Four Police Cars Came Racing to Our House: August in Review

And TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. August turned out to be another scorcher, and a busy month.  There were 2 art exhibitions, a David Bowie extravaganza, a trip to the Lake District, a seaside excursion, a meet-up with a blogger friend, and, yes, an unexpected police drama.

Retire & Refire: The continuing adventures of the Retirement Rebel

 

Siobhan Daniels is back! She first came to our attention with her book Retirement Rebel, which saw her retiring, buying a motorhome, Dora the Explora, and touring the UK and Europe solo. 

For Siobhan it was a way of conquering fear and anxiety after several years feeling undervalued at work. She is also keen to prove that retirement can offer a whole new second act to women.

Autumn Incoming!

 

Dear friends. It's still hot here in London with nary a sprinkling of any rain.  I get a bit bored with wearing summer clothes so today I'm sharing a new arrival. 

It's the new colourblock jumper from Kettlewell in salmon pink/red coral. 

August Books

 

Dear friends. After the excitement of June and July's reading, which was mostly done months ago thanks to advance digital copies, I've been in a bit of a books funk.

NetGalley hasn't been enticing me with much, and what I have requested has often turned into a "Did Not Finish." I'm several books behind my reading goal on Goodreads. 

Outfits Worn this Long Hot Summer

 And Tuesday Twirl

Dear friends. We've all been living in shorts and vests/tanks this abnormally summer. That was the conclusion from a weekend meetup with stylish pals. 

The simplicity of this style of dressing appeals to me on a hot day when I'm not doing very much, but it's annoying when I'm going to an event or other activity and yearn for at least one layer. A jacket! A cardigan. But no, the only solution is to add some jewellery and maybe a pair of fancier sandals.

Coming to Alaska: A Journey from Cheechako to Sourdough by Nicole Mölders

 

Dear friends. Today I'm reviewing a memoir from fellow blogger Nicole Mölders. I've long been in awe of the multi-talented Nicole. She is an Emerita Professor of Atmospheric Science, an author, lifestyle blogger at High Latitude Style, and an artist. 

In this autobiography Nicole shares how she and her husband left Leipzig in Germany to live in Alaska, US. 

The story is quite surprising: the move was sudden. After interviews over 3 days Nicole was offered a job she had seen advertised in a scientific journal. 

Her husband, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Kramm, readily agreed to the move, even though he had never been there and the couple knew little about the place, except that it was cold. 

Soon they, their cat and worldly possessions were on their way to Fairbanks.

I Left My Heart in Altnaharra

 And TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Altnaharra, in the northern corner of Scotland, is a tiny hamlet we passed through on our 3 week cycling adventure from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats. The region is simply breath-taking and I definitely plan to go back!

This is part 2 of my journal on our trip. Read the first part. 

I'm picking up the story deep in the north of England. For me, the last few days in England and the week in Scotland were the most spectacular cycling in the holiday. The highly populated cities and towns give way to hundreds of miles of unspoilt countryside. 

UK End to End by Bike - Part 1

 And TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends.  For the last 3 weeks I've been cycling 1000 miles (1,609km) from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Scotland (known as LEJOG). 

Some of you may remember we did this before, in 2024. I wrote a post about the experience, From Novice to LEJOG by eBike.  I talk there about how the holiday is run and give various tips on training, packing, riding an ebike and more.

This time, I'm approaching it in a different way. I'm sharing my daily journal. You'll find all the highs plus, in the interests of authenticity, the lows:  nausea, sore nethers, bike troubles....

Joyful July Reading {2026}

 

Dear friends.  If you're looking for some holiday reading I've got you covered. There's a gentle and lyrical 5 star read about a shy boy who loses his only friend, a couple of excellent crime thrillers and an  empathetic new read from Amanda Prowse. 

Non-fiction features a delightful book about penguins, and some delicious recipes and facts about adding fibre to our diets. 

All books were provided free as digital advance copies via NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an honest review, except those marked * which I bought myself.

