Frump to Fab 2023

liberty_lily

Sorry to hear about your sick puss, Abbafan1972 😪 Sending hugs to you both xxx

Watty1, hugs to you too - you certainly have been through the wringer xxx

Purple Pixie - love the idea of Nellie the Elephant being blasted from the hearse roof 😆

Another funeral story from me - when we first met with the humanist celebrant to discuss details of my late father's funeral we were initially sceptical about how he'd react to some of our music choices (he actually thought Knockin' on Heaven's Door was a fab choice 😂). He reassured us by saying he'd once been required to conduct the service for a particularly serious old gent....whilst dressed as a banana 🤣🤣🤣

I'm afraid I'm still slumming it here in the warmest jumpers I can find (currently in bed, no makeup, wearing four layers and fingerless gloves...but at least I've jettisoned the hot water bottle today 😉). 

However, the house fabbing continues if nothing else! I'm getting to the bottom of the 'cupboard of doom' now - lots of fabric sold, plus yesterday I found some more curtains that can go too. The fabric they're made of (and there's a heck of a lot at just shy of 16 metres!) originally retailed at close to £200 per metre. I'm not expecting to see that kind of return, obviously, but think they should hopefully fetch a decent price...not to mention clearing a vast space in the C of D 😄

Last night was a good one, sales-wise, as we sold a (damaged) Tiffany style shade plus a small Art Nouveau lamp for £230 😁

Watty1

Thanks all.   I collected my ring yesterday.  I love it.  The only slight problem is it is a bit tight. The jewellers said to wear it a few days and see how it feels but when I took it off yesterday there was a mark on my finger so it might need to go back.   The ring has been cleaned, it sparkles and I feel joy everytime I look at it.  It had laid in a bag at the bottom of a box for maybe 15 years so it is just wonderful to see it out and on my hand (even if it is a bit tight).
Very happy.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Watty1 it is good that you had the ring resized so that you could wear it. It is a shame that the jeweller seems to have made it slightly smaller than you had requested, but they can soon rectify their mistake if you return the ring to them. 

One of the women from my Neighbourhood Voices programme, contacted me through Alisha. It turned out that she wanted me to email her a copy of my duologue. BBC Radio 4 are looking for new writers and she thought my duologue would be the type of writing they would love to read and consider for broadcast.     I thanked her for the opportunity. It was so considerate of her to put my name and writing forward. I just have to wait and see if anything comes of this recommendation. 

On Tuesday evening I used a Groupon for Leilani restaurant for a 3 course meal for 2 people. The Groupon cost me £21.21 for £50 worth of food and a soft drink.     I took my son with me. I had jerk chicken wings for my starter, oxtail with rice 'n' peas with salad for my main and carrot cake for my dessert. My son had the suya peppered beef for his starter, steak, chips, salad and half a grilled beefsteak tomato for his main and apple crumble for his dessert. I had a sparkling water and he had a Coke zero for his soft drink. We both really enjoyed our meal.    

On Wednesday morning, I arrived at the Tate Modern at 9am to meet up with the Positive Ageing group. We were having a free breakfast in the terrace cafe followed by a free ticket to see an exhibition of the work of the Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz.     I had a tomato brioche roll with sausage, back bacon and an egg, with a cup of tea for my breakfast. It tasted really good.     I have not eaten a cooked breakfast in years. I normally just have 2 slices of wholemeal toast with a cup of tea. I took so many photographs of Magdalena's work. It was so creative and really evokes so many emotions. For me this exhibition was a 9.5/10. Only because you cannot touch any of the exhibits and the artist wanted members of the public to be able to touch her work, but the exhibits were roped off.    
 
On Wednesday evening I went to watch the film I Wanna Dance with Somebody at the Odeon Streatham. The film concentrated mostly on the positive moments in the life of Whitney Houston. All of her most iconic songs were brought to magnificent life through the female actor Naomi Ackie, who lives and breathes Whitney throughout the film. The film does touch on her drug abuse and her abusive marriage but does not devote too much air time to these negative aspects of Whitney's life. I really enjoyed all of the songs and dancing. For me this film is a 9/10 as it ended too soon for me. 

sugarbaby125

Liberty Lily you are doing such a good job of decluttering your cupboard of doom. What a good sale with reference to the lamp and Tiffany style shade.   

Watty1

@sugarbaby125  love reading your post.   A great job of a live well lived on a budget.  Really nice.

So I have bought a topper.   I've not spent a lot, this is just research and to have a play.  I can't get out right now to go major shopping so this is my start. 

sugarbaby125

Thanks Watty1. I am thankful that I live in London where resources for those of us on benefits lead to lots of community projects that support us all to live better lives on our reduced budgets. They also provide us with free trips which really help with our wellbeing and keeping our friendships that we make through the community groups.

Abbafan1972

Watty1 said:

@sugarbaby125  love reading your post.   A great job of a live well lived on a budget.  Really nice.

So I have bought a topper.   I've not spent a lot, this is just research and to have a play.  I can't get out right now to go major shopping so this is my start. 

Sorry, what’s a topper? 

I will post fully tomorrow, as I’ve just been up to my eyes today! 

Watty1

A topper is a part wig.   So much of my hair has fallen out that i am really conscious of this now.   I was with a much younger friend and she had extensions put in because hers has fallen out post baby and that really made me think.   Wigs are just extensions that cover more of the head and it is on trend in some circles to put in extensions so I'm going to have a play and see how I feel.   
At this point it is just research but if I'm happy with my cheap one then I'll go and get a really good colour match one when I can leave the house for more than a couple of hours  (I'm self employed so getting out in the week is often hard and I also have a recovering from surgery horse so I'm tied to the stable a lot).

2Scratters

Well living in the fab stage of our wardrobes is still work in progress. It is so true that every day is a best day. There are too many clothes in mine that have been saved for best. My son has the best idea wear clothes till they are done, so he has a minimal wardrobe. 
I made an effort yesterday which also entailed a visit to see a friend in hospital, this would never be done in my scruffies. 
I am having to be more thoughtful/forceful to wear better 
Today will be another good day.

2 Scratters xx

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies.  

A bit of a mixed week. My son, DIL and their two children are staying here whilst they have work done on their house, we're a bit cramped and it can be difficult keeping everywhere tidy, but I'm glad to be able to help them. 

  Decluttering is currently on hold for now and WW has rather fallen by the wayside this week.  Never mind, I'll get back on track when they return home.  

Watty.....good idea to buy a cheap topper to practise with.  I really need to sort out a hair appt soon, I'm well over due.  

I have been looking at my make up and toiletries, they need replenishing. My skin is really dry, it always is in the winter - but this year it seems worse - a combination of cold winds and central heating. 

Chiro today.  Modest improvement in pain levels and flexibility. I  currently need to go twice a week and there's not much recuperation time between treatments, so i am feeling very tired and drained.  The treatments aren't painful as such, just uncomfortable and I do tend to feel delicate afterwards.  When your body has developed bad postural habits and structural defects it fights against the adjustments, wanting to go back to its default mode.   Retraining and reprogramming takes time. I just need to be patient and not push myself too hard.  The decluttering and deep cleaning can wait. 

I am determined to do this, to get fitter, stronger, healthier.  January has been a difficult month and progress has been disappointingly slow with a few significant setbacks.  Hopefully progress will start to gather momentum and pick up speed.  Newton's first law and all that. 😂🤣.  

Just need to stay focussed, remember the compound effect and the power of tiny daily habits.  

Have a lovely weekend.  Keeeep fabbing.