This is “au revoir”. I have been silent on this space for quite some time and a few of my loyal readers have contacting me to kindly enquire if I am ok. The short answer is that yes I am. I have had a few health issues probably following my stay in the hospital in Toulon and have been recommended to avoid too much stress and to take it easy. I must say that I am beginning to find the digital world overwhelming. Too much information and the technology seems to update every five minutes. I don’t know if any of you are also finding our online world challenging. Where have all the humans gone, we now get bots!
The above photograph was taken during a visit to St.Tropez in January.
The photograph above was taken in St.Tropez market during our last visit. The jacket I am wearing was bought in the market. I also have a similar one in grey. I find them very useful to pop on over trousers or a dress and often wear one when travelling.
This is “au revoir”
I am beginning to want to connect more and more with people especially friends and family. I really enjoy my twice a week pilates sessions and especially look forward to my Thursday morning Nordic walking group in Richmond Park. The added bonus of both of these pastimes is that I keeps my body moving. Vital as we get older.
This July I shall be 75 and feel that it is time to “prendre ma retraite”. I have been lucky to have had the most fantastic and interesting careers. My first job was at the age of 18 as assistant press officer at Browns of South Milton Street. In the words of The Devil wears Prada “a job any girl would die for”. After a couple of years as press officer at Browns I moved to Jaeger and worked there till I left to have my daughter.
I worked freelance for a while and then in the early 1980s trained as an image consultant. Firstly working from home with private clients. Then I qualified as a Master Coach in Neuro-Linguistic Programming in 1994 having trained in both the UK and the USA. I subsequently combined my two passions fashion and communication skills creating and delivering a program incorporating image and coaching which I delivered to clients such as Mars confectionery and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
It is time to pursue other interests. My husband and I look forward to travelling. We will be returning to South Africa again as we loved the safari trips we took. If you did not read about our adventures you can catch up here.
I shall continue to take photos of my outfits and post them on Instagram.
Thank you all for your comments I have enjoyed engaging with you over the years. I wish you all the best for the future.
Well I had just logged onto the blog to check your email address and will probably send one anyway. Sounds like a good decision, I have several friends who have kept up a high level of work type activity until around 75 and have then announced a shift into la retraite. Thank you for the window into your life and professional advice over many years.
I reread your piece on being in hospital in Toulon, what struck me was the emphasis on politesse. From your observation has that survived the pandemic in France? What semblance there was of a social contract on how we behave in public seems to have disappeared in England.
I was just thinking about you after looking at a capsule beach wardrobe post from 2020 from une femme d’un certain age, and thinking “I haven’t read anything from Josephine for awhile!” and then found this. I’m looking at closing my voice studio in 2030, when I’ll be 72. (I shake my head whenever I write that.) I’ll still give lessons on a drop-in basis, but as far as maintaining the studio – I think I’ll be done by then.
I’ve enjoyed your blog so much. Best wishes for the future!
Best of luck in the next phase of your life. I enjoyed the vicarious journeys to the south of France through your posts.
Thank you so much for sharing your fashion finds and lifestyle with us all. I have enjoyed it immensely and wish you every success as you move forward.
Wishing you good health & much happiness in all you do in the future. Thank you for your down to earth blog which I have really enjoyed over the years.
Used to love walking in Richmond Park when I lived nearby. I now live by the coast and enjoy walking there, it’s a wonderful way to escape from the digital way of life . Enjoy what you do and thanks for all your interesting posts. Best wishes, Eleanor
Best of luck for the future Josephine!
Very best wishes and thank you! Anna
Thank You, I always enjoyed and learned from your blog. Wishing You good health and new adventures.
Wishing you all good things in your future! Your blog has been a joy and inspiration to read.
Best wishes to you!
Au revoir! Thank you for so many enjoyable posts. Enjoy life, carpe diem!
Thank-you . All the Best !
All the best for your future. I’m now following you on Insta!
I will follow on instagram! I love your posts!
Your blog has always been so interesting and positive. I was thinking of you just recently and wondering if things were ok with you. Very best wishes!
Au Revoir Josephine and enjoy your trip to South Africa, how I miss it. Thank you very much for your wonderful posts and blogs over the years, so self-less of you, thank you, you have been a diamond. I feel the same as you about technology and wanting to do less of that and connect more with people. I think we must do whatever it takes to stay healthy and happy. Thank you lovely lady for all the joy you have given us. All the very best in your retirement. xx
It’s been a pleasure living vicariously through you and your many travels. Best wishes to you and thank you!
Au Revoir Josephine, thank for all of your interesting blogs over the years. You have given us lots of inspiration and advice on so many interesting and varied topics.
Wishing you all the very best in your new ventures.
I’ll add my best wishes to the ones above. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us on the blog for the past years. I must admit I prefer blogs to Instagram or other social media, but I totally understand the effort involved in keeping it running. Thus, a wise decision to let it go and spend more time doing things you enjoy with the people you love. I’ll try to remember to pop in and visit you on the gram!
Looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed your blog over the years. I particularly loved your pieces on life in the South of France and your visits to the St Tropez market. I shall miss your insight into fashion and life. Wish you all the best for the future and thank you.
Thanks Josephine xx
Sending so much love and remembering the fun times we had travelling around the UK. Keep in touch I’m still on the same email nd mobile. Let’s chat soon and enjoy every second of the next part of your journey.
Best wishes for the future and enjoy your travelling ! I have very much enjoyed following you over the years
I echo others here, I have enjoyed your blog and am grateful you took us along on your adventures! I am now following you on Instagram. “May your travels be filled with peace and blessings. May you reach your destination safely and return home in good health and filled with joy.”