The Age Rebellion by Lyndsey Simpson

 

Dear friends. There's a new narrative around retirement. It's no longer about putting your feet up and going on cruises, with a little babysitting and gardening.

Increasing amounts of research tells us that to stave off dementia we need to continue to exercise our brain as well as maintaining a good level of fitness to take us beyond the golden period of ages 60 to 72.

I've just read a new book, The Age Rebellion by Lydnsey Simpson. She describes the post-working years as our second act. 

Simpson, the Global CEO of 55/Redefined,  says there's no reason why we shouldn't start or own business or switch to an entirely different career as we get older. We may have decades in front of us if we set an arbitrary retirement date. Retirement is no longer the end point. 

Greece, Art, Ballet: June in Review

And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends.  Another busy month which included art exhibitions, our holiday in Greece, the start of my Medieval Exeter study tour, and another heatwave. 

Monday June 1

Weather a bit unsettled after the first heatwave of the summer in May.  Sorted car insurance for my new car. Went to dentist for bone implant. Quite unpleasant. "Real" stitches (as opposed to dissolvable) and antibiotics. Stitches will come out day before we go to Greece. My next appointment,  in Oct, will involve a CT scan to check if enough bone has grown for my tooth implant to go ahead. 

Holiday Outfits

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. We've just returned from another wonderful holiday on the Greek island of Skiathos. I'm sharing some of the outfits I wore.

I thought I'd packed plenty, but while I had a lot of choice for daytime, I didn't have much that was "special" for evenings. Special but not too dressy, as Skiathos is quite a laid back,  relaxed place.

June Books {2026}

 

Dear friends. A bumper crop of books this month. I'm sure there's something of interest for everyone. I bring you two 5 star reads plus some close contenders from the likes of Elizabeth Strout and Satu Rämö, plus three non-fiction books covering butterflies, cooking and The Beatles. 

If you're wondering how I managed to read 10 books in a month, well, I receive advance digital copies from NetGalley, sometimes months before the books are published. I read most of these in darkest winter. 

Orange: Would You?

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Orange is a bit divisive.  You either love it or hate it.  It's a warm colour and definitely doesn't flatter if you are cool toned.  It's also quite attention seeking, perhaps in a different way to red, which stands for passion, power and confidence.

Royals to the Rescue

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. When I was working I had two secret weapons for breaking the ice with my international colleagues at various meet ups. Eurovision was one, the European royals was another.

In those days I read Hello magazine mainly to stay up to date with Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Not only did she marry one of her bodyguards, she ran off to join a circus and trained to be a lion tamer.

All very exciting compared to the rather sedate British royals.

Bookshelf Update

 

Dear friends.  My big book update is a monthly one, a smorgasbord of delights,  but I like to bring you an occasional hors d'oeuvres to bridge the gap. 

All books have been provided as advance digital copies via NetGalley and the publishers except for those marked with an asterisk. Those I bought. 

Summer Fashion Disappoints

 And #Tuesday Twirl

Dear friends. We've had a very intense spell of hot weather. Temperatures in London reached 34 degrees at times. It was hotter than Spain and Greece! 

I don't mind now I have an AC unit in my bedroom (read more about this in my Review of May).

Marvellous May

 May in Review: #WBOYC

Dear friends. What a scorcher! May 2026 was the hottest May on record, with temperatures in the last week in the 30s in London.  

It was a busy month for me, including a gravel cycling break in Scotland and trips to the David Bowie immersive and Queen Elizabeth: Her Life in Style exhibition.

Outfits Fit for a Queen

 And TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. Today I'm taking you to a fascinating exhibition in London: "Queen Elizabeth: Her Life in Style."  I went with six colourful friends and we had a fun lunch in Sloane Square afterwards. 

The late Queen's early reign coincided with the start of UK couture. The quality of the craftsmanship involved in creating many of the Queen's outfits was outstanding. 

May Books {2026}

Dear friends. Perhaps not as many books read as usual this month, but they were generally high quality and very different from each other.  

