Emma Hardie’s Facial Oil

March 1st 2019

This elixir from Emma Hardie is wonderful.  It smells delish with essence of palma rose, orange, mint, vanilla, geranium, chamomile, lemon, rose and lavender (all perfect for promoting relaxation and treating depression and anxiety), alongside omega 3-rich grape seed, apricot, almond, and olive extract.  Perfect for dehydrated skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue.  Therapy in a bottle and perfect for my peri meopausal phizog.

Liza Tarbuck

23rd November 2018

I am a massive fan of Liza Tarbuck.  I love her radio show and and now I love this!  I hope she brings out one of these old school annuals every year.  It’s a real feel good book stuffed full of wit and charm.  Buy it, you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

A Star is Born

October 29th 2018

 

Jack:  Hey!

Ally: What?

Ally: I just wanted to take another look at you.

Jack played by the wonderful Bradley Walsh talks about how music is essentially twelve notes between any octave. The same story told over and over, forever. All any artist can offer the world is how they see those twelve notes.

A film about love…..and talent.  Go see it.  It’s wonderful.

Calm in the chaos

August 24th 2018

 

On those days that you simply need to find serenity, I cannot recommend this album highly enough.  It transports me to many happy times and places that I love. It reminds me of piano bars I have played in, cocktails with friends, sunsets, falling in love, falling out of love 🙂 favourite films and the simple joys of life.  Although I loathe the term ‘chillout’ it’s definitely my backing track for recharging personal batteries.  I dare you to listen and not imagine yourself in a wonderful boutique bar by the sea as the sun goes down.

Zigazigha!

February 6th 2018

A Spice Girls reunion is on the cards!  What’s not to love?  There is always room for a bit of Girl Power in the world.  I hope it’s a TV series, I wonder where I can send my CV? #OldSpice #Zigazigha

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May 23rd 2017

Hope 

Twenty two people, mainly youngsters were killed yesterday in a suicide bomb in Manchester at the close of a sold out pop concert at the Arena by Ariana Grande.  In the moments following the end of the concert when euphoric and tired concert goers made their way to the exits, the terrorist struck, choosing the exit housing the souvenir stand as his target.  The ‘shop’ where scores were probably heading to spend their pocket-money (I read the average age of her fans is 13).   I wont mention the terrorists name as he doesn’t deserve anymore publicity than he has already had.  Suffice it to say, the nation is sickened.  On top of the 22 dead there are scores of wounded, some with life changing injuries.  As always, heroic stories of unity and community spirit are everywhere, which helps reassert our belief in human nature. There are a lot of good people on our planet.  We must hold onto that belief.

Hope for a better world for my children, hope for tolerance and understanding in the aftermath of this atrocity and hope for an end to all of this bloodshed worldwide.

Manchester… the city that spawned the Royal Exchange theatre, Oasis, Manchester United/City football clubs, Lowry, Emmeline Pankhurst, Danny Boyle, Caroline Aherne (to name but a few) sullied by the incomprehensible actions of this man.

Scores of innocent people are killed every day in the name of ‘religion’.  Also this week, 126 refugees were murdered by bombers as they were fleeing in buses from war-torn areas of Syria. 68 of those were children.  When will the carnage end? when will human beings stop attacking other human beings?  Why can’t we all just appreciate life as it is?

We have to believe in and hope for, a better future.

May 10th

Allotments!

I’ve always loved the thought of an allotment.  I say ‘thought’ because my fingers are as green as a smurfs and I’m sure I would be constantly pulling up weeds rather than wonderful fresh vegetables .  It’s the time of year, where behind the hedges and fences that sew these little gardening communities together, you can see and hear more seasonal activity.

The ability to ‘grow your own’ and be able to pull produce straight from the ground full of fresh flavour and goodness must be very satisfying indeed.

Allotments are apparently more in demand now than in the 1940’s and 50’s where I read they formed an integral part of family life.  I can see the appeal whenever I walk past the community garden group near my house.  I peer through the gates like the unwanted wannabee golf club member, taking in the chatter and bustle of the gardeners; their green fingers clutching spade handles and cups of tea.

I admire the time, energy and patience it must take to fill a wheelbarrow with all that rainbow goodness.

I’m a green grocers daughter…perhaps the love is in the blood.

May 2nd 2017

STEPS ARE BACK!

5…6….7…8!

Don your stetsons, get your dance moves in order and untangle those tassels.

‘Scared of the Dark’ is reminiscent of ABBA and I can’t get enough.

Whoooo Hoooo!

April 27th 2017

Antonella The Uncensored Reviewer

If you aren’t familiar with Antonella, she is about to become your favourite thing 🙂

Antonella Brollini is taking social media by storm with her brutally honest reviews. From the latest celebrity exercise DVD to awful black hair dye in a spray can, nothing is safe from her sassy brand of Northern humour.   Apologies if you are offended by bad language as her video blogs are full of it.

I wish she was my friend.  She makes me howl.

Happy Wednesday.  Her you tube channel is here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcEnSe6MTOpGIy96ZVi2WHA

13th February 2017

Let me introduce you to this little gem…my new Sho bottle.  I’ve just embarked on the Step class from hell on a Friday morning and needed a new water bottle that wasn’t plastered in kids TV slogans, bashed so much that it wouldn’t stand up by itself or with a mouthpiece that looked like a chewed dog toy.  This little beauty is sleek, keeps my drink cold (or hot) for 12 hours and most importantly,  makes it look like I know what I am doing when I wander into the class.   Admittedly that impression doesn’t last long as I am sweating like a fat lass in a bin bag within 10 minutes.

It even has a handy clip to attach to your leg warmers.  Jane Fonda has nothing on me.

30th January 2017

Yup my obsession this week is actually a concentrated disinfectant 🙂  Not very glamorous I know but the smell of this is amazing.  I love it.  I dilute it with water in a spray bottle and use it all over the place.  Kitchen, bathroom, in the car, pet bedding, door handles, rugby boots, delivery men…… I can’t get enough! Menopausal? ME? How very dare you! It comes in a variety of fragrances but this is my favourite.  Smells good and settles my germ anxiety! What’s not to love? Boom!  You’re welcome.

23 January 2017

Sir Tom …multi award-winning music legend, with a voice that can melt chocolate.  This is a man who knows his stuff.  Excellent to see him back on our screens in ‘The Voice’ after his ridiculous ousting by the BBC.  I love you Tom, welcome back to my living room.

16 January 2017

Marc Jacobs limited edition Daisy shine.  My favourite perfume in a pink shiny bottle….what’s not to love?