Frump to Fab 2021

maman

Thanks pixie. 😊
I've prepped a chicken casserole for our dinner while listening to Poirot in BBC Sound App. They're such gentle stories. Just what I need at the moment. They're much more my thing than dark thrillers. I can always tell with TV crime stories. If the camera work is dark then the plot and characters are likely to be as well. A real turn off for me, in more ways than one. 

helensbiggestfan

Thanks for the link re M&S. Maman.   We have a Seasalt in one of our local marinas.   I do like Hobbs, occasionally Phase 8, not familiar with Joules, will google them in a bit.  

I Didn't know M&S had bought up Jaeger, will be interesting to see what they do with it.  I used to love Jaeger, we had an amazing factory shop here.   You could buy really nice "seconds" for next to nothing.  They went right off though when they closed their U.K. factories, quality control was dire, especially the tailoring.  They had to keep one factory open here to rework and refinish some of the coats and jackets they had outsourced.  I am not surprised they went out of business but I agree  it is a shame about the job losses.  They had a shop at the MacArthur Glenn outlet village  but I hardly ever bought anything.  Jaeger had definitely lost their shine by then, that shop didn't last long.  

As you know I really care about the British fashion industry and would love to see some of it return to our shores.  Derbyshire/Notts/Yorks/Lancs all played their part. All the big brands had factories here before they started outsourcing to the Far East and then Eastern Europe.  We still have a few left, mainly small independents such as David Nieper (mainly lingerie) and John Smedley (knitwear). They bob along,  doing well with exports apparently and selling in the U.K. through the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols.  

I often had to smile at the M&S  "classic" range......it was sooooo boring.  Just a sea of beige.  Even my mum, when she was in her 80s and with no real interest in clothes, stopped shopping there.   

I noticed a lot of ladies in the 60 plus age bracket, especially larger ladies, switched to the likes of Bon Marche, especially when  BHS closed. Mind I think that's gone now too hasn't it.  

Come back C&A,  sure you'd make a killing.  😂.   I used to like C&A, shopped there a lot at one time.  Used to love trying on the hats.😂. 

Pixie.......Thanks for the link for Nioxin....glad it's worked for you.  I'll take a look.  I don't need my hair to grow in length, it actually grows very quickly. I have always had baby fine hair but at least I used to have lots of it but it has definitely lost volume now.  

WW going well.  I have set myself a target I want to reach by Easter. It will mean losing 12 lbs  in 10 weeks.  Should be achievable,  then a further 1 stone by 6th July.  Again that is doable.  Just a steady 1lb a week, nothing drastic.  

Did well with the kitchen cupboards, all neat and tidy again.  

thepurplepixie

helensbiggestfan said:

Thanks for the link re M&S. Maman.   We have a Seasalt in one of our local marinas.   I do like Hobbs, occasionally Phase 8, not familiar with Joules, will google them in a bit.  

I Didn't know M&S had bought up Jaeger, will be interesting to see what they do with it.  I used to love Jaeger, we had an amazing factory shop here.   You could buy really nice "seconds" for next to nothing.  They went right off though when they closed their U.K. factories, quality control was dire, especially the tailoring.  They had to keep one factory open here to rework and refinish some of the coats and jackets they had outsourced.  I am not surprised they went out of business but I agree  it is a shame about the job losses.  They had a shop at the MacArthur Glenn outlet village  but I hardly ever bought anything.  Jaeger had definitely lost their shine by then, that shop didn't last long.  

As you know I really care about the British fashion industry and would love to see some of it return to our shores.  Derbyshire/Notts/Yorks/Lancs all played their part. All the big brands had factories here before they started outsourcing to the Far East and then Eastern Europe.  We still have a few left, mainly small independents such as David Nieper (mainly lingerie) and John Smedley (knitwear). They bob along,  doing well with exports apparently and selling in the U.K. through the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols.  

I often had to smile at the M&S  "classic" range......it was sooooo boring.  Just a sea of beige.  Even my mum, when she was in her 80s and with no real interest in clothes, stopped shopping there.   

I noticed a lot of ladies in the 60 plus age bracket, especially larger ladies, switched to the likes of Bon Marche, especially when  BHS closed. Mind I think that's gone now too hasn't it.  

Come back C&A,  sure you'd make a killing.  😂.   I used to like C&A, shopped there a lot at one time.  Used to love trying on the hats.😂. 

Pixie.......Thanks for the link for Nioxin....glad it's worked for you.  I'll take a look.  I don't need my hair to grow in length, it actually grows very quickly. I have always had baby fine hair but at least I used to have lots of it but it has definitely lost volume now.  