There were three 5 star reads, one a moving account of the death of an ordinary man. 

I've also given an update on my book challenges, given that we're nearly halfway through the year. 

All books were supplied as digital advance copies by NetGalley in return for an honest review, except those with an asterisk which I bought myself. 

Is This Why Skin Creams Don't Work?

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Have beauty brands been deceiving us for years with products containing ingredients that don't penetrate the skin? 

It's all to do with a unit of measurement called a Dalton. It's a unit of mass used to measure the size of molecules. 

What's significant about it is that some small beauty brands are claiming that research from Harvard University suggests commercial skincare products with "miracle" ingredients are actually biophysically too large to do the heavy lifting they are marketed for.

Summer Buys

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends.  I'm sharing a couple of new season buys today. I didn't need very much for summer and I haven't seen very much that grabs me. That's one of the drawbacks with having had colour analysis. You search for particular colours and sometimes they're just not in the shops.

My new orange jacket is from Kettlewell,  who specialise in colours for those who have been seasonally or tonally analysed. 

Finished, Reading, New Arrivals

 

Dear friends. Today sees my occasional update on what I've finished reading, am currently reading, and the new arrivals.  If you click on the titles of those I've read you'll be taken to my review on Goodreads.  Reviews will be published here on the 3rd Friday of the month.

An asterisk indicates a book bought myself. The rest are digital advance copies,  courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers. 

Ideal Home Show, Schiaparelli, Tulip Fever

 April in Review {2026}

Dear friends. Spring is getting into its stride as you can see from my joyful pictures of bluebells, tulips and blue skies. 

The Most Colourful Bag Collection Ever!

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Let me introduce you to my rainbow bag collection. I'll tell you a bit about them, a few tips I have as a multi bag user, and I'll style my latest acquisition.

You may be asking: why so many bags? As you may know, I've had colour analysis and am a Spring, and I just love the warm, bright colours of this season.  I have so much fun building outfits around my bags or shoes. Not for me a restrained black, navy or white bag.

Can I Lower My Cholesterol Through Diet Alone?

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. I've had a rude awakening. I need to radically change my diet after a routine NHS over 60s health check revealed high cholesterol. It was high both overall and for the "bad" sort, the LDL reading.

I like to keep out of the clutches of the NHS. I'm not on any prescription medications and consider myself fit and healthy. 

Latest Book Reviews for April

 #WOYBS

#WHATSONYOURBOOKSHELF

Dear friends. A more contemplative selection of books this month, with two outstanding memoirs and a couple of books set in the past. 

I'm starting first with my 5 star read, the non-fiction The Apothecary by the Sea by Victoria Bennett. An inspiring and spellbinding read. Thanks as always to NetGalley and the various publishers of the books reviewed below for the advance digital copies.

Your Best Face: Look Fabulous Forever

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends.  A veritable feast of beauty tips for the over 50s today as I share my thoughts on two products you've probably seen advertised on Instagram. I'll also be creating a natural "no make-up look" with products from Look Fabulous Forever (gifted).

Spring Style

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends.  I hope you had a joyful Easter, if it's something you celebrate. It was just the hubs and me on Easter Sunday, as both children and their kids had gone away. We had a lovely lunch at a local restaurant which was very busy and full of Spring delight.

I was inspired by Spring primroses to wear lime and yellow. It was undecided, weather wise: sunny intervals but quite windy and a few occasional showers.

April Anticipation: Book Update

 

Dear friends. An update for you on books I've recently read, new arrivals, and what's ahead in my mid April round-up. 

The Penguin Returns: March in Review

 #WBOYC

Dear friends. March saw me going to two art exhibitions, one in Plymouth;  the start of our big garden renovation, numerous walks and bike rides and a Good Housekeeping hairdressing event. 

Let's dive in. 

At Last - Purple Trousers I Love

And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Do you long for a particular garment in a favourite colour, but are always disappointed by what you find?

