Married At First Sight Australia The Show must go on as Expert Mel Schilling shares her terminal diagnosis

Viewers Offer support and love to TV personality and relationship expert Mel on MAFS for 10 Years

Edna Moss

2026-03-22T15:11:00.0000000 2026-03-22T16:10:19.1970000

I don’t watch a lot of TV but I do like watching Married At First Sight. From a psychological position I am always fascinated by the participants motivation to join a cast like this and understand how hard it is for anyone to be exposed in this way in the quest for love and perhaps the celebrity and fame that runs alongside while the series aires. This series of Married At First Sight Australia has also been shrouded in the tragedy of Relationship expert Mel Schilling’s brave terminal cancer post announcement to the world on Instagram.

After watching this series and revelations week there have certainly been a few revelations. It was shocking to see how each group, the women and the men when put in a room together to share their red flags and green flags about their individual partners with the group supposedly there for moral support how each group handled things.

Surprisingly it was the men who were empathetic towards to one another and genuinely supportive behaving in a kind caring way you may associate with the “gentler” sex.

The women on the other hand already with rivalries established went after one another like vipers. Ganging up and tearing down in the most ruthless of fashions.

The main culprits were so far “sweetness and light” Brooke and already established scrapper Gia posturing for position as the “Head Mean Girls” and ironically using the argument of others not being “Girls girls” as they ruthlessly attacked the girls they had singled out. No surprise Gia still had Bec in her sights after previous confrontations but then Brooke and Gia waded in on nice, balanced Stella in defence of Mel who in spite of behaving quite poorly with her partner Luke decided to take the wounded bird position during revelations week when it was discovered his family launched an attack on her on social media defending him.

Stella paired with Filip, the voice of reason made one mistake saying there were two sides to every story, not in any way attacking Mel but equally in defence of Luke and all hell broke loose. Maturely and I believe to diffuse the situation somewhat she apologised to Mel unnecessarily in my opinion but opting to be the bigger person in this instance only went to show the other women in poor light.

Even all too much for quietly spoken Rachael paired with Stephen, she found herself piping up against Brooke and Gia pulling faces, laughing and being combative which left everyone in our house questioning if they were drunk?

When things got really out of hand and quite nasty, towards Alissa, paired with David; it was the oldest member of the group Rebecca 51 who said “that’s enough” sternly and the super bitchy behaviour was curtailed.

We certainly saw a side to model Brooke who had appeared well rounded, balanced and mature until this point in the series.

I think the show editors have lost the plot when the action is focused more around the in fighting than the actual relationships, the point of the show.

And maybe it’s a reason why these women can’t maintain and build relationships when they can’t even be pleasant and supportive of one another whilst being filmed for a television series. It shows me they are not self aware enough to understand how they might come across to others and the audience at large.

For the first time in Married At First Sight history it’s the men I feel sorry for and I do consider myself a girls girl.

The best part of revelations week for me was hearing Steve talk opening about his red flags with Rebecca, gaps in humour, her constantly talking and not always being sensitive to his need for peace and quiet time and confessing Rebecca was moving at a much faster pace than him when it comes to intimacy. He talked about Rebecca not being his usual type airing all red flags and no green flags which did surprise the group. As a viewer we just thought “he’s just not into you”

Rebecca, when she stepped up to face the girls her account of her relationship with Steve was completely different to Steve’s which uncovered the unforeseen differences in a relationship in the early stages and how people aren’t always open and transparent with their partners. Steve wasn’t thinking about the impact his contribution would have on Rebecca, the camera doesn’t lie. It would have been better for him to speak directly to Rebecca first about his feelings, not easy, than share all his negatives concerns about his pairing on camera with the group.

To sum up for me, producers are too focused this year on showing the conflict within the group, instead of the conflict within the relationships.

I cannot see either Gia and Brooke going the distance in the experiment. Brooke is already over her partner Chris; irritated by his “whining” and sharing with the group during revelations week (throwing him under the bus) his controversial comments on his audition tape about needy people, girls who use self tan and fat people.

Gia has come out of the gate super confident in her match Scott who doesn’t even know remember her eight year old daughter’s name.

They were very physically attracted to each other early on but as her nemesis Bec has pointed out things that burn bright early can fizzle out and the slow burners may end up outlasting the pairs that begin with a bang.

Looking forward to seeing how things pan out and just hope the bitchy scraps within the group are overtaken by better more interesting relationship psychology content and personal growth for the couple within the relationship breakdowns on the couch with the experts.

These are my favourite parts of the show when the mirror is held up and participants have to actually own their behaviour.

I cannot wait to hear what the women in particular Gia, Brooke and Mel have to say when they have to face themselves and their partners with the experts and in front of the group.

After hearing the emotional tribute led by relationship expert John Aiken for his colleague Mel Schilling an expert on the MAFS shows in Australia and the UK since 2016 this series is the last opportunity to see the “graceful and kind” woman fans of Married if First Sight have watched and enjoyed on screen over the last 10 years.

For me the show won’t be the same without Mel’s kind but firm hand and listening style when it comes to relationship coaching. She will be missed.

