Health and Wellbeing

Life in lockdown of an over 50’s couple – Diary Update #1

April 26, 2020

Life in lockdown of an over 50’s couple

Life in Lockdown has been with us a month now. I’ve been reading many blog posts whilst staying home. Some of them have contained diary posts. I’ve been interested to see how other people have been passing their time whilst in lockdown due to the current Coronavirus Pandemic.

I thought I would share with you what myself and Mr Fitz have been doing.

I may make this a weekly update but as we’re now approaching our first month I thought I’d make this first one a monthly round up.

Mr Fitz life in lockdown for an NHS worker

The lovely Mr Fitz is a key worker and works as a Hospital Porter. His role is mostly in the grounds he is part of a team recycling and moving rubbish, recycling packaging from essential supplies deliveries. Some of the waste is infected clinical waste and linen. A truly unglamorous role but a vital one and someone has to do it. As I’m very fearful and respectful of the virus and being a retired nurse with a good knowledge of Infection Prevention methods the poor man has to undergo a strict decontamination regimen when he returns home from work. The downside of life in lockdown.

Key worker hospital porter returning home via garage life in lockdown

John returning home via the garage

He has good hygiene and handwashing practices anyway outside of these circumstances but here are the additional steps:

He enters via the garage and undresses in there before coming into the house where I leave a bag for him to put his clothes in and a small bowl in which he empties the contents of his pockets I have all the doors open to the bathroom and he heads straight into the shower.
I then put his clothes in the washer and wash or wipe down the contents of his pockets. His phone and car keys are wiped down but everything else including house keys and bank notes are washed in a bowl of soapy water.
I wipe and spray the garage door lock inside and out.
I wipe any surface he has touched before his shower – including shower door handle and shower tap.
After his shower I change his towels.
At the end of each working week I change the bed sheets.

This may seem like overkill but we would rather be safe. Initially he claimed I was treating him like a leper but as the disease and information has evolved he’s agreed my actions were the best!

I have to state that he is set to take early retirement at the end of April and this routine will not then be needed.

Exercise

Mr Fitz is in a normal routine and has a couple of walks at weekend. He would normally visit the gym and is currently setting up a fitness station in the garden, to help him stay fit after retirement. This will be good for me too. I have been taking part in some home fitness videos on You Tube – my favourites are from Lucy Wyndham-Read. Short and challenging. Also although I try to stay at home as much as possible I like a walk several times a week. I have a route close to home around the roads that is usually quiet and I walk early in the morning. Mr Fitz works 6am to 2pm so I wake early with him. You may have read in a previous post that I like to listen to Podcasts on my walk. I have worked out that twice round my route gets me to 10000 steps. On days I don’t walk I still wear my pedometer and aim for my 10000 steps whilst cleaning and working in the house.

Just prior to being asked to Stay Home we had a very long walk of 7 miles to a local fisheries that we have never visited it was beautiful, peaceful and tranquil. Once Mr Fitz has retired we hope to discover more nice settings close to home. Our locality is considered semi rural and fortunately there are many beautiful places to walk nearby. We hope to explore some more during life in lockdown.

Staying Home – our life in lockdown

I have to say that I am enjoying staying home and having very few problems with it. I am a home bird especially since I retired from my Nursing career. My role as a nurse involved long unsocial hours away from home and as I got older when I was home I was too knackered to do much and my cleaning and housekeeping regimen was minimal.

Since retirement I love cleaning and keeping my home nice. We moved into this beautiful house when I retired and we love it.

As I’m used to having routine in my life I have maintained this during retirement. I always have the luxury of a brew in bed in the morning either reading, browsing social media or catching up on my favourite TV shows. After that though I am up dressed and start on chores or projects.

I am a great list maker and find that having a To Do List keeps me focused and stops boredom. I watch lots of vloggers on Youtube who share their knowledge and ideas. I think that will be a topic for a future post – who are my favourites to watch.

The main thing I’ve done is painted our 3rd bedroom which I use as a home office. I’ve promised myself a make over for about 2 years, however last year it got put off due to my brothers illness, so now I felt there was no excuse. I luckily had the forethought to purchase paint and supplies just prior to lockdown. I have completed most of it with the help of Amazon. I love my newly tidied organised space and will complete it once we can return to the shops.

A collage of a home office created during life in lockdown

My home office makeover

We have also spent a lot of time in the garden catching up with jobs. Mr Fitz has painted the fence – approximately 40 panels and I’ve painted our wrought iron gates, again I purchased what I needed in the week leading up to the request to Stay at Home.

Thankfully the weather has been kind and we have been able to spend plenty of time sitting in the garden. Today we have revamped our patio space with the finishing touch of an outdoor rug from Wayfair, which arrived today. Its a lovely space and one we hope to continue to enjoy.

New patio set up with Wayfair rug

The only problem is that we have a resident bat who returned from hibernation at Easter. He is the only blot on the landscape as I am petrified of him as he flies so close to the windows and patio doors. Another topic for a future post.

Also I have enjoyed cooking and baking. Being more creative than usual with the food we have. I’ve made cakes, fishcakes, curries, a fabulous lemon drizzle cake using a Jane Asher packet mix from Quality Save and tonight I am making homemade spicy burgers.

Some of my home cooking

Also we have joined in the weekly Clap for Carers – our whole Cul De Sac has joined in and I find the response so emotional, especially as many family members, ex colleagues, family and friends are still out there on the frontline in different capacities.

Family

Obvously missing direct contact with family is hard. My poor Sister in Law has lost my brother after 45 years of marriage and is coming to terms with living alone and now its enforced its particularly difficult for her. We all stay in contact via phone, social media and Wattsapp.

Well I think that sums up our month. I hope you are all staying safe and staying home. What have you been doing and what have been your biggest challenges during life in lockdown? I’d love to hear what you are doing or what is worrying you. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Stay safe, stay home and keep washing your hands.

5 podcasts to listen to during daily exercise

April 23, 2020

Headphones and a mobile phone for 5 podcasts to listen to sounds

The pick of my 5 Podcasts to listen to

I have recently become a huge fan of listening to podcast whilst out on my daily exercise. Here are 5 podcasts to listen to during exercise.

