Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

I went to The Old Vic yesterday evening to see One Voice: Who's Planet Are You On? which was an event where actors performed four monologues on the subject of climate change. I received a free ticket to this event, so I saved myself £15.All four monologues were so different, yet each was a great way of commissioning a piece of creative work from 4 established writers in getting the climate change message across to a wide audience. For me this event was a 9/10 

liberty_lily

Your great-granddaughter is so cute, Sugarbaby...and l love her pretty outfit 😍 

Our weekend didn't get off to the best of starts fabbing-wise, after DH drove an hour to the supplier early on Saturday to collect oak *beading* for the double glazed units (having phoned first to confirm they were in stock), only to find the person he'd spoken with had been wrong 🙄

Fortunately they had an alternative (although £150 more expensive 😬 but still £300+ less than the next cheapest alternative elsewhere!), although this needed cutting to size so won't be ready till Tuesday at the earliest. It's imperative we have it ahead of the weekend or DH will have to postpone his trip to Brighton to do DS's new bathroom.

He's already pushed back his departure time from Sat am to Sun pm and they need it done during half term 🙄 DH doesn't want to leave me here with a less than secure house, tarps blowing wildly in the autumnal winds when he's five hours away, so wants the glazing fitted before he goes. Therefore I'm currently keeping everything crossed that we'll be watertight by Sunday lunchtime 🤞🤞🤞

As he couldn't get on with the beading, DH spent the weekend building up the stonework to the sides of the frame - a painstaking job but something he finds therapeutic. His hard work and attention to detail is paying off as it's starting to look lovely!

The website with one of the crewelwork cushions I wanted to get for the living room sofa had 10% off so I ordered that....and I think we might be creeping closer to making a decision on the flooring 😉

Wednesday2000

I'm really enjoying the Jessica Simpson book I'm reading. I'm not a fan of hers at all, but I am finding it absolutely fascinating.
Jessica Simpson’s Mesmerizing Memoir of Recovery and X-ennial Fame | The New Yorker

I haven't got much planned at all this week. I have to book a routine blood test, but the link they texted me isn't working. Everything with this new GP surgery is now online which makes it very difficult to get information about anything. I'm not even sure where the blood test centre is which is annoying as the website doesn't give any information about it. I think I might have to go in to the surgery in person and ask.

We are getting the Sky person to come round to move the box this week so we can then move the living room around, finally!

I have ordered some Glaze hair colourant as I keep reading how glossy it makes your hair. It only lasts 10 washes, but I thought I would see what all the hype is about.

liberty_lily

Glad you're enjoying your book, Wednesday 🙂

The two novels I bought on ebay have arrived but I'm saving them till DH is away next week as I'll probably spend my evenings in bed because I'm not lighting the kitchen wood burner just for me, lol! I read very fast so can't see those two (plus the other book I ordered) lasting all week. Fortunately I've a stash of art/interiors reference books to read too. DH stumbled across a whole load of titles I didn't have in my comprehensive collection (of Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelite, Arts and Crafts Movement etc) a while back, plus I've a Grayson Perry biography and a couple of general interiors books I've only thumbed through 😉

I'm currently doing some kitchen fabbing and later I'm going to trim my hair before dyeing it.

The cushion plan for the living room (assuming we ever finish it - we began working on it last September and moved out of the room in February '22🙄) is taking shape - the stunning crewelwork one I ordered online the other day was delivered earlier and I found another gorgeous Anke Drechsel for a fraction of the hundreds they retail for 😁

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,


On Wednesday afternoon, I went to see The Crucible at The National Theatre. It exceeded all of my expectations; it was just incredible. It moved me to feel just about every emotion possible. It was a 10/10 for me.    I got a ticket worth £66 for only £6.50

On Thursday afternoon, I went to see The Jersey Boys at The Trafalgar Theatre. It is a really good musical, but somehow the atmosphere was a bit flat. For me this was a bit of a disappointment, as I had wanted to see it for so, so, long. It was a 6.5/10 for me.   I got a ticket worth £104 for only £25, which was a blessing considering I was not as engaged by either the unfolding story or the songs in this musical.  

