A couple of weekends ago I went back to the village where I grew up.  I go back once or twice a year but for this visit we stayed at a hotel near the village and the weather was so wonderful we were able to have a wander around and it brought back so many childhood memories.

I lived in Bearsted from the age of 4 to the age of 14, so not a long time but those years were most of my childhood and my memories are special and my time living there had a big impact on who I am today. 

I made two great friends on the playground at Thurnham Infant School and we have mostly kept in touch for the last 45 years since I moved to Buckinghamshire.  Busy lives and young children meant we went quite a long time without managing to meet up, but now our children are grown-up and with social media making contact so much easier, we try and get-together two or three times a year.  We always giggle - a lot!

I was so fortunate to have such a wonderful and carefree childhood.  Growing up in the safety of a village community, surrounded by countryside and with my best friends.

Childhood friendships and so special and I feel very luck to have Nicola and Joanna in my life still.  Our chats have changed over the years from boyfriends, to husbands, to children, to divorces and now menopause and aging parents but we still enjoy our time together.

When we arrived on Saturday the annual carnival and fayre was taking place on the village green - they were commemorating 40 years of the fayre and I realised, I was at the very first one - in fact our mum's helped organise it!  As we wandered around the village on Sunday morning, it bought back so many memories ....

Cycling to Holly House Stores for our quarter of sweets.

Collecting vouchers and going to the village garage to collect our smurfs.

Sitting on 'my bench' on the village green and watching the cricket (yes I did have my eye on a boy that I really liked and yes he did come and chat to me sometimes)!

Fishing for tadpoles in the village pond.

Harvest festivals and Brownie and Guide services at Holy Cross Church.  And my sister's baptism.

Playing 'It's a Knockout' style games on the field behind the church.

Making our 'pound grow' to help raise money to build a Catholic church in the village - we used to make sweets and sell them from our front garden!

My dad 'going to Japan' from the village station - well that is what my sister thought, he actually got a train to Heathrow of course.

Cycling very fast down the hill outside our house, which we thought was enormous, but looking back at it now, it is tiny!

The bottles of school milk waiting for us at Thurnham, sitting under the old oak tree at playtime and walking to school across the golf course and listening out for the first cuckoo.

Walking to Mote Park swimming pool via Banky Meadows, with my baby sister in her pram and my other sister sat on the front of the pram in a special seat with me one side and my friend Nicola the other side, both holding the pram handle.

Tobogganing at Banky Meadow!  Avoiding the stream at the bottom!

Endless summer days in 1976 running under the sprinkler or in the paddling pool in our back garden.

First Holy Communion parties in our garden.

Buying sweets and magazines at Taylor's on the village green or Hoods on the Maidstone Road.

Decorating our floats for the carnival and loving the journey through the village.

The Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations and street parties.

So many wonderful times!  I could go on but instead I will share my photos from our weekend away.

Love from
​Michelle xx

Holly House Stores is no longer a traditional sweet shop!


#SaturdayShareLinkUp
Not Dressed as Lamb
​

I was originally going to run this interview series monthly but there are so many inspirational women doing amazing things that I decided twice monthly would be much better.  I love meeting these women and am constantly amazed by 'how on earth they do it' - this week I am interviewing my sister Heidi.  I am the oldest of three sisters and Heidi is the middle sister.  We are lucky to live quite close to each other and between us we have eight children and all run a small business so life does get pretty full on.

I have written about Heidi on my blog before - I love going on one of her Oxford tours, she really is a fantastic tour guide, she loves history and presents it so well.  We have been with our children when they were younger teens and they agreed it really wasn't boring at all!  Now there is an accolade, Heidi makes children and teens very welcome so don't be put off - a visit to Oxford and a walking tour of the city would make an excellent summer holiday activity.

I have secured a special offer for my readers and full details can be found at the end of this post.

Here Heidi tells us more about her life and her business and how she manages to do it all!

​Hi Heidi, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

This August I will be 48 and heading ever closer to the big 50!  It is hard to contemplate as I always considered that to be very old but times have changed and 50 is not so bad (at least that is what I am telling myself!).

​I grew up in Kent with my parents and two sisters – one older and one younger. At 12 we moved to Buckinghamshire and I found that tough at that age but am now so grateful for the move as it got me to where I am today. 

I have been married to my husband and best friend for 19 years and we have three wonderful children… and a dog!  I now live in Oxfordshire in a small village on The Ridgeway.

And tell us a little bit about your business venture and what inspired you?

At 18 I travelled alone to Vermont in the USA and spent a year as an Au Pair.  It was a big step but I had always had 'wunderlust'.  It was here that I met one of my closest friends who was also an Au Pair but from Germany.  At the end of our year, Stephanie and I travelled coast to coast on Amtrak trains. 

This was just the beginning and on returning to the UK, I worked for a travel company based in the UK but that took me to work in The Netherlands where I was a tour guide. 

My next adventure was as a holiday representative in Turkey where I completed three summer seasons and met more lifelong friends. 

As the years passed, I decided it was time to return to the UK and worked for a travel company who offered bespoke tours to Australia, America and Canada and I would often travel with my job. 

