Change is a Beautiful Thing by Kathryn Ferguson

I found this here, at one of my fav' upbeat blogs. Made for Selfridge's Beauty Project last April.

All these women are in their 80s!

Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, don't mess with Mr. In-Between, no, don't mess with Mr. In-Between.

Live It Up. It's Later Than You Think.

image via 

I don't know about you, but I sometimes find it hard to keep a positive spin on the old ageing process. Yes, I know it happens to everybody and we were all bright young things once. But it seems youth only accounts for a small part of our lifespans and the rest of the time we are fighting against being perceived as 'over the hill' or worse 'past it'. I can't see that changing anytime soon, if indeed ever.

Now I'm over fifty I think about my own mortality more as well, something that never really crossed my mind at all before. Not in a morbid or panicky way. I just want to enjoy my life to the full in the time I have left on the planet, which I'm hoping, needless to say will be way into the future. Time is a precious luxury and not to be wasted.

Being fit and healthy is the key, creating and seizing opportunities is a must and let's face it, a goodly amount of cash does help too.

I recently stumbled upon a lifestyle website for grown ups. Which seeks to inspire women who, shall I say are past the first flush of youth. And let me tell you it succeeds.

Take a look at Jacky O'Shaughnessy (62) talking about the self-esteem issues that have been with her throughout her life.

In one sense I'm amazed at how such a beautiful and sensitive woman could have (had) any body image issues, and in another I'm not surprised at all, given our society's views on ageing.

I see only her beauty.

Hulanicki at the V&A

Oh my giddy aunt, what a night I had on Friday at the V&A Museum. It was so exciting.

V&A courtyard

The mister and I travelled up early in the day and had a smashing time, mooching around the Borough market and Southbank, before going on to the V&A for some nosh and to see and listen to one of my heroines, Barbara Hulanicki. You know, of Biba fame.

Barbara Hulanicki

Big Biba

I have missed out on seeing this lady in person so many frustrating times, always just finding out about events a wee bit too late. But not this time. Cock-a-Hoop doesn't even begin to cover it.

The chair for the event started proceedings by telling us all how lucky we were to get tickets. Duh, yes we know lady.

The lecture theatre was packed to the hilt. Looking at the members of the audience was almost as exciting as seeing Barbara.

Celia Hammond, Pauline Stone and Twiggy.

All of these beautiful models from the swinging sixties were sitting alongside me, enjoying every minute of Barbara's conversation. During question time, Twiggy spoke of her admiration and fondness for Barbara, remembering times when she would bicycle over to Biba in her lunch hour to spend her pocket money. And of course the times she modelled for Barbara once her own career took off.

Barbara was very humble about her contribution to the fashion world and came across as a very sweet and genuine sort of person. All to quickly the event was over. But it continued pleasingly when we were invited down to one of the galleries for a wine reception and book signing, where I managed to get a few pics of Miss. Hulanicki taking time with her fans.

The V&A regularly hold events on Friday evenings. This one was a ticketed event but the last Friday of every month (except December) they hold free drop in sessions with DJ's, food, drinks and late-night exhibition openings. If I lived a bit nearer and had access to the tube I would be there every Friday I think. It is such a cool place to be, the surroundings are truly beautiful and the food and drink offer is really very good.

Harmony & Tranquility

The mister and I have just returned from a few days in Suffolk. We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary and to catch up with some dear friends. We had a smashing time, I will post about that in the next couple of days.

Today I want to share with you an incredibly moving and beautiful film. It concerns an elderly lady who has found a peace and happiness through her relationship with her natural surroundings, in particular the sea.

The film was made by a Faroese filmmaker called Heidrick a Heygum. The film is called a portrait of Maria a Heygum.

I so love the sound of her voice and her delicate language. Click on the pink text to link to the film and if you have time, please watch all of the film, you'll be so glad you did.

Inspiring Women

Not exactly being a spring chicken anymore, I'm always heartened when I see some positive news coverage about women who are over fifty and still contributing to something worthwhile, and really enjoying their success.

Suzy Menkes at age 70, has just left the high profile position of fashion editor for The International New York Times after 26 years. Not because she is retiring, oh no! But because she has been coaxed away by Conde Nast to become the new International Vogue Editor. I think that is absolutely brilliant.

She comes across as a woman who has her own ideas about everything and says and does what she feels. Suzy does not need to go with the flow, she creates her own waves. She is my kind of person.

She has a family of three children and five grandchildren who she adores, they are "the real part of my life". Completely down to earth she feels very strongly about "the ecological cost of fashion and the terrible business of cheap prices". She is all for fashion on a human scale, I think she would be as swayed by an upcycled item as a haute couture one. I hope she really enjoys herself at her new job, she sounds like a good egg to me.

If you like the sound of that lady you are gonna love the look and style of this lady, Carmen Dell 'Orefice, at aged 83years, the oldest working fashion model in the world.

Right, I'm off now to trim my Lonicera Nitida while the sun shines, if you'll pardon the expression.

No More Waste. No More Excess.

I haven't made any specific new year resolutions as such, I just feel I need to be doing a bit more of the same but with some added gusto. Healthy eating, that means saying no a bit more to those little extra delicious morsels perceived as 'treats'. Exercising regularly, which I enjoy and now have a bit more time for. And generally being more mindful about what I do with my time. In support of this I want to concentrate on reducing my overall consumption of material things, aiming for nil waste and a bit more wealth creation. Again by not spending unnecessarily and working hard.

One of the things that has fired my enthusiasm is this commendable Danish restaurant Rub and Stub. It's described as a food waste concept restaurant. All the ingredients they cook with are regarded as food waste by the food industry and would normally just be thrown out. The volunteer chef in this short film explains Denmark throws away over 1/2 million tons of food a year, a huge waste of resources and money. The thriving restaurant also channels it's profits into worthwhile projects in Africa. I am truly full of admiration for these folk.

                                               
No minute gone comes ever back again,
take heed and see ye nothing do in vain.