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WWW's 10 years older slipper camp for middle aged frumps

222 replies

WideWebWitch · 19/10/2008 18:19

Hello everyone, old and new.

This is about feeling better about yourself and looking and feeling better etc. But mainly we chat and laugh quite a lot, which has all got to help towards happiness etc.

The rules (anyone can join):

  • Sunscreen at all times
  • No or little booze. Wine or Champagne or whatever at the weekend is allowed if you want it
  • Walking is important, a small amount every day if possible. 30 mins if you can
  • Lots of water, aim for 2 litres a day
  • Apply body cream as often as possible
  • Use hand cream
  • Go to bed early, by 10.30pm if pos
  • Eat healthily
  • Be happy

The idea is that we all feel happier, healthier and glow with the good food, sleep, exercise, water and lack of sun damage.

Some people are doing India and Neris's Idiot Proof Diet (Atkins, more or less), others are doing Slimy World, others are just being as healthy as possible.

Welcome everyone, have a good week.

OP posts:
Sobernow · 20/10/2008 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sobernow · 20/10/2008 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 21/10/2008 09:06

Hello everyone

I am so relieved I can't tell you. I am so looking forward to having some TIME. I will be able to go on a lovely walk every day if I want to (and I suspect I will want to), I will have some time for COOKING, which I enjoy and haven't really done for ages (due to lack of time), I will be able to keep on top of paperwork and school events and actually attend school Christmas plays without having to take time off and rush back. It won't matter to me that school finishes on the 18th! So a frugal but pleasurable couple of months beckons, what bliss! I am working at home today but have only 3 days left of commuting and it's not going to be a tough 3 days, it's just handing over. There might be the possibility of some more work for my existing contract too and if so it could be 3 days a week or some stuff from home, how fab would that be? I would LOVE that, a small amount of work for a large amount of money We shall see.

LandS, it is hard packing and moving, glad you've got some help with it. I hope you enjoyed the knitting and telly. Yes, my dh is absolutely behind me in not taking the contract, he said he felt relieved when he got my text and said that he thought had I taken it it would have put a lot of strain on our marriage as I would carry on being the grumpy stressed person I can be when working v v hard.

Yoyo I felt my legs were like that on Saturday and I had a bath and exfoliated and used loads of body lotion and felt a lot better for it.

Sobernow, ikwym, we haven't actually been anywhere for YEARS, haven't been able to afford it and still can't tbh but I'm hoping we get around to it in 2009 (if a job is forthcoming), hope you manage it too. We have had time off at home with day trips and tbh those have been lovely too.

Duckyfuzz, yes, you can indeed do that, sorry to hear of stress though!

Marina, that sounds lovely, Edinburgh and the brownies!

Batters, yes, me too on the slightly fitter front, gosh, have we been doing this 2 years? OMG! I am 3 dress sizes smaller I think but still have a way to go. Good that you might be able to build up some TOIL.

DofN, ah, that sounds like a lovely party and yes, I can imagine it's hectic with four children and parties and stuff although presumably Archie has a couple of years of zero social engagements yet so that's something!

Cam, you so are NOT frump, I agree with batters on that front. Are you enjoying not working?

Ureb, belated Happy Birthday to your ds

Ts, sorry to hear you're all ill, hoping this week is less stressful for you.

Eemie, hope the puppy starts behaving soon

Claudiaschiffer, don't tempt me, Oz sounds vair vair attractive. The idea of SPACE is very appealing. How long have you been there?

Katiedd, welcome to the thread, my housing market doomster friend

Saggars, I am on countdown too, well done on resisting wine!

Chutney, you're absolutely right about my sanity etc, dh agrees. Of the last 3 years I've spent: 6 months living away from dh and the children and commuting 1.5 hours each way on the M1; 2 years working in a mostly v stressful environment where people shouted at me and I worked 12 hour days(but at least it was local, hmm) and the past year doing something quite stressful and commuting 4.5 hours a day. I think I've earned a break tbh. And our finances aren't that bad: 2 credit cards, both less than £5k, on 0% until April and Sept next year and quietly being paid off each month; no overdraft (although no savings, that's what this job would have achieved) and as a result of paying off debt, much lower monthly outgoings than we've EVER had before. We can manage on dh's salary, just about although there will be less gadding about but that'll be ok!

lol at 'they do it better at Kew'

Blackduck and jollypirate, welcome, are you still there?

