La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

Dfw38

Hi all! 
Hoping you will take me back... it has been  a chaotic and sad time since I last posted. My dad died the end of March so have been dealing with the must-dos and starting to sort out his estate which is epic. 

helensbiggestfan

Super Sunday. 

And how......another fantastic day.  🌞😎

hi DFW.  0f course you can rejoin us,  welcome back.  The more the merrier. 

 Sorry to hear about your dad.  I agree dealing with the grief of loss and bereavement is bad enough but then having to wrap up someone's estate as well can be overwhelming.  I've done it 3 times.  Lost my husband and my parents all within 2 and half years.  Nightmare.  Talk about feeling like you are wading through treacle.  Just a treadmill with no time to grieve properly.  

I was only thinking about this earlier.  It will soon be my 72nd birthday. A time for pause and  reflection, questions about "Life, Art and the Universe". You know, the big stuff, what do I actually want my life to look like.  Lol.  

Looking back I feel that my Sixties were something of a lost decade. All that stress, grief, overwhelm.  And that's why I am taking this year as a sort of sabbatical........to just step off the hamster wheel of life.  Time to reflect, heal and reset.  

Selfish??   I don't think so.  If I can use this time to get fit and healthy, physically, financially and emotionally, then I can retain my independence for as long as possible and not be a burden,  

And then watch me go.........😂🤣

sheilavw

hi , been reading but not had chance to post much lately! sorry for your loss DFW38.

Helen, sorry you didn't the rental. Something else will come along I'm sure.

I've asked to reduce by working week by one day in Sept. Hoping that they will grant this request. Give me a bit more time to spend in garden. As a family we look after my Brother so I'm usually tied up over the weekends. A day off will give me time to do some work at home, maybe have a coffee with friends that are now retired. If I don't get it I don't but you can only ask the questions.

All being well me , my Sister and Brother will be off on our cruise on the 17th August.

At the moment just been enjoying the glorious weather. Managed to go and do my half mile swim this morning after my Daughter and family had left after a few days at mine.

Take care everyone

Dfw38

Thank you Helen and Sheila. It is immense 😔.
Sorry to hear you didn't get the rental, Helen and my fingers are crossed your request is successful Sheila. 

Today I am taking the dc to a zoo, cheaper during the week and they have an inset day and then back to school tomorrow 🥳

Wednesday2000

Sorry for your loss Dfw38.xxx

Dfw38

Thank you @Wednesday2000 xx

Well the dc loved the zoo and we saw almost all of it so really was a Magical Monday for all involved! They had saved their pocket money for a while and picked out a toy each that was within budget 😆.
Youngest 2 fell fast asleep after bathtime - didn't even get their usual story. Hope you all had a lovely day. Xx

Dfw38

Transformation Tuesday: where to begin?! I have a nice new nail varnish (haven't worn any for years) to apply and I am going to have another bash at trying to clear as much clutter as possible before the next school holidays.... give me a 6 week window together it done 🤞

helensbiggestfan

Transformation Tuesday.  

Well the weather has certainly transformed itself 🥶. Lol.  

Well done Df for getting on with your transformation journey.  Remember the elephant. You'll get there.  New nail varnish and decluttering - sounds good. The trip to the zoo sounds lovely, perfect Magic Monday for your grandchildren (and you). 

My transformation journey continues, slowly but surely.  Now that my dental issues are resolved (for now) I am back on a healthier way of eating and also upping exercise. I have added resistance training to my daily routines. Only 1kg hand weights for now but it's a start.  It's only been 4 days but I have lost 1.1lbs and I feel and look a bit trimmer already.  Wahoo.  

Have been listening and watching inspirational videos and also comedy sketches on you tube.  Aren't we luckily there is so much great content out there and so much is free and You can learn anything ........and it's all just a few clicks away.  

Right better get cracking.  I was going to mow the lawns this afternoon but it's too cold for me, I am definitely a fair weather gardener. 😉.  

artistlifestyle

So sorry @Dfw38 for your loss, it’s tough. I too have experienced great loss and it makes me now live every day as best I can. Good decision @helensbiggestfan life’s too short to keep moving, especially in summer. Glad the teeth are better.

I’ve been very tired post another virus, but the qigong swinging hands I posted a link to last week is helping me build strength and yesterday I even bicycled round the block after work last night. Today I cut the hedge, in my two hours off, it’s my neighbour’s and I do my side of it and the top otherwise it takes over and blocks the light. I used hand shears. 

I’m watching Mrs Maisel series one on Amazon prime in the evenings, one episode at a time, and also gone back to some creativity too. This month I’m on a tight budget as I hope to get away for a much needed break sometime, so I’m only buying fresh fruit, veg, milk and yogurt, everything else is coming from the cupboards and freezer. It’s kind of a gastronomical lucky dip, it’ll be fun. 

Have a good week. 

Wednesday2000

I have had a nice few days this week. I met a friend for lunch at a local Buddhist cafe yesterday. I have found a few nice things at chazzers too. I just found a coffee table today for £15 that we carried home. I definitely recognised the style. Baroque, I think.

We had chips down on Southend beach today as well. It feels like summer is here at last!🤩