Jane Tilton says:
Or a side effect of the menopause?
I try to convince myself that I am a deep, complex, cultured woman with a wide and varied interest in the arts and life.
But I am always caught out.
Like me I expect you have all worked out exactly which 8 records you would take onto your desert island when you are asked. For those outside the UK, there is a programme called Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 where each week a guest is invited to say which eight records (songs) they'd take with them if they were thus stranded on a desert island. And then the crunch...one luxury item they would absolutely not wish to be without.
Wow, just had a weekend in Dublin, staying at the Clarence. Obviously not something I would have done in my twenties, and only doing in my forties because of a very special deal, I mean do you really want to pay over £200 a night to stay in a place where your toothpaste spit doesn't run down the basin?
Still it was very nice. Didn't meet any Irish people (no, these two sentences are not connected before you complain). All the restaurant staff, shopkeepers even the woman who tells you how to crash in the aeroplane were all from Eastern Europe. Where are all the Irish? The hen parties (which I must admit to being very afraid of, but not half as scared as the husband was) were all from the North of England.
It makes for a very surreal experience. The pubs are all smoke free - which is wonderful, but there are so many people smoking on the street you are in danger of having your eye put out by a stray fag. Still the streets are wonderfully clean because of the mobile ashtrays that clean up.
I've decided two things about travel in my forties. Firstly I like long weekends away Friday to Sunday is just fine. Secondly, I really don't enjoy arriving home (or anywhere) late. I would so much rather arrive fresh in the morning. I find that coming home late really depresses me. So from now on all my weekend breaks will have to finish on Monday (or Tuesday) morning.
I'm a qualified aromatherapist, reflexologist and reiki practitioner and have more than 20 years experience in this area. Last year I passed the kinesiology practitioner's course and I am currently studying for the diploma.
I really love the the different aspects of what I do and work very closely with my clients on all areas of their lives including diet and relaxation techniques. I have contributed articles to several journals and magazines and was recently invited to write a piece for a book on aromatherapy in pregnancy. I am studying for an Open University degree in Humanities and Literature.
I have worked closely with Judith on several projects in the past and see 3WW as a continuation of this most enjoyable journey. I am 42 and married with a stepson. I live in South London and Hastings and enjoy reading, writing, swimming and cycling as well as my work.
