Frump to Fab 2021

maman

I agree, motivation is a huge problem at the moment. Everything seems pointless. Maybe it's because we don't have personal choice. It's one thing to make the most of a free day at home to declutter because other days you're busy meeting friends but when you know you have endless days and months ahead to do the decluttering then there's no sense of urgency. Just a thought.  🤔

Yesterday I did very little other than the usual chores and finish a book that I've been reading on and off since Christmas. It was light and enjoyable but the ending was implausible so pleased it's finished. I've posted before that I've been enjoying listening to various audiobooks and plays as an alternative to live radio. I've always been a big radio fan but have been switching off a lot more recently mainly because of indifferent presenters,  grating sloppy speech masquerading as a policy of diversity.  The last few days I've been enjoying a super thriller which was recorded in the 50s. It's a real period piece about post war espionage with genuine BBC accents. 

t's much the same with television where I've become a lot more selective.  I have the same problem with presenters. I'm sure they're nice people really but I just can't stand some of the  exaggerated accents and silliness. I didn't watch  the 7Up last night but I have followed the series over the years. It's a piece of social history in itself. I was wondering whether they'd continue now that the director has died. 

I'm glad you got good news at the dentist pixie. I've been keeping up with all my personal care appointments whenever lockdown has allowed. I'm confident about he ones that are still open, like dentists and podiatrists, as they are medical based so more likely to be aware of all safety precautions. They were, for example, wearing masks even pre pandemic. 

Food shopping day today!! 😁 I still do my main shop on a Friday although lately I've been popping out for other bits and pieces midweek. Having got used to hand sanitising, social distancing and masks, going to the supermarket is about the most normal thing I do! 🤣

helensbiggestfan

Just having a spot of lunch......

.Maman I think you're right about the "plenty of time, so why hurry thing" I always work more efficiently if I have deadline to meet, otherwise I'm very good at frittering away chunks of time.  

That's why I've set myself the spring clean challenge, a room a day, although some might need 2 days. I am not doing inside cupboards, drawers etc. I have already done most of those during the last couple of weeks but  generally a really thorough top to bottom clean, even washing down paintwork etc.  Yesterday I washed the loose covers on my sofa.  Not quite dry yet, hoping to put those back on tomorrow.  

Today I treated my bedroom furniture to a proper lavender and beeswax polish.  I could almost sense the wood thanking me. It was probably parched because it is so long since I had done it properly.  (Apparently central heating dries out wood so it does need proper beeswax to feed it every so often). It's beautiful furniture, dark Indonesian teak, and frankly it deserves better treatment than the usual flick with a duster.  Anyway it looks lovely now, and of course it smells gorgeous too.  I think I might treat myself to some new throws and cushions this year.  Ring the changes.  

To the newbies.......you might be confused by now, thinking what on earth has spring cleaning got to do with the frump to fab transformation.  Well - just my opinion of course - but I think if you get your environment up to speed then it's so much easier to work on yourself. I call it house fabbing, making my home beautiful, comfortable and dare I say it, luxurious.  I hate it when my home feels shabby and neglected.  I believe if you get your environment working for you everything else slots into place.  

One of the first things I did when I began my journey from frump to fab was to treat myself to some fresh flowers.  I was in a very dark place at the time and it could be argued that I really didn't have the money for such fripperies,  but just looking at them lifted my spirits.  Now I always have flowers.  When I can, I  have them in every room, usually in the summer when I raid my garden.  When I can't (in winter when it would cost a small fortune) I have plants instead, some just green foliage and some flowering ones.  I can recommend orchids....they have come right down in price in recent years.  They look so delicate and luxurious and yet they stay in bloom for ages, usually at least 12 weeks, so you get your moneys worth, and they are perfect for bathrooms and bedrooms.   

Plants also have a wonderful ability to improve the air quality in our homes and some, especially the humble spider plant and the peace Lilly,  can also offset the negative effects of technology, so are great when placed near computers. 

"Flowers are nature's Chanel".  

Sheila, yes her name was Lyn.  Very sad, not that old either, she died quite suddenly, shortly after the 56 programmes.  Neil died on 11th January, and Michael the director died a couple of days before that.  

Right lunch break over, time to clean the mirror fronted wardrobes.  

