Money, midlife and mating.

25/08/2026

Why does visiting a loved one in hospital cost so much money? 💔

I’ve been quiet on here for nearly two weeks because my life was recently turned upside down. My brother Craig was rushed into the Critical Care Unit at Royal Preston Hospital. It was the phone call everyone dreads receiving: “He might not make it, it would be best if you came as soon as you can.”

I don't even remember the 40-minute drive to my mum and dad’s house. All I know is my dad then drove us straight to Preston for Craig's emergency brain surgery.

During that long drive, my head was just swirling with childhood memories. Craig is only 11 months older than me and just turned 50. Growing up, I loved February because I'd tease him that we were finally the same age.

By March, he’d have the upper hand again. I kept thinking about the Christmas we were 4 and 5, living in Burnley, when he woke me up because it was snowing. He got a record player that year and played "Hey Jude" by The Beatles on repeat.

As he got older, his taste shifted to heavy metal. So, sitting by his hospital bed, I played him Metallica. I was trying so hard not to burst into tears as the words to "Nothing Else Matters" resonated like never before.

Thankfully, Craig woke up from his induced coma! He’s now on a ward and on the mend. 🙏

But this whole nightmare got me thinking… how on earth do people afford the travel when an emergency strikes?

I’ve been back and forth from Bristol to the North a few times now, and train tickets can cost up to £200 a pop! Why is there absolutely no travel cost support for families visiting critically ill relatives? It would be so easy to prove with a quick email confirmation from the hospital.

To make matters worse, National Rail has a discount railcard for almost every age group and dynamic out there: 16-25s, 26-30s, over 60s, couples, families.

But if you are a solo traveller aged 31 to 59? Nothing. We are completely left out. It's another example of the singles tax and it bloody well needs to change. Why should a family emergency break the bank just because of your age or because you're not in a couple?

Have you ever faced ridiculous travel costs during a family crisis? Do you think National Rail should introduce discounts for travellers visiting sick relatives or railcards for us middle-aged peeps? I'd love to hear your thoughts below. 👇

13/08/2026

Which will I get bored of first: Mr Torquay or the train journey to see him? 🚂

Date 5 is lined up with Mr Torquay this weekend and things are still going surprisingly well!

He hasn’t stepped out of line yet - though I can’t help wondering if he’s just on his absolute best behaviour because he knows I write about midlife dating and publicly roast middle-aged men on this blog! 😉

I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But it did get me thinking about the trip from Bristol Temple Meads to Torquay...

If you’ve never done the Riviera Line section after Exeter St Davids, it’s stunning - literally running right along the sea wall. It actually ranks in the UK’s Top 10 Most Scenic Rail Routes (alongside stunners like the West Highland Line and Settle to Carlisle).

Question for you lot: Who has been on the Riviera Line - or any of the UK's top 10 scenic train rides? Are they actually as good as travel writers claim?

Drop your verdict in the comments - bonus points if you have a picture from your journey! 👇

12/08/2026

🌒 BRISTOL, LOOK UP TONIGHT! ☀️

We’re in for a massive celestial show this evening as the Moon blocks over 92% of the Sun! It’s the most significant partial solar eclipse Britain has seen since 1999.

⏰Key Times:

6:17 PM: Eclipse starts

7:12 PM - 7:13 PM: Peak eclipse time

8:06 PM: Pub time.

📍 Top spots in Bristol to catch the view (West/WNW facing):

Sea Walls & The Downs (Clifton): Should offer a great vantage spot for watching the eclipse later.

We The Curious and the Bristol Astronomical Society have solar viewing telescopes and will be handing out free solar glasses.

Clifton Suspension Bridge & Observatory: Panoramic views across the gorge with an iconic backdrop.

Brandon Hill & Cabot Tower: Elevated central spot giving a wide view over the city skyline.

Ashton Court Estate: Wide open grounds - perfect if you want plenty of space to set down a picnic blanket.

⚠️ Don't forget, you’ll need certified eclipse glasses, a pinhole projector, or a colander and white paper/card. Never look directly at the sun!

What do you remember about 1999 and does anyyone have any pics? Would love to see them if you do.

Bristolians, where do you recommend watching the eclipse from tonight? 👇

11/08/2026

If you’re in Bristol, We The Curious has something special planned for tomorrow’s solar eclipse where they’ll be giving out free glasses… 😎

Did we mention there’s a partial solar eclipse next week? And there won’t be another this visible here in the UK until 2081?

We've got a few things planned to mark this celestial event as you might imagine... Here's how you can join in:

🌞Join our Planetarium team at the Downs Sea Walls Viewpoint, Clifton for a safe viewing session with the Bristol Astronomical Society.

🔭 It's never safe to look directly at the sun, so we'll be handing out free eclipse viewing glasses and offering the chance to view the eclipse through our solar telescope.

🎨Back at We The Curious, head to our Investigation Station from 5 – 12 August to make your own eclipse, get hands-on with a tactile 3D-printed moon and ask all your burning space questions to our Live Science Team.

✨You can also check out the special eclipse scene and other wonders of the summer skies in our seasonal stargazing show, Colossal Cosmos.

