Just how long is January!!?  I decided to start writing this five days before the actual end of January as I was bored waiting.  I am sure January 2021 has been double the length it should be.   I've been checking the diary every day to see if it is the 31st yet ... bit like checking the. news every day to see if Boris has announced the pandemic is over and we can resume normal life.  I'm still waiting, obviously.  I gave up on dry January at about week three as after three weeks I thought I had done long enough!  Not that I have succumbed to alcoholism again (only joking) but the odd glass of wine in the bath is essential!

How are you all?  Bored too?  The spring and summer lockdown seemed so much easier, we could pretend we were on holiday, sit in the garden, play dress up in pretty summer outfits, take insta-worthy photos and share them on the grid.  Now I am pretty sure no one wants to see another jeans n jumper shot.  I also loved my daily 'mud free' walks and early evening 'rosé in the garden' but in the middle of winter, my dogs are permanently filthy and I get too hot and flustered hosing them down.

But I dare not complain, I fully appreciate I am luckier than so many, I have a house in the woods, a beautiful garden, space around me, I am not home schooling .... we have not (yet and I hope won't) lost anyone close to this awful virus.  

So what have I been doing ... here is a little round-up of 'being fifty and fab' in the lockdown weeks since Christmas!

In March last year, just as the pandemic was starting, I wrote a blog post sharing some ideas for the supplements we might like to consider taking in midlife to support general health and wellbeing.  Nearly a year on and our need for an immune system boost has become even more important so I thought it might be timely to revisit how I am getting on and especially to talk about the latest info on Vitamin D.

​I get asked to review quite a few supplements on my blog and it isn't always easy to see the benefits immediately.  I tend to also look at the studies and recommendations from health experts - doing my own research. Throughout Covid some supplements have been mentioned a lot as being really useful to give our immune system a boost and research suggests our Covid-outcome might be better with certain supplements.

I was asked during my Staying in Style Zoom Meet-Up with Anita Feron-Clark what my top recommendation for a supplements was.  The conclusion - Magnesium and Vitamin D.  But there are a few others to consider too.

I've not done a style post for ages!  But as we tentatively start moving from the coldest months of winter and into early spring, how lovely it is to have a little wardrobe refresh.  I am not a fan of winter dressing, I feel too trussed up with layers and too restrained.  I love floaty summer dresses, I love to cast off the layers and be able to wear lighter knits.  Give me sunshine, alfresco lunches and a nice glass of wine and I'm happy.  

I was excited to see the new colours and styles arriving on the Creative DeZigns website, and Nicki sent me a few bits to try out, the two outfits I am sharing today, definitely tick the box of winter into spring ....

Sadly there is not enough provision for women to really understand perimenopause and menopause and what is happening to them during midlife within the NHS.  Some GP's are excellent and some practices do now have a menopause specialist or can refer to a specialist hospital clinic.  But equally many women have been left disappointed and confused and not really knowing where to go for menopause help and advice.  And a private consultation can be out of reach for so many due to the often huge cost.

But the last few years have seen a big rise in health services within the private arena for women during perimenopause and menopause.  I have been contacted by a few of these and will be sharing my experience with the different options over the coming weeks and months.  

On this blog post I am telling you about Health & Her and their new affordable online menopause clinic.

​With Health & Her you can see a menopause GP online for an in-depth review of your symptoms, tailored treatment plans and prescription recommendations.