Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

Floss

Thought this was a suitable remembrance....

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Everyone.  

Floss what a wonderful collage of photos, showing HM in all her glory.  She always looked wonderful. She really could wear just about any colour, even yellow which is notoriously difficult to pull off.  

As this is a thread dedicated to style I would like to comment on her wonderful sense of personal style, her charm and grace.  We know she chose to use colour deliberately so that she could always been seen easily but wow she did it with such panache.   And that smile......she was radiant to the end.  

RIP Your Majesty. You will be sorely missed.  

maman

In the spirit of the thread, I was fortunate to visit Buckingham Palace a few summers ago when outfits from HM's reign were on display. Some of them were tiny, especially the waists. Such a petite lady. 

I particularly loved the embroidery on her coronation gown showing the emblems of all nations of the UK.

Although I'd seen it before, last week I watched the Helen Mirren film, The Queen. I think that period of her life brought about a big change as she found the public displays of emotion over Diana difficult to comprehend. Your namesake @helensbiggestfan was excellent in the role.

More recently her cameo appearances with James Bond and Paddington Bear were superb. The marmalade sandwich in the trademark handbag! 🤣

Just listened to the King giving his address to the nation. I thought he was excellent. Condolences to him and his family at this time. 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Floss what a fitting tribute to our late Queen.

I have been very emotional since yesterday once the news of the Queen's death was announced. It has brought back all the pain and grief of losing my own Mother and coming to the realisation that I was an adult orphan. 

helensbiggestfan

SUgarbaby.  Same here.  It has brought the deaths of my loved ones come flooding back.  I too have been a tad tearful. Spent yesterday quietly.  

When I lost my husband it was my mother to whom I turned for comfort, she was already very ill and fading fast.  She died just 7 months later so a double whammy. As you say being an adult orphan felt very strange, because as the eldest daughter everyone in the family looked to me as the new matriarch. 

It's a new era  isn't it......a new PM and a new monarch within 2 days, and at a time when Britain (and the world) are faced with huge challenges. 

Ah well, we will get through it as we have got through bad times in the past.  For now, We just need to pause a little.....

Stay well, lovely ladies.  Don't forget the self care. Sleep, rest, healthy eating, gentle exercise, a bit of lippy and a squirt of perfume.  

Today I will be having a massage, it will do me good. 

liberty_lily

Since the sad news of Her Majesty the Queen's passing, I've been thinking a lot about the loss of my parents too....

Mine died within ten months of each other back in May 2014 and March 2015. I was just 48 when my mum made me an adult orphan and with no siblings to share my pain ☹️

At the time they died I hardly shed a tear, but since the announcement on Thursday I've felt very tearful. 

We've been watching the TV coverage and both think that Charles will make a great King.

I've also been reminiscing about my couple of 'close encounters' with our amazing late Queen - not that I actually met her, but did come close...

First time was the Silver Jubilee in 1977 when I was ten and she visited Portsmouth (I was born and grew up in Southsea, Hampshire). I recall being right at the front of the crowd when she went on one of her famous walkabouts through the city centre. Unfortunately, back then I suffered from panic attacks in large crowds (in fact I still do, just to a much lesser extent 🙄) and before HM the Queen arrived I felt faint and my mum had to lead me away to a nearby shop where they provided water and made me sit quietly till I'd recovered. After that the crowds did let us get back *near* the front but not quite close enough to see the Queen properly.

The second occasion was in 1998 when DS was an eight year old probationary chorister at Portsmouth cathedral. That year Queen Elizabeth distributed the Maundy money at our cathedral and us choir parents were able to have two tickets to attend the service. DH gave his up so my mum (proud grandma and staunch royalist 🙂) could go in his place although we had to sit in different parts of the cathedral. I was sitting very close to where Her Majesty was giving out the Maundy coins and as she moved from one recipient to the next, she looked up and for what felt like an age - but was probably only a split second - our eyes met and she held my gaze. I've never forgotten the kindness that shone from her eyes 😊

RIP Queen Elizabeth. Long live King Charles III.

chanie

Sorry to read that a few of people have been triggered by the death of the Queen. Even though most of us probably didn’t know her, her presence was everywhere.

I was thoroughly spoilt for my birthday.   I had a child free shopping trip to one of the Westfield’s.  I didn’t realise that it was 18 months since my last visit.  I didn’t buy much, but it was nice to just have a wander around.  I was buying something in Lush and mentioned that it was my birthday, so the SA gave me the item for free, I was well chuffed and I will pay it forward.

Floss

Well done on your birthday freebie Chanie, my DS2 & DDiL live in Stratford and I swear I have never walked thru Westfield the same way twice!

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Chanie, Happy Belated Birthday to you.  Nothing beats a child free shopping trip. 

I went to the Blackfriars Settlement mental health and wellbeing discussion group today and it really helped me. I have had an especially difficult week, and I have felt quite grief stricken and depressed, as it should have been my granddaughter's 21st birthday on Sunday. I will never get over her death, it was even more difficult than the death of my Mother. My Mother was 92 years old when she died. My granddaughter was only 19 years old and thanks to the Covid-19 restrictions only 15 members of our family could attend her funeral, as the maximum was 30 people and her Father had 15 members of his family at her funeral. We also could not hold a wake for her as this was also not allowed under the restrictions at the time. 

I am going to keep busy, as I am over eating and I need to get back on track sharpish with my healthy eating. Also staying busy really helps me to combat my feelings of depression and cope better with my grief. 

My condenser tumble dryer stopped working yesterday with a load of drying in there. My son took the bag of wet laundry to the local launderette today and I dried the white towels and clothes at the launderette for only £1. I have ordered a new heat pump tumble dryer which will be delivered next Wednesday. I had not realised until today that there were new types of tumble dryers for sale. It is far more energy efficient than a condenser dryer which will make all of the difference with the cost of energy at the moment. 

Yesterday evening I got a free ticket from Neighbourhood Voices to go and watch the one man play Who Killed My Father at The Young Vic. My ticket was worth £22.50. I applauded his skill as an actor at the end of the play, but this play was not really saying anything to me. I am never keen on a play where one actor plays a few different characters. For me this play was a 5.5/10.

I went to see the play Drum at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham Common this evening. It was a really good play with lots of music and dancing, set in the swinging sixties. There were only 2 Black male characters and yet they filled the stage with their presence and commanded the audience's attention. For me this play was a 9.5/10  I paid  £4 for a ticket that was worth £13. 

chanie

@sugarbaby125 I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling on your granddaughters birthday,  you are all in my thoughts and prayers.  It’s good that you have Blackfriars to support you.
how are things going with your play?  Is your Neighbourhood course still going, or have you finished?

It’s really starting to feel like autumn now, isn’t it?  This morning is particularly wet and grey.