Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

weenancyinAmerica

liberty_lily - thank you so much for your pictures. I have had the most awful week and just looking at your garden pictures has done me the world of good. Thank you again.

liberty_lily

So sorry to hear that, Nancy...however, I'm glad my pics were able to cheer you a little xxx 💐

Wednesday2000

How big is your garden?:) I like looking at flowers and nature but hate gardening. I have to go and jet wash my decking later and I even hate doing that! Lol.

I have arranged for my brother to come over from London and stay next weekend which will be nice to see him again. I want to try a new restaurant and a couple of bars. I am meeting my two friends from east London that I met last year the week after. We will probably try this nice tea room in Leigh-on-sea as they recommended it to us. I will put my dog in the kennel again for a few days so we can go out and we are also getting our kitchen floor replaced that week which isn't particulraly cheap. It will be good to get that done and not have my dog underfoot for the workmen.

liberty_lily

The main garden is 0.5+ acre, Wednesday 😁 
DH and I both love gardening and have created a few - much smaller - gardens from scratch previously, although I don't deny some jobs can be tedious!

This garden was described as "magical" by the estate agent when an overgrown mass of weeds would've been more accurate, lol!!! Neither of the two sets of previous owners were gardeners, obviously. 
As it's part of the Welsh Register for Historic Parks & Gardens (only because it was formerly attached to the 'big house'), it deserves to be taken greater care of 😉

The weather has been a bit rubbish over the weekend, so champagne moments have revolved around working inside - plasterboarding over the brick kitchen chimney breast (will be plastered during the evenings this week and possibly wallpapered later) and adding a new rustic beam mantel shelf...all for less than £300 😀

Here's some garden pics from Friday, when it was sunny...

sugarbaby125

Phoebe, gorgeous flowers. 

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moments:

On Tuesday, I went to Blackfriars Settlement for the music appreciation session and I had a really enjoyable time.  

Yesterday morning I went to the mental health and wellbeing discussion group and this was a lively, robust discussion. We were all given a flyer for one of the members 60th birthday party on Saturday 2nd July. Her 2 adult daughters have organised this party for her in a hall in Tooting. I am really looking forward to this party, as the last time I went to a party was back in February.     I can easily get 2 connecting buses to the hall, so there will be no travel costs for me.    

Yesterday afternoon I went to see The Drifter's Girl at the Garrick Theatre. Beverly Knight, the girl that played her daughter and the 4 male leads, were excellent. They were all amazing singers and really talented actors. I had a fantastic time singing along and dancing in my seat. I had a special deal so my ticket only cost me £35, but I was so worth it!    

helensbiggestfan

Well finally I've got this thread back up again on my feed. I've no idea why it wasn't appearing......

I'll go back and catch up......

Siebrie

DD1 turned 14 this week. She wanted new rollerskates for her birthday, so that's what she got from husband and me. She also wanted to show us the town she goes to secondary school in, every nice shop she discovered there, and a nice (upscale) food court she once visited with some of her classmates. We ended up having dinner there; husband had a 'half-portion' of a couscous dish, dd1 had just the Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce, dd2 and I shared fish and potato wedges (at €18, I suggesting sharing!). It was all very enjoyable, and she was very pleased that she could show us these places that were important to her. She won't have a birthday party this year, as she lost her old friends and has had a hard time making new ones. I've been planning more family outings, to connect the four of us more and show our support of each other.

liberty_lily

Welcome back, Helen!

Thank you, Sugarbaby 😊

Sounds like you and your family had a lovely time celebrating your DD's birthday,  Siebrie 🙂

My champagne moments this week - I've been watching lots of Wimbledon on TV, also enjoying the fact I can finally get the internet indoors and ordered a couple of decorative trays (for the guest room and snug/living room when it's finally finished). I've been looking at these for ages and they were on sale at half price, so a great bargain 😀 

Wednesday2000

I didn't even realise it was Wimbledon. I used to watch that all the time when I was younger. I remember the classic match with Pat Rafter and Agassi was really good.

Happy birthday to your DD Siebrie.

I had a hunt around the chazzers today. I did get a few bits including a Ted Baker bag but it wasn't particularly cheap. Still nice though and I have a new outfit and bag to wear out this weekend.:) I don't mind as it is a hospice charity shop and I used to work for a hospice charity.

I did get a cheerful sunflower candle that I will burn later while I'm watching TV.