Waitrose Birthday Cake Fails The Adult Taste Test - Cecil Chocolate Roll

The Waitrose birthday cake selection was good but some were very expensive

Edna Moss

2025-11-06T08:30:00.0000000 2025-11-06T10:33:41.7900000

I went to Waitrose in search of a birthday cake for my neighbour. I am a pretty good baker but this was last minute and I didn't have the time to whip up a cake myself.

I opted for the Cecil Chocolate Sponge and chocolate buttercream roll at £9.50, it was the cheapest. And by the time I'd bought all the ingredients it would probably have cost me that to make one. So for anyone without the time or inclination it's a cute good looking cake for a birthday table and pretty good size too, serves twelve.

There were some good looking other options, the next up in price was £18 and they went up to £30. I didn't want to spend that much.

I'd say if the cake is for young kids, they'll love it, chocolate sponge, dipped in chocolate with smarties on the top and a catapillar face iced on the front.

This was for adults though and the cake sadly didn't get eaten. I've still got half the cake sitting in tact  in my kitchen. Trying to think if there's anyone weho'd appreciate it. Maybe warmed up with a little chocolate sauce or some custard. It definitely needs a little help. It was very very sweet, very dry and tased super processed sadly. I went to Waitrose thinking the quality would be a lot better than cheaper supermarkets. Sadly a supermarket box of 6 chocolate Swiss rolls would have been more appetizing.

I don't know if I was just unlikely and got a very old cake, I didn't check the sell by date but it wasn't great.

The verdict, the Cecil Chocolate Sponge Birthday Cake looks amazing. And I am sure kids wouldn't complain when you slice it up at a party, super sweet and sugary but as cakes go don't buy this for an adult who enjoys a slice of moist sponge, you'll be disappointed.

Revitalise Your Hair with Evolve Organic Beauty Monoi Rescue Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Locks

Discovering the Magic of Evolve Organic Beauty Monoi Rescue Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair

Edna Moss

2025-10-13T09:47:00.0000000 2025-10-14T10:46:46.2870000

I had never heard of Evolve hair care before. A friend of mine gave it to me with equally wild, dry and crazy hair saying you must try this.

I don't normally RAVE about shampoo, my hair is wild and crazy but this Evolve Monoi Rescue really made a difference and smells divine too.

In the world of hair care, finding a product that not only promises effective results but also adheres to ethical and environmental principles can be challenging. Most big brands are not cruelty free for a start, something important to me.

Evolve Organic Beauty, a brand heralded for its commitment to organic and natural beauty solutions, offers a beacon of hope for those battling dry, damaged hair. One of their standout products, the Monoi Rescue Shampoo, was recommended to me, apparently it has gained attention from a few celebrities and beauty editors for its remarkable ability to nurture and revitalize hair that's seen better days. And it actually works.

Ethos and Origins of Evolve Organic Beauty

Founded in 2009 by Laura Rudoe, Evolve Organic Beauty emerged out of a desire to create an eco-conscious alternative in the skincare and beauty industry. Based in Hertfordshire, England, the company operates with a strong commitment to helping consumers make healthy and ethical choices. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and made in England in small batches to ensure freshness and efficacy. This hands-on approach guarantees that each item remains rich in antioxidants and free from harsh chemicals, parabens and free radicals

Where to Find Monoi Rescue Shampoo

Evolve Organic Beauty's products, including the Monoi Rescue Shampoo, are primarily only available through their official website. However, they have also branched out to various online retailers and boutique stores that prioritize organic and natural products. You can also find it on Ebay and Bodykind discounted to £13.50 regular price £15.00 if you just want the shampoo. I've also found part of the range at John Lewis but the best place to explore everything on offer is the Evolve Beauty website.  Although more widely available in the UK, international shipping options make it accessible worldwide for those seeking organic beauty solutions.

Packaging and Presentation

True to its environmentally friendly ethos, Evolve Organic Beauty utilizes simple, recyclable packaging to minimize waste. I loved the simplicity of the clean design. The Monoi Rescue Shampoo comes in a sleek, minimalist container that is both functional and stylish, reflecting the brand’s commitment to sustainability. The packaging features clear labeling and is designed to ensure that consumers can make the most out of every product, reducing waste to the bare minimum.

For a small brand, Evolve Organic Beauty packs a punch with several unique selling points. Firstly, its dedication to producing entirely handcrafted products in small batches is a rarity in the beauty industry where most products are mass produced. This approach not only enhances the potency of their formulations but also ensures that each product delivered is of the highest quality.

Secondly, the transparency in ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes builds trust and loyalty among consumers who are increasingly conscious of the origins of their beauty products. Lastly, the brand’s commitment to environmental sustainability is evident not just in their organic ingredients but also in their eco-friendly packaging and production processes.

Active Ingredients and Benefits for Frizzy Hair

The effectiveness of the Monoi Rescue Shampoo comes from its rich blend of natural ingredients, particularly Monoi oil—a traditional Polynesian ingredient made from soaking the petals of Tahitian gardenias in coconut oil. Renowned for its hair softening and moisturizing properties, Monoi oil is a boon for frizzy, unruly hair. It worked like magic on my hair. I am mixed race, white caucasian and Nigerian, Barbadian.

Additionally, the shampoo is fortified with other natural ingredients such as aloe vera and natural glycerin, which hydrate the hair, soothe the scalp, and enhance hair’s natural shine and strength. These ingredients worked synergistically for me to tame frizz, repair damage, and restore vitality to my hair, making it an ideal choice for either naturally dry hair or chemically treated tresses.