My bête noires are denim skirts and purple trousers.  Denim skirts we will save for another day. 

Review: The Waterlands by Stephen Rutt

Any place where water and land join together is where an alchemical sort of magic occurs. So says Stephen Rutt, author of The Waterlands.

It's a lyrical, poetic work of non-fiction that gives us a grateful pause from everyday life.

Barrel Jeans and Woven Mary Janes

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. As our "faux Spring" draws to an end for the time being, I was thrilled to get away with just a short jacket over jeans and a shirt for a visit to the Turner & Constable art exhibition.

Barrel jeans are still everywhere and I liked the mocha colour of these, from Reiss. One of the big trends for Spring Summer is woven Mary Jane shoes. I wear mostly flat shoes and it's great to see this style in vogue. Mine are current, from John Lewis. They were comfortable from the get-go. 

Hot Books for March {2026}

 #WOYBS

Dear friends. Welcome to another month's reading. It's a varied selection with a 5 star short story collection, a couple of mystery/thrillers, and a heart warming tale of bereaved women who find friendship.

Non-fiction features a book on the notorious Victorian baby killer, Amelia Dyer, and how to reinvigorate your body through menopause with delicious and time-saving recipes. 

All the books were received as free digital advance copies from NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an honest review. 

The Zouave by Van Gogh: Favourite Paintings

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends.  For the second part of my favourite paintings series I've chosen an unexpected van Gogh.

The choice of van Gogh is obviously not unexpected. He is one of the best loved artists in the world. But his most admired and copied paintings tend to be the flowers  (irises, sunflowers, cherry blossom), the self portraits,  and the starry night series. 

I have had crushes on all of those at different times of my life. We have a reproduction of Irises in the front room.  It's true to say I have never met a van Gogh I didn't like.

Colourful Versus Neutrals

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. Is purple and orange a combination you would wear? It's the challenge of the month over at the Kettlewell Colour Club. 

For a moment I hesitated before giving it a go.

If you've been seasonally analysed as a Spring or Winter, your orange and your purple are bright and vibrant. A combination that could remind us of Halloween. 

I've Hit a Rich Seam

Greetings dear friends.  Here's a quick book update, sharing what I've recently been reading and my new arrivals.

You'll see there's a bit of a theme developing with my "Just Finished" list.  As a lover of crime fiction, but rather particular about the genre, I dive into a feeding frenzy when I discover an author who ticks my boxes, and has a linked series of novels.

There's something very satisfying about getting to know regular characters, plus a particular part of the world, and Aline Templeton does this with her series of books featuring DCI Kelso Strang. 

In the first book - Death on Skye - we meet Detective Chief Inspector Kelso Strang, a widower whose pregnant wife died in a car crash. As a result, he has a thick scar on his cheek. Kelso has been seconded to run a special Rural Crimes Squad by Police Scotland. He's catapulted into situations where a small part-time police station can't cope with a major crime. 

Unusually for a crime thriller, or police procedural, we have to wait quite a while before the first murder.  This is Templeton's modus operandi for all the books, and it works very well. She introduces us to a particular community and key individuals, and there are clues about tensions and explosive situations. 

PC Livvy Murray is sent to assist Kelso, and what a character she is.  Ambitious and confident, but also rather too bullish and inclined to follow her own initiative in the hope of impressing Strang  (who is the silent, brooding type).  She finds herself becoming jealous of a superior officer and is furious that she can't seem to stop herself. 

And then there's Detective Chief Superintendent Jane Borthwick, Kelso's boss,  described as "Fair, firm and effing formidable."

The crimes themselves are complex and typical of rural communities, with a few surprises for any city dwellers who think that money laundering, people trafficking, murders and organised crime don't exist in remote areas. 

Templeton is very good at constructing a finely woven plot where it's impossible to predict who the perpetrators are until the very last minutes. The hallmark of a good crime thriller.

So yes, I'm hooked on this series, and NetGalley books are getting a rest at the moment.

