tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:25:09 +0000homeworkingnct12 days of christmas lyricschristmas poemnextbritish mummy bloggerspositive parentingbreastfeeding networksocial mediatwelve days of ChristmasvolunteeringSEO writingTedxgrantalinkedInmumsnetworking from homeBabiesCambridgeFranceLondonSEOSainsbury'sSilent Sundaybreastfeeding supportbrit mumsfacebookgreen peoplejournalism.co.uknetworkingparentingremote workingtoyotaAlison Rothwell SEO clubAsdaBritMumsGrenobleInternational Women's DayJohn LewisMothercare cancer research productsNursery rhymesPanasonic LumixPayPalPiedmont winesRough Guide to FranceSEO tipsaldibeauty for busy mumsbfnblog carnivalbloggingbollocks to breast cancerbreastfeedingcastagnole lanzechristmas salescroque madamecroque monsieurdecember and january salesdriving in Francefree SEO tipsfree competitionsfree competitions ukfreelance workingin the night gardenjob satisfactionkaleidoscopemade for mumsmaking a snowmanmothers working from home storiesmumpreneursnational breastfeeding awareness weeknext competitionplay.com discount voucherpotty trainingproduct reviewreviewroyal wedding kissrugby breastfeeding cafesongtamara de lempicka breastfeeding paintingted x grantatwittertwitter partyukPresswebsite optimisationwin a holidaywriting#TweetsforSEO#britmumslive1930s home7 tips to creating a vintage bedroomAAAardman animationApple day eventsArgosAric SigmanArrasAsda pink breast cancer productsAutogrillB and MBMBBaking and ConfectionsBeauneBelizeBodenBoden discount codeBoden discount linkBoots nappies and parenting clubBorough of CamdenBoulogne sur merBreakfastBreastfeeding in public surveyBritish Medical JournalBritmums LiveBusiness plus baby blogButlinsCalaisCamCreativeCambridge Rock FestivalCambridge University What's on siteCambridge Women's Day MarchCambridge Women's Day photosCambridge conferenceCambridge networkingCambridge onlineCambridge women's day eventsCamdenCamden TownCancerCancer UKCancer awarenessCarte D'OrCelebrity MasterchefCher X FactorChocolateCreating CambridgeCredit crunchDIYDijonDisney movieEben UptonEmma ForbesEton mess recipeEurostarFacebook campaign Mother and baby magazineFisherman's friendFleetstreetForbes styleFrench toastGLTCGil KarpasGoogle searchGreen and Black'sGuardianHalloweenHasbroHealthHolidays and Special DaysIn the bleak midwinterJohn Lewis saleJubilee school partyJubilee weekendKodak Big App ChallengeLaonLocal SecretsLondon 2012 Olympics artLondon Underground baby on board badgeLyonMadeForMumsMake-a-Wish FoundationMedela surveyMi-Fi from 3Mini BarrattsMont cenisNBAWNCT Nearly New SalesNCT salesNational Childbirth TrustNord-Pas-de-CalaisOlympic hangingOlympic torchOlympicsOlympics craftOnly marketing jobs Cambridge linkupOust descalerPRPageRankPhiladelphia Cadbury spreadPhiladelphia recipesPimm'sPrimarkProustPunch and JudyQOFsRANDRainRaspberry PiReimsRhymesRobinsons fruit shoots. testingRoyal Wedding free pictures to downloadSEO for SMEsSEO tips for optimizationSarah Jessica ParkerSesame StreetSeven Days in regent streetShrove TuesdaySuite 101T mobile dongleTEDTim MorleyTimes OnlineTorch relay in CambridgeToyota yarisUK PressVelcro challengeVelcro masksVertbaudet reviewVertbaudet saleVirgin MediaWayne the potatoWomen for Women InternationalXmas spiritaffogato recipe testingafter cancerafterschool clubalbaanglia ruskinanne millerannecyanti breastfeedingapple pancakesarm and hammerastiasti spumanteattachmentattention decifit disorderatwoodauxerrebabies DVDbabies filmbaby budgetbaby carrierbaby feedbaby on a budgetbaby sleepbaby wearingback painback to school discounts and promotionsback to school shoppingbag lady pledgebake a fruit cakebalancing work and lifebanana for pilesbargain shoppingbargains children shoesbath productsbatman premierebbc good foodbeauty product sell by datebeauty productsbebe glotonbecoming a journalist or freelance writerbest chocolatebest headlice treatmentbest moisturiserbest treatment for head licebetter sleepbhsblog hopbloggersblueberry pancakesboden christmas promotionboobie buddiesbookstartboots.combored childrenbrand yourselfbrandingbrandsbreast cancerbreast feedingbreast feeding after one year oldbreast feeding helpbreast milkbreast or bottle feedingbreast versus bottlebreast-feedingbreast-feeding problemsbreastfeeding as parenting toolbreastfeeding booksbreastfeeding cafe rugbybreastfeeding calendarbreastfeeding campaignbreastfeeding carolbreastfeeding debate GMTVbreastfeeding dollbreastfeeding for longer periodsbreastfeeding friendly places in UKbreastfeeding goodies competitionbreastfeeding in the UKbreastfeeding informationbreastfeeding manifestobreastfeeding newsbreastfeeding older childrenbreastfeeding