Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng lovely ladies.  

Phew Chanie, 2 rooms already.  Good idea to keep it simple for now.  Just slap on some paint get everywhere fully functional asap.  You can go back later and refine and style everything.  

My buyer dropped out,  but no worries, the reserve buyers are still very keen so hopefully I have still got a sale.  I will know more today.  They do have a dependent sale whereas buyer 1 didnt but I don't mind I'm in no hurry,  I still haven't found my onward purchase anyway.  So given that I'm likely to be renting there's no real pressure.  

Yesterday I found an amazing cruise deal.  New Year 2023/24 so aeons away. But it was such a good price it would have been rude not to and only a small holding deposit required. A lovely itinerary visiting various ports in Spain, Gibraltar and Lisbon.  It wont be overly hot but hopefully a little bit of winter sun to break the winter gloom. 

I can't commit myself to a holiday for this year until I've got the house move under my belt. Maybe something around Jan/Feb next year, again to escape the winter.  I'm sure an opportunity will present itself.  

Lost a couple of lbs.  Disappointingly slow start, will just have to remember the compound effect, and keep plodding on.  

liberty_lily

Sorry your sale fell through, Helen...however, not only is it very early days, but tbh with an investment buyer they are less emotionally invested, so - as I'm sure with your wealth of experience you are aware - you will probably fare better with someone who has fallen in love with your house 😊

We lost an investment purchaser when selling our home in 2007, but the next (cash) buyers were so determined to get our one-off house they had no survey (it was a large six bedroom Victorian house that we'd fully renovated) and they completed on the sale within six weeks 😉 

Anyway, wishing you well with it all xxx 

liberty_lily

Because we've been doing lots of house (and garden) fabbing, I thought it made sense to join the thread 😄 

Chanie, you must be so excited to finally be at the decorating stage 🙂

As anyone from the champagne moments thread will know, we are - virtually - singlehandedly renovating our downsize home that was purchased as a repossession. Currently we're almost four and a half years into what will hopefully be a six year project.  It's taking so long because DH is also working full time whereas I'm at home doing what I can in his absence. We've already altered most of the house beyond all recognition including swapping the function of almost every room 🙄

Over the past week or so we've begun transforming the brick chimney breast in the kitchen which I've hated with a passion since we moved in! Even adding the wood burner didn't change my perspective, lol...

Here's a 'before' shot (excuse the TV - it's temporary whilst the living room is out of action, undergoing major work 😉)



And a 'during' (the beam not yet permanently attached)


I'll post up an 'after' in due course, once DH has plastered and we've added wallpaper etc.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Chanie, you and your husband have done very well to have decorated 2 rooms already. 

Helen, sorry your original buyer has fallen through. I am sure you will complete in the near future with the other potential buyer.

Phoebe, Welcome. It is lovely to have your input on this thread as well 

I went to my local Odeon to watch Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and I was really entertained by the story and I found this film so funny, that I was continually laughing out loud. This film really lifted my spirits. For me this film was a 10/10 

It is my younger son's 22nd birthday tomorrow. I have wrapped his presents and written out his card. I bought him a birthday cake from Marks & Spencer, as he wanted one. I will put the banner and balloons up later tonight in our \Living room so he wakes up to them adorning the room. 

chanie

@helensbiggestfan sorry your buyer pulled out, but at least they did so early on in the process.

@sugarbaby125 happy birthday to your son. I hope he is having a nice day.

@liberty_lily thanks for sharing picture of your home, I’m sure it will look lovely once it’s done and maybe you will come to love the chimney.

Wednesday2000

Happy Birthday to your son Sugarbaby.

Hi to Phoebe.

That is a shame about your buyer Helen. The cruise sounds very nice! Do you go on cruises on your own and just chat to people while you are there?

I really have to sort out renewing our passports as I want to go away. I went out with my husband last week and while we were in the restaurant I was saying about going to Barbados to see my friend who moved there. This would be expensive obviously so it would be 2023, not this year. I was also thinking of going to somewhere like Lanzarote for my husband's birthday this November instead of Amsterdam as it would be warm.

That renovation seemed very quick Chanie. What happened with the drama with the neighbours in the end?

