tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48494671069617565862024-02-22T06:37:19.895-08:00On This Day Last YearFlipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-91259994071011852482011-02-01T12:21:00.000-08:002011-04-01T12:28:45.363-07:00A New VentureWhen I went travelling I tried to keep a diary, with notes, pictures, ticket stubs, drawings, musings etc. I remember one entry I wrote, really near the end which just reads: "Lost time living too hard."<br /><br />I remember that whirlwind feeling, of cramming so much in; going, doing, meeting, seeing...<br /><br />My<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIEzIIGIaD7bb7P7ZMSCtkqh6SJgiE3Weasqm9xiOiXdnjdVqEkIBapng2b7SnHLiAZ0z7Gu2k52wdBJZlpr-FfVcRxdoUXm1FiomrErerXNl6zlF4rZkS7mZRfhKt2l80NnSE4wPmkY/s1600/Editors-Letter-0111.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIEzIIGIaD7bb7P7ZMSCtkqh6SJgiE3Weasqm9xiOiXdnjdVqEkIBapng2b7SnHLiAZ0z7Gu2k52wdBJZlpr-FfVcRxdoUXm1FiomrErerXNl6zlF4rZkS7mZRfhKt2l80NnSE4wPmkY/s200/Editors-Letter-0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590699296412870754" border="0" /></a> life today feels like that - like some kind of beautiful chaos.<br /><br />But as a result, I hardly have time to go for a wee let alone sit at my computer and blog.<br /><br />Also, being back at work has lessened my need for a creative lifeline.<br /><br />I'm going to try and keep this up, but in the meantime check out my <a href="http://skyliving.sky.com/celebrity/editors-letter">Editor's Letter</a> for some daily rambilings.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-79813554800215297092011-01-10T12:05:00.000-08:002011-01-10T12:09:06.955-08:00So last night I got to thinking…Ha, you know you wish you were Carrie Bradshaw too. But here's how it went:<br /><br />This time 10 years ago I took my first journalism job in Shanghai. I went to China with the idea of doing a follow up on the Dying Rooms. It was unsuccessful - the orphanage had been moved to an Island off mainland China and it was heavily guarded. My computers got shut down and I had to check in with the police for a while. KO.<br /><br />These days I edit content about Victoria Beckham's style choices and Lady Gaga flashing her butt cheeks. I often wonder how I got here.<br /><br />I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason but also that we choose our paths based on circumstances at the time of decision making. Back in the Big Smoke I was offered two highly incongruous jobs on the same day - one in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and one at a dance organization.<br /><br />I sometimes wonder if in a parallel life, I'm now some kind of diplomat wearing power suits and dealing with foreign policy. But those days at The Place hold a very special place in my heart, and I'm glad I chose to be immersed within such a creative world.<br /><br />And again, the day the I was offered my role at Sky I was also offered the position of Editor of an art magazine based in Chelsea, right around the corner from Christie's and which also housed a newsroom for a yachting mag. In another universe, am I working with painters and art dealers and going to gallery openings every night?Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-13987883030366395692010-12-28T12:23:00.000-08:002011-04-01T11:26:14.291-07:00Christmas Time...... Last year, mistletoe. This year, wine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1redm9BvoZow8w3EzqrFh4Knxm9SmAAGpp7yRdWlitF7azPZ32rquQGq1UQqEhWx4aaY2vYZEDSdZWA18TCPHF_5h_bX3P21j_o5qt6_-CUCHTb6newrE7OPoOzRV_RUMhbcXvQlLr7s/s1600/IMG_9329.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1redm9BvoZow8w3EzqrFh4Knxm9SmAAGpp7yRdWlitF7azPZ32rquQGq1UQqEhWx4aaY2vYZEDSdZWA18TCPHF_5h_bX3P21j_o5qt6_-CUCHTb6newrE7OPoOzRV_RUMhbcXvQlLr7s/s320/IMG_9329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589214787765545954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xNK7k2mLpzg9Hwe21RQ4Ve7PulsJ1y1FKq_cL-kewWEAqezZDlBsK6U9fRk-1xW0xAMyo8RnFU5s7lsBgKW5uYFS1uPqgO3zu2NAPyVqbB1G86GwISHXwX_kkjRt5I1tnugf0ZbYYZc/s1600/IMG_9340.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xNK7k2mLpzg9Hwe21RQ4Ve7PulsJ1y1FKq_cL-kewWEAqezZDlBsK6U9fRk-1xW0xAMyo8RnFU5s7lsBgKW5uYFS1uPqgO3zu2NAPyVqbB1G86GwISHXwX_kkjRt5I1tnugf0ZbYYZc/s320/IMG_9340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589215820728807986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOl4Kg7foavTUavRhuWf_ctRQJJBHAtiUgCoyn0tzfqDqB7OIVbvEOEaldCmASFtlI2Xkt8I-E8TQEosfmXsTp5lZ91KMbIpARD_mXnwAxxy0wgbi0mQ9ps86NO_yOggi1rLWPVQxk-Y/s1600/IMG_9328.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOl4Kg7foavTUavRhuWf_ctRQJJBHAtiUgCoyn0tzfqDqB7OIVbvEOEaldCmASFtlI2Xkt8I-E8TQEosfmXsTp5lZ91KMbIpARD_mXnwAxxy0wgbi0mQ9ps86NO_yOggi1rLWPVQxk-Y/s320/IMG_9328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589217707661447250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzTPpXJY8LfS6yUKln4ergK5Iq-NaIezf8uDnU1Obty9qhUVxLOoY-qllV3L40sjggRI4-BAeuWDLMr0kB9s_DEuPmKFM23KQhXYUvipFgF0cLf-0UBBPfkQ86FveuTwa6r1vQskotYY/s1600/IMG_6398.