problemsbreastfeeding story on CNNbreastfeeding tipbreastfeeding toddlersbreastfeeding websitesbridalbruin strollerbudget renovationbullyingbusiness networkingbusiness researchbuskerbusyness culturebuy your child's first bicyclebuying second handbuying second hand for babycakescambridge art saloncambridge free days outcanadian magic baking powdercanary wharfcancer good causecar journeycar trip to Francecar trip to Italycarbon emissionscarte d'or ice creamcarved pumpkinscelebrity interviewcharitcharity bazaars and shopscharity shopscharity volunteercheap christmas celebrationscheap letter to santacheap school clothescheap school uniformcheap websitecheesy breadcheesy toast recipescherrieschez wamchild carechild climbing treeschild national safety weekchild scared of maskschild storychildcarechildcare and workchildren activities jubileechildren things under £5children's modellingchildren's poetrychildren's showchitted potatochocolate and coffee dessertchocolate ballschristmas competitionchristmas fruit cakechristmas on a budgetchristmas presentschristmas recipeschristmas shoppingchristophe robinclarksclarks 50 per cent offclarks christmas salecoffeecoffee cup cakescolour me beautifulcolour tips for fashioncolour tips for womencolouring drawingcolouring pagescomfort fabric conditionercommutingcompanycompetitioncompetition on facebookconsumer engagementcontent is kingcooked breakfastcooking for chemocooking with kids surveycopywriting challengecost of having a babycoulicoupon for salcura creamcovent gardencream for breastfeedingcreams for dry skincredit crunch christmascupcake recipecybermummycyclingcycling for all agescycling health benefitscycling in Cambridgecycling in Cambridge with snowcycling safety tipscycling with childrendaffodils picturesdaily mirrordeals on giftsdebenhamsdebenhams discountsdebenhams salesdeclutteringdeliciousdescaling kettlediggdigital addictiondigital copywritingdigital marketingdigital revolutiondigital writingdiscipline for homeworkersdiscount codesdiscount for salcuradiscount on moviesdiscount voucher off DVDsdiscounts at marks and spencerdiscounts in storesdonkey palio albadove spadownload jubilee activities for kidsdressing up. silent sundaydriving in Italydrummer jacketdry skinduchess of cambridgeduckduck bootsearn bloggingeasy Jubilee foodeasy fruit cakeeasy pancake recipeeating veg and fruitebookseditingeducationeggy breademployer perceptionsemployment lawenvironmentally friendly campaignescape from londonexercise for back painexpressingextended breastfeedingfairy cake recipefairy washing up liquidfamily competitionsfamily diaryfamily financesfamily meals for busy mumsfamily of snowmenfat separatorfay weldonfirmfirst week of schoolfitzbilliesfive a dayflexible workingflower arrangingformula feedingfree attractions in Cambridgefree blogging workshopsfree bookfree card gamesfree competitionfree events in Cambridgefree pooh bear christopher robin colouring picturefreecyclefreelance parents networkfreelance writingfrugal familyfruit cake made easyfruit of the forest cheesecakefundraiserfunny things baby sayfunny things children sayfunny things kids saygaiamgarden and craft projectsgas and airgifs for mengloves in a bottlegoogle alertgoogle page rankgoogle rankinggoose duvetgorkanagreen livinggrilled peaches and ice cream recipeguide to commuterlandhalf term ideashalf term showhalloween pumpkinshands first power scrubharassmenthard sellheadlice treatmenthigh street salesholiday on a budgetholiday with a school-age childholidayshome workerhomeworkerhomeworkershomeworking and childrenhomeworking mumshorrible bosseshorrible bosses in real lifehouse priceshow does she do ithow lion became king of tinga tinga landhow to be a freelance writerhow to become a journalisthow to become a phoenix traderhow to find a literary agent for your bloghow to get into digital marketinghow to get publishedhow to hide the mess of movinghow to keep your baby happyhow to make money onlinehow to make snow ice creamhow to optimize your websitehow to write for the webhttps://limetr.eeibisideas to change the worldimprove google pagerankinformation on breastfeedinginspirational ideasinterview failureitalian food at christmasitalian showjam recipejamie oliverjeux sans frontieresjob rejectionjubilee printablesjustgivingkenco millicanokenkokings college carol functionkingsize bedskiss on balconykitchen aidsknitting mittensl'oreal colourlanolin nipple creamleapfroglearning resourceslearning to countlearning to cyclelearning to readleaving Rugbylectureslicelittle black dress for pregnant mumsliving in Cambridgeliving in cambrigdelondon photoslooking after a toddlerlooking after childrenlosing baby weight naturallylove cambridge