And just like that another month's gone, the last one of full summer which, for me, always feels a bit sad. I love summer… the slowing of the negative news cycle… the freedom that comes with the quiet retail calendar… the warmth that finally reaches the North on a few occasions… and just the general change of pace. People rush around less, faces are less pinched and good times pop up spontaneously. So here's my Midlife lately – August 2025, it was a month that I left largely unplanned but it's been filled with fun and I've been surprised to find that I've got much more from it that I did in the days when it hinged around a single two-week holiday.
Midlife lately – August 2025
London bound
A work day here at the end of July and my last early morning start for London to round things off with almost an end of term feeling. It was a long, hot day that ended with a meeting on Threadneedle Street in the heart of the City, not my usual stomping ground so I decided to get a later train home and just sit in the sunshine, absorbing the buzz of the finance bros and girls as they clocked off for the weekend.
Cos dress (SS23); Trainers
Family reunion
And this was the following week when the eldest arrived home ready for our graduation ceremony excitement. We've developed a tradition of meeting him from the train at Lancaster and it takes me back to when my dad used to wait for me. I can still see him there with a smile and a hug, even until shortly before he died because it was easier for Mal to stay at home with the boys when I had projects in London. I love the fact that we now echo that family love with our boy who lives such a similar London media life to the one we did and regales us with stories of the glamorous work events he's been to and the people he's met.
You can see that he'd brought me one of the M&S strawberry and cream 'sandwiches' – I'd been really wanting to try one but of course they haven't been available up here. Nobody else liked it but I did! Doesn't it just give you a bolt of joy when you realise that your adult children have listened to your random chatter and logged a little way of bringing you pleasure like this?
Baukjen blouse (S18); Cashmere Wrap
Leeds – Midlife lately – August 2025
I won't go over graduation again, you've already heard about that but these are the days surrounding it. As you know it was a very special day even though I don't think Leeds University organises graduations with much thought – it was very much a sausage factory with multiple ceremonies a day spaced two hours apart so there were no inspiring speeches. Plus ours was at 9am so we had to stay in Leeds for two nights. Anyway, here we were arriving the afternoon before.
Knitted Polo (gifted SS25); Me+Em jeans (SS23); Trainers
I'd booked three rooms at Headingley Cricket Stadium as a surprise for the boys and each one had a view of the pitch. The eldest was particularly delighted when we checked in to see them prepping for an India versus England 'legends game' – I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to tear him away!
It was the night of the Women's Euros football final so we all headed out to watch it – and the mood was high after the great result. As you can see we were paying tribute with our England football tops apart from the eldest who was happy to be back in Leeds Rhinos rugby environs.
We let the youngest choose where he wanted to eat – and his pick was Wetherspoons because he knows Mal and I usually refuse to go there.
The food was really bad but the boys were happy… and at least it was cheap!
A surprise visit to Newcastle
The following week we had to go over to Newcastle because MIL had fallen and was in hospital. Now when I tell you about my mum-in-law you have to remember that she's a very feisty character, used to being the matriarch of a family of six boys. She's tiny but fearsome and she says exactly what she thinks – she's very much like the Liverpudlian or Irish matriarchs that you often see in sitcoms. So once she was over the shock of falling she was in high spirits, enjoying being in a busy ward with nurses to instruct and lots of people to talk to.
Getting to the bottom of her fall was quite a saga. You see as she's becoming more unsteady we've all been trying to get her to remember her walking frame. For the last few months whenever we've gone over she's been using it – but as a clothes horse for her washing! Then we heard she'd given it away to a (much younger) friend who 'needed it'. After more falls and some serious conversations, a new one was supplied and she agreed at least to use it if she went out. And so she'd taken it to her day club… and tripped over it… and fallen… so you can imagine her glee that she'd proved the wretched thing was no good!
Anyway while she was in hospital they discovered that she's anaemic and so conversations about diet and nutrition ensued. It was a relief for the family because she eats like a sparrow, often subsisting on yoghurts and cereal bars even though our nephew's wife delivers a cooked meal to her every evening. And so the conversations went along the lines of, "we can give you supplements for the anaemia Mrs Garnett but you must eat meat and lots of vegetables." To which she replies with pursed lips (use your best Geordie accent here… and I'll translate the lines underneath for those of you in the US)…
"ah'll eat meat but ah'm not eatin' vegetables – ah divent like vegetables."
(I'll eat meat but I'm not eating vegetables – I don't like vegetables)
"But Mrs Garnett, you're going to keep on falling over if you don't eat well."
"Ah divent care, ah'm neva eatin' vegetables – ah'd rath-uh faal o'er agen and dee."
(I don't care, I'm never eating vegetables – I'd rather fall over again and die!)
And so it goes on! She's in great spirits and is always the first to laugh at herself but behind her laughter is a steely determination to live life her way, as she always has. It's a worry for everyone but you can't blame her, at 83 surely you should be allowed to weigh up the risks and then make your own decisions for as long as possible.
So once we knew she was ok our unexpected weekend over there felt like a bonus. We worked over in the Baltic Gallery cafe for a while and popped up to see how the kittiwakes were getting on.
