Frump to Fab 2021

helensbiggestfan

Hi again...just having a break, I have been very good this Morning, pottering about the kitchen. There's a lamb tagine bubbling away, tomorrow's supper and some will be frozen for the next CBA day. I've decided on a chorizo based hash (instead of corned beef) for later.  I am having a use up month, making inroads into the food mountain I got in for brexit/covid/winter.  Only spent £13 last week and should only need f&v, and dairy next week, 

I use water filters too.  I'm just a fussy madam. 😂

Maman I deliberately didn't comment on the celebs yesterday, I wanted to hear what everyone's thoughts were. 

I was very shocked and actually quite appalled by Miriam Margoyles.  I think she's a good actor but as a person I found her objectionable, crude and crass. I know she wasn't blessed with the best physique, being very small and dumpy but I just found her attitude very hard to take, very selfish and vain but then I often think people who profess that appearance doesn't matter are actually quite delusional and somewhat conceited  with an overinflated sense of their own importance,  As for belching and farting with such gusto........,well let's just say it is neither polite nor considerate towards others.  I wouldn't care to spend much time in her company.  She's just a walking ego.  

At least Rosemary seemed pleasant.  I thought Jan Leeming seemed rather sad and needy.  Patty Boulaye (not sure how you spell it)  seemed nice and always looked well groomed and nicely turned out.  I think they were an interesting bunch. Some have aged better than others and some have health issues of course but I just got the feeling that most of them did seem to miss the limelight and their glory days, finding it difficult to get the most out of their retirements. I bet some of them jumped at the chance of "performing". again.  You can tell Wayne Sleep was a professional dancer, even though he admitted he hadn't exercised in over a year due to some health issues. I don't think it would take much for him to regain a good level of his former fitness.  

It was the second lot of celebs to do this programme. Sheila Ferguson (singer from The Three Degrees) was in the first series. I thought she was sensational, just as glamorous as ever and still turning heads. What struck me about her was her generosity of spirit, her kindness, her curiosity, her open mindedness and positivity. She was quite irresistible, she still had men drooling over her and seemed to make friends wherever she went.  

The more I read and learn, the more I think these are the personality traits and qualities we need to help us remain youthful, vigorous and healthy as we age. I firmly believe that an open outlook on life and a sunny disposition can keep us healthier for longer whilst  bitterness and regret will age us faster than anything. When I worked in the sheltered housing complex it was the ones who laughed, who were kind and helped others who were the strongest whilst it was the selfish miserable ones who got weaker.  I don't know why it should be so, and which comes first. Are people miserable because they are sick, or are they sick because they are miserable. I've no idea, maybe it's one of those chicken and egg questions but it was very noticeable. 

Of course I'm not talking about serious illness such as Parkinsons, MND, cancer or Alzheimer's etc, they can and often do, strike anywhere, anyplace, anytime and at any age. My husband was only 49 when he got sick. I'm talking about age related decline, how our brain can affect our body and how our habits and life choices can determine the quality of our golden years. 

And of course a bit of lippy and a squirt of perfume help.  😂🤣

And now it's time for my walk.  

Floss

maman said:

I think doing the ensuite at the same time as the main bathroom is a good idea pixie. If you were to choose the same look/tiles/paint colours then it could be cost effective too. You might even get a better price from the plumber for the whole job rather than two separate ones and it's only one lot of disruption. All worth considering.🤔

I agree, and unless you have a separate / downstairs loo as well, I would suggest running the 2 jobs one after the other. When my former marital bathroom was redone we had to have the loo put back every night before the guys left as it was the only one we had. I say "we", ex-h took himself off to somewhere foreign for work & left me to deal with it. I was showering at our local leisure centre before work every day & cleaning my teeth in the kitchen sink before bed 😳

sheilavw

I am sure your new bathroom and en suite will be worth all the mess Maman. We had our bathroom done to a wet room a few months after Mick was diagnosed with MND. Although, I have to admit I do miss my bath.

I too watched the keepers Wednesday. Very sad that things like that could go on, but they do unfortunately.

I've had a walk here, snow disappearing but still slippy. My hands were freezing even in gloves.

MrsPorridge

Very sunny and cold here.  I forced myself to have a walk - just around the village/block - took me 20 mins so was better than nothing   I did feel better once I had done it.  We had turkey curry for lunch and tonight will have turkey baps - then thats all the Christmas turkey gone

savingfortomorrow

I bought loads of food last week as different places have stuff in stock. There were no lentils in tesco and no miso in another. It made a super expensive week but I'm stocked up with heating logs for the remainder of the winter.