awards 2011love heartslozengesm and s offersmadeleines bonne mamamake money onlinemakeupmaking money from a blogmaking money from blogmanagement stylemax factormeetup.commen presentsmilitary jacketmini barratts discountmoby wrapmodelling competitionmoisturisers for problem skinmoney from blogging 2012money from the internetmoney off Jude Law and Sean Connery DVDmoney-saving tipsmoshi monster bookmother and baby breastfeeding articlemovingmoving housemozzarella in carrozzamum working from homemummy bloggersmums starting a businessmumsnet competitionsmusnetnatural head lice treatmennetwork marketingnewsletternext.co.uknoddynon bake cheesecake recipenon profitnorwegian study on breastfeedingnot getting the joboffice chairsolder mumonline competitionsonline copywritingonline retailingorganic child washorganic toothpasteoxfamoxo kitchen toolspage rankpaliopalio degli asini albaparent working from homeparenting budgetparenting charityparenting filmparenting horror storiespay for bloggerspeace Williamspenny pinchingpeppa pigpersil small and mightypersonalised books penwizardphiladelphia sun-dried tomato and basilphoto of Rugby town centrephoto of craftsphotos of London 2012pinterestplay doughplay.complay.com copywriterpop party 10popular websitespositive parentpostman patpotato cakes recipepoundstretcherpreschoolprince william and kate weddingprivate eyeproblem skinprocrastinationproduct reviewsproduct testerproduct testingproductivity.profitabilitypromotional shopping codesproofingpropertypumpkinpuppetsrain go away lyrics nursery rhymerainbow awardsrash creamrecyclingred italian winesred nose activityred nose dayred noses 2015relationship marketingrelocationrestoringreutersreview of moisturisersreview of the Odd Life of Timothy greenrightmoverole playroslingroutine for homeworkersroyal wedding informationroyal wedding photosroyal wedding picturesrugby clock towersafe in the sunsainbury salesainbury'ssainsburyssalcura creamsales onlinesales todaysample potsarah outensave the planetsavingsschool holidaysschool labelsscrimperscroogesearch engine for childrensecluded tea partysecret of american pancakesself publishingsensitive skinshirley valentineshop and donatesimone castellosimple moisturisersimple pleasuressleep councilsleepsuitslingssmall appliancessmelly pencilssmencilssnow funsnow in cambridgesnow in the UKsnowball fightsnowmansnowmen picturessookiospecialite localespinbrushspotspring bulbsspring flowersstarting a businessstatsitstaying instorytellingstrawberriesstuffed pepper recipesstumbleuponsudocremsue flaysun lotionsun protection for childrensun protection tipssuper savvy mesupermarketssurestartsusan cainswanssweat treatswimming in pregnancyswine flutag junior scouttalking about childbirth to a childtelecommutingtelevision and childrenteo mammucarithe cubethe filmthe salonthe telegraphthrifty tipstim haywardtime-saving tipstinymetoast recipestoast spreads ideastoddlerstoothbrush for childrentop 100 most visited sites in the UK and worldwidetop xmas toystour datestoxic babytoys for all agestoys for babiestoys for childrentoys for toddlerstraveltravel with toddlertravelling by car from England to Italy through Francetreatment for nitstulip photostv choice competitionstwelveugly ducklingunique visitorsvalue range at John Lewisverite reily collinsvintage homevoluntary sectorvouchervoucher for salcura creamwalking houseweaningweaning controversyweb dominationwebsite on a budgetwebsite on budgetwedding saleswhat italians eat at christmaswhat to do in summer holidayswhite dessert wineswhite italian wineswhite trufflewikileadswikipediawin a bookwin an Ipad and IPodwin family tickets to tinga tinga showwin pencilswin prizeswinter 2010winter olympics turinwitch costumewordswork-life balanceworking after kidsworking and family life balanceworking from home UKworking in an officeworking parentsworld book nightwrite a blog for moneywww.simonecastello.co.ukzooplaJuggling a career with parenthoodhttp://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Simone)Blogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-2964440471527916567Sat, 25 Mar 2023 14:27:00 +00002023-03-25T14:27:45.599+00:00 I found this recipe of mine in a folder. I used to write about food for a website and I created this dish to enter a competition (never heard anything out of it...). So here it is. This is a typical dish from Piedmont that I have adapted so it can be replicated if, like me, you live in the UK.'Bagnet verd' e bollito (Piedmontese green sauce and boiled beef) Serves 4.    http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2023/03/bagnet-verd-e-bollito-aka-boiled-beef.