If you will have read my post about how life got in the way of my blogging career you will have read that I read a lot of books whilst caring for my late brother. In addition to reading I started to listen to Podcasts. My usual fitness routine had been lost in the event but I tried to take regular walks and whilst walking I listened to Podcasts.

What is a Podcast?

Simply put: a podcast is an audio programme, just like a talking radio broadcast or radio chat show, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like.

In a little more detail, a podcast is a series of spoken word, audio episodes, all focused on a particular topic or theme, like TV, sport or crime as examples. You can subscribe to the show with an app on your phone and listen to episodes whenever you like on your headphones, in the car or through speakers. I always listen through my smart phone.

A lot of podcasts are really simple, just a few friends chatting about something that they’re all really passionate about, like movies, sport or running a business. But some are really polished and super professional, including theme music, sound effects, professional editing and more.

The more professional podcasts are great to listen to, but they take a lot more time and money to produce. The amateur shows, on the other hand, might have a few rough edges, but it means they can get it out, every single week, and grow a loyal following.

3 of my favourites are chosen because I love the presenters approach. But here are 5 Podcasts to listen to that I love.

My 5 Podcasts to Listen to:

Crime Junkies Podcast

Crime Junkie Podcast is the first Podcast I started to listen to and to be honest I am slightly obsessed with is. It is my go to listen when out walking. It is an American production. Hosted by Ashley Flowers and her assistant Brit.

This is how they describe themselves and their site- a direct quote from their web page

About Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is a weekly podcast dedicated to giving you a true crime fix. Every Monday, Ashley Flowers will tell you about whatever crime she’s been obsessing over that week in a way that sounds like you’re sitting around talking crime with your best friends. The storytelling is straightforward and free of rabbit holes so the cases stay suspenseful and are easy to follow. If you can never get enough true crime… Congratulations, you’re a Crime Junkie!

As I said it’s American and they are based in Indianapolis. Obviously there is a lot of American vocabulary and use of the adjective Super! the cases are not generally known to us, although they do cover some of the more well known infamous murders such as Lizzie Borden and The Hillside Strangler.

I get totally absorbed in their stories and makes my walk fly by.

I love that they have their own motto for staying safe Be Weird Be Rude Stay Alive

I’m totally addicted to these 2 as well as their website they are active on Social Media and there is even a UK Fan page on Facebook -so its not just me then!

That Peter Crouch Podcast

As you may know I am a huge female football fan and a passionate supporter of Manchester City FC. In this period of no football I can’t say I’m missing it as much as I thought I would, but I do love a bit of footie banter – I know its not something many females can profess to enjoy! I do describe myself as a tomboy with a feminine edge! One of the greatest things about being in a football crowd is the humour.

I like Peter Crouch and I think he’s such a likeable bloke so I saw his podcast advertised on the BBC and decided to give it a listen.

It’s very lighthearted and full of football banter and humour. Nothing too deep being discussed and if you are a football fan missing your fix this could be for you. It had me laughing out loud several times during each podcast.

Table Manners

This is another BBC Podcast. It is led by Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie.

Jessie Ware is a singer/musician in her episodes she is accompanied by her mother and they invite a guest round each episode for food, drink and conversation or chit chat. Her mother does the cooking and there is very pleasant chat. It is like being a silent guest at their dinner table. There is some slightly annoying repetitive parts to the introduction of each episode but that is counter balanced by the really catchy theme music. Sounds vintagey to me – if there’s such a word! This one is quite new to me but I really like it and you learn interesting Trivia – e.g in the episode with Sandy Toksvig I discovered that the baking left after each episode is packed up into huge Tupperware boxes and fed to Prue Leith’s pigs! Now that fact will get you far in life but sadly it’s the kind of trivia my head is full of.

The Law and Order SVU Podcast

One of our favourite go to programmes to watch is Law and Order Special Victims Unit. We love the stories and have become invested in the characters lives and story lines over the years. I found out that they now have a Podcast – a lot of it is discussing behind the scenes action with the actors plus some radio episodes. The show is in its 21st year and for a big fan like me I find this really interesting.

If you are a fan of NBC Productions they have many other Podcasts related to their shows to download and listen to.

You Must Remember This

I am a huge fan of Vintage Hollywood films and the stories of the Studio era. My mum was a huge film fan and watched hours of movies from this era and even had a collection of postcards of the stars. She loved Janette McDonald, Nelson Eddy, George Raft and John Wayne. My favourites are Bette Davies and James Cagney.

I naturally developed a love for this era too and read many biographies. I will always choose a vintage film to watch over a recently made one. Black and White Vintage movies are my love and I’m a self confessed anorak about them.

Because of this I love finding programmes on Sky Arts where stars and their films are discussed by critics and people who knew them. This Podcast is in a similar vein. It is created by a Journalist, Karina Longworth, who is well known in Hollywood and has the inside stories. You Must Remember This is the podcast exploring the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century. There are many episodes featuring topics such as Hollywoods first weight loss guru and tales of first weight loss surgery. Topics that are talked about ta length today but have been around for over 100 years.

Episodes also talk about the rise and fall of big names such as Maureen O’Hara, the female star of my husbands favourite film The Quiet Man.

This could be a great Podcast for anyone who has an elderly relative self isolating and shielding at home. Or could be played over speakers in care homes. Or simply to be enjoyed if you are a vintage Hollywood film buff like me.

In fact as its a sunny afternoon in Manchester I think I’m going to take myself off into the garden to listen to one of my recommended 5 podcasts to listen to

As I’m a new listener I welcome suggestions for any that you think I may like. If you haven’t yet subscribed to any or started to listen to them I highly recommend you give them a try, they make a change from listening to music.

Some can be downloaded onto your device to listen to when there is no Internet or Network coverage – thinking of the future when we can travel and holiday again

So maybe start with one of my favourite 5 Podcasts to listen to.

Take care stay safe and keep washing those hands

The downside to Blogging – when life gets in the way

April 21, 2020

This post outlines the downside to blogging – Blogging is a great way of expressing yourself but sometimes life gets in the way. This is my first post for almost a year.

