Rain or shine: on daughters, dance, and the spaces we keep safe

It’s been a hectic few weeks: full of milestones and mascara, dresses and disbelief. Lucy’s finally finished school, A levels are now a distant memory, and we’ve had prom and the school leavers’ ceremony… all of it arriving faster than I expected. There’s been pride, of course, but also a quiet ache. A sense that something is shifting.

Because it is.

We wait. Not just for results, but for the subtle unravelling of childhood and the quiet shaping of what comes next.

A season of change

I’ve watched her work steadily for 14 year. Never noisily, never looking for applause, just showing up day after day with grit and grace. That quiet determination is something I deeply admire. It’s something I recognise too. In her, I see the same fire that has carried me through the seasons of my own life.

As I find myself looking outward - towards the world, towards places she’s yet to explore - I’m reminded that our journeys can stretch far and wide, but the spaces we hold for one another remain. However far we go, however grown our children become, it matters that they know; you always have a place to return to.

That’s what I hope Mettle & Grace offers women too. A space that says: come as you are, start where you are, this is yours.

Moving together, come rain or shine

Also this weekend, Kenilworth Carnival returns. Rain or shine, it draws us out. Families lining pavements, children dancing in sequins and face paint, generations waving from floats. It’s an event that has always meant something to me. Not because it’s grand, but because it brings people together. I’ve walked and danced in it as an adult, alongside Lucy and her dance school, year after year. It’s stitched into our story.

It reminds me that movement isn’t always a solo act. Sometimes it’s shared. Sometimes it’s joyful. Sometimes, it’s simply a way to keep going—one foot in front of the other, even when the skies are grey. And in that, movement becomes more than physical - it becomes a quiet resilience. A return to self. A reminder that strength doesn’t always roar; sometimes it simply continues.

To all the mothers watching their daughters take flight, and all the daughters carrying a little of their mothers with them - I see you.

And whether you’re moving forward or circling back, know this: Mettle & Grace is here. A place to come home to, rain or shine.

To the men who loved quietly

Every Father’s Day, my feed fills with heartfelt tributes. And while much of my work celebrates feminine strength, today I want to honour the men who helped shape mine.

My grandfather was a miner—a small man with rough hands and a gentle heart. He lived with us, and though I didn’t understand it then, his quiet presence became foundational. He loved me without condition. Our time together was simple: trips to the allotment, where I’d “help” him with the plants. I still remember the earthy smell, his calm voice, the feeling of safety.

He showed me that love doesn’t need to be loud to be lasting.

My father, though complicated, showed up in ways that counted. When I fell in love with gymnastics, he didn’t just drive me 25 miles a night, six days a week - he got out of the car and became a coach. That act of participation, of saying “I’m in this with you,” has stayed with me. He’s 82 now, and we still speak every day.

His support wasn’t perfect, but it was persistent.

And now, as I build Mettle & Grace, I’m walking a new path with my husband beside me. His belief in what I’m creating gives me strength. It’s a quiet kind of partnership - the kind that holds space, steadies the wobble, and says, “I’m proud of you. Go for it. I’ve got you.”

So this Father’s Day, I want to honour the men who didn’t need to be the centre. Who loved without noise. Who supported without the spotlight. And who showed up, again and again.

Thank you for helping me grow.

“Catching up”? Or just beginning your next chapter?

The pressure to hurry up and be more

As women, especially mothers or those navigating peri/menopause or beyond, we carry so many invisible expectations. We’re made to feel like we’re behind. Behind on our bodies. Our careers. Our health. Even the version of ourselves we once were.

You are not behind—you’re in the middle of your story

Every day, I hear women say they’ve lost ground—lost strength, consistency, or energy.. But here’s what I remind myself often:

✅ I am not behind.

✅ I am starting from experience, not from scratch.

✅ You are too.

You didn’t let yourself go…your story was just focused elsewhere

There’s a narrative that if you’ve spent years raising children or putting others first, you’ve somehow let yourself go.

That’s not just untrue—it’s deeply unfair.

Your energy was going into others.

Your body was carrying you through.

And now, as you begin to care inward,

You’re not catching up. You’re reclaiming your next chapter.

Why this moment matters more than ever

Fitness is not about “bouncing back” or fitting in. It’s about feeling at home in your body—now and in the future. It’s about:

• Longevity

• Vitality

• Strength for the years ahead

Movement is your medicine

Especially during peri-menopause, when shifts feel subtle—or not so subtle—movement becomes essential.

• Strength training keeps bones strong and joints supported

• Cardio boosts your heart, your brain, and your clarity

• Mobility and balance protect you from injury as life moves forward

And maybe most powerfully? Movement lifts your mood…rebuilds your confidence….reminds you that you’re still capable, still powerful, still worthy of care.

This isn’t a comeback - it’s a conscious choice

You’re not trying to undo anything.

You’re not late.

You’re simply choosing to show up.

With compassion. With curiosity.

With the wisdom you’ve earned.

So if you’ve felt like time has moved on without you…

Let this be your reminder:

You are not behind.

You are right on time.

Your story is still unfolding.

And this next chapter?

It’s yours to write with strength, grace, and intention.

This is not a comeback — it’s a beginning

The strength I once knew

For years, I lived in a body that felt strong, reliable, and fiercely capable. A career in law enforcement had shaped me — physically and mentally — to handle pressure, to push through, to perform.

