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I should probably start by saying that Natalie is a friend, and excellent at PR with 20 years experience. I wasn't going to turn down a review copy of her recently published book, PR School: Your Time To Shine.

Created to appeal to those of us who don't have a degree in Social Media or Business Promotion, Natalie's book is 'A Masterclass in Publicity for You and Your Business', and it's written in language we can all understand, with tips that will help anyone get their product, brand or story out there to the masses.


Throughout the book Natalie includes tips and how-to segments from other people who are successful and confident publicists. There are real life stories and explanations of promotions and activities which worked well, and you see immediately that quality of work and honesty are key.

Last weekend was the 11th BlogOn Conference, at Hotel Football in Manchester. Despite a few major post-op panics hiccups over the past 3 weeks, I made it! It was a bit different for me this time because I couldn't be involved in bag-packing, but with a chair and a table I was still able to join Sim in our usual job checking everyone into the conference.

Bizarrely it didn't rain. This happens only when people visit, to make us look like liars when we say it always rains in Manchester.


The goody bags were all laid out ready, you can see the contents on social media by looking up #blogongoodybags . There's a big team who are there from really early on to help Laura on the day. I felt like a cheat just sitting down at the sign in table.


I spent almost the entire day sitting down, but I got a lift selfie in early. Cleverly I handed Sim my camera - I'm a bit too short to get everyone in unless they all bend down! This was as packed a lift as I was happy with really. My main aim for the whole day was not to be bumped in the belly.

I have taken part in all of the other pre-event BlogOn linky posts, so there can't be a lot left I haven't told you. No going back over the answers and checking I didn't change them...

Share a photograph (a recent one so people can recognise you!). This is pretty recent from a previous BlogOn Conference and I don't think I've changed any in 5 months. I'll probably even be in the same frock... and look just as confused.


What is the best thing about blogging? I can work around my family, even all night if I have to and then sleep....erm... Sleep is for wimps.

What was your dream job when you were growing up? I wanted to teach adults. I did teach adults! I even got to help write a couple of OCN qualifications. I haven't taught since I moved up to Manchester, but I've been busy enough.

Huge high five all round to everyone who came, smiled, laughed and generally had a great time. I think BlogOnX was my favourite one yet, although I didn't get to a single session, missed afternoon break and could sleep for a week. I did make babies giggle, hug people I admire, laugh with many friends and meet loads of the names I have previously only spoken to online. It was a good do.


I took part in the pre-event 'introduce yourself' linky, and although I'm shattered just now, it's been a pleasure to join in with the post-event linky. Please add your posts, it's awesome to see what everyone else thought, especially what you enjoyed and what you took with you.


To kick off, the #PaladoneParty in Heaven - and it lived up to it I thought! Cocktails, games, prizes and excellent company. Cheers to the folk from Paladone for laying it on - and thanks for the win of the infinity light - my lads love it!  It was amazing up there watching day turn to night over Manchester...

It's only a month until BlogOnX - the 10th BlogOn Conference. I'm delighted to still be part of the team helping make it happen, and it looks like being a really special event with some fantastic sessions on everything from photo backdrops to GDPR compliance for bloggers, loads of on-the-day prizes from brands, and of course, the infamous goodie bags...

Traditionally we have a 'get to know you', so here are my answers to the BlogOnX Introduce Yourself Linky...

1. Share a recent photo of yourself.

I'm holding a pot of keyrings I won on the 2p machines - I am easily pleased. PS. I do love Foo - Dave Grohl is genius.

For once and probably only once a genuine recent photo of me, taken on Tuesday on our day out in Blackpool. I'm so proud my partner actually took this photo - for once I have proof I left the house...

I had the dubious honour of writing this Autumn's get-to-know-you linky for #BlogOnXmas 2017, so I should probably be among the first to complete it! As it's the Christmas Jumper Linky, two of my teenagers kindly offered their modelling services...


The linky is open for anyone who is attending BlogOn Conference on 24th September to join in and add their answers, so that we can get to know each other a little beforehand. This isn't my first BlogOn, I've been a regular since 2013 and in fact it's my 4th BlogOn linky - here's my first. All being well I'll be the short blonde one greeting you when you arrive at Hotel Football...

We did it! Yeeay! I've been quiet on the blog because I was incredibly busy helping to prepare for BlogOn Conference at the Museum Of Science and Industry in Manchester, but it's all over for now (4 months until the next one!).


Huge thanks to everyone who attended - I hope you also thought it was friendly and welcoming - as well as hopefully a good laugh. It was awesome to see so many PR's, brands and bloggers in person.

I checked people in with Sim when you arrived, and handed out goody bags at the end, but in between I did manage to take some photos...

A friend of mine today explained on her Facebook page that her family would no longer feature on her blog. She'll continue to talk with authority and be a fabulous advocate in her field, but won't share personal stories. This was at the surprise direct request of her 9 year old.


When your children are little it may not occur to you that you are sharing anything they wouldn't like shared - you may not even know. I think you get away with this scott-free for a shorter period than most people might think.

It seems like it's weeks until Blog On - that's because it is! However the linky is live already so that the attendees who choose to can get to know each other a bit beforehand. When you get to the conference, especially if you arrive solo, finding that person you chatted to online once about your cat's testicles really can break the ice.

Share a recent picture of you (if you are an anonymous blog, a drawing is fine). A recent picture which is a drawing. This is exactly what I look like, but with more wrinkles and flowery Docs - you can spot me by those.


Describe yourself in three words. Just. Keep. Swimming.

Blog On MSI is a blogging conference held in Manchester, and this year for the first time as well as the Spring Blog On, there was a special edition last weekend bringing Christmas to September.

We're very lucky in that we get to hold the conference in the top floor of the brilliant Museum Of Science and Industry - my kids love it there, and they have some amazing events - for anyone visiting Manchester they have a Science Festival running all through half term 20-30 October.

I said beforehand that I was there for the people - and it was the people that made it what it was. The atmosphere was awesome. I did actually speak to more to brands though than ever before too though, and met 3 people I've been speaking to online for over 3 years, as well as the inventor of one of the products I reviewed a few months ago - Simbrix.


Christmas was with us from the start with the gorgeous decoration - and we were met by the person who puts tons of work to make Blog On happen - Alice from Life As Alice Blog. 


Sim and I had a job to do on the check-in desk, but Steph was able to sneak in with us (she'd stayed overnight at my house and it would have been rude to dump her outside by the door in a strange town).

The weekend after next I will be attending BlogOn Conference in Manchester and I have to say I'm not particularly nervous - but knowing a lot of people, helping get the goodie bags packed and this being my 4th (?) BlogOn all helps! Zoe over at MamaGeek will be delivering a session, and she has also very kindly offered to host a 'get to know you' linky. So this is me:

1. Share a recent photo of you (or a doodle!)
Here's one my 8 year old took at Specsavers last week. A rare shot of me with my eyes open!


2. Describe yourself in five words or less
Smiley, friendly, perfectionist, tragic backstory. 

Blog On MSI is a blogging conference held at the Museum Of Science And Industry in Manchester. A local event which means for once in the year we don't all have to take the train down South. In fact this year some people even came up North to join us. We laid on some drizzle especially.


Knowing I was going to Geronimo Children's Festival on the Monday, I chose to avoid the Saturday night get together and I was bright-eyed when I arrived early with Sim, and Karen who was on the sign-in desk. She's having a baby...it's so exciting.