Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

sugarbaby125

My champagne moment yesterday evening was going to Christmas karaoke in Forest Hill. I only bought one bottle of water at a cost of £2 in the pub and the DJ who I have known for over 10 years, bought me my next bottle of water. So with my bus fares only costing me £1.50, it was a very inexpensive night out for me. There were more good singers than mediocre singers and the DJ played really good music in between the singers, so I did lots of dancing. 

candygirl

Looking fab, n very glam SUGAR.Sounds like a fab night out x

phoebe1989seb

Agree that you look very glamorous, Sugarbaby...glad you had a lovely time 😄

Hope everyone's Christmas went ok despite covid's efforts to thwart things?

Our break so far has been relaxing and peaceful...just what we needed to reinvigorate us for the coming big push (more on that another day!).

We've enjoyed spending some long-awaited quality time together, cosying up with the dogs by one of the wood burning stoves listening to music, watching the occasional tv programme (thoroughly enjoyed A Very British Scandal) or dvd (finally got to see The Salisbury Poisonings) or reading. Neither of us has ventured beyond walking the dogs in the lane outside the mill 😎

For Christmas we each received some amazing books which will keep us occupied during the wintery evenings to come. These are predominantly inspirational interiors/garden related although I also received a few devoted to Greek mythology which I've already begun dipping into 😉

Gift-wise, it's fair to say that we both lucked out this year! It's hard to choose a favourite, but I think mine was a stunning antique print of London, beautifully framed to add to the small collection of old London pics I'm putting together in the bathroom 😄 I was delighted that DH was utterly gobsmacked when he unwrapped the rare book I'd managed to secure for him 😀

The family were pleased with all rheth presents too, although apparently it took a while to match gift to recipient as three year old DGD had decided to swap the tags around whilst no-one was watching, lol 😂😂😂

Our Christmas Day venison was a huge triumph! Good old M&S! I can't say the same for the (Aldi) lobster starter which was extremely disappointing. Fortunately the rib of beef (also Aldi) was far more successful 😋 and my trifle was given the thumbs up too!

It's a good thing we have plans for lots of strenuous building activities during the coming months as I'm sure we've both gained a few pounds over the holidays!

sugarbaby125

Thanks Candygirl and Phoebe   

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng my lovely friends. 

You look lovely as always SUgarbaby.  

Log burner looks super cosy, Phoebe.  

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.  

Right now I'm luxuriating in bed with my Morning coffee. Have had a few restless nights recently but had a lovely long catch up sleep, not waking till 9.00 am.  A full 8 hrs. I feel almost human again. 😂One of my goals is to get more sleep. 

Are we all looking forward to The New Year.  I have to say, after a rather lacklustre 2021 which was somewhat short in champagne moments at times, I am looking forward to making a fresh start next year.  I will be heartily glad to see the back of 2021. 

I had a lovely Christmas, very quiet with just immediate family and am currently spending "Twixmas" relaxing and being thoroughly lazy.  

Yes I watched the Very British Scandal.  Thought it was excellent.  Felt sorry for the Duchess, ok she wasn't perfect but she did not deserve her treatment, especially the court case.  The judge was somewhat less than impartial.  Sadly "!!!!!! shaming" is still with us even today, and that old double standard where it's one rule for the boys and one for women is still very much alive. The red top press and now the internet is still rife with it.  Claire Foy gives a stellar performance and the luscious Paul Bettany (oh I so would😂🤣) plays the vile duke. 

I have also watched several films I have enjoyed.  Last night I watched "Don't Look Up". Can thoroughly recommend it, a sort of darkly comic disaster movie, where a comet is due to hit Earth and cause an extinction level event. It's a scathing political satire and whilst it is extremely funny, sadly the America it depicts and the way the US government deals with the impending disaster is probably pretty accurate. Some real heavyweight actors who all deliver brilliant comedic performances, Leonardo de Caprio, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchette, Jennifer Lawrence and Mark Rylance as a suitably unhinged psychotic billionaire.  

I hope you all have lovely New Year celebrations. 

Look forward to seeing you all on a new thread in 2922.  🥂🥳

phoebe1989seb

The film sounds like something DH would enjoy, Helen, thanks for the recommendation.....

So, our relaxing break was short-lived as DH needed to return to site on Thursday (and today 🙄) in order to oversee the new plumber he's had to take on after his *erstwhile* partner walked away with no notice whatsoever a few weeks back (the absolute toerag 😡). No matter, having DH home was good while it lasted!

Since I last posted champagne moments have included a quick whizz around Homesense to spend gift card cash (on an irresistibly gorgeous red Liberty of London cushion to add to the pile on the kitchen sofa, reduced fairy lights in the perfect colours for the snug and some pretty mauve tumblers to replace ones damaged by years of dishwashing). We haven't been near any other shops as we certainly don't need more clothes or other personal stuff!

Also, some great meals have been enjoyed using up the Christmas leftovers 😋

Today I'm doing a *stocktake* of building and decorating materials to ensure we don't run out when work here begins afresh. First up will be the guestroom in which a couple of stud walls need erecting - fortunately we stockpiled timber and plasterboard etc as well as taking advantage of special discounts during the past year so all we need to buy for that is the paint, some wall lights...and a massive chest of drawers 😉

Tonight we're feasting on one of our favourites - baked camembert with roasted garlic - accompanied by an M&S pizza dip (love these!) and homemade Jamie Oliver tear and share garlic bread (from his Together series), followed by some Aldi mini puddings....


We haven't been out partying on New Year's Eve for years so the new rules on hospitality here in Wales won't affect us - in fact after a glass or two of prosecco we'll be in bed early with our books in order to crack on with the decorating tomorrow 😁

Enjoy the celebrations if you're partaking, everyone!

candygirl

LL I loved a British Scandal too, but what a !!!!!! He was!!! 😡
Happy New Year everyone, n I know we will rock it this year.I'm so ready for massive changes x

sheilavw

Happy New Year everyone. Fortunately, my youngest Daughter , Partner and Son in law who were all positive just before Christmas got their second negatives yesterday and we were able to spend the evening together. A lovely meal, and plenty of games until just after 12.

Today I started my challenge for the MNDA, to walk 15k a day in January. It's a charity close to my heart having lost my Husband to this cruel disease in July 2019. So I got up early and got an 8k step walk in whilst my eldest Daugther and Son in law were packing up to go home. Going to miss them and my Grandson very much.

I too loved the British scandal series. Claire Foy reminds me a bit of Anna Friel.

Enjoy your day everyone, just going to take my Brother out today. Back to work Tuesday but quiet day (inset). Determined to do more exercise and lose a bit of weight!

helensbiggestfan

Hello everyone. And a Happy New Year to One and All.  

Candy....yeah let's rock this baby.  I too am up for some massive changes but not today.  One more day of sloth and then tomorrow I will get cracking.  And that's a promise.  😉

shall I start a new thread, new bright and shiny for a new bright and shiny new year.  

phoebe1989seb

A slightly belated very Happy New Year to everyone from me too 🥂🎆🥂

Yep, 2021 hasn't been great here either - well, tbh it's had some fabulous ups, but also more downs than I'd have hoped for (sadly mostly ongoing family relationship problems and DH's acrimonious parting from his unofficial business partner which really left things in the mire for a while. Fortunately DH doesn't have my depression issues, so instead of it grinding him down he turned it to his advantage...my hero ❤️). Moreover, despite the inauspicious start to our own relationship, DH and I are solid as a rock more than thirty years on 😍

We have big plans for 2022 which I'll share later, but for now it's business as usual, aka more DIY, lol 😉😂😉