My Conclusion

For individuals struggling with dry, damaged hair, the Evolve Organic Beauty Monoi Rescue Shampoo offers a nurturing and sustainable solution. I love a brand dedicated to organic practice, ethical production, and innovative natural ingredients, so Evolve Organic Beauty certainly stands out as a small brand with a compelling message and effective products that speak volumes of its values and vision. Whether sourced online or from select boutique stores, this shampoo could well be your next step towards healthier, more beautiful hair.

I found the shampoo and conditioner combo at Superdrug for about £29 plus shipping. which for 250ml of each I didn't think was too bad. Evolve Beauty is a B corporation and when you visit the website they've got a whole load of beauty products I cannot wait to try from self tanners to gorgeous gift sets for the holidays and an outlet too.

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque shade 80 I am completely sold

And the power of a miniature given away to a friend

Edna Moss

2025-07-27T07:03:00.0000000 2025-07-27T07:38:07.5200000

Chanel make is not usually on my radar. I by pass the counter imagining it’s only for French ladies who ride bicycles with baskets on the front full of baguettes wearing peddle pushers and ballerina pumps with a striped t shirt and Chanel bag strewn across their shoulder, tres chic.

I am more of a combats and back pack kinda gal with socks that don’t match and braids to keep my crazy hair under management control.

I don’t wear lipstick particularly, I can’t be bothered. It comes off as soon as I put it on and I don’t like the fact before that happens it ends up on cigarettes, coffee cups and other people. I’m a friendly girl.

My auntie passed me this teeny tester a few months ago Chanel rouge allure Laque shade 80 which is a deep cherry red she said she thought would suit me and suggested I try it. She told me it was really long wearing, like a combo stain in a liquid that sets without blurring or coming off everywhere.

I threw it in my make up bag intending to give it a go.

This week I’ve given it a go. Switched up my routine and decided to do something different and my pout has gotten me noticed. I’ve not only received a load more compliments than usual, I tend to stay low key and blend. one of my clients I’ve been working with for a while on her anxiety and confidence asked me if she could try my new lip shade, a massive breakthrough.

Reminding me to stay open and curious about life in general. She was so engaged by the tiny not for resale freebie lip tint I want to give it to her at our next meeting. She loved how tiny it was and how it would fit in her coin purse. So today I went online to Chanel.com and purchased my very first item of Chanel makeup.

One rouge allure Laque shade 80. There are 13 or 14 other great shades to choose from if this cherry red is not for you. I have quite dark skin so I am told it really works well for me.

The price £42 which is an absolute fortune for me by hey it’s pay day weekend. I’ve been genning up on “the lipstick effect” a beauty phenomenon that apparently gives women a psychological boost is a downturn economy, like now.

It think it works as I have really felt the effect of trying something completely new. Not planning on changing my look or wearing a beret anytime soon but hey, never say never.

It shows brands their marketing efforts and giveaways might to yield results immediately. Goodness knows how long my aunt has had this little lipstick in her possession before it came to me but when money is tight and people what to try something new, they start looking to what they already have to experiment with.

And when that happens unlikely new customers are converted.

What an amazing product. The only thing. I did have trouble accessing the Chanel.com site couldn’t work out why until I switched off my VPN.

I ended up buying from John Lewis where the Rouge Allure Laque is on offer at the moment, still a lot for me at £35.70 but a £6.30 saving is two days worth of americanos.

And no lipstick on my cup.

Clarins Huille en Brume Solaire keeps your Afro hair protected

As good for your hair as your skin

Edna Moss

2025-07-26T10:18:00.0000000 2025-07-27T08:32:52.3970000

Mixed race or darker skin girls need to protect from the sun and not just your skin but your hair too. I wear protective styles in the summer, corn rows and braids, to keep moisture in so I have ben looking for a sunscreen for ages I could use not just on my body but on my head and hair as well.

I’ve tried black girl sunscreen which comes in an spf 30 and spf 50 and it’s OK, doesn’t leave a white residue, the biggest problem with sunscreen on dark skin but rubbing it on my scalp wasn’t the easiest and it did feel a bit greasy and messy on my hair.

There are few products out there just for scalp, I’ve tried a couple but I wanted a sunscreen that I could spray on my hair as well.

The beauty of this product is it works for both, great suncream but great for protecting the hair and scalp too for anyone with a protective style. And you don’t need to wash your hair everyday. I left mine for a week while in the sun and the non greasy formula and lovely scent gave me no issues when wanting to look put together for drinks or dinner in the evening.

It retails for about £30 but I found mine in Tesco of all places for £18.

Dior Black Eyeliner The Easiest To Use Felt Pen Eyeliner

On stage eyeliner from Dior for girls who think they cannot do a cats eye eyeliner

Edna Moss

2025-07-07T08:59:00.0000000 2025-07-08T14:31:27.4230000

My older cousin (she won’t mind me saying that) who is much more into her make up than me, she’s very stylish I everyone in the family listens to her when it comes to beauty, clothes, shopping, she married an Italian and now lives in Rome to give you context, put me into this eyeliner, she said “it’ll be perfect for you, one stroke and you are done” and boy was she right.