WW going well.  I have set myself a target I want to reach by Easter. It will mean losing 12 lbs  in 10 weeks.  Should be achievable,  then a further 1 stone by 6th July.  Again that is doable.  Just a steady 1lb a week, nothing drastic.  

Did well with the kitchen cupboards, all neat and tidy again.  

I went to Poland a few years ago and was thrilled to do some shopping in C&A, not sure why we can't have them here.

Your hair sounds like mine LL except mine didn't grow fast, it is growing too fast now and has doubled my hairdressing costs but I was actually getting worried about how thin mine was getting and it looks thicker and healthier so I will just have to put up with the extra cost of getting it cut.  Just to warn anyone who tried it that  you won't see results fast, I would say it was probably 3 months before I felt it was working and maybe another 6 months before I felt it was totally effective so not a quick fix.

Wednesday2000

I went out early this morning to pick up my medication so there wouldn't be a queue. I know there is flooding elsewhere but it's actually lovely bright weather here and I got in 7500 steps by 9.30.

I woke up feeling like life was going to go back to normal soon. I have no idea why! I hope it is true. I started thinking about the to-do list I had last year that I didn't finish. I called the DWP to get them to send me a PIP form and then I called a local charity that helps you fill out the forms. The person at the charity seemed nice. I also looked up my state pension forecast and then wrote a cheque to HMRC for my NI contributions. I also booked my dogs in for their annual vaccinations at the vet tomorrow.

I realised I have read all the paper books I had now. Time to start on my kindle next. I don't feel like reading today though as I didn't get much sleep last night. I wore a chazzer buy black and white top but the neckline is uncomfortable so I just cut it up to clean the living room floor. I put on a bright pink jumper that I like instead.

I'm waiting in for a delivery but I need to go out again later to post the letter and to buy loo roll and I wanted to buy a dustpan and brush too. I will easily get in 10,000 steps today.

maman

I went into C&A in Poland too pixie. 😉 I also went into a branch in Budapest a couple of years ago from sheer curiosity. They're  still very much in business on the continent as  they're a European company. It was like a walk down memory lane as they still do branding like Clockhouse. I did buy myself a couple of tops which I wear for dancing. I don't think they'll be cleaning the kitchen floor any time soon Wednesday. 🤣

I'm still enjoying using up products. I have the facial scrub, a Clarins body lotion and a face primer that are all almost finished. I've got as far as cutting off the tops of the tubes! 😉 And I have sample sizes of toner and make up remover that I'm using instead of my normal ones.  Martin would be proud of me. 😁

Good to hear you feeling energised Wednesday. I still have a book on the go but it's something of a default activity if nothing else appeals. 

Sugarbaby, if you should read and not post then I want you to know we're thinking of you. We've heard of two deaths this week alone but they're elderly people with terminal conditions (not Covid) and it was expected.  I can't imagine how it must feel losing a young person. 

thepurplepixie

Maman I bought jumpers for my sons and a top for my daughter.  They loved them and they were such good value.  I had to smile when I saw Clockhouse, also some jumpers in the skiing section which were identical to the one I bought my son over 30 years ago when he was going on a school trip.  I didn't see the one in Budapest, I'd definitely have had a look if I'd seen it.

I hope Sugarbaby is OK.

Wednesday2000

I hope Sugarbaby is doing okay as she can be too.xx

I remember Clockwise, wow, blast from the past.

I got in nearly 12,000 steps today. I am quite pleased with that. I can feel it in my calves now, though. I'm going to try and do that a few times a week. I won't say daily as I know I won't!

Wednesday2000

Clockhouse sorry, I was asking my husband if he remembered so I typed it wrong.  

thepurplepixie

I suppose C&A was our Primark when we were teenagers.

maman

thepurplepixie said:

I suppose C&A was our Primark when we were teenagers.

C&A was in the more affordable bracket but they had some quality stuff in there too. I remember buying a Harris Tweed skirt suit  (hunting jacket and pencil skirt) and it lasted for years and years. I even carried on wearing the jacket after the skirt was worn out. 

I went to the opticians this afternoon to get my glasses tightened up as they kept falling off. I should have had it done months ago. I discovered online that there's a branch even nearer than the city centre that I wasn't aware of. The staff were charming. I'll definitely use them again next time I need new glasses. 

While I was in that part of town I went into Poundland and bought myself some pink disposable masks. We have blue ones and I have some cloth ones. I'm not really a pink person but they will look better with certain scarves/outfits.