Sadly my lovely brother who had always been fit and healthy, a non smoking, non drinking fitness freak was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. It was a devastating shock to us all. After initially being told it was curable things took a rapid downward turn 2 weeks after the end of his course of radiotherapy and he was told it was terminal.

His story is really shocking and too complicated to actually tell, the aim of this post is just to give a brief overview of how sudden bad news can cause your normal routine totally upside down.

Some bloggers will continue and use their blog as an outlet for their emotions. I have to say that I can truly take my hat off to those who continue to blog and create content during a life changing upheaval.

I was totally the opposite, my whole world was consumed by Cancer and emotion. I found it hard to focus on anything else. My usual hobbies like entering competitions and watching football became much less important than before. All I wanted to do was be around my brother, husband, brother and immediate family. It was all consuming.

The downside to blogging affected me individually, although I could not create any content of my own, I did continue to read other bloggers content and stories and found reading novels my only comfort. Everything else was too much effort! I know I could have continued to repost and update current content but I just couldn’t find it in me to do this.

Books and Tea – my stress relievers

Sadly my brother lost his battle with Cancer and passed away at the end of January. We are gradually getting back to some kind of normality, well as much as we can given the current global circumstances. I can now begin to think of topics and content to write about. I know I have had visitors to my blog throughout this time and I am so grateful to anyone who has taken the time to read. Thank you form the bottom of my heart.

To my loyal subscribers thank you for staying around. Bear with me and normal blogging service will be recommenced soon. This is a very short post but it’s the beginning of a new stage of my life and blogging career.

If anyone else has faced a blogging crisis due to unexpected life events I would love to know what you did to get by?

Stay safe

Walking for Health – Self Care is painful at times

February 19, 2019

Walking for Health is recognised as being very beneficial. It has been described as the perfect exercise. It benefits our bodies and our minds. It helps reduce diabetes and heart disease and the benefits for the mind are well documented

Walking improves self-perception, self-esteem, mood and sleep quality. It also reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue. Physically active people have up to a 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed, and staying active helps those who are depressed recover.

In older people, staying active can improve cognitive function, memory, attention and processing speed, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Walking for Health

If you have read any of my earlier posts you will have read that I suffer from joint pain and osteoarthritis. After a nursing career spanning 38 years a lot of this is due to wear and tear after being on my feet for most of that time.

After an injury last year I had need to undergo an MRI and consult with an orthopaedic surgeon. He advised me that I was not to perform any exercise involving impact e.g. running on the treadmill or Zumba (which I loved). He recommended as much walking for health as possible, this echoes earlier advice I had received after being diagnosed with a chronic back condition, facet joint syndrome.

I try to walk as much as possible and since retiring I use public transport more and walk to destinations. This though is not as frequent as I would like in the winter months. Mr Fitz and I used to walk as a hobby but its an activity that we got out of the habit of doing.

Weekend Walk

A sunny Sunday afternoon along the canal

Mr Fitz striding ahead

Last Sunday Mr Fitz decided we should try a walk that was accessible for our hose and had been recommended to him. We didn’t use a map or any prior research just followed the verbal directions given to him by his colleague.

As the weather has been really pleasant we thought we would enjoy the February sunshine. I do have a pedometer but on this occasion I used the Map My Walk app on my phone to monitor progress and distance. Walking for Health was one of my New Year goals and I was happy to get out.

The walk ended up as being over 8 km in distance, with a stop for refreshments. The app can be paused when you take a stop and restarted. I however forgot to restart for the final part of the journey so I did not manage to track the full total. I am aware that I ma so out of condition compared to my younger days and that Mr Fitz is far fitter than I. But I am made of strong stuff and even though I am ‘out of puff’ on inclines I will not be beaten. The sights and smell of fresh air are so exhilarating, not least the fabulous dogs to be seen and patted on route. We passed along the banks of the nearby canal and the sun was dappling the water, boats moored there were colourful and the geese were noisy!

Colourful boats

Fabulous sights and sounds to lift the mood and bring a smile. We have vowed to take this route and others more regularly.

Fresh air and walking is perfect exercise

The afternoon sun dappling the water and Canada geese

Post walk pain

As the walk progressed I could feel my joints creaking and I developed a blister under my foot, I underestimated the length of the walk chose the wrong footwear! We rewarded ourselves with a beer on the way home, I chose a half pint of Guinness with blackcurrant. Heaven and well deserved. I slept better than I had for a long time, I’m usually woken several times a night due to menopausal hot flushes. The next morning I had stiffness and pain in joints and muscles and was hobbling and struggling to straighten up! I know others give in to these symptoms and stop exercising due to this. I really would encourage anyone else who does feel like this to continue, after a soak in the bath with muscle relaxing bath product and some analgesia and anti inflammatory’s I was much improved.

To me the other after effects such as the increased endorphins, improved sleep and the chance to spend quality time with Mr Fitz outside in the fresh air far outweighs the pain. I suffer pain and discomfort anyway, even after a day spent sat at my computer. I strongly encourage everyone to get outdoors and walk.

Do you have a love of walking, maybe a favourite walking routine you’d like to share with me. I love hearing from you and reading your comments.

My love of football – women love football too!

February 3, 2019

Love of Football

My love of football gradually evolved over my life. My mum used to work on a Saturday and my dad would take myself, my older brother and sometimes my older male cousin to games. I think I must have been taken from a very young age – maybe under 8.

My dad didn’t take me to the watch the same team, we moved around different local teams each week, depending on who was at home. We’re from Manchester and had quite a few local teams, such as Oldham Athletic, Bury, Rochdale and Bolton, and of course that’s without the big 2.

My brother and cousin went on to follow Manchester City. I used to love staying up on a Saturday night and watching Match of the Day with my brother. It was a ritual, get comfy with a snack, turn the lights out and watch like it was the cinema. The theme tune still sends chills down my spine – I associate it with happy times.

My love for football grew more when I went to High School and I became friends with another girl who was also football crazy. As soon as I left school at 16, we got jobs and started to attend games, funding it from our wages. That was in 1976. In 1977 I then purchased my first season ticket for Manchester City. We would also travel to away games. This was no mean feat for 2 young girls during the dark days of the era of terrible football violence in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was certainly character building.

