Frump to Fab 2021

chanie

purple your joint party idea sounds great.  We did something a few years ago when we had a few big birthdays around the same time and we went out for a meal.  Personally, I prefer the bbq/hog roast idea because there will be more opportunity to catch up with people in a pub garden than you may be able to in a restaurant.

patty congratulations on reaching your golden wedding anniversary, such an amazing achievement.

ive decided I need to resume some hobbies to help with the cabin fever.  Although I love reading, I sometimes read too much and then I need a break.  I think I need a break!  I’ve decided to try and crochet some place mats for our table.  I bought some wool from Poundland, so I just need to find a suitable (easy) pattern.  I’m also going to get growing this spring and brighten up the front and back gardens with flowers and grow some veg.  

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning lovely ladies.  

Well my snow clearing has left me stiff and sore this morning. Going to have a nice hot Bath and a fabbing session in a bit. Snow still thick on the ground and more on the way so will do some more draw tidying and decluttering today. 

Chanie good idea to try something different to combat cabin fever. I am bored with reading too.  I am really looking forward to getting out in garden soon.

Hi Patty. Welcome to the thread.  And congratulations on your wedding anniversary. How lovely.  It's a shame you have to postpone your big celebrations but I hope you have a lovely time this weekend.  

Pixie I think a joint celebration sounds like a great idea.  I agree with Chanie, maybe a buffet or BBQ/hog roast would make it easier for you and your guests to mingle more easily.  

Not much news here.  Life in Lockdown gets a bit tedious doesn't it.  😂.  Hey ho.  Just need to keep cheerful. My 75 year old friend has been called up for his jab.  They are really cracking on with the vaccination programme. Over 6.5 m vaccinated already. That's good going.  

Keep safe everyone.  And of course, keeeeep fabbing. 

thepurplepixie

Thanks for the advice, I think I am swinging towards the BBQ as well as the mingling I think it will be more fun for the kids in the family plus It can go on as long as we like with BBQ for lunch, afternoon in the garden and then when our booking ends round 7ish people can still stay on if they want to.  Might never happen but it is amusing me to plan it in my head.
Murder getting GS up this morning.  I seriously wonder why they have to do registration at 8.45 and then don't have a lesson until 9.10, might make sense in school where they might be places to go and things to do but at home it just means he has to be up half an hour earlier and it would make life easier.  I wonder what happens when we hit teenage years and kids who have spent years waking you at 6 am suddenly can't get out of bed till 10.
Hope everyone is well and not too bored.

MrsPorridge

I also think the BBQ sounds a great idea Pixie.  And what a lovely thing to do, something really nice to look forward to - I think that's what we all need.  I attend a small literary festival every September and meet up with friends from around the world who come over here.  Obviously last year it didn't happen, instead one of the girls from New York organised a fantastic Zoom festival - over 4 nights and various people contributed - mine was a quiz.  We have been talking this morning about whether it will happen this year or not.  If not we will go virtual again and my mind is already racing with ideas for a new quiz I can present.

Wednesday2000

That is helpful info Chanie. I'm not sure about getting a facial thing anyway as it's not a very interesting gift to get. I had to look up what air pods were. They look quite cool.

I was hoping to be able to go out to a restaurant for my birthday but that isn't looking likely.

I was quite surprised that I could do that many steps in four days but I suppose I have been walking all during lockdown. I did buy some trainers from Amazon arriving today as I don't think my skechers give enough support to my ankles.

I am wearing my black faux fur gilet today as it is quite warm to wear at home. I do like the loungewear I bought too as it seems to be the same material as the thermal top I bought and it's really cosy.

We started watching a HBO show called I'll Be Gone In The Dark about a woman writer who became obsessed with solving "The Golden State Killer" case. Very interesting so far.

maman

That sounds really positive MrsPorridge. I'm sort of thinking prepare for the worst and hope for the best as far as forward planning is concerned. I'd love to get away in the summer but won't be surprised if it doesn't happen.  I find that easier to cope with than disappointment, probably from years of practice  following an inconsistent football team! 🤣. Except for schools, as they're coming under huge  pressure, I think the government will be very wary of relaxing the restrictions too soon and too widely  this time. 

DD1 will be calling round briefly later  for a quick chat on the doorstep. She's on her way to pick up lateral flow tests. They are going to have them twice a week even though they're not particularly accurate  when self administered. 

Yesterday I found a beauty programme on catch up. It's called something like Lose 10 years in 10 days.  I had a quick look and it's very low budget and a bit naff but did have some good tips. Some were obvious like wearing a decent bra but one I picked up was using an electric toothbrush to buff nails and keep cuticles under control. It's in sections with video clips with different experts so it was easy to fast forward over bits that didn't interest me. I'm going to look at it again later and make a note of anything I want to try.  I think I remember a similar programme where they used to do make overs  with lots of surgery and dental work but this was more a hints and tips, maybe because of lockdown. 

