In Honour of the Big Day...

... I give you some rarely seen photos of my wedding. Rarely seen as there are very few images of me even floating around the Internet or this blog...

In Honour of the Big Day...

My Dirty Secret

My brain tells me I am a Republican, my actions are those of a Republican, long live the Revolution! So why have I just spent hard earned cash on a Ladybird book about Kate and William for the kids? Why am I fascinated by Catherine and her seemingly un-nerving, steely determination to bag herself a prince? Why is it that I can't wait to see the wedding dress of the decade? Why is it that I am excited about it all and disappointed that we are not having a street party? Why is it that at the first opportunity I get I shall be racing along to downtown St Albans to our newly opened Poundland to make purchases of tat which will spend longer in landfill than they did to produce? Why did I just watch an entire programme about the happy couple (the second in as many weeks)? Why, why, why?

It's Charles and Diana's fault, that's why. I was six when they got married, my parents got me the Ladybird books about them which I still have and also the official wedding souvenir book. They bought an appropriate table cloth and set up a little table for myself and my sister, with little flags to wave. I felt so excited, to see a real princess and a real prince get married. Diana was so pretty, I had my haircut just like her. I remember when William and Harry were born. They were sort of notable historic moments, of course I remember Thatcher, strikes and so on, but my fondest historic memories are royal.

I want to know what songs they play at the wedding breakfast, I want to know what they will eat. I want to know all about the significance of the flowers, the gifts, who the bridesmaids will be and I REALLY want to see the YouTube of Harrys best man speech. Now wouldn't that be something.

I feel totally aggrieved at the guest list; fancy inviting the Beckhams and not Fergie or Obama. The shame of inviting all those Arab dictators who think nothing of spending hundreds of pounds on one course of a meal at a restaurant whilst thousands of their countrymen die in poverty. And the expenditure of it all, whilst all around people are losing their jobs, not getting appropriate medical treatment or the education they deserve.

Forgive me, for I feel dirty, but this Friday I shall be glued to the television, analysing every last detail. I shall encourage the kids to revel in the moment and do my best to provide them with memories. Then on Saturday I shall buy all the newspapers and probably do the same on Sunday. The Shame.

My Dirty Secret

Another Q & A Session

I have to admit it has been years since I have done a Q & A meme and so I was secretly thrilled to be tagged by Sally at Who's the Mummy for this one. Not least, because I have recently lost a bit of blogging inspiration...

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

I’m a fan of anyone who does anything selfless which means I admire an awful lot of people. I was inspired by the work of Jane Goodall at university and I still admire what she has done in terms of research and conservation and if there is one person who I would like to meet it would be her.

When were you happiest?

I have had moments of extreme happiness throughout my life; there are a few highlights such during the early 1990's when I went to loads of gigs and was at university, during the early 2000's when myself and the husband were dating and of course, anytime when I am on a beach in Norfolk and Dorset.

What was your most embarrassing moment? 

There have been many slipping over with a bowl of custard at school is a particular highlight...

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

Apart from furniture and a car probably my electric Fender guitar.

What is your most treasured possession?

My children and my engagement ring.

Where would you like to live?

North Norfolk. 

What’s your favourite smell?

Freshly baked bread or that special seasidey smell.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Cameron Diaz

What is your favourite book?

I loved reading The Sword and the Circle by Rosemary Sutcliffe. I don't have time to read many books now though, so when I do they all end up being my latest favourite...

What is your most unappealing habit?

Like Sally I can be unbelievably competitive, however I would think that the husband would tell you its the fact that I am a pathological hoarder who never wastes anything. This has created a space issue in our house.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

Wonder Woman or The Bride from Kill Bill

What is your earliest memory?

Seeing my little sister for the first time

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Chocolate

What do you owe your parents?

Everything

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

No-one, I try to treat people as I would like to be treated.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband and my children

What does love feel like?

Wholesome, all embracing and happy.

What was the best kiss of your life?

Probably the one myself and the husband had when we returned home after we had just got married.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I have stock phrases these include 'oh, no were are late again', 'fab', 'I’m just so tired' and 'right'

What is the worst job you’ve done?

This is quite a hard one because I have had moments in all my jobs. Excavating half preserved skeletons springs to mind as that was a bit disturbing. The other disturbing job was probably working as a barmaid in the pub where I had to fend off middle aged men at every turn.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

I would probably make a different career choice as I would quite like to be rich.

What is the closest you’ve come to death?

