Special events Archives

Our Rainbow Run

A few weeks ago I mentioned that the twins and I would be taking part in Tŷ Hafan’s Rainbow Run in Barry Island. It was a fantastic day that started with us donning our white t-shirts and heading to Barry Island nice and early to beat all the traffic.

We arrived just at the perfect time before the car park filled up, literally, it was pretty much empty when we arrived and was almost full before I had even finished paying for our parking ticket! We registered and then headed to get our faces painted and buy our tutus, wig and paint for the paint party. Can you tell which one of the girls wasn’t taking part?

Tŷ Hafan Rainbow Run Barry Island

With five children we have had our fair share of the usual children’s diseases and the odd longer term health issues, but I really can’t imagine how hard it must be to raise a child with a life limiting illness. These parents really give their entire energy and being to care for their children, making sure they live full, happy lives knowing that they are unlikely to reach adulthood.

Tŷ Hafan is the only children’s hospice in Wales and are a source of comfort, care and support for these families. Not only are they a safe haven during the darkest hours, providing expert comfort and assistance during the end, and beyond. Tŷ Hafan are also there to offer advice, support and assistance to ensure each child lives their life to the fullest. Providing care at home, school, in the hospital and in the hospice. They are often the only people able to care for children with serious medical needs to allow parents and siblings a chance to relax and recharge their batteries.

It costs over £3.7 million each year for Tŷ Hafan to provide their specialist one-to-one care and outreach services to life-limited children, young people and their families but because they are a charity and not part of the health service they get a very small amount of statutory funding a year. This means that Tŷ Hafan depend on donations to carry on their fantastic and much needed work. The Tŷ Hafan Rainbow Run is just one way people can raise the funds.

Remembrance Parade 2015

This coming Wednesday marks 97 years since the armistice was signed and at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the guns fell silent and world war one ended. Armistice day was originally a day to remember those who died during the first world war.

After World War Two, November 11th also became Remembrance Day, some of you may know it simply as Poppy Day. At 11am the country will fall silent for two minutes as we bow our heads and remember those who fought bravely and gave their lives during both world wars and in any conflicts since such as in Korea, Northerrn Ireland the two Gulf Wars, Afghanistan and The Falklands.

Today is Remembrance Sunday. This morning, up and down the country, and across the commonwealth, parades were held, poppies were pinned to coats and wreaths & wooden crosses were laid at cenotaphs to mark our remembrance of those who have fallen in battle.

For the younger generations, who have never seen the threat of war face to face. These parades and silences may seem unimportant. Something ‘not for them’ but for the older generation. Some people even believe that enough time has passed that we should lay the World Wars to rest.

Whilst it is true that the ranks of world war veterans decreases with each passing parade, each year sees more and more younger veterans joining those ranks, they have lost brothers in arms too. Some people don’t seem to realise that this is a time to remember all those who have died in recent history, in the last few decades, are still dying now, to make the world a better place. For us, for everyone. Should we forget them too?

Although the fighting today is nothing more than an image on a TV screen for most, no worse than most films and computer games, it doesn’t make it any less relevant. It doesn’t mean we should forget. If anything it means we should make a concious effort to teach them about the world wars, the whys and the wherefores (age appropriately of course). We should ensure the memories are never forgotten to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

This morning E&Ff took part in their first remembrance parade. They have learnt about the wars in school for many years now, but today was their first chance to stand with their fellow army cadets to pay their tribute. I did the same when I was a cadet, as did Lee. I was so very proud to see them marching with their detachment.

Did you or your children take part in a remembrance parade or service today? Do you believe we should continue to remember those who have died in battle on November 11th?

Sponsor Our Memory Walk

Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. To watch your loved one slowly fade away over the years is such a sad sight, one that too many families must endure.

In the later stages, every smile, every tear is precious as you wonder what has been understood, or remembered. The smiles and laughter for babies and small children is a wonderful thing to watch, especially when there has been no recognition or response all day.

On September the sixth, we will be taking part in the Alzheimer’s Society‘s Memory Walk in Swansea in memory of Lee’s father. David passed away last month due to this awful disease and although it was a very sad time, in a way it was also a relief as he was no longer suffering.

Now we want to help the Alzheimer’s Society to carry out their vital work ensuring that people living with dementia and their carers enjoy a better quality of life as well as fund ground-breaking research into the cause, cure, care and prevention of all types of dementia.

I would love it if you would visit my JustGiving page and donate to this fantastic charity that we, as a family, hold dear to our hearts.

33 things to achieve at 33

Today is my birthday.

I am 33.

I’ve had prezzies, cards and cake. The kids have been very sweet and seem not to have argued with me quite as much as usual!

Yes, that is one massive Jammie Dodger cake!

A lovely Crafternoon with Hillarys Blinds

A few weeks ago I was invited to spend and afternoon of crafting with Hillarys Blinds to showcase what other wonderful things can be made with their fabrics, apart from window dressings of course!

The event was being held in Chapter Arts in Cardiff. I managed to get there in record time even though I went round in circles trying to find the carpark, which I knew existed, but just couldn’t see but after turning right instead of left after my fourth trip around the block I finally found it! After worrying about getting lost and being late I was there in record time and was early! The trip home is a slightly different story but I’ll save that one for later.

Now, it’s no secret that I love arts and crafts. Give me a paintbrush and I’m truly in my element. But sewing?

Well, lets just say sewing doesn’t really like me.

I think to date I have managed to kill two sewing machines. Literally smoking and needing new parts killed. But I can hand stitch.

