Frump to Fab 2021

maman

sugarbaby125 said:

Maman just so that you and other interested persons know Boots Advantage card points are definitely redeemable online. I have been redeeming mine online for years 

Really? That's great news. In that case I'll look at the website and find out how to do it. I had asked Google but it said not. Thanks sugarbaby. 😊

FrankieM

I've been reading along for the last few weeks but not been up to posting, but the tide is turning...well I'm turning it!

I'm no longer permanent at work, just going to pick up the odd shift or may be no shifts and manage on a reduced income for the time being. It's definitely time that I put myself first and concentrated on self care so I'm planning on taking small steps..the first one being diet and exercise. I'm back on slimming world from tomorrow, have my fitbit set up and my water bottle at the ready.

The rest is daily house things so that my environment remains organised and clean (I don't do well in a mess) and very basic personal care. I recognise that starting with a few things that I achieve is better than a whole list of plans that just feel like a pressure and never get done.

sukeyboo

Loving the nail colours Wednesday - the lilac is lush and I like that shimmery turquoise.

I tend to redeem my Boots points online too maman as we only have a very small branch locally and they don’t stock a great range.

Good luck with your diet and exercise regime FrankieM - as you say, better to tackle things a bit at a time.

Been feeling a bit low the last couple of days but I am trying to pick myself up - this lockdown seems to be going on forever and although we are being offered glimmers of hope with the vaccine it seems that they then want to take them away again by saying things may not be any better by the Summer 🙁

thepurplepixie

LL I have been working from home so my brain is still working, I do some consultancy work, I was head of HR, so I help small businesses with things like disciplinaries, contracts, setting up payrolls and HMRC.  I'm cheaper than a solicitor or accountant but it is well paid for what I do.  I did one meeting back in the first lockdown as it was complicated and I couldn't manage it online, we ended up doing it in a garden which was interesting.  I haven't been doing that much in the last year but keep in touch with "my" businesses and that is nice as we have a catch up but obviously have work related stuff to do.

Maman I wonder if you support the same team as GS, his woes sound much like yours and he is already stressing about tonight.

So today I decided to go to a supermarket, I have been having all my shopping delivered but I just needed to get out today and it is ridiculous how a trip to a supermarket and spending £15 on stuff I didn't need could make me feel like a human being again.

GS's school has just broken up for half term so tomorrow I will not start the day by trying to get a 16 year old out of bed.  It isn't my favourite way to start the day and it means I can have my normal couple of hours by myself to have a coffee, watch some news programmes and get my bearings for the day.  So ten days of no stress mornings.

I wish it wasn't so cold, just my short time outside today has caused me pain in my hand/wrist.  Bit of crochet sorted it so no long term issues but it means going out for exercise is not a pleasant experience.

With phone calls to my children I think most of the time I am reporting on their siblings/nieces/nephews, I'm like the controller sitting in the middle taking in info and then sharing it out.  Every 2 or 3 weeks we have a zoom call with all of us and that can be fun with the little GC flitting in and out to show their latest art work or to report on what their parents have been doing ie not letting them have enough chocolate or something equally tragic or waving at their cousins.  They can't wait to all meet up again.

We live in hope.

helensbiggestfan

Hello lovely ladies.  

Well the sun is shining, the snow has cleared and it's a lovely bright day, although it is still very cold. I am off to my sons for lunch and a pre Valentine celebration.  Any excuse for a little party. 🥂💃. I am being chauffeured so I can actually indulge in a glass or three of bubbly. Wahoo. 

After a few days of wearing scruffs whilst I have been deep cleaning it is nice to dress up a bit, even if I'm dressing for warmth rather than glamour.  Although......I'm trying to combine the two. Today I'm wearing a lovely warm sweater in a deep turquoise colour.  Since my hair turned white turquoise has become one of my favourite colours.  Wearing light make up and have painted my nails. Perfume naturally.  So not looking too shabby.   😂.  Although I really do need my hair cut.  

Btw. The tulip trick worked a treat.  I thought I was going to have to throw them away but they have recovered nicely.  

10 days since my jab and now fully recovered. It's good  to know the antibodies are building up nicely, lots of little "good soldiers" ready to fight the good fight and build up my immune system.  Apparently it takes around 3 weeks to fully fire up the immune system.....I am on my way and it feels great.  I realise I still have to exercise caution, wear masks etc  but it's reassuring  to know that  when the shops reopen I can get out there and enjoy the pleasure of proper bricks and mortar shopping. Shopping online just isn't the same.  

Have a great day y'all.  Keeeeep fabbing.

maman

Have a good time LL. Do share the tulip trick!! 🤔🤣

Wednesday2000

I got spruced up for the dentist today as that was the biggest event in weeks. Full makeup and I did my hair and wore a dress and boots. It is bitterly cold today. On the walk back my face felt like it was freezing!

My skin is still ropey. I looked at my Amazon account and I have been using that Lumene cream since February last year so I don't know why it's suddenly causing a reaction. I looked to see if I have anything else to use before my new Superdrug stuff arrives. I found some body butter so I used that on my face and it feels a bit better. i will use that until the new products arrive.

My flowers from the local shop are looking a bit sad so I am getting some roses in my Sainsbury's order tomorrow. My husband has the weekend off so we are going to watch a few films and I read about a Netflix documentary last night that looked intriguing so we will watch that too. I was going to say that we don't usually do that much on Valentines day but I can't actually even remember what life was like before this!

thepurplepixie

Well as predicted I was first up, GS enjoying first day of half term and DH never up early as he waits for painkillers to kick in.  I had a lovely couple of hours with some coffee, breakfast and new on tv.  I feel much more human.

Planning on watching Contagion later with GS, we are intrigued by stories that Matt Hancock has based his plans on it so we really want to see it.  

We are looking at booking up for a break in June, refundable deposit so no real risk.  Might not come off but it will give us something to look forward to.  Visiting some cities we know well plus where adult children live, living between Dartmoor and the coast we don't feel the need for the sea or countryside so shopping, nice restaurants and seeing friends and family it is.

I've got a couple of crochet projects on the go, after being fiddly at first I'm quite enjoying using 4 ply and a small hook.  The positive is it is slower so my spend on wool should go down which is good.  I really need an eye test, I'm finding it a struggle in artificial light so as soon as I get to 3 weeks post vaccination I will have to sort that out, although a couple of expensive months coming up for birthdays, DH, GS, GD, SIL so I need  to be thinking about those.

helensbiggestfan

Wrap tulips in damp newspaper, leaving a couple of inches of stem clear.  Cut around 1inch off stem, slant cut.  Place in room temp water for a few hours.  I actually removed some of the lower leaves because I thought they felt slimy from frost damage. 

Contagion is really good.  Very prescient. 

candygirl

helensbiggestfan said:

Wrap tulips in damp newspaper, leaving a couple of inches of stem clear.  Cut around 1inch off stem, slant cut.  Place in room temp water for a few hours.  I actually removed some of the lower leaves because I thought they felt slimy from frost damage. 

Contagion is really good.  Very prescient. 

Mum always put an aspirin, n lemonade in her flowers, n they last forever, but I'll give her this tip too xx