Wind back the clock 26 years ... I had just had my first baby, it was a natural birth but I needed stitches and I was very very uncomfortable!  I had to hire a ring cushion from the NCT and it was very much needed and appreciated, but not the most stylish thing to have in my newly decorated home!  Not that I cared much then!  I just wanted to be able to sit down.  But since then home care products have had an upgrade and a new range from Enora is ensuring we can have comfort at home and not compromise on style.  

The Enora range was created by Frontier Medical Group, they have been suppliers to the NHS for 25 years and are now offering Enora products directly to the public.  Enora uses NHS-approved air distribution technology to provide a range of clinically proven comfort solutions that are also stylish, products you will be proud to have in your home and that will coordinate with your decor.  

The Enora Air Cushion is designed for people who:

Work from home and need more support to avoid back pain.
Are recovering from surgery.
Have an injury causing discomfort.
Are pregnant or have just had a baby.
Have a long-term pain condition i.e. fibromyalgia. 
Are recovering from pressure sores or,
Simply want a little extra support at home.

​This is a sponsored blog post.

It's been a whole year since I travelled up to Tintern in Wales to join a women's only retreat, Awaken the Creatrix - Walk and Write Retreat.  I was so inspired, so energised, hopeful that the challenges of a pandemic were behind us and better days were ahead.  I remember being so determined to embrace positive thoughts, up my self-care, journal and walk in nature.  And yet many of you following my blog and my social media will have noticed that despite my determination to look after myself better, this last year has turned out to be one of my most challenging yet.  The lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 seem like a walk in the park (literally) compared to the difficulties that came with 2022 and 2023.  I will admit that sitting down to write this, I am exhausted BUT optimistic that I can turn this around and get back to being me again.  And something I have always done is write stuff down, especially since I've had my blog, and share my own struggles especially as so many of you can relate to the menopause element.  

If I commit my thoughts to paper (or blog) then the goals seem far more achievable.  Although I admit I am not sure where to start but I am hoping that as I work through what has been going on for me, I can start to see where I need to make changes!

I know we are just out of a late summer (or is it early autumn) heatwave but I am already taking tentative steps to retrieve my clothes from storage, remind myself what I have in my wardrobe and check it is all in good condition, clean and ready to wear!  

In recent years I have been trying to overhaul my style choices and invest in 'quality over quantity' and that includes buying less of cheaper man-made, unethical fabrics from the fast fashion outlets.  I will now regularly buy items that are preloved, especially cashmere knits or silk dresses and tops.  We used to avoid these fabrics because of the dreaded hand wash only or dry cleaning label, now laundry care is so much easier - and better!

Were you aware that the average item of clothing only has two years of use before it is thrown away and that an estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill every year?  

We need to be more willing to wear the same item regularly and restyling our clothing in lots of different ways is something we can all embrace.  Cost per wear has always been a key point I keep in mind when buying something  - how many different ways can I wear it to make an investment purchase worthwhile?  We also need to consider details like the quality of the fabric, the finish used, and be willing to make alterations or repairs as needed.  If a hem comes down, fix it don't throw it out!  

Clothes Doctor want to bring back the tradition of caring for our clothes, loving them and making them last longer!  And with the popularity of preloved, vintage and renting clothes, caring for our clothes has never been more important and relevant.
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This blog post is sponsored by Clothes Doctor and contains affiliate links.

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.