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzTPpXJY8LfS6yUKln4ergK5Iq-NaIezf8uDnU1Obty9qhUVxLOoY-qllV3L40sjggRI4-BAeuWDLMr0kB9s_DEuPmKFM23KQhXYUvipFgF0cLf-0UBBPfkQ86FveuTwa6r1vQskotYY/s320/IMG_6398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589224904847818322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNEpM5q4HLwOiYd6-WzBjEFXmLkBTmsSQM3SjEaE8H5hO6PyhJjsdNg5CW3ACnoezevgkofIgR3AIgVzHzDIva7OviEMewxD9aInxh7Ou_xHjXJOpn8QT2AJpgCpcgRBEFVJN6i1UCIM/s1600/IMG_7105.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNEpM5q4HLwOiYd6-WzBjEFXmLkBTmsSQM3SjEaE8H5hO6PyhJjsdNg5CW3ACnoezevgkofIgR3AIgVzHzDIva7OviEMewxD9aInxh7Ou_xHjXJOpn8QT2AJpgCpcgRBEFVJN6i1UCIM/s320/IMG_7105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589225740261897586" border="0" /></a>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-10282170808172960492010-12-07T12:19:00.001-08:002011-03-28T12:20:57.499-07:00So Much To Do, So Little Time<span style="font-weight: bold;">TO DO LIST: w/c Dec 7, 2009</span><br /><br /><ul><li>Get time for KR's hearing test at Edgware Hospital</li><li>Book baby massage course</li><li>Get times for Mummy & Me yoga at Triyoga Primrose Hill</li><li>Register birth at Camden Town Hall</li><li>Fill out child benefit form</li><li>Register KR at the doctors</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TO DO LIST: w/c Dec 6, 2010</span><br /><br /><ul><li>Buy Secret Santa present</li><li>Get babysitter for work Xmas party</li><li>Send thank you cards from Kaila-Rose (for her 1st birthday presents)</li><li>Organise press tickets for Cinderella @ Sadler's Wells and The Snowman @ The Peacock </li><li>Organise Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with Robbie</li></ul>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-6076543317655343112010-11-22T12:18:00.000-08:002011-03-28T12:19:36.457-07:00The Reformation ActI remember the weeks of November in 2009 as a blur of midwife visits, trips to the breastfeeding clinic and being utterly unable to be left alone. One evening when The Kiwi threatened to attend a meeting, my hysteria was such that he had to cancel. Hormonal overload like never before.<br /><br />In my 2010 Moleskine the biro inkings are taking their first tentative steps into a re-found social life and a re-formed sense of identity. I never actually went to anything while Kaila-Rose was settling into nursery, but there are press nights, shopping events and evenings with friends, written in alongside big, scribbly question marks. Which says much about my state of mind when I first went back to work.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-59597356287348248032010-11-12T18:00:00.000-08:002011-03-28T11:46:46.759-07:00Picture PerfectI still remember the feeling when I set off for hospital the morning my induction was booked. I felt like I was going on holiday, it was exciting, it was unknown. I remember the ensuing mayhem of four days swerving in and out of labour as the inductions didn't quite kick in as they should, and the drama of the day that Kaila-Rose was born.<br /><br />I remember the smell of her breath after she fed, her warm face fitting into the nook of my shouder and the first time she looked at me with her little blue eyes.<br /><br />All of the gruesome stuff I've forgotten - my brain and my hormones have done me a real turn there.<br /><br />I remember so much from that first year, some things that I can describe, some that I can't. Most were fascinating only to the Kiwi and I and no-one else. How endlessly we discussed napping, feeding and sleeping; how hysterical we found her first spring in the bouncer; how moved to tears by her first smile; how proud of her first step. Stuff that would bore the sh!t out of almost everyone else. Stuff that people only find amazing, joyful and hilarious when it's their own kid.<br /><br />But I wanted to keep a record, a reminder of these precious memories. So, I put together a book called Kaila-Rose's First Year on <a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/">www.photobox.co.uk</a>. Painstaking work it was too - I scoured every pic, from The Kiwi's professional photographs to the snaps taken on my mobile phone. You can design the pages to have up to 9 images on each in a grid format for the bad quality ones (taken for the most part by yours truly), then the better images can fill a whole page.<br /><br />It's a <a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/662683907">pretty perfect picture book</a> if you ask me.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-12319737166911343222010-11-12T13:26:00.000-08:002010-12-29T13:37:54.658-08:00One Year OldOn this day last year:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_tK3cSVwsPPg31Yps8bqLlAVFesydnLQNYkoMxFvleZw58EjMZ3wKuBTQprKleDHvBvGu0F7AnY8KzKHre8yRdbpj-QzXuJnJyX-DEh1LXxZr6DiAB4J1tkds04mYtyDUtiqdx0-k1Y/s1600/IMG_8158.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_tK3cSVwsPPg31Yps8bqLlAVFesydnLQNYkoMxFvleZw58EjMZ3wKuBTQprKleDHvBvGu0F7AnY8KzKHre8yRdbpj-QzXuJnJyX-DEh1LXxZr6DiAB4J1tkds04mYtyDUtiqdx0-k1Y/s320/IMG_8158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556220143959669890" border="0" /></a><br />12 November this year:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau_iCpZnEHbl2P4ZWQ6ODjj5kWXEyHVIheBctweS2D7TWMzQJ-DkcJDEJyBcOFQI0aUntmCJdYUGG5Ns0mBtEIFeBd2S6JPz97KncCsZ5GgX8nPBXtMZ4PXFr6Z0AlROI740qsz031AM/s1600/IMG_6407.