Having said that, I do have a couple of new arrivals to share with you. These were all provided free of charge as advance digital copies by NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an honest review. 

Fallout by Eleanor Anstruther  (publication date: 21 April).

Set in Thatcher's Britain of the 1980s, this is the story of a radical daughter, a closeted father and a  prim mother turned protester. One runaway girl sets a family on fire—and lights the way to liberation.  The book shines a light on the Greenham Common nuclear protests, a significant feminist uprising which has disappeared into the annals of time. 

Blind Pursuit by Rob Sinclair  

Synopsis:  Callum Murphy thought he was happily married to a corporate consultant. But when police show up at Callum’s work site, informing him of his wife Lea’s death, his world starts to crumble. It turns out her death was just the beginning.  Callum learns that Lea was, in fact, an MI6 agent who was killed because of intelligence only she had. Then strangers with guns break into his home and he’s forced to run for his life. 

A Hard Day's Night by Samira Ahmed (publication date: 11 June)

Well-known journalist and BBC broadcaster Samira Ahmed attempts to answer the question of how a film made to capture a pop phenomenon become an enduring cinematic classic.

It's a film that's particularly close to my heart because it was the first one I ever saw. aged 3, and I can still remember how captivated I was. It's a charming film, full of energy and wit, and the magical songs and personalities of The Beatles. 

Have you seen A Hard Day's Night? What was the first film you saw? Do tell in the comments. 

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Fabulous February Books 

Harvesters by Anna Ancher: Favourite Paintings

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. A different post this week but one that is close to my heart. If you read my monthly round-ups or follow me on Instagram,  you'll know that I try to go to a least one art exhibition a month. I find art very uplifting. My favourite paintings fill me with joy for different reasons. 

I'm fortunate to live in London which has several world class art museums.  

Washday Blues and Seurat Hues: February

 

Dear friends.

February always feels like a busy and bustling month, thanks to its brevity. The weather was pretty abysmal most of the time, but there were a couple of tempting peaks of Spring. I had a good month except for a falling out with the washing machine!

A Week of Outfits

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. I set myself a challenge to wear a proper outfit each day for a week. 

Most days I wear athleisure all day.  It's not the trendy sort, either. 

But as I miss my outfit round-ups of yore, when I was working, I decided to smarten up my act to wear more of my clothes. I'm showing you what I wore each day last week. 

What to expect:  an ordinary 65 year old woman wearing colourful outfits and accessories to hopefully give you a bit of inspiration. 

Fabulous February Books

  

Dear friends.  February is remarkable for some of the best books I've read for a while.

You'll encounter: a wise woman mistaken for a witch; a forbidden relationship between a priest and a woman campaigning for Catholic reform;  twins whose lives are changed forever by a childhood act of kindness, and female spies in the war sent to comfort German soldiers. 

I'm also on a roll with my non-fiction reading and have two very different books for you.

All books were provided free of charge as advance digital copies by NetGalley and the publishers. 

An Outfit to Scare the Husband

 

Dear friends. We were inundated on Instagram last week with suggestions of what to wear for Valentine's Day. Well, as Mr Mutton and I don't usually mark this in any way, I wasn't paying too much attention.

But then my new-to-me red skirt with purple flowers arrived from eBay.  It's a Boden skirt and you know my love for them. 

The Wives of Henry VIII by Jessica Carey-Bunning

Dear friends.  I am an avid reader of Tudor history. So much so, I wondered if there was still anything new to learn. 

I'm glad to say a new voice (to me) on the Tudor scene, Jessica Carey-Bunning, brings a fresh and welcome perspective to the six wives of Henry VIII.

Health and Fitness: What I've Learned

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. Last week I came to a satisfying realisation.  Maintaining my health and fitness is now a cherished part of my life. I no longer worry unnecessarily about falling off the wagon and piling weight back on. I have all the tools I need.

The realisation came during a fitness bootcamp with FitFarms. This was my third one and I recommend it if you're struggling with diet and exercise.