Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

Wednesday2000

Hello Ladies.

I haven't been feeling that well the past week, I'm not sure if I had a stomach bug or have just been eating too much junk again. I stayed in bed some of the day yesterday just reading and relaxing. I read about this Sunday reset thing a while ago. Sunday reset⁠—how to create the perfect routine | Woman & Home | I got up about 2pm and I did my skincare routine, I changed my bed covers, did the laundry and then had a shower and did a hair mask. It felt nice.

I am doing some more decluttering and tidying today as we have decided to move into the second bedroom permanently as we prefer it in there. It is quieter, cooler and has a nicer view even though it is much smaller. I am going to rearrange the two bedrooms today and try and take everything out of the small bedroom that is not needed. I am thinking of just leaving the bed in there, a bedside table, a lamp and a mirror. I have read that having a minimalst room is conducive to sleeping well anyway.:) I have ordered some LED flickering candles and I might put fresh flowers in there too.

Did everybody watch the football yesterday?! They did so well!

sugarbaby125

Wednesday that was an interesting article. 

I am not a football fan, but I am so pleased that Women's football is finally getting the recognition it always deserved. 

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning lovely ladies.  

Well it's been a busy week.  Buyer had their survey done yesterday so fingers crossed.  Other than that not much news. 

I had a weekend off, out for a belated birthday lunch on Saturday and cinema to see "Elvis"on Sunday.  So now it's back to the grindstone, more sorting out and decluttering and the garden needs some attention.  

Wednesday - it sounds like a good idea to swap out your bedroom, for the one that is quieter and which has a better view, even if it is smaller. And I think you're right if you keep it streamlined and uncluttered it wont matter if it's the smaller room.  I do think that less visual clutter is more restful.  

As I continue to streamline and declutter I am noticing quite a difference in how the house feels. I am a tidy person and everything is always neatly stored away but even so I do know it's there and it does weigh me down.  It sounds crazy but the more stiff  I get rid of the lighter  and freer I feel  - it's like a weight lifting off my shoulders.  

The main part of the house is quite streamlined now.....currently working  my way through the loft.  That's not too bad but I'm quietly dreading the sheds. 😱😂

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Helen, at least you have some progress with your house sale. 

went to the Donmar Warehouse Theatre to watch the play The Doll's House Part 2 yesterday evening. It is such a great play. It has such incisive, witty dialogue throughout the play. Noma Dumezweni is a tour de force as Nora.     I got a cut price ticket for only £6.50 for a seat that should have cost me £55.    

This was my first visit to the Donmar Warehouse Theatre and it will not be my last. It is a modern, really well appointed theatre.   

My son and I each won £25 on our Premium Bonds this month     

chanie

Hi fabbers, 

we arrived back from our holiday and I’ve read up on what I have been missing on this thread.

it was lovely to get away for the first time in two years, but other than waxing and my hair, fabbing was definitely on the backseat for our holiday.  I’m back, feeling refreshed, ready to resume the DIY and enjoy the rest of the summer.  Whilst I was away, I developed lower back pain, which was due to a combination of factors (both home and on holiday) and it made me realise that I need to get back on the fabbing wagon, loose weight and get healthy.  So, this will be a priority for me now.  Work is quiet over the summer and I have lots of time off, so I will have the time to focus on these things. 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Chanie, welcome back. I am glad you and your family had a lovely holiday but I hope your lower back pain has eased. 

Yesterday evening, I went to see the play Intervention at The Greenwich Theatre. This time there were no issues with the 177 bus. The play was okay, but for some reason, it just did not keep me engaged, my mind kept on wandering onto the mundane issues I am dealing with like housework.  For me this play was a 6/10. I got my ticket for £6.50 and the normal concession ticket price is £21 so I saved myself £14.50. 

This afternoon I went to The Young Vic to see the interactive performance Of The Cut. I explained to one of the hosts when I arrived, that I had Arthritis and would not be able to stand and I was assured there would be seating available at all of the stops along the way of the tour. It was to celebrate 25 years of The Young Vic working with the community. I absolutely loved it. I would give it a 10/10.    Tickets were offered to everyone in the Neighbourhood Voices group, but there was no one else from our group there today. This was a completely free event, open to anyone living in Southwark and Lambeth. 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

I lost another pound in weight this week, so now I have lost 9 pounds so far.   

