Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

maman

I'd miss a range of shops too. It's really difficult at the moment for people who have to rely on little Co-ops or have to drive miles to get to a large supermarket. It adds so much to a food bill.

I went out for a couple of hours this afternoon, looking for holiday clothes. Asda didn't have much except a sun dress that I'll look at again. Matalan had a few bikinis and a short beach dress that was liked but not in my size so I'll try a different branch next week. 

I did buy a treat in Asda, 67p YS.... 

Wednesday2000

Pretty flowers, what a bargain!

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Great roses at a bargain price Maman 

On Wednesday I went to the music and lunch event at Blackfriars Settlement from 11am to 2.30pm. I had so much fun singing along and dancing on my chair to the music choices. We all had the opportunity to choose a track and explain why it was important to us in terms of our mental health. I had a baked potato topped with grated cheese, a very swell seasoned chicken thigh and a green salad for my lunch. I was also given 8 chicken drumsticks to take home and a multipack of Cadbury's mini chocolate fingers. So I was also able to feed myself and my 2 children dinner for free as well, as I just added some Tilda rice 'n' peas to the chicken drumsticks. 

On Thursday evening from 6pm - 8pm I had a Masterclass with Jennifer Tang which was part of the Neighbourhood Voices programme. Jen taught the group of us so much about the gesture and the conceit of a play is. We had to come with a story that would be either a play, a film or a television series. I came up with an idea for a situation comedy set in a hair salon and beauty shop for black and other women of colour. Jennifer then explained that the themes in your play has to affect every character in your play. I was surprised to find that I had quite a list of themes for my situation comedy and that they did in fact affect all of the characters. The idea was well received by Jennifer and the group, even though I do not have the first idea how to write a script for a television series, but I do not know what my future as a writer holds. I am growing and developing so much as a writer already. 

Neighbourhood Voices managed to get everyone in the group a free 1 year subscription to The National Theatre at Home. I cannot believe my luck. 

I am going to The National Theatre tomorrow afternoon to see the play The Corn Is Green. I am really looking forward to it. 

I bought myself a beautiful pair of 18ct gold drop earrings with diamonique stones on eBay this week. They looked even better when they arrived and they hang beautifully in my ears. They cost me £275 but they were definitely worth it. 

maman

You really have some amazing activities in your area @sugarbaby125, giving you so much pleasure and it's great to read about your writing developing with all the professional input. 

Enjoy The Corn is Green. It's a story resonates with me from my Welsh heritage. The play has had good reviews. I hope the accents are genuine! 🤣

sugarbaby125

Yes Maman I am fortunate to live in South East London where there is support for my mental health and wellbeing with Blackfriars Settlement.   

I go to Poetry Open Mic events when I have the time, go to the theatre and the cinema regularly. I also have some free events in Brixton Library mid June that I have tickets for which I am really looking forward to. 

I am getting far more from the Neighbourhood Voices programme than I had expected. I was pleasantly surprised so far at how many industry professionals want to give us their help and support to develop our playwriting skills.   

Wednesday2000

Hmm, I've never heard of The Corn is Green. I was looking at what was on at the local Palace theatre and there is a play I want to see In October called Darkness Falls. It is supposed to be quite scary as it is a ghost story.:)

I have been to the lovely hospice charity shop again and bought more clothes and stuff for my house. I think I'm out of my minimalist phase as I have bought so much since I've been here. I was saying on the charity shop thread that I saw a Karen Millen jacket in there for £10 but it wasn't my style at all so I didn't buy it.

I have found a local massage place and a chiropodist that I want to go to at some point. We need to find a GP and dentist to join too.

I have been trying to prepare food at home rather than get takeaways. Over the past few days I made a roasted vegetable couscous salad, a red lentil and carrot soup and a peanut/chilli rice noodle salad. I've been using my air fryer a lot too. I haven't even used my oven once. 

We are planning to go out for two days next week and I have booked my dog in at the kennel. It is much cheaper than London prices! We are planning on going to a new (to us) local beach (Thorpe Bay) and then to a restaurant in Southend and then going to Leigh-on Sea beach and then going into a bar in Old Leigh. This is dependent on the weather of course. The next day I want to go to Aldi to stock up on frozen food in the morning and then to another local restaurant and then to another bar in Old Leigh and then we have a concert in central London to go to. I want to make sure we are doing as much as we can while she is at the kennel, lol. I'm not sure what to wear both days yet as it will also be dependent on how warm it is.

chanie

@Wednesday2000it sounds like you are becoming a pro at finding all hot spots in your new area.  This will be really helpful come the summer months when all the tourists (Like me 🤣) arrive.  You’ll have your lovely quiet beaches with the locals, whilst we are crammed onto the pleasure beach.

@sugarbaby125 your play idea reminds me of Desmond’s (that TV show from the 1990s set in Peckham).  Your previous story got me thinking and I have an idea for a play or story.  It would be set in a Polling Station and focuses on people in the community who come in to vote.  I’ve always been fascinated by the different people who come in to vote and wandered about their back stories.  I thought it could be a comedy, as politics can be quite heavy.  Maybe one day I’ll get around to writing it.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Wednesday you and your husband have a very busy schedule for that weekend. I hope you get dry, warm weather for the whole weekend. 

Chanie, it is a modern female version of Desmond's. Even when I was watching Desmond's I wanted a female version with more sophisticated characters. Your idea for a play or story is very viable Chanie, especially as you are basing it on a subject matter that you have lots of knowledge of. 

Maman the welsh accents seemed genuine to my untrained ear, so I presume they got welsh actors for the miners characters. The welsh singing was so melodious, I was transported. Those actors were obviously chosen for their singing voices as well as their acting talents. The Corn Is Green is a great play and I found out after I had seen it, that it is semi-autobiographical. The author of the play is Emlyn Williams. 

Unfortunately 2 members of the audience had medical emergencies.   The play had to be halted and the audience was asked to clear the theatre. After 45 minutes we were allowed to return to our seats in the theatre and the play resumed. 

Wednesday2000

Chanie - I have read that the best beach around here is Shoebury East.:) I haven't been there either so I want to visit it too at some point. It is meant to be much more quiet than Southend and it is a Blue Flag Award beach.
Shoebury East Beach - Visit Southend

chanie

@Wednesday2000 I didn’t realise that there were sandy beaches in the area.  Thanks for that, we will definitely go to them in our next trip, as it will be much more enjoyable than squashing onto the tiny beaches near the main seafront.   

Me and OH went up into the loft today to decide on the layout.  We had a bit of a dilemma.  We could have 1 big bedroom and a big bathroom or 2 smaller rooms and a small bathroom.  We’ve decided to go for the latter, which is just about doable space wise.  We think it would be a better use of the space for us as a family, as we are going to put a sofa bed in there so it can double up as both a living room and bedroom.