With the husband working crazy, unpredictable shifts, me working part time, and the children in nursery it’s not often that we get to spend real quality time together as a family. We seem to rush around trying to fit as much as we can into a short few minutes before bedtime and I’m often left feeling bereft and disappointed that we don’t have more time.

So, on the rare occasion we’re all in the same place at the same time, we take that much needed opportunity to be together. We like to keep it simple. Nothing too strenuous or expensive. Just good, simple family time. Lazy days, a picnic and maybe a walk.

After joining the National Trust earlier in the year, this Sunday we took ourselves off to one of their properties, Nostell Priory in Wakefield.

The weather was just perfect. Sunny, but not too hot, with a lovely breeze. A perfect late summer afternoon. We picnicked on sandwiches and Bakewell tarts on a blanket on the lawn by the stables. Little E had her first walk outside and danced away on the grass, while being serenaded by a trio playing old style jazz songs. Dragonflies whooshed overhead.

Big E had a kick about with a football with his daddy, while Little E and I people watched as she giggled at passers by and charming them along the way!

There was no rushing to be somewhere, no stress, no fuss just wonderful decadent lazy Sunday afternoon perfection.

Roll on the next one!

This is a review post.

You may want to sit down before you read this, because what I’m about to tell you may shock you to the core.

My name is Ellie, and I never do the laundry.

Never.

My husband does it all. I couldn’t even tell you what brand our washing machine is, never mind work out how to use it! I kid you not.

What can I say, I’m a lucky lady!

So, when I was asked if I wanted to try out Boost Your Wash, a laundry enhancer formulated to boost the stain removing power of your regular detergent, I took pity on the poor husband and thought he might like to give it a whirl.

Anyone with small children at nursery knows the state their clothes get into. Ground in baked beans, tomato pasta sauce and mud to name a few of the  daily stain removal challenges they send our way.

Boost Your Wash is billed as:

“a laundry enhancer with a unique formula, designed to transform your favourite washing detergent into a power cleaner, even at 30 degrees. Boost Your Wash is the perfect addition to any laundry load when it needs and extra ‘boost’ to remove stubborn stains, grime, smells and nasty nightmares!”

So would Boost Your Wash have any effect on the stain challenges in our daily washing load? According to Boost Your Wash, one in five loads will need an extra helping hand but in our house, with two children under four, it’s every load!

Boost Your Wash certainly helped remove some of the more stubborn stains, and faded some of the really nasty ones that wouldn’t normally have budged. It’s not a miracle cleaner and it won’t get rid of everything, but it certainly ‘boosted’ the stain removal capabilities of our usual brand of laundry detergent.

We liked it so much we got through the entire bottle in under three weeks and will doubtless be using it regularly! Anything that reduces the amount of money we need to spend on new nursery clothes gets a big thumbs up in our house!

Boost Your Wash is currently available from Ocado & Tesco for the bargain price of £2.50 (RRP £3.99) for a 500ml, 16 wash bottle.

My husband is, however, unavailable.

Boxes upon boxes line the spare room. Stacked floor to ceiling in a higgledy piggledy fashion.

Crammed with possessions, untouched but not unloved. Old exercise books, artwork and essays, Grandma’s ornaments, old photographs, clothes and out grown toys. Thirty five years archived.

Decades passed, time stood still, every nook and cranny almost filled. Yet more we hoarded. So many things. Held on to out of sentimentality, attempting to hold on to memories, afraid to lose fragments of an ever distant past. Belongings that make us feel like we belong somewhere. Anywhere. Here?

But the spare room is no longer spare. There is a Little Girl almost ready for her own space, filled with her own pretty things. A bright open space with room to grow and play.

Decisions must be made. But what to do? Unwilling to throw away remnants of the past but needing to move forward into our future, how can I choose which memories to throw away? The decisions are too raw and too hard to make.

Yet decide I must. If only I had a spare room….

This is a review and giveaway post.

I’m a sucker for a great baby product. From snack traps to pushchairs, baby seats to interactive toys, if it’s new and innovative then I’ll be coveting it from a far

I was recently contacted by Emily at 4mums online who asked if I’d like to try out this years biggest news, the mamaRoo.

The mamaRoo is the ultimate baby seat. Designed around the movement a parent makes when picking up their child to soothe and comfort, the mamaRoo is revolutionary in its design and functionality. Instead of bouncing or vibrating, like most infant chairs and recliners, the mamaRoo sways, just like many parents instinctively do.

Suitable from birth to when your baby can sit unaided (or 11kgs), this is far more than your basic equipment. The mamaRoo is controlled via an easily navigable LCD display on its base. It has five different motions (Car Ride, Kangaroo, Tree Swing, Rock-a-bye, Ocean Wave), can be set at five different speeds, and reclines at any point along its axis. There are five different soothing ‘white noise’ nature sounds and you can even hook your mp3 player or iPhone up to its speakers and play your own music.

The seat itself zips off and is fully machine washable. The detachable mobile features 3 super soft balls, one half black and white, the other vibrant colour, featuring the art of Van Gogh, Monet and Seurat. The balls are easily popped in and out of the mobile so your baby can have a good old nosey at them.

The mamaRoo really is a beautiful piece of equipment. Its design is aesthetically pleasing, it’s sleek, stylish and really is a top notch baby gadget.

After spending the afternoon playing with ours we completely fell in love with it. Little E is a bit too old for it now but we had fun nevertheless. I wish we’d had this when Big E was small and would only be rocked to sleep! We think it’s the bees knees!