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau_iCpZnEHbl2P4ZWQ6ODjj5kWXEyHVIheBctweS2D7TWMzQJ-DkcJDEJyBcOFQI0aUntmCJdYUGG5Ns0mBtEIFeBd2S6JPz97KncCsZ5GgX8nPBXtMZ4PXFr6Z0AlROI740qsz031AM/s320/IMG_6407.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556221159152053778" border="0" /></a>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-72614990223566923572010-11-09T12:16:00.000-08:002011-03-28T12:18:09.243-07:00Pause. Rewind.Monday November 9, 2010: Induction booked at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead (overnight bag packed, new pyjamas bought, newborn outfit ready to rock).<br /><br />Monday November 8 2011: Settling in at Hedon Day Nursery (Kaila-Rose has her own rucksack and a new pair of shoes).Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-76623059010096769222010-11-05T12:49:00.000-07:002010-11-11T12:49:55.233-08:00Back To Work<p>This time last year I was off work and loving it. After a particularly hair-raising overnight stay at the Royal Free, I was advised complete bed rest. So, I took up knitting and watching daytime TV and was so overloaded with some kind of pregnancy chillax hormone that I positively basked in it. I knitted all day, and watched movies in the evening. Except I don’t think I ever saw the end of a film as I fell asleep every night at 8.30pm. Bliss.</p> <p>This week, I’ve been back at work. And I have really enjoyed it. OK, so I might shed a little terry as I head off every morning, but getting back into the office and being invited to the Harry Potter Premiere, the Xmas launch at Harvey Nics and an on-set visit and interview with Will Young has all been quite fun. I know in the early days of Babydom I thought I’d never want to return to this, but to do it 3 days a week will be orright, I rex.</p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-30365238099399152762010-10-23T12:02:00.000-07:002010-11-18T12:02:30.062-08:00Inside & OutThis time last year I used to sing “hips so wide” to the tune of Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie. I couldn’t sleep due to the unbearable weight making my sternum feel like it was going to crack – really annoying as all everyone kept saying was “ooooh, make sure you get your sleep in now!” with knowing winks, that I totally didn’t get at the time. I was kicked pretty hard (no wonder The Midge was walking at 10 months, what with all the womb-house karate practice), and a tiny little upside down bottom pushing up into my diaphragm meant I had to crawl around on all fours after dinner, to create space.<br /><br />Today, the two of us spent the afternoon dancing around to Russian Folk music in Russell Square for the Bloomsbury festival. We ate vegetable fritters together, made funny faces at strangers and laughed at nothing.<br /><br />Tonight before bed, she held out those arms that last year were just bony little elbows poking my insides, put them around my neck and gave me a big hug.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-59045141188729375952010-10-06T12:00:00.000-07:002011-04-01T11:29:23.897-07:00Holiday Heaven<p>We’ve just got back from our first holiday as a family of three in Skye.</p> <p><a href="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_4600.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-653" src="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_4600-300x200.jpg" alt="" height="200" width="300" /></a></p> <p>This time last year The Kiwi and I were on our way home from our Babymoon in Cornwall.</p> <p><a href="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/St-Ives-Beach.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-652" src="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/St-Ives-Beach-300x200.jpg" alt="" height="200" width="300" /></a></p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-34229404594943068722010-09-21T06:24:00.000-07:002011-03-14T13:03:35.578-07:00MentalThis time last year I was 31 weeks pregnant and undergoing vigorous hospital checks for pre-eclampsia. I was practically part of the furniture at the Royal Free's maternity day assesment unit.<br /><br />Today, I have a healthy baby who is almost one year old, has five teeth, has taken her first steps and will only eat from a fork.<br /><br />Mental.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-55931612327461060822010-09-15T04:05:00.000-07:002011-03-14T12:40:46.945-07:00Filthy Fun With Amy WinehouseThis weekend last year there was NOTHING in my diary.<br /><br />L<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv1sX-NntYIHP7NNdNlR8EcHKqSvOIsFC2pzqW_Xh5grcE4hhcI9Rk2VZMwvwpjZiVKMmHKDHTIAjXH4fuDWzTaD3_Ee7v5RF-EYhqNkYA6S6CAUcsEs7h2tftlZaW_-Y-RTuESrz0MA/s1600/Good+Mixer-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv1sX-NntYIHP7NNdNlR8EcHKqSvOIsFC2pzqW_Xh5grcE4hhcI9Rk2VZMwvwpjZiVKMmHKDHTIAjXH4fuDWzTaD3_Ee7v5RF-EYhqNkYA6S6CAUcsEs7h2tftlZaW_-Y-RTuESrz0MA/s320/Good+Mixer-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515984403564227330" border="0" /></a>o and behold, on Friday night, I went out... of my flat... with friends, to an <span style="font-style: italic;">actual</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">social </span>event.