VIP Empowerment with Vie

06/10/2026

Today, we had our first online lecture!

I have almost completed my first mission; that will be completed when I get feedback from some people.

I have set my second mission, so I shall be working on that this week.

We have to keep a diary of our journey. I am writing it in a beautiful notebook (of course! An excuse to buy gorgeous stationery 😂). But I have also been encouraged to start a Substack!

I have set it up today! 😱

I plan to keep them at a reasonable length, so readers have time for a cup of tea and a biscuit, but not a full meal 😉. And I only plan to do one a week.

I would love it if you would read it. I would love it even more if you would subscribe to it 💖. I shall put the link in the comments.

Xx

05/10/2026

Well, this is VERY exciting! I am a finalist in two categories for the awards! I am a finalist in the Dazzle Award, and the Level Up Award.

Here's what their website says about the Dazzle Award: The Dazzle Award
For the one that brings together the ‘dazzle’. They are the connectors, the networkers, the one that will introduce you or recommend you and they may even run their own group. This is about being a good egg in the community and giving a sh*t about others.

And here's what it says about the Level Up Award: The Level Up Award
For the one who’s making steady progress, that's levelling up and doing it imperfectly. You recognise their progress and you have watched them build a solid foundation. You see them growing, building and evolving and you’re cheering their tenacious spirit.

I am so grateful!

Huge thanks to and for including me!

I'm looking forward to the ceremony! I already have a lift (thank you Maddy Alexander-Grout! ) and it's an afternoon event!

Thank you!
Xx

Image descriptions.
At the top of each image it says: Holy Zebra! I'm a Weird AF Award Finalist. Then under a photo of me, on one it says, The Dazzle Award, and the other it says, The Level Up Award.

04/10/2026

Firstly, look at the pumpkin crumpets we bought yesterday! How cute are they?!

How do you feel about crumpets? Sometimes, I find them delicious, and, other times, I feel the sound of them is more enjoyable than eating them 🤔.

And today is the last full day of the Crowdfunder

I am SO grateful to all of you that have supported me! Thank you!

There are still some great rewards left; please do have a look.

I would very much appreciate getting it closer to target; if you could help, that would be wonderful!

And, once it's closed, I will start getting everything ready to send.

Again, a huge thank you to those that have supported me; thank you for believing in me.

Xx

Image description
Photo 1: the two crumpets I had for breakfast. The crumpets are in the shape of pumpkins, with faces on. Alongside them is a banana sliced up.
A screenshot of the Crowdfunder campaign page. At the top left is the Crowdfunder logo. Underneath, it says, "Something scary for me!" and my name. There's a still from a video, with the big, red play button in front of my face. Then it's the title of the campaign: Making It Happen! Under that, to the left, it says £2,086 target £3,000; to the right is a circle with 69% in bold, and the same number in the centre, indicating how much has been raised so far. Beneath that are the donate and share buttons. and it says there are rewards available.

29/09/2026

Hello Everyone

I'm sorry I haven't been around this past 8 days.

I have been away in Sweden on the first bootcamp of the Masters I have just started.

It was incredibly full on, with very little time to myself, so I didn't do social media apart from a brief daily update post.

I'm feeling like a giant bruise today; my pain levels are ridiculously high, and I feel like I am wading through mud with every movement, so I am going to be having a couple of quiet days to rest.

The rest will help and I shall be back with my usual vim and vigour (what actually is vim? 🤔) soon!
Xx

Image description (not a great one, as I need to be inclusive of my needs today, as I have very limited spoons): me standing on wooden decking, with a gorgeous sunset over the lake behind me.

21/09/2026

I'm officially a student!

We could register for the first part, but we could only do the final part the day before our course starts.

The day before!

And I travel to the first bootcamp on Tuesday!

I've written an update, explaining about what has happened with the funding on the Crowdfunder page, and I am still hoping the Crowdfunder target will be met, because that will pay for almost a third of the course.

If you would like to look at the Crowdfunder rewards, I shall put the link in the comments. Your support would be very much appreciated 🥰.

Did I say? I'm a student! 🥳

Xx

Image description
A screenshot of the university registration page. At the top, it says, Student Reference, with my number blocked out in bright pink. Under that, it says, Active Course Enrolment(s): MA in Creative Practice (September cohort) (Stage one). There's a royal blue line that has, in white writing, Online Registration Process. Under that, it says, Thank you for completing your registration for this year. In smaller print underneath, it says, Your registration for this year is complete.

18/09/2026

Obviously 😉😂.

