Category: #Littleloves

Oops a little late with this week’s Little Loves as we tried to eek every last second out of half term.  We had a really nice week, I like how this half term is a more laid back holiday with none of the big celebrations of other holidays.  As Mr S was working away for the first part of the week we went to stay with my parents and then did some family things with Mr S in the second part of the week.  Mr S was really quite poorly so our planned trip to Portsmouth was postponed and replaced with local trips, a visit to the new indoor skate park which the children loved and a train journey, which is treat in itself, to another town to wander around and catch the new Lego Batman film.

READ

 

I have been reading The Life Project by Helen Pearson, its a non fiction book about cohort studies of children born in a certain week and the impact the results of the simple questionnaires have consequently had on health and education in the UK.   This may sound a bit dry but its an interesting and fascinating read about what factors determine success in life.  Some of it is sadly depressing, the vicious cycle of poverty but it also highlights the positives of good parenting, good education and good health services. A thoughtful and powerful read.

WATCHED

Call the Midwife was a heart breaking watch for me this week, as someone who has lost a baby in pregnancy and adopted, the two themes of the episode I was in bits by the end and sobbing my heart out.  As is always done in the programme the issues were handled sensitively.

We went to see the new Lego film Batman this week.  I know the reviews are good but I did find it a bit dull, there were some witty parts but its an action film, albeit in animation and its not my favourite genre.  However, Mr S and Little Man loved the film.

MADE

I know its bit of a cliché but this week was about making memories especially with my family.  With my parents, we had walks along the beach, trips to the café, swimming and a fantastic morning in Bristol at the Clifton Observatory.  Despite growing up in Bristol we had never visited it before.  It is a tower to climb to use the camera obscura, you twist the handle and a reflection of the outside is projected onto a screen inside, it doesn’t look real simply a picture until you look closely and see the cars driving across the suspension bridge. In the same building you descend over 130 steps and end up in a cave in the Avon gorge, there are two different explanations for it.  It is a Roman chapel or the home of two Bristolian giants.  The tower is a great visit and after we walked along the Suspension bridge to go to the new visitor centre, it was a great venue for the children where they got to learn all about bridges and to build them too!

WORE

The milder weather meant it was skinny jeans with fewer layers, a nice feeling that Spring may be on its way!

My parents also bought me these slippers from their recent trip to Marrakesh, the children find them hilarious, Mummy’s pink elf shoes!  They are remarkably comfortable though.

HEARD

Staying with mum and dad I got all the news on family and old friends.  Its funny how life turns out, real life is so much better than any soap opera!

AND FINALLY

Half term is over now and its back to work this week.  I’ve enjoyed the break and its a nice time of year to be looking forward to, Springtime is coming.

Many thanks to Morgana for creating this linkie

I think for the first time ever, I didn’t write a Little Loves / Sparkles post last week.  I normally write it on a Friday but was so shocked, sad and angry by the EU referendum result that I simply didn’t have the spirit to write a light and positive post.  The EU referendum has dominated my week again this week, it’s unbelievable how events have and are developing, however there have been other things in my life this week to share.

READ

It’s fair to say that much of my reading has been commentary and analysis of the EU referendum.  However even I needed light relief this week and bought Vogue magazine to distract me.  It’s not a magazine I usually buy but I just liked the front cover, Renee Zwellegger’s relaxed pose and pretty dress, sold it to me.  I’ve dipped in and out of the magazine this week and am enjoying it although I don’t think it’ll become a monthly purchase.

WATCHED

On Monday I watched England crash out of Europe for the second time in a week.  England were so poor that I wasn’t as disappointed as I could have been with the football result.  The best thing this season has been the success of small, unfancied teams who develop team work, train hard and have a desire to succeed.

