Coventry Telegraph - From Dawn Till Rusk

Feeling free on Planet Beyonce

2011-10-14T11:58:19Z

I DON'T apologise for my derision for celebrity mums - something I'm sure I've mentioned several times before.

To be honest it's not all celebrity mums, it's the ones who seem to think they are the only woman to have ever given birth and feel they must impart their superior knowledge to us mere mortals who just have to get on with it. Yes, Myleene Klass I'm talking about you.

But just when I thought I'd heard it all, up steps Beyonce to burst my bubble.

]]> In a recent interview about her pregnancy, she came up with the classic/ridiculous/on another planet (delete as applicable) quote: "I feel free. I feel very empowered."

Normal woman would have said "I'm looking forward to becoming a mum" or "I can't wait to meet my baby." That quote gives the impression that in Beyonce's world, it's all 'me, me, me'.

Of course when reality kicks in for Beyonce, it's going to be very different from most people's reality.

It's unlikely she's going to be doing three hourly feeds through the night. She won't be popping out to Tesco and realising she's got no make-up on, hair like Worzel Gummidge and baby sick down her tracksuit top. When potty training starts, she won't be on her hands and knees scrubbing wee out of the carpet for the sixth time that day.

So Beyonce feels empowered does she? Most women in her situation feel tired - definitely. Sick a lot of the time - possibly. Feeling like the size of a small whale - absolutely.

But empowered? Oh, 100 per cent definitely never.

Life must be good on Planet Beyonce.....

Terror on two wheels

2011-10-14T11:48:53Z

SOMETHING I have noticed a lot of recently is the danger of simply walking along the pavement. Just popping out for a quick stroll to the shops means taking your life into your hands.

But it's not speeding cars, thundering HGVs or the multitude of buses on the city roads that are the problem - no, cyclists take a bow.

]]> Several times in recent weeks I've been practically mown down by thoughtless cyclists who not only think they probably own the road but are going for total ownership of the path as well.

I'm not talking about children - being mown down by a six-year-old on a Hello Kitty bike couldn't really cause much of an impact. It's not teenagers either - most of them I see prefer to go for the more dangerous 'riding no-handed along the middle of the road' option.

No, it's the adults who are at fault.

There is absolutely no reason for riding on a path once you get over the age of 10. I guess there are those who will say they have to ride on the pavement because the roads are so dangerous - if that is the case, give up the bike and walk or, god forbid, throw yourself on the mercy of public transport. Many others do and they survive.

Just grow up, get off the pavement and give pedestrians back their space.

Detention for teacher

2011-10-14T11:39:45Z

AS half term approaches, my twins are well into the swing of life in their new reception classes. They are happily learning to write their letters and the first basic reading books have already appeared at home.

But it's that word' basic' that I have to stress.

]]> I think when it comes to education, getting the basics right is so important. Good grammar and spelling should be a prerequisite and when I say that, I'm not just talking about the pupils.

Had to smile earlier this week when I was shown a comment written by a teacher in one pupil's book. It was obviously written in a bid to encourage and praise, it was just a shame that it actually read "That was very cleaver of you."

If the teachers can't get the basic spelling right, what chance have the children got?

We wish you a merry Christmas

2011-09-16T12:45:48Z

SUMMER holidays are a distant memory, the nights are drawing in, there's a distinctly chilly air, X Factor is back. It can only mean one thing.

Yes, Christmas is coming!

If you're of a nervous disposition, it might be a good idea to stop reading here. I know this will be treated with derision and I was in fact described as 'sick' by a colleague earlier this week for this very reason but I've started my Christmas shopping.........

]]> Once the mince pies are in the shops, that's my cue to get planning. Christmas present lists are being drawn up as we speak, I've bought Christmas cards and there are rolls of wrapping paper already on the top of the wardrobe.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one with this compulsion either - my sister has organised our family Secret Santa for after Christmas dinner and we're currently planning the entertainment for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

A quiz with a twist is almost certainly on the agenda and we'll probably reinstate karaoke after a two year absence.

However in my own defence, it's a bit more than a mad obsession, it's practical too. With three children to buy for, not to mention the rest of the family, wrapping presents, writing cards, festive cooking, not to mention all the kids' plays, trips out, pantos etc, being organised in such strict fashion is the only way I'm going to get it all done.

Working full time too means things have to be fitted in as and when which is why I go for a long run-up. I don't want to feel stressed and panicky as Christmas gets nearer, I'd rather be relaxing with a mulled wine and mince pie, looking back on a job well done.

