Being a Finalist in the #BiBs2018 and Impostor Syndrome

Blogging awards, they are funny old things. On the one hand I love them, they are a public acknowledgement for a job well done, for working hard, for engaging your readers. Then on the other I loathe them, they can be a popularity contest, with those who shout the loudest winning.

My love:hate relationship with blogging awards has been going on since 2011 when I was a finalist in the family life category of the MAD blog awards. I’d only seriously been blogging for around a year and I was so made up that my readers would nominate me and then vote for me. I honestly thought I’d win, not from a vanity point of view, thinking I was the best but I was just swept away with the glamour and accolade of it.

I didn’t win, Jane at Northern Mum did and it was well deserved as she has an awesome comic voice that I could never hope to emulate. I remember dusting my pride off and thinking ‘oh well, there’s always next year’ and for a few years I continued to be nominated and then a finalist in both the MADs and the BIBs. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride is the phrase that comes to mind.

Left to right: Penny, Clare, Gemma, me, Michelle and Anya

Model for A Day #MySundayPhoto

This is Miss E, she is normally behind the camera, as she is a keen photographer and is lucky enough to have herself a superb 4K Panasonic Lumix camera. 

When we were on holiday a couple of weeks back, we spent a day at Felbrigg Hall, a lovely National Trust site and quite promptly Miss E handed her camera over to her sister and told her she was her model for the day!

They had a lot of fun together, posing and snapping photos. 

Plenty to be Cheerful about #R2BC

Happy September friends, I can’t believe how quickly the year is passing by. We have done so much this year and yet I only feel like it should be May or June, but no we are heading into the Autumn and the kids are all back to school, or should I say my girls have started secondary school, but that will be the subject of next weeks R2BC.

For this week I’m sharing about our holiday last week. We took ourselves off to visit Adams parents and then had four nights in a North Norfolk, having wonderful family time. Here are just a few of the things that made this a simple and joyous holiday -

Fresh eggs every day. I love eggs and especially when they are fresh. The cottage that we book has numerous chickens, so each morning Miss M went out and got us fresh eggs for our breakfast, we had egg and bacon baps, fried eggs on toast, scrambled eggs and even eggs bread. We had to make the most of them! You'll also see her with Dave the pony in the top picture, this house is her idea of heaven with loads of animals. 

Getting through a whole book. I adore reading, especially light and fluffy romance fiction, so it was fabulous to have enough time and space on this break to get through a whole Debbie Macomber book. I read Cottage by the Sea and it is a lovely read, there’s a bit of everything - tragedy, rejection, love, forgiving yourself and starting again.

Taking Life Lightly #MySundayPhoto

Last Thursday we headed to Blakeney Point by boat to see all the seals and it was a wonderful experience. The baby seals are so fluffy and gorgeous, but this is the one who really captured me.

I think he is reminding us that life is meant to be fun and we should take it lightly!

Today I'm joining up with Darren over at Photalife for #MySundayPhoto, which I don't think I've ever done before. Here is to many more to come.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading, if you have enjoyed this post and want to stay up to date then 
 Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or

Visiting Scotney Castle with Kids - National Trust, Kent

In the boiling hot sun one Sunday in July we headed for a morning at Scotney Castle; its under an hours drive from us, so not too far and its somewhere my husband has not visited before. We arrived about 11am and I was so surprised to find that there weren't too many visitors. We could easily get tickets for the house, stroll around without being disturbed and get pictures without anyone else being in them. It was delightful.

Our first stop was the modern house, which was built in the early 1800's to replace the original moated castle from the 1370 's. This old castle is now just a folly purposefully destroyed when the new house was built. How frivolous some people are to destroy a perfectly good castle, so just so it looks pretty in your garden!

It took us about half an hour to look around the house, we did it at quite a brisk pace and didn't read all the literature that was available, nor chat to all the wonderful volunteers who were in the house ready to help with their knowledge and passion. My girls found this visit really interesting as the original owner of Scotney Castle was Robert Ashburnham and we now live in Ashburnham Place, his ancestral home.

Planning my Plus Size Autumn/ Winter Capsule Wardrobe with Fashion World

We've just entered into that odd time of year when the British weather isn't really sure what it is up to. Is it still summer, or has autumn arrived? No matter, we know that the autumn is well and truly on its way, and then quickly on its heels will be winter, so why not get your wardrobe kitted out in readiness for these cooler days and longer nights.

As a busy mum of three I'm all about being comfortable, whilst also looking pretty smart. I've never been a trainers and tracksuits kind of woman, and as I no longer work in an office I don't need suits anymore but I do still like to look presentable for my volunteering jobs and the odd night out with the girls or my husband.

Close Up Wool, Linen & Denim by Olga Polishko, thanks to Shutterstock

What's a Capsule Wardrobe?
The other day I was watching a very interesting YouTube video from Charli at Curvy Girl Thin about why she moved to a capsule wardrobe and it got me thinking that really I already use one too. There are only around 30 items in my wardrobe that I wear, despite the other 200 that are in there! ekk So I am actually going to have a good clear out and move to the capsule wardrobe way!

