Let’s face it, when your child reaches anywhere the near the teenage years the very last person they want to spend time with is you. Not only are you outrageously embarrassing (without actually doing very much at all) this coincides with them discovering the joys of social media so really, you’ve no chance.Teenage years can be tough,… Read More 10 ways to spend time with your teen
Happy Step Father’s Day today (yep it’s a thing I just made it up) to all the step dads doing a fine job of bringing up children and negotiated life in a blended family I met Stuart when Harry was five years old and it’s been a big old learning curve not least because five… Read More Happy Step-Dad’s Day
AD The 1990s were a pretty special time for me, I left school, went to university and started my first ever job as a newspaper reporter. I have some really happy memories from the decade and look back fondly of school, leaving home and finding my independence. So I’ve put together five things that I loved most… Read More How great were the 1990s?
‘Amazing things happen when you start your own love affair with happiness,’ says Jacqueline Pirtle in the opening line of 365 Days of Happiness. It’s a great concept and one explored in other ‘self help’ books I’ve read which encourage people to really focus and embrace happiness. Swiss-born Pirtle aka Freaky Healer is an energy… Read More Book Review: 365 Days of Happiness
It is testament to how good The Tank Museum is that I’m actually writing this while in the cafe of the Museum on our second visit of the week. Now most people do not eat, drink and sleep tanks in the same way as my teenager. For him it has been an experience of religious… Read More A day out at The Tank Museum
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, your dining room table and chairs have got to be one of the most significant furniture purchases you make with in your house. One of the main things we were looking for when we bought our house two years ago was a really nice dining area.… Read More Heart of the home
Thirteen years ago a hefty bundle of joy landed on my lap and turned my world upside down. Bringing up Harry has been challenging at times but hugely rewarding. I don’t profess to have all the answers, but here are a few things I wish I had known as a new mum. The guiltDon’t… Read More Advice to a new Mum from an old-ish Mum
Living in a busy household full of dogs and kids, it is crucial that in our house we get the flooring absolutely right. With two Basset Hounds charging into the house on a daily basis covered in mud straight from the moors, the teenager arriving home from rugby practice or scout camp covered from head… Read More What flooring is best for you?
I’m not sure there is a place in Spain, or anywhere for that matter, with a worse reputation than Benidorm. A haven for lager drinking Brits abroad, it is defined by its English pubs, high-rise hotels and rowdy clientele. The television series Benidorm does nothing to change the public’s perception of the place, showing just… Read More Winter sun in the most unusual of places
A few bits I’ve picked up recently that will cheer up a March wintery day. 1. The Poundland faux Malone pomegranate candle £2. Created to rival the considerable more expensive Jo Malone version, these are available in small, medium and large with a burn time of between 35 and 50 hours. Not a hugely strong… Read More Spring £5 shopping favourites
