Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

helensbiggestfan

I had a Purdy cut too. 😉

I love Joanna Lumley.  She is a National  Treasure.  And I have massive respect for the way she campaigned for the Ghurkas. I think Patsy was a hoot and stole the show in AbFab.  Mind, I do think Jennifer Saunders is a very generous writer, she always lets her co stars shine.  

Maman I think a lot of people are having to force themselves to socialise as a result of lockdowns. It's definitely the case for me. I just seem to have lost all enthusiasm for holidays, crowded venues etc. i think you're right, we just have to book  them and grasp the nettle.  It's definitely something I want to address in 2023.  

I have to confess I still haven't got round to having my covid booster yet (what with the house move an'all). One of my first jobs in the new year. 

Chanie....it's a French restaurant but I would call it modern French, bistro style.    Traditional French can be a bit staid and predictable but the food is always imaginative.  And yummy.  And I love the ambience, always relaxed and leisurely. The staff are lovely and they make you feel very valued, none of this eat up and get out milarky.   It's just the whole experience as well as the food.  It's a firm family favourite. Not cheap though but worth it for a special treat.  

helensbiggestfan

Just watching "Day After Tomorrow".  One of my favourite films.  Far fetched?  Of course, dramatic effect and all that, but given the terrible weather in the US at the moment, maybe not quite so far off the mark after all.  Poor devils.  

liberty_lily

I'm glad everyone survived Christmas (relatively) unscathed 😁 

Not much alcohol consumed here - since Christmas Eve I've had just two glasses of white wine and one of peach bellini. Neither of us are terribly keen on booze anymore despite the vintage drinks trolley DH bought for my birthday last year being full of the stuff, lol! 

We did have loads of amazing food over the break and yesterday we made a beef curry with the leftovers, finishing up today with an M&S marrowbone pie which was delicious (if you like meat 😉). I'll be polishing off the final portion of homemade trifle later and we've still got lots of mince pies, stollen, yule log and other treats. But unlike DH who can stuff himself with chocs etc without ill effects, I can only manage one Quality Street before feeling sick!

DH was all set to return to work this morning but one look at the weather told us he'd not be able to render today. His current client is proving hard to extract money from (refusing to cough up the most recent stage payment with no valid reason..grrr!) so tbh we weren't too bothered that he got to spend another day at home.

We've been lounging around reading, designing our new porch and just marvelling at how nice it is to have a lovely living room at last, whilst drinking in the Christmas atmosphere. We both love having the decs up and really aren't looking forward to taking them down on 12th night. 

No trips to the sales - online or otherwise - for us as we're attempting to have a month or so of no spending on non-essential items. Our next mini project will be to get the cloakroom done - fortunately we have virtually everything we need to complete that, but we're currently so exhausted that this won't be started for a while. Instead we're going to tackle the rest of the overgrown laurels once the weather improves 🙄

Wednesday2000

I like The Day After Tomorrow too.

I watched Terminator 2 last night. A true classic! I went to see that film five times at the cinema. I think I was about 14 or 15 years old when it came out.

I just went to drop off my three big donation bags to the local charity shop. I may have bought a "gold" necklace for £5 to wear out on NYE to match my gold charity shop bag and the gold Joe Brown scarf I bought from Amazon. My brother is ill with a bad cold so I hope he can make it or it will just be me and the couple I met last year. I am definitely going out with or without him though as I haven't been out on NYE since 2008!

I was saying on here on another thread that my goals for 2023 are to become more minimalist again as I have noticed that since I moved house this year I am buying more and more stuff and not saving any money. I've taken my eye off the long term goal of my husband retiring early. I say long term but we are aiming for 2026 and that will come around before I know it! There are too many good restaurants and charity shops around here, but I need to develop some willpower.

I am thinking of doing Dry January too as my brother is doing it as he has been diagnosed with prediabetes recently. I'm not sure about that though, maybe just cut back! January is such a depressing month, lol. 

We want to get our house decorated in January too and my husband's friend said he would do it at mate's rates.:)

liberty_lily

For reasons I won't go into here it's been a pretty un-fab day at the old mill 🙁

On the bright side we've had the opportunity to do some decluttering (mostly unwanted clothing too good for the charity shop as they still have labels, a few lamps/pictures plus our old smart TV) and get these listed for sale. Clearing these will make some space and a few £££.

Also got some - more - logs chopped undercover and stored these to dry off....

Cold leftover pie and homemade chips tonight!

Onwards and upwards 😉

Wednesday2000

Hope it was nothing too terrible Mimi.xxx

liberty_lily

Thanks Wednesday 💐

helensbiggestfan

New thread opened.  See you over there.  😁

Murphybear

Murphybear said:

Hi everyone.

I hope you don’t mind, I’ve just joined you at the end, I’ve been on MSE for years but only just seen this.  

The phrases “frump to fabulous “ and “radical transformation” caught my eye.  2021/2022 haven’t been the best for me.  

Like so many I’ve struggled with my weight for years.  Earlier this year I had a light bulb moment and was determined to lose it.  I started on a low carb diet which my GP and diabetes nurse are fans of.  I ate lots more fruit and veg than I’ve done in the past and cut out bread, rice and pasta.  I’ve never been a big potato fan.  It’s been a struggle sometimes particularly when I wanted a snack or lunch out as low carb options are not easy to find.

I recorded my weight loss on an app which can display it as a list or a graph.  I’ve now lost 29 kg .  My GP was ecstatic when I told him in a phone appointment.  

I’ve always been a clothes hoarder and have boxes of clothes in 4 sizes.  Thank god I kept them.  I’ve now got a brand new wardrobe and have gone from 22 to 16.  

I can get into a pair of jeans I bought in the USA at least 30 years ago and hadn’t worn much until last week.  I can bear to look in a full length mirror now and have received loads of compliments.  

It’s certainly a radical transformation.  I’m off to Clark’s Village (shopping outlet village near Glastonbury) to stock up M & S underwear, my knickers are falling off.  

Thanks for reading and inspiring me to post this 

Thought you’d like an update.  I’ve just had a phone chat with my GP about my latest blood test and (quick drum roll) I’m  officially not diabetic any more  .  I’m right at the top end of the normal range.  Of course I still have to be careful what I eat and will try and keep to fairly low carb.  My BMI is just a bit above the normal range and I would like to lose another half stone.  I can’t remember the last time I was this weight, probably my late 20s. I’m 70 now.   The sad news is the lovely Cotton Traders pull on size 16 jeans are already a bit big so as they are still half price I’ve ordered a 14.  

Ive still got a lovely Cook range unopened Christmas cake and pudding, they are going in the freezer as soon as there’s room.  

Final bit of good news is that I’m saving the NHS some money as my meds will be reduced 

sugarbaby125

Murphy Bear, you must feel happy at getting such good news that you are no longer diabetic. What a huge achievement for you with your health. Well done. Your hard work with your low carb diet has really paid off.