The mamaRoo isn’t cheap by any means. It’s a quality, aspirational product which is reflected in the retail price of £199.99, and is available in the UK at Mothercare.

Would you like to be one of the first people in the UK to own a mamaRoo? Then look no further!

Thanks to 4mums online I have a mamaRoo to giveaway to one lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a comment below. For an extra entry you can tweet:

I’m entering the @4moms #mamaRooGiveaway @InsomniacMummy – http://wp.me/pO1G4-t6

And, for further entries you can become a 4Mum’s fan on Facebook, or Follow @4moms on Twitter. Please remember to come back and comment again for each extra entry so they can be added to the draw.

Good luck!

Terms and conditions: Entries are limited to five per person. The competition will close at 8pm, Friday 10th September 2010, and the winner chosen using a random number generator. The winner will be announced later the same day. The prize includes one mamaRoo in silver, pink or red. The winner’s details will be passed on to Emily at 4mums, who will contact you directly to arrange your prize. The competition is open to UK residents only.

{Drum roll please}

The winner of the Polaroid Polarised Sunglasses Giveaway is…..

Elizabeth Burton

Congratulations Elizabeth, I’ll be contacting you shortly with details of how to claim your prize!

Commiserations to everyone else and thanks for entering. Be sure to look out for another excellent giveaway very shortly!

I’m livid.

As we were dropping the children off at nursery on Friday we were handed a letter by the manager informing us that, with one days notice, the nursery will be closed all next week, with no guarantee it will be open the following week.

WHAT? You cannot be serious?!

Now call me crazy (people often do), but shouldn’t we have been given a tad more notice and at least been told there was a problem before it became critical?

The nursery is part of our local SureStart Centre. It’s not free (as some people think), we pay for it a month in advance (and through the nose) just like you would any other nursery. It turns out that they are being bound, by the council, in red tape and funding cuts.

The nursery has become desperately short staffed, to the point where the carer to child ratio is about to be dangerously compromised. Because they cannot guarantee the safety of the children in their care the nursery has had to be temporarily closed.

These issues have arisen because the local council has recently cut the rate of pay it gives to the qualified staff and the rate it pays to agency staff. The nursery cannot find enough agency staff to cover the vacancies, and the council will only advertise vacancies internally. As a result they cannot find the ‘right caliber’ of staff, because of the lowered rate of pay.

Many of the familiar key workers have left for better paid jobs, and some of the regular agency staff, who have had to move on, would love to take permanent positions but cannot because the jobs are not being advertised externally. It’s an un-holy mess.

The husband and I have to work next week. He’s on nights, I have financial month end and neither of us are allowed time off. The nursery have no contingency plan and we’re up the proverbial creek, without a paddle.

I’ve spoken to the centre manager face to face, twice. He can offer no more than an apology and a deduction of the fees we’ve already paid on next month’s invoice. Yes he’s embarrassed that it’s come to this, but his embarrassment isn’t going to solve the issues.

Some parents are so angry that they’ve sadly removed their children from the nursery completely, choosing to have them cared for by friends and relatives while they make alternative arrangements. This is, unfortunately, a luxury we do not have.

The thing that saddens me the most is, when it’s good it’s really, really good. The regular staff are wonderful and my children have bonded with them. Until Friday I felt completely at ease leaving my children in their care. No qualms. But now? Now I feel like there’s been a breach of trust, not with the people who look after my children week in week out, but with the management. How they can regain that trust, I do not know.

This situation will put a strain on not only our home environment, but also relationships with our families, who we ask for help but usually cannot as they have their own jobs to go to. Not to mention the stress of trying to negotiate time off work when none is allowed and the financial implications of taking un-paid emergency leave.

I’m livid.

Utterly, utterly livid.

This is a review and giveaway post.

When it comes to lounging around in the sun it has to be said that I’m a bit of a vampire. Robert Pattinson has nothing on me!

I’m usually the one hogging the shade,  fully clothed, smothered in SPF50, sporting the biggest, darkest shades known to man. I think it’s fair to day I’m not a sun-worshipper!

That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a bit of a thing for sunglasses though. Gotta protect delicate  peepers from those nasty UV rays!

Recently I was lucky enough to be sent 3 pairs of fabulous Polaroid polarized sunglasses to review. One pair for me and one pair each for the children.

Mine are a fabulous pair called ‘Papillion‘. Slightly over-sized frames, decorative metallic hinge and ever so tiny diamante detailing . Very glamourous indeed!

The lenses themselves offer UV400 protection, which is 100% protection from those damaging UV rays, and a filter category of 3 (filter category relating to the darkness of the lens on a scale of 0 to 4, four being the darkest).

When the husband is chauffeuring me about town, to all my important engagements *cough*, I feel exactly like a Hollywood starlet, except without the looks, or the money or indeed the questionable talent.

Big E’s is much happier in the sun than I! His pair, aptly named ‘Hot‘, are made of super bendable plastic. Perfect for small boys intent on destruction. Once again they offer 100% UV400 protection and a lens filter category of 3. Rubber insets in their arms mean they offer extra comfort and grip.

Usually a pair of sunglasses only lasts a few days in the hands of Big E. So I’m very happy to report that these are still in once piece!

My Little Lady E has a thing for glasses. Sunglasses, Mummy’s glasses, the lady at the checkouts glasses. You name it she’ll try and pull them off and try them on herself.