I am feeling a right state at the moment. I just haven't been keeping up any type of regime apart from shaving my legs and using body lotion. My brother is staying over this weekend so I am going to dye my hair before then and also paint my toenails and fingernails as we are going out Saturday. I want to try a new restaurant and a few local bars with him that I haven't tried yet.

We have booked my dog in for a couple of days next week as we are getting our kitchen floor redone. I am also going to go out to see a film at the cinema with my husband and probably try another new restaurant. There are so many nice places to eat out around here! A couple I met at the local meetup last year are also coming round next week so we will go out with them too probably to a tea room and a bar at the beach so a few nice things coming up for me.

I might go out to the local chazzer to see if I can get a "new" dress to wear at the weekend and maybe one for next week too.

helensbiggestfan

Well up with the larks this Morning.  Done a few exercises and now just sitting with my coffee whilst using my foot massager thingy.  I have had it for  ages but never really got into using it on a regular basis. Recently my foot and knee arthritis have been really painful so I thought I would dig it out and give it a whirl.  It seems to be helping.  

During lockdown, when I couldn't get proper massages, I also bought myself a couple of back/neck massage gizmos.  I have also started using them too and again they seem to be helping my neck and shoulder.  Not as good as a real hands on massage but again with daily use they do seem to be making a difference.  

With the rising cost of living I am looking to make savings where possible so using the gadgets I already have rather than professional treatments is one way of streeeetching the pennies.  I am doing a lot more in home  treatments, the only time I seem to visit a salon these days is to get my hair cut.  

Off to Aldi in a bit, might pop in a chazzer on the way.  One never knows what one might find.  Lol.  

helensbiggestfan

Sorry Wednesday.  Didn't answer your question.  Yes I do tend to go alone for the most part.  But you are never alone for long.  

I have met loads of nice people and remained friends with them. In fact one of  them has become a cruise buddy.  I met her on my very first solo cruise and we stayed in touch.  We went to the Amazon together in a shared cabin, which really helped with the costs.  For this next cruise I booked first and then told her about it and she has also booked.  So we're not actually travelling together or sharing a cabin but we will meet up on board. I have to confess I do prefer a cabin to myself so I look for the solo deals.  

 

I have travelled alone many times, for business and for pleasure,  I find cruises to be excellent for solos.  In fact I have met lots of solos who, although they weren't single, like to holiday without their partners sometimes. 

The world is a fantastic place and I'm not of a nervous disposition but it has to be said there are certain areas where I would be wary of travelling alone as a woman.  So cruises provide a safe way of seeing some of the worlds slightly more adventurous outposts.  Like the Amazon.......and organised tours of maybe somewhat dodgy ports do provide safety in numbers.  

So for me solo holidays, whether by land or sea, offer a safe, affordable way to travel. And I have met so many really nice people.  

Cruises can be as sociable as you want. No one is forced to "join in".  You can do your own thing during the day and then just meet up with people for dinner.  Often staying alone in hotels can be a bit lonely whereas on a cruise there is always someone to sit with and chat to at dinner.  

The other thing is they are not as extravagant as people might first think.  They can offer great value for money.  All your travel costs, accommodation, meals, entertainment etc come included in the price.  Extras might be your bar bill, and any organised shore excursions.  

My cruise is costing me £1086 for 14 nights. Amazing value especially as it includes New Years Eve. 

One of the pluses for me is that a lot of cruises sail from U.K. ports so no flying.  😉.  

chanie

I’ve never been on a cruise, but my Mum loves them.  She says its travelling, but taking your hotel with you.

@helensbiggestfan maybe you’ll meet some more Johns on your next cruise 😂.

@Wednesday2000 it’s sounds like costal life is really suiting you both.  There is nothing better than being by the sea on a lovely warm day.

Wednesday2000

helensbiggestfan said:

The other thing is they are not as extravagant as people might first think.  They can offer great value for money.  All your travel costs, accommodation, meals, entertainment etc come included in the price.  Extras might be your bar bill, and any organised shore excursions.  

My cruise is costing me £1086 for 14 nights. Amazing value especially as it includes New Years Eve. 

One of the pluses for me is that a lot of cruises sail from U.K. ports so no flying.  😉.  

That is really good value! For some reason I thought they were more expensive than that. I hate flying too. I even hate being in airports. I find them very claustrophobic.

I might start researching cruises!:)