Is it only me who thinks there is supermarket that stocks everything. I have to visit a few places to stock up on strange ingredients. Once I have them in I can go a month on cheap deliveries. 

My hands hurt this week loads of swelling and the joints are stiff. It's cold that's causing so I'm not too concerned but hurry up February. 

Regarding bathroom refurbishment. Do the refurbishment of one and then another. It is too much stress to consider doing that refurbishment with out a functioning loo. 

chanie

I had lazy day day.  Not quite a duvet day with the children around, but I have spent much of the day doing nothing.  I feel quite low energy at the moment.  It’s mainly cabin fever, as other than the supermarket run, I’ve barely left the house and I think I need to get some proper fresh air.  It doesn’t help that I’m tired as I binged watched a show on Netflix (Cobra Kai) on Saturday and didn’t get to bed until after 2am.  I have no regrets, but I’m feeling it.  

thepurplepixie

Thanks for the bathroom advice Floss, I would get the en suite done immediately after the bathroom I think, then again it would be a smaller job so maybe I should get it done first to be sure they make a good job of it.  We do have a downstairs loo so that isn't a problem for me, DH is disabled and not very mobile at all so it would be an issue for him.  Oh well I can dream about all these things even if I can't do much.  I have put new bed linen on today, bought it in a sale online and just thought it would cheer me/the bedroom up a bit.  It looks nice and fresh so I'm glad I did it.
Chanie a duvet day after a netflix binge sounds great.  Re charge the batteries.  I'm having a nagging at GS to do some school work morning and waiting for a call from a place where I do some work.  Got a message they need some advice and can't get hold of them.  Hoping it's nothing too serious.

maman

 I have put new bed linen on today, bought it in a sale online and just thought it would cheer me/the bedroom up a bit.  It looks nice and fresh so I'm glad I did it.

I bought some new bedding in Primark recently pixie and I'm delighted with it. We have fitted wardrobes in the bedroom and DH is buys painting the doors to freshen things up. I went to B&Q this morning to get more door handles. I wasn't sure whether I should go (3 miles away) but I figured if we weren't supposed to be there the shop wouldn't be open??? 

For my trip to B&Q I did my make up! 😁 I decided it's really important to make the effort and it only takes a few minutes as it's just a light touch. 

I certainly agree about Miriam Margolyes LL, although she did become a little more tolerant  when she'd met some Indian people. I know that arthritis is debilitating but I don't think being so overweight is good for the joints either. Ironically the one who'd had the most serious health issues, Wayne Sleep, was in the best shape. DH and I don't normally bother with reality TV of any sort but were treating it as a travel show so we'll watch the next episode in spite of the characters! 😁

I cleared out a cupboard in the guest bedroom yesterday. Another Marie Kondo bonus is that when I took things out of there , although some things went to the bin or CS bag, some could go directly to wherever that category was stored in the rest of the house. So now I have a very tidy cupboard and I know exactly what's in there. 

Much milder today. I wore a coat when I went out but didn't even do it up. I like the sound of your  White Stuff coat Wednesday. I have several of their skirts and a few tops. It's a brand I like to check out but preferably at the CS or in a sale. 

Wednesday2000

I actually hadn't even heard of White Stuff before Maman, it was only on here that I heard of the brand. I think when I looked at their website that the purple coat I bought from the chazzer was a bargain. It is 100% polyester but the fabric feels very heavy and warm.

It's much milder here too. I only wore my navy jumper, navy dress, tights and brown boots for my walk. I didn't even need a jacket.

I am getting seriously sick of all the bad news. I just woke up annoyed today. I think it might have been watching The Keepers too as it was a seriously depressing storyline! It's good that they think that everyone will be vaccinated by the Autumn, though.

I joined in with a live YouTube thing yesterday which was fun. I wonder if this is something I will keep on doing after life goes back to normal?

I'm going to rewatch the The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story with my husband as he didn't see it the first time but I said how fab it was. Such a good show if anyone on here hasn't seen it. It's on Netflix.

MrsPorridge

Had a short walk to the post office.  Had managed to persuade DH to Ebay a couple of his "toys" (expensive gadgets which he doesn't use).  They sold and we posted them off today.  We will use the money from them to buy some new paving slabs and other bits and pieces for the garden.  I did do my make up to go to the post office

Spent the rest of the day sewing.  There is a sausage casserole in the slow cooker and we will have that with jacket spuds later.