Thank you to those family members and friends who helped make a surprise trip home possible for my daughter and kept the secret from me and for her Dad for paying the fares home. First time ever I was seen to be lost for words.

In just a month I was amazed how grown up she had become. So to all those parents worrying about their children settling in the first few months try not to worry they really are more capable than we realise.

We had a lovely time catching up, retail therapy and lunch out. I now have some great tips for hangovers (drink coconut water before drinking) and where to buy the cheapest soft toilet paper and porridge (the pound shop)!

We now both feel better after a few huggles (cuddles and hugs). I know my daughter reads my blog so thank you darling for taking the train adventure to see your mum!

Maisey our cat could hardly contain her excitement, pussy footing, purring and dribbling…who needs a dog?

Regular followers will know me for being a great ambassador of all things holistic, like yoga and mindfulness. As well as looking after our well being ladies, we must look after our body too specifically our skin. Especially menopausal madams eh?

I have really looked after my facial skin since a teenager and proud to say I don’t look my age. Partly due to my good genes and latter years the daily care has included eye cream and serum products too.

As busy women we perhaps don’t spend enough time on us and the body may only occasionally get treated to some lotion and maybe when it is on show or in the summer.

For girls of a certain age that have noticed that their skin has become dryer I have discovered the perfect product. Garnier Oil beauty, oil-infused restoring lotion and it really does hydrate the skin leaving it feeling replenished. Added bonus being it does not leave the skin feeling greasy so for busy girls on the run clothes can go on straight away.

I now have my family and friends using it too and should be on commission… Mr Garnier are you listening?

We all spend so much time tending the needs of others but we are important too! So this weekend relax, read a book, pamper that skin…a glass of Presecco is of course optional but highly recommended!

Remember body lotion is for life not just holidays.

I have heard and read many similar statements about the still for some somewhat taboo subject of bereavement.

As with many issues that we find difficult to overcome we under estimate how grief affects men. Men in general dare I say do not always have the benefit of being able to share and discuss matters of the heart or areas of their life that can well be causing them to feel depressed.

We must also remember this is the same with young men who may all not have the benefit of supportive parents, or ones that they feel comfortable discussing what troubles them.

At a meeting earlier today a colleague and I were discussing how teenage boys when asked are quite likely to say ‘I’m fine..don’t fuss’.

Keep an eye on all those that are bereft it is often more of a case of what they are not saying but are feeling, hiding and sadly possibly suffering in silence.

Grief does demand  an answer ..but if we forget to open up the line of communication we may not get the opportunity to help somebody who is struggling to make sense of their loss.

The talking cure.

Morning fellow bloggers and followers,

Have you noticed on catch up tv before being able to access certain drama productions we are asked:-

‘Are you 16 and over?’ 

As another birthday has passed I know the answer ‘yes I am over’. My life however is not.

I consider myself extremely lucky that lot of my own positiveness came from my beautiful mentor and mother. As a child aside of her wonderful teachings I have fond memories of her being in the kitchen cooking or maybe when ironing singing along to some of the musical greats.

We shared so much not least of all a love of Frank Sinatra and this morning I remembered the words so clearly to ‘You make me feel so young’  and ‘Young at heart’ and how they ring true.

‘Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you, if you’re young at heart’

Young of heart being the secret to staying happy and young for sure, which resonates with me. Sadly the body is not so young and I pray that my heart and mind doesn’t ‘play catch up with this older version ever!!’

As I write my blog this morning and listen to Frank and remember the amazing woman no longer here but still with us, I find it hard to believe fourteen years have passed since Dorothy (our mum) died. Rarely a day goes by when I don’t recall something wise she tried to instill in us.

Ending on a positive note every time I see one of my nieces or nephews and indeed my own daughter I think how proud she would be of them all and the amazing young men and woman they have all become…under her watchful eye.

What a woman.

Few months back I posted positive review of attending a talk given by the great super vet Noel Fitzpatrick. I also recorded a quote of his:-

‘People don’t care what you know until they know that you care’

This has become a bit of a mantra now within my immediate circle of holistic friends and study buddies and re-quoted to me only yesterday during a meeting.

It is so easy to give lip service but to genuinely care about what we do and say takes up much more energy and dedication. Sadly many people that are in the caring professions get consumed by what they do and their family and personal lives suffer in time.

