By Tilly Smith Dix We all know about curiosity killing the cat but honestly, I’m beginning to think too much honesty could be to blame for murdering relationships. Finding the balance between honesty, kindness and respect could be tricky, and the older one gets, the more one looks behind the veil, trying to understand the reason for people’s behaviour, so we could proceed wisely. Someone recently told me of a friend criticising them every time they met up for lunch. The so-called friend claims to ‘just being honest’ when she delivers the unsolicited jabs to our friend. Usually, my friend tells ..read more

A new year has welcomed us into its fold, and I cannot remember when last I felt so ready to start this new chapter of life! Much has happened during the Festive Season. For one, I became a year older, and I’d like to say I had some reservations about this new number! I’ve never liked figures but life, and business, requires one deals with basic arithmetic, which I have managed to do, miraculously. Whilst I’d rather write an essay about the importance of understanding the psychology of ants than tackle the beastly monthly budget, reality bites. So, after contemplating this ripe new age and spe ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix To most of us, buying a home is our biggest investment, not only to make a healthy profit when the time comes for us to sell and move on, but also because it is our safe place, our sanctuary, the place where we wish to live in harmony. A place where we can create a lifestyle that becomes an escape from all the craziness of the world. A comfortable cocoon. When our homely haven becomes a battlefield, it is up to us to identify the cause of such discontent and fix it. If the cause of that dark cloud over our home happens to be a bad relationship that cannot be salvaged, we par ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix It’s mind-blowing what some people will say on social media, in fact, in any media. There is so much toxic spill, one could not be surprised at the great divide of the world, seemingly more so than ever, caused by anger, ignorance, and hate. I’ve realised it is not good for my psyche to see and hear the constant vitriol uttered about other people, mostly, and too often about strangers. A beloved friend of many years, now living back in Germany after spending most of her adult life in South Africa, messaged me with a thank-you note for my mostly positive posts and messages ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix Spring has officially arrived and this beautiful rejuvenation of the colourful season, like so many changes, also brought loss. My late dad said you knew you were joining the ranks of the elderly when your friends start dying, and when you find yourself saying goodbye more often than hello. My mom would smile, and say, “we are still here, so, let’s listen to music, dance, and embrace everyone who means something to us.” Too many dear friends, some younger than me, have had to endure dreadful cancer treatments, and I’m relieved that many of them have beaten that evil disease ..read more

by Tilly Smith Dix Wearing our character lines like a badge of honour and allowing ourselves to display our emotions on our faces, and with grace, is a gift. I remember my darling mom telling me to stop pulling funny faces behind her back (I then believed she had eyes in the back of her head), as it would remain like that when the clock strikes! Years later, I was reminded of this wisecrack when sexy Samantha of Sex and the City was telling a worried Carrie not to frown as when she starts ageing, it would show, demonstrating how her own forever upturning facial expressions would age so much be ..read more

by Tilly Smith Dix Winter colds are never predictable and opting for natural healing products, including plenty vitamin C, ginger, Manuka honey, and the necessary paracetamol or ibuprofen when in discomfort, seemed a good choice. Buying local produce, such as Manuka honey, sustains our economy. Speaking of which, I was looking at my home economy budget and felt a tad concerned, given the rising costs of everything, including energy! Then, there’s a knock at my door. I leave the security door locked, having perused the stranger at my door on my video doorbell first, and he is wearing a badge. H ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix The world recently lost an iconic artist, performer, survivor, and inspiring woman, Tina Turner. Forever the messenger of being Simply the Best, a rock goddess. Shortly after her passing, I lost a beloved friend of many years, who had not only been my protector at times, but also my confidant, brother, special events brotherly date, and loyal friend. During his memorial service, which I watched on YouTube, the heartfelt tributes from his family, friends, and staff deeply saddened me. Most of the people paying homage to this force of nature, were people he had worked with and ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix I’ve noticed how several ageing celebrities are advising their younger followers on social media not to be defined by their looks. Dame Emma Thompson, British actress and screenwriter, always refreshingly candid and delightful, cautioned her fans to harness their brain and personality as looks fade. I could not agree more. I did, however, notice that several of her followers from the less enlightened tribe were pretty scathing as, after all, Emma is still a good-looking woman, and, when she started out on her career as a young, pretty and cute actress, she was probably more ..read more

By Tilly Smith Dix When you were raised by a romantic, often a dreamer, Mom, who only saw the bright side, married to a man who adored her and always put her first, you are perhaps ruined for life, I guess, as once we become adults, we are often disappointed by the realities that bite, sting, stab, abandon, abuse, ignore, or cheat… Conversations with women over sixty have brought me to the conclusion that most men in our age group regard us as over the hill, desperate, or irrelevant, or all of the above! So, let me begin by sending a resounding cheer to men of ANY age who believe we matter, we ..read more