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 21/10/2008 09:07

And Sobernow, I read that and thought "what are ant slippers?" durr

OP posts:
JJ · 21/10/2008 09:26

Oh, I didn't mean to denigrate slippers! I love them and am simply in between pairs. Am very picky although not at all snobby about them - they have to have decent soles for not slipping in the kitchen and it's necessary that they're washable, otherwise they're minging in a week. I wear them with these very stylish socks. Anyway, after all this slipper talk and my husband hassling me to get some new ones (old ones fell apart) have just bought these. Hope the soles are ok, but they look warm. I did get some nice stuff from Hush last year for Christmas, so at least I don't look completely crazy old cat lady. I don't think I do... maybe I'll stop answering the door before I put on real clothes (which will mean not answering the door, I suppose).

JJJr doing ok - next physio is soon and I'm worried he's not doing as well as he should. He's late going in for a session; I feel extremely guilty about that. We'll see. JJIII was sick last week and I took him to the doctors. Amazingly, it was just a virus! First time it's not been something weird or serious in a while...

Am stressed about money but luckily working a couple of 1/2 days next week (full disclosure - at MNHQ) and have started ebaying which is fun and ever so slightly addictive.

WWW - sounds like the right decision! Hope you get to have a peaceful couple of months.

And batters, I like your thinking. I am fitter and healthier (by orders of magnitude) than I was just over 2 years ago. Have been feeling bad because I have gained a couple of pounds over the past couple of weeks but it's all relative! Thanks.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 21/10/2008 10:57

lol www. That was a humungous post Will we be seeing more of those now you have more time or less because you'll have found Real Life ?

I don't have slippers at the moment but I do have lots of non matching bed socks in bright colours

WideWebWitch · 21/10/2008 11:00

JJ, I like those slippers and I don't have any either, hmm. Sorry to hear the JJJrs haven#t been the best.

Saggars, hmm, well on days when I am feeling v lazy you will see loads of me. On other days I will be too busy

cooking
cleaning
washing
playing with my children
baking cakes
and generally wearing my Cath Kidston apron

OP posts:
SixSpotBonfire · 21/10/2008 11:07

Just read all the thread and caught up with you all.

JJ - best wishes to you and family - hope physio is able to help.

WWW - you sound so relieved, sounds like the right decision for sure!

Hello to everyone else! at Marina and Edinburgh and brownies!

I am giving a talk at lunchtime but unfortunately have a massive red spot right on the tip of my nose! Feel very silly.

I need to bootcamp harder as have put on some trousers today which were previously very loose and are now - not! I did walk from Islington to WC2 this morning and I have started doing Pilates again. Have nice Clarins handcream on desk, just need to remember to use the darn stuff.

Off up to Yorkshire on Friday night for a few days as the DSs's half-term is next week, so am looking forward to that.

Prufrock · 21/10/2008 11:15

Well I don't think any of you are middle aged frumps. And I know I'm not (34 isn't middle aged is it?)

www - if the decision has made you this happy then it is entirely the right one. welcome to SAHM-with-schoolage- childrendom - it's lovely. Especially lovely today as I officially resigned from the pre-school last night (though I did drink lots of wine so have a sore head) and am now FREE!

batters, glad she is felling better

SSB - green concealer, and remeber, from a distance they won't be able to see anything like as much spot as you can when you peer into the mirror at close range.

yoyo · 21/10/2008 11:21

Reasonable day yesterday on most fronts but no early night which I really need. Have started working on the legs but it will have to be a "work in progress" as they are so bad! Have so far walked the children to school and done all my ironing. Am now going to clean the car as it is disgusting and still has French sweet wrappers on the floor from the summer hols, then hoover upstairs and clean and then maybe, just maybe, get to the gym before going to the younger ones' parents' consultations.

WWW - pleased that you have made a decision that makes you so happy and congrats on the three dress sizes.

Sobernow - your list sounds very much like mine. Sometimes I would like to turn off my brain so that my head goes quiet. That makes me sound mad but hopefully you will know what I mean.

