The Syders

Listography - Top 5 Websites

2012-01-28T18:51:00.000Z

This weeks Listography is our Top 5 websites and I'm guessing most of ours are going to be quite similar. The five I use the most are... 1) Of course number one is blogger... and I use it even more now I have a new photography blog (Mama Syders Photography) where I'm hoping to use to improve my photography skills. 2) Netmums Parent Blogger Network - I love this site for keeping

Living on Less Money - Ways to Save

2012-01-27T11:03:00.000Z

People often ask me how we manage financially since we have 'downshifted' our lives and the answer is quite simple ...We improvise. Most things we do or want in life there is always a cheaper alternative and when I say cheaper I don't mean the quality of the product or experience is less, I just mean in the financial sense. We recycle as much as we can ie; our old bed will

Our Favourite Camping Holiday

2012-01-26T07:50:00.002Z

We have taken the kids camping a few times over the years and the best trip was when we took them to Jersey on the channel Islands back in 2001.We had four kids with us aged 11, 10, 6 and nearly a year old. Our reason for picking Jersey was because back in 1981 Mum took me and three of my Brothers there following her divorce from our Dad. It was very brave of her to take four kids away

The Gallery - My Photography Resolutions

2012-01-25T09:50:00.001Z

I have always loved photography. From as far back as I can remember I would flick through my Mum's old photo's. I loved to see photo's of my Mum and Dad when they were young. Dad wearing his parker and funny hat looking cool sitting on his scooter. Mum looking like a model, fresh faced and beautiful...I hoped I would one day, be just like her. The photo's of my parents are important

Listography - Top 5 Biscuits

2012-01-22T14:58:00.000Z

A nice easy one for this weeks Listography - Our Top 5 Biscuits. 1) McVities Friut Shortcake - Our newest biscuit addiction 2) Jammie Dodgers - These have always been my favourite - Moorish! 3) Bahlsen Choco Leibniz Biscuits - These are for when I'm feeling Flush 4) Oreo's - I just Love these! 5) Jaffa Cakes So what's yours? Linking up to Kate's Listography.

Center Parcs Celebrates 25 Years!

2012-01-22T13:18:00.002Z

It all began in 1987 when Center Parcs revolutionised the UK holiday market by introducing family breaks throughout the year, offering an alternative to the seasonal getaway. As a family we were there practically from the start. May 1988, I was seventeen and engaged to my new boyfriend (Papa Syder) when Mum decided to organise a weekend break away to this really cool new place in

Silent Sunday

2012-01-22T13:11:00.000Z

Getting Organised - Space Saving Tips

2012-01-20T14:29:00.002Z

I like a tidy house but I'm far from obsessive about it. During the summer I'd much rather be out and about than wasting time on the housework. I'm not a person who is tied to it, I have no real routine and I don't freak if something is a bit messy. My house is very 'lived in', as long as it's clean and reasonably tidy then I'm happy. When the house is tidy it does lift my spirits and makes

Reasons to Be Cheerful

2012-01-19T19:47:00.000Z

I've had a good week. As usual I always try my best to overlook any negatives. Its not always easy especially when I have one child unhappy at school and the other wants to move back to Devon. It causes me a lot of stress and worry so I like to concentrate on the good to keep me sane. 1) The week kicked off with a lovely weekend with our Granddaughter. We baked cakes and went for a long

The Gallery - Eyes

2012-01-18T08:06:00.000Z

As soon as I saw this weeks Gallery theme 'Eyes' I instantly thought of my Granddaughter. You see, she has different coloured eyes and they are stunning. It makes her unique. It makes her stand out from the crowd. Our Special Girl. Of course her eyes are not the only thing that makes her special, everything about her does. Linking up to The Gallery

Thomas in Charge DVD Review

2012-01-17T09:55:00.002Z

Thomas is back with a new DVD due for release in the UK next Monday 23rd January. We were lucky enough to have been sent a sneak preview which I very excitedly handed over to my Nephew who absolutely adores Thomas and Friends. My Nephew is twelve, autistic and usually responds really well to Thomas so I knew he would love this. The DVD features four very new and very exciting engine packed

Call The Midwife and Our Poplar Nan

2012-01-16T09:39:00.002Z

Call the Midwife is a BBC TV adaptation of the gripping and heartfelt memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a midwife who worked the poor area's of Poplar in the Eastend of London during the 1950's. This trilogy of memoirs each sold nearly a million copies. Sadly, Jenny passed away last year aged 75 and never got to see her book transformed onto our screens. As I sat and watched the eagerly anticipated