When I saw myself in my hospital bed from above after I had been admitted with pneumonia/ flu whilst 8 months and 2 weeks pregnant...

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Passing my driving test and being for a short while the youngest museum Collections Manager in the UK. Some people even thought I might be on a fast track for career success and national museum directorships. How I look back and sob, laugh.

When did you last cry, and why?

It was probably over my work, can't remember when though.

How do you relax? 

I don’t, I have two modes: on and off

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

The money to live where I want and do what I want.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Take every opportunity that is presented and have no regrets.

I am not a fan of passing memes onto people but I would quite like to read what the following people have to say (but feel free to join in if you want to);  Mrs C, Daddacool and Medicore Mum

Another Q & A Session

Recipe: Club Penguin Puffle Cakes or Easter Nests

A puffle nest isn't just for Easter you know, which is probably just as well, because I got sent all the recipe ingredients to make a Club Penguin Easter Puffle Nest and then promptly went away having adventures. This Easter morning I thought it would be a lovely thing for my Club Penguin crazed four year old, who wanders around with a puffle attached to him at all times. Quite honestly though, I think that these little cakes are absolutely perfect for parties. I wish I had known how to make them before Boys 4th birthday party...

They are exceptionally quick and easy to make:


For the nests: (this will make 24)

• 300 g cooking chocolate
• 120 g Rice Crispies

All you need to do is melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water and mix it with the rice crispies. Then divide the mixture into some cake cases which you have placed into one of those cupcake baking trays (this is purely so they hold their round shape).

To make the Puffles

• Regal Ready to Roll Icing (coloured and white)
• Black Icing Pen

Roll the icing into appropriately sized balls depending on what size puffles you want to make. Then take your kitchen scissors and snip the top of them to re-create the puffle hair. For the eyes, roll the white icing into tiny little balls and squash them flat. All you need to do to stick the eyes onto the puffles is to use a bit of water (I used a paintbrush to make sure I didn't use too much water). You can then use the icing pen to draw the eyes and mouth onto your puffle. If you are feeling adventurous you could try and recreate individual puffles as they all have different expressions.

Recipe: Club Penguin Puffle Cakes or Easter Nests

The Goodyear Blimp, Road Safety and Being Brave!

 An email came through; would my family like to go on the Goodyear Blimp? Now I have to say, this has to be the most unusual offer I have ever had, normally it's all about testing nappies and the occasional toy. Suffice to say, I jumped at the opportunity and even though I am actually a bit scared of flying, I put that out of my mind and we all worked ourselves up into a frenzy of excitement over the course of a week.

I know you are all wondering why I got asked on this amazing adventure (through gritted teeth probably).Well, this is a return to Europe for the Goodyear Blimp its been twelve years since it graced our skies and there is a very good reason. In the United Kingdom the Goodyear Safety Tour aims to bring road safety to life.  Surveys on the tour will raise awareness of the Highway Code, in particular linking it to the importance of checking tread depths and pressures. In October, Goodyear will run a set of Road Safety Days teaching participants about safer driving – overlooked by the guiding presence of the blimp ‘Spirit of Safety I'.

Boy was very brave

Goodyear commissioned a survey of 5,000 motorists, it showed a large percentage failed to correctly answer a number of general knowledge and picture questions covering The Highway Code.Most worryingly 54% of drivers did not know to stop when a traffic light shone its red and amber lights together.  48% of those surveyed also didn’t know that the typical stopping distance for a car driving at 50mph is  53 metres or 13 car lengths.  Nearly a fifth thought they could get away with 36 metres.

When asked what the no-overtaking road sign meant, a worrying 23% got it wrong and over 75% assumed that the 30mph minimum speed sign actually indicated the maximum speed allowed.  However, while the results showed many drivers were out of touch with the road rules, 95% are under the illusion that their understanding of The Highway Code is either adequate or good and over 40% don’t believe that drivers should be re-tested. I must say I did find all these stats shocking and it explains a lot.

Goodyear are, as we all know, a tyre manufacturer, but in 1911 they started to produced airship envelopes in order to demonstrate their rubber, hence their iconic blimp. The blimp is a brilliant inspirational icon and I feel genuinely chuffed to have been able to go on it. Talk about the chance of a lifetime and I wonder if boy is the youngest person ever to go on it at just 4 years and a few days. It's an experience that money can't buy, you need to be invited on it for a ride, so I think this one wins the prize for being best ever blogging freebie. However you can nominate someone for a ride on it and find loads more information on the Goodyear Blimp website.