Most people seem to agree that a capsule wardrobe is around 20 - 35 pieces of clothes, shoes and accessories. Due to the limited number of items that you have to choose from, you need to be smart in your choices and make sure you chose versatile items that will go with a number of your pieces.

It's useful to choose a colour theme to start with, mine currently is navy, jade, coral and cream. My girls laugh at me with the my summer wardrobe, as I have six different plain navy tops, all with varying sleeve lengths and different designs, these then go with my two pairs of patterned soft cotton trousers, long patterned cotton skirt, knee length denim skirt and jeans. It's not boring, its efficient and I believe I look good in them.

10 Tips for a Successful Summer Stay in Paris

Having taken a fabulous trip to Paris with my Mum and brother in early July, I wanted to share with you some of the things I learnt on that visit.

1)   Don’t forget your sun cream and hat, it is boiling in the city, a few degrees hotter than the U.K. and if you are on an open top bus or boat then you will catch the sun and quite possibly burn.

2)   It is really expensive (as are most European cities) nowadays due to the very strong Euro but just go with it. If you try and scrimp and save you’ll find it really difficult to have a coffee or a beer when you’re in a popular area. There are loads of one euro water sellers on the street and you can pick a fresh crepe up for as little as 3 euros from a street stall but we struggled to pay less than about 12 euros for a salad or croque monsieur.

3)   If you are taking the Eurostar and arrive into the Gard du Nord station, either get off the train as fast as you can to join the taxi queue or have pre-booked one. The queue took us 45 minutes at 8pm on a Thursday night and that was after a delay. We then got charged 23 euros for a fare that should have been far less. On the way back I booked an Uber via the app and paid just 13 euros and had a much quicker and more pleasant journey.

Review: Karcher FC5 Hard Floor Cleaner - Is It Any Good?

Earlier this month I was sent the Karcher FC5 Hard Floor cleaner to review.  I've used it for a couple of weeks to give it a good try out and now want to share with you my thoughts.



Most of them I've put into my video review, which you can see above but for those of you who don't like videos then here is the low-down.

What is the Karcher FC5?
The Karcher FC5 Hard Floor cleaner vacuums and mops all in one action, so you can save time by only having to go over your floor area once. It is suitable for all sorts of hard floors such as laminate, lino, marble, tile, stone and sealed wood and it picks up light debris, pet hairs and controls the water to mop the floor without it becoming too wet. I was very impressed that after cleaning the floor with the FC5 the floor was dry within a couple of minutes, even in cooler weather. This is a big plus point.

The RRP of the FC5 is £249.99 with a two year guarantee, but when shopping around I found it quite a bit cheaper and with some good deals out there, so make sure you have a web search. The weight of the FC5 is 4.6kg and personally I found it fairly heavy to use after a while but I do have early-onset arthritis in my elbows so this could be why. It isn't free standing and you get a 'cleaning and storage station' with it. I tend to call it a docking station or mounting station as basically, it is where you place the FC5 when you are not using it to clean. It's just a sturdy black plastic tray, but it does the job well and holds the FC5 secure and upright.

Struggling to find the perfect wedding gift? Read this first!

Car with Just Married Plate by Africa Studio, thanks to Shutterstock

So, we’re reaching the end of summer and the wedding season seems to be drawing to a close, but for those of us who still have weddings to attend this Autumn/ Winter, or perhaps next year, we still have that difficult task of finding the perfect wedding gift.

It seems that choosing your outfit and matching your shoes to your bag, and fascinator is so much easier than buying something for the happy couple. Even if you’ve known them for years and know what they like, it's never an easy decision, is it?  

You’ve thought about cash, about gift cards, about a crystal vase, a kitchen clock or even the old classic, a toaster! Or how about something different, some silver bullion from GoldenEagle Coin? Silver, after-all, is always a good investment and no-one wants 12 toasters and 15 salt and pepper shakers…! 

But if you need a little more inspiration, then look no further. Here you’ll find a list of the gifts that newlyweds love to receive -

The gift of an escape

Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean booking them a week in the Maldives – even though most of us would love to indulge our friends from time to time, if we had the money – no, giving them the gift of travel simply means giving them the opportunity to go and see a little corner of the world, or even of the UK, at a time that suits them! 

School of Rock Musical - The Most Amazing Show

Kids Week
To celebrate London Theatre Kids Week, which runs for all of August my family were lucky enough to go and see School of Rock, the Musical and boy, was it fantastic!  I wrote about Kids Week earlier this summer, so if you're not sure what it is head over and check out my post, but basically most of the big London shows offer a kids tickets (for up to 16 years of age) for free with each adult ticket purchased. Also, if you have more kids than adults in your family you can then get additional half price tickets for the other kids, so all the family can enjoy a show together and it is more affordable.

I've purchased Kids week theatre tickets before and when booking opens it can be really busy and it is tempting to think that everything you want has sold out. but be patient as tickets release back into general sale after a short while, as people request them to be held via the online system and then never complete the transaction.

