Category: Musings

L I F E | dealing with breakouts in your 40’s

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Breakouts at any age are a bloody pain in the backside but at 49 … I’m like Jeez Mother Nature give us a break !

I can’t actually remember a time when I had spot-free skin. They have plagued me all my life.

I had acne quite late on in life ; during my early twenties. My doctor at the time put me on the pill because it was proven to help with this type of acne [ cystic ] I never got to find out if it did or didn’t help .

The pill played havoc with my hormones and sent me slightly bonkers. My dad said I was like the ‘work of the devil ‘ ! For my sanity and everyone else’s safety I came off them. I decided people could live with spotty Tracey , but Tracey who wanted to kill everyone … maybe not so much!

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S T Y L E | 3 jewellery brands you need to know about

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I’m sat on my bed, my 4th, maybe my 5th coffee is on the go … and my second outfit . Let’s just say the weather put play to my first one. I’m listening to David Bowie and the heavy rain that is pelting against my window. Today June feels more like October [ sigh ]

I’m giggling because earlier , at the ripe old age of 49 , I discovered Penguins have knees. Who knew eh? I thought that was the reason they shuffled – because they didn’t have any [ knees] and they couldn’t bend their legs. Sounds a bit silly when I think about it!

I should be in Lisbon right now with my lady-friends . A long weekend of fun, frolics and exploring a new city had been carefully planned …. the Universe however and the ‘shit show’ that is 2020 had other ideas. Sheffield in the rain it is then! Continue reading →

S T Y L E | faffing around over lockdown …

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My mum always used to say I was a ‘faffer ‘ who liked nothing better than ‘faffing around’ with skincare and beauty bits .

F A F F E R – to spend your time doing a lot of things that are not important instead of the thing you should be doing . i.e “Tracey please stop faffing around”

I in turn always blamed Mum and her Avon [lady] sample kit. I can still see it now her little suitcase of complete and utter joy. The bundles of sachets of cream and THOSE Lipstick samples. Back in the 80’s lipstick samples were actually miniature lipsticks ; absolutely brilliant for handing out to customers with their monthly catalogue as they could fit through the letterbox. Great to try before you buy AND for my tiny hands to pinch & play with.

I’m not sure why they stopped doing them; in today’s weird ‘social distancing’ climate they would be ideal. Bring them back!

I found these photographs on Pinterest [ below ] can anybody remember them too?

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L I F E | Grandad Clarke’s photographs

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I adored my Grandad. Today as we celebrate 75 years since VE Day I find my thoughts are drawn back to him.

While he was alive he was just ‘ Grandad Clarke‘ to my younger brother Mark and I. My Mum’s Dad who smoked a pipe , had an annoying budgie that sang. Enjoyed a cheeky glass of Sherry , ate tripe , ALWAYS wore a shirt and tie and made the best eggs and soldiers.

He didn’t speak very much my Grandad but he had a kind face and a smile that could light up a room . I guess that’s where my Mum got it from [but my mum could talk! ]

It was only after he died and I was old enough to understand that I found out my Grandad had spent the majority of his life serving his country as a solider in the British Army. Grandad Clarke was in fact ‘Lieutenant [Quarter Master] Edwin Clarke Corps of Royal Engineers.

He died when I was 9.

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L I F E | lockdown PR

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Morning Campers how are you all doing today as we enter week 6 of lockdown ?? I think its week 6 anyway – who knows ?

[ I’ve just been advised it’s actually week 7! Bloody hell how time flies when you … don’t do much ! ]

Is anybody else losing track of the days, or is it just me? Days are blending into days and weeks into weeks ; it’s like one big old round of Ground Hog Day!

I have to admit I’ve not struggled too much with the lockdown, in a weird way I’ve actually enjoyed some parts of it. Tik Tok. Reading actual books . Afternoon Gin in the garden followed by decadent baths. Binge watching ‘Gangs of London’ and the beautiful ‘Normal People’. Friday Night Zoom quizzes with my friends. However as the weather has taken a turn for the worse and I’ve found myself confined indoors I have found myself feeling a little like spider man … and crawling walls !

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L I F E | happy birthday mum

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Hey Up Mum …

How is life up there on your cloud?

Can you remember Monkey Magic [ how could you forget it was Mark & I favourite programme! ] Well that’s how I like to envisage  you … zapping around on your super-powered – all singing -all dancing cloud

It’s been a funny old year. My 50th and your 75th year – the BIG one’s that we had discussed and made plans for on numerous occasions has turned into a bit of a ‘shit show’ Continue reading →