It took 14 weeks in total from submitting the application and sending off the cheque to decision, most of this time was spent waiting for the application to be registered. Once registered everything went pretty quickly and it was around six weeks from registration to decision.  A round of applause goes to Innex Design, take a bow boys you did good, brilliant in fact!  

So now what?

Once you get planning permission the next question everyone asks you is “So when are you starting work?” Whoa there eager beavers, there is a whole heap of things to do before we can start in earnest in terms of digging foundations, there may be some phasing involved but we need to scope out the scale of the financial outlay and work out the funding. We have three years to start so the answer is in the next 36 months – I won’t be pressed on a date!

Now my head is swimming with how to make it happen – I am starting with a new notebook, obviously! Life is fundamentally just about finding opportunities to buy stationery, no?

Then some lists! I am such a girl!

I want to make a list of what we need to make decisions on, specifying and sourcing – none of this is even close to interior colour schemes or soft furnishings, still focussed on the functional – heating, lighting, glass etc not a cushion in sight … but if there was, just if there was I would pick these cushions coming soon to House of Nostalgia, just saying!

Back to the list of practicalities…

• Heating – rooms, water, underfloor, boiler, systems, wood burners, options?
• Lighting – where and what?
• Power & sockets – where and what? I despise wires and cables!
• Glass – doors, windows & roofs – I need this to require as little cleaning as possible!
• Flooring – what will keep the inside & outside connected / seamless?
• Doors – interior and exterior – open/close and/or sliding doors
• Room space planning – what’s going where? Especially needed upstairs
• Staircase – its not moving but its not staying either
• Phasing – any isolated projects? I want to do as much in one go as possible for minimal disruption

What have I forgotten? What else should be on here?

The big white elephant is of course the money, always the fly in the ointment! This has been made even more tricky by our household income changes that have seen Mr L join me in the land of the self employed. It’s another bridge to cross, we will cross it, when we get there but if anyone has found themselves in similar self employed circumstances and has any advice or recommendations I’d really appreciate hearing from you.

So that’s where we are, approved and working out what we need and how much it will cost – now its all about the detail, specifications and costings. Are you following our build? DO you supply products or services we may need? Get in touch, share your thoughts, experience, advice and lets connect!

I’m very methodical and with this project I am crossing the bridges in my head only when I reach them (otherwise I’d be at wallpaper, lamps & cushions) there’s no point working out the specifications and costs of the build until the plans are approved and there’s no point working out the finance until we know the specifications and costs. So that’s where we have been. Waiting for planning permission, so whilst we waited I took the opportunity to ask my architect, Chris Catelani of Innex Design my questions about planning and what was happening during this stage of our project and thought I’d share his answers for anyone in or embarking on a similar project.

Question 1: So we created our design and submitted the plans to the Local Authority, what happens during the planning assessment / approval process? What are these planners looking for / doing?

Chris Catelani, Innex Design: We submit the application online via the planning portal, which has some good interactive tools for people who don’t know if they need planning permission http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/ The council allocate themselves a 6-8 week time period to access the planning application, during this time the 1st thing they will do is send out letters to neighbours offering them the chance to comment on the proposals. They will then after 21 day consultation period consider neighbours comments and assess the application is in accordance with planning policy, the officer will visit the site to inspect the surroundings first hand and to determine if the proposals are detrimental to any neighbouring properties or objectors.

Question 2: We submitted our plans at the end of January how long should it take & when does the clock start ticking?

Chris Catelani, Innex Design: I don’t think this is an easy question to answer, the plans were submitted but the council are slow and took weeks to validate the application, the council have validation officers who check that the application form is complete, the fee is correct and the information submitted is correct i.e. site location plan of the property at the correct scales. Once validated the 6-8 week clock is ticking for a decision although some applications can take longer than the 8 weeks. Each council is different even though they follow the same policy.

Question 3: Applying for planning felt like a scary prospect but Innex Design have meant we haven’t had any contact – is that normal or are you just brilliant? Should a home owner or an architect handle the local authority?

Chris Catelani, Innex Design: To us its normal, if we are commissioned to provide architectural services for a domestic house extension we treat it the same as a million pound plus project. Our clients appoint us as professionals and we aim to deliver a professional service from start to finish, we hear of design practices who offer architectural services but wont deal with the council as it can be time consuming! we think its wrong, you wouldn’t get on a plane and fly it yourself, so why should the legalities of improving, what is to most people the most valuable asset they own be left to chance.

A decision was made on our planning application last week, the verdict is coming up in my next post here!