I will miss you Josephine! Your outfits and advice over the years have been wonderful. Please take care of yourself!!
Thank you Josephine. I’ve so enjoyed your blogs over recent years and will definitely follow on insta. Very best wishes for your new season and safe travels
I had just wondered about you, Josephine! Oh yes, I too think that blogging and all social media has changed so much. Even for those of us tech savvy people. I used to love blogging and sharing information when it was, what seems now, a smaller more intimate group. I haven’t blogged in over a year and yet I DO think of returning to it as as way of reaching out. But yes, smaller groups of friends and certainly family somehow have more meaning now. I am 77 so hear you about the ageing factor! I hope your medical issues have been resolved: this getting older thing is not easy! Will see you over on IG. oxox
Josephine I will miss your blogs however could not agree with you more – connecting in person with family and friends is so much more special. Although I am one-half British, no longer have family living in the UK I wish you good health and fun adventures ahead.
Thank you Josephine and best wishes.
Thank you so much for your insights and humor. All the best to you.
I have also wondered in recent times if you were okay. I’m pleased to hear that you are.
I will miss your posts, but totally understand your reasons for retiring from your blogs.
I have been following for many years now, (from Australia) and have enjoyed your posts.
I wish you all life’s best for this next chapter.
Kay xx
Enjoy your retirement! Thank you for your blog… I’ve enjoyed following you… Very Best Wishes to you
Wishing you all the very best for the future. I have loved reading your blogs and admire your grasp of technology – it is so complex these days! Thank you and good luck x
Thank you so much for your blog and inspiration over the past years. I loved your capsule dressing for travel, and found it very useful many times.
Seeing the pics of your visits to France and snippets of life there was very uplifting.
I wish you well on your retirement, and will look out for your Instagram posts. Best wishes Jan xxx
Thank you for all of the wonderful posts and good luck to you! Yours was the first style blog to which I subscribed and it has been very helpful. Happy travels!
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Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. They bought tears to my eyes. We are off to France next week. I plan to take some photos of St.Tropez market so look forward to seeing you again on Instagram.
So sorry to read about your illness, Josephine. I had missed it as my old iMac gave up the ghost and I was involved in getting a new one and having all files transferred. Glad all is well now. I, also, at nearly 95 , have discovered that technology is developing at a rate rather too quickly for me. I shall miss your lovely advice and images as I am not on Instagram. All the very best for your decision to travel and may you enjoy your retirement from “Chic at any Age”.
Yes, I was thinking about you a couple of weeks ago too! I have very much enjoyed your blogs and advice especially on hair because its the same as mine! Such a shame you are going, bloggers of an older age who understand the baby boomer generation are very few. Enjoy the next phase of your life Josephine.
Thank you for the wonderfulness of your blog, Josephine….over the years I have enjoyed your common sense dressing; I have purchased both jewelry and a scarf from you over the last years and been introduced to Look Fabulous Forever. I wish you good health and wonderful travels. Unfortunately I do not subscribe to Instagram so will miss your posts. (p.s. I had remarked a few days earlier so I’ve again made a comment; I do not wish to duplicate but wanted to make sure you’ve received my best wishes.)
I have loved reading your blogs, and all your fashion advice, best wishes for the future Josephine.
Merci, Josephine. Thank you for your insights and knowledge, and for sharing your world. Focussing on relationships, travel and health is very important. Bonne chance.
Merci chère Josephine for all your posts. I am French but living in Australia and it was a joy to read you, especially since I lived in the South and knows well where you are/were.
Je vous souhaite une retraite bien méritée avec une super bonne santé, entourée de votre famille et amis.
We can still correspond when and if you feel tempted…and maybe meet in France when I return.
Thank you for all your posts, I have enjoyed reading them.
I think you should write your memoirs as they would be very interesting.
I wish you health and many more happy travels.
Jane X
Your blog has been a treasure trove of beauty and joy and you the jewel in the crown. I thank you for all your hard work. Relax and enjoy. While I (at 71) unapologetically dislike the techno age we live in, I am now a bit tempted to sign up on Instagram just to see your posts! May you and your handsome husband have a grand time in South Africa and all your future adventures, great and small.❤️ from Kathleen in New Jersey
I will miss your posts but send best wishes for the future!
I hadn’t received a post in awhile and wondered if I’d been left off your contacts list.
Didn’t know you were hospitalized…so glad you’ve recovered.
I’m sorry to see you retire..I enjoyed your posts, and your take on fashion from an English view ( American here). Also loved your posts about the South of France…..to be able to visit there so often…sigh….
But….every stage of life has its own joys and challenges. Wishing you the best in the next quarter of your life. Sounds like you have a plan to stay active and engaged….may only life’s blessings follow you through these next years. Be well. Travel on…..
Thank you so much. I’ve enjoyed your blog over the years and wish nothing but the best.
Dear Josephine, I have really enjoyed reading your posts over the years. Living deep in the countryside, I rarely get a chance to “dress-up” (or even smartly) but on the odd occasion that I do, you have acted as my source of inspiration. Sending you my very best wishes for good health and happiness. Enjoy your family and friendship times and I hope you have fun on your future adventures. Au Revoir Josephine.
I have just found this post while catching up with your writings and will be sorry to miss it in the future. Your charming, interesting and helpful stories will be missed, but you certainly deserve your retraite. I wish you good health and happy travels and long years of both. Thank you! You have been an absolute pleasure to “know.”