Shock news from Bikini Bottom

2011-09-16T12:19:49Z

WHO would ever have thought that Spongebob Squarepants could be the danger lurking in our homes?

Funny, silly and plain old good fun you would have thought but you'd be wrong it appears.

In fact, everyone's favourite sea sponge from Bikini Bottom isn't the innocent he first appears.........

]]> According to research carried out recently, fast-paced shows like Spongebob are having a negative effect on children's concentration skills.

Tests were carried out on 60 four-year olds and the conclusion was that watching just nine minutes of a fast paced show 'immediately impaired four-year-olds' executive function'.

Put simply, fast paced shows are seen to agitate children which means they can't focus properly on various tasks.

While I don't let my kids sit in front of the TV for hours on end, when they do I'd rather they were watching something they enjoy. 'Executive function' doesn't come into it when they've got the chance to watch Scooby Doo or Spongebob.

Mind you, when I think about the 'calibre' of programmes I watch - Katie Price reality shows, Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Big Brother and Toddlers and Tiaras etc etc - it's a wonder I can function at all.....

Doing the sums for school

2011-09-16T11:41:00Z

NOW here's some news that won't surprise any parents out there.

A new survey by eBay and Mumsnet has found that parents are typically paying out more than £1000 a year to send a child to state school.

Having just kitted out three children to start at new schools, I have no doubt that this is not far off the mark.

]]> The survey showed that parents think a good pair of shoes is the most essential expenditure - having hit the £100 mark in one city shoe shop, I can vouch for that particular part of the cost.

Next was the school uniform. There are some short cuts you can take such as going to Asda or Tesco for trousers, skirts, polo shirts, PE kit etc. Well, that's fine unless your child is going to a secondary school where you have to buy the uniform from their shop. It's all in the logo I gather. Understandable when they've got very high standards to maintain however.

That aside, it's the more hidden costs that hit parents particularly hard. School trips, swimming, donations for fetes, fancy dress days, 'themed' non-uniform days (not everyone has yellow clothes, clothes with spots on etc which invariably means a trip to the shops) - it all adds up.

It's a never-ending cost that can be quite hard to budget for as you never really know when you're going to have to put your hand in your pocket next.

I know most parents don't begrudge the money because we all want our kids to enjoy school and benefit from it. It's just a bit depressing to realise that it's only September and I'm not far off spending my quota for the year already!

A far from horrible history

2011-08-04T13:17:35Z

IT'S rare to find a TV programme that everyone in our house really enjoys.

For example, I don't think I can sit through another programme with Mr Tumble in although the twins love it, and when my eldest son is watching yet another episode of Clone Wars, he is usually watching on his own.

Likewise, there is no way any of the kids would want to watch Katie Price's reality shows with me. However, things have really changed.............

]]> All of a sudden, Horrible Histories have taken over our house. For the uninitiated, it's a fabulous journey through history with great sketches and some fantastic songs, and it's the one show that we all watch together.

We even gathered round the radio last Saturday morning to listen to the Horrible Histories Prom live from the Royal Albert Hall which was broadcast on Radio 3 - I didn't even know my radio could get Radio 3!

For the twins, the highlight of the show is Stupid Deaths as well as host Rattus Rattus - a talking rat is always a big draw for a 4-year-old!

My history-mad eldest son loves all the historical facts and has shown an uncanny talent for learning all the words to the songs.

And what's the big attraction for me? Well if I mention the name Mat Baynton, I think there may well be some of you mums out there nodding in silent approval.......

Lullabies Amy Winehouse-style

2011-08-04T12:43:29Z

AMID the sad news about the death of Amy Winehouse, I remembered something that really made me smile.

Don't get me wrong, the death of anyone at such a young age is tragic but Amy played a major part in our family life for a short time!

When my twins were tiny, I sometimes had trouble getting my little boy to sleep. All the tried and tested methods failed so I though I'd try some songs and hopefully sing him to sleep. A great idea or so I thought.....

]]> Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Not a hope! Baa Baa Black Sheep - you must be joking.

No, there was only one song that ever worked and to be honest never failed...........Rehab by Amy Winehouse. Not usually a top lullaby choice but it certainly worked in our house.

So when Amy is remembered for her fabulous voice and the fantastic songs she left us with, she will always be remembered by me for something far more important!

A cast of thousands for the Beckhams

2011-08-04T09:46:39Z

READ the other day that David and Victoria Beckham are spending £1000 to have casts made of their new baby Harper Seven's hands and feet........in gold.