My love of football continues – I even managed to fit a busy nursing career around my attendance at games. There was a period of 12 seasons from 1985 when I didn’t attend regularly whilst I established my self in my career. I was fortunate enough to work with fabulous colleagues, who accepted my love of football and would swap shifts with me, often at short notice to help me get to games.

Great times at The Etihad watching Manchester City

Nowhere better than being inside a football Stadium

How it makes me feel

How it makes me feel is probably the one thing that keeps the love alive. I am a fanatical Manchester City fan. Anyone young now and just starting out watching the sport will see my team as a team who are successful and have won the Premiershp, breaking many records last season. However, it hasn’t always been like that 20 years ago, in 1999, we probably faced our lowest point in the club’s history. Down in the 3rd tier of football, at Wembley fighting for promotion. We were losing 2-0 with 5 minutes to go. Had we not won, there was the potential for us to fall even lower and face obscurity. We equalised in extra time, won in full time and the rest is history. Wow, the emotions we went through on that day were draining, from excitement, anticipation, dejection, sadness to the final feeling of elation! Supporting a football team totally puts you through the wringer at times.

Football shirts on women are not always flattering but I do wear one occasionally

Enjoying a game

I know many friends and colleagues, mostly female, cannot understand what I see in the sport. All they see is something that turns their male partners into neanderthals, obsessed with a shirt colour and makes them spend a lot of time away from them and their family. It is very hard to explain to a ‘non believer’ the fun and pleasure you get from the fabulous sport.

My love of football isn’t only for my team – I love all the game. I will watch any game in any league and from any country in the world! When many women hate the start of autumn and winter to me it doesn’t hold any fear as to me it is the time when football is played to the max. I love it when there is a football game on TV – some weeks that can be 5 nights out of 7! Total bliss for me.

Many layers are needed to beat the cold at football matches

All wrapped up in winter at football

My love of football can dictate my whole mood. Including periods of anxiety, low mood and of course make me the happiest person alive. I’m writing this waiting to go and watch my team play at The Etihad this afternoon. we are now approaching the phase that is known as ‘the business end’ of the season, a time where titles and cups are won and lost by the teams performance and a club to be relegated or promoted. As a Manchester City fan we are fortunate now to be chasing 4 cups. This is the best position to be in, but it also brings about stress and anxiety. Your whole week can deteriorate on a loss. Constant need to look at the table and rivals fixtures to see where points can be won or lost. Not to mention alcohol consumption to dull the pain. As an example Manchester City played mid week in a game that we should have been expected to win, but we lost. It was an away game and I was watching from home. I started off perky and chatty and as the game and performance deteriorated I sunk lower and lower into my sofa using words I’m not proud of. A bottle of wine needed to be opened and drunk! I was gutted at the loss fearing hopes of winning the title again were gone. Waking up the next morning I felt even worse. However as the day progresses I start to feel better as you tell yourself there are much worse things in life. Later on fate steps in and your nearest rivals draw a game they were expected to win and suddenly life is not so black anymore! A whole range of emotions in one 24 hour period. Today we play a big game against Arsenal, but I leave full of hope and optimism. How I’ll feel on my return is another matter!

Sense of purpose and identity

I attend games with my family- my brother, sister in law, nephew, niece and great nephew – our ages range from 8 – 70! It’s a real family affair. This is a plus side to point out to those detractors who cannot understand the love of football. It is an activity that draws us all together. It also provides a purpose in life. Following the team keeps your mind and body occupied, it gives us opportunity to travel. I have been to Barcelona and Paris St Germain to watch the team play.

A trip to Barcelona and the Nou Camp with Manchester City

A competition prize to watch a Champions league game

Myself and Mr Fitz at PSG to watch Manchester City

All because of my love for Manchester City

Our first visit to Paris

I dream of seeing them lift The Champions League trophy in Europe one season. It is also a great leveller and conversation starter. When we’re away wherever we are in the world football is always a topic that starts conversations in bars, hotels restaurants etc. People always ask where we are from. The reply of Manchester always leads to the next question of who we support – City or United? Conversation between fans can be civil and friendly. It’s not all tribalism! Football chat breaks the ice and makes friends.

Having said all this it can be a great sport to introduce the withdrawn or lonely child too. It can give them something to follow and spark enthusiasm and purpose. Inside a stadium we are all friends together and chat away.

In a final note I have to give a big shout out to my lovely Mr Fitz! He does not follow my team nor goes to games. When we met in 1980 I was already a big City fan. He has happily lived with my obsession, often referring to City being the third person in our marriage. Our social life between August and June is dictated to by fixtures, having to decline many an invitation as it clashes with a game. I do miss some games, particularly in January, when we have our winter sun holiday. We do however, watch the team on TV in our destination. It has also contributed to some great memories for us -watching City in the New York branch of the City Supporters club, a great afternoon. Also he came with me to Paris to watch City in a Champions League game. This was a competition prize with hospitality. A great prize and a lovely first trip to Paris.

Anyway I must go and get wrapped up in thermals, thick coat and club scarf to watch my beloved team. Thanks for popping by and reading. I’d love to hear your comments are you football friend or foe, a fellow female fan or a football widow?

New Year New Perspective – Exciting Goals

January 9, 2019

New Year and New Goals is probably the same for most people. We all set goals, there’s something that happens when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st.

Myself and Mr Fitz did not go out and celebrate, it was a cosy PJ night for us with a curry cooked by him. I have been unwell for most of Christmas developing a nasty chest infection 1 week before. I spent the week before Christmas on the sofa, I missed final shopping days and my hair appointment! I’m sat typing with horrendous roots, hopefully to be fixed tomorrow! Even after Christmas I had so little energy that I still spent a lot of time relaxing. The only thing I really felt like doing was reading and watching TV – I didn’t even pick up my beloved laptop for nearly 2 weeks! Shock! Horror!

Anyway I’m rambling a little but the point is that this enforced rest helped me to format my goals for the New Year and evaluate where I am now to where I want to be.

As you may have read in my About Me page I retired from my nursing career in 2015 after 36 years. I fulfilled some part time shifts for a further 18 months but then I finally hung up my stethoscope.