She was absolutely thrilled with her pair called ‘Sugar‘. For a little girl of just 15 months she’s certainly fast developing a love of trying things on and giggling sweetly at herself in the mirror.

Again, with 100% UV400 protection and a filter category of 3, these sweet little shades are just perfect for keeping safe the tiniest of baby blues.

Papillion retail at £49.99 and ‘Hot’ and ‘Sugar’ both retail at £19.99.  All the sunglasses we received were great looking and very well manufactured. Would I recommend them? Yes, I would.

Now if only someone could explain to my children that they need to actually wear them for more than five minutes in the sun, that’d be excellent!

Fancy a pair of Polaroid sunglasses for you and your child?

One lucky reader has the chance to win a parent & child sunglasses combo! Two pairs of these fabulous sunglasses could be yours! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below, and for an extra entry copy, paste and tweet the text below:

I’m entering the #PolaroidGiveaway @InsomniacMummy – http://wp.me/pO1G4-sf

Entries are limited to one comment and five tweets per person. The competition will close at midday, Tuesday 31st August 2010, and the winner chosen using a random number generator. The winner will be announced later the same day. The prize includes one adult and one child (of any age) pair. The winners details will be passed on to Laura at Marketing Zone, who will contact you directly to arrange your prize. The competition is open to UK residents only.

Good luck!

There are lots of things in life that scare me. Spiders, thunder and deep water to name but a few.

I wouldn’t call them phobias though, simply fears or dislikes.

When I had children I made the conscious effort to try not to pass these fears onto them. No parent wants to see their child experiencing fear and certainly not witness those fears develop into phobias and panic.

At the end of last year I wrote about an experience Big E had in the hairderssers. After previously having his haircut without any problems he gradually became frightened, so much so that he screamed and cried through a cut and was asked to leave (and pay) with only his half hair cut.

Since then I’ve attempted to cut his hair at home on a couple of occasions. Each time his panic and terror increasing to the point where now the mere mention of a haircut can send him into meltdown.

When I say he’s terrified I am not exaggerating. The most recent attempt had him hyperventilating and breaking out in a rash before we’d even got the clippers out. Needless to say we didn’t go through with the cut. He’s three years old and was virtually having a panic attack.

It’s just horrendous to see your child so distressed over something so seemingly insignificant.

We’ve decided to stop trying or even asking him if we can cut his hair. I’m not prepared to put him through the stress anymore. It’s soul destroying and utterly heartbreaking. Instead, we’ve decided to just let his hair grow. It’s thick and messy, but I’d rather him that way than traumatised any longer.

This isn’t just something that bothers him a little, it’s a full on phobia. We’ve tried all sorts of advice; Bribery, sitting him in a highchair while watching a DVD, going to the hairdressers to watch his Daddy have his hair cut, letting him hold the clippers, letting him cut Daddy’s hair. Nothing helps and only serves to exacerbate an already out of control situation.

I discussed it briefly with the health visitor but she said she’d never come across it and told me he’d probably grow out of it. Not exactly the advice I was looking for.

The nursery, on the other hand, were fantastic about it and arranged to have a role play afternoon focused on going to the hairdressers. They let the pre-schoolers, wash, cut, dry and brush dolls hair. Big E was reluctant, especially when asked to cut and wash hair, but I’m so thankful that the nursery were willing to spend time helping us and him out.

I’m not sure where to go from here. We seem to constantly be taking steps backward. He’s screams through having his hair washed, and won’t even let me brush his hair. I’ve been seriously considering getting some kind of professional help, but I’ve no idea where to even begin looking.

I’m just at a total loss an don’t know what my next move should be!

So for now, Big E will be my gorgeous little boy with the big hair. And woe betide anyone who utters those five little words, “He needs a hair cut.”

__________________________________________________________

Has your child had a fear that developed into a phobia?

Have you been able to help your child over come a similar phobia?

The winner of the Little Dish Favourites Cookbook is….

{Drum roll please}

Jenny at Gingerbread House

Congratulations Jenny, I’ll be in touch shortly for your details.

A huge thank you and commiserations to everyone who took the time to enter! Stay tuned for another giveaway very soon!

I’d like introduce you to a little project my family has been working on which launches tonight!

If you’re local then come along! It’s going to be popular so arrive early to avoid disappoinment!

You can find them online at www.villagelaughterstore.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @VillageLaughter.

This is a sponsored post.

A very long time ago, when I was a little girl of just four or five I remember being fascinated with my Grandma’s jewellery box.

To me it was a thing of wonderment, filled with beautiful trinkets and treasures. So enamoured was I, I was given my very own jewellery box for Christmas that year. It was made of white satin with a gold clasp and when opened, inside danced a tiny ballerina to the music box melody of ‘Raindrops keep falling on my head’.

Inside that special box I kept my very own treasures, including my first piece of jewellery, a sterling silver heart ring.

That pretty little box and its contents held so many special memories for me. One day, I hope that I can create share some similar memories with my lovely Little E.

But what would I choose for her? Something beautiful, just like her? Certainly. And, I know exactly where my search would begin!

Molly Brown London, described as ‘Tiffany’s for children’ by UK Vogue, is the UK’s leading children’s jewellery brand. Their collections are abundant with beautifully crafted pieces which are just perfect for little and older girls alike. From christening jewellery to birthday gifts and beyond, there are stunning gifts for every little girl.

