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The Real Me Not the John Lewis ad woman

by Vicki Jeffels on May 19, 2010

vegemitevix photos for The GalleryFor Tara Cain’s The Gallery the prompt was to do a self portrait. This caused me lots of problems. I hate taking photos of myself. Then I started thinking about the popular ad for John Lewis on TV at the moment here in the UK. It features a version of the old Billy Joel song, ‘She’s Always a Woman’ and portrays a woman’s life from birth through the different stages. It’s been really successful, though I know at least one person (my bloggy mate Muddling Along Mummy) who dislikes its ‘tidy, perfect’ depiction of a woman’s life. Where’s the pain, the heartache? The cheating spouse or difficult children? Where’s the gristle?

So I’ve put together an anti-She’s Only a Woman slideshow below. It’s not long because you really don’t need to see me in all these different stages of my life. I’m quite ancient, it would take forever to download that many pictures!

So here tis. My life. In pictures. My Englishman isn’t really in it because he’s camera shy, not because he isn’t important. He is.

Click to play this Smilebox photo album: A real woman's life
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  • Thinly Spread

    Vix that is absolutely beautiful, as are you. I need tissues again!

  • Carly

    I love this, brought a tear to my eye xxx

  • Peabee72

    Beautiful Vix, really lovely pics…I'm shattered after a fun filled day and that song has really chilled me out perfectly. Great choice xx

  • The Moiderer

    A great collection of Portraits

  • tiddlyompompom

    that's brilliant – great work :)

  • ladyblahblahs

    That's brilliant… really needing tissues.

    I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that JL cringe-worthy and twee. I much prefer your version.

  • http://www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com/ Trish @ Mum's Gone to

    WOW! That's so creative and clever. So lovely of you to share these x

  • Eggs, cream and honey

    Vix that's great!! What a lovely homage to your beautiful self. Particularly like what you say about having kids “someone rips out your heart & gives it arms and legs…” so true. You are gorgeous woman. Don't ever doubt it. x

  • http://bloggertropolis.blogspot.com/ Steve

    I am so impressed with that. What a fabulous presentation. And don't knock yourself – you're looking good (us Englishmen know a thing or two on that score). ;-)

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you Chris, that means a lot. As you know having a crap day, feeling more worn than beautiful. x

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you. I just feel our lives are little more less photogenic, a little muckier, untidier you know? Of course I left lots out, like my career and various other shenagins (backpacking and stuff)..but didn't want to bore you. Anyway I tell these stories on this blog..Some of the posts I'm most proud of are in The skite file over there on the sidebar. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Trish. I notice you haven't put up your shot with the wig for your self-portrait! Was thinking about you last night, and hope it went well. x

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you Steve. I've always been a little partial to English men. x

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you Carly, and thanks for stopping by and commenting. x

  • http://twitter.com/LondonCityMum London City Mum

    Oh Vix this is BEAUTIFUL!!!

    Am trying very hard not to cry in open plan office. Not a good sight for a – ahem – professional business woman.

    Lovely lovely lovely.

    LCM x

  • http://www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com/ Trish @ Mum's Gone to

    Ah but I have haha! Wasn't going to do the gallery this week but relented this afternoon. The poodle wig has been given another airing! Opening night went well, there's a post about that too!!

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you. I made the mistake of reading the post attached to this one 'My Happy Shiny People' about my kids and now I've tears streaming down my face. Am I hormonal or what? Thanks for your lovely comments. It's been a shite day and I'm grateful for the happy vibes xx PS. Your office doesn't need an experienced marcomms person or freelance writer do they?

  • notSupermum

    That's fantastic! You seem to be very happy with your lot, lovely. x

  • utterlyscrummy

    You've got me needing tissues again hun! Just a beautiful, real, honest, fab great celebration of you.

    Simply brilliant xx

  • http://potty-diaries.blogspot.com/ Potty Mummy

    I LOVE that. You made me a bit teary…

  • http://3bedroombungalow.blogspot.com Kat

    *holding back tears* Beautiful

  • http://thekingandeye.blogspot.com Jen

    Wow, that was amazing, really lovely, waaaay better than the ad too :) Jen.

  • http://www.sleepisfortheweak.org.uk/ Josie

    Oh Vicky that is gorgeous! I love your beauty and your passion, it always shines through everything that you do x

  • chellekip

    WOW! By far the most creative entry I've seen. Very nice to see you and so fabulous done too!

  • http://www.booperfunk.com/Booperkit/ Booperkit

    That's superb – love it! I flew to minnesota, met a minnesotan, brought him back to England after a week and married him lol.