They are covered in toddler hand prints.  😂🤣

thepurplepixie

I loved the 7up programmes but lots of it made me sad, yes I think it was Lynn who wanted to work in Woolworths and she did die, I can't remember what happened to her.  Nick was obviously a very brilliant man but I thought he always had an air of sadness about him, as if he wasn't comfortable back home on the farm or in his new life in America.  Of course there were the little boys in the home I always remember the one who was worried about getting married in case his wife made him eat greens.  I suppose the saddest was Neil, such a clever bright little boy who went through such struggles with his mental health.  Oh there was the really bright, cheeky little girl who ended up on her own with a few children, I think her husband died in an accident, and then she got really crippling arthritis.  I think she might have been Jackie, not sure.   Tony was the joker with his, "I wanna be a jockey" which he managed to do.  On the whole fascinating but it definitely makes me feel sad for lots of them.  I suppose it is being a similar age that makes it interesting and yes two of them being dead does make you realise we are closer to the end than the beginning if we are a similar age.
LL I was glad to get the dentist over with, I know I need new glasses but I am going to wait, hopefully vaccinations aren't too far away and it seems silly to take unnecessary chances now.  I think that plus the new variants of the virus mean I have been more nervous about it in the last month or two.  I've got a voucher for some treatments at a rather posh local salon so that will be nice.  I've never been to a podiatrist, DH goes regularly and I think I might treat myself when life goes back to normal or whatever life will be like in a few months.
My hairdresser phoned me today, we had a nice chat and she reassured me that I am on her list for a priority appointment as soon as she can open.  It was nice to be remembered.
Sheila I had heard that about the bad reaction if you have had covid but my son had the virus at Christmas and got his vaccination a couple of days ago and he has been fine but he is young and healthy.  He rarely gets ill, he says his immune system has had lots of challenges with him being a nurse.  He got covid mildly so that could have made a difference with his reaction to the vaccine.  I was just glad he had it, I figure with his antibodies from the virus and then some from the vaccine he should be pretty safe, just wish we could hear about an appointment for my husband, he is 75 in March so it should be his turn soon.

maman

I agree that house fabbing definitely counts LL. I think we’ve always had a wide ‘brief’ on the thread and I like it that way.

I bought more flowers today so now I have the YS spray carnations in the dining room and daffodils in the hall and sitting room. The daffodils were 95p in Aldi for 18 flowers so I split them. Very mse!!

I’m still using up products. Today I finished off a tube of Clarins body lotion after my shower. I think it came from a gift set. It was nice enough but I wouldn’t buy it specially. I did my make up to go shopping and I’m working my way through a rather matt foundation. I mix it with some moisturiser to get the lighter, dewy look that I prefer.

One programme that has been easy to watch and not too heavy is Rip Off Britain. This month’s series is on catch up so I’m working my way through. It’s mostly about holidays. Gloria Hunniford and Angela Rippon are old pros when it comes to presenting but they really do slap on the makeup and can be a bit frumpy for me. It’s like getting a people watching fix! I like Julia Somerville’s style best. Because they are having to film outdoors in the autumn she’s been sitting in her garden in some lovely teddy bear coats.

I found another ring to wear today. It’s a single red stone (garnet I think) in a gold filigree setting. I tried on the animal print camisole too and It's definitely a keeper. It's even nicer on than on the hanger. It hangs well and has a double layer front which I didn't realise. It'll probably lose some body when washed but for £7  I can live with that. It's not too skimpy and could be worn with an ordinary bra if needed. All I need now is somewhere to wear it! 🤣

helensbiggestfan

pixie.....one of my friends is 75 and he's just had his call up for vaccination so hopefully it shouldn't be too long before your husband gets his.  Apparently another two different types of vaccines have been announced too.  So it's looking promising.  

chanie

maman when I was working for our Ahem, national broadcaster, I did see Gloria Honniford, in the flesh.  I think she was filming because she was dressed up and nobody else was.  I thought she looked fab, but I think her style is very 1980s.  My theory is that some people get stuck in an era fashion wise because it was their ‘peak’ time, often late teen/early 20s, but I guess it could be anytime.

I once worked with a lady who was stuck in the 1980’s.  She came dressed up to work everyday like she was going to a disco - big hair, stilettos, heavy disco make up, batwing tops.  She dressed exactly like Bette Lynch did in Corrie, but we are in 2020, so it was very strange.

Floss

SFT do you know you can pay HMRC online? I've found it so much easier, and when there is a refund it goes straight into the bank too.

I'm waiting for a call from my physio about an x-ray on my shoulder that I had on Thursday - it seems that an old rotator cuff issue has recurred along with indications of a frozen shoulder. It's from a skiing injury in 1997 which has caused all sorts of problems over the years - a badly twisted knee at the time, half a leg of rainbow colours for 2 months after and the impact caused sacroiliac ligament damage & the RC problem which both surfaced 15 years later and which keep coming back to torment me.

Wednesday2000

If that was to me I called HMRC when I first needed to be in contact with them and they said that they only took cheques. This was a few years ago so it's obviously changed. I only ordered a cheque book from my bank to pay HMRC so I just find it easier to send it to them.

My PIP form arrived yesterday and I called my GP surgery to ask about giving "evidence" to the DWP and the receptionist said my medication wasn't on my records for some reason but she would be posting me a short statement only listing my health conditions so that was helpful *sarcasm*. The man from the charity that was to give me advice on how to fill in the form didn't call me back either.  I tried to call DWP to ask for an extension and was on hold for half an hour before I gave up. This is why I haven't applied as I remember how annoying it was when I applied back in 2010? I think it was.

My dog peed on my living room curtains today so I had to take them down and wash them.

I feel like a glass of wine and it's only 11!

candygirl

WEDNESDAY, is that a usual occurence, or might the dog have a UTI? My late Buddy used to pee all over, when he had one  
Pmsl at you wanting a glass of wine, go for it hun  
I've hardly slept,  cos Bonnie's boyfriend died in his sleep yesterday It's brought so much heartache back to me, from when baby Zeus died suddenly 😢😢😢

Wednesday2000

Sorry to read that. Who was Bonnie's boyfriend?

It's one of medications he is on that means my dog occasionally has accidents in the house. He didn't have this problem before he was on them.