Last year was my first visit to Britmums Live. I was scared and it was so huge, but actually, once I got there I found it was pretty darn awesome. Everyone was friendly and lovely, and my only regret is that I didn't get to meet all of the people I'd hoped to meet.


Although I was nervous last year, it doesn't come close to this year. While everyone else is out choosing outfits and fretting about looking okay, I still have a Hernia operation to look forward to this week (please God let it happen this time - 3rd time lucky), so I can't even begin to know what shape my belly is going to be in 3 weeks time. I won't be able to lug a big bag around with me, so if you see someone wearing the same crumpled badly-sized outfit twice, it'll probably be me.

I also have a far more important reason to be nervous. This year I'm not only going as a Blogger, I have been asked to read one of my blog posts in the Bloggers Keynote on Saturday afternoon. 

I can't tell you how proud I am that one of my posts has been chosen for the Bloggers Keynote. I work very hard at my blog, far more hours than a full time paid job would require, and I always give my best. It's a very bittersweet moment for me though, because the post I'll be reading is about Elspeth.

I don't know if I can read it all, but I'll try, and I will have brand new Mum Pippa from Red Rose Mummy standing beside me to take over if I falter, and a sea of lovely people who have been there for me all along in the crowd. I do know what I'll be wearing though, and it'll be the dress Elspeth helped me choose for Britmums last year. She chose well. I'm 2 1/2 stone lighter, but I think it'll still do the job. She blogged herself, she read my blog, and I know she would be proud were she here.

Thanks again to Jen from MyMummy'sPennies for the photo

Last year my sponsor was the fabulous Drumond Park, and this year I have been part sponsored by the PR company who work with Drumond Park, Langshot Communications. Behind Langshot Communications are two awesome ladies who have become good friends over the last couple of years, and I'm very proud to be associated with them. If anyone else wants to sponsor me for the rest of my costs, please get in touch, I'll be more than happy to discuss it with you.

Nerves and all else aside, I am looking forward to Britmums. I am looking forward to thanking lots of the people who have supported us in our darkest times, and collecting some of those hugs I've been promised. I am looking forward to meeting some of the PR's who help make this blog interesting and varied, and I'm looking forward to learning from the speakers and hearing the other bloggers read their posts.

Don't be shy, say hiya.

The Beach Book is one of the latest books to be released by Frances Lincoln Publishers, and will be available to buy from June 4th. Written by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield, it is full of ways for your children to spend their time safely around water.


Whether your water is a river, a lake or an ocean, there are loads of fabulous ideas in this book. Fiona and Jo  have previously had great success with The Stick Book, The Wild City Book and The Wild Weather Book, and I think The Beach Book will be just as popular.

No-one wants to have to tell their innocent, wide-eyed little people anything bad. We don't want to crush a single one of their dreams, but death is our only inevitability and they will encounter it, most likely completely unexpectedly and at a time when you aren't in a good position to have to try and explain it to them.

When their loved one dies your child will exhibit all kinds of unusual behaviour. Every example I give in this post, we have been told is absolutely normal and to be expected, so hopefully it will be helpful and maybe save you asking or worrying yourself.


Children fall into several distinct groups, and you will see that very clearly in their behaviour and what they say:

• Children under 2 will generally not be able to appreciate what has happened. I didn't have children under 2 at the time of our loss, so I won't talk about them in this post. 
• Children between around 2 and 7 will be able to grasp an idea of death and permanence. 
• 7 to 17 year olds will all behave in much the same way, and it is only once they are over this age that they react in the same way as adults. 

When we were first told this we thought it unlikely, but we did see that in our experience at least, it was true.

We were due to be going to the Geronimo Festival last weekend, but unfortunately my hernia operation was cancelled a second time, and it would just have been too much, so we arranged to send a deputation in our place (their review will be coming up in a few days time)...


Missing out on Geronimo meant we could still take advantage of the gorgeous weather, go North to the Lake District and watch my partner's parents take part in a Horse And Pony Event. We don't get to see them very often as they live 200 miles away, so it really was a lovely opportunity.

It's no secret my two young boys love My Little Pony DVD's, we've reviewed a few in the past and they're always popular. The latest release from Hasbro Studios is My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Baby Cakes, and it is in the shops and available on digital download from Monday 25th May.


Baby Cakes cointains 5 episodes from Friendship Is Magic season 2 - Baby Cakes, Hearth's Warming Eve, The Last Roundup, The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 and Read It And Weep. The DVD is suitable for children of all ages, with a Universal rating, and a runtime of 1 hour 45 minutes. If you are lucky, your version will even have free badges!

Interplay have some amazing kits to teach your child as they have fun. Specialising in craft, nature, science and technology kits, we have just reviewed the Electric Stunt Buggy kit and I'm very pleased to say that Interplay have kindly offered another kit as a prize for one of my readers.


 Everything you need in in the box apart from 2 batteries, from the cardboard body and chassis of the vehicle, to the foam wheels and electric motor.

I was given the chance by Interplay to review their electric Stunt Buggy, but at Blog On I found a Giant Hornet kit in my goody bag, and it's awesome, so I'm including that! Both sets are mainly card or thick paper, and the assembly is recommended for children aged 8+.

Interplay are a UK company formed in 1998. They specialise in making craft, nature, technology and science kits for children. All of my older children have had many Interplay kits, they've been a regular feature here since around 2002 - Christmas always brings a few to our house.


The electric Stunt Buggy is from the Technokit range, and will help your child to learn about electronics and scientific principles. Everything except batteries is in the box, including an instruction leaflet.

It 9 months now since we lost Elspeth, and I think this has proven to be in many ways a far easier month, but a couple of very important factors have made it hard work.

My ridiculously huge Hernia has become our main focus at the moment. My planned operation was rearranged 2 days beforehand and I'm now due to go in next week. I've been bumped up to 'urgent' and 'as soon as possible'. I won't lie, it's sore now, and I'm struggling to eat. The weightloss is welcome, but not exactly a healthy way to diet. One of my main daily worries is clothes. The only skirt that's comfortable is dangerously close to wearing through, and maxi dresses are unusual attire for the school run in Manchester in May!

A couple of weeks ago we were sent the LEGO Avengers Quinjet City Chase set 76032 to review. My little boys love the LEGO Avengers, and so this was a very popular delivery! Recommended for age 8-14, the set has 722 pieces and is a slightly more difficult build, with a complex Quinjet that is pretty darn awesome...

Kids Cook French, or 'Les Enfants Cuisinent A La Francaise', is the latest release we've been sent from Quarry Books. Written by Claudine Pepin and illustrated by her father Jacques Pepin (himself a TV personality and world-famous chef), this 96 page book contains 30 French inspired recipes which you can cook together with your children.


Although this book was originally released in the US, unlike some others we've reviewed, the recipes don't contain a list of unusual ingredients, and it is very UK friendly. Measurements are mainly in both metric and imperial units. Each page is repeated in both English and French, making this an excellent tool for learning without even realising....