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-8564325349535629354Sun, 12 Apr 2020 08:09:00 +00002020-04-12T09:32:52.388+01:00 Sushi lunch for garden birthday - Friday My daughter, now 13 and I made this sushi with very few ingredients since her favourite sushi restaurant is closed. All this food (including the little rice salad bowls) was made with 300g of sushi rice. I put the rice in a pan, cover it with water, put lid on and boil as instructed on the pack. The rice is soft and a bit sticky, we added sushi http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2020/04/easter-weekend-food-in-lockdown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6512352222670663806Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:59:00 +00002019-10-06T11:01:05.129+01:00 Inspired by a troll who typed that charity shop dresses make you look shabby and down-and-out, here are a few photos of items I bought from charity shops in England, charity sales and second-hand/discount shops (leather jacket, spotty raincoat).  Not only a bargain, but this second-hand fashion is environmentally friendly. http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2019/10/charity-shopping-creating-my-style-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-2410913824003599870Sun, 07 Jul 2019 06:38:00 +00002019-07-07T07:49:10.466+01:00 Michela, 11 Michela, 12 Now my daughter is 12 and is finishing her first year at secondary school, I am suddenly feeling 'free' because she is more independent and my partner works from home so I can go to more networking events, work full time if I wish to without feeling guilty, work the odd weekend or treat myself to a non-family activity... Looking back I did suffer post-natal http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2019/07/finding-my-style-after-early-years-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-195142748752307150Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:19:00 +00002019-02-13T05:19:29.530+00:00 It took me years to fight the fear of public speaking and this is the ultimate test: giving a presentation without having seen the slides. I survived!http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2019/02/pechakucha-my-impro-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-3705531328975080262Sun, 11 Nov 2018 07:18:00 +00002018-11-11T07:32:10.125+00:00 Order here: paperback, £18.99; ebook, £3.95 I don't do a lot of product testing any more (I have to earn a living after all), but the press release for this book caught my eye. A book written by an 11 year old? As it happens I have an 11 year old daughter who is also keen on writing. We have a project in the pipeline for a children's book too... a collaboration. When I told her http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2018/11/book-review-pandas-rule-by-maria-abid.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6418153796995225516Tue, 06 Nov 2018 08:44:00 +00002018-11-06T08:48:52.487+00:00 I have a warm relationship with Sugru's PR. I get their products to test now and then. I have been very busy with work lately, but could not resist when they emailed me to suggest I should try their child-friendly range. Before they launched this range, Sugru was for adults only.  So I got some Xmassy stuff and decided to make a start with the red Sugru to fix a few things. Spot my http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2018/11/sugru-will-fix-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-5343941421386049785Sun, 12 Aug 2018 06:52:00 +00002018-08-12T07:53:42.895+01:00 I have not posted in a long while. Here I am, trying my hand at punting (I resisted long enough to get a pic then got worried about my balance!). I have been working in paid and voluntary jobs so there is little time to continue blogging... Yesterday I wrote this article on LinkedIn about achieving work-life balance. I think I might have succeeded, if you are still trying hang on and dohttp://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2018/08/i-have-not-posted-in-long-while.