Frump to Fab 2021

chanie

hi fabbers,

Have been reading along, but haven’t posted as work has been really busy these past few weeks, with lots of long hours.  So I decided this week to not work too late and start my weekend on time.

I finally got around to getting waxed today.  Long overdue, but I just haven’t had time due to work.  It feels so good to finally get it done.

I have been tasked with arranging a family meal for 20+!!!  We have lots of birthdays around this time and I wouldn’t have seen some family members since pre-covid, so Im actually looking forward to arranging it. 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Side effects from my booster vaccination have gone. 

Chanie I am sure you are going to do a great job of arranging the big family meal. What an occasion that will be for you and your family. 

maman

I agree, you'll have a great time at a big family celebration @chanie and a good opportunity to get your glad rags on! Do keep us up to speed on your plans.

Good news that you're over any vaccine side effects @sugarbaby125.😊

My new coat is definitely going to be a keeper. I just hope I don't need to wear it for a while!🤣

I've washed all my winter jumpers now and they're all back in the drawer, folded MK style, arranged in rainbow order. The next plan is to do my cardigans. I keep those hanging in the wardrobe  although I think some could do with replacing. 

Yesterday I had called into a charity shop for some cards and hit upon a White Stuff skirt for £2.50. It's a full skirt and lined in a cerise pattern on a grey background. It'll be ideal for dancing. Did you get any luck with things to dye @Wednesday2000?

Although the weather is still good here, there are signs of autumn all around. I've replaced some of the summer bedding plants with cyclamen, violas and pansies. There are a couple more pots I'd like to fill for the winter so I'll take a look in Aldi tomorrow. 

Wednesday2000

I got a bad reaction to the flu jab. I had it done Wednesday morning and was back home half an hour later. I had to get into bed as I felt feverish and slept for 3 hours. I had to take paracetamol when I woke up which got rid of the feverish feeling. I have often got that reaction after the flu jab but never that quickly.

I still didn't feel 100% yesterday but I had arranged to go out so I did. I went to a charity shop yesterday morning and found a dark grey Topshop jumper, a long black maxi dress as I wear them a lot!, a black cardigan and a green patterned dress. I didn't find anything to dye, annoyingly.

I then went for my massage and then after met the new couple I met. We went to a pub for a soft drink and then we went to a cafe for lunch and some drinks. I had to get home and then spent two hours talking to my cousin on the phone. It's weird to be back in touch with him after so many years, but really nice.

I feel completely back to normal today. I have been decluttering and cleaning this morning and I have another 2 bags to give to the charity shop. We need to sort out the garden this weekend as it is a state! Pull up weeds, clean the outside windows and use the pressure washer.

maman

I think many people get fluey symptoms after the flu jab but it's not usually that quick. Glad you got over it quite quickly though.

Good idea to get on with decluttering now @Wednesday2000. You don't want to be taking stuff to your new home that you won't use. 

I took a large bag to the CS today. I've come across a few things I know I won't wear while I've been working through the washing for winter. There's a difference between things I've not worn because there haven't been the occasions during the pandemic and things I don't think are flattering any more or maybe were mistakes in the first place! 🤣 I've got much better and being sure things are keepers now. 

Today I washed cardigans and my Nobody's Child wrap dress. I love that dress, it's so versatile. It didn't look dirty as it's mostly black but I thought I'd freshen it up.

I got an email to say that the joggers I fancied are back in stock. I think I'll go into the shop next week so that I can see them and try them on.

No suitable plants in Aldi today so I'll have to look further afield. Asda and Morrisons often have good selections. I don't mind using the garden centre for something unusual or a sturdy perennial but for trays of bedding the supermarkets are fine. 

I'm dancing again tomorrow. It's a ball with live music and black tie. I tried my black lace Phase Eight dress on and it fits fine so that's what I plan to wear. 

Still warm and sunny here. Have a good weekend all. 😊

chanie

My goodness, the traffic is awful today.  I dropped DS off at a class this morning and when I went to pick him up an hour later, the traffic was horrendous.  

I’ve told OH that we have to cut down on how much we use the cars for a while so that we can preserve petrol.  

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng lovely ladies.  

Sorry I have been awol......2 reasons.  

First no wifi for several days and secondly I have had the builders here.  Of course the work took longer than expected, 10 working days in total. At times I felt like I was running a cafe - all that endless builders tea.  

Anyway that's the outside all done. They did a great job and even helped me plant some trees and finish the high bits of painting for me.  Just need to jet wash the paths, plant up some shrubs and bulbs.  

