Summer


Writing Workshop – Hues of Orange

We had a caravan when I was growing up.  No, not one of those wonderful static caravans, no we had a box on wheels, so summers were spent setting off in the dead of the night to the English Riviera.  Well before seat belts became compulsory, my parents would pack the cool box, the pillows and the duvets to make the back seat in to a makeshift bed for my younger brother and me and once we were asleep they would gently lift us to the car and start our adventure. Often the we woke to the sound of cars thundering by, as my parents had a cup of tea from more »


Halcyon days – An afternoon event at the school

MadDad and I spent a wonderful afternoon at Maxi’s school last Wednesday.  We had been invited for a coffee, cake and fun with the children. I had forgotten my camera, so I took these images with the histomatic application on the iPhone – yes I know old hat by now, but I am a late adopter! We spent a brilliant 1 and half hours listening to all the children in the year singing songs and playing games. The weather was perfect, not too sunny, but warm. The teaching staff had all been very busy baking and the cakes were delicious. But the best part for us was just watching Maxi have more »


Writing Workshop – My Spring and Summer Manifesto

Dear Voters (well my boys in this one) We will make life fun, we will focus on laughter and giggles and grasp what we can get out of the day. We shall enjoy the seaside and I will ensure that we have the wet suits in the car at all time. We shall endeavor to make the most of the sunshine and of the environment around us. We shall picnic in our secret place and run free on the moors. We shall barbecue in the garden on a Saturday evening focusing on good food and great company. We shall enjoy the harvest from our garden. We will make, bake and create more »


Following the Sun 1

The forecast for today was not great, however, that is not unusual for a Bank Holiday Monday, but we are trying to make the most of every day before school starts next week, so decided to pack a picnic and to follow the sun via a trip to Ikea to check out beds for MiniMad!!! So we looked and the bed we liked was out of stock – boohoo, but that means we can have a trip to Leeds on Wednesday to get it – yippee. The boys were very well behaved, but the promise of ice cream and play area might have had something to do with it (not that more »


A Perfect Sunday Afternoon

We have had one of those rare things, a perfect Sunday afternoon. Everyone of us has had a ball doing things that family’s do. The thing that makes it so perfect – well for me that is the people I spent it with, my boys and my wonderful husband. It is days like these, simple days, where riding a bike, swinging in the park, flying a kite and eating an ice cream at the stray cafe make all the surgery worth while. It is days like these that make me thankful for small things, for old folk stopping and asking where we bought our kites (the pound shop), for people saying more »


The Gala

Today was the Gala and Fun day at my sister in law Debs and Brother Chris’ Sports and Social Club and although there was some rain, we all had a fantastic time, all the proceeds were for the new local junior football club My Niece the scary tiger My Eldest Niece did all the face painting and was kept busy all day Mini Mad was so excited The boys in the junior race Brothers – I love that they were holding hands Hands in the air


A little bit about us all and the start of the holidays 7

We are a family of five, trying to get through life in a happy, but somewhat chaotic house. I am a little obsessive, MadDad is practically perfect in every way and the MiniMads are happy, joyful, curly haired monsters aged 4 and 3. We also have a really old long hair white cat Mr Smudge to you and me, he kind of comes and goes as he pleases. MadDad works Monday to Friday to keep us in pennies and I am a SAHM, who is going to tentatively start work part time over the summer at home. This is our first summer before the eldest MiniMad starts school and is a more »