DropBy

aside from my dad, growing up in a womens enclave, meant that i observed things going on at the mirror on a daily basis.  i had subconsciously seen them for so very long that seemed to me to be the thing i would have to do when the time came.

i used lipstick powder and paint at fifteen and continued to do so for years.  what else is there for a girl to do.  each morning rising for work, a rush for first in the bathroom, then after stamping about outside for a while in the queue, one went back, refurbished and refreshed from the night to the bedroom mirror.

those days, brown glossy flyaway hair, deftly rolled into a bouffant just like my big married sister.  i could never understand why mine was never as good as hers, however hard i tried. 

but still, on with the day.  opening my box of tricks, out comes the eye shadow.  leaning towards the mirror, ones face distorts so the eyelid of the left eye can close, and the other squints to see whats happening when the finger liberally loaded with brown powder smooths back and forth on the lid.

there done, satisfactorily.  now for the other. and the same happens again with the reverse eye.  standing back admiring my handwork, i look hard to see if its ok. well, alright. 

next.  eyebrow pencil.  eyebrows on my face in thse days were plucked and drawn and that was the order of the day.  in  a private moment one got the tweezers out and the painful process began to remove the unsightlier variety of eyebrow growth.  first it was eye wateringly painful, then it went red and itched for a while, with a little light furious rubbing to relieve ones feelings  on the eyebrow absence, one relaxed with a job well done.

so, on with the show, for show it is.  for the hair done and hairsprayed chokingly in place, one metamorphosed into this other creature who could face the day, no matter what.

so, out comes the mascara.  the solid black matter in the  little tray had to be lubricated.  one spat on the brush and rubbed it into the black oblong.

there, fully loaded and dangerous, one raised it to the lashes and began stroking with the brush coating them liberally with black matter to make them appear lustrous and long, and hopefully giving ones eyes the come hither look.  well that was the plan anyway.

stopping a moment to get ones breath back, as one had to hold it to remain with a steady hand  for the job, there, quite admirable.

next eye. repeat the order.   step back and exhale.  ahhh.....yes. just the job.
standing for a moment to let ones eyelashes dry out, i picked out a powder compact.  flipping it open with ease, lifting the pad, i dusted my cheeks lightly.  it was a good choice at the chemists.  just right the colour.

now for the piece de resistance.  my lipstick.  unrolling it by twisting the case, after removing the outer tube, i looked to see which way the lips had pressed on it last time.  ahh, there, and i passed the sticky flavoursome stick across my lips that were making an enforced ohh like an old crone eating something too large for her mouth, with lips pressed back.

patting it with a tissue, there brilliant, couldnt be better.   
 
finished. no not quite. in every girls armoury, there was the last but not least piece of equipment in their weapons against the male tide.

perfume.  oh yes.  which one today. 

dabbng the scent with the fingers behind ones ears, on the inner wrist and in the upper cleavage, satisfied with a work well done, on with the stilettos and off to work.

grabbing my handbag, full of top up paints for the day, and a handkerchief plus my purse, i sailed downstairs like a stately galleon to where my father was in finger tapping mood having had to wait for his two daughters to get ready.

a big sigh as we all appeared, what have you all been doing, ive been ready a long time, ages ago.  we smiled supremely, lets go dad, we smiled acutely conscious of our appearance.  'mind my hair' we wailed as he got too near helping us in the car.

and so fit for a fashion show, we moved away from the kerb, each wondering if the boy from so and so department would notice us today.  perhaps today our magic would work.

warpaint.  its been around for thousands of years and makes a girl feel glamorous and regal.

i stopped painting my face altogether in the 80's when i went down to the south of france and it was so hot there, my eyebrow pencil melted in  the heat.  i wailed a lot, but suddenly looked at my face, and quite liked what i saw, and from then on in, never wore it again.  but i had fun all those years doing what all girls do best, making up my face.

nowadays, it is wrinkled and gone are the young svelte smoothness and peach colour cheeks.  no, here are the laughter and the pain lines, that show ive lived and the smile is still there, not so plump but still in place.

a face in the mirror that shows ive aged.  but i can live with that, for behind the eyes lies a lifetimes experience and i like who i am without artifice.
but i did have fun though!  who wouldnt? 

i can still admire a handsome face, but i dont have to wriggle and blush these days, and i can sit back and not have to worry whether my hairs nice. its tucked into two plaits these days, not lustrous but white and grey.  let the young get on with the hustle and bustle of youthfulness, ive had my fun, now its their turn.

but i still look at the arrays of warpaint in the shops, just for old times sake.

