I was recently interviewed by Mums Do Travel talking about our experience with Home Exchanges. It's something I get asked about a lot because of all the photos I post on instagram, but never seem to write about. So I thought I would share with you 10 reasons you should try Home Swapping. 1. Cost: er, hello, free accommodation! What's not to love about that? Given that accommodation is one of the greatest costs of a holiday, the … [Read more...]
January Stationery
I'm undoubtedly showing my age, or my fondness for Radio 2, but since I wrote the words January and Stationery, I keep humming this Barbara Dickson song. Which has no relevance at all. January arrives with a burst of enthusiasm and a determination to "organise my life". Which is why I change the goal posts and switched my beginning of year from January to September. My Quo Vadis diary is working brilliantly, on the kitchen table. But my … [Read more...]
Imposing Age Restrictions
Periodically I get boxed into a corner by my children. (Don't look at me like that, it happens to the best of us, you know.) It's all to do with imposing age restrictions. They ask me when they will be old enough to do something and I randomly pluck an age from the air, an age that seems aeons hence, and make a sweeping declaration: "You can have a pet when you are 7." "You can wear nail varnish when you are 6." "You can use the blender when … [Read more...]
The Art of the Brick London exhibition
The Art of the Brick London exhibition has been extended to April 12th 2015 due to popular demand. I confess I had heard nothing about it but DH was very excited when he booked tickets for us all- due in part to the fact that we would be taking The Girls to his old stomping ground around Brick Lane in London. Housed at the Old Truman Brewery, one of CNN's Top Ten Must See Global Exhibitions features sculptures created by former lawyer Nathan … [Read more...]
48 Hours in Edinburgh with children
Packing for Christmas is always challenging. But we were lucky with the weather when we went to Scotland last month. If you are heading North of the Border soon, here are some things you could do if you have 48 Hours in Edinburgh with children. A quick hour or so from Gatwick, you barely have time to enjoy the proffered complimentary crisps-or-cookies with your on-board beverage, before The Girls want to know why their ears are popping. It … [Read more...]
In the Pink with #StationeryWednesday
This month I am in the Pink with #StationeryWednesday. Or should that be P-ink? The wonderful thing about Bureau Direct is that if you feel you are losing yourself in stationery quicksand, if you are searching for a gift, if you know you want something but don't know what, they have a category for that. Last month I was seduced by the content of the weekly Bureau Direct email, which you can sign up for so that you get the latest … [Read more...]
The Myth of Motherhood
There are many Myths of Motherhood but the one that got to me was the Instant Feeling of Overwhelming Love. When my girls were born, there was no crying with joy, no husband kissing me on the forehead then kissing the baby whilst I cradled it, victorious, close to my chest. There was merely relief, then panic that my In-Laws would want to see me, and I was all cathetered-up, and I needed to get back to my room. I forgot all about the Love Fest … [Read more...]
