Summer Hits and Misses

AND #TUESDAY TWIRL

Dear friends.  Sharing today what I've been wearing on repeat, including the most flattering dress ever. And two surprise "misses", the dresses I will move on.

Chastised by a Chatbot: June in Review

Dear friends. I'm back with a review of last month. June was predominantly about our annual trip to the idyllic Greek island of Skiathos. There was also a seaside meetup with friends, various fitness activities, wildlife and daily observations. 

6 Women 12 Dresses

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Today's post is a celebration of the dress. Some amazing women share their favourites. 

Styling Barrel Jeans

 And #Tuesday Twirl 

Dear friends.  They're the sell out sensation that are surprisingly flattering. I'm talking about barrel jeans, having seized what seemed like the last two pairs in M&S recently. 

I tried barrel jeans a few months ago from a different brand but didn't like them. Now I love them, and will show you today how I've been styling them.

The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp by Krystal Evans

 

Dear friends.

Publisher's Description 

When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and sister burned down. Narrowly escaping by breaking a window and jumping out head-first Krystal suffered burns, smoke inhalation, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister.

This is a spellbinding story of growing up poor living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from a summer camp for burn victims, to putting up with a succession of her mother's increasingly shady friends and partners, Krystal and Kale's childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.

But, writing with joy, skill and candour, we witness Krystal growing as a person from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today. 

My Thoughts

Not many autobiographies live up to such hype in a publisher's description, but this one does.  It helps that there has been a lot of drama - good and bad - in Krystal's life.  She has plenty of jaw-dropping incidents to relate.

UK-based Krystal has turned tragedy into the strongest and most powerful form of comedy, creating a one-woman show which has been seen by some of her US based family, and lauded by the critics. 

Her mother, Tracy,  left her father for good when Krystal was one year old. A pattern developed where Tracy would start relationships with unsuitable men and then move somewhere else. 

Tracy's relationships were always very volatile. On one occasion she was admitted to a psychiatric ward but left without telling anyone and took her two daughters away and wasn't contacted or traced for two months. Krystal was exposed to a lot of grief and sadness with her mother but she remained resilient, with people often asking how it was she was so "normal."  But to her, the life she led was her day-to-day reality. She writes about Tracy with mostly kindness. Her mother was abused by her father, as were her siblings. She had also not received a proper mental health diagnosis, although Munchausen's Syndrome was identified not too long ago. 

At one point Tracy married a 91 year old man, ("the mummy of Tutankhamun"), having been persuaded by her mother who said he wouldn't last long and she could have his house.  The relationship lasted 8 weeks, with the marriage annulled. 

Incidents of mania led Krystal to assume the role of adult. She dialled 911 after her mother started screaming and saying she could see tigers and animals crawling up the walls. Her medication was changed, but a few days later she drove too fast and their car crashed. "For me and Katie, life was increasingly like being in the back of a car climbing a steep hill, not knowing what was just over the crest."

The death of her sister Katie in a house fire is recounted in heart breaking detail. At 14, Krystal herself seriously injured, was the one who called the emergency services and her grandparents while her mother lay crying. Krystal spent two days in intensive care followed by three weeks in a children's burns unit before being released into her dad Steve's care. She was shown how to apply thick makeup to cover the burns on her face so that she could return to school.

At the "Burn Camp" of the title, Krystal was one of several teenagers sent to a summer camp for kids with burn injuries. Her mother was to be a counsellor. Unfortunately this did not go well:  her mother was supposed to offer support to burns victims in a safe space, but she kept telling her own story and sobbing, expecting the youngsters to give her support instead. After Tracy got involved in a food fight with two 12 year olds, she and Krystal were forced to leave. 

Krystal discovered a love for Scotland following a three-week holiday with a Scottish boyfriend called Stuart.  She returned to New York and married Stuart within 3 months of meeting him in order to get a visa. She didn't tell her parents, figuring they would have a "proper" wedding in a few years' time and tell them them. 

