Lifestyle

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.

Packing cubes My top 3 Benefits – Travel Tip Thursday #1

February 7, 2019

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Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are becoming increasingly more popular for travelling. I have been using them for around 3 years now. In fact I have 2 sets pink and blue – 1 set for me and 1 set for Mr Fitz for the rare occasion we use 2 suitcases, like on our recent cruise holiday. Alternatively if we use one shared suitcase the different colours quickly identify who’s clothing they contain.

Packing cubes in 2 colours

These little zipped cubes will give you back some of your sanity while you travel! They help you to stay organized, keep your belongings compact, and find what you need in record time from your luggage.

What are Packing Cubes?

Packing cubes are relatively small soft containers made of fabric, often in a rectangular shape, used for packing clothing. They fit neatly into your luggage, separating items inside.

The usually come in packs containing several cubes and often extra zipped bags for dirty laundry, shoes and toiletries. Amazon is a great place to start – there is plenty of choice to suit your needs.

Now that I consider myself an experienced Packing Cube user I thought I would provide you with my top 3 benefits for using them in my experience.

Organisation

These fabulous packing cubes keep your luggage organised, no longer does all the contents flop about within your case or you have to frantically search through to find that item that you want. Each cube can be used for particular groups of clothing – I often separate my clothes into tops, shorts, beachwear and lingerie. I can then find items more easily.

Packing cubes and pouches fit snuggly – photo taken after I’d started to unpack!

Utilises space

The packing cubes enable you to roll your clothing, which I feel uses less space within each cube and reduces creasing. They also fit snuggly into your luggage maximising capacity. Other items such as straighteners and jewellery rolls slip in the spaces between cubes.

Saves Time/Space in Destination

The cubes assist you a lot when unpacking at your destination. You can simply lift the cubes out of your luggage and place them as they are with their contents still inside into drawers in your accommodation. This helps you save space when it is limited and time and can get you to the pool, beach or back more quickly after your arrival. An example of this was on our first cruise holiday in September. Space is limited inside a cruise cabin, I was able to lift out the cubes containing swimwear and lingerie straight into wire baskets on a carousel inside the wardrobe of our cabin. As well as keeping the storage spaces neat and tidy I also knew where to locate these. Again on our recent holiday to Corralejo even though there was adequate storage drawers I chose to lift the cubes straight from our suitcase into them. Even my tops and Johns shorts remained in cubes. Many of our beach holiday clothes are made from fabrics that don’t crease. We arrived at our apartment in late afternoon so we were itching to get out into the winter sunshine and anything to save time helped!

The faster you can unpack the faster you can be by the pool

Packing cubes can be lifted out and transferred straight into drawers at your destination

This is my first post in which I hope can become a series of Travel Tip Thursday – I cannot promise that they will be weekly – I am just going to start today and see how this series develops.

Thanks for being here today

Have you used packing cubes? If so do you have any other uses for them? Let me know – I’m always ready to learn more

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?

Winter Sun break to Corralejo Fuerteventura

January 25, 2019

Winter Sun

Winter sun is something that most people want in the mid winter slump after Christmas and New Year. Fortunately for Mr Fitz and myself we have been fortunate enough for the past 10 years to be able to have a weeks holiday for a bit of winter sun in January. It has become a habit that we have chosen Corralejo in Fuerteventura every year.

Over recent years we have enjoyed regular holidays and short breaks several times a year, one of our favourite summer destinations is Croatia, read my review of it if you haven’t already.

About Corralejo and Fuerteventura

Corralejo is a town on the northeast coast of Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands of Spain. It’s known for Corralejo Natural Park, featuring windy, dune-backed beaches like Playa del Moro. The park is home to endangered wildlife and Montaña Roja, a volcano with panoramic views. The town, a former fishing village, is dotted with eateries and bars. Nearby Lobos Island is a nature reserve with rare birds.

Like all the Canary Islands it is a Volcanic Island, but fear not they are all dormant. The official average temperatures for Fuerteventra in January are Highs 21 and Lows 15 with 2 days rain per month. Over the years we have found daytime temperatures to reach quite a bit higher. Plenty of hours for winter sun. At night it can be cool and windy so a light jacket and jeans is recommended. We have also experienced days of heavy rain, but it is often at times when other parts of Europe and mainland Spain are also experiencing downpours.

