Home - GEM's North of Ordinary

DISCOVER MY STORY

I’M GEM. AND I’M JUST GETTING STARTED.

After 27 years in Professional Permanent Make-Up and a 7-year journey to Canadian PR, this is 65 and I'm only just getting started

Gem’s North of Ordinary is where I’m sharing the real journey emigrating from South Africa to Canada, reinventing myself, and figuring out what comes next.

GEM

CREATOR • STORYTELLER • STARTING OVER AT 65

Full story

THE EMIGRATION JOURNEY

7 Years to Canadian PR
From the long visa wait to packing up a life in South Africa, I’m sharing the real journey as we prepare for Canada.

THE REINVENTION JOURNEY

After building 3 successful Permanent Make-Up businesses over 27 years, I know what it takes to start from scratch. Now I’m doing it again sharing the wins, the wobbles, and everything in between.

Unique Features of Our Journey

Emigrating After 55

Planning a move from South Africa or anywhere later in life? Follow the real journey from application to arrival, and everything in between.

Reinventing After 60

Wondering if it’s too late to start something new? GEM is doing exactly that at 65 — and sharing the wobbles as well as the wins.

Here for the Journey

For people who believe life doesn’t become smaller as we get older. A place for stories, connection and choosing something a little north of ordinary.

A little something from GEM 💌

Thinking of emigrating after 55?

Join me as I share what this journey is really like — not just the practical stuff, but the real, unfiltered story.

My community gets something extra: personal letters, behind-the-scenes moments, and the things I'm learning that don't always make it onto camera.

And as my welcome gift to you: 31 Things Nobody Tells you Before you Make the Move.