Jo Cumming at Arthritis Care describes the symptoms and treatment of arthritis. Arthritis is the UK's biggest single cause of physical disability and affects nine million people of all ages. At least 8.5 million people have a degenerative form of arthritis called osteoarthritis, which usually affects people over the age of 40. What is 'arthritis'? 'Arthritis' is inflammation within a joint and is a general term for around 200 musculoskeletal conditions affecting bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue. The two main groups are 'inflammatory' - like rheumatoid arthritis and gout - and 'degenerative' like osteoarthritis (OA) which appears mainly in people aged over 40 or in younger people with joints already damaged by injury or disease. What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is an incurable condition involving the breakdown of cartilage, the cushioning material between adjoining bones. In healthy joints, cartilage provides a slippery surface over which bones glide smoothly. With osteoarthritis, this cushion becomes brittle and thin so the bones grate painfully against each other, developing unwanted 'bony spurs', which deform the joint, causing pain, stiffness and inhibiting movement. Why do people get osteoarthritis? The causes of osteoarthritis are unclear. However, it occurs more commonly and often more severely in women. A genetic element means that family history can indicate susceptibility. A 'lifestyle' component is also significant in what triggers or accelerates cartilage loss - age, obesity, previous injury, and a demanding physical occupation which misuses or over-uses certain joints are all factors in the development of osteoarthritis. What are the symptoms? The main symptoms are pain, stiffness, fatigue, restricted movement and impaired mobility. Osteoarthritis in the fingers, thumbs and wrists, weakens grip, making everyday tasks hard. When load-bearing joints like knees, hips, spine, and ankles are affected, it can make walking difficult. How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? If you think you may have arthritis, make an appointment to see your GP. He or she may refer you for tests to determine whether your condition is inflammatory or degenerative. Inflammatory arthritis may mean referral to a rheumatologist, whereas people with osteoarthritis usually remain in the care of the GP. What treatment is available? Many people with osteoarthritis need pain relief and take analgesics like paracetemol to remain active. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) like diclofenac and ibuprofen - available as gels or tablets - are also useful in reducing stiffness and pain, while a steroid injection may curb a flare-up in a single joint. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy exercises treat stiffness and improve mobility. Podiatrists and chiropodists provide foot care and advise on soft-uppered shoes, special insoles, and bunion pads. However, severe osteoarthritis can damage joints to the extent that surgery might be needed. Nowadays, such surgery is widely available - hip, knee, spine, shoulder, wrist, elbow, ankle joints can all be replaced. Can I help myself? Anyone diagnosed with osteoarthritis needs to think about how to make the most of living with the condition long term. This means getting correct treatment and support from health professionals, informing yourself about your condition, and evolving self-management strategies to help you live better with arthritis. Self-management involves following principles of good diet, good exercise, good posture, and positive attitude: planning, prioritising and pacing tasks, reorganising your house and life to ensure your limited energy is used productively. How can Arthritis Care help? Arthritis Care is the only UK charity supporting people with arthritis in any of its 200 forms. It has around 300 UK branches, and offers free services: Challenging Arthritis courses, Helplines, online peer-support and discussion forums, workshops, and medically-reviewed and impartial information. For further details of living with arthritis, visit Arthritis Care's website http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Home or call its free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 4050, 10am-4pm weekdays. Take control of arthritis pain - five top tips 1.Lighten Up: Shed excess pounds to reduce stress on weight-bearing joints, like back, hips, and knees 2.Don't suffer in silence: Your GP needs to know that you are in pain, and what kind in order to find you an effective treatment or refer you to a pain management specialist 3.The Ex Factor: Exercise releases the body's own natural ‘morphine' in the form of endorphins so appropriate exercise really can make you feel better 4.Chuck out the chintz! Have a look at your furniture and decide if your bed and chairs are helping your pain or making it worse 5.Doctor Gadget: Look in Arthritis News and catalogues for self-help products designed to make everyday tasks easier. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, ergonomists and doctors can suggest helpful work or home devices.

may have put this somewhere else, but the health blog seems a good place to at least repeat it.
I have walking pain due to arthritus in the leg joints, and seem to have found a  smart solution.

normally I can only walk a few yards before it gets difficult,  but noticed that my country and western boots, made a difference, which are a bit facy for every day use, but you can get what they call practice line dancing shoes, that have the western boot special shock absorbant heel and are a smart lace up that goes with pretty well everything ( you need a size larger like a boot) which allows me to walk about for several hours before it gets too uncomfortable.
you only seem to be able to get them on the net, type in western boot and there are several British firms that do them