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Original poster

I'm Gonna Paint That Man Right Outta My Hair.....

89 replies

CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/03/2014 10:35

(With apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein)

Someone just now mentioned redecorating as a constructive way to make a new place feel like home and I remember finding a pot of emulsion wielded with passion was a good way to exorcise the old home of exH vibes.

Survivors of heartbreak and life - what did you do to wash that man right outta your hair?.. :)

OP posts:
Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/03/2014 10:41

(BTW... I'm using 'man' in a non-gender-specific sense, naturally)

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 09/03/2014 10:42

I've found that painting is the best actually!

crispyporkbelly · 09/03/2014 10:44

Shag a hot bloke

Dahlen · 09/03/2014 10:45

In all cases - found new digs altogether and redecorated those! Grin

I've also treated myself to things I put off doing when in those relationships. My divorce present was getting my motorbike licence, for example. Leaving my DC's father resulted in taking up a rather unusual hobby.

wallaby73 · 09/03/2014 10:47

Oooohh yes, i recall wielding the emulsion; also framing and hanging pictures / art that I liked regardless of "anyone else", re-arranging furniture..oh, and the hot bloke thing. That too!!

Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/03/2014 10:49

I cooked some swede, mashed it, topped it with cheese and grilled it.... he hated swede and we'd once had a major fight over it.

OP posts:
TheShimmeringPussycat · 09/03/2014 10:51

I cleaned the house - I was on housework strike while divorce and settlement ongoing, and despite Ex wanting to sell the marital home, he did nothing to make it clean or tidy, let alone sellable.

I managed to keep the house :)

CurtWild · 09/03/2014 11:13

Re-decorated the house I got for me and DC, all times of day and night, mostly when they were napping or in bed but did let DD1 (3) join in. Spent the last couple of weeks up to my eyes in emulsion, tears, wallpaper paste, ice cream and more tears. But damn was it theraputic. This is our home, my sanctuary from all the shit, and when stbxh walks out of the door after visiting our DC I can lock it after him. I may be sad but I'm stronger by the day Smile

handfulofcottonbuds · 09/03/2014 11:20

I painted too! My stbxh used gloss paint that always went yellow so I bought a bright satin white Smile

I also changed all the photos and created a tasteful collection of black and white photos of my family up the stairs, makes me smile every time.

Oh, and I got a fringe cut - cheaper than botox and acts as a handy 'mask' too.

CurtWild · 09/03/2014 11:25

Handful ..I just got a fringe cut too..less drastic than chopping the whole lot off which was my original plan! Brew and Cake to all the lovely ladies of MN who have shown me I am so not alone in all this!

RichTeaAreCrap · 09/03/2014 11:36

Mine was many years ago but was great.

I got my very long hair cut into a gorgeous pixie cut. He always wanted me to keep it long.

I also bought myself a fab sports car and didn't tell him for 6 months, had to keep hiding it if he was around! The unveiling was fantastic, I turned up in a car park and he was there (boring shopping centre), he spotted me getting out of the car and came up with steam coming out of his ears!! He shouted 'how fucking long have you had that' I just shrugged and said 'about 6 months' and walked off. I still laugh thinking of it, I thought he was going to combust!

Diagonally · 09/03/2014 12:12

When I bought my new place I paid someone to come in and do the glossing. All doors, skirtings, doorframes, banisters etc done in 3 days. I did the emulsioning myself.

When I lived with ex we weren't "allowed" to pay anyone to do jobs around the house (even though we were both earning and could easily afford it).

He would frequently say he would never pay anyone to do something he could do himself but then refuse to do it because he did xyz to his house when he was married (to his exW) and she shafted him when they divorced, and he lost everything.

End result - living in a half finished house and lots of arguments.

Well he's twice divorced now and I couldn't care less if his house is freshly painted or a dump.

Mine is lovely Smile

scornedwoman67 · 09/03/2014 12:30

I got my teeth veneered and he paid for it. He still doesn't know. Made up for the thousands he spent on his grubby affair. And they beam at me every day Grin

Ladyflower · 09/03/2014 15:37

I bought some very expensive john lewis pillows, duvet and Egyptian cotton bed linen. Made the bed up and climbed in for a blissful weekend! Smile

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 09/03/2014 15:43

redecorating here. Flooring, paint, wallpaper. Even little touches, like a new picture on the wall, rearranging furniture. All things designed to make the house MINE.

irrationalme · 09/03/2014 15:51

Always had to live where he wanted. I got the house. Just about to sell the house, in up & coming part of London for massive profit & buy a country place, cash, & install a swimming pool.

buttonortwo · 09/03/2014 15:54

Redecorated whole house, new carpets throughout. Huge clear out last yr, around 20 trips to skip! 5 yrs since exh left now. Met new man and split nov 13 (awful relationship)... Do I need to redecorate again?! At the moment cannot settle in my own home :-( so need another tactic...

FabBakerGirl · 09/03/2014 15:57

I dumped one guy, 2 weeks later dyed my hair (he preferred me as I was, also dyed) and the next day I met my now DH.

kaizen · 09/03/2014 16:19

I stopped watching fucking wildlife programmes and started watching Corrie again. I love animals but I'm not "intrigued" (his fave word) by the antics of a herring gull. I can laugh about it now- long time ago......

Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/03/2014 16:47

@irrationalme... love a story with a profitable ending. :)

OP posts:
handfulofcottonbuds · 09/03/2014 18:10

Can I add another?

My H took our laptop leaving me with a 'vintage' pc so I bought myself a new PINK laptop.

He also was a DIY freak and had hundreds and hundreds of tools. I bought myself a PINK tool kit with just the essentials and I love it!

irrationalme - I want you to represent me with my divorce!!

tantrumtime · 09/03/2014 19:16

Got my nose pierced Grin

Kernowgal · 09/03/2014 19:17

I went to McDonalds and ate a Big Mac. He hated McDonalds with a passion, referred to it as 'poison burgers'. I was half tempted to take a picture of myself scoffing it while giving him the middle finger but didn't want any further contact with him (and it would have been a tirade of abuse).

Oh, and I made the bed with the lovely white duvet set I'd not used for nearly two years because he only showered once a week (just 'had a wash' for the remainder) and would leave great dirty tide marks on any pale bedlinen.

He was a delight.

Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/03/2014 19:22

@handful.. I remember my negotiation tactic with exH over my divorce

Him "I want the petrol mower as part of the settlement"
Me "Do you have a lawn?"
Him "No"
Me "Then I'll be keeping that"
Him "OK then I want the stereo"
Me "No"
Him "Why not?"
Me "Because if you take it, I won't have one"...

I let him take six chairs in the end and he thought himself lucky. Damn..I should retrain as a lawyer...

OP posts:
handfulofcottonbuds · 09/03/2014 19:44

Grin cog

I'd hire you!