The jewellery itself is crafted from precious metals, gorgeous freshwater pearls and gemstones chosen for their clarity, each piece being finished of with Molly Brown London’s signature sterling silver tag. It’s altogether absolutely stunning.

I’ve spent a virtual fortune just browsing, there are so many lovely pieces to choose from!

Now all I need to do is convince Little E’s Daddy, and let the memory making begin.

Friday couldn’t have come soon enough this week, so what better way to end the week than with a bit of ‘Hot or not?’.

Last time the majority were unconvinced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s charms, thinking him a little on the young looking side. All the more for me, I say!

This weeks contender is a cheeky chappie. He used to be a Big Brother’s Little Brother but graduated and now has The X Factor. Who is he? Let’s find out:

Dermot O’Leary, hot or not?

At the ripe ‘old’ age of 37 I think it’s say to say that Dermot has ‘it’ going on. Rumour even has it that he could be headed for Hollywood to present X Factor when it goes Stateside!

It’s not my call though, you decide…..

If there’s one reality in life that has half the population attempting their best ostrich impression, it’s finances.

When you have a young family, there comes a point when you have to face them head on and start planning for a more secure future, which for many of us is not as simple as we’d like.

I’d like to introduce you to a good friend of mine, Pete Matthew. Pete is, in his own words, “a very content husband and a father fo two wonderful children.” He also just so happens to be a Certified Financial Planner, Managing Director of Jackson’s Financial Services in Penzance, and a total social media geek/evangelist.

After realising he could put his profession and his passion to good use, Pete recently launched a brand new website, Meaningful Money.

Meaningful Money is a marriage of sound, easily digestible financial advice and social media savvy. Pete delivers regular video guides, from stunning locations in and around Penzance, breaking down the basics of financial planning, and beyond, into easy to follow bite size chunks. Pete says,

“The point of this website is to convey my belief that Financial Planning is really simple for the vast majority of people. It IS possible for anyone to achieve their goals, whether financial or otherwise, by following some pretty basic rules. The problem is that most people automatically assume that they’ll never be able to achieve those goals, and usually for financial reasons.

Hopefully what you’ll find here are simple tips and tricks to help you in your financial planning.”

There are no flip charts and graphs, no overly complicated financial waffle. Pete has the gift of being able to convey his message, effectively and passionately, in layman’s terms, which is just perfect for a down to earth girl like me!

Why not pop on over and have a browse around, you might just find some very useful advice that could help you plan for the future you want!

You can find Pete’s website at www.meaningfulmoney.tv and follow Meaningful Money on Twitter @MeaningfulMoney.

It has to be said that I’m a little bit of a cookbook whore.

I have shelves full of them in my kitchen, all filled with promises of delicious and often decadent treats, just waiting to be opened and poured over. So, of course, when Charlotte from Little Dish asked me if I’d like to review and giveaway a copy of  the ‘Little Dish Favourites Cookbook’ I jumped at the chance!

The ‘Little Dish Favourites Cookbook’ is written by the co-founder of Little Dish, Hillary Graves. The book, which boasts recipes suitable from weaning onwards, contains a little something for everyone, even the fussiest of three year olds!

We tried out two recipes from the book ‘Proper Bolognese’ and ‘Simple Lamb Hotpot’.

My son is a notoriously fussy eater and spaghetti bolognese is always my ‘go to’ stand by meal that I know he’ll definitely eat. I usually make a fairly quick version so when I read the recipe for ‘Proper Bolognese’ took 5 hours to cook, I was interested to find out how it would change the flavours and textures.

The recipe itself was very simple to follow and the ingredients easy to source. Aside from adding a handful of diced pancetta, I worked thorough the recipe as it was written.

Once cooked, this bolognese was rich and the meat wonderfully soft, so much so it almost melted in your mouth. Served with spaghetti and topped with some grated parmesan, both my three year old son and one year old daughter wolfed it down. It’s a recipe that you need to set aside time to make, so a rainy afternoon indoors is the perfect opportunity to make some filling delicious comfort food.

We’re not big lamb eaters in our household so I thought it was about time we reversed this trend and introduced the children to a lamb dish they might enjoy. ‘Simple Lamb Hotpot’ really is very simple to make.

I made one hotpot for the children with stock and one for me and the husband, replacing much of the stock with red wine. The children’s version was very tasty, and I’m pleased to report that it went down a treat with my son even eating his potatoes, which never normally happens!

The ‘adult’ version was much richer and tastier still, and the husband mopped up every last morsel in his bowl with a slice of bread. The flavour of the lamb wasn’t overpowering and all in all we were definitely won over. Another dish that requires a little forward planning because of the cooking times, but one that will certainly become part of our repertoire.

The Little Dish Favourite Cook Book isn’t a big glossy number. It’s simple, down to earth and practical with easy to follow, family pleasing recipes. A must for busy parents with hungry small people to feed!

Fancy getting your hands on a copy? Then you’re in  the right place!

Leave a comment below to be entered or, for an extra entry, copy and paste the text below and tweet it!

I’m entering the #LittleDishGiveaway @insomniacmummy – http://wp.me/pO1G4-r1

Entries are limited to one comment and five tweets per person. The giveaway will close on Tuesday 17th August at midday, and the winner will be chosen via a random number generator and announced later the same day. Giveaway open to UK residents only.

Good luck!

Dear Lovely Readers,

Just so you know, I’m not dead!