I'm writing this post on 16th August and I assumed (wrongly) that everything would be completely gone by now, but it is still worth trying to purchase tickets, as just today I saw there were £15 tickets for 'We're going on a bear hunt' and '42nd Street' is just £45. I saw this show late last year and its phenomenal! And these are just two of the shows I saw there with availability for a number of August dates.

Definitely put Kids week in your diary for next year, even if you can't make it this year. Booking opens in early June normally.

Treating Chronic Gum Disease

Woman Smiling Image by AXL, thanks to Shutterstock

Good oral health protects the teeth, gum, and surrounding bone structures while preserving your brilliant smile. It also helps prevent diseases and conditions associated with poor oral health, such as chronic periodontitis.

Periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease, is a serious condition that results from bacterial infection of the gum and supporting bone structure of the teeth. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Oral Health Division reports that 47.2% of individuals in the US who are above the age of 30 will develop some type of periodontal disease.

Among the types of periodontitis, chronic periodontitis is most common. It occurs when excess plaque buildup, due to poor oral hygiene, cause inflammation and other symptoms. Although chronic periodontitis can be treated in other ways, Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR) is a new technology being used to get rid of it.

Understanding Chronic Periodontitis

Plaque is that off-white layer of hardened food particles that sticks to the surface of teeth. It occurs mainly in hard-to-reach places in the mouth, such as on or between teeth at the back of the mouth. Plaque build-up results in gingivitis, the early stage of periodontitis where the gum becomes inflamed, swell, and bleed. If left unchecked, gingivitis can turn into advanced gum disease or chronic periodontitis.

Gum affected by chronic periodontitis appears severely inflamed, is infected with a colony of bacteria, and bleeds easily, especially during brushing. Severe bad breath (halitosis), sensitive gum, and receding gum are other symptoms. Inflammation and bacteria eventually spread down into the periodontal pockets along the root of the teeth, destroying tissues and bone that keep the teeth in place. This process occurs gradually over several years and eventually leads to teeth loosening and loss.

In extreme cases, Bacteremias and other types of periodontal bacteria can enter the body and compromise the immune system. Periodontal disease has been linked to medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney failure, and Alzheimer’s, some of which are potentially life-threatening. Diabetics with unhealthy gum are said to be twice as likely to develop heart disease and kidney failure. In addition, low birth weight is associated with gum disease in pregnant women.

Risk Factors of Chronic Periodontitis

Although poor hygiene is one of the most common cause of chronic periodontitis, there are several other existing risk factors for developing periodontal disease. Its severity and the extent of damage it wreaks depend heavily on the root cause.

The following are some common causes of this dental problem. Knowing them can help you reduce the risk of developing gum disease and associated diseases or conditions. Some of them can even be managed or eliminated from a person’s lifestyle to prevent or reduce the risk.

• Genetics

• Age

• Stress

• Nutrition

• Medication

• Smoking

• Faulty dentistry

• Diabetes

• History of periodontal disease

• Compromised immune system (e.g., due to H.I.V or cancer treatment)

The Laser Bacterial Reduction Procedure

Inflamed periodontal pockets of the tooth can become a haven for billions of bacteria. Laser bacterial reduction is a new technique in the dentist’s arsenal that involves the use of soft tissue lasers to attack periodontal disease at a microscopic level. The dentist uses a non-cutting laser in a circular, sweeping motion to get within the pockets of the gum. The laser light is used to destroy bacterial colonies and can drastically reduce bacterial count from billions to hundreds within seconds!

Other cleaning and treatment methods, used prior to this cutting-edge laser technique, are unable to achieve these results. Reducing oral bacteria with laser treatment is proven to be quite effective in eliminating periodontal bacteria within 5-10 minutes.

Laser bacterial reduction is used to complement other techniques and therapies used to treat periodontal disease and promote oral health. It should not be taken as a substitute for regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing or routine dental cleaning used to maintain oral health. Routine oral care at home, post-treatment, is necessary to aid reattachment of the gum pockets and prevent the disease from coming back.

Benefits of Laser Bacterial Reduction

There are several benefits of laser bacterial reduction that can help improve oral and overall health and well-being. They include the following:

• Quick, effective method of getting rid of millions of infectious bacteria in seconds

• Practically painless procedure that stops gum disease

• No need to cut the gum

• Helps stabilize loose tooth

• Restores gum health when complemented with routine home and dental care

• If done early, can prevent or slow bone structure damage and tooth loss

• Prevents the spread of inflammation that can cause other diseases and conditions

• Less tissue damage and post-treatment discomfort, e.g., swelling, compared to other dental treatments and therapies

Good Candidates for Laser Bacterial Reduction

You may be a good candidate for laser bacterial reduction if the following applies to you:

• Your gum is chronically inflamed

• You show other signs and symptoms of chronic periodontitis

• You’ve tried dental treatments and therapies that failed

• You possess one or more of the risk factors, e.g., diabetes or a history of periodontitis

• You’re committed to maintaining routine oral care to prevent recurrence of the disease

Why Choosing an Expert Dentist is Important

All dentists do not have the same expertise and professionalism when it comes to providing outstanding dental services. This is why choosing a dentist with the necessary skills and experience can make the difference between a positive or negative experience in the dental chair. If you are seeking treatment for chronic periodontitis using laser bacterial reduction, you should choose a dentist who is certified and skilled in this procedure.