I have always avoided a liquid I eyeliner. The one’s I’ve tried in the past always either ended up making a mess, running down my face on smudges in the crease of my eye, even if I waited and waited with my eyes half closed until I thought the liner had dried. I’d actually given up ever thinking there was a product out there for me. Until my favourite Cuz came home to visit (she live in Rome now) put me on to Dior on stage eyeliner. Sounds fancy. It’s not. It’s like an old fashioned very thin felt tip pen you actually cannot go wrong with. One sweep across the lid and you are done. It’s black black, not patchy and dries instantly so no mess. I was sceptical but girls and boys this one really is easy. Even if you’ve never done eyeliner before in your life. I swear my gran could do this.

It come in Matt black, satin black and a whole load of other shades if that’s your thing, blue, purple, green, brown. I like simple black. It costs £35 which for me was a lot however I think the ease of application makes up for the steep price ticket and currently if you shop at Sephora you can get 15% off with coupon code NEW15 at checkout which does give you a bit of a saving.

I’d given up on a dramatic eyeliner because I thought I just couldn’t do it. And I don’t have money to waste trying loads of different products that don’t work for me. So thanks S.J if you are reading. I went for it and it’s worked.

Raye doing it large against all the odds

She’s the Julian Assange of the music business

Edna Moss

2025-05-24T08:09:00.0000000 2025-06-25T17:04:05.6570000 Event date: 23/08/2025 14:00 - 22:30 Export event

She’s an old soul with the voice of a super star. Some one wrote on X the other day whose album would you rush out to buy with no hesitation if a new one was released tomorrow. Most of the answers were postumous, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and I felt the nostalgic pull of genius lost.

I thought about Raye for she was very nearly a genius lost, simply because she refused like Keisha before her to yield to a misogynistic music business in order to have her career and get her music out there. It’s an almost impossible feat to go against the machine and survive let alone thrive and yet Raye with her pure voice, cheeky wiggle and solid like steel core has defied an industry and shown women you just don’t have to put up with it. They’ll try to silence you, stop you getting your music out and it’s going to take a lot longer but anything is possible when you’ve got the immense talent Raye has.

Raye now a massive disrupter in the music industry famous as much for a stand against what she calls a great injustice to skint artist. In May 2024 the Daily Mail said — RAYE has since championed the "broke" songwriters she claims are left "fighting over scraps of publishing" while labels focus on major profits.

Polydor refused to release her album before seeing how her single “Call on me” performed. Her scrap with them ensued and it took a while before she was able to release her album “My 21st Century Blue” to critical acclaim.

My favourite tracks on the album gut renching “Ice cream man” and the totally brilliant “Worth It” both tracks written much earlier but thank goodness included because they fit the theme of the album Raye wanted to release.

I’d never even heard of Raye until I watched the most brilliant of documentaries by Louis Theroux who got Raye to open up about her early experiences in a music industry, no where near as fluffy in reality as awards shows like the Brits, the Mobos and the Grammy’s would have you believe.

It’s that age old attitude “put up or shut up” that good old Raye pushed back against and managed to defy as an independent artist on unadulterated talent.

She doesn’t have the glossy mag photo shoot appeal of say Dua Lipa, snapped up for this fashion campaign or that, or the sweet, mass market, virginal appeal of say Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande, three artists I do admire and enjoy.

Raye is knock your lights out gravel, she’s not going to pretend for anyone and whilst that is tricky to sugar coat for a record company “get in the studio, do as you are told and keep your mouth shut” marketing approach, the beautiful talented magnificent Raye has taken all the bad things that have happened, exposed the lot of them and picked up the real following, the loyal warriors with her for a lifetime along the way.

She reminds me of another true musician across the pond Lady Gaga who too has voiced her struggles with an industry that doesn’t always embrace you, regardless of your ability if your thighs are too chunky or your nose too big.

I remember hearing Gaga say “ There can be 100 people in the room and 99 don't believe in you, but all it takes is one who does.” during the promotion of her movie “A star is born” with Bradley Cooper.

Raye performs Live in London Victoria Park, London E3 on August, 23rd, 2025

See you all there.

The VIP pit and garden tickets are £154.00 she “worth it” to me. I cannot wait to cheer her on in person.

A Visit to Jacquemus On Bond St

It was as a luxury shopping experience should be - bloody marvellous

Edna Moss

2025-05-13T07:09:00.0000000 2025-05-13T16:17:00.4000000

I don’t buy a lot of clothes, books yes, clothes no. My style is non style, I like secondhand, boho, vintage. I wear an Afro so I like easy and free when it comes to dressing.

My favourite luxury brand is Jacquemus. I like a hat, my hair is crazy so I often need one. I like the incognito feel of a hat, like some people like sunglasses and the JACQUEMUS Les Classiques 'The Artichaut' Bucket Hat has been on my radar for a while. RRP retail about £130 expensive I know.

They have also brought out another one similar the Le Bob De Nimes embellished linen and cotton-blend bucket hat at even more £220 and I wanted to check it out.

The hats come in 4 sizes 56, 58, 60, 62 cm when you are spending a couple of hundred quid I guess the fits important. I have been tempted to buy one online a bit cheaper but decided to have the experience in store instead.

