I am just back from 3 nights in the Isle of Wight, I've not been since I was a child, and I absolutely loved it!  I was invited by Red Funnel, the original Isle of Wight ferry service that operates from Southampton to East Cowes, and I was also gifted accommodation at Nettlecombe Farm, near Ventnor.  When I originally booked, I thought that 3 nights wouldn't be long enough but for a first trip back, it was just right!  Read on to find out more about my Isle of Wight trip and the perfect 'couples break' itinerary!

We set off from home about 9.30 am on Friday morning, my husband and our two dogs, Katy and Bonnie, it was a super easy drive down to Southampton from our home in Buckinghamshire, less than an hour and a half and access to the ferry terminal is easy and very clearly signposted.  We were booked on the 12 Noon ferry crossing and arrived about 45 minutes before departure, we had priority boarding organised and the whole experience was smooth and easy.  The ferry only takes an hour and so we had the whole of Friday afternoon to explore the Isle of Wight and get our bearings!

This is a gifted blog post.

Some of you might have been following my new workout regime on my Instagram stories.  When I started my course of EMSculpt NEO, it was the perfect opportunity to get back to regular workouts and start strength training again. Caring for our body and keeping active is important at any age but as we approach menopause and head into our postmenopausal years, it becomes even more important! I am fortunate to be small and I am a healthy weight, I acknowledge I don't look my age - currently 56 but I still need to put the effort in to achieve my body goals. And a healthy diet and regular exercise can make a huge difference in managing menopause-related symptoms.

There are 4 main areas of my health I focus on ....

Getting regular physical activity into my day.
Making sure my nutrition is optimal.
Getting enough sleep.
Reducing my stress and looking after my mental health.

Exercise and nutrition have to be as easy and as simple as possible but they need to be effective! I don't want to over-complicate things and spend hours in either the gym or in the kitchen!

This blog post is sponsored by BOMIMO Nutrition.

Who doesn't love Trinny?  I remember her and Susannah way back when on What Not to Wear and loved tuning in every week.  That, along with The Clothes Show, was my first foray into loving fashion.  Then Trinny burst onto our instagram feeds with her fun styling and beauty posts and unique enthusiasm, energy and sassiness.  How does she do it??!  And now we are all loving her make up brand Trinny London.  When I shared on my insta-stories that I was trying it out for a blog review, my son's girlfriend messaged to say she absolutely loves Trinny and her make up brand and it struck me as a huge sign of success that Trinny London appeals to all ages, us 50 something's and a 20 year old student.  

I was really delighted when Trinny London got in touch to ask if I'd like to choose a few items from their make up and skincare range and do a blog review!  Trinny Woodall launched Trinny London back in October 2017 with just her 'stack' concept but it quickly evolved.  I went for a consultation at their new beauty counter at Fenwick on Bond Street in 2018 and loved my purchases and they became a firm favourite in my make up bag.

​So to have a chance to add to my existing items and try out even more of the ever-expanding Trinny London range was fantastic!

​This is a gifted post and contains affiliate links.
​First published July 2021 and updated April 2023.

From the age of about 14 my daughter had her heart set on going to Norland College in Bath.  We took her to her first open day at about age 15, then 16, then 17 and finally the day came and she was applying to join Set 43 in September 2019.  After a nervous interview process she was accepted and the countdown began. 

For those that don't know - "Norland Nannies are known for their exceptional training, flexible approach and professionalism" - they are recognised by their Mary Poppins style traditional uniforms and tend to work for royalty and high net worth families, they are very much in demand and considered to be the very best there is!

Dropping her off to Bath that September was an emotional experience but as parents, the best thing we can do for our children is encourage them to fly the nest, to be independent and confident.  However, she was suffering from a really nasty cold and her first week - Welcome Week - was exhausting but thank goodness for new friends.  Her new housemate Holly took her under her wing and despite a few ups and downs, and the fact that Emily is 5 ft and Holly is 6 ft, they looked after each other throughout their 3 years in Bath.  Friends made at university are life long and she has so many wonderful memories, I love hearing what they are all getting up to!

I think homesickness was one of her biggest challenges, that and a pandemic to contend with!  Just as she was settling into living away from home, so she had to come back!  Now when she looks back over her 3 years at Norland College, she realises how the time flew by and there are days when she wishes she was back at uni!

​Personal blog post with some affiliate links.