I say hand stitch…

There probably isn’t an actual name for the stitches that I do but they work and hold things together so I’m not going to knock it!

But when I walked into that room I have to admit I was relieved to not see a sewing machine in sight. Instead there were tables filled with pincushions, as well as one that resembled a haberdashers window display with buttons and ribbons galore along with pre-cut fabrics and a gluegun!

First up we made a lovely book cover, which only involved four tiny bits of stitching, which I managed to do without too much trouble. We then got to embellish it however we wanted. I opted for a simple yet effective wrap around design.

Our second craft was a 3D bird. This one had much more sewing and I’m afraid I didn’t get time to sew up the tail as I was so slow. He also has a bit of a wonky beak, but I’m quite proud of him anyway!

All in all it was a wonderful day and Hillarys, along with the lovely ladies from ‘The Crafty Hen’ also ran this workshop in Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmigham so in all 81 bloggers got to experience the fun too. Why not search #HillarysCrafternoon on twitter to read some other experiences?

Now I promised to tell you of my journey home! In all, what should have been a 40 minute journey took me two hours and a bathroom break in McDonalds. It all started with one wrong turn which lead to another and another. Then, when I thought I was finally heading to the motorway, I realised I was going toward Newport, the exact opposite of where I was supposed to be going!

Cue even more wrong turns and driving past Cardiff Castle three times which finally, after over an hour actually managed to get me OUT of Cardiff AND on the right way home. I think I may need to invest in a Sat Nav!

Are you a perfectly capable stitcher, or are you more of a have a go sewer like I am?

The ultimate girls night in

Recently, a few bloggy friends and I got together and had, in my eyes, what can only be described as THE ultimate girls night in.

Now these lovely ladies and I have met up in various blogging events and conferences before but the issue is that you are always doing something. Whether it be chatting with brand reps, sitting in workshops or listening to speakers. There just never seems to be enough time to have a really good old chin wag.

So this meet up was all going to be all about the socialising, but what topics of conversation are top of the list when you get a group of bloggy friends in a room? Blogging of course! I’m sure we can all agree that it was lovely to be able to talk, and ask questions, about our blogs without meeting the blank expressions on faces as we would with some people we know “in real life”.

Sadly we were a few friends down, who were sorely missed, but we put on a brave face and I promise we didn’t really have that good a good time Amy ;-)!

But we made a good size party with Karen from Mini Travelers acting as hostess in her beautiful home, Jess from Mummy of Boy Girl Twins, Sarah from Extraordinary Chaos, Katie from Life on Vista Street, Katy from What Katy Said, Julia from Rainbeaubelle and last but not least Hayley from Hayley at Home.

Apart from being generous opening her home to us, Karen really surpassed herself in the food department and had made us some absolutely wonderful dishes.

And to wash down the delicious food we also had plenty to drink. We were kindly supplied this Retro Fridge from Husky Retail that was absolutely beautiful to look at. We had it set up right next to where we were sat so everything was right there, just at hand. I know it won’t stay in Karen’s living room but it is that pretty and shiny that it didn’t even look out of place!

We had a wonderful time and talked right up until the early hours of the morning when we all started flagging a little, but we even had a ‘technical workshop’ going on around 1am! Who, besides another blogger, would be happy to talk at length about plugins when your a little tiddly and extra tired!?!

Of course what blogging event would be complete without goody bags? We were really lucky to get some wonderful brands to supply some treats for us to enjoy when we got home too.

So a big thanks to:

I have to add that I always get nervous when I travel, I have a fear of booking the wrong tickets, for the wrong date/time. So have to continuously check I’ve booked it right. But usually things end up going perfectly fine, unless I’m driving then I’m more than likely to get completely lost.

This train journey was a little more hap hazard than usual with non existent trains, replacement buses, no heat/refreshments/electric sockets (and my phone running out of charge) and getting rained on INSIDE the train on the way home! But to be honest? I had such a wonderful time that none of that matters all. I truly am blessed to have made a great group of friends and all because I decided one day that I’d like to write a little blog.

Thanks for a great evening ladies, hopefully we will all be there next time xxx

Saint Dwynwen’s Day Shortbread Biscuits

So we all know that Valentines Day is coming up in the not too distant future. But those amongst you who are not Welsh will be forgiven for not knowing that Wales also has it’s own Patron Saint of Lovers which we will celebrate tomorrow, on January the 25th.

100th post special!

Following on from my Bloggy birthday post from Monday, here are some more answers to your questions so you can find a bit more about me! I haven’t been able to answer all of them so apologies if I didn’t get to yours!

My daughters wanted me to celebrate my 100th post by creating a collage of 100 selfies (of them not me!) from the thousands that they have taken on my phone. There’s no way I was going to crop 100 photos though, so here is just a small selection for you!

And now on to the questions:

Happy Birthday Blog!

I really can’t believe that this time last year I was nervously hovering over the publish button for my very first post! For roughly the first eight months I didn’t tell anyone I know that I had a blog. It wasn’t that I was hiding it, it was more a case of how on earth you get it to come up in conversation!?! How do you get from:

‘I have spent the weekend up to my ears in dirty washing’

to:

‘Oh and I wrote a blog about it, do you want to read it?’

But of course my children took it upon themselves to blag on me, as kids do, by telling my close friend @nicola1979smith. This then came up in conversation with another close friend @crazymumtofour during sports day. From there on things got a lot less secretive!

This was what O looked like last year at 4 months old when this blog was a newborn!:

First time in a high chair!