A FEW TRUTHS I KNOW AT 52...
There’s nothing better than returning from the village bakers with a fresh loaf, cutting off the nog end, smothering it with butter and standing in the kitchen, eating it whilst gazing out the window.
There's no such thing as too much cheese. See below.
A baked camembert studded with garlic and rosemary and a torn up baguette for dipping counts as dinner and will solve most of your problems by the time you’ve eaten it.
The thought of lighting a candle, making your favourite cocktail and sitting down with a bowl of snacks come 5:00pm on a Friday will get you through the darkest of winter weeks.
An impromptu family dinner out is the best kind.
My hair will not withstand one more smidgeon of bleach. Not even under the guise of blending in with the greys. Bleach and I are not just on a break - we have officially broken up for good.
Only now do I fully understood the importance of SPF30 or higher applied to my face everyday, regardless of the weather. Better late than never.
Benefit 24 Hour brow setter gel is the best invention ever when it comes to thinning midlife brows. Fluff without the faff.
If a beautiful woollen sweater has the slightest itch factor it’s not for you. No matter how many times you tell yourself it’ll be fine, you’ll wear it over a shirt… you won’t. Itchy sweaters have no place in life.
Diane Keaton is my style spirit animal.
Ditto Stanley Tucci when it comes to food and cocktails. Scrap that - ditto for Stanley in his entirety - have you seen how good his dress sense is?
Insanely good dresses with pockets are to be found in COS. Ditto wide-leg menocore trousers, relaxed tailoring, oversized coats and sweaters that don’t itch. The same goes for ARKET. Because they fall under the same Scandi brand umbrella.
The person whose hair you admire on Instagram has most likely done their hair for that Instagram post. I know because I’ve done my hair when there’s a chance of an Instagram post.
The person whose style you admire on Instagram most likely doesn’t look that put together for 98% of the time. I know because it’s the uncommon 2% of my outfits that I’ll deem worthy of an Instagram share.
Some days I can scroll through the plethora of styled Instagram cool and soak it all up in the spirit of inspirational voyeurism for which it was most likely intended. Some days it sticks in my throat and has me saying “Oh just fuck the fuck off!” to my phone on repeat. Those are the days when it’s time to step away… or do as my friend Lou advised and go on an unfollow spree.
It’s necessary to break up with social media on a regular basis and come back when you’re ready. Or not at all. Because there was life before Instagram.
You’ll only see or know of people as much as they want you to. The rest is not your business.
Don’t bother arguing with anyone who gets their “facts” from social media or 99% of the newspapers. Save your energy and use it to walk quickly in the opposite direction.
Everyone goes through tough times in life. Some choose to air it in public and others keep it all strictly behind the curtain. The former sometimes assume that the latter sail through life on the good ship Happy Go Lucky without a care in the world. They assume incorrectly.
Nora Ephron movies and books are a balm for the soul that should be applied liberally and regularly.
It’s impossible to play the game of “If you can only keep one, which would you keep?” when it comes to books and music. The answer is always both.
Being part of an audience for live music you love will induce the best kind of high that lasts and lasts.
There is no greater song than Nat King Cole’s “Stardust”. Possibly aided by the fact that it came to my attention via a Nora Ephron movie.
Grief is a complicated emotion and one that defies categorisation. It has to be lived through in order to be lived with. And then one day you realise you’re doing just that.
Never underestimate the power of starting again tomorrow.
If someone tells you they love your hands and always have, you’re onto a winner.
Having a dog in your family will crack your heart open in more ways than you could ever imagine.
The crappiest of days is always made better by a walk in nature. Closely followed by a cuddle with said dog.
Perspective is gained by sitting on the shore and watching the waves break time and time again.
Walking at sunrise in winter can fast become something you wonder how you ever got by without for so long.
There’s at least one quotable life lesson to be found in every episode of Friends.
The best thing that parents and the education system could teach kids is that nobody has it all figured out, there is no one overarching goal and life's true successes are not measured by pieces of paper with grades on them.
Witnessing someone’s unexpected but wholly welcome realness is life-affirming. Case in point - Adele.
There will always be people who don’t like what you do. Most will let it wash it over them and on occasion, a few will feel the need to drip their sorry-arse insights over your work. Pity the few for all of four seconds and then move on. Or see below.
Once you hit midlife and menopause territory, “Fuck that shit” will become your most used phrase. Try applying it at will and notice how instantly liberated you feel. You’re welcome.
