Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

phoebe1989seb

Sounds like you're thoroughly immersing yourself in culture again now that normality is returning, Sugar.... that's brilliant, hope you continue to enjoy many more champagne moments 😄😄😄

My own champagne moment today was receiving the pair of limited edition quirky peacock prints we ordered on Etsy 😍 They are stunning and although not exactly a bargain, the frames I'm using are vintage ones from my stash given a new lease of life with some paint I already had....so kind of moneysaving 😉 They will be the finishing touch in the upper hallway.

I'm also reusing a canvas we were given - painting over the existing acrylic artwork that wasn't to our taste with my own design - for the guest bedroom 😃

sugarbaby125

Thanks Phoebe. Your house must look even more beautiful. 

My Champagne moments yesterday were the Spoken Word Open Mic event at Crate in Walthamstow yesterday evening. My younger son and daughter came along to support me and their presence made it even more special for me when I was performing my poems. The whole show was a really enjoyable event.     

helensbiggestfan

Grrrrrrr.  Just typed a nice long chatty post and lost it.  

I hate, hate, hate this new layout, half the time I can't even access this thread.  So frustrating. 😂🤣

anyway rant over......

Hello my lovely friends.  

Hello Humdinger.  Thank you for your kind comments and welcome to the thread.  

SUgarbaby...how fantastic that you are getting out and about, living such a rich cultural life and having such fun.  

Phoebe ....I agree with SUgarbaby.....you are working so hard, you are making huge progress. Your home must be looking beautiful.   

Well ...somewhat mixed fortunes here.  Nothing  too drastic, just life's ups and downs.  

I was just starting to get out and about, seeing friends, entertaining when wham.....my poor eldest son has to have surgery next Monday so we are all back in our bubbles self isolating to ensure he remains covid free for his op and I remain covid free so I can be on hand to help out post surgery.  

Hey ho....I don't mind. I have plenty to keep me occupied.  Currently concentrating on the garden and outside jobs.  The fence is finished, just one small section behind the shed to go.  The space needs to be cleared first.  

Gardening mainly consists of clearing out old plants and debris and preparing the soil for replanting in the autumn.  Have just ordered some more claybreaker, expensive but it definitely helps break up the clay and improves the soil.  One more final push this autumn with the planting and hopefully the garden will be much easier to manage next year.  Hoping to get the shed painted too.  

My little business is doing ok.  Sold the last two items from my summer stock yesterday, so going to have a little break now until September before I list the autumn/winter clothing.   

Still busy decluttering, sorted out another bag for the chazzer yesterday.  It's a big job though, still got masses of "stuff".  I will never be a true minimalist but I'm determined to continue to downsize and streamline.   

It's all a bit work and no play here at the moment, champagne moments are decidedly of the domestic variety, but that's ok.  I'm in no hurry to go either cruising or clubbing. I'll be able to get out and about and see friends again, covid permitting, once DS has recovered from his op.  In the meantime I am happy and content.  

Glad it's a bit cooler, the heatwave just about wiped me out. The healthy eating and daily exercise went right out of the window and I feel like a baby elephant now so it's time to get back on track.  

 But it's all good, quietly working towards my goals, keeping my eyes on the prize.  

Time to get cracking and start the day.

Stay well and happy everyone.   Have a fabulous week.  ❤️  

Wednesday2000

Sorry about your son LL. I hope his op goes well.

I have been very sad since I had to have my dog put to sleep last Sunday but I decided to keep going out and socialising as I have been cooped up so much the past 18 months. I had a strange dream about my dog last night that he was talking to me in a human voice!

I am (hopefully) moving house soon and I will have to make an effort to meet people in the new area so I may as well start as I mean to go on. I am going to a local meetup tonight (I think there should be about 15 people there) and then meeting my brother for a meal and drinks at the weekend too.

The local group were talking about another night out to a restaurant and a night out to a music venue as well. The last time I went to see live music was March 2020! I will find out the details tonight about when and where that is.

It's rainy today but I have to go out and collect some stuff from my garden as we are making what I hope is our final trip to the dump today. I have been decluttering the past few weeks and boxing up a lot of our things. I am going to make an effort tonight and wear a dress and boots.

It feels to me like Autumn is coming, it's a bit early to feel like that.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning my lovely friends......

Wednesday .....of course you still feel sad at losing your beloved dog.......he was one of the family.  It's like any kind of bereavement, when we lose someone we love, even if it's a pet rather than a human, that loss leaves an empty space in our hearts.  The pain lessens over time but it is always a part of who we are.  

Hope the house move goes smoothly for you.  I know moving is jolly hard work but I always treat it as an adventure.....new place, new people, new activities, new opportunities.  We humans thrive on change and fresh challenges.  I am sooooo envious - in the nicest possible way.  

I do like this house and if I say so myself it's looking nice, although not finished yet. The garden is starting to take shape, starting to mature nicely. The new trees I planted when I moved in have finally taken off, all except one which I need to replace.  I am hoping that when the time comes the garden will be a bit of a showstopper and help to "sell" the house. 

