Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

phoebe1989seb

Very sorry to hear that, Mrs_S ☹️

Also that you've been unwell, LL ☹️

Not a huge amount of champagne moments here right now, tbh -

Starting with the weather....which has been positively pants. Obviously not exclusive to Wales, but by comparison it was lovely in England when we were there earlier in the week 🙁

Our grown up DS - who lives in Sussex - just tested positive for covid. It's his birthday tomorrow and he's going to be spending it in isolation. He and his partner have recently separated after being together since they were 16 ☹️ She is currently living in the family home with 3 yr old DGD till a decision is reached on selling up.....

Also, we're having to *pull our horns in* a little, as my dad would have said because I've some expensive but extremely necessary dentistry in London looming. We were there this week (travelled up from Wales in the morning and back home again by midnight 🙄) for a consultation.....£295!

We did manage a quick whiz around my favourite shop, Liberty, which brightened the day somewhat, especially as I came away with a small treat of a tiny butterfly bedecked tray for our mobiles that was just £25 😃

Wednesday2000

Sorry to read that Mrs Slapshot.xxx It sounds like going to part-time is the right decision for your future. Maybe go and see an IFA to see what they suggest.

sheilavw

just catching up on here. My champagne moment was afteroon tea at the Grand York yesterday with family/friends (5 of us in total). It was delicious, even brought a goodie box home for my Daughter. I also got to spend a couple of days with my Daughter , son in law and Grandson before they went off to Wales on holiday. I will see them too on Saturday when I spend a weekend nearby with my youngest. The school holidays are racing by, trying to get all my catch ups, appts, jobs done before my return to work!

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment yesterday was getting 2 cinema tickets for Odeon cinemas for only £11 through Groupon. As I am getting 100% cashback from Quidco the 2 cinema tickets will  be free.   

phoebe1989seb

That's brilliant, Sugarbaby 😁

Hope everyone has had a lovely bank holiday weekend?

On Saturday a visit to a local garden centre secured nine perennials and shrubs, all at half price...a saving of £52 😃 These were either required for either the not-particularly-white bed (🙄) or the newly extended *hot beds*, where everything is either orange, red or yellow! For now at least, all available gaps in those beds are filled.

Yesterday DH spent several hours trawling a carboot sale - it's an hour away which meant getting up before 5am, so I'm afraid I didn't join him 🙄 He came back laden with books on art, interiors and gardening as well as a few more plants, the latter (four liatris for £8) have already been planted to boost my existing clump 😉

The long weekend coupled with decent weather has enabled us to get loads done outside as well as having a BBQ last night and today DH is cooking a Christmas style gammon with me adding all the trimmings 😋

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends......

well I'm back ......with a vengeance.  Feeling much better now.  Venturing out and about again.  

Champagne moment last night.......sitting on my sofa, quietly reading,  mindjng my own business, when there is a knock on my window.  It's a neighbour brandishing a bottle of wine.  We had a great evening laughing, chatting, putting the world to rights.  Just what the doctor ordered.  I love an impromptu evening like that.  

I have been sooooo busy, finally finished painting all 24 fence panels.  Phew what a marathon.  Then three coats of paint on the shed (quite a large one, the size of a garage really).  So the garden is looking tons better.  Have been working on the soil with the claybreaker, weeding, cutting back shrubs, etc,  - can start planting  soon....

but first......I want to paint the front of the bungalow.  The decorator has let me down, so i have decided to  just do it myself.  It's magnolia pebbledash, it's just the front that's looking a mess.  I removed some old window shutters, had new windows put in and have removed things like number plaques and various brackets for flower baskets etc so it's looking a bit grim.  The rest of the building is fine, it was only done  a couple of years ago, so I'm hoping I can get away with just freshening up the front of the house. 

  So next week I'm aiming to get started.  I would love to do the doors a different colour, but I don't think I'll have time.  Autumn is really settling in early this year isn't it.  Still I will be happy just freshening up the pebbledash for now.  Can do the doors next spring,  

other than that not much news. A much needed massage tomorrow.  😉.   

Hope you all well.  

Great bargain with the cinema Sugarbaby,  what are you going to see.  

chanie

helen wow.  You’ve been really busy with what sounds like proper hard graft. 

sugarbaby125

LL lovely to read a post from you. Well done on finishing the fence and completing the painting of your shed. Please post photographs of your hard work. 

I am not sure yet what 2 films I want to see at my local Odeon cinema. I just had to take advantage of such a fantastic offer which was only available on that day.   

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends.   

Will try and list pictures later.  But very dark and gloomy here this morning.  Rather cold too.  Autumn seems to have come early.  I do love the autumn though, I love the colours.  

I have started walking again, currently just round some local streets but as soon as the children go back to school I shall start driving to some of our local parks so I can watch the trees change.  

Massage this Morning, then a short walk.  Doubt I'll be gardening.....a bit chilly for me so I intend to have a good old wardrobe sort out.  

Re films....not sure what's on here.  They have closed the cinema local to me.  It was so handy and very reasonably priced.  I will now have to go into the city centre, more expensive and of course parking charges. So I probably won't be going as frequently - at least not for the time being.  I am looking forward to the new James Bond.  I think it goes on general release in October.  

helensbiggestfan

Chanie.....I have fair worn myself out.  Have been neglecting my self a bit too.  So it's back to the frump to fab thread for some discipline and accountability.  😂🤣