Monthly Archives: July 2013

Goodbye

11 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in Family, Home

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Three and a half years ago a pregnant lady and a very tall man came across an advert on a house rentals website. It showed a charming cottage, tucked away in a little village within driving distance of their respective work places. It cost the same to rent as their town centre flat. They were excited.

As the couple were shown around the little cottage they exchanged smiles. They knew this was to be the house they would bring their baby back to. It was perfect.

IMG_0256A few weeks later, on a freezing day in December, the couple collected the keys to the little cottage, their new home. Walking around the rooms excitedly, they planned where their baby’s cot would go, what to do with their bookshelves and where to put the TV. Then they went to explore the village. Continue reading »

A guide to useful procrastination

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

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You know when you have a job to do and you can’t just get on and…. DO IT? That.

The past two days seem to have gripped me in a fever of procrastination. As I attempt to do anything but pack yet more boxes, I’ve become a master in the art of Delaying Tactics.

As a fully fledged expert, I can now share my top tips with you, as I strive to get at least some benefits from my less than useful state of mind.

Tip Number 1: Paint some chairs… Continue reading »

Birthday presents for a three year old

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in Baby and toddler products

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Birthday presents

My baby girl turned three years old a couple of weeks ago. While she ripped the wrapping off a multitude of presents, I sat watching in a dewy-eyed haze of “I can’t believe my tiny newborn is so big” disbelief.

I’m always really aware that kids’ birthdays can become a bit hectic with presents, like at Christmas. So while I wanted her to have stuff to open, I also wanted her to really enjoy each gift, rather than scrambling from one present to the next, to the next, in a frenzy of crazed unwrapping. Continue reading »

The last weekend

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in Family, Home

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This has been our last weekend in this cottage, in our village in Berkshire, where we’ve lived for the past three and a half years. The place where we made new friends, brought a baby home and started a married life.

Our last weekend has been spent eating ice cream in the boiling heat, berating the lack of a paddling pool (and using an oven cleaning tray instead), packing, packing and more packing, stacking, catching glimpses of the historic Andy Murray Wimbledon victory as we lugged boxes past the living room, shouting the score to whoever was at the top of the ladder, attempting to stop an inquisitive three year old from unpacking everything…

And then giving up the lot and heading to the pub for tea. Continue reading »

Work At Home Mums don’t work

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in Work

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“How are you enjoying the time off?”

It’s a question I’ve had quite a bit over the last couple of weeks. It’s always asked in a completely innocent way, but when I’m faced with that question I can’t help but feel my heckles rising slightly.

A couple of weeks ago I did my last radio show and hung up my headphones for a while. During the 18 months I presented a breakfast show I also worked as a freelance journalist and copywriter. It meant that some weeks I crammed in 75 hours of work. Juggled around the fact I had my toddler home every afternoon, you can see I was pretty busy. Continue reading »

Date night in the real world

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in Relationships

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Date Night“Let’s make the most of your new normal working hours,” My husband suggested a couple of weeks ago.

Sidling up to me with a conspiratorial grin, I ignored the implied “early night” he was referring to and imagined an evening of no cooking, a romantic film and candlelight. I nodded enthusiastically.

Later that day, the (self-confessed) Northern Love Machine came home with a bottle of prosecco and two large bottles of posh beer. At 7.30pm we dimmed the lights, cracked open the booze and toasted the future.

And then my toddler woke up. Continue reading »

Painted nails and parental judgments

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Motherhood

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Toddler nailsIt started with a park. On a sunny afternoon around a year ago, right next to the swings in our local play area, I encountered my first taste of “Ooh, isn’t she a bad mother”. And as much as I hate to admit it, it was me casting the judgments.

My two year old was playing with another little girl who can’t have been much older. As this little girl ran around with my toddler, I caught a flash of sickly pink and winced as the glitter reflected the harsh sunlight. The little girl was wearing nail varnish. Bright pink, sparkly nail varnish.

In my head, I berated the mother for trying to “pretty up” her little girl. Why would you do that to your child? I thought to myself. I judged that mum, who was minding her own business in a park with her toddler on a sunny day. Continue reading »