Stand Up Comedy Starts

In 2014 she and Stuart settled in Scotland, opening a restaurant, and she was tempted to try stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Instead she convinced herself it was too attention seeking in the way her mother had been. But she continued to keep a document in her drafts folder that contained joke ideas.

Her first performance at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh came a few weeks after the birth of baby Sonny. She was so nervous she barely made it on stage, but had the audience laughing from the first joke (about sushi being sold at Boots). From then she began honing her craft, leading her to develop a one-woman show based on her traumatic upbringing.  

Another baby later and she was on her way to Edinburgh Fringe 2020.  The lockdown started, and with it Krystal began to experience fear and depression. She started therapy over Zoom with a psychiatrist specialising in extreme trauma. She was encouraged to write down her thoughts about Tracy, the fire and the loss of Katie.

In 2022, a neurosurgeon called from the US to say Tracy, who by now had been diagnosed with Munchausen's Syndrome, was in a coma and probably didn't have much time left.  Krystal suspected she was probably faking it, and two days later, Tracy recovered. 

Her book ends with a trip back to Washington state and a visit, for the first time, to her sister's grave. She was horrified to find it was tiny, and abandoned, and had been funded by her grandparents who couldn't afford much. "I felt as though my 6 year old sister had been here, cold and alone, up this hill for 22 years; I imagined her being sad that no one had visited her. I was deeply ashamed." 

This is a powerful memoir that can make us laugh or cry, or both at the same time. Highly recommended. 

Thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours, Octopus, the publisher, and the author, for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp, in return for an honest review.

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About the Author 

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You May Also Enjoy: 

Bare by Lorna Tucker 

City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim 

Books for Summer

 

Dear friends. As I was collating this month's round-up it crossed my mind they were all be perfect for holiday reading. There are, as always, some remarkable female characters (and writers). I read most of these in the dark months of winter, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers providing advance digital copies. I've indicated with an asterisk any books I bought myself. 

A note on the ratings. I no longer include books that I didn't enjoy, to which I would have to give a rating of 3 or below. You can be assured that the 4 and 5 star reads I feature were enjoyed with gusto.

Holiday Packing Ideas and Tips

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. It's part 2 of my summer holiday posts and this time I'm focusing on what to take, plus a few of my lifesavers. 

I'm headed for a relaxing holiday in Greece. Days will be spent on the beach, reading, swimming and listening to podcasts.  Evenings, we'll take the water taxi into the nearby town and go to our favourite places for dinner.  

There'll be no sight seeing.  We've been to this island several times and have done all the sight seeing.  A lot of you will hate our mega relaxing type of holiday, but I love it, particularly after all the recent cycling.

Holiday Outfits: Breaking the Rules

 Introducing #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. I'm back with a style post and new link-up. It's been six months since the last Wow on Wednesday, and I've been missing it.  So today #TuesdayTwirl is born. 

For style bloggers it's a chance to feature latest fashion and beauty posts, and for readers it's an opportunity to find more blogs from like-minded women.

Today I'm sharing a few of the outfits I'll be taking to Greece in a few weeks. I'm also doing 3 things that older women are often told, in clickbait articles, not to do.  Wearing bright colours;  wearing a shorter hemline, and baring my arms.  Who cares about rules?

Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood

 

Dear friends.  Prepare to be immersed in the world of horse racing in the latest crime thriller from one of my favourite writers, Ross Greenwood.

I must confess I have never been remotely interested in horse racing, but Greenwood brings it to life as DI Ashley Knight investigates murder at a race course. 

Join me on the blog tour for Death at Fakenham Races. 

The Cardinal by Alison Weir

 

Dear friends. What do we know of Cardinal Wolsey, right hand man to Henry VIII until he fell out of favour? 

Best selling historical novelist Alison Weir brings the Cardinal to life in her new book.  We learn about a man whose religious calling was somewhat reluctantly accepted;  a man who nurtured a secret love, and who lost everything dear to him. 

