About Me

Hello, I’m Alison, a 65-year-old fashion, lifestyle and travel blogger from the North East of England, and welcome to Midlife and Beyond.

I started my blog in 2018, shortly after leaving my job. Having worked since the age of sixteen, I felt ready for a new chapter and the opportunity to explore some long-forgotten creative interests.

I’ve always loved fashion. As a teenager, I devoured fashion magazines and eagerly followed the latest trends. Somewhere along the way, though, life took centre stage. Between working full-time, raising children and supporting family members through periods of ill health, fashion became more about practicality than personal style.

Looking back, I think my personal style took a back seat during my forties. My wardrobe was functional rather than inspiring, but that’s often what happens when you’re juggling work, family and life’s many responsibilities.

When I left work, I enrolled on a creative writing course and a basic photography course. After years spent in Human Resources, where formal writing was part of everyday life, I realised I had lost touch with the joy of writing simply for pleasure. The courses helped me rediscover that side of myself and gave me the confidence to start this blog.

Beginning a website was daunting. Although I had some experience with technology through the databases and systems I’d worked with over the years, I wanted to be completely self-sufficient when it came to running my blog. Building and maintaining a website has probably been my biggest learning curve—but also one of my proudest achievements.

My blog has become a wonderful way to reflect on life’s changes: retirement, getting older, children leaving the nest (and sometimes returning!), relationships, travel, style and everything in between. My writing style is honest, down-to-earth and, I suspect, influenced by my North East roots.

Over the years, I’ve rediscovered my love of fashion. Blogging has encouraged me to experiment more with my style and step outside my comfort zone. Some fashion choices have been successes, while others have taught me valuable lessons! My favourite outfit formula remains the same, though—a great pair of jeans, a crisp white T-shirt and a well-cut jacket.

One of the greatest surprises of getting older has been discovering how much freedom comes with it. I genuinely enjoy being 65. I’m more confident, more comfortable in my own skin and far less concerned about what other people think. There’s still a small part of the introvert in me, but blogging has helped me grow in ways I never expected.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s never too late to try something you’ve always wanted to do. Whether that’s taking a daily walk, learning a new skill, starting a hobby, travelling somewhere new or doing something completely outside your comfort zone, I hope my blog encourages you to give it a go.

You might just surprise yourself.

Thank you for reading.

Alison x

If you’d like to get in touch, please email me at:

midlifeandbeyond@outlook.com