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.
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.
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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.