Like you Maman I will also be planting some cheap and cheerful "autumn/winter colour". I already planted some cyclamens, will get some winter pansies etc.  I too buy my everyday cheap and cheerful fillers from the likes of Aldi, Asda and Wilkos rather than garden centres. I find b@q isn't too bad price wise either. I also have one of those cheap "Around a £" shops who do plants too.  

Raining here at the moment.  Will do my new saplings good. 🤞.  Probably no gardening today.  I have a much needed massage this morning and then need to go food shopping.   

The builder also dismantled and removed my spare wardrobes so now Im going to turn what was my dressing/storage room into a proper designated study. 

I have stuff everywhere so now the decluttering starts in earnest......😂🤣. But a couple of days rest first.  

Have a great week y'all.  Keeeeep fabbing.  

maman

Good to see you posting @helensbiggestfan. I'm glad it wasn't any health reasons that made you go AWOL. Enjoy your massage. 😊

It sounds like the builder was very useful clearing up all sorts of jobs for you. Timing was good too with the decent weather so now you can plan your study to be just as you'd like it. I posted a picture of part of ours a few weeks back. If you have lots of books and files then I'd definitely recommend Ikea's Billy bookcases with the glass doors as they keep the dust off everything. They do solid doors as well in case you want to hide things away. 

We have a landscape guy starting later today. He's not just laying most of the back garden to lawn but also subcontracting to have some fencing renewed and the ancient asbestos garage removed.   DH has an appointment at the tip later so I'm going to go with him to ( very nearby) Asda and look at plants rather than waste petrol going separately. It's crazy here with queues or service stations that have run out. 

I think one of the positives of covid is introducing appointments at the local tip. It means absolutely no queueing for customers  and probably spreads the workload for staff too. 

I've cut my finger nails down this morning and will complete a manicure later. They had grown exceptionally long and I was trusting my luck not to break one. I had to cut my own fringe this morning as it had grown very quickly. I'm going to have some chestnut and caramel highlights (or is that lowlights?) at my next appointment as my hair is incredibly fair at the moment. 

We had rain during the night but now it's cleared up and it's warm and sunny again. I've done more washing so 🤞🏼

Wednesday2000

Hello Ladies.

I have had an absolute flare up of fibromyalgia and have had to go back on the anticonvulsants again because of that. I'm actually going to up my dose. It says on the prescription to take two at night but I'm going to take three tablets spaced out during the day instead.

I think it is the combined stress of moving house, my dog dying, going out and partying too much (!) and my reaction to the flu jab. I am dreading getting the third booster jab.

I have to get back to my self-care routine the private doctor I consulted told me about when I last got ill. I had a relatively early night as I was in bed by half ten last night. I did a meditation this morning and had a hot bubble bath. I am going out for an hour walk to get the early daylight and will also cook some healthy food today. I think I'm even going to change the music I'm listening to and listen to some relaxing tunes instead. I need to dampen down my fight/flight response.

Oh yes, Maman, I got a patch of eczema on my arm which I think is stress related too, like the one I had my leg a while back. Did your husband get rid of his patch of eczema? I've forgotten what I used to get rid of the patch on my leg.

helensbiggestfan

Wednesday........Sorry to hear you are having a fibro flare up.  Me too I'm afraid. They really are the pits aren't they.  There is so much I want to do, but like you I'm having to get lots of rest and really pace myself.  So frustrating.  Like you I simply have to get back to better self care routines.  So just sitting with a cup of tea whilst I put my feet up and have a break.  

I have started some simple stretching again and went for a short walk this Morning. I have also dug out my "at home" massagers.  One is hand held so I can use that on my legs and arms, the other fits over my shoulders and can do my neck, back and shoulders.  Not as good as a proper massage from a human but I will use them as top ups between massages.   Also taking Flarin again. Don't really like taking it if I can avoid it because it gives me acid reflux so I also have to take a stomach protector at the same time.  

That's the problem with medications, they nearly all come with unpleasant side effects and then before you know where you are you have to take more meds to combat the side effects and you end up with what is in effect something akin to a nuclear arms race.  MAD (mutually assured destruction). 😂🤣.  

So it's back on the exercise, hot baths, rest and keeping warm so I can ditch the meds ASAP.  

Have made a start decluttering my kitchen cupboards.  Im going for the full Marie Kondo this time.  😂🤣.  No more tinkering around the edges, keeping stuff  "just in case". It's going.....

ooh just looked up, a lovely rainbow,  the weather is distinctly autumnal now.  Picked up some conkers on my walk.  Spider repellants.  Lol.