#adelearcher

[adelearcherwrites]

Pass the Passport

Heartening news… It’s my own stupid fault, I know. But my husband took it upon himself to book some flights to Slovenia next month (like one does), so on hearing this cheering news, I languidly ambled upstairs to double-check my passport would cover the period of travel – plus six months. And low and behold, it did not – it expires in August 2022. Even then, I was still fairly chilled about it;…

[rjnello]

Writing the 18th century has worn me down. Thank goodness the weekend is here! Time for "Dee" and "Milo" - the American - in current day Richmond (London) by @adelearcherwrites. . I don't review books on Amazon. That's not because I'm being precious or awkward. Rather, it's because my Amazon account is under my real name, which is close enough to my pen name here that anyone with half a brain could put 2 + 2 together!😎📝 I will say this here about Adele's books. I've read the first two and look forward to this new one. They are terrific reads. 😀📚 . American men ... who'd tolerate 'em! 😂 . Wait! I'm one!😆 . #AdeleArcher #weekend #Friday #humor #humour #Hertfordshire #England #travel #books #novels #romancenovels #authors #writers #Amazon #Kindle #writersofInstagram #photo #photographylife #expats #homeoffice #iPad #literature #writers #indiebooks #indieauthors (at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom)

[adelearchive]

Adele / 📷 Martin Schoeller / Edit by @adelearchive

[adelearcherwrites]

Gym Don'ts

Gym Don’ts

Now, there’s nothing worse than a regular gym-goer telling the novice what to do and what not to do. And let me tell you right off the bat that this isn’t going to be a post about clueless newbies starting out at the gym with improper form, or lifting too light, or being one of those who will only run on a treadmill for an hour without touching the weights. We know NOTHING about strangers at the…

[adelearcherwrites]

The High-Functioning Introvert

Happy Easter!

As good an excuse as any I’m sitting here in a Work from Home Café (is that a thing? I was going to say Internet Café but we’re not in the 90s, so I think I’ll stick with WFH Café). I mean, a lot of people her are working from home…in a cafe, but you can also just sit and drink coffee and eat cake if you want to (and I am). But I thought I’d bring my laptop along and force myself to write a…

[adelearcherwrites]

What I Eat in a Day 😳

*sigh*

Protein shake *Trigger warning – diet discussion* I’m sorry. I’ve knowingly lured you in under false pretenses. Because this isn’t really about what I eat in a day – well it is a bit. But it’s more about how I’ve changed my perspective on (and my general annoyance over) diet culture. I’m sure you’ve seen the trend on Insta and TikTok (I don’t have ‘TikTok’, I’m fifty). Some twenty-something…

[adelearcherwrites]

Namaste Yogis

Child’s Pose: My shoulder stops me getting any flatter. In passing, I mentioned the other week that I’ve recently got into yoga and have practiced nearly every day since the beginning of October. So I think it’s a keeper even for a person like me who tends to go through ‘phases’. It’s a practice that I’d attempted off and on over the years but never really got on board with as there was always…

[adelearcherwrites]

Age Appropriate

I was going to write this blog when I turned fifty (just before Christmas), but you know me. I struggle to do anything to a timetable lately, and I’ve proven time and time again that I’m hardly consistent when it comes to writing. But I’m a captive audience today (aptly, sitting in a hairdresser’s chair having my [in reality] salt and pepper-coloured hair dyed blonde for the umpteenth time). And…

[adelearcherwrites]

Three Lions

Ima’ just leave this here… This wasn’t the blog I was planning to write. ‘TWO blogs in mind?’, I hear you cry. Well, it’s like buses with me. You wait forever and three come along at once. And then an entire year passes by with absolutely nuffink. Or perhaps you were hoping I’d go away again. Who knows? Either way, this blog post seemed a little more pressing. Last Wednesday night was a special…

[adelearcherwrites]

REACH for the Stars (if only)! 💫

Look, this photo doesn’t do the flood justice… Hey! How’ve you been? Personally, I’ve been better, but we’ll get onto that in the next paragraph. My husband, with his intimate knowledge of blog-writing, insists one mustn’t start a post apologising for not writing a post for so long, but when you’ve been AWOL for 329 days (God, that’s nearly a year), I feel you need to at least give a passing nod…

[adelearcherwrites]

The Great Outdoors

Roots manoeuvre

There aren’t many positives to this COVID19 outbreak. But if I were to look for one, I guess I would have to admit that the pandemic has forced me to pay attention to my garden. Yes, yes, we are currently allowed to go out for our one daily walk, but since lockdown began, we (and every other person on the planet who possesses a garden) has realised that since none of us are going…

[adelearcherwrites]

Surviving The C-Word

When I originally wrote this blog midweek, I was feeling a little more chipper than I am this morning. But day by day, the C-Word is becoming more destructive. More people are falling sick, more businesses are being forced to close, more people are becoming isolated, more plans are ruined, more people are worrying about their financial future. But you already know this, and since I’m rather too…

[adelearcherwrites]

I.Just.Can't.Even.