Nice idea and I know a lot of people do the same although it usually involves plaster and comes in DIY kit form but if you can afford it - and the Beckhams aren't known for their money troubles - then why not.

What was quite disturbing though reading the article was that it said the casts are being made by a London-based company which has also sculpted body parts of celebrities such as Elton John and Jonathan Ross.

The mind boggles..........

Review of iball 3

2011-08-01T12:25:20Z

I was recently asked to review a new hand held game called iball 3. No relation to the iphone, ipad, ipod etc.
I agreed as I thought anything that keeps the kids quiet for even a few minutes has got to be a good thing!
The iball 3 is about as big as a tennis ball and arrives with it's own rather cool looking stand that it perches on top of.
When it arrived, I passed it onto my teen to explain to me how it worked. It took several attempts because I couldn't believe just how simple it was!
There are six coloured buttons on the ball and if you press them in the correct order they all become the same colour and you win the round. All of that is done against an inbuilt timer.

This little demo will explain better.

]]> Once level one is complete, you go on to level two which is not only more challenging, but once you've mastered it you get a special code which you can then use on the iball 3 website.

The code allows you to put your best completion time into a table of other players and you can see who has the fastest time. Great for competitive kids.

So far,I have completed level one but not level two. My eldest and OH have completed both levels (no surprise there) and toddler likes throwing it down the stairs after Buzz Lightyear!

Children and teenagers are so used to playing console games that it's refreshing to have a game that they can hold and yet still interact with other users around the world via the internet.

It's a clever little piece of equipment and after doing some research, I discovered that the inventor was one of the few people who turned DOWN an offer in the Dragons Den!

We've all enjoyed playing it. Middle son registered the ball and has been putting his times on the website and it's even distracted eldest from his PS3 which is saying something!

The iball 3 retails at around £19.99

The cost of the school holidays.

2011-07-18T10:24:47Z

HARD to believe that it's the school summer holidays...again!

Eldest has broken up already with middle and youngest due to finish on Thursday. And so the eternal question is asked by parents up and down the country....'What are we going to do?'

As eldest is almost 15, he just pleases himself. Hanging out with friends, playing PS3 and being taken to Italy by his dad!!!

So that just leaves the other two.

]]> I decided that I was going to be mum of the year this year and so sat down with middle and our huge family calender and told him to write down on the calender everything he wanted to do and the dates he wanted to do them.

He thought this was a brilliant idea and made him feel very grown up and important.

When I checked the calender he'd written things like the cinema, (no problem, parents go free to the morning kids club) Hatton Country World, (promise him we'll go every year and we've never made it. I've got vouchers this year so that's OK!). Warwick Castle (vouchers again so that's good) Cadbury's World (Woah hold on...no vouchers for that) and swimming. (cheap and cheerful)

Great! I tweaked some of the dates here, put a line through Cadbury World and added in a few extras like The Transport Museum and The Herbert Art Gallery, both free and great fun.

I had toyed with the idea of sending him to a football camp but at nearly £20 per day I decided he was better going to a variety of places with me especially as I work for myself and have the luxury of picking and choosing when I work.

Youngest will tag along happily whatever we do, and I have booked him into summer playgroup for a few sessions otherwise he gets withdrawal symptoms!

I may sound like an old scrooge, but what with holiday prices being hiked during school breaks and kids clubs costing a small fortune, us parents get it tough enough as it is.

So this summer I'll be armed with my vouchers, picnics and a flask and off we go to find cheap and cheerful days out!

Bonusprint photo books

2011-06-07T13:42:22Z

DO you remember photograph albums? My parents had stacks of them, full of pictures of family members in awful outfits pulling funny faces!

I've inherited some of them and they're great fun to look through. There was something magical about dropping an undeveloped film into Boots, collecting the envelope a couple of days later and then laughing at all the awful photographs inside!

It's something that this generation will probably never experience.

OH and I take stacks of photographs, on our camera, mobile phone and even my D.S! But how many do we actually get printed? Hardly any, in fact I can't remember the last time I held a recent photograph in my hand.

]]> A couple of weeks ago I was asked to review one of Bonusprints photo books.

Last year we went on lots of different holidays and I've been meaning to print the photo's off and create a 2010 memory album. I decided this would be a great opportunity to finally get around to making one.

The large, square book has 24 pages and each page can accommodate two photographs, so the first task was to go through the pictures on my laptop and choose the photos that I wanted. Then I followed the instructions on screen and started to create my book.

It was incredibly easy to do. You have a choice of background and then each page holds two pictures. You can make the layout of each page different and also add your own text.