  I have been thinking a lot and, assuming the market is right at the time, I think I will see if I can move in 2023.  Still no idea where and what I want so I'm thinking about renting first......a sort of try before I buy. 😁.  The neighbours here are truly fabulous, I have really struck gold and I shall be sorry to leave them but in my heart of hearts I know this is not my final home.  I still fancy a change, there are still new pastures to discover.  Country cottage (doubtful, but never say never), smart townhouse, or sexy penthouse.  No idea.   It's been a long time since I lived in an apartment, not since I was a dizzy twenty something, so I would definitely rent one first. Problem is I would want some outdoor space, a roof terrace would be my preferred choice but there aren't that many in Derby.  One came up recently and it was gone in a flash. 

Its a miserable day here, so won't be going anywhere. I agree it feels quite autumnal, hopefully it's just a blip and the sun will be back before we know it.  I don't mind the rain, it will do the garden good and help soften the soil.  I have some more claybreaker arriving tomorrow, so it's perfect timing.  I can break up the soil whilst it is still soft from the rain and apply the claybreaker.  Then give it the required month to work its magic, ready to start the autumn planting.  Whilst the claybreaker is working I am aiming to paint the shed, continue the decluttering and do a couple of tip runs and chazzer shop drop offs.  Busy, busy, busy. But that's the way I like it.  

Did my budget this Morning.  Got a nice surprise, not only a nice little payout for my eBay sales but also a refund for when I cancelled my sky subscription.......I'd given up on that one.  It only took them a year to get their act together.😂   But hey, better late than never.   Every little helps.  

I've got to pace myself financially for the next few months, some large bills on the horizon😱😂.  Hey ho, will just have to tighten the belt and make sure I keep growing my little fledgling business.  I doubt I will be indulging in a winter sun cruise.  Tbh, without being paranoid, I am not terribly keen on the idea of foreign travel just yet, especially a cruise.  Cruise ships can be like a Petrie dish at the best of times .........

I  am happy to wait.  I do have a hankering to visit Ireland.  I have been to Dublin but would love to see more of the Emerald Isle.  Maybe a coach trip in the spring or early summer next year.  

Feeling a bit lethargic today......just going to potter.  Dig out my raincoat and umbrella and take a stroll to the local shop.

Have a great day y'all.

MrsPorridge

Helen can I recommend you visit Belfast if you do go to Ireland.  I went three years ago - first time in 35 years and couldn't believe the difference.  Of course, when I went before it was at the height of the troubles.  This time it was fabulous a really cosmopolitan city.  Also visited the Titanic exhibition which is something not to be missed.

helensbiggestfan

Yes I fancy Belfast, and of course the Titanic Exhibition.    I watched a bit of the Adrian Dunbar programme where he went round Northern Ireland, his old stomping ground.  It looked lovely.  

Just back from my walk, rather nice in the gentle drizzle.  Everywhere looking fresh and green again.   

phoebe1989seb

Sorry about your son, LL - hopefully he'll make a swift recovery and you'll all be able to get back to normal very soon!

Wednesday, sending {{{hugs}}} your way - you must miss your dog terribly. It's hard, but try to stay positive and focus on your impending move x

Thanks for your compliments, ladies - the cottage is - finally - starting to feel more like home, in some areas at least, so I think our hard work is beginning to pay off. Trouble is, we never do anything by halves, treating every home we've owned as if it's the forever place.

Curiously, the last house should have been just that, yet it was the only one we've given up on and sold unfinished ☹️

I felt so bad/guilty about that I think it's made me over compensate even more here, totally throwing everything at the project in the hope I'll eventually love the place. It'll never be as stunning as our last house (which would have been perfect, had it only been in the right location), but it will be the very best we can make it!

I've a feeling we won't move from here anyway, but will live vicariously through those of you that do move on to pastures new, lol 😂

Wherever you choose to move to, be it cottage or apartment, LL, I'm sure it will be lovely.....

Today's champagne moments have been - sitting outside in the garden, admiring our handiwork (some of which is about to be ripped up ahead of the building work we're starting this weekend - established rockery, I'm looking at you 🙄) and working on my art, knowing I'll have saved myself at least £450 if I manage to pull off my homage to the piece I was coveting on fleabay, lol!

needmoney

 phoebe1989seb, are you still posting pics of progress on instagram I had a link but it seems not to work now. I would love to see the pics if possible please.

sugarbaby125

I went to the pub last night and danced the night away. I had one man come up to me to tell me I was the best dancer in the pub, another man came up to me to say that he had wanted to ask me for a year or more if I was the woman he saw on The Chase, so presumably he saw the repeat episode. Then I had a lovely man start to chat me up and ask me to dance. We talked and danced throughout the rest of the night and we exchanged phone numbers because he would like to stay in touch.