Daytime has enough sunshine to sunbathe by the pool or on one of the many fabulous beaches. It’s great to feel the winter sun on your face.

Feeling warm sun on your face in January

Things to Do

It must be said that it is a very chilled, relaxed resort. Perfect for recharging your batteries in the dark months of Winter. If you want disco’s, Karaoke and rowdy English bars then it is not for you. That doesn’t mean to say you cannot find these but they are the exception rather than the rule.

During the day many people gently stroll around the resort and beach fronts. During the years we have been visiting tourism to the Island has increased and it is obvious that much of the income has been reinvested. The shops, hotels and facilities have improved and are of a high standard. There is a good bus service that can be used to access many if not all areas of the Island for sightseeing.

The shopping experience in Corralejo has greatly improved

Shops selling designer items

One of the most stunning features are the beaches , no visit to Corralejo is complete without a trip to the famous Dunes. Miles of pure white sand and clear blue sea. A playground for fans of water sports and Kite surfing. A great opportunity for winter sun.

Kite surfing at the dunes

Mr Fitz enjoying the white sand at The Dunes of Corralejo

At night there are many fabulous restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, especially sea food. Plus there are many great quality takeaway’s and coffee shops.

Not forgetting the usual variety of Irish bars and bars showing football. There is an area in the Old Town known as the Music Square. It is a square surrounded by bars and restaurants and at night there is regular free musical entertainment and has a fabulous atmosphere. Three of our favourite bars are The Blue Rock in the Old Town, The Smiths Arms tucked away off the main street and O’Neils Irish Bar in the Atlantico Centre.

Some of our favourite haunts and restaurants are La Luna and Fado Rock close to the harbour. We ate at Fado Rock on the Saturday night of our stay. The food and service is exceptional. John had a fabulously fresh and tasty tomato and onion salad followed by a Fado special kebab, I loved my pork fillets with Roquefort sauce and canarian potatoes.

La Luna also has a lovely bar frequented by the locals. A perfect place for breakfast lunch or coffee is Bistro Cafe Latino on the sea front heading towards the harbour. A fabulous spot with great sea views by the sea

Enjoying coffee at Bistro Cafe Latino

Another great spot with sea views is the Bar Anno 2011 – serves fabulous cocktails and has a 2 for 1 happy hour between 5pm and 6pm. Great hosts and hospitality

Anno 2011 bar

The Harbour

Corralejo has a bustling harbour where ferries run regularly over to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote. A great suggestion for a day trip for lunch at the fabulous Rubicon harbour in that resort. You can also book a trip for a day trip with a picnic on a Catamaran, trips to Lobos to simply study its beauty and tranquility and soak up the sun. The water is extremely clear and you can see the fish feeding and the rocks on the sea bed.

El Cotillo

This is another beautiful old fishing village which is easily reached by bus, car or taxi from Corralejo. Much smaller than its neighbour it is really quaint but with another long quiet stunning beach. It is surrounded by beautiful lagoons where you can find the ultimate i peace and tranquility.

The beach at El Cotllo

Both the dunes in Corralejo and the Lagoons in El Cotillo have areas frequented by naturalists but this is well known and well respected by all.

The only word of caution I would give about the resort is the pavements hold many potential trip hazards, even the newly relaid block paved areas. Take care walking especially when visiting bars and restaurants around the side roads, particularly after dusk.

Do you have a favourite resort you return to regularly or a favourite Winter sun destination? I love to hear about other people’s travel recommendations.

Thank you for stopping by to read I really appreciate I would love you to leave a comment or email me.

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

What to buy your dad, grandad or uncle this Christmas

December 5, 2018

What to buy the older men in your life is often the most difficult question you have to answer whilst Christmas shopping. They often tend to be minimalist in their possessions and often set in their ways. They mumble ‘oh don’t get me anything’ or end up with a bottle of their favourite tipple. There is nothing wrong with that as a present but if you are looking for something different maybe I can provide some inspiration. As I am married to a 60 year old and have a brother of 70 and nephews around the age of 40 I’ve had experience of living with the likes and wants of the Grumpy Old Man!