Today is my turn on the book blog tour for The Cardinal. 

Maximising a Galley Kitchen

Dear friends.  We're just completed a kitchen renovation. It's the first time I've ever had a brand new kitchen. 

When we moved into this house 20 years ago the kitchen had been recently updated - on the cheap - to help sell the house. 

It's a small galley kitchen, typical of this era of house (late 1920s).

May In Review {2025}

 

Dear friends.  I wasn't going to publish a review this month because I've already written about our 2 week cycling holiday.  But I realised I could still provide my usual daily account as I didn't describe the holiday day-by-day, and still have lots of unused photos. Plus we have a new kitchen! Above: my colourful washing line after returning from holiday.

Cycling Adventures in Scotland

 

Dear friends. We're back from an amazing fortnight in Scotland.  We completed 2 cycling routes, the Hebridean Way and the Caledonian Way. Total mileage was around 450 miles (724 km). The weather was extremely kind to us, and there were no midges. 

As with our epic journey last year from Land's End to John O'Groats,  we went with specialists Saddle Skedaddle. The two tours were fully guided and our bags transferred to the accommodation each day. Below: the trailer of bikes on its way to the first ferry. 

May Books

 

Dear friends. Another fine selection of books today featuring some very memorable women. There are the women of the Ladies' Circus, in 1930s Scotland;  a wealthy heiress with a congenital muscle disorder and a secret life, and two actresses at different stages of their career, both victimised by men and determined to see justice. There is also a beautiful book about life and travel in Greece.

Human Remains by Jo Callaghan

 

Dear friends. If you love crime thrillers and haven't yet encountered DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock, the world's first AI detective, I hope my review will get you started.

This is the third book in the Kat and Lock series, and the stories get bolder and more enthralling as the series develops.

Today is my stop on the blog tour. 

April Adventures

 

Dear friends. I'm back with my monthly diary and TV/podcast recommendations.  April featured a stunning Flowers exhibition, a colourful meetup in Tonbridge and lots of cycling as our Scottish bike holiday beckons.

Pope, Colours, LED Gadgets

 

 

Dear friends.  I bet you didn't expect to see those 3 topics in a headline. Welcome to a Life Lately edition where I share a few everyday outfits plus thoughts on an ecumenical matter, and a new gadget each for both me and Mr Mutton. 

John's new toy is a tiny drone - above, we're trying it out in a local meadow. The idea is it will accompany us to Scotland on our upcoming cycling holiday.

April Book Bonanza

 

Dear friends. I'm back with this month's reviews, which include 2 five star reads. Dive in to discover some memorable storylines and characters who will stay with you. 

I've indicated with an asterisk when I bought a book myself.  The rest were provided in advance of their publication by NetGalley in return for an honest review. 

Step Into My Beauty Laboratory

 

Dear friends. This promises to be a bumper beauty post, as I'll be covering several topics including how to improve your eyebrows, what to do with ever more shocking nails, and the products I've bought recently. 

Discover my Spring Buys

Dear friends. It's been a while since I shared a style or beauty post. This will probably be a long read, so you may want to grab a coffee. 

l have completed my spring/summer fashion buys, so will share what I bought and why. 

No Precious Truth by Chris Nickson

 

Dear friends. I've got a treat for you today, the first in a new WWII historical thriller series. 

No Precious Truth introduces us to one of the very first woman police sergeants, Cathy Marsden. She becomes pivotal in the desperate search to find a spy who's believed to be at large in Leeds. 

Today is my day on the blog tour for this enthralling book by Chris Nickson.

March in Review {2025}

 

Dear friends. We're now fully immersed in Spring and have even had some suitably mild weather.

My focus in March was mainly on cycling, as we're back in the routine of 3 rides a week. 

I did manage a few other activities, including a theatre trip, another colour club meet up, the Ideal Home Show, a massive clear out and a refurbishment of my home office. 