Dr.Marc Lazare, D.D.S., Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (M.A.G.D.), is a certified dentist who is highly experienced in laser bacterial treatment in New York City. He understands the importance of good oral health and the need for personalized patient care. He uses the latest dental tools, materials, and techniques when providing both adult and pediatric general and cosmetic services. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading, if you have enjoyed this post and want to stay up to date then 
 Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or

So, Your Child Wants To Be A High School Teacher?

Teacher Image by Syda Productions, from Shutterstock 

One of the biggest decisions your child will have to make in their life is what they are going to do in terms of a career. This can seem like such a huge decision for any child, but you can help to make it easier. One of the ways you can do this is by helping them to truly understand the job role that they are considering, as well as what is going to be needed in order to go down that career path. With that being said, if your child has decided that he or she wants to be a high school teacher, read on to discover how you can help them truly decide if this is the right option for them.

Start by helping your child understand what is going to be expected of them as a teacher 

There is only one place to begin, and this is by discussing the day-to-day responsibilities your child will have as a secondary school teacher. A lot of children do not fully understand what they are going to be doing aside from the lessons themselves. However, teaching involves so much more than just running lessons. It includes all the following too:

• Participating in and organising extracurricular activities, for example, sporting events, social activities, and outings.
• Supporting and supervising the work of teaching assistants, as well as teachers that have only just become qualified.
• Liaising with other professionals, from educational psychologists to career’s advisers.
• Communicating with carers and parents regarding the progress of the pupils.
• Undertaking pastoral duties, for example, supporting pupils through any difficulties and taking on the role of form tutor.
• Managing classroom behaviour.
• Preparing pupils for their exams.
• Using a broad variety of learning equipment and resources, including interactive whiteboards and podcasts.
• Researching different subject topics.
• Marking assignments and giving feedback.
• Prepare and deliver lessons to pupils of a variety of abilities and ages.

Visit Parliament: Family Tours - Educational, Interesting and Free for Kids!

Last September as part of the BritMums Live conference I went over to the Palace of Westminster, or UK Parliament as you may know it and experienced what a family tour is like. We had Richard for a guide and he was awesome. I could just imagine my kids loving him; wanting to chat and asking all sorts of questions.

With this in mind I booked for our whole family to attend one of the family tours this summer. I knew this was a bit of a risky move, as the tours are aimed at children aged 7 - 12 years and my son is nearly 15.  He's also the kind of kid who loves information and thus is pretty knowledgeable about what goes on in our UK parliamentary system. I was therefore keen to see if the family tour could engage him.

The tour is free for children aged 15 and under and costs £18 per adult, or £16 for concessions. There has to be at least one adult with a child, and groups of adults without children, cannot attend the family tour.  There are all sorts of tours available and you'll be able to find something to suit you, but this particular one is perfect for children of Key stage 2 age.

This is Tour Guide Richard, who I had last September

Happy Birthday to Me #R2BC

It was my birthday on Wednesday and I turned 45, I can't believe how quickly those years are adding on to my age, but I have to be honest, I'm not worried.

My family and I headed up to London on Wednesday morning and where there for 36 hours, we had a thoroughly lovely time, although as always, I am pleased to be home, as it is far too busy, muggy and smoggy in London (now I sound my age)! lol.

Here's a few photos to show you what we got up to -

Super yummy burger lunch at Byron Burgers in Covent Garden. Using my Tastecard we got 50% off and to be frank, that's the only way we could afford it!

We spent some time in Covent Garden browsing, and watching the street artists.

A Day in the Life of Archie, the Golden Lab

I've got something a little different for you today. I'm pleased to welcome Archie to take the reins for this post. Archie is my parents' beloved golden Labrador, who is eight and best friends with my Miss M.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't believe it, we are really here. Hey, hey it's holiday! I love coming away on holiday with Mum and Dad, but the very best holidays are when their grand-kids come as well, as that means I get to play with JJ, Miss M and Miss E.

JJ used to be my best friend, but he only wants to play with me every now and then nowadays, he seems more interested in that black box that he's always tapping away at. Mum calls it his laptop, I call it a pest!

Miss E and Miss M are twins and they are both fun, but I have to be honest, Miss M is my favourite. She is the one who gets up early to walk me with Dad each day and she is the one who always plays ball and tug of war with me. 

It can't be long now as the sun is up and I can hear Dad moving about in his bedroom, so Miss M will knock on the door soon and it will be time for us to go walking and running in the forest. It's very nice here in the New Forest where we are staying, but boy does it get hot in the caravan, it's lucky that Dad won't leave me here alone, so I am getting loads of great day trips out. I wonder where we will go today?

