Confessions of a real-life pearl-clutcher

From being a tool for social derision to an idiom with a 1,200% explosion in media usage, "pearl clutching" has become the ultimate modern spitball.

Balancing cultural critique with a personal "tsunami" of beads on a busy sidewalk, I’m pushing back against the "prude" stereotype.

Get your own dander up as I defend the classic gemstone and celebrate the pearl as a timeless, high-fashion staple for everyone.

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Hibernation mode: deactivated!

Ever felt like you’ve been in a state of mental torpor, hiding in an imaginary leaf-lined den while the world opens Pandora’s jar? After a year where chronological memory stalled and my 'writer's mojo' hit a slough of despond , I’ve finally had a 'Damascus moment'.

Join my happy dance as I trade the deathly dichotomy of doctrinal duality for some fresh lemonade—hibernation mode is officially de-activated.

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Fancy a polycule anyone?

Relationships are moving beyond simple lifestyles into a world of 'lovestyles', where the vocabulary for love is expanding faster than a chemistry experiment.

From throuples to polycules, the modern romantic landscape is a constellation of connections that might be the secret to "authentic love"—or a scheduling nightmare. Explore the world of hinges, metamours with me, as I consider whether the Trojan War might have been avoided with a bit more open-mindedness.

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Are you ever too old to wear that 'itsy bitsy' bikini?

I’ve always had at least one foot in the if you’ve got it, flaunt it camp. But so many conscious and unconscious biases are baked into our neural pathways about what’s 'acceptable'.

It’s particularly insidious when it comes to clothes—running the gauntlet of dressing too young for our age is unthinkable.

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To smooth or not to smooth—a curly dilemma!

If you came into the world sporting insanely curly hair like me, you’ve probably had a love/hate relationship with it throughout your life.

This piece gets up close and personal to the dichotomy of insanely curly hair and why I see my curls as one of my superpowers.

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Close encounters of the pavement kind

From online aggression to being forced off the pavement by a group of oblivious youths, it seems the "Art of Good Manners" has vanished. I was nearly hit by a bus just for walking down the street.

This isn't a rant—it’s more of a wistful wander through why manners matter, and why courtesy is ultimately just a decision like any other.

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Fun with flatpack furniture

In this video I explore the 'joy' of assembling a piece of flatpack furniture from IKEA. Child's play you might think? Er ... not so much!

This little rant considered the initial allure of flat packs and what I've learned from my experiences with it, past and present. I finish with my top 10 tips best for anyone whose mouse is hovering over the "Buy" button with intent.

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It's crying time again!

In this story, I'm explore why there's nothing like a good cry, asking why something this good has so many taboos around it and what happened to the great tearjerker movies. The genre looks to be making a come back. So, is it crying time again?

Finally what are finish movies guaranteed to make us cry a river and deplete the world's tissue mountain?

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If life gives you lemons...

So, life has just showered a new crop of lemons on your head why stop at making lemonade—don't do the obvious thing. Get creative.

I share takeouts from my own experiences of converting my many lemon mountains over the years into innovative new thinking. Often to my surprise, this has opened the door to all sorts of unexpected new adventures.

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Do the (side) hustle

Learn the fascinating history of the side hustle. Discover how it evolved from a cheezy but popular disco hit to a popular secondary income strategy.

Understand the good, the bad and the plain ugly of the side hustle and why it may be a case of biting off more than you can chew and swallowing hard.

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Scammed, slammed & hung out to dry

I still cringe when I ‘fess up to anyone that I got scammed a few weeks ago. The financial loss was only a part of it. I felt violated and very foolish. Uncharacteristic emotions for this Tigger type.

I've shared my experience here in the hope that it will help others come to terms with theirs, or outright avoid it.

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You have the attention span of a goldfish!

Stop blaming the goldfish already! Turns out the "eight-second goldfish" rule is a myth, but our "device-induced vacuousness" is very real. Here I get into “the science” of attention spans, and why a gnat is actually the more accurate comparison for your easily distracted friends than the poor goldfish.

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Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!

In this item, I’m looking at what it takes to bounce back from something major that has taken the wind out of your sails. I’m a naturally upbeat person, but I hit a low point and found that purpose brought my Tigger back and renewed creativity and confidence followed.

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Can you jump into the same river twice?

I’m counting the days until I take a sentimental journey home to Scotland. It’s made me think long about the emotional journey of living abroad as an expat.

This post looks at the balance of adventure and globalism versus the pull of localism and home.

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It’s your choice—the allure of customised drinks

Customised drinks — a creative delight for some. Choice overload for others. Are they worth the hype? I’m not a fan, but I was interested to see what drives people in this every more complex world of self-expression.

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