The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 6

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In the last part of the first session of Kitty’s Menopals Meetup menopause class, she talks about hormones, hydration, and a few little lifestyle tweaks that could make a big difference. (By the way, this chapter is based on the first session of my own Menopals Magic course, available here.) ‘Good. So, I thought I’d give you some more facts and figures about menopause next. There’s a lot of information out there these days about it, and some of it’s quite alarming, but it’s not all bad.’ She leaned forward. ‘People talk a lot about the physical symptoms, but the … Continue reading →

The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 5

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Here, Kitty helps her students discover their aims in attending the class, what they hope to get from it, and how to motivate themselves through difficulties. ‘Now, I find it’s much easier to make myself do things I want to do if I have a clear idea of why I want them done and what I’ll get out of it. In other words, I sometimes need clear motivation if I’m to get on with them. ‘And when it comes to making changes to my lifestyle, I definitely need to know why I’m making the changes I make, because otherwise, unless … Continue reading →

The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 4

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Welcome back to Kitty’s menopause evening class. Here she follows up on Gretchen’s story with tips and ideas to support the issues she flagged up. ‘Thank you, Gretchen,’ Kitty said as Gretchen walked back to her desk. ‘That was a great story, and the tips were amazing! I hope everyone got them written down, because even if they don’t help you, they may help someone you know. ‘You mentioned three symptoms you’d like to improve: period issues, weight gain, and mood swings.’ She consulted her notes. ‘So, for the period issues, you could try vitus agnus-castus, aka chaste tree berry … Continue reading →

The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 3

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Welcome back to the next instalment of Kitty’s menopause coaching class. I hope you’ve found it interesting so far – it’s about to get even more so! Here come some tips for dealing with symptoms, delivered in the inimitable Scottish growl of Gretchen. ‘Right, get your notebooks ready, because I have some tips for you. Kitty’s right – I don’t have all the answers, but I do have some of them, and I’m happy to share. ‘I’m 53 now, OK, and I’m still having periods, worse luck! They can be anything from a few spots and nothing more to a … Continue reading →

The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 2

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Hi there. I hope you enjoyed meeting the ladies of The Menopals Meetup last time. In the second instalment of my menopause novel, Kitty is just starting the first session. ‘So, I encourage interaction – please feel free to speak if you have something to say – but when a fellow-student is speaking, please raise your hand and let them finish. You have paper and pen to make notes with, and I’d encourage you to do that. Gwen, Catherine and Laura picked up their pens and looked expectant. Dolly hesitated, then followed suit. The others waited until they had something … Continue reading →

The Menopals Meetup Preview Part 1

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Hi there. I promised you a sneak preview of the first chapter of the book I’m writing, The Menopals Meetup, and here it is. This is the introduction, where the students arrive and the tutor, Kitty, gets to meet them for the first time. Kitty paced the classroom, making tiny adjustments to the papers lying on each desk. She strode to the window and looked out, wondering which, if any, of the three people approaching the front door might be her new students. She placed a random bet with herself – the woman with the purple hair and the bright … Continue reading →

The Starting-Out Diaries 7 – Writing the Book

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What you may or may not know about me is that, as well as providing coaching services, I also write. Mostly stories, but also some non-fiction. My most recent publication, Crystal Companions, is a portmanteau novel (made up of several stories with a unifying thread). Based around an adult education evening class, it features the stories of the twelve students and their chosen crystals, and starring Kitty, the tutor who is teaching them about the qualities of their crystal, and ways to choose, use and cleanse them. I wrote it because I learn best from story, rather than dry facts, … Continue reading →

The Starting-Out Diaries 6 – Retirement and Beyond

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Yesterday at 5pm, my life as an employee ended. Well, the employment doesn’t officially end until next Friday, but I’m on a flex day today and annual leave all of next week. I’m still being paid, but I don’t have to show up any more. I know, you’re not at all jealous! Of course it’s exciting! I get to choose how my life looks in every way, restricted only by finances and the fact that I don’t drive. I can write when I want, work on new offerings for my coaching clients, perhaps offer some English tuition … read more, … Continue reading →

The Starting-Out Diaries 5 – The Knotty Question of Pricing

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A new business owner faces the challenge of pricing services effectively to reach clients with limited funds. To address this, she is adopting a ‘pay what you want’ model for menopause courses, aiming to broaden access and establish stronger client relationships. As she prepares for retirement, she plans to promote her services through word of mouth and social media while also addressing insurance needs for her coaching business.

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The Starting Out Diaries 4 – My First Cohort and Beyond

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Last Saturday, I held the final session for my first cohort on my group menopause coaching course, Coping to Confidence. It went really well, and I had some lovely feedback. The review that one of my participants posted was heart-warming. I’d already decided to extend it from 6 weeks to 7, so I asked Copilot AI to suggest content for a new session, explicitly around menopausal weight issues. It rewrote my session plan in some detail, leaving what worked and adding in another session. I still need to write that session, of course, but it may have saved me some … Continue reading →