Frump to Fab 2021

Wednesday2000

I know Chanie, it's not even that far from Upminster station, it was only 25 mins to Leigh on the faster train. I started timing how far everything was from each other at the weekend. It's very walkable there and they have some nice boutique shops on Leigh Road and the Broadway.

I did get the results of our searches for the house we are buying finally.

You must know my new local area very well MiniRiot.:) West Sussex must be nice. I wanted to go to the Uni of Sussex but I got rejected from there!

I'm sure I will be fine, I'm just getting cold feet but maybe it's just all the delays.

I'm about to get into a bath and get dressed go for a walk. I need to clean my oven and my bathroom today and then I want to finish the book I started.

sugarbaby125

Mini Riot, I have never shared any of my poems online, apart from a few performances that were filmed by my younger daughter (29 years old) that I shared only with my family. 

So, I do not have anywhere to direct any of my fellow fabbers at the moment with regards to my poetry or short stories. 

miniriot

@Wednesday2000 I do know it (Leigh) pretty well yes, after summers of cockles and winkles from the kiosks when I was small, not to mention many meanders around the boutiques, coffee shops and little galleries when I was older. I know Southend even better as that is where I lived but I have spent a considerable amount of time in Leigh.

And West Sussex is really nice, bit posh for an Essex girl like me though;). I currently live on a renovated houseboat here with hubby,  I could never ever afford rent or a mortgage in this area. Property prices are super expensive, esp considering it's not London.

@sugarbaby125 Aww okay re the poetry, well perhaps if you ever do then, as I bet everyone here will be raring to hear/ read it.

Wednesday2000

Miniriot - Living on a houseboat must be interesting. You both must have done a lot of decluttering before you moved in. I don't know Southend that well, I've been to the beach obviously and along the pier but nowhere else. We did look at some houses online in the Southchurch village area, but looked in person in the Westcliff, Leigh and Chalkwell areas instead. I want to go to Chinnerys (that is a club in Southend for other people on here) to see bands when I move there.:)

Speaking of decluttering, I was thinking that I'm sure I had an xmas wreath but I can't find it so I think I must have donated it when I did my mammoth decluttering in the summer. I ordered a LED birch tree from Amazon for my living room instead of a Christmas tree. I think I will keep it up all year.

Not much fabbing going on for me. I'm still in my PJs! I've just had the last slice of the lemon cake I bought for my husband's birthday along with some strawberries and raspberries. It was lovely. I need to shower and deep condition my hair and go for a walk. I always get so lethargic at this time of year after the clocks go back, but I need to at least get out every day. It looks quite nice and sunny out today.

helensbiggestfan

Ooh living on a houseboat sounds fab.  I had a friend who lived in one on the Thames.  I was sooooo envious.  😂

I am another lethargic one here today, just cba.  😂.  I have been out for a walk but it so dark and gloomy today. I have one of those SAD lights.  I think I need to dig it out, see if it helps. I keep forgetting to take my Vit D too.  

We've got months of this yet, 😞

helensbiggestfan

Well I perked up in the end.  Deep cleaned the kitchen and then gave myself a mini skin peel.  

And remembered to take my vitamins.......😂🤣.  

miniriot

I'm sluggish too this week. Only fabbing I've managed to do is my usual weekly facial, and haven't been out much either as have had a load of work on. When the weather gets like this I always want to hibernate.

As for the boat, yes we do try to live as minimally as we can, it's essential. I often do a clear out, or the place starts resembling a junk yard. I wonder if Edeilweiss, the Swiss restaurant in Leigh is still going, if so you should definitely check it out.

 @Wednesday2000. And I know Chinnerys but when I was living in that area I never went there, my usual hangouts were The Last Post, a club which was then known as AdLib on Lucy Road near Southend seafront and another club called Club Art. Also Baker's Bar and Saks. Oh and the Odeon at the top of Southend High street and when I was in my teens/ early twenties I wasted much time down the arcades. Not sure how many of those places are still going now, the multiplex Odeon is still going strong I think, not sure about the rest. But I bet the Rossi ice-cream parlour is still there, used to love that place when I was little.

I actually met my husband in a restaurant which has long since closed in Alexandra Street in Southend, ah the memories.😃

Wednesday2000

Miniriot - I read a few days ago that The Last Post was the highest rated Wetherspoons in Southend. I'm sure Rossi is still there because I think I walked past it. I saw that the Stop The World cafe won an award too. The Essex café that's been named one of the best in the country - Essex Live I will try it when I move there!:)

I really like the LED birch tree I bought from Amazon. I was going to get a xmas tree but I'm thought with this one that I can keep it up all year round in my living room.

I have to book a hygienist appointment. It feels like I went quite recently but I feel like I need to go again. I think it's due to going back to drinking coffee and tea. I had a break from caffeine for over a year and it must have been good for my teeth.

I was thinking I haven't got much to do over the next month. Next week I am going to York next for a day trip and then out in South East London for a meal and drinks one day. I am going out for my brother's birthday in December but I don't have anything else coming up.

My husband is off work from the 18th until the start of January so I will arrange for us to do something during that time. There is a xmas meal with the local group but I didn't put my name and deposit down as I assumed I would have moved to Southend by then!

I ordered some lateral flow tests (finally got around to it!) so I have to go and have a bubble bath before they arrive as I think you might need to sign for them. I will defuzz in the bath and tonight I am going to do a face pack and a leave on face mask.

chanie

I’ve had a productive morning, which consisted of visits to two supermarkets to recycle clothes and soft plastics, petrol, wrapping Christmas presents, cleaning a couple of cupboards and making my Christmas pudding (phew). I’m now relaxing and watching a bit of NetfIix.

 The bad news is that I need some work on my car, which is going to cost £600 😱.  I will need my car for my new job, so I need to get it done quickly, but I’ve found a garage that can fit me in.  

Floss

@Wednesday2000 if they are the NHS tests, they just come through the letterbox.