Life Lately: Is This Mutton

 

Dear friends. It was so wet at the weekend that I reached for boots and a raincoat for a trip to the Royal Opera House to see the Australian Ballet in Jewels. It's like autumn. 

The bad weather we've been experiencing for weeks hasn't come as a surprise to me. I remember lots of summers like this. Sometimes it was so bad we would be nostalgic for "that lovely bank holiday in May."

This is not the post I expected to write, which was going to be about an exciting report I've bought which tells me how my DNA impacts my health and fitness.  It's a complicated subject and I need some more time to analyse the results and ask the originators some questions. So expect to see it in a few days. 

I'm wearing my peacock skirt from Hope Clothing, a lovely female-owned business which sadly went out of business recently. I adore anything to do with peacocks and at Christmas my table was adorned with peacock place mats and napkins. 

I'm wearing it with a bright apricot Sara top and short tie wrap in fresh green by Kettlewell. The rose gold boots are a few years old, from Hush. Every year they repeat the same style in a different colour. I missed out on the electric blue shade but live in hope it will be repeated.

What I've been Buying Lately

I'm waiting for the Autumn/Winter drops, which will happen any day now.  I have an M&S voucher I've been saving to buy a winter coat.  Last winter we had far fewer wet days and I wore my stylish wool coats more than the puffers, so I'm planning to buy another wool coat. To be fair, I did buy a puffer coat a few weeks ago when I saw a coral coloured Barbour and had to have it.  A colour like that sells out quickly. You'd think the retailers would realise this and not stock quite so much black and navy.

I snapped up a gorgeous Osprey bag in flamingo pink for just £35 on eBay. It's a colour you don't see very often. 

There aren't too many things on my wish list, apart from a new coat. I'd like a pair of long cream boots, and also some purple ankle boots. I'd also like something with sequins, but will buy that pre-loved because sequins are very unsustainable. 

What I've Been Watching

Hijack on Apple:  this was very good! High on drama and nail biting episode endings.  We're loving Fisk on Netflix, an Australian comedy that makes me laugh out loud. I'm watching series 2 of And Just Like That (Sky Comedy) and I must say it's improved over the first series, so give it another go if you haven't already. Episode 8 was a landmark episode. Not only was Aidan back, but the irritating Charlotte finally got a job, which is good news because I was so over her helicopter parenting of two sulky teens.  We enjoyed Mark Cavendish: Never Enough on Netflix. This film-length documentary was a fascinating insight into the life of pro cyclist Cavendish: his fast road to the top, tragic setback and incredible comeback.  Finally, I'm looking forward to the return of Annika this week with Nicola Walker (Alibi). 

What I've been Listening To

The Retrievals is a jaw dropping podcast (Serial Productions & the New York Times). It was about how women at a fertility clinic at Yale were given saline rather than the painkiller they were supposed to have for egg retrieval.  Dozens of women experienced excruciating pain but were not taken seriously. Finally it was discovered that a nurse had been stealing the fentonyl and replacing the liquid with saline.  I hope that Yale has learned many lessons from this dreadful episode.

Against the Odds (Wondery) has been telling the story of Apollo 13, the space mission in 1970 which went wrong.  The world held its breath until the crew splashed down to Earth. I vividly remember it, although I was only nine years old.  

I've mentioned Sue Loncaric's uplifting podcast Women Living Well after 50 on previous occasions. I enjoyed series 6 episode 8 "Lamlash Street: A Portrait of 1960's Post-War London Through One Family's Story."  Aussie podcaster and blogger Sue joins us each month for the Tell Us About challenge (third Thursday of the month). 

Hit me up with your TV and podcast recommendations.  And what are you hoping to find in the autumn/winter drops? Do you snap things up quickly, or do you wait for the weather to worsen? 

Sharing this post with: Weekday Wear at Away from the Blue, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Hello Monday at Sunshine and Books, Tell it to Me Tuesday at Perfectly Imperfect, Rena at Fine Whatever, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Confident Twosday at I Do Declaire, Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Curated by Jennifer (Wednesdays), Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness  and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge,  Thursday Fashion Files at Doused in Pink, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style,  Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle Senior Salon Pitstop at Esme Salon Crafty Creators at Life as a Leo Wife,  Unlimited Link Party at Grammy's Grid 

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It's Time for #WowOnWednesday

WowOnWednesday is the weekly link-up where bloggers can find new readers, and readers can find new blogs. I feature three favourites each Wednesday on Instagram, and my five or six top picks at the weekend on Twitter and Facebook. 

Any posts that interest women are welcome: fashion, beauty, home decor, gardening, books, travel, self-improvement, nutrition, recipes. Each week there will be as Featured Favourite for Fashion, Beauty and Other Categories.  There haven't been many Beauty posts - big opportunity!! 

LAST WEEK'S FASHION FAVOURITE

Reiss Selina Jumper Two Ways by Anna at Looking Fabulous @ Fifty. I love the coral colour! 

Non-Fashion Favourite

The White-Tie Place to Start When We’re Losing After Fifty by Wendy at The Inspired Eater. More tips and wisdom on losing and maintaining weight in mid life. 

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