There’s a sporty theme to my watches as I have also watched the children participate in Sports day. Fortunately school sports day fell on one of my non working days so Mr S and I went together to cheer the children on.  It was really useful to be a duo as the children are in different key stages and were doing events at opposite ends of the field, by splitting up we got to see everything the children did.  My very special moment was seeing Little Man win the obstacle race. This is simply not a boast but a story of how much progress he has made over the years.  When we were approached to adopt Little Man, we had to speak to a paediatrician first to understand the challenges he might face.  At the time his physical development was delayed and at one year’s old he could barely sit up and was unable to crawl.  Through hard work and his determination, Little Man now has all the physical skills appropriate to his age .  His first place in the race today was a little bit special knowing the challenges he has overcome and simply remembering the little baby who came to us so fragile and weak and who has now developed into a strong, healthy boy.

MADE

The end of term is approaching so I made some Etsy orders for teacher gifts.  It has been very easy, I found some lovely shops, the gifts have already arrived and I’m really pleased with them.

WORE

Its been a very busy week and I have been doing a lot of Mummy duties.  As some of these have been special activities, I’ve made more of an effort with my outfits and have tried to dress stylishly, with nice clothes, accessories and make up.  It has felt good to make the effort.

HEARD

No new music to report on this week, as I have been listening to the radio to catch up with the news as so much seems to happen daily.  I heard the resignation speeches from Cameron and Hodgson on the radio,  both were dignified and honest and I respect both for their decisions. Next week, I do need to find some new music, something completely  different to my normal tastes to awaken my creativity and shake me from this Euro gloom.

AND FINALLY

I’ve found this week tough in the light of the referendum result, I am a naturally positive and calm person but the result has shaken my beliefs and values.  This week it seems that I’m mourning a future and opportunities that I hoped my children would inherit and feeling at a loss at a Britain where fear and hatred appear prevalent. It has been good to read from fellow bloggers and tweeters to know that I’m not alone in my thoughts, it’s up to us to teach respect and share our values with our future generations.

I’m linking up again with the lovely Morgana at http//:coffeeworksleeprepeat.com for #littleloves and all her lovely contributors.

In a truly horrific week when I have despaired at the cruelty, ignorance and hatred in the world, I did question writing Little Loves. I’m writing it because my listen of the week is the most inspiring podcast you will probably ever hear, a bold assertion but I promise  a listen will remind you of the best in humanity.  However before I get to it here are my other loves of the week.

READ

I did start reading Lisa Jewell’s The Girls. I’ve really enjoyed  Jewell’s previous work but the subject matter is just a bit too dark and sinister to read at present and I’ve put it back on the shelf. When life is so brutal, I need my reading to be something different.

I’ve also been reading David Walliams’ Worlds Worst Children at bedtime.  Its a beautiful hardback book with wonderful illustrations, quirky font and quality paper. I rarely buy hardbacks but got it at a very good price and the quality does show.  The children are loving the book and are not just reading it at bedtime but are looking through it during the day, choosing a tale for the night.  Walliams is a fantastic storyteller with a definite nod to Roald Dahl.

WATCHED

I love football and have watched it since a child.  For years I had a season ticket at my local league club so the Euros are a big treat, so much football on all day and I’ve watched lots of the matches. However I haven’t had the joyous feeling I normally do watching the football as there have been ugly scenes of violence and intimidation. This is not football and after recovering from the dark days of hooliganism I only hope that its not returning.

On a more positive note, on Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of watching the local primary schools present a concert of their musical talents.  The children were incredibly gifted and it was delightful to watch.  Little Miss was in the recorder group and also sang in the choir. The choirs sang such uplifting songs that you left happy and refreshed.

MADE

Tomorrow we’re off to Longleat for the weekend, we have two day tickets as there is so much to do on the estate. We’re taking a picnic for Saturday so my make this week is making a menu.  Such a special venue merits a special picnic so I’ve planned salads, mini Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, dips, fruit slices, fancy drinks. It’s the little things which help life sparkle.

WORN

Cardigans, come on Summer you tease us with a few nice days and then disappear again, please can we start summer now.