Batters - how is DD?

Marina - what were you doing in Ed'bro apart from friends and luscious brownies? How are you feeling these days? Is work still awful or have things improved? Are you still a Slimy fan?

Right, jobs to do...

moonshine · 21/10/2008 18:56

Hello all (especially to newcomers, even if it was a brief visit).

My first thought when I saw the thread title was that there was going to be some sort of corporal punishment if we didn't comply .

WWW - thank f**k you have not taken it - think favouring happier home life on this occasion is definitely the right decision. And wow on three dress sizes - how many more are you aiming to go down?

Batters - am glad dd is better now, it sounded like you were having a horrendous time.

Marina - has the black mist lifted for you a little (and boy do I love brownies. Were they squidgey and moist in the middle [drool]? I daren't make any as I would probably consume them before they had even had time to cool)?

I am fed up with losing a tenth of a pound every now and then. I know I always say it [rolls eyes on everyone's behalf] but this week and next I am on strict bootcamp. I have 2 or 3 dresses I am desperate to wear now that I can don my thick tights and boots but I really need to lose half a stone to not look like I've swallowed a pumpkin whole make them comfortable and be able to do the zip up all the way.

Can I mention the Soap and Glory moisturiser again? It really is fab on scabby legs and, well everything.

I also ran 4.5 miles without stopping to crawl on Saturday. Didn't manage it today but I am definitely feeling fitter. That's something I guess but it just doesn't seem to be good enough, sob sob.

TheDuchessOfNorksDied · 21/10/2008 20:11

Congratulations prufrock on your freedom. I was 'sprung' weeks ago and it STILL feels good!!

Enjoy your autumn/winter off www. Don't plan to get too much done, school, walking & cooking sounds enough. Recharge your batteries and look forward to being organised ahead of time this Christmas!

moonshine at 4.5 mile run. My running of late has been disastrous.

I managed to get to bed by 11.30pm last night, that's damned good for me. I've eaten sensibly but feel dehydrated so will drink lots of water this evening. Moisturised everything but that winter dryness is only 10-minutes-in-a-sweater away!

Very happy as I am currently Super Aunt. My nephew was 18 yesterday and we bought him a Ferrari driving experience day, he's rather excited about it! He's now under strict instructions not to grow anymore as the height limit is 6'4" and he's already 6'3"...

Blackduck · 21/10/2008 20:26

Still here....
Curry last night and a beer - felt guilty as we usually order two bottles of wine but what with dp not drinking...anyway I only had the one...
no carbs
still rubbish on the water
am moisturising thou'
WWW - good move on the contract. I'm trying to decide what to do jobwise - my 'oh my god we'll be on the breadline and I'll never work again' side waring with my ' something I want to do will come along' side......
Happy - more than I was 6 months ago...

Slippers - I have some and they are fluffy and a bl**dy necessity in this house!

MavisGrind · 21/10/2008 20:29

Mavis (formally bamamama) sidles in....

Can I come back??? I had a self imposed MN ban as I moved back from Oz, had to do all that settling in and unpacking stuff and then had 2 exams to revise for. That's all done though so here I am reporting for duty!

I'm now 19 weeks pregnant and slowly moving from the have-you-eaten-too-many-pies to the oh,-I-see,-you're-pregnant phase.

Good to see the regulars still here. I've only briefly caught up but L&S I take it you and DP are separating? Sorry to hear about that. Sadly, I may need to bend your ear on the subject - 10 days before my exams (and bearing in mind I'm 4 months pregnant) DH announced that he thought our separation was 'inevitable'. We're trying to work through it but I'm not convinced I'm not going to be a single mother of 2 before the second one is born .

So, you see, I need bootcamp to keep my on the straight and narrow!

Will go and catch up on everyone properly now.