<br /><br />There were real life people there! I drank a beer! Take that, me of last year. In your face. (My face… erm…)<br /><br />Anyways, contrary to the boring mc-snoringness of my ’09 empty moleskine page (at 31 weeks pregnant, I probably spent the evening like a beached whale on the sofa watching the tellybox) , I put my heels on and got me down to the Good Mixer for The Millstain’s birthday.<br /><br />Well if you’re going to go out, you might as well do it in one of the filthiest places in the Big Smoke. But I am happy to report that it didn't smell like vomit quite as much as it used to. Also, seems I'm not the only one that's changed. Amy Winehouse's new boobs are really quite nice in the flesh.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-4981762877523198722010-09-12T12:37:00.000-07:002011-03-14T12:37:45.305-07:00Abbreviationsville<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:targetscreensize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This time last year I fell in love with WTF and OMG, and went around pretending to be in Gossip Girl, “ex-oh-ex-oh-ing” everyone in sight. I tried to TTYN whenever I could, in the style of Paris Hilton (in an ironic way, you understand). However I often chastised people for LOL-ing me in txt msgs (don’t know why I didn’t like that one so much, but it really bugged me, and certainly never made me LMAO).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nowadays, I am down pat with a whole other land of lingo – I chat with HHM’s (Happy Hippy Mummies) about EBF-ing (Exclusive Breast Feeding) our LO’s (Little Ones), discuss the antics of our DH’s (Dear Husbands) and ponder the pros and cons of CIO (Crying It Out) and PUPD (Pick Up Put Down).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Above all though, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is probably my most oft’ used abbreviation, from which I frequently suffer serious cases. Nights out are seriously few and far between. OK, so I have only actually attempted it once for one of my bestest buddies. She had a 30<sup>th</sup> birthday bash at her house – I stayed for a few hours but had such serious separation anxiety that I was home by 10.30pm – LO was 8 weeks old at the time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perhaps it’s time I remedied the situation…</span></p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-57679685599207456752010-09-12T04:01:00.002-07:002011-04-01T11:29:42.117-07:00On This Day… 75 Years Ago<p>OK so I’m veering somewhat from the 1 year ago rule, but thought this was worth adding. We recently attended the 75th anniversary celebrations at the <a href="http://www.dlwp.com/">De La Warr Pavilion</a> in the whirling metropolis of Bexhill, home to Nanny Babs and Big Tel the Merciful.</p> <p>They re-created an iconic picture that was printed in the Daily Mirror in 1936:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Bexhill-old.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-640" src="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Bexhill-old-300x207.jpg" alt="" height="207" width="300" /></a></p> <p>And guess who had a starring role? Check out the Mini Moon-Pig and her Nanny in the modern day version:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Bexhill-new.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-641" src="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Bexhill-new-300x200.jpg" alt="" height="200" width="300" /></a></p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-79334476711304030202010-09-12T04:01:00.001-07:002011-04-01T11:38:12.893-07:00Bad Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOFAGFHBU3lCnhrVil0RNlcZnSFD-OWtM0QQB71EmVZtM-IXlXz1M0WiGDfwPr64leVxG2oghWk3tAYpScwOH5NGUAhKB1RTStOTcsu_-uQifESwE5llf0y-VQPhj4LcuJy-lxpXRAlI/s1600/DSC01563.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOFAGFHBU3lCnhrVil0RNlcZnSFD-OWtM0QQB71EmVZtM-IXlXz1M0WiGDfwPr64leVxG2oghWk3tAYpScwOH5NGUAhKB1RTStOTcsu_-uQifESwE5llf0y-VQPhj4LcuJy-lxpXRAlI/s400/DSC01563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590685798847682226" border="0" /></a>Last year, a bad day mainly revolved around not hitting a million unique users on the Sky Showbiz website, or not having enough news content (how rude of Britney to not have another meltdown! How boring of Posh to stay with her husband! How <em>outrageous </em>of Paris to <em>not </em>get off her face and puke in a gutter!). <p>A bad day these days begins with a 5.30am wake up call – a wail, not a chirrup – and entering Il Babbino’s room to find it reeking like an open sewer.</p> <p>It is tripping over The Kiwi’s bike in pursuit of a fresh nappy, getting KR’s babushka door stop covered in bike grease and smashing a new picture frame in the fall.</p> <p>It is giving KR porridge that ends up in her hair, up her nose and on the walls.