It’s been a funny old weekend here at Styling You HQ.
The weather’s been autumn-patchy. Raining one minute; sunny the next. Number one son had to get to Brisbane yesterday for a leadership retreat. Daughter had to work. Number two son had soccer.
I spent the afternoon flipping through about 20 plus old photo albums searching for 30 photos that will attempt to sum up my Pop’s almost 95 years in a five-minute slide show.
(Could you sum your life up in 30 photos?)
The photos ranged from tiny black and whites dating back to his birth in 1917 through to the faded colour, round-edged photos of the 1970s through to the glossy colour ones that grandchildren had printed out for him from their digital images only recently.
Here are some of my faves I unearthed yesterday:
This is my Aunty Jen at the Jamaican Commonwealth Games in 1966. She's pinning a badge to a very young Prince Charles' tie. Jen went on to win silver in swimming at the Mexico Olympics in 1968
This was a car launch which Pop attended in 1957 - the release of the Chrysler Royal 1957. I love the promotional ladies in their shapely frocks and court shoes
This my Nan and Pop with me and my brother Andrew. It would have been taken at our house in Gympie when I was about two years old
Pop – together with my almost 96-year-old Nan – lived an amazingly full life. They raised four kids, were incredible hands-on grandparents to 10 grandchildren and have watched with love and pride 19 great-grandchildren entering the world.
During their 68 years together they travelled the world – thanks to my Pop’s work in the automotive industry and his involvement with Australian Swimming (he was awarded an OBE for this in 1974) – each time coming home with a new charm for Nan’s bracelet and a souvenir for us, usually matching Commonwealth Games t-shirts for me and my brothers. The year they gave me a silk kimino from Japan … oh my.
They were the first to open my childhood eyes to a big, wide world. A world of travel. Of different cultures of adventure.
Pop was the quintessential male executive of the 1960s and ’70s. Think Mad Men’s Don Draper … he’d walk into his home in Brisbane’s Clayfield or unit at New Farm and head straight to the drinks tray, pour himself a scotch and light up a B&H.
And when he retired to the Sunshine Coast in 1979, he and Nan embraced that just as fully. They walked the beach from Mooloolaba to the Spit and back every morning before having a swim and returning up the hill to Buderim for brekky. They knew everyone who walked the beach by name. It broke Pop’s heart when he was no longer physically able to go for a swim at his beloved “Granny’s Corner” end of Mooloolaba Beach.
And right now, Nan’s heart is breaking. Their’s is a beautiful, romantic story of living life together and to the fullest. It wasn’t perfect. Pop was a stubborn old bastard at times. But the love they showed each other … that’s a legacy that will live on with all of us forever.
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Ok, so the timing wasn’t super perfect but my Urban Remedy juice cleanse that I booked last week arrived on Thursday for a Friday start of a three-day-cleanse. I’m nearly there. Last day. Pheww.
I took over the fridge with my three days of Urban Remedy juices
Day 1 and 2 headachy and lethargic but it’s been worth it. I can tell you, day three feels VERY GOOD. Very good indeed.
I posted a couple of photos on Instagram and Facebook and was asked a few questions about the cleanse, so thought I’d answer a few here in case you’re contemplating doing one.
I don’t think I’m brave. I’m just good at setting my mind to something. Plus, it’s only three days. Or you could choose to do one day. Or five 
For me doing one of these cleanses is all about the timing. Sure my timing ended up being a bit out but I chose a weekend where I didn’t have any fun social occasions on where I felt like I’d be missing out by not going … or worse, turning up to a party with my little esky of numbered juices. Umm … party pooper plus.
I did it because I’d given my body a bit of a pounding during my weekend in Melbourne for the Digital Parents Conference and then Easter. My auto-immune thyroid condition doesn’t like me behaving badly. Which is a problem because I DO like behaving badly. So, I thought it was timely to give this tired old bod a bit of a boost.
Doing a quarterly juice cleanse for me is all about re-booting the system. It really does help me again focus on good, healthy eating (and fewer visits to Dan Murphy’s).
I don’t do it for weight loss. I didn’t even get on the scales before starting this one. I just know I feel lighter and that’s not necessarily a weight thing. It’s more a “my head doesn’t feel fuzzy” thing.
Come tomorrow, yes I’ll look forward to chewing down on some food but like previous cleanses I’ll tread lightly with a menu of veges, fruit and fish for protein. It just doesn’t feel right to do anything else.
And I find the benefits continue for a couple of weeks too … showing up in my eyes and skin.
Should you do one?
It’s not for everyone, so it’s such personal choice.
I can tell you that if I’m not in the right mindset when I order one, then it’s just a waste of money. You’re better off waiting till a time that your head is going to be ok with sipping on six juices a day, with plenty of water in between.
Better book one in again for after fashion week
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Have a lovely week, Stylers. Don’t forget to enter my mega Mother’s Day competition. And stay tuned … another Model and Me post on the blog tomorrow.
PS. I’m no longer blogging over at Justb. It was five months of fun and I thank you if you came over to read my posts there. I’m looking forward to be fully ON here at Styling You.
