Ho Ho Ho

Or Ha ha Arghhhhh?

Hello my loves, how are you?

A library with resident mice, how nice it would be to shrink down to fit amongst the shelves until it is all over!

Holy Moly, it’s the 18th of December, and I am coming to terms with the fact that I won’t ever be really ready for Christmas Day, which is a week away. Hey ho. Yesterday I was completely floored by a blinding (literally) aura migraine which hit me the second I got out of bed, as if my head said “whoa there Lady”. So nothing much has been achieved in the past day and a half, which could be a tad disastrous but sod it. The gift situation is what it is, there is a tree, need to do a big food shop, more decorating could happen, we may forage some greenery next week as my daughter will be off school and I will be doing whatever it takes to get her away from her phone. Then before we know it I will be forcing my arachnophobic self back into the cobweb filled loft to put it all away again, and get panicked about all the beloved crap I am hoarding up there. But that’s another story.

Took the teen to the nearest National Trust house; Tyntesfield to see the epic Xmas decos as an ‘outing’ the queue was an hour long, so we looked in the Orangerie and decided to do the house another day- whether we will or not is anyones guess.. I drove over a cone in the car park, so there was much hilarity, the hungover car parking attendant didn’t find it funny but he really needs to work on his directions..

In the Orangerie/ Gingerbread house.

I can honestly say I have zero excitement for ‘the day’, as I get older it just seems less and less worth all the fuss and expense, and I am lucky in that a very lovely friend takes my daughter and me under her and her family’s wings and invites us over for the lunch, which is monumental blessing.

Once, that year when I was married, I cooked a turkey for four people (as a vegetarian since I had a choice at sixteen) and all the trimmings, and we all sat around a table in my married house, it was a bit jolly despite it being the same year my Father died. God it was hard work. Now I don’t have room for a table in our tiny house. (who’s rent is double that of the reasonably sized one, ffs) I work and we eat from a coffee table, I actually fantasise about having a big table and friends over, aga, fireplace, sofa etc, big kitchen dreams..

Anyway, I hope you are all holding up ok, being appreciated for all that you do, and not tying yourself in knots trying to make everything perfect. Let this be the year of SOD IT! Especially if you are in the menopause transition, give yourself the gift of doing less.

I have gathered my best performing posts of the year, incase you missed them and get some down time for a catch up. I’m taking a week off next week, but will be back in the New Year, full of ideas especially for my new ‘In It Together’ membership, hope to see you there! (help me afford space for a kitchen table!)

The truth about wintering in my Perimenopause- read it here

Understanding our hormonal shifts can give us a sense of power and control over our physical wellbeing and mental health. When we ground ourselves in the present, noticing how we feel, and knowing where we are in our cycle during this time will be really soothing, understanding that we are doing and feeling exactly the way we should. Through the work I do, I understand this is a deep emotional process, I feel at ease with what is happening and the changes.

The Eggshell Years - here

If there is anything that drives a teenage girl mad, it is her mother. We can never be ‘right’ and there seems to be little point in trying. The short periods of delightful harmony can dissolve into fierce argument at the drop of a hat, and this can feel deeply upsetting. Especially when you are doing your very best and your own hormones are leading you a merry dance.

When Is Old Anyway?- here

In writing this something has occurred to me, and it’s giving me the ‘ick’ as they say- Did I start to feel ‘old’ when the male gaze ceased to alight upon me? Arghh I think this might be so. All of my big lived life, all of the things I have seen and accomplished, bloody well survived, and it boils down to being sexy?

Muscles and Menopause- here

The reason I am telling you this, is that I want you to understand that to be strong enough to get off the floor, or carry your shopping, right yourself if you trip, roll over in bed when you are 80.. you need to put effort into building muscle now. And the good news is that your body wants you to do this, it will adapt to what you ask of it.

HRT of Course! here

Despite previous scares, the evidence for hormone therapy- HT (or HRT) is still being gathered, but it’s looking good..

I’d love to know what you think.