</p> <p>On a bad day, I give her some bum-airing time, where she wafts around <em>sans </em>nappy, immediately poos on the floor, tries to put her hands in it, and then busts out of her Bumbo when I’m trying to damage control the scene.</p> <p>Or having 99% success in face-catching a standy-uppy, but failing in the 1% when she headbuts the floor.</p> <p>And yet for all the hard stuff there is SO MUCH good. Stuff that is hard to write about without sounding like a smug w@nker – stuff that would give The Kiwi more ammo when he says maternity leave is like a year-long holiday.</p> <p>My bad days these days seem better than my good days in the olden days.</p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-86344950047319100482010-09-12T03:58:00.002-07:002011-04-01T11:29:05.217-07:00All For A Good CauseThis time last year I was usually reporting at celebrity events, not being invited to them.<br /><br />But this week the kind folks at BornFree invited me along to their Celebrity Baby Shower in association with Action for Children.<br /><br />Celeb parents and parents-to-be flocked to the event where they were treated to some amazing gifts from the BornFree ra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZluDuWUYCqRZjEiFc3gOjMcKrTpXE4QCq55zttKt0HMashO9sRcxb1xC9qHrVqIDQkvU-rgoVnwgRZ_28K1qx0qnaxZhw9-cjPsy7fihxKUpqK70Ns8Hy-nh29bbw6S4WVVqxz-F-7W4/s1600/Katie-Colombus-and-Kaila-Rose.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZluDuWUYCqRZjEiFc3gOjMcKrTpXE4QCq55zttKt0HMashO9sRcxb1xC9qHrVqIDQkvU-rgoVnwgRZ_28K1qx0qnaxZhw9-cjPsy7fihxKUpqK70Ns8Hy-nh29bbw6S4WVVqxz-F-7W4/s320/Katie-Colombus-and-Kaila-Rose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683679600508210" border="0" /></a>nge. The likes of Lauren Laverne, TV presenter Giles Vickers Jones, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott Lee, WAG’s Boutique favourite Nicola T, Absolute Radio’s Ben Jones, Emmerdale Actress Danielle Brown and Faye Tozer amongst others, were on hand to indulge in the latest products from the range along with some fantastic kids clothing, super cute children’s bedding and even maternity skincare.<br /><br />In addition, the celebs were on hand to show their support for the charity Action for Children by autographing a gift bag to be auctioned. Guests were invited to get involved with a great cause by producing special pieces of artwork for the charity’s ‘Celebrity Journeys’ auction which invites famous faces to illustrate their professional or emotional life journey, to highlight the difficult life journeys that many youngsters face.<br /><br />Action for Children is a fantastic charity that works in communities across the UK supporting the most vulnerable and neglected children, young people and their families, as they embark upon their own transformational journeys. Founded 140 years ago, Action for Children is one of the UK’s largest children’s charities and works with more than 156,000 children, young people and their families across the UK.<br /><br />* BornFree™ and Action for Children would like to thank the following celeb favoured brands for helping with the exclusive baby shower: Babyface, Cheeks and Cherries, Tantrum, HotMilk, Comvita, Truffle Shuffle, Fabric Flavours, Boo Boo Organics, Alice Apple, Simply Colors, Merino Kids and Cheeky Rascals.<br /><br />For more information on BornFree <a href="http://visit%20www.babybornfree.co.uk">visit www.babybornfree.co.uk</a>. For more information on Action For Children visit <a href="http://www.ActionforChildren.org.uk">www.ActionforChildren.org.uk</a>.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-31005098975588518512010-09-12T03:58:00.001-07:002011-04-01T11:30:34.406-07:00Overheard Conversations<span style="font-weight: bold;">Last year:</span><br /><br />The Kiwi (to the bump, in a weird voice): <span style="font-style: italic;">“Hellooooo. Hello. Hi.”</span><br /><br />To me: <span style="font-style: italic;">“I don’t know what to say.”</span><br /><br />Me: <span style="font-style: italic;">“Just say anything, it doesn’t matter what you say, she won’t understand. It’s just to get her used to your voice.”</span><br /><br />The Kiwi (to the bump, in an even weirder voice): <span style="font-style: italic;">“Hiya. Helloooooooooo. Hi.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This year:</span><br /><br />The Kiwi to Babysaurus Rex: <span style="font-style: italic;">“You have milk breath. I have coffee breath. Together we’re a latte.”</span>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-24617767954038146012010-09-12T03:57:00.002-07:002011-04-01T11:42:10.151-07:00Weaning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65jFsmg9WvYrnkgkMH6FjVP-Y3-ATTnyLN922Dxx3n47ctAWXY5oys3JcGqWDaOxwReKj9L9NNfyA_inc681OIWpqiTh-vxgjyYFCKo0glQdmurxBfQbBtT0a1RN65aJ2h-sBogtayYg/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65jFsmg9WvYrnkgkMH6FjVP-Y3-ATTnyLN922Dxx3n47ctAWXY5oys3JcGqWDaOxwReKj9L9NNfyA_inc681OIWpqiTh-vxgjyYFCKo0glQdmurxBfQbBtT0a1RN65aJ2h-sBogtayYg/s320/IMG_0211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590686971458734194" border="0" /></a>This time last year I was shouting about all the things I wasn’t allowed to do. Being pregnant meant I couldn’t eat salami, soft cheese, mayonnaise or sushi. My rebellion, combined with my immense pregnancy hunger, meant all I wanted to do was scoff the things I wasn’t allowed to scoff. But I never gave in. Despite gasping for a glass of vino, I drank Becks Blue instead. Once, when swinging by Maccy D’s on a particularly Hank Marvin’ day (don’t judge me – pregnancy brain makes you do crazy things) I took a bite of my McChicken Burger, realised it had mayonnaise in it and almost stuck my fingers down my throat for a tactical spew on the north circ, such was my fear.