LISTEN

http://bbc.in/25rHHEA

The purpose of this post is to highlight the amazing Desert Island Discs broadcast from David Nott, a surgeon who works in three London hospitals and then takes sabbaticals to work in war zones.  It is remarkable, do a Twitter search for David Nott Desert Island Discs and read the comments, the programme really is that good and for someone who listens every week, it’s my favourite ever DID. I normally listen to the Desert Island discs on my Saturday run as it helps a gentle start to the day. This programme stopped me in my tracks and I cried at several times.  Even if you don’t listen to all the podcast, the story of the little girl at 23 mins had me sobbing so hard that I couldn’t stop thinking about her and the bravery and kindness David Nott had shown.  I never do anything like this but when I got home, I found the details of his charity and made a donation. In such an awful, despairing week I promise that this listen will leave you crying but full of admiration for such a humble, inspiring and courageous man. He is my beacon of light in a dark, dark week.

AND LASTLY

Words fail me this week, the attack on a gay nightclub which killed 50, the far right ultra hooligans at Euro16 and then the murder of the mp, Jo Cox.  What has become of us?  I have been doing lots of thinking and don’t have the answers but the events make me determined not to be scared by such evil acts but to do all I can to stand up for my values and show there is lots of love and respect in our society.

I’m linking up with Morgana and her lovely contributors for this week’s Litle Loves http://coffeeworksleeprepeat.com

This has been half term week and we’ve enjoyed a lovely family break to Butlins in Bognor Regis.  I will write a post soon on our stay as I love Butlins, but as soon as we arrived I felt a sense of contentment and excitement that stayed with me throughout our week.  There have been many loves this week but here are a few favourites….

READ

Caitlin Moran’s column in the Saturday Times was a brilliant article on nurturing and supporting teenage girls.  It was stunning and is a must read.  It is the second article of hers I have torn from the magazine and kept for Little Miss in her teenage years, she so eloquently puts into words the things teenage girls need to understand and embrace.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/caitlin-moran-compliments-are-good-for-you-vk95lbjg9

As its been holiday week I’ve also found the time to read two books (does a little reading dance!!)  The first was a fun, unputdownable read, Jane Fallon’s Strictly Between Us.  As the producer of two of my favourite programmes, This Life and Teachers, her pedigree is top class and the book didn’t disappoint. As you can guess from the picture I read this in the garden and at the park whilst the children played. I thought photographing the books mainly where I read them might be fun and quite revealing of my habits. The second photo is taken on a bench by the soft play area at Butlins which was a favourite haunt this week. Whilst The Last Act of Love doesn’t have the frivolity of my first read it is an incredible story about a family’s love of their son and brother who is in a permanent vegetative state following a hit and run accident. Whilst this might not sound the most appealing storyline, it is a very powerful true story of love which leads the reader to develop such respect and care for the family and despite its theme it is a life affirming and uplifting read.

WATCHED

Butlins does fantastic shows and this week we have watched a variety.  The children love the Skyline Gang, Butlins gang of characters so we watched their shows, full of songs, dances and laughter.  We also saw a few shows with well known children’s characters although I noticed that the children are growing out of some of their childhood heroes now, the passing of time can be a little sad. In the Discovery Animals show, Little Miss got to go on stage and stroke a skunk, she loved it and the show with its 4 d effects was great too.  However, my favourite was Dick and Dom, a live show full of mad cap games, dancing, mayhem and foam pies, what’s not to love?  I have a terrific photo of Little Miss covered in foam at the finale with such a huge grin, priceless.

MADE

As we have been away, there are no culinary makes.  However we have been getting creative with @jenniemaizels Half Term list, a great quiet activity to put some calm and peace into the day.  We have been making a collage of tickets, postcards etc.. and have also drawn the view from our hotel room which was a beautiful array of trees.

WORE

 

I am quite small and for years have been searching for a maxi skirt to fit, this year I have found two, a dress from Next and a skirt from Fat Face.  I love them, the material in both is so comfy and I have been able to dress them up and down this week and also layer them in the mixed weather.  Its really nice to be wearing something different from my usual ‘uniform’ of leggings with tunics and mini skirts.

