Typecast

  Ok… 🎂 2022 was the year I turned 50. FIFTY YEARS OLD! 💼 2022 was the the year that I started a new job which allowed me to use existing skills and build on those in a brand new, exciting role in a world-renown company. 🏃🏻‍♀️ 2022 was the year that my running was sporadic - I only entered one race but I did hit my 50 parkrun milestone. ✈️ 2022 was the year we went to Menorca for the first time and managed to completely switch off and do nothing. 🍅 2022 was the year that I grew tomatoes for the first time. My crop of 17 was a huge success! 🎧 2022 was the year that my radio show ended but I used my expertise to create a podcast that went global in a very short space of time. ➡️ 2023 has a lot to live up ❤️‍🩹 2023 will include more running, maybe a bit more writing, definitely more books and more crochet and more jigsaws to help with my own well-being. 🌍 2023 hopefully brings a bit more travel than the past few years. UK or further afield - I don't mind. 👩🏻 2023 is the year...

Every year I write a blog post about which diary system or set up I am going to use for the following twelve months. In recent years, I have moved away from a Filofax (I trialled something earlier this year - more of that in a minute) and fallen in love with the Hobonichi printed diaries. For the last two years I have used a Hobonichi Weeks as my personal planner and I won't be deviating from that this year. I have tried a Hobonichi Techo A6 a couple of times but have never managed to feel comfortable with it size-wise.  I have always lusted after the Hobonichi Cousin A5 as a main work planner so, this year, I have bitten the bullet at launch time and invested in my very first one. Hobonichi Weeks The Hobonichi Weeks is a slim diary with a yearly, monthly and weekly layout. The main section is a "week to view with notes" and there are an additional 70 note pages at the back. This year (2022) I used the "Mega" version which comes with almost three times as m...

When I wrote a blog post with my 10 reasons why I hate wearing glasses  it really touched a nerve with some people. But since finding a couple of styles of frames that really suit me, and using my contact lenses only when really necessary, I've started to learn to enjoy wearing glasses. I asked a few spectacle-wearing friends what they enjoyed about their 'bins' and there was a few agreed points. I CAN ACTUALLY SEE As already mentioned, it's brilliant to be able to actually see! When you put on your glasses everything is crisp and no longer blurred around the edges. It's also quite handy to be able to see other vehicles on the road and not play a real life game of bumper cars along the main road. YOU CAN HAVE FUN ACCESSORISING If you collect a few pairs of prescription glasses  or even  prescription sunglasses  in different colours and shapes they make great additions to your outfit - and we all know that some people even use glasses with clear ...

More from the urban yarden planters.   If you've been following my journey discovering back yard gardening over on my Instagram (I'm a total beginner) then this is the update for you!  These gorgeous specimens sprung up whilst I was on holiday and I wasn't too sure what they were other than they looked like poppies. A quick ask on Facebook confirmed that they are Papaver Commutatum - (oriental) Ladybird Poppies - and they are not fully open yet. I was then reminded that they came from seeds from a friend who originally grew her batch from one of her mum's plants! I've now been given some advice about seeding and cutting them back so that I can enjoy them year after year! I'm really enjoying learning about all these different low/no effort plants - it's my type of gardening!

  It's not often you get treated to a view like this. The whole island of Menorca from the air (taken from the north side of the island)! 🌍 Somewhere above Menorca ⏰ 15th May 2022 - 17:36 local time ✈️ Ryanair : G-RUKG : Boeing 737-8AS Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated by maps. And then, as I joined the Air Training Corps and flew a glider for the first time, then also started holidaying abroad, seeing land from the air sent me into proper nerd mode. Now, every time I fly out on holiday, I try to capture some sort of recognisable coastline or landmark from the air. If you would like to see some more pictures from my visit it Menorca, I did update my Instagram a bit whilst I was there with some beautiful views (a few teasers below) and some relaxing reels from the beach and clifftop walks that I did whilst there.

Lots of events in life have certain clothing etiquettes and when it come to women's clothing , there is so much choice.  For instance, turning up to a job interview in a pair of jeans is a big no-no but there are other times like a networking event or even a formal meeting on zoom where etiquettes still exist yet aren't as easily defined. If you want to dress to impress, but don’t want to dress as if you are auditioning for The Apprentice then take a look at these dynamic outfit options. A dynamic outfit is a mix between a business appropriate outfit, and a style conscious one. Here are some ideas on how to create a dynamic outfit: This skater dress is both smart and dynamic due to its interesting white and black contrast. If you feel that it is a little short for a networking event you might consider some black leggings or tights to accompany it. The shoes selected are flats, as you’ll be on your feet a lot, and will need to be pain free, if you want to shine. The...

As technology progresses, interactions between businesses and customers are becoming much more automated. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic saw an increased number of companies relying on various automated systems for their customer service- e.g., live chat on websites, mobile apps, automated phone calls, etc. But is this a step in the wrong direction? This article will outline the importance of the human voice, ways you can improve your customer service, and discuss why human interactions are important for excelling your company. Human to human interactions lead to clearer responses; it is impossible to form a fully in-depth conversation with an automated system. In a study by CallCare , it was found that nearly four-fifths (78%) of respondents said they prefer to speak to a real person than an automated system when they call customer service lines. Only 11% preferred automated systems, while the same percentage suggested they had no preference. Older age groups took the majority,...

This weekend I earned my 25th credit for volunteering at parkrun UK . During the pandemic, I made a conscious decision to participate in parkrun more when it returned, both as a runner and a volunteer.   Then I broke my foot.   Parkrun returned whilst I was still injured so I rocked up a couple of times to my local spots (Witton parkrun and Hyndburn parkrun) and offered to help out. After a few weeks, the Events Director asked if I'd like to join the team of Run Directors at Witton and I jumped at the chance. What a great opportunity! I now volunteer a minimum of 2 out of 7 weeks on the Run Director rota but I'm always there to lend a hand when I can and when needed. There's plenty of chances to gain a run and volunteer credit on the same day but I also really enjoy static volunteer positions like timekeeping, barcode scanning and marshalling at the top of The Beast (like today!). I love parkrun - it's good for my mental health and well-being. I enjoy seeing everyone...