Since then I have been a part time Ebay reseller this has helped me learn new things, I had no idea before how to run a small business or complete HMRC Accounts! Also I think the secret to happy retirement is keeping active both physically and mentally. After years of working to strict shift hours and guidelines and protocols I still like some structure to my days and weeks. However I do not want to go out to work for someone else at this stage in my life, with one exception which I will come to later.

I have fallen a little out of love with my reselling lately, I think one of the main things is the clutter and stock that builds up in the house. I try to keep it contained to my home office and the garage, which are both really untidy and it does spread occasionally. I want the home office that you see images of on Instagram – not my cluttered mess. Running down my reselling life has been driven by this and then after compiling my HMRC Tax return I think the figures are an eye opener. I only want to spend 10-15 hours a week on this and yes I have a reasonable side income to supplement my NHS Pension but there are so many expenses and outgoings involved too that I think I can make this amount up by other methods. This is where my new challenges arise from for the New Year. So here goes!

Reading

As a child I spent a lot of time on my own and filed my time reading, this continued but progresses to text books at various stages in my career. When I retired I promised I would read all the books I’d wanted to and watch all the films I had missed. I haven’t managed either. So after my enforced rest I managed 2 books on my kindle in 10 days and realised how much I’d missed reading. So my goal is to read at least 2 books per month – I have set my reading target to 30 books for the year.

Ebay Reselling

As mentioned earlier one of my new year intentions is to wind down my Ebay shop. This will not take immediate effect as I still have around 300-400 items yet to sell. I will continue until this is gone but will reevaluate my pricing to help in quick sales. Once my shop is closed I will return to just selling personal items. I have to add that being part of the reselling community has been a fabulous experience. There are so many fabulous characters out there who will help. Especially on YouTube – so many re-sellers producing quality videos to hep and always with humour. I will continue to follow them even when I close my shop later in the year.

Competitions

Entering competitions has been my main hobby after watching football for over 10 years. I have won some fabulous prizes including money can’t buy experiences, including getting to interview Ant and Dec behind the scenes of Britain’s Got Talent. Following my retirement my intention was to up my game on this front and devote more time to this hobby. Yes there is a lot of luck involved but it is a hobby where you make your own luck by your efforts and hard work. Also it is a numbers game – the more competitions you enter the more chances you have of being a winner. However, this never happened and due to other distractions, including, Ebay reselling, I found I was entering less than when I was in full time work. Most compers maintain their stats, prizes, values, methods of entry etc. Again I managed this when I was working but somehow haven’t managed this is in retirement. For the life of me I don’t know why! At the end of one year or beginning of next some compers share their stats, often via YouTube. There are a few who I follow every month and after seeing their stats and yearly total of prizes I have decided that this is the main focus of my attention this year. I intend to devote the time previously allocated to Ebay reselling back to this and some more!

Work as a Background Artist

A background artist is the current name for a TV Extra. I am registered with a local Casting agency and have gained some experience in this field. The work is sporadic and not well paid at all. Probably minimum wage for the hours worked. However, I find it interesting, the food and catering is excellent, which is free and there is a lot of time hanging around between scenes. Plus you meet some interesting people. There are people from many backgrounds who work in this role. I hope to increase the amount of work I get from my agent – ooh! That sounds grand doesn’t it. If necessary I will join a different agency and see if that makes a difference to the amount of work I receive. I know I’ve said the pay is very poor but there is a lot of time hanging around which will allow me to work on my Blog and competition entries, with pay!

Blogging

I am really enjoying my blogging career that I have tried to pick up in ernest. I am still learning all the time and want to grow and monetise my blog. Therefore this New Year working on networking and growing my blog will be a big goal.

Fitness

This is my final and ever perpetual goal. To maintain fitness and lose weight. I have been attending the gym and discovered Yoga but no weight loss follows. I have written about my health goals before. Starting the New Year I want to carry on at the same level but build on my exercise regime and increase my yoga classes. As I have a chronic back condition I find that this is fabulous for my well being.

Well that’s enough to be going on with! What about you? Have you got any exciting new goals this New Year. I realise we’re approaching the middle of the month before I publish this post, however I was laid up with a nasty chest infection and bug from before Christmas plus a family bereavement which has slowed my progress. But it’s now onwards and upwards! I already know that I have some regular work as a background artist from the end of the month.

Exciting times!

Update on Joint pain and use of GOPO® supplements in the menopause

January 6, 2019

use of GoPo supplements for joint pain

Taking the pain out of the menopause: are menopausal women overlooking their joint health?

These are the words from the providers of GoPo supplements. You may have read my earlier post about my injury earlier this year and how it exacerbated my already present joint pain

I accepted a trial of GOPO® supplements derived from natural rosehip.

The menopause has a lot to answer for, especially in my experience. Hot flushes, night sweats, loss of libido and low mood are all commonly recognised menopausal symptoms. Yet, joint pain affects as many as 40% of all menopausal women[i] and joint stiffness is the most common contributor to impairment of quality of life and work in women of a menopausal age.

Menopausal joint pain, is commonly mistaken as an inevitable part of the ‘aging’ process and whilst women may seek help for other symptoms, they struggle on with aching and painful joints. For many this results in a downward spiral of taking less exercise, weight gain and further joint pain.

Dr Kathy Abernethy Chair of the British Menopause Society and Menopause Expert comments;

“Whilst more women are now seeking help for the menopause, joint health is often ignored resulting in a significant impact on quality of life. It is important that women consider treating all symptoms to maintain their overall wellbeing. Simple lifestyle changes such as low impact exercise, changes to diet and taking supplements may help, particularly in the early stages”

The symptoms of the menopause usually start to appear between 45-55 years of age. However, according to consultant rheumatologist Dr. Rod Hughes;

“Menopausal joint pain, can start several years before other menopausal symptoms. This is due to oestrogen levels starting to decline several years before the menopause, causing a reduction in collagen, loss of cartilage and an increase in inflammation leading to joint pain and stiffness.”

Reading this information provided by the suppliers I was really surprised to read this. I have endured quite severe joint pain for several years and it was one of the contributory factors to make my decision to retire early. I always thought my pain was wear and tear after years of being on my feet for very long shifts as a nurse. Even up until receiving these supplements I did not think the pain was menopause related at all.