I’ve not been kidnapped by a crazy gang of blogger kidnappers, nor have I fallen down a very deep well. I’m not stuck at the summit of a very large mountain without mobile phone reception, and I most certainly have not just been too lazy to post for the last week (ahem).

Nope, I’m still here, alive and well, just having a bit of a blogoliday for no other reason than I blumming well can! So there!

I shall be back, (very) shortly no doubt, and will be needing all your very, very best suggestions for the revival of ‘Hot or not?’ which shall be rearing its not-so-ugly-often-quite-gorgeous head once again on Friday!

Yours definitely still very much present,

Ellie

It’s my blogoversary! Today, Insomniac Mummy is one year old!

{Insert cheering here}

A full 365 days has passed since, on a whim, I created my own little corner of t’interweb.

When I began waffling, like a deluded crazy insomniac, those twelve short months ago, little did I know how cathartic and strangely addictive blogging could be. What’s more, who knew that someone would actually read my idle ramblings?

There have been good times, bad times and sad times. But that’s life, and mine is no more or less remarkable than the next person.

There’s been a lot of reflection on times long gone, moments when I’ve wondered why I bother and questioned what my place is in all this. Times when I’ve had the (often awestruck) pleasure of meeting some of my favourite bloggers in the flesh (so to speak) and laughed ’til I cried. The odd soap box rant, and times when I’ve been humbled to be a small part of something wonderful.

But most of all there’s been that all consuming, unconditional, fierce love that every parent feels for their children.

So, to those who’ve read, commented, laughed, cried, offered a shoulder, supported, encouraged, enjoyed, and stuck around; This is me sending you a huge thank you!

Oh, and if you fancy tarrying a while longer, then that’d be just peachy!

Just because it makes me smile, and that’s good enough for me!

One, two, three…

She counts. Every foot fall leads her on her semi-conscious journey to one hundred. Leading her along The Wall, that little bit closer to ‘home’.

Hills, like a natural roller coaster, ripple before her. Steep stone steps stretch skyward. Deep breaths at the top, then down the other side. Each tiny motion jarring bones and exacerbating aches and pains.

Again, and again and again.

Until one summit reveals a small oasis. In the gap at the bottom, nestled between two hills, stands a lone sycamore tree.

Her weary body picks up some pace and she races to the bottom to rest under the tree. Its canopy providing some much needed shade from the unforgiving afternoon sun. A magical movie set in the midst of an amazing landscape.

Then, onwards. Again.

________________________________________________________

Written for The Gallery, and walked for the Joseph Salmon Trust.

It’s been a while….

But absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Last time on ‘Hot or not?’ David Beckham was given the thumbs up. But only on the proviso he kept his pretty mouth shut, that is. It seems poor Mr Beckham won’t be needing to whisper sweet nothings around here anytime soon. I bet he’s sobbing into his coco pops as I type.

This weeks gentleman is a modern Hollywood icon. He’s a diverse actor with a glittering career and can hold his own acting among cinematic heavy weights. He wooed Juliet through a fish tank, went a little crazy on a beach, joined a gang in New York, oh, and he was once  drowned at sea, after Kate Winslet made a titanic mistake letting go of his hand. Silly girl.

Who could this talented chap be? Let’s find out.

Leonardo DiCaprio, hot or not?

At the ripe old age of 35 Mr DiCaprio has built up a pretty damn impressive body of work. Currently on the big screen in Inception, he’s starred in some of the most talked about, and critically acclaimed films of our time. Working with directors and producers most actors can only dream of being employed by.

But all that aside, given a day pass would I, you know? Ermmmm, yes! Probably. Although he does have a strange resemblance to a bumble bee. Or is that just me?

It’s not my call though. You decide…..

I’ve been feeling reflective of late.

This year seems to have brought the winds of change to my household, and it’s high time I allowed that wind to carry me somewhere new.

For too long I have been caught in the grasp of depressive apathy, not feeling alive and coasting along in my own life. Unwittingly allowing those around me to coast with me. Well those days are over. As the old saying goes, ‘time and tide wait for no man’, and I only have this one chance.

It was taking a leap out of my comfort zone and getting involved with Hadrian’s Walk that finally gave me the jolt I needed. It forced me out of that insular cocoon I’d encapsulated myself within and I finally realised that it’s time to get out there, in the real world a little more.

Two and a bit years ago, when I was too scared to leave the house and panic attacks were  a regular occurrence, if you’d have told me that I’d be going away from my children for a week on an 84 mile walk with a bunch of strangers, I would most likely have had a melt down. Back then walking to the end of the street and back filled me with utter terror.

But right now, I kind of feel brand new in an old way. Like the old me is back. The me that loves getting out and about and enjoys the company of friends. The me that wants to laugh until I cry and smile ’til my face hurts.

It took a long time to get here. A Long Time. But now I’m here I don’t want to lose this feeling again. I want to show my children the real me. Not the slightly bruised version they’ve become so accustomed to.

I think I’m ready.

Time and tide, time and tide….

It’s over.

After all the panicking and hullabaloo Hadrian’s Walk is finished, and I’m sad and elated all at once.

Six days, 84 miles and a bunch of amazing people. All from different walks of life and each one an inspiration in their own right.

There were those that made walking 15 miles a day look an absolute breeze, those that rallied the troops and kept the stragglers (like me!) going, those whose constant voice of support got me up and down every hill, and those whose ability to nap in random fields was legendary. Plus of course, there was Dan the Man, our organiser and reluctant leader. Reeeespect dude!