For my birthday in April my boyfriend took me to London to the Jaquemus store where I was treated to the whole experience, tried on all the hats, I didn’t feel bad lapping up the luxury service as we knew we going to buy a hat.

Simon Porte Jaquemus grew up in the South of France, somewhere I’ve spent a little bit of time and somewhere I absolutely love, I speak a little French and enjoy a Gitane (filter less cigarette) perched on a stool at a tabac counter when I am there sipping the thick sludge they call cafe. I feel an affinity to the playful cheeky aesthetic even though I can’t afford it.

My experience in Bond st was exactly that an experience. I was a little nervous going into a shop like this however we were welcomed like we were millionaires. It was lovely and really warm and genuine. I could have got my hat online for less, secondhand, although for something like this I didn’t want to risk ending up with a Chinese fake.

So I stepped over the threshold of the store with intention.

The staff were great, not pushy, we were drawn in to the brand and left with a small piece for a price.

I think this is what we are missing when we just get what we want immediately. The moment, the experience. I have wanted the Jaquemus hat for a few years.

I do love my new hat although I loved the experience of getting it from the shop more.

It’s a memory I will treasure everytime I pop my perfectly fitting hat 58cm bucket hat in dark denim navy on my head. It comes in 7 gorgeous colours.

The hardest part was picking which one to have. Thanks to the staff at Jaquemus for making our visit to your shop so special and fun.

It was as worth every penny.

The gorgeous London Jaquemus store is open 10.30am -7pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 6pm on Sundays

Virginia Giuffre Death As Important As The Pope For Change For Women

“The world has lost an amazing human being today.“

Edna Moss

2025-04-26T07:26:00.0000000 2025-05-13T16:19:03.0000000

I have just read with tears in my eyes the article in the guardian by Benita Kovolos Virginia Giuffre Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser dies aged 41" she's the Guardians australian journalist reporting on the suicide of sex trafficking victim Virginia Guiffre, who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, in Western Australia on Friday 24th April at 9.50pm.

Josh Schiffer a lawyer who represents another of Jeffrey Epstein victims said of Virginia Giuffre to US cable network news nation

“The case wouldn’t have existed without the input, her cooperation, her bravery at the beginning, inspiring so many other people to come forward,”

All I could think was in spite of fighting so hard, shining that bright light on what is going on out there, so much so they are even making movies about it Blink Twice, 2024 starring Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie. When I watched it I thought is this the Jeffrey Epstein Prince Andrew story Hollywood style.

And of course President Trump and his mar o lago resort also features in the story, the place Virginia worked as a gorgeous vivacious 17 years old and where she was recruited by Ghislane Maxwell currently serving a 20 years sentence for sex trafficking and the perpetrators, Andrew and Epstein one dead by suicide and the other completely in denial.

I don’t know what the answer is. There is nothing that can stop that drive in men mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers NEVER talk about that makes them behave in this horrific way except a strong challenge from women, tough when the world opportunity is stacked against you without support from men, career, opportunity, business, independence. My grandmother who I was named after was at one time married. As a widow she was completely independent and whilst she never spoke negatively about the opposite sex I saw her keep them at arms length for the rest of her life despite having many admirers.

And then we get onto the issues like why all the cardinals at the Pope’s funeral are men. All the people in the Russian Ukrainian peace talks and the Israeli Palestine peace talks are men.

Pretty much all the delegates at the Cop climate conference are men and all the delegates at the G7 are men. We still have a gender pay gap even in the UK where we lead the way on equality and inclusion supposedly, women are still working in November and December for free because they are paid less than men across the board for the same work.

All women have experienced pain at the hands of men from being ghosted or lied to or belittled, insulted or demeaned at the good end of bad behaviour to being raped, attacked, sex trafficked, abused or killed at the other end of the spectrum all the while we are watching the fantasy of the wedding unfold before our very eyes glued to the TV for a format that puts men and women together without ever having laid eyes on each other in Married at First Sight. The concept of “LOVE” is an easy sell in Love Island, Honesty Box, Naked Attraction and now the latest from Channel 4 Open House, the great sex experiment where I truly think producers know the women want the fairytale and will literally do anything to get it and the men want someone else to help them get laid.

Wake up girls. He’s not the Prince. We’ve all been brainwashed by Disney. Virginia Giuffre is the real life Cinderella and the shoe did fit for her.

For Virginia her ordeal is over. I hope her family and every other woman on the planet can find strength in her story, her fight and her spirit.

They didn’t get away with it Virginia.

I Got Conned On EBay Buying Designer Trainers

My tips for shopping safely online

Edna Moss

2025-04-23T09:06:00.0000000 2025-07-26T10:17:46.4470000

Have you been conned or ripped off online? Here’s a picture of my Balenciaga Triple S fakes purchased on EBay.

Everyone has a story. It’s happened to most of us in some way or another. Frauds, scams, cons are everywhere from “you’ve been involved in an accident” calls to much more sophisticated schemes robbing people of thousands, sometimes tens of thousands.

It happened to me on EBay. I wanted a pair of the Balenciaga triple S trainers they were way too expensive to buy new so I decided to look for a pair recycled secondhand.

At the time I had no idea how many good quality fake trainers there were in the market. Or how many people were prepared to bare face lie about the history or origins of the items they are selling.

