Ok, so I was sitting at my desk about six months ago and a wave of warmth swept up me.

I thought, ooh, that’s nice, because I like to be warm and also thought, that’s interesting, now I come to think of it this has been happening for quite some time, wonder if it’s the menopause?

Duh, well what else do you think it could be at your age, silly, and you who’ve been helping menopausal women for years have just got that, well done!

More thoughts, and yes, that’s probably why I haven’t been sleeping through the night for quite some time too, waking every one or two hours, sometimes on the dot, thrashing for a while then going back off.

Then a few months later I had my 50th birthday, went and had a fabulous holiday, got back and had the menopause confirmed with a blood test and haven’t really been the same since.

The hot flushes are a lot worse, sleeping is very poor indeed leaving me exhausted some days and my anxiety levels are through the roof.

However, I am determined to enter this new phase of my life correctly as I believe this is very important and I want to remain curious and positive about it and not move forward with dread and fear.

I have all the techniques and resources I need so this should not be difficult but as my thoughts are a bit scattered at the moment and concentration some days is a little tricky I have decided to keep this diary.