HEARD

As detailed in this post from last year,

https://seasidesparkles.net/2015/05/19/mix-tape/

I do love a play list, so this week we’ve been singing and dancing to our Butlins playlist including Fight Song, Love Yourself, I Really Like You, Born this Way, Can we Dance, Shake it Off etc..  There is something special leaving in the car and putting your chosen music on, it all helps build up the excitement and then playing the music in the evenings as you dress up just adds to the occasion. Music is a big part of my life and I like to create the soundtrack of my life.

AND LASTLY

So the half term holiday is nearly finished but we have so much to look forward to this summer.  I’m really excited by our plans for the next few months and all the fun and surprises to spring on the children. To ensure all goes smoothly there is a lot of organising to do this week, but I like planning and list making so will be in my element.

I’m linking up with Morgana at http://coffeeworksleeprepeat.com and all the other fantastic bloggers for this week’s #LittleLoves.

 

Deep breath time, I’m actually live and writing in a real life linkie! It’s scary and I’m a little nervous but here are my first tentative steps.

Little Loves is my favourite linkie, I’ve been following it for ages and Little Sparkles was my personal attempt to note down my favourite things of each week. I was just a little shy to join in the real linkie. Each week, I’ve been quietly noting down recommendations from Little Loves and it’s taken me to so many wonderful things I wouldn’t have read, listened to, watched, worn or made otherwise so thank you to the lovely contributors. Here are my #Littleloves for the week.

READ

My first read is a post which really struck me this week, from one of my favourite blogs, Life as Our Little Family, all about change.

I love Kerri-Ann’s style and she often has me nodding in agreement. I love the theme in this post that we can’t always make the huge life changing decisions but sometimes just making a change can have so many positive effects. Kerri-Ann has definitely inspired me this week.

I am finally coming to the end of Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop. It’s been one of those lovely books which is a slow and gentle read as you immerse yourself in the beauty of the prose. As most of the book is set on a canal boat trip, the pace seems appropriate. I love the idea that the boat, normally moored in Paris is a ‘literary apothecary’ and that the bookseller, Jean listens to his customers and prescribes books.  It is also a story of lost love and souls, with three men as the main characters which make it an interesting perspective to read from.

I am also reading Stig of The Dump at bedtime with Little Miss as it seemed a good fit with her Stone Age school topic. It’s a bit more delinquent that I remember, smoking, crashing cars, a fox hunt, but is a fun read with a few pieces of advice thrown in from me to counter what the characters get up to!

WATCHED

Monday is my busiest day of the week, so I’m delighted the Great British Sewing Bee is back on at 9pm, perfect timing for me to collapse onto the sofa and be inspired. I was quite taken with the children’s capes this week.

MADE

Mr S and I have been making lots of plans this week, we booked a weekend away for June and bought tickets for an outdoor event in July. I love when the calendar is brimming with fab things to do and living at the seaside the summer is a really special time with lots going on.

I have also been making dens this week, which seems to be the favoured play idea. I was proud of my den building when little Man had his friend round to play, but rather than getting to play inside it I ended up having to play the scary monster prowling outside, cue lots of laughter from the boys but I think I earnt a few bonus mummy points.

WORE

I wore new make up this week, as I did one of my rare trips to ‘big’ town and pottered around the beauty counters of the department stores. Sadly as I’m getting older my natural make up look is needing a little more specialist help to be achieved.

HEARD

I was in the car with the children and heard Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus. The memories came flooding back of a school trip to France with a coach load of teenagers and the constant playing of that song and Atomic Kitten’s Whole Again. It was one of the best school trips ever, so in homage to my ex students, I sang loudly and tried to explain to the children what a teenage dirtbag is.

AND LASTLY

Half term starts today for the children and we’re off to Butlins for the week, we’re all very excited as it is one of our favourite places to visit and we have so many happy memories of previous stays, here’s to a week of splashing, playing and laughter together. Happy half term.

I’m linking up for the first time with Morgana at http://coffeeworksleeprepeat.com and all the other fantastic bloggers for this week’s #LittleLoves.

http://coffeeworksleeprepeat.com/category/little-loves/littleloves2016/