Hi everyone,

I've been absent from the forum for a long time now. The main reason, of course, is that I seem to have hit that crazy busy part of midlife that's common to the so-called "sandwich generation" -- many of you know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Plus, as a mature student I'm extra loaded down with school stuff at the moment. I'm having fun but it's a lot of work, and this semester in particular I don't seem to have time for anything besides work, looking after my family, supporting my parents and sleep. So as a result, my interest in fashion has taken a steep nosedive.

But being busy isn't the only reason. I am coming to realize that I'm just not very excited about the current fashion trends. Sometimes the latest and greatest seems a little weird at first, but I usually come around. Not this time. I am surrounded by uber-fashionable young women wearing bleeding edge trends (this is art school, after all) and in particular I just cannot get my head around the high-waisted jeans. I just hate them. I hate how they look on everybody. And they are everywhere.

This is just my opinion, of course -- clearly lots of people think high-waisted jeans are swell -- but it's putting a damper on my desire to buy new clothes. I quite like high-waisted trousers and skirts, but since I'm spending half my time in the print lab these days, I can't wear those kinds of things (you get ink all over the place, so you don't want to wear dressy clothes). I know there are lower-waisted jeans available, but they are limited and never in the washes I want.

I also seem to have completely lost interest in colour. The only new things I've bought are black, because regularly I get ink all over me, but truth be told I'd probably be buying black and grey even if it wasn't for practical reasons. So it's hard to get excited about the colours of the season, too. I feel like I've stepped outside fashion.

Anyway, thought I'd explain why I've disappeared -- sorry it was a bit long! I'll be back eventually *waving to everyone*.