Back to School with STABILO

As a child we went on holiday every year in August and it would always be around my birthday. Some kids might have been upset at this, as it meant I never had parties but I loved being away on my birthday, as it resulted in a beach day, ice cream, the penny arcade and shopping.

I've loved to shop since quite a young age and when I was a kid the summer sales always happened around my birthday, so it was a joy to take my birthday money and buy myself a few treats. One of the things I always bought each summer was new stationary to take with me back to school in September.

It's always been a bit of a ritual for me to choose all the new things I needed for school - bag, pencil case, rubber, calculator, maths set, sharpener, pens, pencils and the like. I truly loved it and its a love I seemed to have passed on to my girls as well.

When I told them that STABILO wanted to help them get ready for going back to school, they were both very excited. The reason being, that they both received a pack of STABILO Pen 68 felt-tip colouring pens for Christmas three years ago and some of them are still working. When else, have you ever heard of well-used pens lasting for that amount of time?

STABILO is a name we know and trust as creators of cult writing instruments for more than 160 years and the company is still family owned which always says a lot about a company, so we were excited to see what they sent though to us to try out.

Knockhatch Adventure Park, Hailsham, East Sussex - Review

Recently my girls were lucky enough to have a Monday inset day and we used this as the perfect opportunity to visit Knockhatch without it being too busy. I would say that Knockhatch Adventure Park is a perfect (and really reasonably priced) day out if your child is aged between about 2 - 12 years. My twins are just about to turn 11 and they’re on the cusp of being a bit big for some of the attractions.

As we were visiting with many friends with kids of varying ages it worked well as they were able to help the little ones in the Pirates Cove splash area and on things like the soft play and Quadapillar ride without feeling too big. I have to admit to being really pleasantly surprised by the whole park. We had briefly visited about five years ago and not been that impressed but this visit was enough to make us want to go back a good few times before the girls really outgrow it.

High Season, Term Time

We visited on an Orange day, which is high season but within term time, so everything was open but we had timed sessions for them all and there was at least three or four sessions (spread throughout the day) for each activity/attraction in the day so you could do most everything. I have to be honest though, we found it hard to fit everything in during the five hours we were there. We were given a leaflet with the times as we arrived so it was easy to be able to plan.

10 Simple Tips for Energy Saving and play the British Gas Smart Meter Maze Game #BritishGasSmarterLiving

None of us are immune to the rising cost of energy and its not just any one supplier who's put up their prices in recent years. It's a fact of life that we now use far more technology than in the past and as such our energy bills are rising. We don't have to just accept the cost increases and be passive though, there are of course energy saving measures that we can take to help both our pockets and the bigger environmental world picture.

Image thanks to British Gas

Energy Smart Meters
I'm really pleased to be working with British Gas, which serves around 11 million homes and provides energy to several hundred thousand UK businesses. As well as offering gas, electricity and boiler care services to the nation’s homes for over 200 years, British Gas is committed to making a difference. They are part of a Government initiative to improve energy efficiency in Great Britain and as such are offering smart meters to all customers by 2020. You'd receive one for your gas and one for your electricity.

I suspect you've probably heard people talking about smart meters but you might not yet be aware of what they do and just how much of a benefit they will be to your home and energy spending. The installation of smart meters will improve the accuracy of your bill by communicating your usage directly to British Gas and will allow you to view your energy use in the currency as you use it, thus encouraging you to turn appliances off and use less energy. It's simple and that's the beauty of it. Nothing complex, just straightforward information you can take steps from and thus save energy and ultimately money.

A Fun Game to Play
Most people know the basics of energy-saving and more of us are now double or triple glazing our windows, timing our heating and insulating our roofs but there are so many small and simple ways to help you actively manage your energy consumption and British Gas have designed a fun game to play, which will help you learn as you go.

I rarely play online games and as such I am a bit useless, so when I tried the Smart Meter Maze Game I totally failed on level one but that kicked in my competitive streak and I didn't want the game to beat me so I did fairly well on levels 2 (3000 points) and 3 (4000 points) and by level 4 I was feeling a bit rubbish again (1250 points). I've played a few times now and I'm pleased to say that I can fly through the five levels. I got 10750 on the final level. Go Mich!

5 Reasons we Loved our Stay at Shorefield - Oakdene Forest Park,

We were away on holiday last week and what an amazing time we had. It was the week when it was 28 or 30 degrees heat every day and I know we are supposed to be grateful for the hot weather but come on, have you ever stayed in a caravan in that kind of heat?

Luckily for us it was a fabulous caravan and that made the world of difference. We were staying in Dorset on the edge of the Hurn and Avon forest at a Shorefield holidays park called Oakdene Forest Park. My parents had stayed there when I was at Uni in the area over twenty years ago but they said it is unrecognisable from the park of those days.