The View from Inside

I hope I have got across here how amazing the experience of travelling by airship was, I am thrilled that the Boy got the chance to go on it and I hope that in years to come he will be able to remember it. I overcame my fear and for myself and the husband it was an experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Not least, because apparently there are less airship pilots than shuttle pilots. I'm full of facts, think yourself lucky you don't work with me. If you don't like sharp ascents and sharp descents it's probably not for you. At one point I had to pinch myself as I thought I might be featuring in some cartoon comedy where the tip of the airship comes to a juddering halt centimetres from the ground...

The Goodyear Blimp, Road Safety and Being Brave!

The Age of the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum London

It's not a novel experience for a museum curator used to putting on exhibitions and going to see private views to go to a private view. However, on this occasion it was, as I have never been to a private view aimed at bloggers. It was good to meet a few familiar tweeters and bloggers, including the team behind @nhm_london and have the chance to see the Natural History Museum's fantastic new exhibition The Age of the Dinosaur.  I love this sort of thing and it was especially good as we were not able to get our fossil fix this week at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival so this more than made up for it.

For geeks the exhibition showcases the Mezozoic Age with some fabulous fossils and dramatic artwork. You can see the most amazing fossil skulls and try your hand at being a palaeontologist  with some great computer interactives.


But you don't want to know about that really do you? No, want you want is realistic animatronic dinosaurs and this exhibition has them in spades.






I liked the Archaeopteryx


Unfortunately little four year old Boy suddenly decided they were so realistic sitting there in their habitats that he was petrified. I think this is a good thing. In fact he got himself so worked up he had an enormous meltdown in the shop and the corridor outside and the toilets and on the tube. Nevermind.

The exhibition is a real experience, you can touch sharks teeth, see an Archaeopteryx fossil, be amazed at giant ammonites (we went fossil hunting for them), you can discuss stuff, chat and marvel at just how cute the animatronic baby dinosaurs are. Just make sure you get there nice and early or book online, I anticipate a crush. Make sure you check out their website, its full of facts including a brilliant dinosaur directory which I actually use for reference at work. Once you have visited the exhibition you'll also get access to loads of activities you can do at home. We have had hours of fun with these and it is well worth the cost of the tickets alone.Yet another reason to take the kids!

The Age of the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum London

Fly on the wall

There is never anything on the television nowadays is there? Nuffink at all, apart from on Wednesday when there's some period drama which I have been sucked into. No, I don't mean Coronation Street. It's all fly on the wall documentaries with some B, C, D, E list celebrity. With this in mind I think that they may as well come and follow me about for a week. They would be able to see the following, voice over suggestions in italics:

• Futile attempts at potty training: Fifi prefers to poo in her nappy but today she likes the smell in the loo and decides to muck her mother around for nearly an hour
• The realities of working in a museum (this could be its own spin- off series): Volunteers play a key role in any museum
• Burning the dinner enough to make it inedible but not enough for the Fire Brigade: Each night a healthy meal is prepared
• A late night argument: In St Albans night-times can be challenging.
•  An early morning: Fifi wakes up bright and early, her parents are used to such demands, but jsut when things seem to be going well Claire accidentally drops her coffee all over the sofa...
• Blogging, freelance writing, a bit of Twitter: Income is supplemented through small scale Internet based efforts which take up much of the evening
• Attempts at fitness: Claire realised she was getting fat when her shirt ripped followed by her bra breaking whilst at work
• A trip to Ikea: Ikea provides much of the furniture for a young, growing family
• Cleaning the car: Activities which can be done as a family promote relationships and a sense of the value of money

Coming Up:
Find out how the family tacked what to grow in their vegetable patches this year, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall offers nutritional advice to the family during their annual Dorset holiday, Gok Wan performs a makeover and Kirsty and Phil offer tips on moving house versus rennovation...

See what I mean, gripping clearly, where do you want me to sign?

Fly on the wall

Review: Disney Princess and Winnie the Pooh Toiletries

Everyone seems to love Disney stuff and my kids are no exception so when we were contacted by H & A and asked to try out some products from their range I thought I would give them a go. Particularly as I figured that if they were good then stuff from the range might be a source of stocking fillers for kids for years to come.

Fifi has very sensitive skin so I was a bit worried about whether they would be suitable for her, so I only used the tiniest amount of the rather scrumptiously smelling Blueberry Sorbet Bath Bubbles. This was OK for her, and as the packaging is Disney Princess she sat in the bath like the little princess she is, grinning from ear to ear. The Bath Confetti, proved an even bigger hit and I shall be stocking up on this, what better than to sprinkle little flakes of soap over a little princess in the bath!