<br /><br />These days my life is all about what Shark Bait will (or will not, as the case may be) get down her gullet. Yes, we are weaning. An aversion to the spoon has resulted in enforced baby-led weaning (sort of, sometimes), and an aversion to a sippy-cup has resulted in drinking (messily) out of open topped tumblers. (The best one so far is the Doidy cup). Anyway, I have some advice (based purely on my experiences with Il Bambino Miglio and not on any real research), that may (or may not) be helpful…<br /><br />1. Avoid weaning for as long as you can. The health guidelines say 6 months – quite apart from digestive systems working well enough, not having to puree everything to a runny pulp, iron stores depleting after 6 months etc etc, it will save your sanity for that little bit longer if you wait<br />2. Don’t sweat it if your little one only likes sweet stuff to begin with – just get a little something in their tummies so that they can learn and experience chewing and swallowing – the taste for savoury comes, miraculously, all by itself<br />3. Get one of those bibs that catches the fall out<br />4. If the Babby doesn’t like being spoon fed, give him/her a bit of banana or a softened mini weetabix to hold and see if they would prefer to do it themselves – then think about baby led weaning<br />5. To minimise the whole ‘Are you cooking baby food yourself’ mayhem (usually asked by smug supermummy types), choose food that will suit you as well as your baby so that you can just mush your dinner for Toots. (*Please note: It’s not always easy to cook babyfood from scratch, so don’t give yourself a hard time about it. Ella’s Kitchen and Organix ranges are super healthy options from the supermarche.) I have some super ace recipes that are right easy to make, cheap for your groceries and tasty too. For example…<br /><br />Recipes that will suit both you and your weaning baby (at 6 months +)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lamb Casserole</span><br /><br />1 tsp oil<br />500g lean diced lamb<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56BWjz9ZoW7DyX9UgN1VW6ex7f7lKSUCfweMdz6yMNpOBJw5xSCvW8jcYcreYRzec70pDS0hE6mLMOqViRSLgjLeZ4BwTJMT2wr8-AGJH8EqyqUnGr969SeujR4h95iIUhQx0UOkO8Hw/s1600/IMG_0208.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56BWjz9ZoW7DyX9UgN1VW6ex7f7lKSUCfweMdz6yMNpOBJw5xSCvW8jcYcreYRzec70pDS0hE6mLMOqViRSLgjLeZ4BwTJMT2wr8-AGJH8EqyqUnGr969SeujR4h95iIUhQx0UOkO8Hw/s200/IMG_0208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590687249982278258" border="0" /></a><br />1 1/2 cups beef or vegetable stock<br />1/4 cup of cauliflower, diced<br />1 small potato, peeled and diced<br />1/4 cup frozen peas<br /><br />1. Heat oil, brown lamb. Add stock, cover and simmer for 30 mins<br />2. Add potatoes, cook for 30 more mins then add cauliflower, cook until veggies are tender<br />3. Add peas, cook for a further few mins<br /><br />Yummsville for Ma and Pa, then mush and go for Il Babbino. Sweet as.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meaty Hotpot</span><br /><br />500g diced beef/lamb casserole meat (beef chuck/blade steak or boneless lamb)<br />420g can baked beans (low salt and sugar)<br />1/2 small swede or sweet potato, peeled and cubed<br />2 carrots, peeled and chopped<br />1 1/4 cups water<br />2 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced<br />1 tsp oil<br /><br />1. In a casserole dish add meat, beans, swede or sweet potato, carrots and onion<br />2. Stir water into mix<br />3. Cover with tin foil and cool at 180 degrees for 1/2 an hour<br />4. Remove from oven, top with sliced potatoes and brush with oil<br />5. Return to the oven, uncovered for 1 hour.<br /><br />How easy is that? Basically just chuck it all in a casserole dish, and shove it in the oven. Serve with seasonal veggies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shepherds Pie</span><br /><br />1 Tbsp oil<br />500g lean beef or lamb mince<br />1 stalk celery, finely chopped<br />6 button mushrooms, sliced<br />1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped<br />1 courgette and/or other seasonal greens, finely chopped<br />2 cups mashed potato<br /><br />1. Brown mince in oil in hot pan<br />2. Stir in veggies, except potato<br />3. Cover and simmer for 15 mins<br />4. Spoon mixture into a pie dish<br />5. Top with mashed potato<br />6. Bake at 180 degrees for 15 mins.<br /><br />This’ll go someway to getting your 5 a day too. Primo, eh?Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-72875564615172684982010-09-12T03:57:00.001-07:002011-04-01T11:52:53.765-07:00Betty Swollocks In My MankiniThis time last year I was on a hen weekend in Center Parcs, celebrating with the aforementioned Naomi-then-Vaisey-now-Burl.