  • Moderndilemma

    You made me cry! You are so, so beautiful both inside and out my lovely kiwi pal.

    MD xx

  • themadhouse

    I love this very much, thank you for letting me have a sneak peak at you

  • http://www.muddlingalongmummy.com/ Muddling Along Mummy

    That is just brilliant – brilliant – real life is much more compelling to me than the sanitised advertising world

  • brightonmumteenageangst

    Wow! A wonderful idea. You look great and the sentiments are beautiful. I'm another who dislikes the glibness of the John Lewis ad. I like your one better!

  • http://www.cherishedbyme.com Nova

    Oh I love it….nearly cried. I looked twice because there was so much to take in. X

  • http://newdaynewlesson.com/ Susie @ Newdaynewlesson

    Really beautiful my lovely!

  • JulieB

    Wow, that's really beautiful – you do have such a wonderfully warm smile.

  • naomidelatorre

    Wow, Vix!! This was like totally beautiful and amazing and brilliant. I'm so glad you made this and shared it with us. Totally made me cry. Esp. when you wrote at the end “Life is in the tissue of every hour.” Wowee. You are fantastic.

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you for your comment notSupermum, it's been a long road to this point with so many twists in the journey but yes I think I feel so very happy with my lot. x

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you hun! Did you notice the eighties hair? LOL!

  • vegemitevix

    Oh lovely Potty Mummy thank you. I guess that's one way to get over my fear of photos of me – full immersion! LOL!

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you Kat. x

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Jen, though somehow I don't think my life would fit the John Lewis stereotype lol! Full of ups and downs and swings and roundabouts. Like all our lives really, eh! x

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks hun. I loved the song too. Couldn't find the original Billy Joel song.

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Josie! And you my friend are always so loving and supportive. thank you x

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Chelle – the Smilebox programme is really easy to use and free. Have a look at http://www.smilebox.com I use it to put together little slideshows for family Down Under and I used it to send our our wedding invitation last year. Very modern couple we are, lol! x

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Dawn. Some of them are actually self-portraits, but obviously not all x

  • vegemitevix

    Hi there, nice to see you here! Sounds like you've got a brilliant story to tell too. Maybe we should start a club 'I went away on holiday and all I bought back was this lousy man….?; LOL x

  • vegemitevix

    That's a really special thing to say, I'm really touched. Thanks hun.

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you. It's nervewracking putting yourself out there isn't it!? Though I am trying to talk myself through the embarrassment, and self-consciousness.

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Tiddly, hope that gorgeous wee one is treating you well, and hope you're getting lots of rest. x

  • vegemitevix

    Somehow I don't think my life would fit the JL advertising stereotype there's been way too many ups and downs. I love the song to and am conspiring to practise it up and play it on the guitar. Watch this space. ;-p

  • vegemitevix

    I confess the quote isn't entirely my own, I heard something like it years ago but cannot for the life of me remember where. I thought it describes exactly how I feel about my kids. Thank you for all the lovely things you've said on here.. blushing now. xx

  • vegemitevix

    Oooh thanks. Bet the JL ad team wouldn't be pleased though! I have worked in advertising, many moons ago, but as a writer and creative not a model! LOL! Too Rubenesque for TV, but I have the perfect face for radio.

  • vegemitevix

    There is a lot to take in. You can go back on the arrows and highlight the pix too I realised later. It's a cool wee programme smilebox. http://www.smilebox.com THanks for your lvoely comments.

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Susie! See we have quite similar hair! LOL

  • vegemitevix

    Thank you Julie. I've been told all around the world that I look like someon else..maybe I have one of those 'universal' looks? I noticed all the funny haircuts and fashion too when I was going through my photos and of course I culled any that were just too awful. There is one pix of me just about to drop my last baby and I am so heavily pregnant I look like a small Pacific nation on legs. I didn't put that one up!

  • vegemitevix

    Lovely comments thank you. I didn't have the space for the full quote but it is one of my faves and a credo really – 'Life we learn too late is in the living, in the tissue of every day and hour' Stephen Leacock. xx

  • gappysinglemum

    Blimey, that quite choked me up. It was so real, and so lovely. You've come a long way baby…

  • snafflesmummy

    WOW what an amazing gallery entry. Love it.

  • http://itsasmallworldafterallfamily.wordpress.com Victoria

    That’s lovely. You’re lovely x

  • Kahanka

    Absolutely amazing, love it love it love it ;) )))

  • http://twitter.com/bubbleboo bubbleboo

    What a beautiful slideshow, thanks so much for sharing it :)

    I’m only just now getting round to visiting everyone! It was my first Gallery this week – sure picked a great one to start with!

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