I.Just.Can’t.Even.

“…But…why…?”

Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is just another one of my many ‘ranty’ posts. It isn’t. But that’s okay. Like I say, I forgive you. And although I have been known to moan about stuff, I’ve also been known to write posts about things that make me happy. Well, I did once. Things like…oh, I can’t remember…ah, yes…bin day! I like bin day. Anyway, you could read that one positive…

[adelearcherwrites]

I was reading an article the other day (probably more like six months ago, but I couldn’t be bothered to write a blog about it at the time), and it was titled, ’14 Style Mistakes That Will Age You’. It was a piece that never really stated who it was aimed at, but without a doubt, it was for ‘women of a certain age’. I’m not sure why I chose to read it, because being a link that came via Facebook, it was never going to be overflowing with journalistic integrity. But I had time to kill. It appears the writer, whoever she was, had just asked a bunch of other fashion stylists and fashion content leads (stylists and leads from what and where, I couldn’t say) for their opinions on clothes. Although some of the advice I secretly and resignedly accepted, (unsurprisingly) some of the tips disgruntled me a bit. First off, who are these people to tell me what to wear? And second…off, these articles are never written for older men. That’s either because a] nobody gives a sh*t what older men wear, or b] we still live in a society with differing gender standards. I’ll leave you to be the judge of that. Anyway, putting the gender rights and wrongs of the article aside just for a bit (and I mean a bit), I thought I might give my two-pennies-worth on the actual fashion content.

1: Fast Fashion Trends

By this, the writer was referring to anything new and hip (just by me even saying ‘new and hip’ shows that I’m not). They suggested you may give a subtle nod to a new trend but no more, or you end up looking ‘clueless’. Well, this is something I don’t really need to worry about. I am very suspicious of all new trends until they are at least two years old, and then I might adapt a watered-down version of it for myself. I secretly think the fashion industry is out to make fools of all of us, and it’s just up to us not to let them.

2: Tights

Me in school uniform…

But I love tights!

You heard it right. Tights. Yeah, this one also staggered me somewhat too. This one particular stylist doesn’t like them. That staple of all our wardrobes – the writer says they ‘age us’. Not only does she not like nude ones (most people don’t, really), she doesn’t like black tights. She says they look like school uniform. I mean, I wear black opaque tights with such regularity throughout the winter, I can’t imagine the season without them. I look forward to the season because of them – at last a time when I can wear skirts! Well, whoever that particular ’fashion content lead’ was, she can sod right off.

3: Baggy Clothes

That is, oversized clothes will make you look bigger and hide your shape. I reluctantly agree with this statement, but only because I am very short and if I don’t emphasise my shape, I resemble a pygmy person. But back in the 80s and 90s I was wearing massive Marks and Spencer men’s cardigans just like everybody else (teamed with Doc Martin’s and high-wasted jeans). And I still ascertain to this day I looked swell. My kids love their oversized t-shirts and jumpers and coats – I just think it is a fashion phase we all can and should go through.

4: Black

It’s okay! I have bronze shoes!

Yep. So, what they’re saying is, black is a bit draining to those with older skin. Never have I heard suck a crock of sh*t. Surely somebody was just trying to pad that article out a bit? Black is…the new black. Black is a timeless standard. Black is as old as time itself when it comes to fashion, and to suddenly lessen its worth now (just to be controversial, probably) is ludicrous. But it’s okay, everyone, they tell us not to panic – bright lipstick is suggested to pick things up a bit – so us old women are allowed to wear black with garish lipstick. Thanks.

5: Maxi Dresses and Skirts

Y’know, the ones that go pretty much down to the floor (I’m explaining this for men). The author says these are unflattering. On the whole, this has been true for me. But I do have one very fitted maxi dress (it has to be fitted due to my small stature), and one maxi skirt – both of which I love. I don’t need any others. I’ve found the best, and I think I look good in them.

6: Over-Accessorising

Y’know, not too much jewellery and that. Agreed, I suppose. I never was one for much jewellery. I wear two sets of small earrings in my ears (a stud and a hoop) and my wedding and engagement ring – all white metal, never gold. Oh, and a watch. And I barely ever diversify. Mainly because I can’t be bothered to put it all on and take it all off again.