I’ll start with socks, I know that buying socks is a bit of a joke but you know good socks really are important to men as they mature, in the same way that comfy shoes are to women. My husband has strange feet, I know too much information! Socks form holes within 2 or 3 times of wearing. I was given a pair of these Blueguard Anti-Abrasion Durability Socks for him to trial and they are indestructible and comfortable too. 3 years now and not a sign of wear. My brother has some too and loves them. In fact my brother once said that he would rather have 2 good pairs of socks rather than many of poor quality. I highly recommend them. A bargain at £7.99 – £11.99

These are virtually indestructible socks for men

Blue Guard socks

If you have read my gift guide for the mature women you will have seen that I recommended packing cubes for the lady who likes to travel. I think the same gift is appropriate for the man who likes to travel too. Even if they are only for the lady in their life to use for them! Mature men often have a larger disposable income to spend on holidays and travel. I think these make a great gift if your relative or loved one fits this category. These ones fit the bill nicely at around £20 Packing Cubes Travel Organizer Mesh Bags

Packing cubes

What to buy the guy who is a gadget freak or even if they only have a couple of items such as their phone and ipad there are cables to be used for charging and travel. This Cable Organiser at around £12.49 is a useful gift and often not something they will purchase.

Cable Organiser

Of course there is always the gift of a voucher if you are totally at a loss what to buy, Most men would love an Amazon gift voucher they can be bought online or sent as an e voucher. This provides them with the choice of thousands of gifts.

The next gift appears quite basic but men have to shave and if they prefer a wet shave they are very particular about the quality of razor they use. However replacement blades work out expensive. This Gillette Shaving set is a nice gift with many replacement blades which will keep on giving long into the New Year for around £32

Gillette shaving set

Most mature men tend to wear belts with their trousers. Therefore a good leather belt like this one in a presentation box for under £20 is something they may like and wear often.

Quality leather belt

I’ve already suggested one idea what to buy them If they travel a lot how about a Travel toiletries kit at £25.99 contains 13 travel size toiletries ready to go and suitable for carry on luggage. Everything they need for a holiday/

Travel Toiletries set

If your man wears a hat in winter for running or walking how about a wonter hat with speakers and blue tooth connection for under £15 Winter hat with bluetooth connection and speakers

Winter hat with blue tooth speakers

If the male in your life loves novelties or has everything how about a novelty Garden Gnome in football teams colours they can be bought wearing the colours of his favourite football team again under £20. Being a passionate Manchester City fan I’ve illustrated a gnome in my teams colours but many more are available.

Official Licensed Manchester City Garden Gnome

A novelty garden gnome in your football clubs colours

If you want to splash the cash how about some luggage, especially a wheeled carry on case for around £60 Carry on wheeled suitcase

Well, thanks for looking and I hope I’ve helped and provided some inspiration. If your looking for something for the mature female relative or friend take a look at my gift guide for the mature female in your life.

If you like anything or have your own suggestions then I’d love to hear from you please comment or email me

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.

A Michelin Star Experience – Northcote Manor

November 30, 2018

A Michelin Star dining experience has been on our wish list for a while. So we visited Northcote Manor on the night of my lovely husbands 60th birthday last month. I had booked and planned this as a surprise for the actual night itself. We are both foodies and love dining out as well as watching hours of cooking on TV. He knew I’d booked an overnight stay but not where however, as the day grew nearer I was a bit panicky about surprising him and revealed the venue and Michelin Star experience the week before.

Northcote Manor is a renowned small luxury hotel with a Michelin star restaurant situated on the edge of the Ribble Valley, in the heart of Lancashire. Lisa Goodwin Allen is the Executive chef after taking over from Nigel Haworth, both seen regularly on TV Cookery programmes, including the Great British Menu.

We traveled by car and the journey took less than an hour. It was easy to find and is a manor house set just off the main road in expansive gardens which include an area where they grow some of their own produce.

