Its very early day - we’ve only just decided what we want to do, so we have lots of research to do.

thepurplepixie

Glad you're feeling better Maman.

Oh Chanie I hope you have more look than we have had.  No sign of plumber, not even a text to apologise.  If the one doesn't turn up tomorrow I'm not sure what to do.  I'm sure it will be worth it, moving is so expensive and then it is dead money.

The tree is looking happier already, some dead stuff with lurgy growing on it cut off and it's sprayed and I have my fingers crossed.  

sugarbaby125

Positive thought for today:

When things feel out of control, recall moments when you felt safe, today you can live them and breathe them again and cherish the peaceful spirit these memories bring (Katie Piper) 

maman

That's really exciting news about your proposed extension chanie. Do keep us posted. I think it's a wise decision because you'll likely want to stay in the area for quite a while yet while both children go through secondary school. First and foremost I'm sure you'll enjoy every penny of the extra space but it should add value too when/if you come to sell. 

I'm pleased to say that the builders' taste in music is better today. I really enjoyed this.
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (Video) - Bing video
I do enjoy her songs. I used to work very near to her home and often saw her in the local Coop!. Claim to fame! 🤣 It got me wondering sugarbaby whether you ever sing at home? Have any of your children followed in your footsteps? 🤔

Today's fashion pages featured the promised new collection from M&S. It's called Bounce Back. I'm not sure whether that's meant to be from lockdown or whether it refers to M&S trying to rebuild its fortunes. Very little of it appears on the M&S website yet but hopefully will be available when/if the shops reopen next month. I did like this 'shacket' which could be useful between seasons. 
Suedette Belted Utility Jacket | Per Una | M&S (marksandspencer.com)

I've had a good pamper this morning including using my complexion brush because I think masks are messing up my skin. This thread has helped keep me looking good for the past year. Thanks all. 😊

I don't know if anyone has been to the Soane Museum at Lincoln's Inn Fields. What's on | Sir John Soane's Museum
It's been refurbished since I last went there so will go again after lockdown. He was the architect who designed the Bank of  England and his home is both a snapshot of life of the time (late Georgian/early Victorian) for his class and his amazing collection of art.. I particularly liked the Rake's Progress. I listened to a programme about it on BBC Sounds. It helped because I'm really missing museums and galleries.