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-8272140706818923787Mon, 07 Aug 2017 15:21:00 +00002017-08-07T16:36:51.179+01:00I saw a wonderful cake on a French website and decided I had to make it. The original cake, a Frasier, it's a strawberry cake made of sponge and filled/covered with custard that requires 8 eggs. I wanted to make an English version without the butter, so here it is, with less eggs and ingredients that are found here. I also added blueberries, why not? Strawberry & blueberry custard sponge http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/08/frasier-english-way-berry-custard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6471449167584736696Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:19:00 +00002017-08-04T12:22:39.313+01:00 Mural at Michela's school As soon as the school finished, the uniform offers arrived. Some shops cunningly discounted their old stock and pushed the new stuff out. Michela, aged 10 and looking forward to be a 'senior' in primary school, was outraged. "It's too soon, I have just finished Year 5," she complained. Michela stays the same size for ages and then grows in the summer months, so Ihttp://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/08/back-to-school-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-9149783758126788096Wed, 26 Jul 2017 08:25:00 +00002017-07-26T09:34:47.534+01:00 Sushi, crudite', flowers... I make sushi now and then. My teenage niece is here and it's the school holidays so I thought I'd make some. It is Michela's favourite dish, too. This time I decided to use flowers from the garden, some are edible (borage, pansies, daisies), others are there for show. I boil sushi rice with little water (covered with a lid) until it is soft and sticky. I take it offhttp://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/07/how-to-make-sushi-my-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-824843643136562585Tue, 04 Jul 2017 08:00:00 +00002017-07-04T09:00:13.002+01:00 Did you know that we have 50,000 thoughts in a day and in most people 70% of these are negative? I share my journey towards positive thinking, discarding toxic emotional baggage while trying to relax and enjoy life. Click here to hear me speak about my journey. http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/07/my-journey-towards-positive-thinking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-5139019082142964842Thu, 29 Jun 2017 05:06:00 +00002017-06-30T11:30:01.589+01:00 Pic: Kev747 at Wikipedia, 14/1/2008 The Whittlesey straw bear festival happens in January. Banned due to public order issues in the first part of the 20th century (the ritual involves beer and some rowdiness), this tradition was revived in the 1980s. Leanne Moden, a performing poet I met on a Michael Brown's poetry walk here in Cambridge, led a workshop at the Cambridge Museum yesterday, part http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/06/straw-bear-workshop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-7857926799915118317Thu, 08 Jun 2017 07:35:00 +00002017-06-08T08:48:18.369+01:00It has been a busy time. As the academic term concludes my inhouse contracting work is over and I am back working from home. I am currently writing an article on branding for SMEs and looking for more writing opportunities. So this blog is a refreshing oasis where I can leave business at the door... This post is an entry for the BritMums #PrezzoLaFamiglia Challenge, sponsored by Prezzo.  http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/06/fathers-day-sorted-eating-at-prezzo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6551098704971162566Sun, 16 Apr 2017 07:33:00 +00002019-02-11T07:29:38.416+00:00 Pandan chiffon cake in star paper mould A slice of Pandan cake I just love chiffon cake and have managed to work out a recipe that has not too many eggs and works well with ingredients you can buy in the UK. Here it is... As you can see it was tried and tested. I made this many times.... Happy Easter! If you want to avoid cracking, you have to handle it very carefully when you put it http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/04/happy-easter-with-my-own-pandan-chiffon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6476603082673775033Fri, 14 Apr 2017 08:47:00 +00002017-04-14T09:54:52.104+01:00 I wrote an article on LinkedIn summing up my careers so far (marketing and journalism) as fruit of persistence, willingness to learn new skills and not listening to negative people. It has not been easy as English is not my first language and have encountered discrimination as a woman and foreigner. But one has to soldier on because otherwise you go nowhere... I have been battling with SAD http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/04/what-is-success.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6562953341723509788Wed, 08 Mar 2017 16:19:00 +00002017-03-08T16:20:05.983+00:00 The last slice of my homemade pizza Yesterday I invited a vegetarian mum and her little girl, who goes to the same school as my daughter for dinner. They are vegetarian so I thought of making pizza and fritters. The savoury fritters were such a pretty starter with the vine tomatoes in the middle (sorry, I forgot to take a pic as I was busy serving).  The pizza was very tasty, again, Ihttp://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/03/homemade-pizza-what-is-not-to-like.