I'm another that's super bored! Everything feels a bit pointless. I'm happiest when I'm pottering about in the kitchen listening to an audio book or similar. That seems to make me feel less idle than just sitting reading. 🤔

littlegreenparrot

thepurplepixie said:

Thanks for the advice, I think I am swinging towards the BBQ as well as the mingling I think it will be more fun for the kids in the family plus It can go on as long as we like with BBQ for lunch, afternoon in the garden and then when our booking ends round 7ish people can still stay on if they want to.  Might never happen but it is amusing me to plan it in my head.
Murder getting GS up this morning.  I seriously wonder why they have to do registration at 8.45 and then don't have a lesson until 9.10, might make sense in school where they might be places to go and things to do but at home it just means he has to be up half an hour earlier and it would make life easier.  I wonder what happens when we hit teenage years and kids who have spent years waking you at 6 am suddenly can't get out of bed till 10.
Hope everyone is well and not too bored.

This is half remembered CPD training from teaching many years ago...

Its something to do with the brain development that happens during puberty. It's almost as if the brain is re-wiring itself during adolescence, so although it's counter intuitive a 14 year old often needs more sleep than a 10 year old. 
I remember it being fascinating stuff at the time, but it must have been 15 years ago now so can't remember much!

helensbiggestfan

Littlegreenparrot.......I read up a lot when my two were teenagers. As you say it's fascinating stuff. I found it very helpful, especially dealing with boys.  Having had no brothers and only attending a convent, I didn't know much about teenage boys so I made sure I was forearmed.😂. The bit about suddenly switching from early risers to staying in bed till noon made chuckle.  It seemed to happen almost overnight. One Saturday Mornjng my eldest just didn't make his usual crack of dawn appearance. I had to check up he wasn't dead. 

In my defence he did suffer from asthma......and nighttime attacks weren't uncommon so I wasn't  just being an overprotective mum.  😂. I had always made a habit of regularly checking up on him to see if his breathing was ok and making sure his inhaler was in easy reach. 

Maman. I watched that programme, as you say not as high tech or dramatic as the original one a few years ago.  Mainly stuff you could do at home, so probably more useful during lockdown.  Not sure about the bit about bleaching teeth with strawberries and bicarbonate though.  Ok now and again maybe, but strawberries are very acidic (which is why it works of course and why they are so effective for home made facials) but a paste left on the teeth would damage the teeth if done too often. I do think they should have pointed that out.  Not best advice.  Brushing the teeth a couple of times a week with bicarbonate of soda would likely be just as beneficial and certainly less likely to eat away at tooth enamel.  

(did you know you should wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing teeth after drinking fruit juice.  Fruit acid softens the enamel so brushing immediately can cause damage). 

Have filled two bags of books, ready for chazzer.  Only paperbacks which were originally charity shop buys so no point trying to sell them.  I do have a couple of shelves of hardbacks which I can let go of now so I might try and see if they are worth anything at some point. 

 It's quite frustrating I have bags and boxes of stuff sorted and ready to go. 

Right lunch break over......😂

thepurplepixie

littlegreenparrot said:

thepurplepixie said:

Thanks for the advice, I think I am swinging towards the BBQ as well as the mingling I think it will be more fun for the kids in the family plus It can go on as long as we like with BBQ for lunch, afternoon in the garden and then when our booking ends round 7ish people can still stay on if they want to.  Might never happen but it is amusing me to plan it in my head.
Murder getting GS up this morning.  I seriously wonder why they have to do registration at 8.45 and then don't have a lesson until 9.10, might make sense in school where they might be places to go and things to do but at home it just means he has to be up half an hour earlier and it would make life easier.  I wonder what happens when we hit teenage years and kids who have spent years waking you at 6 am suddenly can't get out of bed till 10.
Hope everyone is well and not too bored.

This is half remembered CPD training from teaching many years ago...

Its something to do with the brain development that happens during puberty. It's almost as if the brain is re-wiring itself during adolescence, so although it's counter intuitive a 14 year old often needs more sleep than a 10 year old. 
I remember it being fascinating stuff at the time, but it must have been 15 years ago now so can't remember much!

I wish someone would tell the schools, that half hour would make a huge difference.  Yesterday was particularly bad and he did registration on his phone in bed, then a quick trip to the bathroom, bowl of cereal and started lessons.  Maybe that is the answer and I'll stop trying to get him up and going for registration.  I don't think it helped today that it is very gloomy here, rained all morning and it hasn't felt properly day light all day, good job he's here really or I might just stay in bed myself.
I've been out to day, how exciting is that!  Battery died on one of the cars, we've hardly used them in months but like to make sure they are running, so I had to do a click and collect at Halfords.  Well M&S is nearly nextdoor and it looked empty so I went in and bought some nice meat, veg and bread.  Oh and a naughty cake.  I haven't been to a shop since before Christmas except for the local pharmacy and it felt quite strange, couldn't find something so I think they have moved stuff round, either that or my memory is worse than I thought.

sheilavw

just checking in on here. Really wet and miserable today, not got out for a walk. I usually walk my Daughters dogs when its fine.

Well me my Sister and Brother have booked a cruise for mid August, we are aware that it may not happen. If it doesn't sail we get 100% refund or 125% cruise credit against another one within 15 months. It gives us something to aim for. The cruise have already emailed and said that there will be left people on board and other measures. I should imagine you may have to have had the vaccine