With this new found realisation I was happy to trial this natural supplement. My first post explained that since I commenced the supplements I had experienced less of the burning pain that began after my fall in January of last year.

GoPo Joint Supplements for menopausal women

I am now nearly 3 months into taking the supplement and still my knee feels much more comfortable, the burning pain which was present daily prior to starting these supplements, is still gone. Initially there was no change in my chronic back pain, however again I seem to feel less back pain symptoms. I have to be honest and admit to have forgotten to take the supplements on occasions but am happy with the results.

As I stated in my earlier post, If you are interested in this supplement GOPO® Joint Health is available from Boots, supermarkets and independent chemists nationwide £18.99 for 120 capsules and £28.49 for 200 capsules. www.GoPo.co.uk

Please share this post if you think it could help you or someone you know, maybe one of your older female friends or family members have the same joint pain struggles and this could help them.

Keep healthy and happy

Signature

London at Christmas Tea History and Theatre

December 30, 2018

London at Christmas is magical. I spent a lovely 3 days in London at the beginning of December with 3 of my girlfriends. It was a trip we had been planning since around February. I think it was me that instigated it by saying that I had never visited the shops or visited London at London or seen the Christmas lights.

Our visit was Thursday to Saturday, trying to avoid the busyness of the weekend. We all became friends through our shared hobby of entering competitions. Due to this we were able to pool some of the prizes we had won during the year, mostly experience vouchers, to cover the cost of many of our treats. The downside to this was that we had a few prizes to to claim which dictated a lot of our time and itinerary. We never did get to see the Regent Street lights at night! Read on to see what we got up to.

The idea of the trip began in around February time and we began to actually plan from around September. By booking train tickets and hotel rooms early we were able to get these at discount rates to minimise the expense of a trip to London at Christmas

As we had got a discounted rail fare by booking early we were able to travel First Class. Our day started with a bacon sandwich, tea and coffee. This was soon followed by a shared bottle of Moet and Chandon champagne!

Our hotel was the hub by Premier Inn Kings Cross. We each had a double room. The rooms are modern and compact and are perfect for 1 occupant. The bed is classed as a double but there is only access onto it from 1 side, meaning there would be a bit of a squash for 2 and if the occupant nearest the wall needed the loo at night they would have to climb over the other! The bathroom and shower was more than adequate – the rooms are well thought out to maximise space.

Double bed

Bathroom hub at Premier Inn Kings Cross

The hotel itself is in a great location with a lively bar and restaurant. Breakfast was included and described as Continental, this really did not do it justice there was a very large range of produce and choice available. The hotel was very well staffed and they were all so efficient and friendly. We would all definitely stay here again.

We travelled around the City using buses and Uber mostly. The first afternoon we headed to Regent Street and Liberty. As stated a couple of us had never visited London at Christmas before. A trip to Liberty was high on our to see list. I loved the old building with the fabulous Oak staircases and panelling. We loved browsing the very expensive silk scarves and handbags.

Liberty

Magical displays throughout Liberty

So many beautiful silk scarves

Next stop was Fortnum and Mason’s food hall, again another venue I had never visited. We all purchased a few treats for family and friends. I really liked the decor and produce available. Pricey but a lovely Christmas treat.

Fortnum and Mason window display

An expensive, indulgent Fortnum and Mason hamper

Our long day continued with Afternoon Tea in the The Galvin at The Athaneum Hotel. A lovely setting with friendly staff and great food. We are serial afternoon teaers! If there is such a thing and enjoyed the fare of offer.

Afternoon tea at The Galvin

Our final destination for the first day was over to the Apollo Theatre to watch Everybodys Talking About Jamie. I have to admit this was not my choice of show, I would have preferred a couple of others over this but I also know that I can be set in my ways regarding what I watch at the theatre and it is good to be introduced to performances I may not have chosen myself!that We had a couple of pre performance drinks in The White Horse close to the theatre. Myself and Mr Fitz love pubs and it has to be said that London have so many magnificent hostelries. That alone is a purpose for visiting the City!

The show has a very contemporary feel and subject matter, briefly the show revolves around Jamie and his school friends. Jamie is a 16 year old boy living on a council estate, he is openly gay and his career aspiration is to become a drag queen. His mother and friends are supportive, his estranged father is not. His best friend is a muslim girl in a Hijab. There are lots of risque lines and gestures but I have to say despite my reservations it was so entertaining and had you grinning from ear to ear. A real feel good show.

Third row seats! Everybodys talking about Jamie

The thrill of London Theatreland

Following this it was back to the hotel for a final night cap in the bar after a very long enjoyable day.

Our second day started early again as we had purchased tickets for Kensington Palace for 10.30 am. The Palace has 2 exhibitions covered by the ticket – Princess Diana’s dresses and Queen Victoria revisited. You can walk around the Palace in any order. We chose to look at the state rooms first where we came across a performance from 2 actors as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The theme was the Royals at Christmas and they acted out a piece about their plans for the day which culminated in an audience participation rendition of the 12 days of Christmas – well the first 5 only. This was so entertaining and we were so glad we caught it!

Actors in Kensington Palace entertained us as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

In the presence of royalty

The Queen Victoria exhibition was so fascinating, it was so interesting to see so many authentic pieces like clothing, pictures and jewellery on display.

An original painting of a young Queen Victoria

Queen Victorias Emerald and Diamond Jewellery sparkled so beautifully - talk about jewel envy!

Emerald and diamond jewellery designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria

We saved the exhibition of Princess Diana’s until last, this was the main reason for visiting the Palace. We are all fans of Diana, I personally remember her wedding and was working a night shift the night she died and watched all the events unfold in real time following the live news broadcasts.

The exhibition was smaller than we expected, in fact one of my friends commented that it was a little like the way Diana was seen by the Royals at the end, someone to be tucked away from public view. We learned that many of her dresses were auctioned off for charity and then loaned back to the Palace to be displayed. We really enjoyed looking at those available, including the tweed suit she wore on honeymoon at Balmoral – to be honest this is hideous and dowdy! There is also the dark blue velvet dress that she wore when she danced with John Travolta.