Here’s to all those people that care and make their life’s work to care and support others, whether it be as ministers and/or counsellors or indeed vets.

To have an open heart is a good thing so is to be generous in spirit.

When you know you know… In life our journey will lead us along many paths where we will meet interesting people with great karma. The age of the person has absolutely nothing to do with the gut feeling we may have about them.

There are those that we meet with what I describe as ‘old souls’ and they have a quiet confidence about them and they are measured in what they say and do.

The youth are so often are criticized  by their attitude and lack of respect for their elders but I know one young man that proves this isn’t the case every time. He is focused, determined and brilliant at what he does without the slightest sign of arrogance so often found in young men in their developing years.

I know the mother of said ‘old soul’ reads my blog sometimes… if you are today then be proud he is an amazing young man with not only great karma but a great future ahead whatever choices he makes. I am so pleased he has come into our lives a breath of fresh air.

As parents we just want our children to be happy and be the best they can be for themselves which brings us satisfaction and of course great joy.

Parenting the hardest job, no instructions but plenty of rewards. Like a game of Rugby; we watch from the side, see them hurt, get up and get on with the game of life and share in their victories.

Best job ever!

Still reminding all my bloggers communication is the key to success.

We marketeers are the worlds’s worst at updating our own website.

A rainy day like today is perfect for that business housecleaning.

Age is just a number and I have said for many years I am a recycled teenager! You are as young as you feel. Learning new things keeps me young in spirit and eventually I want to be known as that really old eccentric biddy with fifty cats!

Always been young at heart and a victim of fashion…and now…my daughter has given me a lesson in what to do with my eyebrows the world is my oyster! No kidding, those little white eyebrows that have sneaked in are now well hidden.So instead of recommending a deep and meaningful book to read today  I am recommending Boots, Seventeen range ‘Brow’s that’ brow kit to create fabulous eyebrows.

If your daughter is stealing your handbags, perfume and  the odd bit of clothing you must still be reasonably trendy. Alas I am no longer a size 8 so her clothes are safe!

As my male psyche is well developed I try to do the man thing and keep the child within me alive and can be equally sensible and crazy. I am reminded today of how my fab and beautiful friend Caroline and I had trolley races in Waitrose in a silly moment just because we could.

Note to children Mums have fun too, it’s only children that make us grumpy honest!

Happy birthday to anyone out there reading my blog, my celebrations started last week and will carry on for a further week at least.

Live, laugh and love it’s later than you think.

Linda Gray (Dallas fame) was talking about how she walks every day a walk of gratitude. Being grateful is something we too easily forget to feel as grown ups.

However, my fab friend and journalist Debs Durbin and I always joke how if one wakes up that’s a bonus, breathing normally, another bonus and if we get downstairs without falling down and breaking anything…yes you’ve guessed it yet another bonus.

So be grateful for the simple things it helps to keep the rest in perspective and of course a good s.o.h is imperative. After all a laugh is as good as a tonic as my dear old mum used to say on a regular basis and there’s nothing better than a giggle or two with a girly friend.

I am eternally grateful for my superb group of female friends and a special thank you to Debs Smith for as always making me chuckle today..love ya babes.

Isn’t it funny how we buy some books and immediately read them cover to cover…it isn’t always a case of we do not like the book itself it may be a case of where we are in our life and whether or not the book’s contents resonates.

Sometime ago I bought  ‘Love Sick’ by DR Frank Tallis and never got around to finishing it. This week I decided to revisit and found some brilliant quotes to share with those of you in love or maybe just think you are!

‘Love is a close relation to mental illness”

‘Difficult to love without becoming divorced from reality…’

Great quote from Harry Harlow;

‘So far as love or affection is concerned, psychologists have failed in their mission. The little we know about love does not transcend simple observation, and the little we write about it has been written better by poets and novelists.’

That was written in 1958, the year I was born and well done for acknowledging the talent of writers eh? However, I wonder what my psychologist tutor pal would now respond to that..have we moved on?

Let’s face it..it’s all chemistry and sometimes it’s instant and sometimes it’s a slow burn..remember ladies we don’t have to blow up the whole science laboratory to have excitement.

In support of the great romantic novelists, and, to quote from the best mentor my Mum (who used to read romantic novels):-

‘Can’t beat a bit of love on paper.’

Who also admitted most of the courtship her and my Father did was through letter writing during World War II…ahh.