Once your little princess has emerged from her confetti filled bath, she can brush her hair with the Disney Princess folding mirror brush set. Fifi LOVED this and to be honest so did I and it now resides in my handbag. Ahem.

Boy was given a Winnie the Pooh was puff pal, which at 1.99 is a total bargain, anything that encourages him to wash is a good thing. I really reckon this isn't a bad party gift actually. There are also some little character shower gel pouches which strike me as good for holidays, we haven't used those yet.
 

 
I think both ranges represent good value for money and are really ideal as little party gifts or stocking fillers, or simply for making your kids smile at bathtime. You can find loads more ideas and information on their website .here

Review: Disney Princess and Winnie the Pooh Toiletries

And, then my shirt ripped

The downward slope happened last year, I put on a little bit more weight, my colleagues commented I was getting plump. I tried to do something about it, I have been doing fitness videos and YourShape on the Xbox occasionally. However, I have been under a great deal of stress. Really, a lot of stress at work. I feel a constant worry about my future; whether I will actually have  a job, whether we will be able to pay the mortgage. For the last few month we have spent less and less on food. I wish to decorate Fifi's room and we have the original 1968 bathroom in our house which is very near the end of its life. I have been saving cash. Fruit costs money, much more than biscuits. You can see where I am heading...

On the second day of actually feeling a bit thinner I bent over and my shirt ripped. The indignity. From that moment I realised that something needed to be done. On the morning of the London Marathon I got up at 6 AM and ran for 40 minutes, non stop. To be honest I am surprised I can still manage to run for this length of time. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was coming up it was fresh. I had time to think. I enjoyed it. In fact, I think it was just what I needed to get myself back into running.

Don't get me wrong, I realise that I am not FAT, I am a size 12-14, but I am fat for me. Quite apart from not wanting to purchase an entirely new wardrobe I am concerned about my heath, I want to have the energy to look after the children properly. Therefore its my pledge to spend more money on the shopping, eat less biscuits and do more exercise.

And, then my shirt ripped

Review: Little Dish Meals

Little Dish make a wide range of kids fresh ready meals. We were sent the entire range to sample, not having tested them before I was unsure what the kids would make of them. However, they got a big thumbs up from my kids. Why?

• They are not my cooking
• They come in funky packaging
• There was lots of choice
• They tasted 'yummy', apparently...

Now, I have to say that, although they ate it, the Fish Pie was probably the least favourite meal. However, the Vegetable Lasagne hardly touched the sides and the Chicken Risotto was apparently very much like the childminders infamous risotto, this is a good thing! To be honest, the kids couldn't get enough of these meals, they probably would be happy to survive entirely on them.

Lets face it, when you come home from work and you have to find the energy to feed the kids it can be somewhat draining. I often try to either cook something that can be re-heated the previous day or I must admit, go to the Fish and Chip shop (once a week). I think its absolutely brilliant to find a healthy alternative to both, just for those days when you really cant cook. Little Dish meals have no nasties like pesticides and I feel confident about their quality having read all about them. Suffice to say, I have stocked my fridge with a few of the meals, so I know I don't have to panic for the next few weeks. I am sure they will become a regular part of my weekly shop. Brilliant.

You can buy Little Dish meals at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury and Ocado. If you want to find out more or ask any questions the website is literally brimming with information including some great kids activities, very handy for the school holidays!

Review: Little Dish Meals

Giant ants, gigantic spider webs and large patches of dirt

Today we took a trip to Butterfly World, which happens to be within walking distance of our house. The project team are hopeful that the largest bio-dome in the world will be built there. It's not there yet, and to be honest the whole site seems quite unfinished. From my admittedly trained eye the interpretation left, well, lets say, 'a lot to be desired'. However, we did spend the entire day running about, the kids had a whale of a time and there were some brilliant photo opportunities. I wish I had taken my SLR camera. I think I will go back again in the near future. It's worth a visit, especially if you like to take arty pictures.

Giant Fiberglass Ant

One of the butterflies in the butterfly house- it was hot and steamy!

A giant plant pot and box of matches

Perhaps the Living Room of a Fairy?

A Magical Dining Room

Ladybirds might live here...

That's one way to recycle stuff!

Look Mummy!!!!!