Every year for the first week of the school summer holiday the kids and I go away with my parents, brother and their dog. Normally we stay in a house in Poole but we were all gutted to find out late last year that the landlord we rent from, had sold the property and thus we weren't at all sure what to do as houses for 7 people and a dog can be so expensive. As I browsed the internet in early January I came across some great deals for Shorefield parks and because of their January sale I managed to secure a really decent price for the two caravans. I paid £374.25 for each caravan plus £28.00 for the dog.

I'd booked for a Monday to Friday short break and we all agreed that we needed longer, so next time it will be a full week for us. Officially you can't access your caravan until 4pm on the day or arrival and then have to be out of it by 10am, so that only gives three full days which didn't feel long enough. I had called in advance and asked about early arrival and whilst there was no guarantees, I'd say it is worth doing this as both of our caravans were available for us at 2pm. This meant we were unpacked and in the pool by 3pm!

Outdoor Theatre - Alice in Wonderland at Kew and Wakehurst this Summer

Years back I went to an outdoor concert, it was at a big fancy house in London, but I'm not sure where. I recall being really excited and my friend and I had packed a luxury picnic and some bubbly. Despite the torrential rain that fell on us that night we had the best time, sat on our outdoor chairs with big umbrellas over our heads! The atmosphere at outdoor events - concerts, theatre, festivals and the like - is just infectious.

Since that time I've wanted to find an event that I could take my children to, so they could experience the magic of watching something phenomenal whilst feeling the sun or cool breeze on their skin. With this in mind I was so excited to hear that the Australian Shakespeare Company is presenting exciting outdoor adaptations of classical texts in botanical gardens and other beautiful locations around the world.

Specifically they have bought Alice in Wonderland to life and will perform it at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 21st July through to 27th August 2018 and then head down to Wakehurst in West Sussex for performances from 30th August - 2nd September 2018.

Performance Details

• Kew - Tuesday - Sunday 10.30am and additional 2pm performance on each Friday/ Saturday
• Wakehurst - 2.30pm performance each day and 11am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Run Time - 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Tickets cost - Kew - Adult £22.90, Child £17.90 and group of 4 is £70.00. 
• Tickets cost - Wakehurst - Adult £16.00, Child £12.90 and a group of 4 is £54.00.
• The cost of your ticket for Wakehurst includes the cost of parking.
• Kew members get a discount when they provide their membership number when booking for either venue. 

If you wish to book tickets for either venue, you can do so by clicking here. 

#R2BC - The Village Country Fete

Happy Thursday friends, I hope you're well and the Summer holidays are going swimmingly for you (if they make any difference, that is!).

I've had a fab week, we have a big Christian festival going on in the grounds of our home this week and we all get involved and enjoy some worships, craft, time with friends and good biblical teaching. My girls particularly have had an absolute ball as it is their first time going to youth and they have made friends and been allowed to stay out a bit later in the evening.

Last Saturday was the annual village fete and I do love going to it. After growing up in a town and then living in various towns all my life it was a complete novelty to move here five years ago and find out what real community and village life is like.

Let me share some pictures of it with you -

How to Better Protect your Children while Online Gaming

Miss E staged this photo when we were away on holiday in April but sometimes this is reality!

Parenting in the digital age isn't necessarily an easy task and what I've found is that there is no 'one size fits all' answer for every family. My son is now almost 15 and has been gaming online since he was around 8 or 9. Back in the early days it was playing on Minecraft on a closed server, so I knew who he was chatting to but nowadays he is everywhere, literally!

Do I worry about who he is chatting to and whether he is potentially being groomed or giving away sensitive information? Not particularly, but that's not down to naivety on my part, it is more about the fact that we have an open door and open conversation policy. I do let him have his laptop in his room but I can walk in any time and ask to see whats he's up to. We also regularly talk about what is happening with people he knows online, what I've read recently or whether he's had any close calls in his online relationships.

Thankfully nowadays, most of his chatting is done via Discord with his extended friend network from school and cadets, but there are still times and games where he will be chatting to a stranger and all he knows is the information they give him, and I'm grateful he has a questioning mind that doesn't trust everything to be as it seems.

Computing is one of his strongest skills and he is my go-to tech expert for anything I need doing, so truthfully his knowledge is far superior to either mine or my husbands and yes he could run rings around us. However, I believe that because we have given him trust over the years and always been available to talk about any topic without any judgement, that he has a good level of respect for our wishes.

On Feeling Needed...

I've had a desire to be needed from an early age. I'm not really sure why. A psychiatrist might suggest some kind of deficiency that I am trying to fill but genuinely I have no idea.

I can just recall many instances as a girl and younger woman where I would make myself available, and desire to fill a need. Standing up for people at school, taking on tasks that weren't mine, working extra hours and always ensuring I had the best knowledge, not to be the best but to be the one that people would call on when there was a need.

Love has always been in my life, I've never doubted that people loved me, so I wasn't seeking that and I really can't pinpoint a time when this desire to be needed started. What I have ascertained is that I struggle with feelings of rejection and perhaps it is my way to fighting that off. If people need me, they can't reject me? Maybe, I really don't know.

