La Dolce Vita - 2025

sheilavw

Enjoy your new home and buying your new kitchenware x

helensbiggestfan

Buena Sera Everyone.  😂. 

Isn't this weather just glorious. Positively Mediterranean, perfect for La Dolce Vita. I celebrated tonight with a simple but delicious supper of pan fried tomatoes smothered in melted Brie.  Healthy, nutritious and more importantly, cheap. Lol.  Finishing it off with coffee and some dark chocolate.  I can't afford restaurants every day (nor would I want to dine out all the time) but I can do my best to emulate restaurant quality food.  

Well I'm loving my new home.  I am happy and settled, feeling a lot less stressed now and sleeping like a babe.  I have even managed to lose 6lbs since moving in. Must be the cortisol levels finally behaving themselves.  It's so peaceful here. Met my immediate neighbour. She's a widow too, although a lot younger than me.  She's very nice, friendly and helpful but not intrusive.  

Had a lovely weekend at my eldest sons house.  My grandchildren love it when I sleep over.  Soon I will get them a bedroom organised here so they can spend the night sometimes. 

This week I am busy in the garden.  It's taking shape. Lovely to just potter about and soak up the sun.  

It's all good.  

Wednesday2000

Wow, losing 6 lbs is good! You sound very settled in already in your new house.🙂

Humdinger1

You so deserve this happiness @helensbiggestfan.  Wonderful update, thank you.   Love Humdinger xx 

Murphybear

helensbiggestfan said:

Buena Sera Everyone.  😂. 

Isn't this weather just glorious. Positively Mediterranean, perfect for La Dolce Vita. I celebrated tonight with a simple but delicious supper of pan fried tomatoes smothered in melted Brie.  Healthy, nutritious and more importantly, cheap. Lol.  Finishing it off with coffee and some dark chocolate.  I can't afford restaurants every day (nor would I want to dine out all the time) but I can do my best to emulate restaurant quality food.  

Well I'm loving my new home.  I am happy and settled, feeling a lot less stressed now and sleeping like a babe.  I have even managed to lose 6lbs since moving in. Must be the cortisol levels finally behaving themselves.  It's so peaceful here. Met my immediate neighbour. She's a widow too, although a lot younger than me.  She's very nice, friendly and helpful but not intrusive.  

Had a lovely weekend at my eldest sons house.  My grandchildren love it when I sleep over.  Soon I will get them a bedroom organised here so they can spend the night sometimes. 

This week I am busy in the garden.  It's taking shape. Lovely to just potter about and soak up the sun.  

It's all good.  

That’s my idea of heaven . Him indoors isn’t that keen on Brie, all the more for me.  I always buy Somerset Brie, I prefer it to French.  When we lived in Devon I found a Devon Brie, but it was a bit of a rare beast   

helensbiggestfan

I usually buy Somerset Brie too.  Very patriotic. Lol. 

Good Morning My Lovely Friends.  

Well it's been a bit of mixed bag this week.  I've had a stinking cold and my insect bite still hasn't fully cleared yet so I've not done a great deal.  Trying to avoid antibiotics but I might have to succumb. On the other hand it's been a glorious week and I've thoroughly enjoyed soaking up all this glorious sunshine. 

So I've had an enforced leisurely week. Currently propped up in bed looking out at the woodland opposite my house, watching the branches of the trees gently rustling in the breeze, listening to the birds.  It's so peaceful here, I really love it.  

I have decided to buy myself a new all singing all dancing Smart TV. We had a power cut here which knocked out the internet.  Managed to get online again for computer access but my old TV wont allow access to the streaming services.  My whizz kid son couldn't sort it this time and said it was really time I upgraded my equipment so there you go.  Well my old tv owes me nothing (purchased in 2012 for my husband when he went into the nursing home). 

Anyway I've had a brainwave.  The new tv will go in my lounge and I will use the old one which is still perfectly functional with my dvd player in the spare room with my exercise equipment. It can  be like a proper mini gym where I can watch DVDs whilst exercising.  I have a load of dance, and pilates DVDs which I haven't been able to use for a long time due to lack of space so I can start using them again too.  

I was actually pleasantly surprised at how cheap smart TVs are now.  Same with a lot of gadgets and gizmos.  Unfortunately the same can't be said for utilities, groceries, council tax etc.......my new budget is going to be a tight s t r e e t c h.  My food shop seems to increase on a weekly basis.  At least I wont have to fork out for gym membership in my quest for improving my fitness.  And of course my home gym will be a great timesaver too.  

It's all coming together.  I'm taking my time, planning each step in the settling in process carefully so as not to overspend. So I still haven't thought too much about new furniture or decorating yet. I did order some knitwear that was on offer from Amazon.  They are supposed to be cashmere but as they were priced at £6.99 each I very much doubt it!!!  Lol.  

Have a lovely bank holiday, y'all. 💕

Wednesday2000

helensbiggestfan said:

So I've had an enforced leisurely week. Currently propped up in bed looking out at the woodland opposite my house, watching the branches of the trees gently rustling in the breeze, listening to the birds.  It's so peaceful here, I really love it.  

That must be idyllic. 

I just had a lovely bubble bath and I was just thinking that I would like to move somewhere more quiet one day.

helensbiggestfan

Currently sat on my patio in my back garden, looking at some weeds that have had the temerity to sprout lol. And the lawn that needs mowing ......again.  It's all go isn't it. It's not brown bin collection day until next Tuesday and i don't like to put the lawn clippings in there until the last possible minute because they soon get very smelly and unpleasant.  So it can wait for now.  

Well now my lovely friends, I have enjoyed my rest and it's now time to get cracking. I have finally got over my lurgy  and feeling much better.   I spent Saturday afternoon clearing the moss and debris from the access road at the front of my house.  It's a private road so the council don't do a road sweep.  It was oddly satisfying. The rain had loosened it up nicely and it was very easy to do.  I have bought some "patio magic" to finish the job.  It's more expensive than a homemade vinegar weedkiller/cleaner but it's far more effective so I don't mind paying a bit extra to get a good job done.  

I have contacted my trusty handyman and he can be available at the end of the month.  So I have ordered some bits and pieces to address the lack of storage. A media unit for my new TV, some bathroom cabinets and cupboards, and a shoe storage unit for the entrance foyer.  Once that's all organised then i shall start decorating.  Aiming to get the lounge., hall and staircase done this year.  It's big job so I will employ a professional. Im afraid my days of clambering up ladders are over. Lol. 

The rest of the house is currently just plain white throughout.  It's clean and fresh and fine for now.  I can add colour and warmth with artworks and accessories.  

I have even managed to socialise a bit more but to be honest I am perfectly happy just pottering about and settling in.  There's always something to keep me busy. And to be frank my knee is still giving me gyp so I don't always feel like going very far.    I have booked an acupuncture consultation for next week.  See if that helps.  

Other than that not much new.  I'm happy and content.  

doingitanyway

Delurking to wish you every happiness in your new home

Floss

I always pay a professional to decorate nowadays, than struggle to do it myself. My guys are due to refresh my hall, stairs & landing soon, followed by the kitchen in the autumn.