 In my twenties, I lived for the weekend. The build-up of going out on a Saturday night stretching out all day – a few texts to agree where to meet, then hours in town trying on new tops in Miss Selfridge or Jane Norman (or Kookai and French Connection on payday weekend) Home for a quick shower, spray of CK1, way too much highlighter and hairspray and I was ready. Out for hours – pubs, club, Barcadi Breezers and shots. Not giving a second thought to being on my feet in heels all night or the long walk home with no coat.
Jump forward two decades and wow how things have changed. Nights out in my forties, are still oh so fun, but that carefree wannabe Lily Allen had no idea how easy she had it! 1.Getting a date is a military operation When the suggestion of a night out comes through on WhatsApp, the group instantly lights up with yes's and dancing GIFS. Yet the collective bubble of excitement about where to go and what to wear, soon gets burst when we try to find a date. Babysitters, work or travel headaches - nothing quite kills the buzz like middle aged mum logistics. 2. Having the right underwear matters It really matters. The further I move into midlife, the more scaffolding I need. Yet, if it all gets a bit much, going to the pub loo half way through the night to stash your over zealus control pants in your bag when feeling like you can’t breathe, is perfectly acceptable too. 3. Make-up is personal Despite the tired eyes and laughter lines, I feel way more confident in my own skin the older I've got and I think that's partly down to figuring out what suits me. Ridiculously, I went into my twenties with a very similar make up bag to all my friends, not mattering we all had very different faces! I'm not sure Heather & Coffee Shimmer ever really suited any of us to be honest. But in youth as with most things, my confidence came from being the same as everyone else. I'm all about layering these days - serums, creams, sprays and lotions, they all work as my confidence armour. Do they really work? or am I bordering on Barbara Cartland by the time I'm ready? - probably the latter, but they make me feel good, so I'm going with it. 4. Old friends with old stories are a tonic for the soul There's no better feeling than sitting round a table with women you've known forever. Retelling the same stories and laughing at the same silly jokes that have been said time and time again for years - It just never gets old. There’s no time or need for small talk. We've all got so much going on, we almost need an agenda to get through all the life, work and home woes and wins in one evening. Yet, equally the night so often gets easily highjacked in another direction - Harry Styles, the merits of Botox, the David Beckham documentary. Or where to go on a fantasy holiday together we will never take, are all popular curve balls that can take up an evening. 5. It doesn't really matter where we go Its more about the people I'm with. We might take a ridiculously long time deciding where and always make sure we book these days, but when it comes to it, we barely take a breath talking, let alone look up - there's so much to catch up on. So in reality, we are not that bothered where we are - just so long as there is something to sit on, that is. I'm definitely over the standing up all night in heels phase. 6. One night out, equals two days recovery If I've really gone for it on a night out - and by that I mean guzzled down two glasses of wine in minutes at the over excitement of being Out Out followed by bad choices about the amount of spirits I can then handle for the rest of the evening - I'm in trouble the next day. As the drinks rack up (and my eye makeup slides down) I always think I can handle more booze than I really can. What used to be solved with a pint of water and a fry up, is now often a two-day trial. Day one a monumental hangover, followed by day two where I’m hit with a bus of emotional blues. Finally lets end with what most of my Saturday nights really look like, because lets face it, although going out is great, in reality its not that often... 7. Staying in isn’t a bad thing Every weekend without fail in my twenty’s was all about Saturday nights out. This then morphed into meals, or house parties with friends as we entered our late twenties, all followed by Sunday lay ins and TV marathons. When I was younger, I felt bad for the people that said they’d had a quiet weekend, when I went into work on a Monday. Now the thought of Netflix, wine and a nice meal at home in my lounge wear - oh so middle aged and oh so lovely. By Issy Joslin Writer and Social Media Manager Insta: @a_suffolk_mum Website: www.asuffolkmum.co.uk
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