On eBay they try to give reassurance from a sellers history and feedback but I have been duped by someone with great feedback. I think I got conned by someone who was a shopper on EBay not a seller especially.

I asked all the right questions about my fear of ending up with fake trainers, then my friend pointed out if someone is ripping you off asking questions won’t help you, of course the person will lie. To exactly what extent and how for they will go, I was surprised.

When my Balenciaga Triple S trainers arrived the first clue was they were too big. I’d tried them on in store to make sure I purchased the correct size. On reflection this was not the best behaviour, using the store to get the size correct and then shopping online to find the item cheaper. Yeah I’ll own that.

Anyway it didn’t work the shoes were fakes but how do I prove it without offending the seller and accusing her of ripping me off. It was very awkward. In the end I told her I didn’t believe her story, purchased at Selfridges, worn a few times and decided she wanted something different. She said she could sell them cheaper as they were a gift to her.

At this point all I wanted was my money back but she said she could prove they were authentic as she had the Selfridges purchased receipt and would dig it out and send it over.

When the receipt came over I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it, I felt so bad and thought, oh well I have to keep them now so I apologised and let it drop until my friend, inspector cluso looked at the receipt under a microscope and immediately told me the Selfridges receipt was counterfeit.

I was furious not so much about the trainers, I knew I could get my money back from EBay although FYI here, something not fitting on EBay is NOT a valid reason for a refund only if the item is NOT as described, i.e. fake Balenciaga Triple S sneakers will EBay automatically side with the buyer.

No surprise as soon as I began communicating the game was up I didn’t hear another word from the seller until I packed up the trainers with a prepaid EBay shipping label and the seller had to email me to ask where the trainers had been returned to as she had moved and hadn’t updated her EBay account.

In some small way the outcome, the con person losing the money and the trainers, Karma maybe, did lessen the blow of being duped on EBay by someone selling fakes.

What to look out for on Balenciaga Triple S fake sneakers

The things I found out to look for when identifying a fake pair of Balenciaga Triple S trainers is the evenness of the stitching of the Balenciaga name. If you compare how neat, perfect, uniform the stitching branding is it's pretty impossible to achieve on a fake pair. If you zoom in on the picture you can see even though the trainers look convincing the stitching is not even.

Phone Scam In the UK

If you’ve been involved in an accident they might get the better of you.

Edna Moss

2025-02-27T14:19:00.0000000 2025-02-27T15:42:21.4530000

I’ve come on here to share. I’ve just had a scammer call me who said they were calling from “the Road Safety division” about an accident I was involved in. The first clue was no caller ID.

I knew it wasn’t real (even though I have just been in a minor accident) because I have a nick name and if it was someone from the police or the government they would have used my actual name but it was the only thing that alerted.

She did have correct information about me and when I questioned her, are you from the police I asked, she just kept repeating things like no she was from the traffic division. When I asked what traffic division, she repeated regarding Road safety.

When I asked her what company she worked for she wouldn’t answer. When I asked her if she worked for the council was a civil servant she said no.

Eventually I pulled over, told her I’d take her details and call her back. She insisted she would call me back. I said no and then she put the phone down on me.

Beware of scam callers.

My plan for the next time it happens is to ask the caller if they need my help. I plan to ask anyone who sounds suspect, if the caller is being held against their will. I am going to ask are they a victim of people trafficking? Are they going to be beaten up and tortured if they don’t get me to agree to their wishes or demands. Or maybe I’ll just say are you trying to sell me Cryto currency I honestly have no idea who this person was or what they wanted really.

After watching James Blake’s BBC Catfish Documentary “Hunting The Catfish Crime Gang where he uncovered whole complexes in Myanmar of housed people tricked, trafficked and unable to escape, with aerial photographic proof these complexes have expanded from nothing, a few buildings to communities of over 200,000 wholy owned, operated and run by the Chinese.

The two things may be completely unrelated but there again who knows who is going to try and con you next.

Elemental Herbology Coconut Shell Cream Body Scrub 200ml

Worthy of a mention

Edna Moss

2025-01-02T09:50:00.0000000 2025-01-02T10:10:38.3230000

For the last five years or so my family have given up exchanging gifts. We decided as a group it’s too expensive and it’s better to just enjoy each others company without the gift exchange.

That said my oldest sister left these too products in my bathroom and when I asked her about them she said “They are for you”

I don’t like moisturiser or anything that leaves a residue on the skin and I do enjoy a spa sugar scrub. That feeling when your skin feels like you have shed the old layer and it’s been replaced with something new.

I don’t know how much these products in combination would cost, knowing my sister they won’t be cheap,

The scrub and oil in combination has left me with the spa skin feeling after an expensive treatment with no residue, slime or stickiness.

I got dressed immediately after use. I wore black and no residue at on my clothes.

My skin felt really good and renewed for a few days afterwards too so bonus.

Noughty Detox Dynamo

When your colour goes too dark

Edna Moss

2024-12-07T09:33:00.0000000 2026-03-25T18:27:36.8470000

About a year ago I had a hair disaster. I went to a new stylist for my colour and when I left the salon the root was way too dark for the rest of my hair, which is quite long.

After dying hair too dark I discovered it is almost impossible to correct. I didn’t return to the salon, there was nothing they could do without bleaching, which I didn’t want to do.