<br /><br />The Peanut was about about four months foetal and starting to pop into a little round tummy bulge. I was just out of morning sickness, but still a little exhausted, so not too upset that I wasn’t allowed to bomb down the waterslides or partake in the bowling. I still had a rollocking time, and let me tell you, the hilarity I experienced while watching the girls descend into drunken mayhem was PRICELESS.<br /><br />After a fairly civilised day in the spa and a spot of horse riding for Nay, we trotted off to the restaurant for a bit of nosh. On the way we recognised a fella off of the telly, holidaying with his mates. I would like to say that we played it cool, but Naomi practically pee’d her pants, wavin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RXN3dw3Xw9RWQBXArgFzZ2Gzoz2lUdggAwOm9YtGjNiHzY5WI8LuPit-4yHnEoJ1Y2mCg_hq9CXUs_STSmxKGXb8XlKR_iULdy2b44B1XFVRAOy_f6Wbjq_y5uxbjnNfrknMdVDXHUU/s1600/Naomi%2527s+Hen+Night.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RXN3dw3Xw9RWQBXArgFzZ2Gzoz2lUdggAwOm9YtGjNiHzY5WI8LuPit-4yHnEoJ1Y2mCg_hq9CXUs_STSmxKGXb8XlKR_iULdy2b44B1XFVRAOy_f6Wbjq_y5uxbjnNfrknMdVDXHUU/s320/Naomi%2527s+Hen+Night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590688763436545746" border="0" /></a>g her arms in the air, jumping up and down and shouting in a voice that only dogs can hear: “OMG! He’s my FAVOURITE! That’s so funny he’s in my top five! OMG! Don’t tell Eric! SQUEAL!”<br /><br />Hilariously, we were sat at the table next to them and as such the majority of dares revolved around us whispering furiously, then packing Nay off, her head wrapped in toilet paper as a bridal veil, to ask them to do stupid things. Cue much bonding with Telly-boy.<br /><br />Like the ladies we are, we left TV-boy and his buddies to their beers and headed off for a spot of bowling before retiring to our chalets to carry on the after party. I flaked at around midnight when my poor pregnant eyes could stay open no longer. Dagnammit I should’ve stayed. In the morning the gals were in fits about the arrival of Telly-Boy and his rowdy rabble who turned up at the chalet to crash the hen party. The highlight of the evening came, they told me, when three of them locked themselves in the bathroom and emerged wearing the bikinis that were hanging out to dry. I reeled in horror… “Please tell me none of them wore the green Sea Follie one” I whimpered, only to be presented with photographic evidence of Telly-Boy striking a fetching pose in my very own swimwear, the tie-up bottoms barely containing his meat and two veg. They peaced out fairly quickly after that, but it sure was a hen night to remember!!Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-43456305502954052472010-08-14T12:58:00.000-07:002011-03-14T13:05:05.385-07:00Preened And Not So Perfect<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:targetscreensize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> 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Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Today, while driving to meet Jojo on the Heath I spent most of the journey peeling remnants of baby rice off my cheek. My trousers and t-shirt were covered in it too – either from the fallout from spoon to mouth, or the aftermath from stomach to bib.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There’s something really refreshing about not being waxed and polished; sleek and in heels 110% of the time.</span></p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-36339003476170685332010-07-14T13:06:00.000-07:002011-03-14T13:08:16.332-07:00Getting Ex-Sited<a href="http://www.people.com/">www.people.com</a> has been replaced with <a href="http://www.babycentre.com/">www.babycentre.com</a>, <a href="http://www.asos.com/">www.asos.com</a> with <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mothercare.com">www.mothercare.com</a> and <a href="http://www.skyshowbiz.com/">www.skyshowbiz.com</a> with <a href="http://www.onthisdaylastyear.blogspot.com/">www.onthisdaylastyear.blogspot.com</a>.Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-16554175330323961532010-05-06T11:45:00.001-07:002011-04-01T11:55:11.438-07:00Bright FuturesOne of my most favourite people in the whole world had a beautiful baby girl today. Welcome to the world, little Isabella Burl, to a future full of endless possibilities with your incredible mummy and wonderful daddy. <p>This time last year thinking about the future for me was too much to contemplate. The thought of housing a real, actual person, no matter how small, was enough to send my brain into meltdown. And imagining the task ahead – of expelling said small person out of my body and into the world was just too major to comprehend.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCnTy6TBvykZ5tbeTsrZ3j9ZrWvFykhAVNa60PgisG6-hWgw_LXBFAgF1L_Bgu7_Ltqxpmr2wVoDsLqmHTTwbn-ah0JuZpsRe4N5Hmhn8kIqabta6QEH4UEvxLFRxCU6p85cZDegdRoQ/s1600/IMG_0170.