Giant ants, gigantic spider webs and large patches of dirt

The curse of high street shopping; why we shop mainly on line

Our high streets are packed with large shops, many of them retailing stuff for kids. Most of them claim to have environmental policies, blah, blah. St Albans High Street has most of the major retailers, with the noticeable exception of Next which moved to a retail park and Gap (no idea why we don't have one).

Until recently the only shop left on the actual  High Street (and not in one of the yards) which did not require me to get into the lift with the buggy in order to buy a kids T-shirt was Millets. I quite like the kids stuff in there as it's so practical, hard-wearing and cheap and so I bought a fair amount. However, today I went there and was told that its all been moved upstairs because the range has expanded. Now, this would be fine I suppose, if they had a lift or an escalator. But they don't. How on earth do they expect people with two children and a pushchair full of shopping to actually go up some stairs in order to buy anything from their kids range?

Let me clarify things a  little, I have a pushchair full of shopping, literally laden down because I try very hard not to drive if I don't really need to. I do not wish to leave my shopping at the bottom of some stairs, I want to keep my stuff with me. Is this too much to ask?

Marks and Spencer have a strong environmental policy, they keep charging me 5p per bag when I don't have enough of my own because they actually do have some rather good offers in the food section. So, answer me this M & S executives, why does your high street branch in St Albans, at least, keep its small kids range upstairs requiring the use of a lift? The lift is always busy and presumably requires a fair amount of energy to work. There is room on the ground shop floor, it would be simple enough to move something else up there which might sell well next to the mens clothes.

Boots, you are another company with the kids range upstairs, admittedly there is a large section. However, on going to the lift I pass a very large section of the store which appears to be full of toilet rolls and random gift packs. This section is nearly always empty. The lift is always full.

I can go on, there's The White Company and  BHS. Both of which appear to have random stuff downstairs in place of the kids range. The only shop which has thought things through properly is H & M who keep all the kids stuff downstairs and everything else upstairs. Hats off to them, I presume they sell more kids clothing than anywhere else in St Albans due to sheer ease of access.

My limited understanding of retailing is that it is best to make finding items easy and tempting. I can tell any retail executive that with a pushchair and children I do not want to be made to stand and wait for a lift, in both directions. Whilst the kids scream. Oh, and whilst I am at it, Boots St Albans; shame on you for not having a toilet a three year old is allowed to use once they get all the way upstairs to the kids section. I mean, a three year old can hold on whilst they wait for a lift, then walk the five minutes to the nearest public loo, cant they.

High Street retailing is suffering in the recession. But they don't make it easy for you to spend money, do they?

The curse of high street shopping; why we shop mainly on line

Straight from the Command Centre

I work part-time. I find it very, very hard, juggling the family, the household and making sure everyone is happy. I think its the worst of all worlds, Wednesday afternoons are always like a living hell for me. That's the day when I go to work for precisely half the day. I find it very hard switching from work mode to mum mode through the transitional matter of a cheese sandwich.

I view my desk at work as a sort of Command Centre, its from there that I navigate through cyberspace and the nuances of Collections Management in a medium sized museum. In other words I have a telephone, the Internet and a kettle within easy reach. I fiddle about with XML scripts and the database and very occasionally tweet with people on behalf of the museum (Jarvis Cocker did bring a smile to my face this week). Sometimes, I venture away from my bespoke chair which has my name tippexed on the back, purely because people kept stealing it, to the museum stores. There I study, research and catalogue natural history specimens, social history bits and bobs, costume and archaeological pots. Sometimes I wander around the galleries thinking how wonderful it is that I can open  any display case and hold any item. I like visitors to the museum, but its absolutely at its best when there is no-one there (keep that secret!) a sort of museum curators bonus. I am master of my own affairs and apparently it is my role to 'manage by influence', ahem.

So it is from this state of play that I return home and find myself treading on Lego, hoovering Cheerios from the carpet and being walloped by Barbie dolls. At home I don't really have a Command Centre, although I know that for some mums it is the kitchen. No, I am saddled with the noose of a 24 hour movable Command with occasional technical support from the husband. I cannot manage by influence, rather I must manage by sheer volume and threats. I am driven mad by children's television and I am increasingly finding that my Command Centre is the downstairs loo. Purely because I can lock myself in and have some peace.

The Empire must strike back soon. I must regain some control and I must take over the living room once more, the Command Centre must by its very nature be at the heart of my Empire. Whilst I am at home anyhow....

Straight from the Command Centre