When everything changed

But becoming a mother changed everything. Not just my schedule or priorities, but my sense of self. My body — once so familiar — became something I barely recognised.

Trying to get back to me

In the early days after pregnancy, I told myself I’d “get back to it soon.” I tried running — because that’s what you’re told to do. But I wasn’t very good at it. I didn’t enjoy it, and my body didn’t respond well. So I tried group classes — bootcamps, high-energy circuits, anything I could squeeze into the edges of a full-time life. But the timings never worked with young children, and I often felt like the odd one out. Everyone seemed to be keeping up but me.

I started to wonder if I’d missed the window. If maybe this new version of me — the one who felt tired, anxious, and overwhelmed — was the one I’d have to settle for.

Not myself, but I didn’t know why

And then came my mid-40s.

I didn’t know I was entering perimenopause at first. I just knew something was off. Sleep became elusive. My energy, unpredictable. My moods, once steady, began to waver. The anxiety crept in quietly at first — a low hum in the background — until it became a weight I couldn’t shake.

No one warned me it could feel like this.

Why fitness felt out of reach

Fitness, once a source of confidence and control, began to feel out of reach. Not just physically, but emotionally. I didn’t want to be seen in gym spaces that didn’t feel like mine. I didn’t want to chase an aesthetic I no longer related to. I just wanted to feel like myself again — in a body that had carried life, weathered storms, and was still, in so many ways, extraordinary.

But there wasn’t a space for that kind of journey. At least not one I could find.

So, I created one.

Building what I couldn't find

Mettle & Grace was born not out of ambition, but necessity. A response to the deep, quiet truth I kept hearing — from friends, clients, even strangers: “I feel like I’ve lost myself.”

You are not behind — you are beginning

Here’s what I now know: You are not lost. You are not late. You are simply in a new chapter — one that requires a different kind of strength.

The strength to slow down.

The strength to honour your body, not battle it.

The strength to begin again — with softness, with wisdom, with grace.

This isn’t a comeback story. I’m not trying to be who I was in my 30s. This is a beginning — a conscious, compassionate reclaiming. Of movement. Of energy. Of self.

Let’s Begin — On Your Terms

If any of this feels familiar, know that you’re not alone. Whether you’re navigating the shifts of motherhood, perimenopause, or simply the weight of expectation, there is a way forward. And it doesn’t start with a gym membership or a diet plan.

It starts with being seen. Heard. Met exactly where you are.

That’s what Mettle & Grace is for.

Let’s begin — on your terms, in your time.

Rediscovering strength: why movement feels out of reach — and why it’s yours to reclaim

Let’s be honest: most fitness spaces weren’t built with us in mind.

If you’re a woman in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, the gym can feel less like an invitation and more like a confrontation. Whether you’re returning after time away, have never felt quite at home in a workout setting, or simply don’t know where to begin — you’re not alone. Many women carry quiet resistance to movement. But that resistance isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom, shaped by experience, expectation, and a fitness industry that has too often overlooked the strength that lives in every season of a woman’s life.

If any of this feels familiar, hear this: there is nothing wrong with you. And it is never too late to begin again — this time, on your own terms.

When the fitness world doesn’t speak to you

For years, mainstream fitness messaging has centred on youth, thinness, and transformation. It’s a narrative built around quick fixes and aesthetic ideals — not real lives or real strength.

But most women aren’t chasing bikini bodies. We’re seeking energy, health, confidence, and joy. We want to feel good in our bodies — not fight them. And we deserve movement that reflects that.

The myth of needing to be “fit” first

There’s a persistent myth that you need to be in shape before you walk into a gym. For many women — especially those returning to movement after time away — that expectation can feel paralysing.

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be fit to begin. You just need someone who sees you clearly, meets you where you are, and guides you with understanding — not urgency.

Yes, your body has changed — and that matters

Hormonal shifts. Joint pain. Surgeries. Life transitions. These aren’t just footnotes — they’re real, embodied experiences. And they deserve care, not dismissal.

Movement doesn’t have to ignore what’s changed. It can honour it. A tailored, thoughtful approach can support your body with exactly what it needs — no pushing, no forcing, no “bouncing back.”

It’s not you - it’s the room

Loud music. Bright lights. Crowded mirrors. The traditional gym can feel like an intimidating, even alienating space — especially when it seems built for a different kind of body and a different kind of goal.

But movement doesn’t have to look like that. It can happen in spaces that feel safe, private, and encouraging — through one-on-one or small group training designed specifically for women, by women.

Movement can be yours

You don’t have to run marathons or lift heavy to reclaim your strength. Movement can be a morning walk, a stretch that opens your shoulders, a workout that helps you lift your groceries or keep up with your grandkids.

It can be quiet. It can be gentle. It can be strong. Most importantly — it can evolve with you.

Welcome to Mettle and Grace

I created Mettle and Grace because I saw a gap — and felt it myself. A missing space for women with lived stories, layered lives, and a deep desire to feel strong, seen, and supported.

Here, your goals matter. Whether you’re rebuilding confidence, restoring energy, or learning to listen to your body in a new way — you’ll be met with care, expertise, and zero judgment.

Because strength isn’t a destination. It’s a relationship — one you get to define, at any age, in any season.

Let’s begin, together.