A new craze is about to emerge. Based on the success of internet cafes, and the upsurge of Stitch and Bitch type classes, keep your eyes peeled for sewing cafes. Yes, buy a cup of coffee and make and mend at the same time. Sewing machines are made available for you to knock up a brand new garment or just make some needed alterations. You might also find they provide lessons on sewing and knitting/crochet. Open already in Paris (where the trend began) London, Devon and Glasgow, if they catch on there could be one in your local town soon.  The photo  -  Make it Glasgow. www.makeitglasgow.co.uk

If you have ever tried to but a bikini in the middle of December or ski wear in July, you’ll know it’s pretty impossible. But no longer. Here is style passport to help you. Place your order on line, take receipt a couple of days later of the goods neatly boxed and wrapped in tissue and deftly load into your suitcase -job done.

Launching this Spring.

www.style-passport.com

Ever since I started to keep my Gratitude Diary lovely, unexpected things have occurred. On Saturday, hubby and I went to the Comedy Theatre to see Children’s Hour starring Keira Knightley. In Pret a Manger, before the show started, we got a free portion of soup for absolutely no reason whatsoever, then a lady gave us ( for no charge)  her just-purchased programme because her friend texted her to say she had bought one. We were also given the best seats in our shared box, again for no reason at all. Can’t be bad. You should try it.

Just one space left for Personal Branding on Saturday February 26th. For £25 you’ll discover tons of things about yourself and how to ‘walk your talk’ authentically.

For more details, and to pay, go to:

http://shop.feelfabat50.com/styleforums

Oh, and by the way, it’s lots of fun too.

Hope to see you there.

Sue X

The daily Gratitude Diary that I have spoken about in my e-zine really sparked your imaginations. Many of you have written to me to say that you too are now doing this simple act on a daily basis and are already seeing the results. What I didn’t expect to happen was that I am featuring in YOUR Gratitude Diaries. Well, I’m grateful that you’re grateful – if that makes sense. If you missed last month’s newsletter and you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s pretty simple. You just list 5 things you are grateful for every day. After a while, you soon realise how lucky you are, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. Try it and see. It’s very rewarding, especially if you buy yourself a beautiful journal to write in. Adds to the occasion.  The one pictured is available from Amazon by Northern Spears. You can also buy from Amazon (second hand)  The Simple Abundance  Journal of Gratitude by my favourite author Sarah Ban Breathnach.  The best time to do it is bedtime, so you have lovely thoughts throughout the night. Don’t miss out. Go to my website home page and sign up for my monthly e-zine. It’s free!

http://www.feelfabat50.com/signup.html

Jill Shaw Ruddock, a former banker, declared that a revolution was going on when she appeared in front of a huge crowd in Westfield Shopping Centre.  “We baby boomers redefined every decade we lived in and now we’re going to redefine getting old. We will change the world!” she said. Her new book, The Second Half of Your Life is all about rebranding ‘the new old’.  Further North, in Yorkshire to be precise, more traditional Croning Ceremonies are being offered as a part of a complementary therapy package to celebrate our new middle age.  In France, a new book by Marie De Hennezel ‘The Warmth of Your Heart Prevents Your Body from Rusting’ is high on the best sellers list and urges you to turn your old age into something beautiful. Well said, that woman. Have I not urged you all to be curious, have fun, love the way you live and experiment with finding your unique look?  Glad to see the headliners are now giving us some credibility at last.  Still not getting it? Then try Jane Shilling’s The Stranger in the Mirror – a memoir of middle age.  All available from www.amazon.co.uk

…is what you get when a trend revisits the shops and you just know you aren’t going to like it. I’m doing a styling piece for ESP magazine on the 70′s. I’ve managed to get the clothes and I know my models will look fab. They asked if I wanted to model – my new career you know – and I responded in the affirmative until I saw just how stupid I would look. No surprise really, I looked ridiculous the first time round too. Yes, I could manage to make it work, that’s my job after all, but life’s too short!.