After I met my husband Jonathan, and I became pregnant with our first child I returned part-time to the travel company but by my third child, I knew it was time to consider my options.  I think it is important for mum’s to be at home as much as possible during the early years of childhood but I needed to work so I looked at what I was good at, what I enjoyed and what was around me and decided I'd love to become a Tour Guide in Oxford.

I wrote to the Tourist Information Centre but was disappointed to learn that they had just run a course and did not have any plans for another one for another 3-4 years. My heart sank when I received that letter ‘we will keep your details on file’ but they did! After those 4 years passed, I received a letter asking me to attend an interview. I had to prepare a 5-minute talk on a subject and present it at The Oxford Town Hall to a group of professional Guides.  Although I was used to public speaking and presenting, I had not done it for some time (motherhood can strip away your self-confidence!). 

But I was delighted when I received the call to let me know I had been selected for a 9-month training course to become a fully qualified Green Badge Guide.  It was a tough and challenging 9-months and on more than one occasion I wondered what I had taken on. At the end, you sit three written exams and two oral.  Luckily I passed and started working for the city of Oxford.  I then took the leap to start my own business – Walking Tours of Oxford.

What does an average day look like for you?

There is nothing average about my job or my day – each one is unique but the kids help me to form a routine.  I'm up by 7 am and then it is the chaos that any mum will know only too well – trying to get them all out the door. 

My eldest is now away at University so just the two left but when they were all younger and with three of them, I felt I had done a whole day’s work before 9 am!

​I do confess to breathing a sigh of relief when they are all out the door and peace descends... I then have a quiet breakfast, check my emails and reply before taking our dog, Ozzie on a walk along The Ridgeway.  That is a great time to think and contemplate the day ahead! 

I usually then head into Oxford for one or two tours (I have done four tours in a day and am exhausted by the end!).  My clients are from all over the world and the tours I offer are vast and varied – from standard university tours, to Harry Potter, Gargoyles and Grotesques, Morse / Lewis and Endeavour ….

Once my last tour finishes, I will either have to rush towards home and collect the children from various locations or if I am lucky, I might be able to steal an hour at the gym – I love to go swimming!

What has been your biggest challenge?

As far as the business is concerned – SEO and social media!  Also trying to not let things get to me too much but that is par for the course with your own business!

What advice would you pass on to someone wishing to change career in midlife?

Make sure it is right for you.  Running a business is challenging and stressful and not for everyone. You need a good support network.  If you have those in place, then I say go for it.  Love what you do and it will shine through!

Do you have a signature style, an everyday look that you love?

When I am out on my tours – and that can be in all weathers, my main objective is comfort all the way!  During the winter months it is smart jeans with waterproof boots, waterproof coat and a colourful scarf.  I love a smart tailored blazer if the weather permits! – Summer brings much more scope and when the sun shines brightly, you can’t beat a cool summer dress.

How do you balance your business with family life?

Luckily my children are older now and with that comes a little bit of space.  My eldest is studying at Oxford University so he is away during term time.  The past 6-weeks has been very challenging with my middle child taking GCSE’s and on ‘study leave’ which means that my schedule has been completely thrown into chaos as I have had to take and collect at very erratic times.  I just manage it all somehow, because you have to!

What is your biggest achievement to date?

I know it is a cliché, but unquestionably my children.  They have all turned out to be well balanced and caring individuals who strive to reach their full potential at school and university.  That aside, then it is my business which has not been without it’s up and downs!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
​
With the children ‘grown up’ I hope that I will have some more ‘us’ time for my husband and myself.  We met, had our first child and married within an 18-month time frame so we never really had time to ourselves so that will be special.  I want to do more travelling as I love to explore whenever I can.  I have done most of the States, Canada, Europe, South East Asia and Australia but India and Africa are definitely on the agenda.  I would also love to live overseas again. More than that, I would just like my children to be happy.
 
How can we get in touch with you and find out more about you or your tours?
​
Walking Tours of Oxford is Number 1 for tours in Oxford on TripAdvisor – so you can find our listing there.  Check out my website – walkingtoursofoxford.com and of course social media – Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

​Thank you so much Heidi, I don't know how you do it but I am glad you do because I love your tours!

You can read a bit more about my visits to Oxford and tours with Heidi on my previous blog posts - a private tour of Oxford here and my more recent visit - a day out in Oxford here.

And below are the details of the special offers Heidi has set up for readers of Fifty & Fab:

Firstly she is offering her Morse, Lewis and Endeavour Tours on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2.00 pm throughout the coming season - this offer is available until 31st October 2018.  All you have to do is follow this link and make your booking with Eventbrite at the special rate of £14 per person (plus booking fee).  You will need to enter the passcode: johnthaw to access this special rate.

She is also offering her Simply Oxford University Tour - one remaining date - Friday 22nd June 11.30 am at the reduced rate of £13 per person (plus booking fee).  To book this please follow this link and make your booking with Eventbrite - you will need to enter the passcode: oxon1167 to access this special rate.

Alternatively if you would like to find out more about her other tours and availability for a private tour then do email Heidi at  info@walkingtoursofoxford.com.