Bare by Lorna Tucker

Dear friends. Today's book spotlight is on a real tour de force. Both heart breaking and inspiring, Bare tells the story of Lorna Tucker, now a successful documentary maker, whose life spiralled into degradation on the streets of London. 

It's my turn on the blog tour for Bare by Lorna Tucker. 

The Secretary by Deborah Lawrenson

 

Dear friends. Today I'm on the blog tour for a book that's exciting on several levels, The Secretary by Deborah Lawrenson.

It's a thriller set in Moscow in the late 1950s, and centred, unusually, around a female "spy" at a time when they didn't officially exist.  It's based on the real-life diary of the author's mother.

March Books

 

Dear friends. Spring has arrived and with it a lot of exciting new books, most of which I read last year, thanks to NetGalley.

It's a superb array this month with something to tempt everyone. Those with an asterisk are books I bought myself.  Those without were sent to me as digital advance copies in return for an honest review.

Get Great Arms over 60

 

Dear friends. One of my fitness goals at the start of the year was to get toned arms. I didn't wear my sleeveless tops much last year because I suddenly had bingo wings and crepey skin.

You might think that's to be expected after 60. But I knew I'd slackened off, and wasn't lifting weights.  Improvement was possible.  

The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffrey

 

Dear friends. I'm back with an intriguing thriller today. A renowned crime writer comes under suspicion when the body of a woman is found on Exmoor in this twisty novel from Diane Jeffrey.  Join me on the book blog tour for The Crime Writer.

Every Day Colours

 

Dear friends. I'm back after a brief blogging hiatus, and full of inspiration for new posts. Join me again for topics including: toned arms for sleeveless tops, best trends from the fashion shows, more book reviews and more beauty products with honest reviews.

Today I'm sharing a few of my every day outfits. Now that Spring seems to have arrived my thoughts turn even more to the bright colours that suit me best.

Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood

 

Dear friends. Regular readers will know I enjoy a Ross Greenwood.  He writes crime thrillers that have complex plots, realistic and memorable characters, and a bit of humour. 

I must confess I don't care for the name of his latest book - it makes it sound like cosy crime, which it certainly isn't. But the story itself is a winner. Join me on the blog tour for Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood. 

PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION

When a teenage couple go missing, the police aren’t too concerned. Young lovers often make bad choices. Then a body is found near a Suffolk lighthouse, and shortly after, two girls seem to vanish into thin air. Newly promoted DI Ashley Knight knows she has a battle on her hands to keep the public safe, and she’s going to need expert help.

Ashley turns to her old protégé, Hector Fade, seconded from The Met to analyse an avalanche of data. But neither Hector nor Ashley are prepared for the chilling connection his work uncovers to the body by the lighthouse.

Another victim is found at Horsey Mere and their worst suspicions are realised. A member of an Eastern European gang has gone rogue and is taking lives for fun. When Hector uncovers a pattern in the choice of victim, time is against the detectives to stop the murderer killing again.

MY THOUGHTS

Death at Horsey Mere is a showcase of Ross Greenwood at his best - there are gritty prison scenes, scenery, human interaction, poignant moments, and organised crime gangs - plus kidnap, prostitution and murder. 

This is number four in the Norfolk Murders series but it can be read on its own.

Our police investigator is DI Knight and this is her most challenging case yet. It revolves around a  trafficking group who were active in Europe but have since moved to Norfolk and Suffolk. 

Another Greenwood character from a different series, Inspector Barton, pops in, which is fun. 

I enjoyed the vivid and evocative descriptions of the Norfolk surroundings, having never visited that area.  It's a fast paced and tense thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ross Greenwood has had an eclectic career, ranging from financial advisor to Prison officer. The advent of parenthood and the terrifying rise of Spice in prison led Ross to become a stay -at-home parent and a novelist.

Social Media Links

Facebook: @rossgreenwoodauthor

X:  @greenwoodross

Instagram: @rossg555

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RossGreenwoodnews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ross-greenwood

Thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources and the publisher for an advance copy in return for a review.