The weather at the beginning of March can be a bit touch and go but we were lucky and I mean a weekend of glorious blue skies and spring sunshine.  We had brought my mum and dad along for a bit of additional support, mostly of the grand parenting babysitting during the evening whilst we went up to drink vino and gin with Kate & Tom! I do recommend additional grand parenting power whenever possible, every little helps and all that

First stop was to pick up the bicycles, we all had bikes, including Grandma much to her horror and a trailer for the small humans and we were off on our long weekend Center Parcs adventure. A swim was top of the kids agenda and where we spent a lot of time in the pool. Lil H is as confident as a fish, Diva G is far more of a land lover but the experienced really helped her confidence and they both thoroughly enjoyed the pools. The rapids were Lil H’s absolute favourite and he couldn’t go down them enough times. The water slides and rides were ace. Our favourite time to swim was in the evening an early tea for the kids followed by a light supper and we were swimming in the dark in a less busy pool with much smaller queues.

In the day there is loads to do grown ups preference was for spa-ing and treatments. The younger ones made cupcakes and rode ponies.  We had some great meals out the pancake house being a staple favourite of the children and the Indian being the grown ups choice to eat in or take away. We planned to and did eat in for a fair few meals and had brought provisions and lunch boxes to have packed lunches for the kiddos who can’t wait where grown ups can. Our villa was lovely and we had regular visitors from the local wildlife.

We were so busy during the day everyone slept well, so soundly in fact that we fell in love with the Center Parcs bedding and had to order our own from home as soon as we got home.  Getting up has been a problem ever since and yes the duvet and pillows really are that good!

Thank you so much Center Parcs we had a fantastic time.

You too could be in with a chance to become a Center Parcs Family Blogger and win a family break to a Center Parcs village of your choice. This month the Center Parc challenge is confident Summer is imminent (I hope they are right!) and they are challenging you and your family to put together the perfect summer picnic, whether you’re venturing to the park or dining al fresco in the garden or if Summer doesn’t happen at all perhaps try an indoor picnic like us!

For a chance to become our newest Center Parcs Family Blogger and to win a family break to a Center Parcs village of your choice, simply share pictures of your fun-filled family picnic on your blog and tweet us a link to it. Be sure to include the Center Parcs and Tots 100 handles in your tweet, as well as the #CPFamilyBreak hashtag before the challenge closes on May 31st.

Its not that I don’t love you, writing you, reading your comments, swinging by other blogs, hanging out sharing a #hashtag and pinning stuff. I do love all that stuff, I really do. I feel bad I’ve not been doing it, my absence frustrates and nags at me so I want to explain.

First my blog got hacked and disappeared, not sure how, I’m told it was a WordPress thing but I am technically inept and reliant on my clever techie guy friend to help me out, which he has and does and I am so very grateful for. Thank you Paul for putting www.cheshiremum.co.uk back in its proper little place on the tinterweb.

Second I have landed some great social media projects with my business Social Boutique thank you to all the bloggers I have worked with recently, your support has been amazing. I will continue to find and share great opportunities. I am now working three to four days a week and in an office too – check me out! Interestingly I don’t have 3-4 days a week childcare which keeps life interesting – my parents and husband are keeping things running whilst we all find our new mojo. I am loving who I am working with, what I am doing and at last I am saving some £’s towards the house redevelopment – there is news and that’s coming right up in the next post!

Lil H turned 6 in April – Happy Birthday to my little dude, he had a great day and celebrations and we now have two Guinea pigs living at Lancaster Villa – called Pinkie and Sonic (Gin & Tonic was declined as a suggestion – pah!)

I’m still running, I’m up to 3km and still loving it. I’ve also had some major parties down in London celebrating some milestone birthdays – it would appear many of my friends turn 40 this year, suggests I may do too … I am in denial, lets move on! I have new shoes for this weekends bash – do you love?

So that’s what’s been going down – in a nutshell I’ve been busy working but everyone is busy, that’s just life but something had to give and it was my blogging that had to fall by the wayside.  There are some highlights to highlight and they will follow in a quick flurry of posts so bear with me … if you’re still here of course … hello? Anyone even reading anymore?!

Honeywell Bakes creates biscuits and baked goods for any special occasion from new baby biscuit gifts, to wedding favours, to bespoke parties. Their new baby gift set
 would be welcomed by new mums, dads and siblings with a cup of tea or juice with one of the treats in this ‘New Baby’ gift set from Honeywell Bakes. These gorgeous sets can be pink for a girl, blue for a boy, or generic yellow – perfect for a baby shower!

How about this children’s birthday set – do you play with it or do you eat it? Beauty is you can do both with this stylish safari themed biscuit set, boys and girls alike will love playing with – and then eating – the individually crafted animals which arrive in a bright birthday parcel.

Choose from a selection of existing sugar biscuit gift sets, or to make them even more personal, opt for a bespoke set. Each set is beautifully wrapped and presented in an artisan style cardboard box, sent directly to the recipient. With prices starting from £17.95, including p&p, these gifts are easy to order online and will be delivered all over the UK, keeping fresh in an airtight container for a further month.