There were tears of pain and tears of laughter. The mood ranged from depression to hilarity and hysteria, within paces.

We walked through some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen. You had to be there to truly understand it’s awesomeness.

We ate together, played together, raised a few glasses and enjoyed a good old belly laugh together. We slept in close proximity in bunks and even snored together. Friendships forged and cemented, at least I hope so!

There were blisters, sprains, bruises, aching limbs, chaffed bits, sunburn and possibly the odd broken finger nail, but somehow we made it. We dragged our weary bodies those 84 miles and have (hopefully) raised our £20,000 target.

So while everyday I woke wondering if I could make it to the end, in the end, we made it. All of us. In one way or another. And for that you all have my admiration. I miss you guys, every single one of you.

But man, it’s so good to be home. The only thing that kept me reasonably upright (bar a couple of mini emotional breakdowns) on the final day, trudging through the wind and rain to Bowness-on-Solway, was the knowledge that at the other end I would find my children and husband waiting for me.

Every step was one step closer to ‘home’.

What an abso-bloody-lutely amazing experience!

I made it through the wilderness….hell yeah!

Fancy a giggle? Then today’s guest poster, Liz from Living with Kids, may just have the medicine you need!

Ewww, the whiff of fromage… what’s your favourite cheesy song?

Much to my family’s horror amusement I have very eclectic taste in music – basically anything goes (except for shoobiewhoobie jazz). So  I’m really not ashamed to admit I love the following track, which is currently on a TV advert (I forget what for). As far as the video goes… I don’t care that the lead singer looks like Bryan May’s less good looking twin brother, the pianist has a dodgy moustache and the plot goes from the schmaltzy to the decidedly weird. It’s just a Good Song.

Come on then, ‘fess up. What’s your favourite cheesy track?

Today’s guest post is from my blogging sister (or Blister if you will) Emily, of Babyrambles fame.

Emily is a very busy Mum of three gorgeous children under the age of five and is a brilliantly funny blogger. Oh and she might just be celebrating a birthday this week…..

When do you start lying about your age?

Thank you very much to Insomniac Mummy for letting me occupy her blog for a day while she’s hiking Hadrian’s Wall for the Joseph Salmon Trust with a number of fellow bloggers. I would have taken part, conveniently sadly it’s too far up north for me.

This week it’s my birthday and I will be 36. I don’t mind people knowing that, I’d like to be a little bit younger but 36 is okay. But am I being too honest here? I’m starting to notice a few friends and acquaintances my age being tight-lipped about how old they are. Should I be doing the same?

I suppose wandering around saying “I’m 36” makes me sound like old ladies who say “I’m 86 you know”. Women seem to be happy to talk about their age until they’re 30 and then remain silent on the matter until they emerge triumphant and elderly at 80. Do I really want to spend 50 years being enigmatic about how old I am?

Maybe I’m honest about my age because I secretly like it if someone says, “Really? You look younger.” I’m happy for the rest of the week then, even though they were probably just being polite.

I’ve also made that mistake of being surprised when someone’s turned out to be younger than I thought. A few times I’ve had to hurriedly hide a shocked expression when someone I thought was 35 has told me they’re 30.

Don’t we get hung up about age? And the media doesn’t help with celebs routinely knocking a few years off their age. I have a friend in the media who is reasonably well-known in her field and she removes three years. She was advised to do it.

I suppose I could get into a lengthy debate about how society perceives older women and name people like Moira Stewart, Selena Scott and Arlene Phillips who were apparently removed from TV for being the wrong side of forty (or fifty). But I won’t.

So maybe the etiquette now is to stay quiet about how old I am and hope people think I’m younger. That’s what everyone else seems to do. I’ll pretend I don’t remember Charles and Di’s wedding or Adam and the Ants. Take That? I was too young to notice them first time round.

Today’s guest poster is Nikki. She is an online marketing professional and does PR for Bingo-reviewer.

Nikki has a two year old son and in her spare time loves cooking. You can find her on Twitter @bingoreviewer

Are you feeling lucky today?

Luck

It’s a big old summer of sport this year! World cup heartbreak, Wimbledon hopes, hot sun, barbeques and a Vuvuzela soundtrack. It comes to my attention that the nation becomes more superstitious at such times. Despite the lacklustre performance against Germany last weekend, we wonder if England’s luck had been different, had that second goal been allowed? We pin our hopes on Andy Murray; we cross our fingers, we may wear a lucky shirt or (in extreme cases), ban an “unlucky” family member from watching an event.

Luck for me however; is a full time consideration. If you already know me from Twitter, you may know that I work for a Bingo website. I work in the online gaming industry and year-round will speak to people and meet people who spend their lives chasing that lucky hand, or praying for that lucky number. In fact – the picture you see above; is of me and Doyle Brunson. Mr. Brunson is (pretty much) the inventor of Texas Hold’em Poker and I was lucky enough to meet him and get a signed copy of his book “My Fifty Greatest Hands” at a conference earlier this year!

Mine and colleagues’ signed books!

Needless to say, that book is now my lucky charm; but what I really wanted to find out, particularly given our summer of international sporting events – is how different countries and cultures have different lucky traditions, objects and superstitions. I decided to ask friends, family and colleagues of different cultures to tell me about luck in their country.

