Frump to Fab 2021

sheilavw

I've never tried mackeral Maman ,  I should really. However, I am happy with tuna, salmon prawns etc. You are right LL fish isnt cheap anymore. My sister often buys the yellow fish and steams it.

Saxone, thats a blast from the past Mrs P, along with Dolcis. I remember getting shoes there as a teen.

Well its supposed to be minus 6 here during the night. Its been snowing on an off all day so will be slippy tomorrow.

helensbiggestfan

He's 34.  He only went for 1 year because he chose the wrong course. Law.  I think he saw himself as a fancy high priced barrister.  The thing is he is slightly dyslexic. 😂. We tried to steer him away from reading Law because we could see he wasn't really cut out for it but he had to try.  He has what amounts to photographic memory so he thought he'd be ok, problem is he just can't write well enough.  

He is actually very smart, has a huge range of interests, is actually quite the intellectual, is something of a maths whizz and can do just about anything with technology, it's just writing that defeats him so any course that requires essays or a written thesis was never going to work. He has a tremendous vocab and is an elegant and effective communicator, you would never know he had difficulties until you tried to read something he had written......then it just comes out as garbage. Anyone who didn't know about dyslexia would think him intellectually challenged but far from it.  

The dyslexia institute were very helpful. When I asked why it wasn't  picked up earlier (he was 13 when I hauled him off for testing) they said because he was smart he had devised his own ways of coping and concealing his difficulties.  Mainly relying on his memory.  I just knew something wasn't quite right though, despite his school protests that there was nothing wrong.  I knew it wasn't JUST laziness although I freely admit he could be perceived as lazy but it actual fact his "laziness" was more a case of despair and hopelessness. He was often very demoralised.  When he started having stomach problems due to nerves and stress I knew I had to intervene so I paid for him to be tested.  It also turns out he is dispraxic. They also diagnosed me as having discalculia at the same time. 

I also think he was dreadfully homesick at Greenwich, although of course he would never admit to it. 😂. It was expensive for him to come home regularly which is why we visited him.  Then when he switched tack he went to Stoke, which is just up the road so much easier for home visits. He ended up doing film production, much more his thing. He was always keen on photography and is very hands on with technology so it suited  his skills set. 

  He's very much like me, something of a late bloomer. Having floundered for a while after leaving university he has now found his niche. He's a self employed electrician and is already talking about taking on staff and expanding the business.   He's also discovered he has a knack for investing. This is the boy who spent his pocket mkney before he even received it, always asking for advances. He's gone from being a hopeless spendthrift, always skint to a shrewd businessman and canny investor.   

They get there in the end......sometimes parents just have to sit back and let the little darlings learn the hard way.  

Well that's how I learnt.  😂🤣.  

chanie

A successful day of home schooling yesterday was followed by lots of moaning and neediness today from my children. At least, it’s the weekend now.
 

I’ve been eating lots more fish recently myself.  I normally just bake a piece of salmon on foil and then chuck in a few veggies towards the end. 

I’ve been trying to shop more locally in recent years and I include eBay in this.  I had a browse in an independent world foods supermarket before lockdown and bought a Cypriot brand of olive oil. It did bring a smile to my face as I do like bringing back some local delicacies when I go away and this is about as close as it will get for me. 

While working today, I did one of those foot peel socks.  So in a few days, I should have zombie feet. Otherwise, I’m in need of some urgent fabbing.  

helensbiggestfan

Homeschooling must be very difficult......I did offer my son the choice when he was having such difficulties.  I was so relieved when he said no he wanted to remain at school. 😂. I would have done my best of course but I don't think I'm really cut out for it. 

I can appreciate how stressful teaching can be.....For several years I volunteered at my kids schools, helping with reading and swimming, being an escort on trips.  Sometimes I found the noise levels unbearable.  I would often come away with a migraine and for two pins I would have stopped helping but my boys loved me being there so I stuck it out.  

I don't envy any parents doing home schooling, especially when they are trying to do their own jobs at the same time.  I bet there's a lot of midnight oil being burned after the kids have gone to bed.  

Ps I've been making scented candles......using leftover wax bits from old candles.  Very thrifty.  Today I've made vanilla.  I've also got some old jasmine scented wax, some of the Aldi lime and bergamot, some black cocoanut, and some peony and freesia. Keeping them all separate of course so some of the new candles are just small votives. Nice though and better than just chucking the wax away.  It's dead easy, only takes a few minutes.  

maman

It's strange but DH was struggling to remember where he used to buy his shoes this morning. He said it was someone's name Freeman, Hardy and.....  That was a real blast from the past too. Then he remembered it was Russell and Bromley! A bit of a difference there. 😉 He now buys most of his shoes online as he's found a supplier with a range that fits him and far better value. 

I'm another that loves Greenwich. My DGD lived in a student house there. We went there on one of our last days out pre lockdown 01 to see the Armada paintings that were in the Queen's House. Today I was reading about the Greenwich Fan museum.  I didn't even know it existed. Apparently they will be holding online exhibitions but it's definitely on my list to visit when we can. 
The Fan Museum, Greenwich

I like the tinned mackerel, especially the one in mustard sauce.  It's good on toast or with a salad. Or the smoked mackerel fillets in the chilled section are good too but it's all a matter of taste.  And I like kippers, which we have occasionally for breakfast . Funnily enough, I've been watching Rick Stein's programme this week. He's doing a tour of Cornwall, meeting some local people and  with some  cooking using local produce, similar to programmes he's  done in France and Spain. He said that pilchards and sardines are one and the same thing but the name pilchards was largely dropped. 

helensbiggestfan

Just remembered.....

when we used to visit Greenwich, I tried to persuade my husband to buy a property there as an investment.  I could see the area was on the cusp of greatness.  He was put off by its proximity to Lewisham and wasn't prepared to risk it.  He had already set his heart on Spain. 

 At the time there were some amazing new apartments overlooking the river, there were also some sweet little Victorian cottages for around the same price.  Of course I was right and now those same properties are fetching five times what they cost back then.  

I should have insisted. 😂. 

chanie

I love the Greenwich chatter.  I’m about 10-15 miles away, but in London terms, that’s the other side of the world 😂, so I haven’t been in years.  I think I’ll add Greenwich to my post lockdown list. 

It’s funny how ‘normal’ things feel now.  When I’m watching TV and see people making any form of physical contact, it just looks really strange.

chanie

Helen forgot to add.  Thank you for your post about your DS.  Your sounds like my DS, who is also dyslexic.  Although we picked it up early, schooling is really a struggle for him.  Both me and OH agree that he will be a late bloomer because it will be difficult for him to find his niche, but when he does, he will do well.  He’s going to make the most amazing partner - DS once said to me, I just give my sister what she wants because I just can’t take her noise and  moaning (DD8 is a total diva, like me).

helensbiggestfan

Just watched the news. 😱😱. Dire.  

Just stay home, everyone, (if you can) and stay safe. 

I am now completely, self isolating, not even staying in my bubble. Grandson hurt his foot and has needed several hospital appts p,us he's still at nursery. So I've told them to stay away. Will miss them but it's just not worth me taking silly risks.  Not now, when the vaccine is so close.  I can do a bit more solitary.  It won't kill me but covid might.  

Floss

LL, I've had a track & trace ping so am self isolating until midnight on 15th.

Maman, I have that Uniqlo coat in khaki, its very light and slightly fitted so flattering and warm. I also have a Per Una belted coat in deep blue with a black fur trim around the hood.

I actually walked past the fan museum in Greenwich back in October, it's just up from the Cutty Sark near the bottom left gates into the park.