As I mature and deepen my faith in Christ I find that I'm doing more and more work on me and who I am. What makes me tick and what are the rough edges that need filing away? I love being able to delve into a good book and absorb some new wisdom, something that helps me in my lifelong journey to become more Christ-like.

Who am I? and what was I made to do? Those are the questions I am investigating at the moment. I went on a great course back in February, which introduced me to the Enneagram; it is a personality typing tool with strong Christian roots. I've discovered I am a type 8, often called the Challenger or the Protector and both those words ring very true for me. I won't stand by and see injustice, I'll challenge it and don't you dare mess with anyone I care about, or the underdog, as I'll fiercely protect them.

It's been quite a surreal couple of weeks listening to podcasts from other people who identify as a type 8 on the enneagram. I've felt such a deep level of resonance with these people and I'm keen to keep exploring and learning more, as the ennegram doesn't just type you, it also offers a path for becoming a healthier version of yourself.

So Many Things to be Thankful For #R2BC

Reasons to be Cheerful is back to 'business as usual' this week after the very untimely death of Kate last week. I don't want to sound course but Kate would have loved to know that she has inspired so many people to think again about how they are living their lives and that she is inspiring them to be the best version of themselves, whether that means in body image or getting out there and grabbing all the opportunities that come their way.

In the main it has been an exciting and wonderful couple of weeks for my family. So much has been going on and I have loads to share for this weeks #R2BC.

1.  Girls birthday - my little (not so little) twinnies turned 11 and Miss E chose to go out with dh and I for bowling and a meal. Miss M chose to have a Saturday shopping trip with some school friends, she spent a load of money, they had Pizza Express for lunch, frappes in the morning and ice creams in the afternoon. They all had a ball!

Starting Secondary School with Blacks #BacktoSchool

If you have school aged children and I say to you 'back to school', I bet you start thinking about shopping and getting the kids kitted out with all their new uniform and essential supplies. The obvious places to shop are the supermarkets (for cheap and cheerful tops and socks) or the high street department stores for the slightly more expensive pieces that you want to last a while, but have you thought about shopping at an outdoor retailer like Blacks?

As well as the actual uniform I expect you need a waterproof or winter coat, trainers, school bag, gym bag and water bottle. Blacks have all these things and because they are a retailer of items for outdoor activities, we are talking really high quality items. They cater for both children at primary school and also bigger kids like mine that have moved into adult sizes and are heading to secondary school, or even college.

My 11 year old twin girls move up to secondary school this year and that means I have a massive task ahead getting them kitted out. Their uniform will include a blazer and therefore any coat I get needs to be a bit larger to go over it and as they have about a mile walk to the bus and back each day they will need a good waterproof to keep them looking smart and feeling comfortable.

Miss E already has a waterproof jacket, as being a size smaller than her twin she gets the hand-me-downs but Miss M was definitely in need. So we had a browse of the women’s waterproof jackets on the Blacks site and I kept pointing her to nice jackets that were perhaps plain black or navy to go with her uniform, but no I totally forgot who I was dealing with. This is my vivacious and vibrant daughter, who likes to be colourful and to express herself, so here is what she choose, a beautiful coat by Joules. How can it be that my 11 year old has a piece of Joules clothing before I do?

Remembering that Life is too Short! #R2BC

Hey friends, I seriously thought about not doing an #R2BC post this week as it just felt a bit contrite and disrespectful. I've been floored by the news that my lovely blogger friend Kate Sutton (or you may know her as Wit Wit Woo) died on Monday from a stroke. She was only 48 years old, it is too young and I just can't make sense of it. Facebook has been a very sad place this week as I see status after status of all the people who are gutted, devastated and missing Kate. Of course the ones suffering will be her lovely sons Dexter and Ben and I'm keeping them tightly in my prayers.

I'm only doing this post as Kate was so full of life. She was all about going out there and grabbing it by the balls and making the most of it. I think Kate's untimely death has really shaken me and made me aware that I have to stop living in limbo and I need to enjoy every day more and be less complacent for all the wonderful things in my life. So today this #R2BC post is about 'back to basics' gratitude.

The Juvenile Arthritis Research (JAR) Project - Did you know Children can have Arthritis too?

Richard and his daughter Trinity, who suffers from JIA

I’m so pleased today to be able to feature a guest post on my blog. I’m not sure how many years it is that I’ve known Rebecca from The Beesley Buzz blog, but it is a quite a number, and she is one of those women who never fails to inspire and have an encouraging word for everyone. Back in 2015 she discovered that her young daughter had Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and it has been harrowing to see what Trinity must go through to be able to live a (more) normal and pain reduced life.

I was so excited to hear from Rebecca back in January this year that her husband was taking an exciting (and of course scary) step by starting the Juvenile Arthritis Research project. Richard is doing something incredible to make a difference to the lives of children who suffer from JIA and I’m delighted to have him share with you here today. Really, did you even know that children could suffer from arthritis? I certainly didn’t.

What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (or JIA)?