Today I went on a day trip to Hampton Court Palace with Blackfriars Settlement. There were 22 of us and 3 members of staff. We all had an enjoyable time looking around Hampton Court, eating our lunches in the sunshine and buying ourselves souvenirs in the shop. Blackfriars Settlement had free entry tickets for us, so that saved me £26.10. I had no travel costs, as you can take the train from Waterloo Station to Hampton Court Station and vice versa with my 60 plus Oyster card.  I bought a guide book in the shop for £4.99. 

I treated myself to a double scoop of chunky chocolate and mint choc chip ice cream at lunch time for £4.20. It was absolutely delicious. 

I also treated myself to a ride in the horse and carriage for £5.  The shire horses are magnificent. 

One of the men on the day trip complimented me on my outfit. 

I was wearing my black leather trainers with socks, as I knew I would be doing a substantial amount of walking around Hampton Court. I also had to take painkillers twice on the day trip, but it was worth the pain. 

chanie

@sugarbaby125 you have lots of great trips recently.  I like Hampton Court Palace, so I’m pleased to see how much you enjoyed it as well.

Our plans for the weekend are to finish off the childrens bedrooms.  We have a little bit of decorating to finish off but it’s mainly just getting their rooms back in order, so it shouldn’t take more than about a day.

maman

I like Hampton Court too. There’s something really iconic about the brick gatehouse and I’ve always found the kitchens fascinating. That was a real bargain day out what with the free entry ticket and being able to use your travel permit @sugarbaby125.

I’ve been enjoying your theatre reviews. I expect as well as appreciating the content, you must be picking up tips for your own writing. I’ve posted before about how much I like BBC Sounds, especially Radio 4 Extra where they broadcast a lot of archive programming. Earlier I listened to a dramatisation of a Miss Marple story. I enjoy picking out the devices they use to move the story along, such as using a sidekick or making a telephone call to let you know what the main character is thinking.

I posted that the second Candice Carty Williams book is on BBC Sounds as an audiobook. I’ve avoided listening to it as I want to read it first. I ordered the book from my library and now it’s ready for collection.

You must have almost finished the decorating now @chanie and can enjoy some of the spare time you have during the summer. I put some (actually a lot) weight on during my holiday but I’m working on it, although it’s much slower going off than going on. DH says it’s not noticeable but I think that’s because I’ve been wearing loose dresses throughout the lovely warm weather.

Let’s hope this current buyer proves to be the one @helensbiggestfan.🤞🏼

I’m keeping up with the fabbing. I’ve retained a lot of my tan from my holiday and my hair still looks very sun bleached. This afternoon I have an appointment to have my eyebrows waxed and tinted and then on Monday to have my hair cut. It’s my usual stylist so I shouldn’t have the nightmare you had @helensbiggestfan.

Have a good weekend all.😊

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Thank you Chanie and Maman. I had been to Hampton Court Palace a few times years ago, but there is just so much to see and enjoy on each visit. 

Maman, I am going to the theatre more than in my recent past, because now I never have to factor in travel costs and I also have various ways to get access to cut price tickets. 

I am currently living my best version of my life at sixty because I can indulge my love of going to the theatre to my heart's content and I am also doing lots of creative writing and honing my writing skills with the Neighbourhood Voices programme.   

I have typed up all of my notes from the last Masterclass and Saturday session. I also did some more writing of the characters backgrounds. We are not required to write character backgrounds as part of the programme, but it was one of the great writing tips in the book The Playwright's Process by Buzz McLaughlin that I found to be very useful. It has really helped me to picture my characters not just as a writer, but how they would be perceived by a member of the audience. 

I will write some more of my play tomorrow and every day after, until I have finished the 1st draft of my play. 

I want to be able to get some feedback on my 1st draft and do the necessary re-writes whilst I am still part of the programme and have that invaluable support.