Marina · 21/10/2008 20:36

LOL at being given the slipper by www. Now she will be a lady of richly deserved leisure she can be our Miss Whiplash and berate us for slacking/eating brownies etc. I too am so glad for you that you felt able to step away from the contract
Dcs have two-week half-term which is about 80% and 20% in terms of finding cover. They are off to their "educational" holiday club next week and this week I am home with them, hurrah. So we have been visiting the godparents and are now back
I am NOT thinner or fitter than I was two years ago, sadly (although I can vouch for www and batters having achieved much) and really need to Take Myself in Hand. I am preparing for this by having a restorative curry and bottle of wine tonight and then it is all systems go for tomorrow.
Ironically being away from home does wonders for my non-diet regime and my legs are silky smooth and well drenched in Clarins Weekender products, ditto my chops - cleansed and toned morning and night for four whole days in succession. Happiness is always 10/10 after seeing our dear friends.
I need to read this thread properly but sizzling through I spotted that batters' dd is feeling better, sobernow and SixSpot (should that not be RedSpot missus?) both have tight garments, yoyo's car is a disgrace, JJ is going over to the Dark Side for a couple of stints next week, Pru finally fell off the Preschool wagon, moonshine, L&S is packing , Bama might be soon , we have some new recruits and I really need to go back to the old thread and dig out Claudia's weight loss tips.
The brownies were from the Metropole Cafe on Causewayside and they were lush. Then I had another one with pistachios in Queen Anne's Cafe in the Castle. We all agreed it was hardly surprising Queen Anne looks like a Chesterfield sofa in a grey horsehair wig, if that's how she ate every day

Marina · 21/10/2008 20:37

That should be "moonshine has been running", but my PC died on me and I cut and pasted from what was left of my ruminations.

TheDuchessOfNorksDied · 21/10/2008 21:07

Welcome home mavis. Cosy up on the Queen Anne Chesterfield sofa (arf!) and enjoy the familiar warmth of bootcamp. How was your flight and how d'you think your exams went?

MavisGrind · 21/10/2008 21:30

GRRR - just types loong message and then lost it. So, in brief, flight was ok despite morning sickness and not sleeping for 40+ hours. Exams were mixed but despite impending marital disaster and looming childbirth I'm going to complete my diploma next year. Only one more course to do....

oh, and I have no slippers but I do have very woolly socks and a woodburner (oh, how I missed my woodburner in Oz!) so will that suffice??

foxinsocks · 21/10/2008 21:45

hello hello

have other people changed names or am I just confused . I think I am just confused.

SixSpot - I am in WC2 too (for work). Did we have this conversation once? Can't remember. But I am seriously impressed that you walked from Islington given that I was puffing having traipsed from one end of Drury Lane to the other today.

WWW - I feel VERY relieved on your behalf about the contract. Last night, I stayed in a local hotel (v v good price) and didn't have to commute home or to work this morning AND got some sleep (no newborn babies next door waking me up) and cor www, I felt like a new person. It is so stressful commuting. And what your dh said was a bit telling wasn't it . I fear I am that same grump.

Glad to see everyone else is on the up. Hope all the poorly ones are starting to feel better.

I spied a carrot cake today which looked even more appealing because it had about a centimetre thick creamy lemon icing on top . Can still taste it now. But it's made from carrots right and so it must count as one of my 5 a day ?

Hope everyone's weeks are not too stressful.

eemie · 21/10/2008 22:07

foxinsocks, you have my dh's approach to vegetables. He thinks chocolate and coffee should count towards five a day (beans, right?) and also beer.

bundle · 21/10/2008 22:09

hi foxinsocks, I work in WC2 too but don't trot from Islington..the Picc line does it for me!
bootcamping is pants today. am tired and ate stuff i shoved in the oven and some cava

going for some much needed sleep...xx

foxinsocks · 21/10/2008 22:10

what's happening with your house eemie?

yes beer definitely should. I went to that brewery in Wandsworth to see it being made and there was definitely a lot of hops action going on (must be one of the 5 a day).

foxinsocks · 21/10/2008 22:13

oooh bundle. We should all do a drink/coffee. I have a feeling you are v close to where I am .

eemie - what's happening with the house? (you can tell dh, wine gums now have REAL fruit juice in them so that's another one of the 5 a day)

foxinsocks · 21/10/2008 22:13

oops sorry eemie. Sounding a bit obsessive there! Thought the first post hadn't gone through and then saw bundle's post!

eemie · 21/10/2008 22:16

It's 'under offer' foxinsocks, thanks for asking

.

'twill be bargain of century (for them) if it goes through but also a load off my mind.

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