I read online a clarifying shampoo can help strip off fade unwanted dark colour so I bit the bullet and bought Detox Dynamo from Noughty. I am not a shampoo expert. I chose this one because 1. At £7.99 it wasn’t too expensive and 2. It is a vegan product, no parabens, palm oil and cruelty free.

It does say to use a stripping shampoo like this one in between regular washes, maybe once a month to prevent product build up in the hair. Using a product like this too much your hair can end up dry, they advise.

I tried a combo of grow out and wash out over 5 to 6 weeks which did leave me quite a big root.

I used the detox dynamo every week for 5 weeks and it did tone down the dark colour, not massively, but I could see it wouldn’t be wise to use it all the time.

The application is cold and herbal, like an astringent, you feel the tingle which is nice and smells of peppermint so if you get your stylist to use it you get an aromatherapy experience.

If you like that squeaky clean hair feeling this is a nice inexpensive product to bring back shine and weightlessness to lack lustre hair.

And if you’ve got a bad dye job that needs toning down and you don’t want the bleach option I managed to recover my colour (with the help of my hairdresser) in about 6 weeks.

I am excited to try these two new to me products based on the experience with Detox Dynamo in the purple tube.

Bonvoy Marriott

Points and travel club

Edna Moss

2024-10-05T15:41:00.0000000 2024-10-05T16:20:05.2000000

Join today. This is a really good rewards program for anyone who has to travel on business or travels a lot for whatever reason.

I joined a few years ago when I was travelling in the US and the Marriott group now own Starwood Hotels and the W brand so the choice of accommodation you can gain reward points for and relinquish points for is broad.

I recently had an amazing couple of nights the South of France, Marriott, 4 minutes walk into Monaco with 160,000 points. The room would have usually cost about £400 per night so it was a wonderful reward for using the club.

The app is free to download and very easy to use, you just join; are allocated a membership number then you can start browsing properties by destination and date and then book using your credit card or collected points.

I must saw I have had to change reservations a few times and I have never had a problem rebooking, being charged extra and when I had to cancel a reservation using points they have been returned pretty much immediately.

I once had occasion to email Bonvoy Marriott head office and my issue was dealt with very swiftly so nothing but good things to say about Marriott Bonvoy.

Also when you arrive at the hotel, you get priority check in, extra water and cookies, and sometimes a room upgrade, it has happened.

All in all a great 8 years with Bonvoy Marriott. Highly recommend.

H and M

What a difference a few hundred miles makes

Edna Moss

2024-10-02T14:19:00.0000000 2024-10-02T14:42:45.1030000

Had to have a rant. I was in London this weekend and my friend and I went to the Kings Road for breakfast and then on to see the Homelessness exhibition, Homelessness reframed at the Saatchi Gallery, which was bloody marvellous and totally thought provoking.

When we came out we popped across the road and nipped into the beautiful shop, I said to my friend - oooo swanky, what are you buying in here?

She laughed her head off and said what’s wrong with you? It’s H and M.

All I can tell you is it wasn’t remotely like the H and M in Meadowhall where the windows are dirty and the clothes hung up without even being ironed.

This was a retail merchandisers paradise with the old worldly architecture, beautiful gleaning bay windows full of pressed within an inch of it’s life product and shiny black paint on the wooden doors with gorgeous big brass handles.

When we actually looked closely inside, it was still the same clothes just so much more time and effort had gone into making the experience so much better visually for the customer.

I didn’t buy anything so all the extra effort didn’t work for me but it did leave me wondering, whether people in London just wouldn’t go anywhere near the offering we’ve got up north or if the people up north love H and M so much their shopping aspiration and expectation is so low, H and M just don’t have to try so hard.

Cully and Sully

Ready meals from Ireland home cooked vibes

Edna Moss

2024-09-23T10:51:00.0000000 2024-09-23T11:57:34.9830000

When I find something in the supermarket I’ve never seen before I always wonder if it’s new or just new to Waitrose or the Coop in this case.

Turns out Cully and Sulleys are a massive food company started over 20 years ago.

Cullen Allen 'Cully' and Colum O'Sullivan 'Sully', both from foodie families in East Cork. Cully & Sully is the tastiest, most trusted and loved fresh soup and meal brand in Ireland and here in England we’d never even heard of them until a few months ago.

We are fans of the tomato and basil risotto but there are a few other options to try too. Moorish mushroom risotto sound amazing but haven’t seen it on the shelves of our local

Supermarket yet, and satisfying veggie broth which is made from natural roasted Irish stock a nourishing hearty soup.

Well let me tell you why they are the most trusted and loved in Ireland, apparently, the food bridges the gap between homemade, and quick and easy, fast food and fresh and all for the amazingly low price of about £2.30 per portion.

As a family we have two meat free days a week and coming across this food brand has been a miracle.

Who else makes a plant based fast food ready meal that is not full of E’s and preservatives for under £3. No one. Or if they do please please comment below.

Thank you Cully and Sully for crossing the Irish Sea.

Carol Vorderman

Brainy Math Lady from Countdown in the 80s

Edna Moss

2024-09-11T11:39:00.0000000 2024-11-29T08:19:19.7870000

So here’s the deal. Carol would not normally be on my radar except my aunt is an ardent supporter of the feisty femme fatale and so I have followed her on X (formerly Twitter) for the best part of the last year.