Mary Samuels, Jamaica

Mary was born in St. Elizabeth in the South West of the Island of Jamaica, and left with her parents at the age of thirteen, to make a new life in Britain. Now living in London, Mary travels back to Jamaica every year, and hopes to return to her girlhood home when she retires.

Mary told me so many superstitions and traditions from her Jamaican homeland that there are almost too many to mention, and (as we observed) – all of them are about bad luck and how to avoid it.

“A lot of our superstitions are about brooms, and sweeping” Mary told me,“For instance, you can’t sweep your home after 6 o’ clock, and you need to have a different broom for inside the house. You can’t sweep your kitchen with the same broom you use for the yard, or that will bring very bad luck.”

I was also intrigued by one particular superstition that I’d never heard of before, which is that it is considered the worst of luck, for a young boy to jump over a younger girl’s head. It is said that to do so stunts the growth and development of the young girl in every way; and the only way to reverse the bad luck is for the boy to jump back over the way he came!

Annabel Hodges, Malaysian Chinese

Annabel grew up in Malaysia and is of Chinese origin. Malaysia is a melting pot of Malay, Indian and Chinese people and cultures. So much so, that Annabel told me that you can often tell the heritage of the owner of a building in Malaysia as luck and superstition manifests in very culturally-specific ways. As an example Chinese people believe that the number four is very, very unlucky – whereas conversely the number eight brings the greatest luck.

We’ve all heard the anecdotes about a Chinese businessman paying millions for a license plate reading 888, and of course there is the well known poker brand 888, and 888 Ladies Bingo. Annabel tells me that such stories are not urban myths, but indeed these lucky and unlucky numbers are taken extremely seriously.

“I used to live in a Chinese owned building, and the floors and lift buttons went 1, 2, 3, 3a, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8a, 8b and so on!”

Liva Judic, Madagascar

Born in Madagascar and a true world wanderer – digital media professional Liva had some amazing insights and anecdotes about good and bad luck. Liva told me that a lot of Madagascan superstitions and beliefs are based on animist philosophies, which hold central the belief that the soul exists in both animals as well as humans. It is therefore considered very bad luck to kill a snake. It is also extremely bad luck to give a gift lightly or begrudgingly and in fact, the reluctant giver is said to be at risk of giving birth to snakes!

Liva also told me,

“It is forbidden for children to play with sticks and stones at sundown; as it is at this cooler time in the evening that the spirits of the departed come to wander the earth. Sticks and stones as natural, yet inanimate objects may transition the worlds and poke the spirits in the eye, thus raising their anger.”

In terms of good luck, many Madagascan families keep crystals in the home, which are thought to bring good luck; and children born under a certain moon are said to be lucky for the rest of their lives.

Kun Dang, China

Born in a town called Xining in Qinghai Province North of China, Kun Dang came to the UK in 1989 after his father (he’s a scientist) was invited to the UK to do “science stuff” with UCL.

“I come from a very traditional Chinese family. Mum is housewife and with my dad being a scientist (stereotypical Chinese occupation) I was brought up to study maths, chemistry, physics etc. Imagine his disappointment when I told him I chose a career in Marketing, (with my agency Red or Blue Digital) in hindsight I should of told him I was a parking warden.”

Kun echoed the importance of numerals in Chinese culture that Annabel highlighted previously, expanding on the origin of the lucky significance of the number 8.

“The basic reason for this is the pronunciation for 8 in chinese is “ba”, very similar to the pronunciation of get rich “fa”. Equally, the number 6 is also considered important due to the similarity of its pronunciation with the term used for when things go to plan. “

New Year is a particularly significant time in the Chinese calendar, and there are a number of lucky traditions upheld around this time, such as wearing new clothes, (new clothes, new you!)

“It’s also important to have red in your clothes as red is related to prosperity.”

One of the most significant cultural differences that Kun told me about, when comparing China to the UK, is that the giving of clocks and watches is very unlucky. Whilst we may mark a coming of age or a graduation with the gift of a classic wristwatch, in China,

“You should never give someone a clock or watch for their birthday. It’s considered the clock is like a death clock that ticks your life away!”

So there you have it! Your international guide to conjuring up a little good luck as we spur on our remaining hope for sporting glory! Or if you like to play games of chance, such as bingo – or have the occasional sporting flutter on the National. What have we learned?

Wear red, no housework of an evening, and put it all on number 8!

Above all… stay lucky!

Today’s guest post is from Julia at ‘What will Julia do next?’ Julia is a retired primary school Headteacher and is rediscovering ‘Life After School’.

One Year On!

Hello! My name is Julia & I can usually be found at What Will Julia Do Next? That barmy blogger Eleanor is tramping along Hadrian’s Wall to raise loads of money for the fabulous Joseph Salmon Trust. While she is away I have offered to do a bit of blog-sitting , so that you Dear Reader do not get up to mischief!

In the true ‘sitter’ tradition though I’ve had a look round. It’s really nice here isn’t it? I love the crowns & all the interesting bits you can explore down the sides! Anyway, I’m supposed to entertain you for a while so here’s my post.

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog (hope more of you join that friendly gang!) you will know that this time last year we had our garden ‘made over’. Well what a difference 12 months can make!

I’m not really a gardener but I do like to see some colour in the summer. My hanging baskets are my pride & joy.

Last year I bought them ready made but they are all my own work this year. My other successes are the pots – the grass in the corner has come from Grandad in the New Forest so it has a special corner.

Finally, have a look at ‘The Bed’. This was planted by Jim who certainly knew a thing or two about gardens. Can you see the bird bath? Again, Jim’s influence but we have so many feathered visitors each day.