Silent Sunday

2012-01-15T08:51:00.000Z

Eastenders - Simon Wicks Returns

2012-01-14T10:27:00.002Z

One of my Guilty pleasures in life are the soaps. Corrie and Eastenders are the two that I watch. I just can't help myself and I get right into them. I confess I even shout at the screen sometimes. So when I heard that Simon Wicks aka Nick Berry was returning to Eastenders last night I nearly wet myself. Most of us 80's chicks had a bit of a thing for Simon Wicks didn't we. He was cute,

The Sh*t Mum Bloggers Say

2012-01-13T10:11:00.001Z

I had to share this video with you, if you haven't seen it already please take a look. I was cracking up when I watched it. The Sh*t Mom Bloggers Say video was created by Brandi over at Mama Knows it all as a bit of a laugh and c'mon you have to admit we are all guilty of atleast one of these 'bloggerisms' during our time as bloggers.The one I'm most guilty of is driving the kids mad with taking

Reasons to Be Cheerful

2012-01-12T22:27:00.001Z

I'm feeling really positive as I enter 2012. I have lots of plans for this year...not resolutions as I decided not to make those anymore just a few positive changes for the year ahead. 1) I'd really like a craft stall this year so I've been busy making a start on new stock. I've organised my sewing box/area and ordered so nice new fabrics. I'm feeling really excited about it. 2) I've

Cassies Law

2012-01-12T15:58:00.000Z

Should the police have the power to temporarily suspend the driving licences of motorists whom they feel are unfit to drive? Last February sixteen year old Cassie Mcord was walking to college through Colchester town with her friends when a car suddenly mounted the pavement pinning the teenager up against a wall. Sadly she suffered serious head injuries and later died in hospital. (

The Gallery - Phone Photo's

2012-01-11T08:41:00.000Z

This week for the Gallery, Tara has asked us to dig deep for our phone photo's. I rarely use my phone for photo's, in fact I never do so I had to really search high & low until I found a few from 2004. I remember quickly taking them with my then new phone as we were leaving for school one morning. My girls were aged 9 & 4...they are now 16 & 11yrs old and will probably go mad when they

Listography - Five Bests

2012-01-07T20:56:00.000Z

This week Kate is asking for our five bests and here are mine... 1) My Best Friend - Is my Hubby. I met him for the first time in 1987 and by March 88 we were the best of friends. We instantly clicked and have been best friends ever since. My world is a very lonely place when he isn't next to me. People used to tell us that we had an unhealthy relationship because we spent so much time

Listography - Top 5 Photos of 2011

2012-01-03T12:41:00.000Z

This weeks Listography was a really difficult one for me because as photography is a hobby of mine I have thousands from 2011 to choose from so to just pick five from all of them was a task indeed. So after much mind changing here are five of my favourites. 1) I love this one of our Boxer Luna, the bright green and yellow bring this photo together beautifully. 2) Living on a river I

Silent Sunday

2012-01-01T11:17:00.000Z

Oh My, What a year!

2011-12-31T11:14:00.000Z

Wow...What a year it has been for The Syders! So much has changed, we have had a busy year of concerts, red carpets, days out, BBQ's, long summer walks, new friendships and holidays. However, we have also suffered some heartache as we lost our Nan in September. To be honest we have had more highs than lows and I always try to focus more on the positives. My eldest Brother emigrated to Canada

My Christmas Swap Parcels

2011-12-29T12:41:00.000Z

I took part in two parcel swaps this year. The first one is The bloggers Secret Santa hosted by t*rexes and tiaras. I was so excited when I received my beautifully wrapped parcel (all hand printed) that I struggled to contain myself. Inside the parcel was a gorgeous vintage jug filled with choccy and a fabulous handmade Christmas card. Whoever my Secret Santa was Thank you so much, you

Christmas with The Syders

2011-12-27T19:06:00.000Z

We have had a wonderful Christmas this year. We have baked, crocheted, shopped, wrapped, laughed, cried, sang, danced and laughed some more. We watched all the soaps, good game shows and magical movies on TV. We partied, and our sides ached as we laughed the following morning as we recalled the previous nights events. We had guests and we were guests. It was exhausting and exhilating and it

The Gallery - Christmas Past

2011-12-24T12:45:00.001Z

Christmas past is a strange one for me, its full to the brim of Happy memories but it also reminds me of the people who are no longer with us. My Mum, Aunt Toot, My Grandparents and my Nan who we recently lost in September. (Aunt Toot, Auntie Margaret, Nan & my Youngest Brother) Nan, Grandad & Aunt Toot spent every Christmas with us up until we lost Aunt Toot, Grandad then Mum.