I am not political, I didn’t actually vote this time as I couldn’t in all conscience vote for any of them but I did hear Carole going at it hammer and tongs in support of the Labour Party, the labour movement, Keir Starmer and Angela Rainer so much so I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d been caught on stage whooping it up with the deputy PM in Ibiza.

That is until today when after Labour cut the winter fuel payment for pensioners yesterday and Carole stopped a rocket for leading her followers over the cliff. And returning an incoming government that can do nothing except blame the outgoing one for allegedly “having no other choice”

So my point is, after having a strong voice as an advocate for the labour movement for so long, when the duly elected person only two months ago got the keys to number 10 downing st, does something unpalatable for a lot of people, does Carole stand by her man and take the heat too?

No she does one great big U Turn in the hope her popularity will be quickly restored.

I am with my aunt, I love it that Ms Vorderman is a controversial figure when it comes to defying gender roles and and acceptable female stereotypes, electing to have several lovers instead of one partner as she says they each offer her something different and fulfil her in different ways, let’s face it something men have been doing for years however I think she loses credibility when she doesn’t defend the actions of her party and leader she fought so hard and passionately to get elected and prefers to appease her audience instead by swinging.

Interestingly the winter fuel payment for pensioners was introduced by Gordon Brown and the conservatives kept it in place through out the 14 year tenure Labour are blaming now. Go figure. And I am sure many people have an opinion about me choosing not to vote, but had I chosen to listen to Carol as I do see myself as a good person with conscience who cares about people, particularly the elderly who have worked and contributed their whole lives, I’d be kicking myself now as I am sure many people are.

Olivia Garden Thermo Nano Hairbrush

Who knew the brush could make such a difference

Edna Moss

2024-07-08T12:59:00.0000000 2024-07-08T13:20:47.1930000

Cannot speak highly enough about these hairbrushes. They cost around 25 bucks.

Which may seem a lot for a hairbrush but my oh my when you see the difference in your hair it’ll be worth every penny.

I have super fine super curly hair underneath and really think straight hair on top so always end up with hair that looks like a big mushroom where the top is longer than the underneath.

I was introduced to these brushes about 10 years ago and have since bought three or four in different sizes, however my main size barrel brush I use the most is 54NT I also have 64NT for very large curls and blow drying straight and then a little one NT24 which manages the short frizzy (balding bits) around my face.

I wouldn’t have believed the difference these brushes can make until we actually did the experiment, everything the same, the hairdresser, the products, the cut, and I’d say you get 50% again longevity out of your blow out with these brushes if you have difficult, unruly and unmanageable hair like mine.

You may be able to source Olivia Garden brushes cheaper on EBay or Amazon so definitely shop around. Wouldn’t recommend buying one secondhand as the bristles do get wear and tear after about 12-18 using twice a week. They do have to be replaced.

The Readers Of Broken Wheel Recommend

Edna Moss

2016-10-31T14:14:38.6000000 2016-11-02T17:36:32.2330000

Loved it. Very easy and quick read and the language is not difficult. Perfect for a holiday and if you love books in general even better.

Sky

Edna Moss

2016-09-30T11:18:27.8800000 2016-09-30T11:25:30.7300000

Believe In Better is the strap but how is that possible when new customers are more valued than existing customers?

After being a Sky broadband customer for three years, money has been very tight lately so a satellite TV package was an unaffordable luxury until now, I decided to take advantage of their incentive of a free Lenovo laptop when you sign up for a 12 month contract with Sky TV.

When I called to upgrade I discovered that this wonderful incentive is not for loyal valued existing customers like me but only for people who have never given Sky a scrap of business in the past.

When I expressed my dissatisfaction and told the sales person how this marketing policy made me feel, unappreciated and my business unvalued, she suggested I speak to the "Retentions Team" about this. I asked if I cancelled my service and rejoined would I be eligible for the offer, but usually to qualify for the offer she told me you have to have not been with Sky for 12 months. I waited on hold for 35 minutes to speak to the retention team but no one ever answered.

I called back customer service, explained what had happened and told them I wanted to sign up for the Q package.They did tell me we could sign up for SKY broadband & TV service in a new name at the same address (therefore new account) and qualify for the free laptop but the existing account would need to be cancelled first, leaving us without the internet for two weeks which was not an option.

I now have my cable TV scheduled for install with Sky but I would suggest they drop their catchy strap line "Believe In Better" because for me "Better" means customers coming to the brand because of the exceptional way you are treated as a customer not customers reluctantly giving you their business because they have no choice, the inconvenience in disruption of service being more troublesome than making a stand and changing provider completely.

When you have to bribe to get new business instead of nurturing the existing customer base and treating them so well your reputation precedes you, sorry but you don't believe in better, you believe in hooking people into contacts they cannot get out of and making your money regardless of the service you provide them, a business model over the long term which cannot be sustainable. You may het loads of new customers with these kind of free incentives but how many of your loyal customers are you alienating in the process.

Why not try giving something back to the people that keep your business going for a change, your customers because you may have me as a customer for now, but I am low hanging fruit ripe for the picking by a competitor not Raving about how much I love giving my business to Sky