The images and photographs of Princess Diana's dresses at Kensington Palace can never replicate their full beauty

A selection of Princess Diana’s dresses

The one we all wanted to see – known as the Revenge Dress was not included in the exhibition unfortunately. For £16 a ticket we thought it great value for money.

Next stop was Harrods and again the Food Hall before enjoying a cream tea in Harrods tea room. We were sat next to the pianist and it was a very festive enjoyable hour.

Harrods cream tea

We returned to our hotel for a freshen up before dinner that we had pre booked at The Parcel Yard at Kings Cross. This venue was so busy and noisy but we had good food and service. The bar and restaurant was packed with people celebrating London at Christmas.

After a final night cap it was time for bed again after another busy packed day.

Before our return home the next morning we visited St Pancras station to see the Tiffany Christmas tree and ate a very large brunch at Bill’s in Islington – a prize of a £100 tab! We all ate really well and had enough funds left for a last bottle of champagne! After all it is Christmas.

Tiffany Christmas tree at St Pancras station

Brunch at Bills restaurant

Champagne at 12MD – don’t mind if we do

This was so enjoyable, even though Mr Fitz is my best friend and soul mate I think it is good to have time away with your girlfriends – good for the soul and gave us all the opportunity to do the things that our men don’t always want to do.

Have you been to any of these venues? Did you like them as much as us? What do you like to do in London at Christmas? Let me know or tell me of other places we may visit when we return.

Email me or comment I love to hear from you – thanks for reading today

Gift Guide for the mature females in your life this Christmas

December 3, 2018

Gift Guide for the mature women in your life

This gift guide is to help you choose a gift for the mature women in your life. This could be your mum, nanna, auntie, neighbour or friend.

As an over 50’s female I know what I like to receive and hopefully can provide you with some gift ideas that will be enjoyed.

There are many gift guide around at this time of year but I hope I can provide some different specific inspiration for the over 40’s/50’s female.

some of these gifts have affiliate links which mean I may be paid a small fee or a free product when a purchase is made. This does not affect the price you pay and I only recommend products I would use myself.

Under £20

I am a huge fan of Aldi and I love make up. Earlier this year Aldi sold some fabulous eye shadow palettes, that are similar to the fabulous and must have Urban Decay palettes. I was lucky enough to be bought an original last Christmas by my husband and I loved it. However once I saw Aldi’s version I invested in a couple of theirs. I can honestly say I think they give as good a colour coverage and high end look. Aldi are releasing some more this week in stores and online. At £5.99 I think they are an absolute steal and would be a fabulous present to your make up wearing female.

Aldi Lacura eye palette

This next gift may not look very festive and seem out of place in Winter, but as a menopausal woman plagued with hot sweats it is becoming my best friend. The Chillmax gel cooling pillow is so versatile. It can be inserted inside a pillow case, or beneath your bottom sheet to help keep you cool at night and reduce and maybe even prevent hot flushes. It can also be used behind your back when sat watching TV or travelling. At £11.99 it is great value.

Chillmax cooling mat

Most people these days use ear phones either when travelling or at the gym or watching TV in bed on tablets or ipads. I love mine and do have several sets in my gym bag, at home in my handbag. As a female it’s nice to have a little bit of bling wherever you go – I think it’s good for the soul. These Rose Gold ones from Amazon look sensational and I would love to receive them in my stocking. At £20 I love them.

Rose gold earphones with bling

As a mature woman my hair texture has changed as I age. I touch on this more in a later product suggestion. I love hair products to keep my hair looking good. This plumping whip by Toni and Guy is one of my favourite products. It smells and feels luxurious and does provide great fullness for fine hair. At under £10 it would make a nice gift or stocking filler.

Toni and Guy volume plumping whip

Most modern mature women are still active and like to go to fitness classes or be comfortable when out and about, maybe just be on the go caring for younger family members. Yoga pants are must have in my opinion and I certainly can never have enough pairs. These are super comfy and look smart.

Yoga pants are so versatile

My final suggestion in this price bracket is for the lady who likes to holiday and travel. I love Packing cubes and think they are invaluable. Makes packing for trips easier and also helps once you have arrived. The cubes can just be transferred straight into the storage provided at your destination.

I have these particular ones and find them great, the toilet bag even includes a small pouch that can be used for jewellery or travel cosmetics.

Packing cubes for the lady that likes to holiday

Gifts under £50

In my gift guide I want to add some higher priced suggestions. It’s not just men that experience hair problems as they age. We women can experience thinning of our hair, losing body and texture and hair styling can be a challenge. I am continually searching for new products to help my hair stay looking good. I have a few products that I would recommend as a treat. My first recommendation is in the under £20 section.

Living Proof Style Lab texture Volumizing cream is expensive but applied to your hair after styling close to the roots adds great volume which is still present the next day.

This styling cream can be used on dry hair to create instant volume, touchable texture and flexible hold – hair is never stiff or frozen and is revivable for up to 48 hours.

Living proof amp provides body to fine hair

I have always moisturised my skin but only this year appreciated the benefit of serums for improving the look of my skin. This is often not a product anyone would purchase for their selves, particularly busy working women or mature women who have not always used serums in their skin regimen. My first set was bought for me and now I appreciate the need for multi layering products as we mature. This gift set of Boots Protect and Perfect would make a fabulous gift to start that special lady on the road to great skin.

Serums for glowing mature skin

Gifts over £50

My final couple of suggestions are for gifts for people who you really care about and wish to buy something special for.

As we age there is nothing like comfortable shoes and feet, particularly if like me you’ve worked as a nurse or in other professions, such as hairdressing, that have required hours spent on your feet whilst at work.

These Fitflops are fabulously comfort and come in many designs many with that touch of glamour and bling like these. As they can be expensive they are a luxury that border on an essential and make a fabulous present, especially for the lady who likes her holidays.

Fitflops for comfort and style

My final suggestion is a Sensationail gel nail kit. I have written before about how much I enjoy having nice nails and my local nail salons are full of mature ladies being pampered. This can be an expensive look to maintain but this gel nail kit is like giving a whole years full of beautiful nails. I have used this and found it easy to use and the results look professional and last.

