Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

liberty_lily

sugarbaby125 said:

Liberty Lily even back in the day you were a young woman with style and panache 

Thanks so much Sugarbaby....you've made my day (evening, lol 😆) 😊💐

Wednesday2000

Oh yes, they are lovely photos of you Liberty Lily!:)

I just took a walk into the centre of Leigh to go to the chiropodist. She said my feet and nails are in good shape, except she thinks my gait might be off slightly. I have noticed that I had some pain in my knee the past few days and it wasn't the knee I had surgery on and I think it might be the fairly new sandals I'm wearing around the house. I'm going to wear just socks indoors and see if that helps. She was originally from the same area I just left in London before she moved here which was a coincidence. It wasn't that cold out and there was a beautiful moon. I have done almost 16,000 steps today. On my walk I thought it is such a contrast to how quiet it is around here compared to the warmer months. Lots of restaurants and bars on the Broadway were almost empty.

I am about to place an order for Superdrug as I thought I would stock up as we have run out of a lot of toiletries. I was going to go into the store next week when I get my flu jab but the list is getting so long it can be delivered instead of lugging it all back from Southend town centre. I'm glad to get my flu jab as I keep reading online that there is a very nasty flu going around.

liberty_lily

Thank you Wednesday 😁

Last night we began getting the plasterboard up in the living room 😀 The end is in sight now, although there's still a window to block up (this weekend's job) and a new door opening to create.

My current job is working on the fireplace. The original Arts & Crafts surround was an auction find (£50!) and back in 2018 I painted it black but am changing this to green. I also need to sort out the inside of the opening - think we might tile it but am not 100% decided yet!

I'm being realistic in that I don't expect the flooring to be done in time for Christmas (or the cloakroom) as there just aren't enough hours in the day, but I'm ok with that as long as everything else is done! Our rugs are so huge, that you'll hardly notice the unfinished floor 😉

chanie

@liberty_lily great progress on your home.  I forgot to mention your fab 80’s pictures.  i was in primary school in the 80’s and so your look reminds me of my childhood.  would you describe your look as punk, goth or just 80s?  (or something else?).

Good news for us, as we have someone coming to tile our bathroom next week.  Our original  tiler ghosted us over the summer and we’ve only just gotten round to finding someone else.  It has given us the motivation we need to finish off the hallway, as we don’t want to put the flooring down until we’ve painted and i would like to get it done before Christmas.

liberty_lily

Great news about finally getting your bathroom tiled, Chanie 😃

And thank you 😊 At the time, although I looked quite 'goth' I described myself/my look as new romantic 😉 My fellow fashion students were a mix of punks, goths, indie types and when I met DH at roughly the time these pics were taken - I was 19 - he was heavily into Gary Numan...and still is 🙄

When I was first exploring that look (aged about 15 in 1982 when I was in love with Boy George/Culture Club), I was beyond flattered when a boy much younger than me asked "Are you a Blitz kid?" 😂🤩😍

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

I went to the Golden Goose Theatre to watch the play Days in Quarantine yesterday evening. It was a play about living with the rules of lockdown. It was an episodic play with young male and female actors. They were so true to life with their stories of trying to cope with all of the rules, isolation and not being able to go to a family funeral and having to grieve all on your own. The performances were so mesmerising, insightful and powerful.    This play was a 9.5/10 for me.  My ticket only cost me £4 but it was worth £12. 

I got my 2nd Energy Support Scheme voucher for £66 today.   I will add it to my Gas prepayment meter tomorrow. I was at home today catching up on laundry and cooking a chicken, vegetable and black bean sauce stir fry for our dinner. 

chanie

@liberty_lily ahh, yes new romantics.  i couldn’t quite put my finger on it, as i thinking goth, but then not quite.  

@sugarbaby125 days of quarantine sounds like an interesting play.  i find it strangely fascinating how quickly things have gone back to normal for many people, but for others it has left deep scars.
 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Yes Chanie, Days of Quarantine was a really interesting play. It really stirred up my emotions, but it is tinged with humour throughout, which softens all of the tense drama. Certainly, in my family, Covid-19 and Long Covid has left lasting scars, but we have all survived. 

As the weather is colder and the nights are darker, I will only be going to the theatre if it is a local theatre, so I do not need to travel far from home. I will be making good use of my free year long membership of National Theatre at Home now.

On Thursday I watched the play 3 Sisters by Inua Ellamo which is based on the Chekhov play. It was a really interesting play, which is just under 3 hours long.  I have so many plays on my watch list to enjoy in the weeks and months until March 2023 when my free membership will end. 

Yesterday afternoon, my son and I went to Ritzy cinema to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We both really loved this film, it has really good storylines as well as lots of action. For me this film is a 9.5/10.  

I put the £66 for my Energy Support Scheme voucher on my Gas prepayment meter yesterday, so now thanks to all of the cost of living help from our government, I have over £540 on my Gas meter and just under £150 on my electricity meter. Of course, life would be much easier for all of us if we had not experienced the cost of living rises across every aspect of our lives. 

helensbiggestfan

Hello lovely ladies.,

chanie, great to hear you are getting your bathroom tiled, it would be nice if you could your current diy jobs done for Christmas.    

House update.......looks like we are up for legal completion on 29th November so it's a big push for me too.  In fact I'm just having a break with a cuppa, starting to pack in earnest now.  I am viewing a rental on Monday. It looks pretty good, actually just a few minutes away from the family home so I shall be on familiar territory.  

Fabwise, I'm doing my best to stick to my diet, but it's a bit tricky right now, meals are a bit haphazard.  I am winding down the food stocks.  I'm staying the same, rather than regaining. I'm happy with that for now.  

Had my hair cut yesterday, hopefully final dentist appt Monday (for now) and covid jab on Tuesday.  

Sugarbaby.....lots of interesting outings.  Good that you are ahead with your energy bills.  My current house has an energy rating of "F"😱. I know, I know........I am a sucker for period properties but I think this one may be the last.  They are cute but often it's like living in a draughty old barn.  The rental is relatively new (about 10 years old) with a rating of "C" so hopefully it will be nice and cosy and the energy bills will be substantially lower.  My old bones just want to be kept warm. 😂. Having said that it's a lovely afternoon.  Blue skies, bright sunshine and surprisingly warm.  

Right better get back to those boxes......

have a lovely weekend......keeeeeep fabbing,  

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Old Red Lion Theatre a short walk from Angel underground station to watch the play Ikaria. It was a bout the deteriorating relationship between a young man and woman at university. The young man begins to experience mental health problems and will not allow her or his parents to support him. He is referred for counselling with the on campus counsellor, but he swerves the initial appointment. His continuing descent into depression is not helped by his drug use. Ultimately the love of his girlfriend and parents does not help him to overcome his demons. This play is very thought-provoking and deals with some very serious issues. For me this play is a 9/10.  I got my ticket which was worth £12.50 for a concessions ticket for £4.