A Musical Blast from the Past and ‘My Bump and Me.’

Never one to miss out on an opportunity for free literature, I jumped at the chance to review a new paperback release from Virgin Books.
UK celebrity, Myleene Klass, singer, classical musician, TV/radio presenter and bikini wearing jungle babe has recently joined the Mummy club and while working on the production of her mini me, the [...]

Put Yourself on a Pedestal

Artist Antony Gormley, he of the Angel of the North fame and the fabulous Another Place sculptures, has begun a new artistic venture that you can actually be involved in if you so wish.
Sounds cool right?
I mean, his other stuff has been interesting, quirky and fun, and while I’m not an expert, it seems to [...]

A Dream Come True?

At last it has arrived.  Mansfield finally has a coffee establishment that begins with ‘Star’ and ends with ‘B**ks’.  I knew it would only be a matter of time, what with having a double Olympic Gold Medal Winner, and a visit to our local college from Prince Charles himself this week. 
Sighhhhh.
Next we’ll be getting a [...]

Thinking Time

Sometimes, when things are a little bleak and you don’t seem to have a minute, sticking your child in a Fast Food play area while you sip a latte, (ok, it was a chocolate milkshake), and just have a quiet moment, is completely allowed.

It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent.  In fact Miss M had [...]

Squashing Granny

Miss M:  ”Hold me like you did when my was a baby Mummy.”
I lift her from the bubbles and wrap her in a soft, radiator warm, towel.  Her head nestles in the crook of my arm and I tuck my hand beneath her swaddled knees and hug her to my breast as I look down into [...]

Extreme Close Up

There’s something mesmerising about a magnifying mirror, especially when it’s not something you have at home.  At Buxted Park Hotel we had one in our bathroom.  A large shiny circle of glass that seemed to look more deeply into your face, shedding layers of skin like a mask.

Misses E and M saw it as a [...]

One of Life’s Little Surprises

Sometimes things just take you by surprise don’t they?
Like when you’re at a kids attraction, something that’s a bit educational, say for example the Roald Dahl Museum.  And you’re minding your own business just letting the kids enjoy the activities and the ambience. 
While your eight year old makes her own way round in that independent [...]

Location Location Location

Often when we travel as a family we do that thing where we pick a house, a town, a lifestyle that we would kind of like to try out.  You do that too right?  Those little pipe dreams, the lure of the idyllic, the attraction of that which is beyond reach right now, but who [...]

A Kid at a Wedding

Sometimes it’s hard work being a kid at a wedding, especially when the bride is your lovely Auntie.
I mean, there’s all the staying clean and looking cute stuff…

And the entertaining of the masses with your small kid and fluffy dog routine

Up the steps and down the steps, sighhhhh.
 
Seriously, it’s such a trial.

In fact, at times [...]

Cheer and Cheesecake

We just got back.  I have two very tired children and am feeling a little on the sleepy side myself.  Yawn.
So it’s early bed and hopefully sleeeeeep, though I will miss the gorgeousness that has been or boudoire for the last two nights.

Isn’t it amazing?  I’ve never stayed anywhere like this before.  (Well except the [...]