Now for Good News - and Link-Up

 

Hello dear friends.  This post is a last minute substitution. My original post focused on how hard it is being a woman right now,  in the context of a serving London police officer having murdered a 33 year old woman who was walking home. 

The post carried on with depressing news as I mentioned how I still wasn't back in the office yet because of the fuel crisis.  I decided to bin the post and search high and low for some good news. Plus, who cares about work wear. Here's a fun quirky, useless outfit.

Why it's good to be a woman (sometimes we have to remind ourselves)

• We live longer. We were born for longevity.  Women live on average 5 to 10 years longer than men, according to TIME.
• We're smarter than men.  Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that women’s brains were approximately three years younger than men of the same chronological year on a metabolic scale. Plus, girls have overtaken boys in GCSE maths and A Levels.
• Women have stronger immune systems. There's a microRNA on the X chromosomes in females that helps keep our immune systems strong. Fewer women have died of Covid than men.
• Women handle stress well.  Science shows that the oestrogen / estrogen in women's bodies may help us handle stress very well. Men tend to react with a fight or flight response, while women will "tend and befriend," or reach out for social support.
• Women hold on to memories longer. We are great at recalling details from early on in our lives. According to Business Insider, this may be due to the way we learned to tell stories when we were younger. 
• We are definitely better at multi-tasking. Tests carried out at the HSE Neurolinguistics Laboratory in Moscow showed male and female brains respond very differently when faced with multiple challenges. Women’s brains react more quickly, which could give us the advantage in times of crisis.

Research nuggets to give joy

• Here's one close to home for me.  Cheese is good for the heart! The George Institute for Global Health in Sweden found from analysing 4000 blood samples that those with a higher rate of dairy fats had a lower risk of heart disease.
• Tea drinking improves creativity. Research from Peking University showed that tea drinkers outperformed water drinkers in riddle games - and the good news was, it's not ghastly old green tea but good old black tea. 
• You're never to old to start exercising. Even if you start exercising later in life, you'll still live longer, according to the University of Bern in Switzerland.
• Some aspects of cognitive performance improve over time. The Dept of Neuroscience at Georgetown University found that the brain's ability to absorb new information and focus on what is important in a given situation seemed to grow sharper. 

Reasons to embrace autumn/fall and winter

• The light can be spectacular in the morning as the low rising sun emerges through mist, as shown by one of my pictures from Epping Forest

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• The wonderful colours of fall 
• The "northern lights" - aurora borealis - which can sometimes be seen in the north of England and Scotland, as well as in the Nordic countries
• Winter fashions:  so much better with all that texture and layering:  velvet, cashmere, silk, tweed, plaid....
• Boots are back in all shapes and styles
• No need to worry about hair removal, pedicures or self tans. 
• The return of popular seasonal drinks in coffee shops 
• Bonfire Night in the UK;  Halloween in the US
• Planting bulbs for spring, those harbingers of joy. Even if you're out in the rain doing it.
• Cosiness, "hygge," as we snuggle indoors without any FOMO about being outside
• Plan for a proper summer holiday.  Mr Mutton and I haven't had a Greek holiday since 2019 but we're booked for next July. I always book summer holidays early: it gives me something to look forward to.
• Not being kept awake at night by parties and BBQs in neighbouring gardens  (I know, bah-Humbug!).
• The garden rests.  After planting the bulbs, I don't need to be out there every weekend. 

Today's Outfit

Isn't the colour of my Ziggy sweater and merino hat, Jewel Lobelia, marvellous?  It's such a bright vibrant purple.  I was having a bit of fun with a try-on and decided to go for an "Abba-esque" look with my hat, and a monochrome all-purple look. I like to dress down the velvet skirt with trainers. It's very comfortable.  Sweater, beanie and skirt from Kettlewell Colours;  purple tight from Gipsy;  trainers - Stan Smiths. Tassel necklace from Etsy. 

Nothing was gifted for this post and no affiliate links were used.

Sharing this post with:  Beauty by Miss L, On Mondays We Link Up at Glass of Glam, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Style with a Smile  at Stylesplash, TFF at Doused in Pink, Lizzie in Lace Confident Twosday at IDoDeclaire, Rena at Fine Whatever, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette #TheWednesdayLinkUp at Claire Justine, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style, Style Six at This Blonde's Shopping Bag Happiness is Homemade at Life as a Leo Wife 

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday

Last week's favourites (most clicked)

"Chic and Cozy Fall Accents That Are Having a Major Style Moment" by Heather at Bauchle Fashion. 

Staying with trends, Kellyann's post, "Trend Alert: Graphic Designs and How to Wear Them after 50" was also a winner at her blog This Blonde's Shopping Bag. 

Is This Mutton Favourite

Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper spent a few days relaxing in Dungeness, Kent.  It's a place I've never been to but looks spectacularly wild and different:  "My holiday in Dungeness." It's famous for the house and garden of the late film director Derek Jarman.

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fashion over 50, purple