Our room was in the Garden Lodge set aside from the main Manor house housing the restaurant. We had booked the Tasting Break which included an overnight stay, a 6 course dinner and breakfast the following morning. We were allocated room 21, which was huge, a large double bed, sofa and doors to a private terrace fully surrounded by a hedge for privacy. The bathroom was fabulous with complimentary Temple Spa toiletries. Check in was super smooth and there was a birthday card from the hotel waiting for John in our room.

Dinner was booked for 7 and we had a pre dinner drink in the bar in the Manor House, this was so cosy and inviting. The short walk from the Garden Lodge to the Manor house is lit up and well paved, umbrellas are available in each room in the event of inclement weather. As it was October the terraces were bare but it was clear to see that there were many outdoor chairs and tables available to enjoy a drink outside in the summer admiring the surroundings and views. We were served 2 small hors d’oeuvres in the bar before being invited into the main restaurant.

The restaurant is luxurious to look at with attentive service. It is a high end experience as expected by a Michelin Star restaurant. Every course was explained to us as it was served. I chose to purchase the wine flight for myself, John stuck to beer, and the Sommelier provided a choice for a couple of courses. The service was excellent but a little too formal for our liking, after all we are only humble people who like to experience a taste of the good life and good food occasionally.

Our menu was:

AGED HAND CUT BEEF
Roasted Celeriac, Smoked Marrowbone
Maison Antech, Crémant de Limoux, Rosé Émotion, Languedoc Roussillon, France, 2015 (125ml £8.50)

WEST COAST SCALLOP
Clam ”Chowder”, Bacon, Chervil
Cottanera, Etna Bianco, Sicily, Italy, 2016 (125ml £10.00)

West Coast Scallop

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE
Black Truffle
Dry Sack, Amontillado, Williams & Humbert, Andalucia, Spain, NV (70ml £11.50)

Jerusalem Artichoke

CORNISH TURBOT
Orchard Apple, Watercress, Walnut
Chardonnay, Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, USA, 2014 (125ml £15.75)

Cornish Turbot

RED LEG PARTRIDGE
Leg Bolognaise, Mushroom, Squash
Reserva, Viña Tondonia, Rioja, Spain, 2004 (125ml £15.25)

Oops! Forgot to photograph prior to eating!

FLAVOUR OF ECCLES CAKES
Muscat Grapes, Caramelised Pastry, Tea
Monastrell, Dulce, Bodegas Castaño, Murcia, Spain, 2010 (70ml £8.00)

Neither of us like pink meat, we could be classed as old fashioned as we love all meat dished ‘well done’. The Aged Hand Cut Beef was a version of steak tartare, so we asked for an alternative if possible. The request was no problem and we were given the equivalent course from their plant based menu, which was:

HAND CUT ROAST CELERIAC
Horseradish, Smoked Butter
Maison Antech, Crémant de Limoux, Rosé Émotion, Languedoc Roussillon, France, 2015, 125ml £8.50.

The courses were small but very rich with fabulous mixes of flavours and textures. The Partridge wasn’t really us, although we did eat most of us. My favourite course was the Cornish Turbot, absolutely delicious.

Following dinner we had one final nightcap in the lounge bar, with its roaring fire and dimmed lighting. Before retiring back to our lovely room. We were both full and satisfied from this luxury experience.

Following a great nights sleep we returned to the main restaurant for their version of a Full English Breakfast. Service was a little slow at breakfast but the food when it arrived was just the right portion size after the previous nights hearty dinner.

Cooked English Breakfast

Overall this was a one off experience for us for a special occasion, it was expensive, costing just under £600. There are large service charges added to each aspect of service. Our after dinner drinks of a pint of cider and a Baileys cost £24! We were really pleased to be able to experience this dining experience but would not repeat in a hurry. The one downside for me was that the temperature in the restaurant both at dinner and breakfast was too warm, I appreciate that being in the throws of the menopause this was my problem, but Mr Fitz also felt uncomfortable at times in the heat.

In summary though it was a fabulous experience for a pair of foodies like us for a one off celebration. If you were looking for a top class venue with Michelin Star food I would highly recommend it.

Dining out is our favourite pastime.

Have you had a luxury dining experience or a similar treat for a special occasion let me know what you did or where you dined at. We are always looking for places to visit to stay and dine. Leave me a comment or email me, I love to hear from you.

Thanks for popping in today