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Clare Gradwell

@clare_loiuse78

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followers

891

following

showing women separation isn’t the end
Starting over | Holidays | Mum life
9-5 in retail, building freedom in my 5-9
More ℹ️Holiday quotes⬇️

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If you’re new here welcome 🩵

I’m Clare. I’m 48 a mum, a nana, juggling a retail job whilst rebuilding my life after separation.

A couple of years ago, I never imagined I’d be sharing my journey online. I certainly didn’t imagine I’d be getting on planes more often, meeting incredible women, building a travel business, and proving to myself that it’s never too late to start again.

I’m not here because I’ve got it all figured out.

I’m here because I’m figuring it out as I go and I know I’m not the only woman over 40 who’s had to reinvent herself.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost a bit of yourself
If you’re craving more freedom
If you’re wondering whether you can still create a life that excites you

You’re in the right place.

Around here you’ll find the real life stuff the wins, the wobbles, the airport dashes (because menopause has blessed me with chaos) the gym comeback, the laughs, the tears, and everything in between.

And if, along the way, I can show you a way to earn from travel and build something for yourself too even better.

So tell me

Have you been following me for a while, or have you only just found my little corner of the internet?

I’d love to get to know you.

#WomenOver40
#MidlifeReinvention
#StartingAgain
#TravelBusiness
#ClareLouiseTravels taken in England, UK by @clare_loiuse78

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4 months ago

I hope in years to come when my grandchildren are looking after their grandchildren they remember what it was like visiting their Nanny.
That we were rich because we were busy making crazy memories, after all that’s what it’s all about ❤️

#makingmemories #womenover40 #grandchildren #memoriestolastalifetime #crazyfun by @clare_loiuse78

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3 months ago

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday was one of those days where I honestly thought, how the bloody hell am I going to make all this work?

I went to see a solicitor about finally getting my divorce and financial order sorted.

And whilst I know it’s the right thing to do, and I know I’ll feel better once it’s done

Hearing how much it’s going to cost when you’ve got no savings is scary.

I work full time. I’m running two businesses. I’m paying my own bills and trying to build a future for myself.

And now I’m looking at taking out a loan just to pay for the legal costs of getting everything sorted.

Starting again isn’t always the empowering, exciting journey you see on social media.

Sometimes it’s sitting in a solicitor’s office thinking, Jesus, how am I going to afford this?

But then

I went home, I went to bed, and I woke up the next day and sometimes that’s all it takes to realise that yesterday doesn’t have to dictate today.

Part 2 tomorrow ❤️

Have you ever had one of those days where everything feels impossible, then you wake up the next morning and somehow things just feel a little more manageable? x

#womenover40
#startingover
#divorcee
#divorceishard
#howmuch by @clare_loiuse78

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a month ago

Three years ago this week, the trust was broken and I made the decision to put myself first.

I had no idea what the next chapter would look like.

Looking back now, I realise that sometimes we don’t choose the fresh start life chooses it for us.

And when everything you thought your life would be disappears, it’s easy to believe that the best has already happened.

But what if it hasn’t?

What if there’s still more to see, more memories to make, more freedom to find and a whole new version of you waiting to be discovered?

Starting again can be bloody scary

But it can also be the beginning of something you never knew you wanted.

If you’re starting over, or simply feeling like there’s got to be more to life, you’re definitely in the right place.

Tell me, what would your next chapter look like if you could choose it? by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

Day One Finding Me Again

3 years on from my separation, and this week I’ve found myself reflecting on my old life.

And for the first time, I can look back at the photos and feel fondness rather than sadness.

I miss making memories with the kids.
I miss the house I thought I’d grow old in.
Having somewhere that truly felt like home.
Baking. Gardening. The animals we had.
All those little things that made life feel like mine.

But looking back has made me realise something

While I’ve been busy trying to find me again, I think I forgot about all the things I actually loved doing in the first place.

So this is Day One of not trying to reinvent myself but finding myself again.

Finding the things that make me happy.
The things I enjoy.
The things that make me feel like me.

And yes travel is still firmly at the top of that list 🤣

But there’s so much more to me than that, and I’m excited to rediscover it.

Maybe starting over isn’t about becoming someone new.

Maybe it’s about remembering who you were all along

And if you’re starting over too maybe it’s time to ask yourself

What did you love doing before life got in the way?

#startingoveragain
#findingmyself
#womenstartingover
#midlifewomen
#lifeafterdivorce by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

I thought I was collecting passport stamps but

That was never really the point

The point was the little faces beside me.
The adventures. The laughter. The places we discovered together.

I wanted to give my children memories they would cherish forever, memories they’d look back on, talk about with their friends, and one day tell their own children about.