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-2737337408626891891Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:48:00 +00002017-01-13T10:01:18.796+00:00 Snow ice cream This recipe, tried and tested back in 2010 when we had massive snow fall, will make four generous cups of ice cream.  125ml of milk 60g of sugar 1 tsp vanilla 3 cups of fluffy snow (preferably not compact if you do not want it slushy like in the pic - a cup is about 4oz) Mix milk, vanilla and sugar in a bowl or jug, then slowly spoon in the snow, http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/01/snow-ice-cream.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-5471879904618663467Thu, 22 Dec 2016 07:22:00 +00002016-12-22T07:23:30.095+00:00 Pics from Creative Commons... No snow, so these pics are not recent. Happy Xmas! http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/12/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-7739068373047371920Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:17:00 +00002016-12-19T12:21:50.173+00:00 Ready, steady, bake! This elf was helpful as I had to roast and shell lots of hazelnuts for this recipe. I paid him in kindand the recipe's credit of course! Hello, Thank you for sticking around as I have not posted much this year. Lately I have been working four days a week and volunteering in the community on the 5th so it has been busy. My volunteering commitments included http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/12/merry-xmas-plus-two-festive-recipes-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6967769510539849305Wed, 12 Oct 2016 06:29:00 +00002016-10-12T07:31:18.607+01:00 Pic: Geralt, Pixabay Readers of this blog will know that I have had good and bad experiences volunteering - some people are as awful as corporate sharks... but I wrote this article on LinkedIn about the personal benefits and would like to offer it here as a positive example of what you can achieve... it is not just about the fuzzy feeling inside when you help a cause. You can read it here. http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/10/volunteering-to-improve-your-career.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-6669848983854567831Wed, 14 Sep 2016 07:18:00 +00002016-09-14T08:18:33.374+01:00 On 24 August we reached Castagnole Lanze, in Piedmont. We had the car checked and it was fine, great relief! Just water from the aircon, not oil or anything nasty, as mentioned in Part I. Castagnole Lanze is a small village, the nearest town are Asti and Alba, both medieval and worth a visit. They are famous for wine (Barolo, Asti spumante), good food (including the famous white truffle) and http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/09/toyota-travelogue-2016-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-4834441033462551384Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:31:00 +00002016-09-13T07:17:41.735+01:00 Take your test by clicking here I was commissioned to write a review of a new PersonalityMatch app called Personality Perfect, launched in June 2016, which you can download for free here (App store for Apple) and here (Google Play for android). Like many, I always have a go at any personality quiz that I find on Facebook or other social media channels, I have even created some quizzes http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/09/personality-tests-why-are-they-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-1129182664491736942Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:57:00 +00002016-09-06T08:12:56.919+01:00 Our 'new' Toyota Yaris on Mont Cenis Nearly every year now we travel by car to Italy from Cambridge through France. This time round I got teased by my Italian friends, asking me if I was going back in an inflatable! I replied I officially result as emigrated from Italy so they laughed even harder! This joke was passed on Twitter and liked, although I had to explain it was the Italians, not http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/09/toyota-travelogue-2016-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160324317961561130.post-5167649737966313130Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:44:00 +00002016-07-06T10:45:40.318+01:00 Just a quick update to show something I made for Facebook, inspired by a conversation with another blogger. I did follow in her footsteps and looking at my life now I replicated a lot of her decisions. So after so many years, she is still my role model. What about you??? http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2016/07/who-is-your-role-model.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0