7: Athleisurewear

Oh no, I’m in athleisurewear…

That is, wearing athletic clothing when you’re not doing sport or not on the way to the gym. I am often on the way to the gym so I have every right to do so. But on a day-to day basis? I sort of concur (only sort of, sports clothing not worn for sport really doesn’t offend me). But I do like to throw on a hoodie when I can’t be arsed. And I have been known to stay in a pair of trackie-bottoms I’ve been lounging around the house in if I’m just picking up one of the kids by car, and nobody will see me (other than from the house to the car, and vice versa). I don’t know, this fashion advice all sounds a bit prescriptive to me.

8: Mini Skirts

16 inches, I checked.

Midi-style skirts and dresses are much more flattering, apparently. But it really depends what they mean by mini. I’m five-foot-three (and a half, last time I checked) and if I wear anything too long, I look like a librarian (and not a trendy one, a 1950’s one [apologies to my sister-in-law who is a librarian – but she is always the pinnacle of style]). So I like all my skirts to be approximately 15/16 inches long, which I feel is the most flattering length for me (not to look younger, but any longer or shorter just doesn’t do me any favours). Is that length classes as a mini skirt? I don’t know. That’s for the courts to decide (judicial courts, not the type of shoes).

9: Jersey Material

  Crap! I’ve gone bodycon!

It’s the bodycon clinginess the author of this piece has an issue with here. We need to buy jersey material only if it’s ruched, apparently…or with extreme caution. But if you’ve got the figure (or even if you haven’t), so what? Number 9 is extremely sizeist.

10: Not Dressing for Your Shape

  I’m pretty sure the article writer was just recycling and padding out the piece with this one – we’ve already discussed baggy clothing which hides your shape. I know, I know. Wear tailored clothing, yada-yada-yada. C’mon, this is just shoddy journalism.

11: Super-Long Hair

I hate to agree, but I do sort of agree. Hairdressers have been telling me for years that anyone over forty can’t really carry off very long hair. For me anyway, that’s true. My hair got thinner after having two kids, and if I grew it too long I wouldn’t be able to do a thing with it. But if you’ve got thick hair, then you go rock that look until whatever age you like.

12: An Ill-Fitting Bra (no picture required)

Stands to reason, really. Though I do maintain we should have the right to wear whatever the hell we bloody well like (and don’t wear a bra at all if you don’t want to).

13: Platform Heels

The author of this article says they’re ugly, if comfortable. She wants us all to wear pointy stilettos (thereby ruining our feet for life with misshapen toes, bunions, and corns). Well she can **** right off. I happen to like platform heels and chunky boots. Coz I’m small. Obvs. Of course, I do far prefer flats, but on the odd occasion when heels really are required, I’ll be in chunky/wedge ones. So there.

14: Fascinators

Really? How relevant are fascinators to everyday fashion? If you’re not going to Ascot or Epsom, this is a non-issue – a moot point. The writer says we shouldn’t wear them at weddings either, but I think the writer had run out of steam. I certainly had run out of patience after reading the entire article.

Although I begrudgingly admit that some of this advice in this piece I could possibly get on board with, I still couldn’t get past the fact that people really shouldn’t write articles telling women what to wear – just so they don’t look old. If I’m old, why shouldn’t I look it? Yes, I do dye my hair because of the greys (but that’s my choice), and dress in a more fitted and tailored way (because of said pygmy stature), but again, that’s just personal preference. If a woman in the same age bracket attired herself entirely differently, that would be okay too. We’re all built differently and we can all get away with different things. The fact remains an article like this would never have been written for a 40+ man. Since reaching the age of 40, I’ve dressed more flamboyantly than I ever did in my youth. Being this age just means you’re more comfortable in your own skin and care less about what society thinks – so I don’t need articles penned for me telling me what to wear. I already know what to wear. So, to coin a slightly overused phrase; you do you and I’ll do me.

NB: This was not a blatant excuse to post picture of me dressed in various different outfits, but the photos had to come from somewhere!

Age Appropriate I was reading an article the other day (probably more like six months ago, but I couldn’t be bothered to write a blog about it at the time), and it was titled, …

[adelearcherwrites]

You Don’t Know You’re Born!

You Don’t Know You’re Born!

I was having a conversation with somebody the other day – I don’t remember who – about growing up in the 70s. I was born in 1971. And it’s only when you really think back, or your ailing memory is jogged by something, that you start to realise how much times have changed since you were a child. Many people think bygone childhoods were an idyllic time compared with the fast-paced lives our kids…

[adelearcherwrites]

Free Book! Catch it while you can...

Free Book! Catch it while you can…

Free? Wait…what…? Now, this is not an actual blog post, so don’t get all exited, or anything. Not that I expect you were exited, you are most likely relieved. You get the morning off! Yay! Anyway, this is just a quick message to say that if you haven’t already read ‘International Relations’ (book 1 in the 3-book saga [where have you been?])…well, it’s only cotton-picking-FREE for a very limited…