And now, seeing them as adults and starting to make their own memories, filling their own passports and exploring the world with the people they love it makes me realise just how precious those years were

Because one day, you blink.

And they’re grown.

So don’t wait until someday to make the memories.

Take the trip. Book the holiday. Make the memories.

Because the stamps eventually fade into the pages

but the memories stay with you forever

Where’s the first place you’d go if money wasn’t the object?

#MakingMemories
#familytravel
#familytime
#lifeistooshort
#morememories by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

What happens next?

Maybe your children are older now.
Maybe you’ve spent years putting everyone else first.
Maybe you’re suddenly looking at your life thinking

Surely there has to be more for me than this?

Redundancy can feel like the rug has been pulled from underneath you but sometimes, losing the thing you thought you needed can make you finally look for something you actually WANT.

A fresh start.
More freedom.
Another income.
More time to make memories.
And something that’s yours.

If you’re starting over and wondering what your next chapter could look like, maybe it’s time to stop looking backwards and start asking WHAT IF?

Drop STARTING OVER below if this sounds like you.

#womenover40
#redundancy
#startingover
#nextchapter
#clarelouisetravels by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

The first few seconds of Madonna’s Get Into the Groove came on and suddenly I’m 15 again

Every. Single. Word.
Not one lyric forgotten

Then I walk into the kitchen

And my brain goes

Sorry, Clare. That information is no longer available

What I actually walked in for
GONE.
VANISHED.
NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN

How can I remember a song from 41 years ago but not remember what I needed 30 seconds ago

Tell me I’m not the only one!

#MenopauseHumour #MenopauseLife #MenopauseMemory #midlifewomen #clarelouisetravels by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

Kinda chic, realising you don’t have to wait for your life to begin.

For years, I was always the one saying I’ll do it tomorrow, I’ll start Monday and thought that someday would come.

Someday when the kids were older
Someday when I had more money
Someday when work wasn’t so exhausting
Someday when I felt more confident
Someday when I was ready

But here’s the thing

If you keep waiting until everything is perfect, you’ll be waiting forever.

in our 40s we are allowed to want more.
More adventures
More memories
More time for ourselves
More freedom
More moments where we think, bloody hell, I’m actually doing it

And maybe you don’t have it all figured out yet.

But guess what? Neither do I.

But I’ve also realised I’d rather start messy, scared and slightly winging it than look back in another ten years and wonder what I could have done if I’d just started

Because life and time isn’t waiting for us to be ready

So this is your little reminder

Stop waiting for someday
Start making today count

If you’re in your 40s and quietly thinking there has to be more than this

I see you

And honestly?
It might just be time we stopped putting ourselves last.

#lifeafterdivorce
#midlifereinvention #morelifemorememories
#travelover40
#clarelouisetravels by @clare_loiuse78

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2 months ago

Funny how we grew up thinking adults had it all figured out.

Instead, somewhere along the way we became the woman who puts everyone else first, works hard, pays the bills, and tells herself Maybe next year

If you’ve been feeling like you’re living on repeat, wondering where you disappeared to, I want you to know you’re not the only one.

Life isn’t meant to be all responsibilities and no joy.

Here’s your reminder to make the memories, book the trip, eat the ice cream, laugh a little louder, and start choosing yourself again.

If that sounds like exactly where you’re at, stick around. I think you’ll feel right at home here.

#womenover40
#choosejoy
#midlifejourney
#travelmore
#clarelouisetravels by @clare_loiuse78

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3 months ago

Every one of us has a story

Different ages. Different jobs. Different backgrounds.

None of us were looking for a magic wand, we were simply looking for more.
More freedom. More choices. More memories. More life.

The best part? We didn’t find a scheme
we found a community of people who genuinely want to see each other win.

And if you asked almost every one of us what we’d do differently

“We’d have started sooner.”

If you’ve been watching from the sidelines wondering what it’s all about, comment MORE and let’s chat.

#womenover40
#travelbusiness
#buildyourdream
#freedomlifestyle
#clarelouisetravels by @clare_loiuse78

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3 months ago

Out of office and straight into my favourite holiday hobby

People watching.

Tell me I’m not the only one

Who’s with who?
What do they do for a living?
Have they been married for 20 years or did they meet over breakfast this morning?

Within 10 minutes I’ve created an entire Netflix series in my head, complete with plot twists, unexpected romances and a dramatic finale.

Please tell me this isn’t just me

What’s the funniest story you’ve ever made up about complete strangers on holiday?

#HolidayHumour
#PeopleWatching
#RelatableMoments
#Over40Women
#ClareLouiseTravels taken in Benidorm, Spain by @clare_loiuse78

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3 months ago