Love from
Michelle xx


​Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post and does not contain affiliate links.

​I've written about my wonderful days out in Oxford before - you can read more on this post.  But last week it was my nephews birthday and he is at Worcester College, Oxford University so I grabbed the opportunity to join him and my sister and other family members for a private tour of the college and lunch out.

We always use the park and ride facility and Oxford city centre has changed a bit recently with the opening of the new shopping centre - Westgate, so we took the opportunity to have a quick look on the way to Worcester College.  Last week I wrote about my quick pit-stop into & Other Stories on this post.

My sister Heidi is a fully accredited Oxford city tour guide - holding the green badge issued by the Institute of Tourist Guiding - it is a prestigious achievement and meant a lot of hours studying.  She is also a member of The Oxford Guild of Tour Guides.  Basically she is very good and knows her stuff, a love of history helps and it comes across in her tours.  She is currently number one on TripAdvisor.  She runs Walking Tours of Oxford and offers both public and private bespoke tours.

Heidi has set up two excellent offers on her Oxford tours for readers of Fifty & Fab - giving you a discounted rate throughout the summer.  I will give you all the details - and how to book at the end of this post so make sure you scroll down!  

Last week was one of those perfect days.  The sun was shining.  It was warm but not too hot.  I was with my family and Oxford is a beautiful city to visit.  I am especially proud of my nephew.

The gardens and buildings at Worcester college are stunning.  And it was even better to be shown around properly by my sister and nephew and learn a bit more about life for the students at Oxford University.  

I am sharing my day mostly in photos as they speak for themselves ...

​What I wore ... skirt is Black Pleated Chiffon Skirt from Mint Velvet £89, slogan tee is from Whistles £49 and my denim jacket is old from House of Fraser but I hear H&M is a good place for denim jackets this season!  I wore Birkenstock style sandals from Shu Shu.

​If you have ever wondered about stepping off the main shopping streets and discovering what lies behind the modern buildings in Oxford or you are a Morse, Lewis or Endeavour fan then do take advantage of these fantastic offers- .  I guarantee you will have a superb day out.  And it's not just for adults - Heidi makes children very welcome too.

Love from
Michelle xx

Disclaimer: This was a private visit to Oxford, and I am sharing this review with you because it genuinely is a fabulous day out!

​Heidi has set up two excellent offers for readers of Fifty & Fab:

Firstly she is offering her Morse, Lewis and Endeavour Tours on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2.00 pm throughout the coming season - this offer is available until 31st October 2018.  All you have to do is follow this link and make your booking with Eventbrite at the special rate of £14 per person (plus booking fee).  You will need to enter the passcode: johnthaw to access this special rate.

She is also offering her Simply Oxford University Tour on two dates - Saturday 2nd June and Friday 22nd June 11.30 am at the reduced rate of £13 per person (plus booking fee).  To book this please follow this link and make your booking with Eventbrite - you will need to enter the passcode: oxon1167 to access this special rate.


​​Not Dressed as Lamb
#SaturdayShareLinkUp

This week I had a really wonderful day out in Oxford.  My sister is an Oxford City Tour Guide (qualified blue badge accreditation - I have written about her before and the fabulous tours she offers).  And her oldest son is in his first year at Worcester College, Oxford University.  It was his 19th birthday so I joined my parents and my sister for a tour of his college and lunch.  I'll be sharing more photos later on as the gardens are so stunning.

But on the way to meet him we did a quick detour into the new shopping centre in Oxford - Westgate.  There are lots of the big names situated in there and it is light and bright and clean and very pleasant.  This was only a very quick visit and not enough time to do any real shopping.  But I spotted & Other Stories and the only other branch close to me is Oxford Street and although I have been in, it is exceptionally busy (queue for fitting rooms and tills) and it put me off.  

This branch however was quiet and I had the opportunity to have a quick browse.  And I liked what I saw - very much.  It is a bright, clean store - all white and everything laid out in beautifully co-ordinated tidy rails.  My idea of heaven (you may have seen my comment on Instagram recently about my dislike of Primark and H&M because they are so untidy).  

I didn't really have time to do a proper try on so it was a quick whisk round, I quickly slipped on a pink pleated skirt but it wasn't lined so I didn't think that would work for me.  The sizing is a bit confusing so I had to ask - at a 10 I am a 36 apparently.  That information will be useful for online shopping.

If you have seen a previous post about cotton dresses you will know I am on a search for natural fabrics and cool dresses for my holiday in Sri Lanka (but I don't like linen).  I saw this dress in & Other Stories, it's cotton, it's pretty, its summery, it is a shape I love ...

​I grabbed it in a 36, no time to try it on, paid for it, had a lovely chat to the young man serving me and ran off to meet my family.

Tried it on when I got home and it fitted, it worked and I love it.  The shoulders need to be lifted a bit for me - this isn't unusual though, it is hard for me to find a dress that is short enough in the body so I look for ones that can be altered easily.  This Peony Print dress is £49 also available in a blue Pineapple Print.

Once the shoulders are lifted I will share an outfit post with you but in the meantime do take a closer look at & Other Stories!

Love
Michelle xx
​