JIA is diagnosed in children and young people under the age of 16 and is a different disease to adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis, and entirely different from age-related osteoarthritis. The term ‘idiopathic’ means that, despite a number of theories, the exact cause of JIA is currently unknown.

Many people are not even aware that children can get arthritis. Yet JIA affects around 15,000 children under the age of 16 in the UK. At present, there is no cure.

JIA is an autoimmune disorder where the body starts to attack the joints, causing inflammation, pain, discomfort and reduced mobility. Left unchecked, JIA can lead to other health conditions as the immune system attacks other organs, as well as permanent disability and long-term health implications. Many children with JIA suffer from uveitis, where the immune system attacks the eyes; if not stopped this can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness. Some forms of JIA lead to systemic inflammatory damage, where other organs are damaged and, in the most severe forms, this can be fatal.

I founded Juvenile Arthritis Research (JAR) to find a cure for Juvenile Arthritis. With the support and endorsement of leading academic researchers, the JAR project works collaboratively yet independently to analyse data and information from a wide range of different scientific disciplines and research fields. By bringing together the disparate sources of information, we believe that we will be able to piece together the clues necessary to fully understand the disorder and develop a cure.

Visiting Paris with the Paris Pass - Was it Worth it?

At the beginning of July I travelled to Paris with my Mum and brother for my Mums 70th birthday treat. We only had two full days in the city with travelling time on the two days surrounding them and having now returned home I wish we’d had three clear days for exploring, as Paris is just so vast and there is a crazy amount of things to do, especially included with your Paris Pass.

What is a Paris Pass you might be wondering? 

Well as the name suggests it is a pass that gives you access to most every attraction in Paris as well as a Paris Visite travel card for use on the metro, rail, tram and bus. I say most every attraction as there are a couple of exceptions, like the Eiffel Tower and the catacombs but it is very comprehensive and there are also a load of special shopping and restaurant discounts that you can take advantage of too. 

You can buy a Paris Pass for 2,3,4 or 6 days and there are differing prices for children (4-11 years), teens (12-17 years) and adults (age 18 plus).

The Adult price ranges from €131 for a 2 day pass to €244 for a 6 day pass
Teens - €81 - €135
Children - €44 - €75
So, as you can see the price per day gets better when you buy a longer pass but of course it depends how many days you'll be in Paris for.

Reasons to be Cheerful - Paris, Transition and the Circus

It's been another busy week for me and it doesn't look as if the next few weeks are going to be any different. There seems to be so much to fit in at the moment, which is a bit frustrating as I'd quite like to chill and take some time before the kids break up for six weeks, but c'est la vie, what will be, will be!

Viva La France
Last Thursday morning I headed off to London to meat my Mum and brother so we could catch the Eurostar over to Paris for a few days. It was incredibly hot and we had issues with seats, queues and delays on the Eurostar but in general we managed to have a great few days celebrating my Mums 70th birthday.  We packed loads in our days and I particularity loved going up the Eiffel Tower, taking a river cruise, riding the open top bus and seeing some awesome works of art at the Musee d'Orsay. Our apartment in Bercy Village was stunning too.

Bracing Your Family For An International Move

Image thanks to Pexel

They say moving is stressful. Why do they say this? Well, because it’s resoundingly, absolutely and completely true. If you have moved home before you're most likely nodding in agreement and if moving does not stress you in the least, then you would probably enjoy a very lucrative and successful career as a special forces operative, because it seems almost nothing could phase you.

Not only is moving house a monumental organisational task, but you must also emotionally calibrate yourself to your new surroundings, and attempt to stay positive throughout the whole affair. It’s uprooting the anchor of your life to move on to another place entirely, sailing the seas over uncharted territory until you can place your anchor in a sturdy place once more.

If moving within the bounds of your current understanding is somewhat difficult, then consider moving across national or international borders. Even if you have a great degree of familiarity with the new culture, moving to a new country entirely can sometimes lead to culture shock. The flow of life is different from place to place, and so sometimes it can take a little while to adapt.

For some tips to both brace your family for an international move and then execute the process effectively, consider the following:

Reasons to be Cheerful - Family, Holidays and Friends #R2BC

Happy Thursday friends. I’m sorry I’ve been so lapse on the reasons to be cheerful front, it’s not that I’ve been miserable, I’ve just been super busy.

So much has been happening and much of it is good, I did have a couple of weeks where I felt really low and I wasn't even sure why but I seem to have worked through that and come out the other side. Praise the Lord.

I feel like a could write a number of posts as there is so much to be thankful for but I’ll go with a nice long list to keep it simple and easy to read. Here’s five weeks of gratitude for you -

• We had an ace family holiday in the South of France over May half-term. I’d definitely go back to Eurocamp at Club Farret again.
• My Mum and Dad came to stay at the cottage in the grounds of our home for a week and it was lovely spending time with them and we went out for lots of yummy food too.
• The girls had an inset day and I went to a local farm attraction with them and loads of people from our community and it was a fabulous day out.