Once you've finished filling the book, you get a choice of covers and you can also add a title and have glossy pages, though that does add to the price.

The book took around 5 days to arrive which was impressive! The kids didn't know what I'd been up to and they loved it! They especially liked the text that I'd added to each of the photos.

These books would make a fantastic gift, especially with Fathers Day coming up. You could fill it with pics of the kids for a proud dad.

I was genuinely impressed. I finally have my record of 2010 and I'm going to do the same again for 2011!

Bonusprint photo books start at £13.99 and can be ordered direct from www.bonusprint.co.uk

Save our Coventry Playgroups

2011-05-12T11:25:10Z

PLAYGROUPS are a fantastic thing.

All three of my boys went to a local playgroup and they loved every minute of it!

Sadly though, playgroups have slowly been disappearing around the city over the years. The playgroup my middle son went to closed down the year after he left and now youngest's group is also under threat.

Hard to believe that something that has been serving the communities of Allesley and Coundon for over 45 years is under threat due to Council rent rises.

]]> But not to be outdone, the children, staff and parents of Allesley Playgroup in Allesley Village have pulled out all the stops and after just a few weeks of serious fund raising we are almost at our target of Â£4000!!

Last Saturday, the little ones took part in a sponsored dance at the Village Hall and raised over Â£1000! Amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.

Parents who work for different organisations have suddenly found that they are entitled to a charity donation each year and have managed to double if not treble that amount.

This Saturday sees the children rattling their buckets for pennies at the Coventry Rugby Ground. I'm sure lots of mums will be going to offer their support at that one!!

Finally, on July 2nd, the playgroup is hosting a Casino and auction night at Coventry Rugby Club. A group of us parents have been trawling the local area asking for auction donations and companies have been more than generous.

In the face of adversity we have pulled together, made new friends of parents we've only ever nodded to in passing and given the children new experiences. Despite all the challenges, that has got to be a good thing.

Allesley Playgroup's Casino and Auction night. Coventry Rugby Club, 2nd July, tickets Â£10. To order your tickets, call Laura on 02476 404344

Sainsbury's feed your family for Â£50

2011-05-05T10:19:37Z

I was very excited yesterday to see Sainsbury's new initiative, feed your family for Â£50 for a week

Excited, because I have been doing exactly that for quite some time now. I've even been known to feed my family on Â£20 per week, but they were tough times and I wouldn't choose to go back to that.

In my experience it is certainly worthwhile budgeting on your weekly shop and it can be relatively easy to find places where you can cut corners and your family don't even have to know!

]]> But the downside is that budgeting does take up time. You can't do it without drawing up a weekly meal planner, writing a list and sticking to it. Sainsbury's have done that for you, giving you a whole weekly menu and a shopping list to go with it. What it doesn't include is extras like fruit, snacks, yoghurts etc and for me I have to include those in my weekly budget.

It also pays to shop smart and that usually involves visiting different supermarkets. Sainsbury's basic range is, in my opinion, fantastic value for money, however I can get items such as large tubs of fat free yoghurt even cheaper at Aldi.

So, well done Sainsbury's for giving it a go. I'm sure other supermarkets will follow suit now. It's a grand idea but I can do it better, I feel a book coming on!

The perfect princess

2011-04-28T13:44:49Z

THE buffet food is in the fridge, the Union Jack plates are in the cupboard and four-year-old Darcy still has to decide which of her princess dress-up costumes she is going to wear.

Oh yes, Royal Wedding fever has well and truly gripped our house.

Out came the finery this morning as the kids all went off to school in outfits suitable for the wedding and are having a street party there today to mark the occasion, wearing the crowns they made earlier in the week of course.

]]> For Darcy, the excitement obviously revolves around actually seeing a real live princess although whether she thinks there is going to be a puff of smoke and Kate Middleton suddenly transforms into Cinderella I'm not sure.

And that's another point - Darcy said we have to call her Catherine because Kate just isn't a princess name.

I was also told that you can tell she is going to be a perfect princess because "she has got such shiny hair!"

Her twin brother wasn't showing the slightest bit of interest until he realised that there are going to be loads of soldiers and horses on the TV - suddenly he's on board for a day of TV viewing.

And you never know, their older brother might even glance up from his laptop or Nintendo DS to have a look at what's going on.

But for the grown-ups, there is one major reason to watch. As good as it is to spot the celeb guests milling around, there is one thing that we are really waiting to see. That first glimpse of the dress.

Yep, you've guessed the question on everyone's lips - what on earth will Victoria Beckham be wearing?!!!!