Whistles ponte jacket (SS17); Me+Em jeans (SS21); Boden polo (SS23); Boden slingbacks (SS09); Jigsaw bag (AW24)
Their eggs had all hatched and the young were already starting to fly. The top one here was clearly resisting and reminded us of our middle boy who didn't walk until he was almost 18 months old, instead he perfected the art of getting everyone to come to him… skills he retains to this day!
I have a selection of party tops over there because so often a disco dancing window opens up and it did that weekend. It was even more pleasing that the graphic walkway opposite our flat had been newly painted with a section to match my outfit.
Next denim jacket (SS19); Boden satin top (SS22); Jeans
There's not much I can say about this other than that it's my usual summer disco or festival formula now – flared jeans, trainers and a top that works with my shoulders. I'd love to wear dainty spaghetti straps but I look like a bricklayer if I try anything too delicate.
Boden satin top (SS22); Jeans
As usual it was sunny but with chilly East wind gusts – so often I have to hold my hair down for a photo or have it standing on end.
Boden cotton jumper (SS23); Me+Em slim crop trousers (AW23); Adidas Gazelles (SS24)
This was a picture that the youngest's girlfriend took. Do you remember me telling you at Christmas that she wanted a retro digital camera – the kind we used in the noughties? The youngest sourced one for her as a present and they've repeatedly told us how much they prefer the photos so she took this to prove it to us. And she has a point – it's softer with less definition than a phone camera so it's much kinder on the wrinkles!
By the way just another shout out for this jacket that I raved about earlier in the spring. I've worn it so much because it rolls up very small and so I can fit it into the top of my handbag easily. In fact I've since bought it in another colour as you'll see further down because they're now half price in the sale.
Birmingham – Midlife lately – August 2025
Jumping forward a bit now – this was as we left Malmaison in Birmingham after our wonderful Midlifechic overnighter. Mal took me for a celebratory cocktail in the sunshine so I could tell him all about it – he'd been there in the background but we didn't allow him in so he spent the evening exploring Birmingham with his friend Stephen instead.
T-shirt (now in the sale); Jeans
Time at home
The following week held the middle one and youngest's birthdays. The middle boy spent his at the Boardmasters Festival in Newquay with his girlfriend so we weren't able to celebrate with him. The youngest was at home though and had a few schoolfriends over – I love the fact that they're all still so close, the two at the front have been friends since nursery.
Mal bought a champagne gun for my birthday which I refused to use (there's no way I'm risking spilling champagne!) so it was repurposed with cocktails for a newly minted 22 year old who's far less picky..
Later that week we spent a sunny evening with a picnic followed by a play in the park. It's something we've done most years since the boys were tiny and it was glorious.
Back to Newcastle – Midlife lately – August 2025
And that takes us up to last weekend – arriving in Newcastle on Thursday night, ready for the bank holiday weekend.
Boden silk blouse (SS20); M&S clean cropped jeans (SS19); M&S denim slingbacks (SS18)
The walkway just gets better and better for me with primary colours at one end and lighter ones at the other. If you see it from above it spells out 'go with the flow' but you'd have to be a kittiwake to read it. And on that note when we arrived we were surprised to find them still there, swooping and wheeling over The Tyne but by Saturday we realised they'd gone. It's always the sign of summer ending for us, the sound changes in the flat – it's quiet without their distinctive cries and we sense that winter is coming.
We were just popping out for a Friday night cocktail here. It was warm enough to sit outside with a cardigan and as we looked across at the flat we acknowledged what a seismic difference it's made to our lives. In a way we bought it on a bit of a mad lockdown whim. If you remember we were preparing the middle one to go to university in Newcastle and MIL had just had her dementia diagnosis. We stayed in an Airbnb in our building and by the end of our weekend there we'd made an offer on a flat of our own. At the time it was an impulsive and reactive decision. Sometimes though when you just run with your instinct it turns out to be the best thing you can ever do and this was for us.
We can both see now that having this flat has completely reformed our relationship more than any year around the world trip would have done. There was nothing wrong with our relationship but it was very much a long term parenting together/running a business together/busy marriage where we'd lost sight of each other as individuals. Having somewhere to escape to regularly where we've been able to get to know each other all over again has made this stage of our lives just so much more vibrant. And on top of that, Newcastle is such a cup half full city, it's so full of joy and optimism, I don't know anywhere else like it. It's completely infectious and we always have such a good time there – I know I'm going to sound like a 60s hippy if I talk about vibrations but honestly the vibration in Newcastle is on a different level and as soon as we step out of our door we feel it. The people there work hard so that they can play hard and they see the best in everything and everyone. This ever-changing colourful path that leads from our flat to the toon is the perfect symbol really – being able to go there every three weeks and have a light-hearted weekend adds so much spice to our relationship.
