Typecast

Now the nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping, there's definitely a need to wrap up in all kinds of soft and snuggly clothing.  I have my one of my crocheted blankets on the back of the sofa ready to tuck around me, a lovely fluffy dressing gown to snuggle up in when I get changed into my pajamas and my slipper socks to keep my feet warm and toasty.  Yes, slipper socks are my current guilty pleasure (and I'm wearing my penguin ones right now) and much better than traditional slippers, so here are some recommendations.  Fair Isle Pattern The Fair Isle pattern is very classic and traditional but there's so many colour combinations that you can mix and match your splash of colour to help cheer you up. These slipper socks which I bought from Amazon are quite short but have a great grip on the sole to stop me from skidding across our laminate flooring!  Cable Knit  These cute cable knit slipper socks are just perfect with the bit of faux fur peepin...

What would you do with an extra hour? I hate the phrase : "We all have the same 24 hours in the day". I hear it bandied about by all manner of life coaches and even used to use it myself when mentoring young adults. Yes we DO have the same 24 hours in the day but we don't all have the same opportunities or financial security. Earlier this month, another of Arnold Schwarzenegger's newsletter sections resonated with me and it was this... Use the 24 hours that we are given wisely - and include sleep in that time too. That hour scrolling on social media (ironic, huh?) could be spent reading a book. Another hour could be spent as quality time with family or a friend. Another hour could be spent learning a new skill or working on your personal development. This way of thinking has given me a new perspective on my 24 hours. PS: please do click that link to Arnie's newsletter. It's the highlight of my inbox each month and I put aside at least half an hour to devour i...

This little girl is me. She had big ideas and huge dreams. She wanted to smash all the stereotypes and really did start making waves by being one of the first girls to join the traditionally all-male "Air Training Corps". She wanted to be a pilot in the RAF. She wanted to be a successful athlete. Over time, her confidence was chipped away because people didn't believe in her. They didn't give her the encouragement she needed. They laughed at her for lots of reasons, including some that she had no control over; changes couldn't be made. But life has a way of presenting a path that provides challenges to mould a person you never thought you could be. There are opportunities that you would never have considered. Success cannot be defined by one action or outcome - it is a collaboration of many events. And that is where I am at right now. I am not where I expected to be at almost 50 years old. I didn't expect a car accident to stop my promising athletics career w...

I live in a mill town in the north of England.  The local area is back-to-back terraced houses with an alleyway separating each road. It's very traditional - we've even still got cobbles!  However, that cobbled alleyway is an embarrassment - and has been for a LONG time. There's a mix of home-owners and rental properties - and the rental properties experience a lot of short-term tenancies.  I've always found that the pride in looking after your house and surrounding area varies dramatically depending on the expectancy of stay in your home. Long-term tenants and home owners want to make a comfortable living space that they can enjoy year after year.  Short-term tenants will only see the end of their tenancy and wonder why they should improve their house only to benefit the landlord and the next occupants.  Over the past few years, there's been a HUGE problem with waste being dumped in the alley.  There's everything from the mixing of rubbish (contamination)...