MORE FROM ROSS GREENWOOD

Death at Paradise Park

The Village Killer

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February 2025 Books 

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Fabulous February {2025}

 

Dear friends. How was February for you? As usual it seemed to rush by, unlike January which seems to last forever. I had some fun in February. Read on....

February Books

Dear friends. I'm back with some more reading delights, including two five star books. 

Those with an asterisk were books I bought myself; the rest were given to me as advance copies by NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an honest review.

Do share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments. 

Ideas for Styling Stripes and Spots

 

Dear friends. Are you Team Stripes, Team Spots, or Team Both? I vote for all three. 

I like the opportunity to wear stripes and spots together, but one of the pieces needs to be small (a scarf or bag) for a small scale person like me (short). 

In today's post I'm showing how striped t-shirts, a summer staple, are also brilliant to layer up in cold weather.

Tantalising Tartan

 

Dear friends. I've got a bit Scotland and Tartan crazy in the last few months. After falling in love with Scotland during our mega cycle ride, I started researching tartan  (plaid, as it's known in some countries). 

I was thrilled to find this stunning Kettlewell tartan dress, dating from 2018, on Vinted. 

Finding Joy in January {2025}

#JanuaryinReview #WBOYC 

Dear friends. January is behind us! The days are slowly getting longer.  I try to find good things to do in January, and I treat myself with kindness, not giving anything up. 

Here's my account of the first month of 2025. I start on Dec 31 as it wasn't covered last month. 

Mocha Mousse 2 Ways

 

 

Dear friends. Today I'm examining the Pantone Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse. Pantone describes it as:  "A warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort."

It often takes a good while for the Colour of the Year to make an impact in retail, and it doesn't always happen. But Mocha Mousse, in its various nuances, does seem to be hitting the spot.  If you search for it on Asos, you'll get a lot of results for shades ranging from chocolate, tan and taupe. 

You don't have to wear exactly the same shade.  In colour analysis terms colours are either warm or cool.  Mocha Mousse is on the warm side, but in a different incarnation, such as Kettlewell's Mole, it is a neutral shade that every season except Spring can wear   (and of course Springs can wear Mole too, but it will look better with Spring colours brightening it up). 

I don't have a lot of brown in my wardrobe, apart from trousers and a skirt.  I look at brown as an extremely useful neutral that replaces black or navy.  On my top half I prefer to wear my brighter, lighter spring colours.  But I was keen to get on the Mocha Mousse bandwagon so I was thrilled to buy, preloved from Vinted, a Kettlewell Roxy jacket in shade Coffee. 

I styled it in two different colourways.  Red is perhaps an unexpected pairing with brown, but the bright shade of my tee (Salsa Red from Kettlewell) looks good with Coffee, and the blue from my jeggings adds another splash of contrast.  Yes, I do still wear skinny jeans and jeggings.  I have a few pairs of bootcut now, which are OK, but wide legs and wide flares make me look short and stumpy, in my view.

Scarf is from Shelley Faye Lazar. Boots, old, Office.

Next I tried Coffee with Coral. I'm wearing the Roxy jacket with Celtic chinos in Coral, an antique white tee from Kettlewell, and new gold flats from Oliver Bonas.  The scarf is a fabulous shade of warm pink, from Sarah Lonergan. 

I added some on-trend animal print pops with my belt (Kettlewell) and bag, made of recycled leather pieces (Nephele Bags).

For any of you still sceptical about colour analysis, this selfie shot is a good example of how the right colours accentuate our eyes and make our skin look more alive. I'm wearing lipstick English Rose by Max Factor.

Are you minded to have a bit of a play with Mocha Mousse, and similar shades? Or are you turned off by this colour?  Do tell in the comments.

OTHER POSTS ABOUT COLOUR OF THE YEAR

PEACH FUZZ, 2024

ILLUMINATING YELLOW, 2021

LIVING CORAL, 2019

ULTRA VIOLET, 2018

GREENERY, 2017

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