For more information on how to observe the eclipse safely, check out these tips from the team BBC Sky at Night Magazine: https://bit.ly/4wIpogL

📷The moon passing in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse. Credit NASA/Joel Kowsky

11/08/2026

Day 5,646 of the school holidays… and your kids have officially run out of things to complain about. 😅

Want to swap screen time for sword time this Saturday? Send them back to the 1600s with sword fights, dodgy historical fashion and zero WiFi. Just as the Tudor gods intended.

This Saturday, Wardlaw’s Dragoons are taking over The Red Lodge Museum in central Bristol for a full-on English Civil War re-enactment day! It's something a bit different and is just a fiver per person.

Here’s the battle plan for Saturday:

🎶 Tudor tunes (absolute bangers from back in the day - allegedly)

🎲 Historic games (no screens, no batteries required!)

👗 Costume dress-up (your next profile picture sorted)

⚔️ Living history with sights, sounds, and authentic historical smells (apparantly it adds to the experience)

Come explore one of Bristol’s oldest (and coolest) buildings!

📅 When: Saturday, 15 August 2026 | 11am – 4pm

📍 Where: The Red Lodge Museum

🎟️ Entry: Only £5! Perfect for all ages.

Tag the history nerd in your life before they find out you went without them. 👇

07/08/2026

🎈 Want the BEST Balloon Fiesta views WITHOUT the Ashton Court crowds? 👇

17 years ago, when I first moved to Bristol, I was driving down the Portway and thought someone had spiked my cuppa as I looked up to spot hot air balloons bobbing over the Clifton Suspension Bridge right in front of my windscreen! 🤯

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (August 7th - 9th) is part of Bristol culture and everyone should experience the event at Ashton Court at least once.

While Ashton Court Estate is free to enter, these days I prefer to watch the ballons from a distance and avoid the crowds.

Bristol is packed with incredible free vantage points:

🏆 My Top Pick: Perrett Park in Knowle. It’s set on a natural amphitheatre slope with stunning views towards Ashton Court.

📍 Other Epic Spots:

Clifton Observatory (for that classic postcard shot)

Brandon Hill (Cabot Tower views!)

Durdham Downs (plenty of room to spread out)

I’m lucky enough to get a great eyeful right from my front garden in Hengrove!

Check out my photo from last year below - definitely didn't pull off the early morning wake-up call today! 🤣

👇 Over to you, Bristolians: Where’s your secret spot to watch the skies light up? Drop your top locations (and photos!) in the comments! 📸✨

06/08/2026

Why does the universe test us by sending two potential romantic partners at once?! 😅

Specifically: Why is it that right before you meet someone who actually has 'Mr Right' potential, the universe decides to drop a massive karmic lesson in your lap first?

Honestly, this happened to me this summer. I literally remember moaning to a mate, "I don’t even go for BAD guys! I’m just bloody unlucky in love, and I’d definitely rather stay single than settle."

Right on cue... enter… The Karmic Lesson.

He had a bucketload of charm, charisma, and enough chat to make my knees go weak.

But over the coming weeks, I realized the actual 3 Cs he needed to show me - clarity, consistency, and communication - were seriously lacking.

I used to think I didn't fall for 'bad boys,' but the truth? I had been mistaking anxiety for chemistry for over 30 bloody years! 🤯

Thanks to a bit of self-reflection (and a lot of internet deep-dives), I finally caught on.

After a few misguided snogs, dates that never materialized, and promises that weren’t acted upon, I officially called it quits and gave another guy a chance. And I’m so, so happy I did.

Enter Mr Torquay. ❤️

We've been on three dates now, chat every day and we're having so much fun. Ladies, consistency doesn't have to be boring!

Quick question for the feed: Has the universe ever pulled this trick on you right before things finally clicked? Tell me I’m not the only one! 👇

05/08/2026

Forget dating apps, middle-aged women have found a new love that never nags for s*x, leaves wet towels on the floor or causes unnecessary drama.

Don't just take my word for it, there's a growing trend of women in their 40s, 50s and 60s choosing their dog over a new potential romantic partner.

Surveys by organizations like The Kennel Club and Burns Pet Nutrition show that 60% to 70% of single women would choose their dog over a romantic partner or date.

And in the 45 to 65 age group, over two-thirds (69%) of single women trust their dog's judgment when it comes to a potential new suitor.

Is it any surprise when all women's problems seem to start with men? 🤣

Have you decided to ditch dating and just chill with your dog, cat or other pet animal? I would love to see pics of you and the love of your life in the comments. 😍

04/08/2026

Enjoy the Roman Baths for just £1 if you’re on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or ESA and take up to 4 children for just £1.

What other UK attractions offer a discount for families on low incomes? Let us know in the comments… 😊

We’re making it easier for more people to experience The Roman Baths.

From 1 April, £1 tickets will be available for UK visitors receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). We believe everyone should have the chance to explore 2,000 years of history. That’s why a limited number of £1 tickets will be released each day across all time slots.

For just £1 per person, you – and up to four accompanying children – can enjoy a memorable visit to one of the best-preserved ancient spas in the world.

Whether you’re planning a family day out or discovering Bath’s heritage for the first time, we hope this new offer helps make a visit possible.

Tickets available to book online now for visits from 1 April.

See more: https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ps1-ticket-roman-baths