Home gel nail kits save time and money

I hope I have provided you with some inspiration in this gift guide. I’d love to hear what you think, whether any of these suggestions have helped you. I aim to be back later in the week for the gift guide for the more mature men in your life.

Please comment or contact me by email

Also if you need more inspiration why not pop over to Karen’s blog The Geordie Grandma, as she also has some great gift ideas for women over 50.

Joint pain in the menopause Review GOPO® Supplements

November 21, 2018

Having been a Neonatal nurse for over 38 years, involving hours standing at Incubators or preterm deliveries, plus walking miles around Postnatal wards my joints have taken a pounding. Added to this my extra pounds gained during the menopause , I experience joint pain daily, especially my knees.

I suffered a fall earlier this year which increased the pain in my knee joints. I had investigations including an MRI to exclude a fracture of the Patella, (knee cap), and any teaer to the meniscus, (Cartlidge). There was no overt fracture but a bone bruise and happily no tear. The MRI also revealed that I had patellofemoral arthritis. I have written about my trials with pain in an earlier post. Although there was no fracture I was still left with residual pain particularly around the side of my knee. Added to my pre-existing struggles when walking up and down stairs and rising from a crouched position I was struggling.

I have been prescribed anti inflammatory medication but I don’t like to take it regularly because of the potential adverse effects on my stomach, which requires a second medication to afford protection. I don’t want to get in the viscious circle of taking many medications for one problem. I like to think I can take steps myself by life style changes, diet and exercise to help control my pain and symptoms.

I was given the opportunity to trial a supplement GOPO®, made from natural galactolipid GOPO® which is derived from rose-hip (Rosa canina) and has been shown in randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials to significantly reduce arthritis joint pain.

I was intrigued to try this as even though I have worked in medicine for so many years I always feel that for chronic problems self help should be tried first before embarking on a long term regime of medication.

I was interested in the background information provided about the product from Consultant Rheumatologist Dr. Rod Hughes. You may be interested, particularly if you are suffering from joint pain in the menopause. so I will share the main features of this with you.

Switch to a clinically backed natural supplement: 45% of those surveyed took paracetamol for their joint pain which is largely ineffective and has a number of side-effects when taken long term. Instead you could try an option such as the galactolipid GOPO® which is derived from rose-hip (Rosa canina) and has been shown in randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials to significantly reduce arthritis joint pain and reduce consumption of paracetamol by 40%. In vitro studies have demonstrated GOPO® has anti-inflammatory properties which have a protective effect on cartilage, potentially even helping cartilage and joint tissues to rebuild and regenerate

Keep active: Physical activity helps synovial fluid circulate in the joint, increases blood flow – which in turn increases oxygen and nutrient flow to the joint – and strengthens muscles supporting the joint. It is important not to overdo exercise or cause injury, but even gentle activities such as walking and swimming are beneficial.

Treat injuries – Traumatic injury (ligament or meniscal tears) to the knee or hip increases your risk for developing OA in these joints. Effective rehabilitation is very important – always consult a professional if you suspect an injury and follow their advice.

Eat Well: Being overweight places additional strain on the joints – every pound of excess weight places an additional 4 pounds of extra strain on the knees. However, it’s not just this mechanical loading and wear and tear of joints that is of concern. More recently research has suggested inflammatory processes involved with fat tissues may also affect joints.

According to nutritionist Angelique Panagos; ‘’People often don’t associate joint issues with lifestyle choices and a poor diet but both these play a major role. There are a number of structures in the joint – including bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and collagen, which need a good source of nutrients to keep healthy and in good condition. Key nutrients for joint health include vitamin D, Vitamin C and calcium. I advise my clients to up their levels of foods such as broccoli, spinach, tart cherries, garlic, peppers, almonds, kale, and tomatoes in particular for these nutrients. In addition, avoiding foods that can increase inflammation, such as high sugar foods, and getting enough exercise are an integral part of joint health too.’’

High levels of the galactolipid GOPO® are found only in GOPO® Joint Health.

I try to follow 3 of the points anyway, you may have read about my struggles with my menopausal weight gain.

So the final element was to try a supplement and this seemed to be one I would feel comfortable trialing. To this end I accepted a free 3 month supply to trial. I am disclosing this to be transparent about why I am trialling this particular supplement for joint pain.

It comes with some promotional material including this Youtube Video with celebrity endorsement.

I have to say that another reason why I don’t take medication or regular supplements is that I am rubbish at remembering to take them regularly. I start off enthusiastically and then forget after a week or so. To this end I have placed the bottle of supplements near to my tea and coffee canisters to prompt me. The recommended started dose for this GOPO® supplement is 3 tablets twice a day for the first 3 to 5 weeks. The first challenge is remembering to keep taking them, and they are large capsules to swallow.

I am towards the end of my first month of taking these GOPO® and although I have forgotten the odd day and odd second dose I already feel that my knee pain is so much improved. I used to suffer a constant burning pain which required me to take Paracetamol and anti inflammatory medication when it was really bad. This burning pain is not an issue since I started taking them. I also have a chronic back problem, there has been no change in this pain.

I will update you again next month to see how things are.

If you are interested in this supplement GOPO® Joint Health is available from Boots, supermarkets and independent chemists nationwide £18.99 for 120 capsules and £28.49 for 200 capsules. www.GoPo.co.uk

Please share this post if you think it could help you or someone you know, maybe one of your older female friends or family members have the same joint pain struggles and this could help them.

Health and Wellbeing

Life in lockdown of an over 50’s couple

Mr Fitz life in lockdown for an NHS worker

Exercise

Staying Home – our life in lockdown

Family

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What is a Podcast?

My 5 Podcasts to Listen to:

Crime Junkies Podcast

About Crime Junkie

Table Manners

The Law and Order SVU Podcast

You Must Remember This

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Walking for Health

Weekend Walk

Post walk pain

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Love of Football

How it makes me feel

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Reading

Ebay Reselling

Competitions

Work as a Background Artist

Blogging

Fitness

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Gift Guide for the mature women in your life

Under £20

Gifts under £50

Gifts over £50

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