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCnTy6TBvykZ5tbeTsrZ3j9ZrWvFykhAVNa60PgisG6-hWgw_LXBFAgF1L_Bgu7_Ltqxpmr2wVoDsLqmHTTwbn-ah0JuZpsRe4N5Hmhn8kIqabta6QEH4UEvxLFRxCU6p85cZDegdRoQ/s320/IMG_0170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590690604901632402" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This year the future is all I can think about: Weaning, teething, coming off the boob, going back to work, nursery, pottery training, walking, talking, schools… But it doesn’t stop there. My mind runs away with me and before you know it The Baby’s a delinquent teenager and I’m on HRT.</p> <p>Woah Nelly, right? But I just want what’s best for her, as every nervous new parent inevitably does for their first born. And while my future contemplation is magnified by the forthcoming move out of The Big Smoke, I wonder, does it ever stop? Or will my life forever be full of thoughts constantly bouncing two steps ahead of the next?</p> <p>The Moon Pig is thankfully oblivious to such deep thought. All she needs to concentrate on is the next mouthful of mashed banana, or how many dogs we’ll count at the park. Her future’s so bright she needs herself some sunnies. And as long as I can keep it that way, I suppose we’ll be a-OK.</p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-40668180643903023082010-05-06T11:44:00.001-07:002010-05-06T11:44:27.030-07:00What's In A Name?<p>Kaila-Rose Coral Colombus currently has nicknames a-plenty: Babysaurus Rex, Little Lady Norks-a-Lot, Trumpet Bum, Monkey Bum, Splodge, Midget, Moon Pig, Squishfest, Tiny Dancer, Gypsy-Rose and Kiki, to name but a few.</p> <p>But her first ever nickname comes to mind today…</p> <p>On this day last year I thought I was going to lose my baby. I was nervous. I didn’t know what was going on. The receptionist at the doctors told me there were no appointments, and I started to cry. When I told her what was happening she called a doctor who was on her lunch break. The doc saw me, gave me a reference to the Royal Free, and told me to get there immediately. Anyone who’s ever been to the Free knows how much ‘immediately’ can turn into three hours, but within 20 minutes I was being seen by a midwife. On the drive there I tuned into three different radio stations, all of which were playing Pink’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1IE8R-P9o" target="_blank">Please Don’t Leave Me.</a> I sang along with tears burning my cheeks and a pain in my heart that I’d never felt before.</p> <p>That was my first pregnancy scan, and the first time I really realised I was going to be a mother. When, after what seemed like an age, but in reality was only a couple of minutes, I was told there was a heartbeat in my belly, I burst into fresh tears. A whole new world of indescribable feelings swept over me – relief, thankfulness, protectiveness, sureness and love. I looked up at the screen, saw a tiny round blob, and called her Peanut.</p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849467106961756586.post-86805394005784893132010-05-06T11:43:00.000-07:002010-05-06T11:44:06.932-07:00Handbags and Gladrags<p>There was a time when <span style="font-weight: bold;">handbags </span>were most oft used for dancing around. Gone are the days where I could chuck in a lipstick, cash and keys and bowl out the door, ready for a night on the town. I can’t even remember what I didn’t have in <em>mon sac</em> last year, but my-oh-my, it was tiny. Sometimes I even left the house with a clutch purse! Imagine!</p> <p>These days I pretty much need to haul around a suitcase alongside <em>la bebe</em>. We are prepared for every eventuality, from poo stained attire (change of outfit, inc. vests and socks in case of major butt explosions) to ravenous mummy who didn’t have time to eat lunch (granola bar/chocolate buttons). There’s a change purse, real purse, bib, baby wipes, muslins, nappies, sudocrem, toys, teethers, hats, shoes… I could go on. Not even Mary Poppins is prepared as I am these days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">---<br /></p><p>This time last year I was probably starting to pork out a little bit, with the beginnings of life starting to blossom in my uterus. I wasn’t chubby though, and you defo couldn’t tell I was preggers. Up until about this point I had enjoyed being a gym-going, diet-loving size 8.</p> <p>My, oh my, how things have changed. While my booty was beginning to enlarge a year ago, now I have enough junk in my trunk to travel the world. Twice. Baby got back. (Me, that is, not the actual baby. Her flab folds are cute as opposed to repellent). Seriously though, KR, yo’ momas so fat she go to the cinema and sit next to <em>everybody</em>.</p> <p>My hen night dress was a size 6! And while I admit there may have been a little pre-wedding starvation going on, it’s a good story to tell the grandkids ain’t it?</p> <p>I jest. You may be able to tell in my past life that I really cared about things like flat tummies and non-wobblesome bot-bots. Now, I wish I could travel back in time and give that slender, toned biyartch a slap upside the head and tell her to chill out and eat some chocolate. Life’s just too short.</p>Flipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233441685913516432noreply@blogger.com0