Monthly Archives: June 2013

How to make a rented a house a home

28 Friday Jun 2013

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In a couple of weeks we’ll swap one rented house for another, 200 miles away in Devon. The thing is, this second rented house is only going to be our home for around 6 months, while we go through the process of buying somewhere. But that doesn’t mean it needs to feel like a halfway house, or a holiday home. It’s going to be the first place we live in Devon, so it’ll still hold some memories. With that in mind, I’ve been looking at ways to make it feel like a home, rather than a stop gap house, without atually painting any walls or doing any DIY.

As ever, Shopcade has been useful. If you haven’t come across this site yet do take a look. It’s like a cross between Amazon and Pinterest, in that you can easily browse through pretty much any category of shopping product you want (fashion, interiors, gadgets, books etc), but it’s social, meaning you pick up points as people “follow” the lists of wish items you create, which lead to free stuff. Genius really.

Obviously we don’t want to spend a fortune, so I’m keeping any purchases to around the £15 – £25 mark, unless it’s for something I know we’ll want to have for a while (a new bed, for example). So, here are some of the ways I’m planning to make our rented house a home, without knocking anything down or painting any walls. Continue reading »

And now you are three

27 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Family, Motherhood

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Now you are threeIt started with a father and a mother and a midwife. As the rising sun poured in through the hospital window, I held my new baby up, pink and brand new with life.

You were that new baby, a little Frog, with huge feet like paddles and long, gangly limbs. You gulped at the air and made a tiny whimper. Then you nuzzled in and had your first taste of milk.

That morning was three years ago today. And now you are no longer a tiny baby, depending on me for milk and warmth and cuddles. Now you are three. And an independent three at that. Continue reading »

The Loneliness of Unshared Experience

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Fir treeI’ve spent the best part of the last four days offline. It’s been eye-opening.

A family wedding on one side of the country, an unexpected hospital admission (not me), followed by an eventual 8 hour journey and anxious waiting, has meant work – and the Internet has had to take a back seat this week.

Until Sunday night, this wasn’t going to be the case. It was only when I actually managed to get online and tried to figure out the logistics of doing the work I needed to do, without access to the Internet, that I realised I had to take a step back. Actually, another wise person made me realise it. I believe the actual words were: “Take the week off. There are more important things than the Internet.” (Told you they were wise words.) Continue reading »

Time waits for no mum (or dad)

20 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Well being, Work

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Sticker blackboardThis is just one of the boards that adorns my walls, full of scribbles of tasks, reminders and jobs. Some are work-related, some are parent-related, some are just plain old boring admin-related. Either way, the board is ALWAYS full, no matter how many jobs I’ve managed to get through on any given day.

The thing is, I don’t think it’s possible to NOT be busy when you have kids. The life of a parent tends to involve constant multi-tasking, as we rush from one place to the other, often trying to remember the next collection time / kids’ party / form that needs to be handed in. Whether you are a working parent or a stay-at-home parent, time always seems to be against you. Or maybe that’s just me. Continue reading »

A first family breakfast

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

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“What do you want on your toast?” I asked the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine as I buttered his bread this morning. “Whatever, something nice,” He replied. I reached for a jar of marmalade. And then it hit me. Does my husband like marmalade? Why don’t I know if my husband likes marmalade?!

Our first family breakfast brought home quite a few revelations this morning.

Having worked on a contract that saw me leave the house by 4.30am for the past 18 months, I’ve not been privy to the weekly early morning routine in our house. While my husband battled to dress a sleepy toddler and get her to nursery, before arriving at work on time, I was talking on the radio. I am clueless to the routine, or what to do. Continue reading »

House hunting with kids

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Family, Home

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It goes without saying, house hunting with a grumpy toddler in tow should be avoided at all costs. Obviously.

Which is why we left our two year old (one more week of calling her that *gulp*) with her grandparents on Saturday and went off in search of our ideal temporary Devon home. We found it. Tucked along a windy country path, nestled into a valley overlooking fields and a lake, with a pub within walking distance and a pretty market town less than 2 miles away.

Then we lost it. Bugger.

Apparently a couple without kids were a more attractive option to the landlord, so yesterday saw me driving across Devon with my parents and toddler, minus the husband. Continue reading »

From Radio Mum to WAHM

13 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Motherhood, Work

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Family Tomorrow morning I will present my last breakfast show on Heart Wiltshire, hang up my headphones, collect my daughter, and drive to Devon.

It’s been an incredibly fun, challenging, inspiring, exhausting 18 months – and I don’t regret one second.

Learning to juggle what is effectively two full time jobs (I’m self-employed) alongside motherhood, a relationship with my husband, seeing my friends, drinking wine and waving a wet-wipe at the dust in my house has been – at all times – eye-opening.

I’ve experienced the tiredness that can only come with getting up at 3.45am every morning, commuting 45 minutes to work, coming home, looking after a demanding toddler, working until 10.30pm and doing it all again the next day. And I’ve survived. More than survived actually – I’ve enjoyed it. Continue reading »

Kid rules: Learning to laugh at yourself

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Behaviour, Motherhood

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Putting on flip-flops

The other day, my nearly-three year old put on her dad’s flip-flops, wobbled into the garden and promptly fell over. And I laughed so hard I almost wet myself.

“You NOT laugh Mummy!” Scolded my child. “It NOT funny!”

That’s when I realised I was about to teach her a big lesson. One that’s right up there with being kind to people and remembering to say “please” and “thank you”. Continue reading »

The one in which we begin a new life

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Family, Home, Work

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Light

I’ve been writing this post in my head for weeks. I kept hoping that things would fall into place to bring me to this point, right now, where I am sitting at my computer and sharing plans for an amazing new future.

These plans have been a while in the making and, right up until a couple of weeks ago, we didn’t think they would become a reality. But they have. And I keep pinching myself to believe it.

We are moving. Not just down the road either. Not even to a nearby town. No, we’re going a bit further. Continue reading »

The Sunrise Festival: a family friendly choice

04 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Family, Seasonal, Travel, Well being

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The Sunrise Festival - slideNestled into the peaceful countryside, on the Wiltshire / Somerset border, we had our first taste of a family friendly festival last weekend.

As the flags fluttered in the breeze and the sound of drums carried through the air, I immediately felt at home at The Sunrise Festival.

We’d survived the Battle of the Tent (note to self: read instructions carefully before attempting to put up a borrowed tent). We’d got through a last-minute trip to the supermarket to hastily stock up on supplies. We’d even made the entire journey without an argument.

We had arrived. And my, it felt good.

Walking into The Sunrise Festival is like stepping into another world. Continue reading »