On Friday evening I went to watch Bangers Season 3 at Streatham Space Project. It was over 3 hours of Black comedians both male and female, making me laugh so hard, that I not only cried tears of laughter again and again, I gave my stomach muscles such a workout, they were aching by the end of the show. My ticket only cost me £10.60 after my member discount.   Stephen K Amos was one of the male comedians and I was really surprised when he came on stage. When I had purchased my super early bird ticket, the line-up of comedians had not yet been decided on. I got more than value for money. When I left the venue, I was feeling so relaxed and happy. For me this show was a 10/10.   When I admitted at the behest of the Black female comedian and host, that I was aged 60 years old, she came down from the stage to shake my hand. I was the oldest person in the audience, which cracked me up.  

This afternoon, I performed 3 of my poems at the Poetry Spoken Word Event for Black History Month at Brixton Library. Over 20 poets performed at this event, so I was in the company of a lot of other writers with talent. My daughter and son came with me to this event to support me.   We all had a really good time. For me this event was an 8/10, but only because it overran, and I was hungry and in pain. 

I read the book Redemption by the footballer Troy Deeney two days ago and I could not put it down, even though I do not like the game of football. I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this book. I will be meeting him tomorrow at a question and answer event at Brixton Library, tomorrow afternoon. I will take my book and get him to sign it with a personal message for me.

maman

Thanks for that @sugarbaby125. I am a football fan and know of Troy Deeney as Watford's captain. I was a little aware of a back story but I'll look out his book on your recommendation. 😊

liberty_lily

Wow, loads of great savings on your ticket prices there, Sugarbaby 😃

I'm delighted to report that thanks to my superhero DH, our windows are done 😆😁😆 With a bit of help from myself on the labouring front and absolutely herculean efforts from DH 😍, we got the living room secure and watertight ahead of his week's stay in Brighton!

We are actually astounded it's done (just a few minor bits to finish - ie, internal beading top and bottom, external oak cladding above the windows, plus some stonework to complete) and are so pleased with ourselves and thrilled with the results. Total spend was about £2k 😁

Those double glazed panels were blooming heavy and I ache all over today, so definitely need to pamper myself a little in his absence, lol!

Definitely think all the pain has been worth it though...can't wait to get the inside finished (and old end window gone/new fully glazed door added) now!

sugarbaby125

Wow Liberty Lily your husband and you have worked a small miracle to install those windows. They look fantastic, even though they are not completely finished.

Maman, I loved Troy Deeney's book Redemption so much, I read it in 7 hours. I only needed a toilet break. I did not want the book to get soiled or damaged, so it was best I read it in one sitting. 

I asked Troy this afternoon, if he had to make a conscious effort to be so honest in his book at the question and answer session. I mentioned that I had found his book so fascinating that I had read it in 7 hours, even though I am not a football fan, before I asked my question. When Troy was signing my book for me, he mentioned me reading his book in 7 hours. I replied 'I read every day. I am also a writer and at 60 years old, I am learning to be a playwright. Troy wished me luck. I forgot my camera at home, so I could not get a selfie with Troy. My mobile is not a smartphone. 

Troy is just such a lovely, caring, honest, open man and he is so self-aware.  

Wednesday2000

Sugarbaby - I have got Troy Deeney's book lined up on my kindle after the one I'm reading as you said it was so good. That is cool that you met him. The book I'm reading now is The Meaning of Mariah Carey. I haven't ever really been that interested in celeb autobiographies but the Demi Moore and Jessica Simpson books were riveting. 

I think I'm a bit bored with all the psychological thrillers I normally read as they are getting a bit samey so I want something different.

I can't even imagine how much work you must be doing on your home Liberty Lily. What size is your house out of interest?

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Today I went to the Ritzy cinema to watch The Banshees of Inisherin. To say I was underwhelmed by this film, is putting it mildly. I found it quite dull and boring. For me this film was a 3/10. It has really good reviews from film critics, but each to their own and this film was just not for me. Thankfully, I had used my Tesco Clubcard vouchers to purchase a £7.50 Picturehouse voucher, as my ticket cost £7.90 plus a 70p booking fee. If I had paid cash for my ticket, I would have been more upset at wasting my money. 

I treated myself to the whole list of Black History Month books recommended by Waterstones.  I bought all of the books from eBay sellers, as I found all of them for much less than Waterstones was selling them for. I am discovering so many more Black authors to add to my collection of books. 

Maman, I love autobiographies, I have a few left to read in my book collection. I also have books of so many genres, that I never read the same type of book one after the other, I mix up the genres to keep it interesting for myself.