Related links
Web   http://www.honeywellbakes.com/
FB  http://www.facebook.com/honeywellbakes
Twitter  http://twitter.com/honeywellbakes
Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/honeywellbakes/

We frequented Treats at our recent weekend away at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, in the name of research of course!

Then this weekend we got creative in the kitchen with rice crispies, chocolate & mini eggs – they wont last ’til Easter and the mini eggs will be gone before the nests as they seem to be disappearing at a fast old rate

To be in with a chance to become a Center Parcs Family Blogger AND win a short break to a Center Parcs village of your choice, share your chocolate innovations! Show us your pictures and recipes, and tweet us including the hashtag #CPFamilyBreaks and your blog link to @tots100 and @CenterParcsUK. The challenge ends at 4pm on 29^th March.

Argo is a a tense watch, you need to pay attention but listen to the dialogue to follow a great story that will have you gripped.  It is not the sort of film that you can half watch, put your phone / tablet down and pay attention because it is worth it and also your husband will get seriously irritable if you require him to fill in the blanks whilst you were gassing with your pal forcing him to go back 10 minutes to re-watch part of the movie.  I speak from personal experience!

The movie is based on real events in 1979 during the Iran hostage crisis where the CIA and Hollywood came together to save the day and the lives of six hostages.  A situation that went unknown for many years until it was declassified many years later.  Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck directs and stars in the film sporting some rather fabulous 1970′s facial hair – think Bee Gees!  He wears it well!  I also loved the catch phrase from the movie, well phrased swear words always make me smile.

Thank you Warner Bros. Pictures for sending us the Argo (DVD + UV Copy) we never made it to the cinema to see Argo and really enjoyed the movie which it out now on DVD to buy, rent, view.

Babies and young children are very curious. They touch everything, roam every square inch of the house and won’t think twice about putting something they see on the floor in their mouths. As parents, we want to encourage their curiosity, sense of adventure and intellectual development, but do so in a safe and healthy way.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) approximately one million UK children attend causality departments every year and nearly 120 kids under the age of 14 die as the result of an accident in the home. Children under the age of five are most likely to have an accident and boys are more accident prone than girls. The majority of accidents are falls, with nearly 4,200 children involved in a fall on the stairs each year. Falls and other accidents can cause serious bodily damage, life-threatening head injuries and result in death.

Experts who provide head injury advice for children know how extremely important it is to proof a home. According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, between 40 and 50 percent of people with head injuries in the UK are children. Kids are always bumping their heads on objects around the house; it’s as if they were magnets. Most of the time kids are immune to the pain, but, ever so often there is a more traumatic incident can be dangerous because of the potential damage to a child’s delicate head and brain.

Yet, no matter how diligent you are about using a safety gate, covering sharp corners and brick fireplaces and preventing exposure to harmful objects, it is nearly impossible to completely childproof a home. Either you are bound to miss something or your kids’ curiosity will come out on top. As parents, we have to accept that some accidents and injuries are inevitable.

For some parents, childproofing the home can be quite a challenge. A lack of time, knowledge or know how can all interfere with the process. If parents aren’t capable of making the necessary changes, then they should hire a professional who can. First-time parents, in particular, may want to consider consulting an expert. Fortunately, there are numerous resources online and services in the community for parents and caregivers.

Proofing the house is just a part of the equation. Knowing how to properly deal with injuries is a crucial skill that all parents should learn. Those who specialise in head injury compensation know that safety training can make the difference between a child suffering from minor headaches and effects or life-threatening consequences. In addition to proofing the home, parents should take safety and first aid courses to ensure they know what to do in an emergency.

Disclaimer:  This is a guest post 

The scales say I’ve lost 19lbs, well I had until I went to  Center Parcs then gained a couple but they’ll be history again soon enough.  My jeans require a belt otherwise they fall down, I am refusing to by new one’s until I drop 24lbs.  I am so much stronger, I can do stupid things like “plank get ups” – who ever invited these if you’re reading – I HATE YOU!

I’m starting my second month of training, we have a small, fun group of ladies meeting on Monday at 6:30pm and Wednesday at 6pm at Wilmslow High School for 45 minutes training.  Being part of a little crew of people with Greg’s nutrition plan has made all the difference to me being focussed and sticking with it and now its just part of my weekly life.  There are just a couple of spaces in the class so if anyone is interested then contact Greg directly through his Facebook page.

I started off following the C25K programme and I do really enjoy it, I try to run 2-3 times a week if I can and now I can run for nearly 10 minutes without stopping.  Next week will see me doubling that as I start to do no interval runs, never thought that would be possible.  With a decent pair of running shoes and a play list it would appear anything is possible.  Mobilefun.co.uk sent me an armband to keep my iPhone safe and my hands free whilst running its great.  If you’re thinking about starting C25K or fed up of holding your phone like I was you should consider investing, great value at just £9.99.  This is just one of many iPhone 4S accessories available from mobilefun.co.uk