I do hope you will be able to pop over & see me at my blog but no leaving Eleanor now!! Also, click here & leave some money for a fantastic cause!

I’ve known today’s guest poster, Susie from ‘New Day New Lesson‘, in one way or another, online, for a fair few years now. It would be no exaggeration to say that this lady has a teeny weeny obsession with being organised and will recommend magic sponges and sock locks to anyone who’ll listen.

And who can blame her for wanting to be organised when she works in an Emergency Room in Israel and has five (yes FIVE) children. Enough to make any sane woman twitchy!

Bermuda Triangle

I am beginning to think that maybe my house is really located in the Bermuda Triangle.

In the past I have guest posted about losing my hair and losing my mind. I am beginning to think that I guest post just so I can complain about losing things.

Like I professed in my Vlog, I am so in love with sock-locks yet somehow some members of my family still think it’s okay to dump unclipped socks into the wash bin. Result? I have loads of missing socks.

Where have they gone and disappeared to? Your guess is as good as mine but like I said, I think the Bermuda Triangle theory is starting to gain steam.

Another thing I am at a loss to explain are my disappearing house keys. My front door has a lock that has expensive keys. We had five keys when we put it in four years ago. Now? We are left with two. Who ate them??? Where have they gone?

And then is all the snack food. It seems that there is some unidentified monster who silently devours all of it and leaves no trace. If I ever have the nibbles, I don’t bother looking because I know there will be nothing. (Okay that might be the fault of the 3 teenagers and two younger monsters in my house but still…)

I won’t even start about all the missing documents we can’t find when we need them.

The Bermuda Triangle seems to have started affecting the younger generation as well. I count at least a few times that my two eldest lost their bank or identity cards. And homework, that goes missing all the time.

Maybe it’s time to move? Or maybe we are just a household full of people with ADD.

Do you ever feel like you are living in the Bermuda Triangle?

Image: TRIANGLE © Tim Green | Flickr Creative Commons

This is a sticky post. Scroll down for the most recent entry below.

I’m not here.

I’ll be walking my not so little ass off, with a whole host of fabulous folk, raising lots and lots of cash for The Joseph Salmon Trust.

So, since it wouldn’t be fair to neglect the Cyber Child that is my little blog, this week on Insomniac Mummy I’ve got some fabulous guest posters in to feed and water her and to write you, my wonderful readers, some great posts to keep you entertained in my absence.

There are posts from:

• Susie at New Day, New Lesson
• Emily at Babyrambles
• Nikki from Bingo Reviewer
• Julia at What will Julia do next
• Liz at Living with Kids

While I’m away, trekking across the country, please do pop by to make sure that those fabulous guest bloggers are looking after my baby blog, properly, won’t you?

See you (hopefully in one piece) soon!

Hi there!

You’ve reached the blog of Insomniac Mummy.

I can’t write you a coherent post right now as I’m currently engaged elsewhere, melting and flailing around in the, completely unsuitable for a lady of my fair ‘english rose’ complexion’s, sweltering heat.

If you need to cool down, please feel free to grab a virtual ice lolly (hands off the Mint Feast, it’s mine) and have a browse around the archives, possibly indulging in a bit of classic ‘Hot or not?‘.

In the meantime, if you’d like to leave a message or have any questions to ask me, however random, please type after the tone.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

Just another attempt at sorting out my Technorati Authority!

6Z9KGJN5U7AJ

I’m tired.

It’s shocking I know. It’s often a struggle to string a coherent sentence together and I’ve begun communicating with the husband in a series of grunts and hand gestures.

Nothing new there then.

The thing is, I could really do with not being tired right now. In fact, I actually need to be feeling sprightly and full of the joys of spring. It’s only a week ’til the start of Hadrian’s Walk and, thanks to the blooming Chicken Pox, all my training plans have been scuppered and instead I’ve been living in some sort of scream filled, sleepless and unusually warm purgatory.

I had plans. You know?

The kind of plans that involve getting outdoors in the sunshine and enjoying the summer. The kind that involved training for the walk and the kind that involved getting some bloody sleep. Unfortunately it seems God/The Universe/Jim Bowen had other ideas.

Instead we’ve spent the last few weeks as social pariahs, shut indoors getting more than a tad twitchy. Family are keeping their distance in fear of us causing an apocalyptic pandemic and my children are beginning  think that the Fat Controller, Astro Boy and Chris and Carrie from Cbeebies are their Aunts and Uncles.

The only times I’ve left the house were to go to work and for a stealth picnic under a shaded secluded tree in a large park, just to give the kids a bit of Sunday freedom! I was, as is my luck, punished for my flagrant flouting of the poxy quarantine rules and arrived home with a puffy eyed, sneezing pox ridden Little E. Apparently she has hay fever too.

Bonus.

So this week, while I should be pacing the streets and hills of West Yorkshire in a last ditch effort to get fit, what I’ll actually be doing is coming over all ostrich like and burying my head in the rather too warm sand.

I can do this.

I can do this!

I can do this? Right?

__________________________________________________________________

P.S If you think you can spare a fiver (or more!) I’d love you to sponsor me for Hadrian’s Walk at my Just Giving Page. Every penny helps and will certainly spur me on!

If you want to read more about why we’re doing Hadrian’s Walk then read Dan’s moving post about how The Joseph Salmon Trust helps real people through real tragedy.