Me+Em cashmere cardigan (SS24); Guipure lace blouse; John Lewis jeans (SS25)
And there I am talking about the joy of Newcastle and what it's done for us as a couple – but look at Mal's unusually glum face here! You see last weekend was Newcastle United's first home game of the season and so there was an exhibition on at The Baltic Gallery next to our flat celebrating the Carabao cup win and all things Toon Army. As you know, I've chosen to embrace the football there. I find I have a live sport gap that for most of my life has been filled with rugby. My school boyfriends played it, then Mal played it, then my school sons played it… so I've spent most winters since I was 16 standing by a pitch.
I've always loved rugby but I don't like it as much since it turned into a professional sport. Do you remember the Rob Andrew/Victor Obogu/Jeremy Guscott days when rugby players were relatable men who had a job during the week and pitched up to play for England at the weekend? That's when it was good. Now I find it scary at both a professional and even a school level. If you've had sons playing for a 6th Form team you'll know what I mean about the sound of the impact of all the muscle they're expected to pack on now. In my opinion it's gone too far.
So I'm enjoying switching to football but it's more complicated for Mal. He grew up in a football dominated city but he was blessed with a rugby player's build and so he deliberately turned his back on it. He doesn't mind watching it in a friendly pub but he still doesn't share the passion that the city has for its team so we'll have to see if that changes this season or not. Anyway I really enjoyed the exhibition, it was interesting learning more about the club's history – and just incredible to see the queues for it… people of all ages waiting patiently for over an hour, all dressed in their black and white kits.
Blouse (now in the sale, gifted SS25); Me+Em cashmere cardigan (SS24); John Lewis jeans (SS25); Trainers
This was Sunday morning – nothing more exciting than popping out for milk and a newspaper. We had a lazy day because we had a fun night out ahead…
Me+Em blouse (SS24); John Lewis jeans (SS25); Boden boots (AW20)
… Martim Kemp was DJing at the scenic Wylam Brewery… my usual outfit formula again, it works for me so I stick to it.
Zara sequin top (AW19); Jeans; Speedcat ballet flats sold out – other colours here
And here's the jacket in the other colour, it has a metallic sheen and it comes in a mint green as well as black too. An absolute bargain at the moment, even if you keep it for next year's festival season. Martin Kemp was great, I usually give 80s events a miss but he managed to steer it away from being cheesy. And isn't it amazing how you find you still know all the words to the songs, even if you haven't heard them for 40 years?!
Shimmer track top (now half price in the sale); Zara sequin top; Jeans; Speedcat ballet flats sold out – other colours here
We rounded it all off on Monday with an unbelievably warm day in the sunshine where we sat outside and played a card game all afternoon. I'll tell you more about that nearer to Christmas because it's something that makes a great present if you like to find new things out about somebody you've known for a very long time. That evening we went up to the fan zone at Stack outside the football ground to watch the match and we must be true fans now because we even featured in the official coverage!
So that was Midlife lately – August 2025 – not as hot and sunny as I hoped but a lot of summer fun nevertheless. We have one more weekend of joy ahead, we're off to see Chic & Nile Rodgers supported by The Brand New Heavies tonight – and it's going to rain so we'll be splashing rather than dancing. Next week will feel different as the youngest starts his PGCE so it's almost like back to school. He's doing the 'in school' training so after a month of prep will be based at a local secondary for four days a week. As I said a while ago I was surprised when he decided to take this route but as graduate opportunities continue to plummet I'm relieved as well. He really enjoyed his year of teaching in Spain – and the tax free bursaries and scholarships for linguists are appealing.
The eldest has just been promoted to a senior level in his agency and he starts his new role on Monday. He has a lot of new accounts to oversee and quite a big team to manage, I'm meeting up with him next week and looking forward to hearing all about it. And we'll soon be waving the middle one off. He's been at home for just over a year, managing a cafe while trying to work out what to do with his degree in Theatre and Performance. There have been times when I've wondered how he was going to break out into the world but we just have to remember that our adult children grow at a different pace to each other, just as they all did when they were little. Some will know what they want to do, others will take longer to work it out – but they will, we just need to have faith in them. He's been keen to spend some time abroad so he has a post at a school in La Rioja in Spain where he'll be teaching English at both a primary and secondary level. He's been a joy to have around for most of the time so I'm going to miss him… but I'm really pleased that he has an adventure of his own ahead. The winds of change are certainly blowing for us as September approaches.
Midlifechic Retreat – extra date?
I had no idea that our retreat was going to be so popular – we were enjoying our cocktail on Friday night when I started to get messages from people who hadn’t managed to get a place. So I’ve spoken to Sharon and if we can get the numbers, we’ll run another one. We’re looking at the weekend of 27th-29th March – all of the details will be the same as here. To avoid there being any disappointment for anyone who can’t access the blog as soon as it goes live, I’m going to send it out to a priority booking list first. This means that if you put your name down, it will go out to you a week before it appears on the blog which should give you time to book. If you’d like to be included please give me your details here – and thank you so much to you all, I feel so honoured that you trust me to do something like this well.
Disclosure: ‘Midlife lately – August 2025’ is not a sponsored post
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Midlife Lately – June 2025 part 1
Summer sales 2025 – what’s worth buying
Outfits for changeable summer days
Facing the future and what to wear now
Summery outfits – midlife lately
