Late 40s, menopausal and fading

[Swedes2]

I haven't as yet submitted to the full beard and elasticated waistband trousers. But heck, it's hard isn't it? I absolutely love clothes, make-up, and all that shit.... but I am becoming more and more interested in my garden (not a euph). Last night I went to the garage to buy milk in my gardening clothes.

Anyone else going through the same thing? Have you any tips you can share?

How old is she? The mother of the bride?

56 I believe [cenvy]

Nooo! She looks amazing for 56 [cenvy][cenvy][cenvy]

They are fine fillies those Middletons... Just want to report on my first visit to a garden centre in about four years, to come full circle from Swedes' OP. Within about a minute I was in a state of febrile excitement over the various purple clematis (clemeti? Clemetises?). I had searched mn arcs before I went and they had a purpura plena as recced by this thread's own biwi several years ago. But bless, there was only one and ironically, it looked a bit menopausal and fading. So I bought an Arabella.

In other news, I am keeping up the facial exercises and have had a couple of goes at Tracey Anderson's sitting arms and think it is a force for good.

I am avoiding DH because he keeps saying things that remind me he is constantly up for sex. Like there was some soap in the garden centre loo called jasmine touch and I know if I'd inadvertantly mentioned it's name he would have said 'I'll give you jasmine touch'.

But in any case. I had gone on my own to have my pupils dilated and heart quickened by clematis, bedding plants and herbs.

Tracey's arms work! I promise.
I might even brave sleeveless tops this summer [only slightly deluded]

Oh blimey. I appear to have been giving garden center advice. That is bad enough. What's worse is that I have absolutely no recollection of said advice.

Pass the black cohosh. And double the dose.

Okay, have just staggered back from W1D1 C25K (looks like something a teenager would write - I wish)...Not too bad (liar) except I mis-counted and WHERE the hell did that last run come from...... Did feel a bit pavlova's dogs like with the bell :)
No winelast night, and good day food-wise so lets see how it goes. For those non-outdoor runners I can only do it first thing in the morning when hopefully no-one is around, or anyone who is hasn't quite got full control of theis mental facalties (that will be me then)

Same here Blackduck, I can only run the moment I have climbed out of bed; my brain hasn't woken up sufficiently to tell me to stop running.

Well done getting started, though! There are some excellent support threads in Sport & Exercise which saw me through the programme.

Well done runners - I started about 3 years ago and can run 10k now - not fast but reasonably steady. I am pleased to have 'learned' sth new in my 40s and it helps me keep in OK shape. Think Id better have a look at the Tracy Anderson thing as my arms are weak as anything and not fit to be seen. happy weekend all!

re. Carole Middleton- yes she is 56 but so am I and told I look mid 40s! Lots of my friends in their 50s look great- and younger than Mum Middleton!

work out, use make up sparingly but well, wear what suits you- eat healthily and that is what 56 looks like in 2011!

Take heart MNs it's not all elastic waists and hush puppies.

Lady embracing grey at the playground was possibly a grandmother? It's perhaps easier to embrace grey hair when you have a grandchild as opposed to your own pre-schooler, no? I feel I owe it to my children to soldier on a bit.

One of my sisters has embraced grey and has a 2 year old. She told me a v funny story about a lady with some bouncy dogs in the park who told her the dogs "wouldn't hurt the grandchildren".

I've done a load of garden-centre shopping over the past week and I AM as one with the ladies in the queue: they talk to me on a level. I can't decide if it's liberating or upsetting.

I had a trolley full of plants and a fellow lady shopper said: "You're going to be busy!" I told her I was doing some pots for not only me but my mother in law and a neighbour who's in hospital. "Aw, your're just like me!" she said. I should be happy to be like her but inside I was screaming: "Nooooooo."

Spent a few hours in the garden and went for a run - best of both worlds.

Hi, I have been reading this thread with interest, I'm 49 years young (50 in July) and apart from being peri-menapausal have none of the other symptoms mentioned on here as yet.

One thing that did interest me though was Swedes comments on the lady in the park embracing her grey hair. I am in the process of growing out my dyed hair, I have had my hair cut into a funky short style, I want to go natural, the problem is that my natural colour is various shades of grey, white at the front and sides, the rest is a salt and pepper effect, I still have a lot of dyed hair though which is a very light brown. The thing that is worrying me though is that I have 2 children still in primary school, years 3 & 5, and I'm not sure how I would react if someone called me their grandmother. I have been told that I look a lot younger than my age, and have kept myself in quite good shape by exercising regularly since I was 18.

I ran yesterday too and going to the garden centre today. Need plants for crap soil and shade if anyone has tips..........

Oh and I've lost 2lbs - must be all that positive thinking exercise.

OK.

My name is bigTillyMint and I went to the garden centre yesterday [cblush]

I won't be making a habit of it.

I'm going to the garden centre next week. A huge one, where you pay £5 to join and all plants are then cheap as chips. They even have a WHOLE GREENHOUSE devoted to geraniums.

As for lady embracing her grey, I did not for one moment think 'grandma'. She was hanging out with some other people, and seemed more 'childfree best friend, who lives in Notting Hill'. She was very cool. Though she may have had some grandchildren tucked away somewhere, I dare say.

I need to go to the garden centre for gravel to cover everything. Saves time.

(I was there on friday and bought a cath kidston scrubbing brush)

(shoots self)

... and another thing. I had no booze last night for the first time for a few days, and slept dreadfully. How is that fair?

And saggar, I too need advice for my dry shady patch. If that's not a euphamism for the peri-menopausal ladies' area I don't know what is.

Nasturtiums like poor soil.

What is causing your dry shady patch? Is it a wall, deciduous or evergreen tree? Do you want ground cover or something bigger like a shrub?

Btw well done to all of you who are exercising and eating healthily

I have done 2runs of w1 c25k and have sore hips so will do body pump instead today. I never thought I would even try running!