Sadly it’s not possible to obtain a GCSE, let alone an MBA, in the subject of parenting. Although if Ed Balls gets his way, school pupils aged 14 will have compulsory parenting lessons from 2011. Admirable idea – he also wants education about body image and moral dilemmas included in his new curriculum – but a few hours in PHSE won’t be anywhere long enough. Even if adults had Einstein’s grey matter, I doubt it would be a worthy adversary for a teenager’s brain cells. I try to remember how I felt in my late teens – being part adult, part child is not an easy stage – hormones raging (mine still are!), feeling restricted by parents’ rules, wanting freedom to experience life without any of the responsibility. Being the parent isn’t any easier. I know how it is to be the mother of a 17 year old, but now I am now attempting to learn how to parent an 18 year old. Every year brings different challenges, pleasures and disappointments. Teenagers often seem so selfish, intractable – and I think mobile phones have exacerbated this by allowing kids to constantly re-organise their arrangements. For parents this means that one minute you have six kids eating supper and staying the night, the next fourteen, and finally only three pitch up and then they bugger off for a pizza and sleep at someone else’s house. My brain gets frazzled with the constant changes, I just can’t keep up with the latest plan. Anyhow, winge over. My best decision recently was not to let my Son’s comings and goings get me hot under the collar. I am now Mrs. Super Chilled Mum. It has paid dividends – my Son is behaving beautifully (no need to buck the trend/be tricky now that I am so amenable) and I am stress-free because he is so gorgeous to be around now. So, my plan to cook Jamie Oliver’s gorgeous recipe for salmon, prawn and asparagus tray baketonight will go ahead (one of theJamie’s 30 minute meal programme on Channel 4) even though Son is unexpectedly going out now – he will just have to heat his portion up in the microwave when his iPhone battery runs out of juice and he has no other option but to come home!
Hi. We’re Annabel and Grace. Come and join us!

Out and about in Henley. Meeting up in person is so much better than a Zoom or an email. We get so much sorted and just walking around a small town gives us lots of inspiration for our articles.
PS we are still wearing the jeans from @artichokegirls Don’t forget there is a 15% discount code with JEANGENIE15 (only available until midnight on Friday 3rd Feb
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#meetingup #henleyonthames #imspiration #lotsoffun😍 #sisterhood #womensupportingwomen #womenover60 #womenover70 #womenintheir60s #womenover50 #annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine
3 hours ago

This book, Breath by James Nestor, is a must for anyone who wants to improve their breathing techniques. James has done extensive research which will explain why breathing the correct way is essential for a full and healthy life.
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#breath #breathing #breathwork #breathworkhealing #breathtaking #jamesnestor #jamesnestorbreath #annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine #womenover50
1 day ago

Artichoke Jeans are an absolute favourite in our wardrobes. And there is a 15% discount until end of Friday 3rd Feb with code JEANGENIE
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#jeans #greatfit #highrisejeans #bestjeans #goodvaluejeans #annabelandgrace #artichokegirls #artichoke #annabelandgracemagazine #womenover60 #womenover70 #womenover50
#womenintheir60s
2 days ago

Four Henley Blondes - from left to right, The Page Turner, Backpacking Granny, @janegordon5100, Annabel and 4 Doodles doing our daily walk. We are determined to keep moving and fit. One of us turns 80 next birthday, and she turned up in gold leggings, leopard print gloves, a stylish hat and excellent makeup. She put the rest of us to shame!!
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#henleyblondes #womenover70 #womenover60 #womenintheir60s #womenintheir70s #keepmoving #gettingfit #10000steps #dailywalk #doodlesofinstagram #dogwalking @grannygoldie @janetrotman1
5 days ago



Grace working with her trusted @officialfilofax Read why she loves it in her latest Lifestyle Essentials post which also includes many other products eg @viviscal.uk for thinning hair and a bobble remover for knitwear.
It’s all in our latest edition of the Annabel & Grace online magazine for #womenover50
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#annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine #timeofourlives #womenintheir60s #womenover60 #womenover70
#lifestyleessentials
5 days ago

Healthcare for our eyes from @mthkcom 10% discount code ANNABELANDGRACE10 Full review on our website.
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#eyecare #eyehealth #mthk #lookingafteryourself #annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine #womenover50 #womenintheir60s #womenover60 #soreeyes #tiredeyes #dryeyes
6 days ago



Who would you rather not be without apart from family and friends?
For Grace it’s Janice who has been keeping her house spotless for over a decade and she’s a dab hand at sewing too. “Thank you J - you truly are my treasure!”
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#housekeeper #houseproud #lifesaver #couldntdowithout #personaltreasure #bestkeptsecret #annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine #womensupportingwomen
1 week ago





I found these pics of Grace which were taken a few years ago by a wonderful photojournalist and friend Clive Limpkin, who sadly moved on in 2020 to that great photo studio in the sky. He worked for the @dailymail for 20 years. He was award-winning for his iconic images of Derry (the Battle of Bogside) in the late 1960s and early 1970s and they came to define the NI Troubles.
I love these photos of Grace as Clive has managed to capture her fun-loving spirit and ‘joie de vivre’. Nothing beats a smile and even better laughter!
We miss Clive but he is never forgotten.
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@alexlimpkin
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#grace #annabelandgrace #womenintheir60s #womenover60
#photoimage #laughter #greatsmile #timeofourlives #naturalbeauty
1 week ago




There is a house in Henley-on-Thames that is for sale. It is called Bird Place - grade 2 listed with wonderful river frontage. One of the current owners is an artist and she regularly paints the hoarding that is roadside reflecting the seasons. This one was last winter’s mural but it seems perfect for the cold spell🥶 that we are all experiencing so I thought I would share the pics.
Such a great way to cheer up what would have been a dull wooden fence.
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#henleyonthames #birdplace #mural #coldspell #winterweather #annabelandgrace #annabelandgracemagazine #lovewherewelive #riverthames #riverside #riversideliving #wrapupwarm #frost #snowscene #wallart
1 week ago