Thank you for being here 🥰.
Xx

Image description: on a blue background, in cream writing, it says: Those who like my posts are happier, more intelligent and better-looking than those who don't; according to a study

17/09/2026

I have just seen this on Rosie Johnson Illustrates * page.

I am a very principled person.

And I completely agree with Rosie here.

Desmond Tutu said:

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."

This applies in many circumstances, from personal to global.

I thought this was important to share.

Xx
*I have lots of her products! I especially love the Natter Matters cards, and her stickers.

Image description
On a pale green background, as if on squared paper, in big purple letters, it says: These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others ...

This quote is attributed to Groucho Marx. We’ve got it up in our kitchen and it I think it perfectly sums up for me the absurdity of NEUTRALITY. Part of being human is having the guts to stand for something, beyond the survival of your self and your family. Principles are only really real if you’re prepared to stand up for them, regardless of personal cost. And if I hear one more commentator say that music shouldn’t be political I will SCREAM. Imagine going through your life thinking music wasn’t one of the oldest forms of expression WHICH HAS AND WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE POLITICS BECAUSE PRINCIPLES ARE POLITICAL AND HUMAN FFS AAAAAGGGHGHGHGHGH

16/09/2026

Ummm ... I don't suppose anyone could push it to, or over the £2,000 mark, please?

I've started gathering together the items for the confidence boxes; they can either be for a child, a teenager, or an adult 🥰.

And there's lots of other wonderful things available 💖.

Thank you so much to everyone that has supported so far; I really appreciate it 💖.

If you would like to look at the fabulous rewards on offer, I shall put the link in the comments.
Xx

Image description
A screenshot of the Crowdfunder campaign page. At the top left is the Crowdfunder logo. Underneath, it says, "Something scary for me!" and my name. There's a still from a video, with the big, red play button in front of my face. Then it's the title of the campaign: Making It Happen! Under that, to the left, it says £1,995 target £3,000; to the right is a circle with 66% in bold, and the same number in the centre, indicating how much has been raised so far. Beneath that are the donate and share buttons. and it says there are rewards available.

11/09/2026

How lovely to be included in this wonderful collection of stories that Ablepreneurs have collected 🥰.

I was told I would never work again because I would never be well enough.

But I did everything I could to ensure I would. It certainly wasn't easy, and it still isn't, but I wouldn't change it.

Please don't believe the awful messages the media are painting about people with disabilities. If you ask us, you'll find we can demonstrate how very wrong they are.

Xx

💜 100 Ablepreneurs. 100 Stories.

Vie Portland was told she'd never be well enough, physically or mentally, to work again.

She chose not to let that be the end of her story.

What started with a tentative step into a burlesque class became something Vie could never have predicted.

She became an international performer.

Then people asked her to teach.

That led to dance classes. Then confidence workshops. Work with children and young people. Becoming an author. Public speaking. And eventually, VIP Empowerment.

Around 15 years after "accidentally" becoming self-employed, Vie now uses much of what she learned rebuilding her own confidence to help others become happier, kinder and more confident too.

And it all started with doing something she never thought she'd be able to do.

💜 This is Vie's story.

She's one of 100 Ablepreneurs sharing their lived experience in the lead-up to National Ablepreneurs Day.

🔗 Discover her story, and meet more of the incredible people behind the businesses, at: https://nationalablepreneursday.co.uk/



Image description: A square social media graphic in Ablepreneurs' purple, white and yellow branding. At the top is the quote, "I was told I'd never be well enough, physically or mentally, to work again." in white italic text.

Below, "Vie Portland" is written in large white handwritten-style lettering beside a circular portrait of Vie, outlined with a thin yellow circle.

Vie has fair skin and long, curly grey hair swept partly up. She is smiling broadly at the camera, wearing dark-framed glasses, a floral-patterned top and colourful flowers in her hair.

The circular National Ablepreneurs Day logo overlaps the bottom left of her portrait.

At the bottom is the campaign text "100 Ablepreneurs 100 Stories", with "100 Stories" highlighted in yellow, followed by in white.

11/09/2026

I have my sad face on 😞.

The Crowdfunder has gone quiet, with only 4 supporters (who are all wonderful 😍. Thank you!) all week.

I know it's the slump-y middle bit but it's still a worry.

Have you looked at the rewards available?

Are there any that take your fancy?

Is there anything you would like to see on them?

If you would like to support, the link is in the comments.

Thank you 🥰.
Xx

Image description
A photo of me, dressed in bright colours as usual, my long, wavy hair down as usual, with hair flowers in, but I have an exaggerated sad, pouting face, which is definitely not usual.