Books in October

Dear friends.  Did you know that very few new books are published between now and January?  Publishers like to focus on their best selling books, plus recipe and other books suitable for gifting, as we approach the holiday season.

Fortunately all the books I'm reviewing today were read by me several weeks ago, as a NetGalley reviewer. They're all out this month - October - except where indicated.

SHARE:

books, Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell, Is This Mutton reviews books, The Drowned by John Banville, The Good Daughter by Sarah Edghill, Waiting for a Party by Vesna Main

Tell Us About - Schooldays

Dear friends.  It's time for another Tell Us About challenge, where 10 bloggers from around the world respond to a prompt each month.

I'm thrilled that we're back to full strength with the addition of US blogger Anne M Bray.

This month we're ruminating over Schooldays,  a prompt set by Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper.

We can approach the topic from any angle we choose.  I imagined there would be several reminiscences about schooldays so I decided instead to pick just a few comedic moments from school - and Sunday school  (which counts as a school), including one from my mum. 

SHARE:

amusing stories from 60s childhood, anecdotes from Sunday School, Lifestyle, Schooldays, Tell Us About Schooldays

Essential Striped Knitted Dress

 And Wow on Wednesday

Gifted Fashion 

Dear friends.  A striped knitted dress is your best friend, when you find the right one.  That's an important caveat, because they're often a fine, clingy knit that highlights the lumps and bumps.  I don't know about you, but I've got to an age now where I refuse to wear "control pants."

I'm glad to say I've found the perfect striped knitted dress, and it's from Damart.  

SHARE:

Damart, Damart striped knitted dress, essential striped knitted dress, fashion over 50, fashion over 60, wear a knitted dress over 60

Now You See Us

 Reviewed: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920 at Tate Britain

Dear friends.  I popped over to Tate Britain in the last few days of this exhibition.  Normally I record a few photos and thoughts on Instagram Stories, but this exhibition is so important, so beautifully curated and so inspiring I thought I would devote a blog post to it.

The title, Now You See Us, is wonderful because it sums up the issue.  Women artists were largely underrated and quickly forgotten. It was apparent from seeing who owns the various paintings.  Very few had been loaned from the big international art museums. It was good to see that many of the paintings were on loan from King Charles. 

SHARE:

Lifestyle, Now You See Us, perceptions of women artists, Tate Britain, Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920

The Blues in October?

 And Wow on Wednesday

Dear friends.  A lot of us get SAD  (seasonal affective disorder), or the plain old blues, at this time of year. I've got a few tips on how to find some joy in Autumn/Fall and Winter. Plus I'm wearing blue in three different outfits.  Clever juxtaposition, huh?

SHARE:

fashion over 50, how to deal with the winter blues, outfits in blue, retro 60s looks, three outfits featuring blue, tips on overcoming SAD, wear a tank top over 60

Challenge Sally!

 And Wow on Wednesday

Dear friends.  Meet Sally Millington,  a 45 year old woman who has been setting herself 52 challenges a year since 2018. 

In addition to completing 336 challenges (so far), Sally also has a side activity of running every single day. She recently passed the milestone of 700 consecutive days.  

The challenges range from physical, creative, relaxing to travel related and some Sally describes as plain daft. Here are 5 of the challenges to show how varied they are. We also have some tips on how you can become an everyday adventurer, like Sally.

SHARE:

Challenge Fifty Two, challenge yourself, find motivation, Lifestyle, Sally Millington