That was the week that was...........

............exhausting but brilliant.

From last Saturday I feel as though I haven't stopped. Don't get me wrong most of you will read this and think 'Man Up ' however as an M.E sufferer it's been a long haul ( like running the marathon).

It started Saturday with a trip up London with 5 other girls to celebrate a friends 40th birthday. We had decided to keep what we were doing a secret from her so that she had no idea on the day. For a few months before lots of emails had been flung around wondering what we could do. It all started with a spa weekend or Glamping which we couldn't get organised ( dates/ childcare/ travel etc). Then we decided to go up town so our options were open............theatre show, dinner, London Eye, boat trip, etc etc.

In the end we went with a Rib Ride along the Thames and then a posh lunch! A Rib ride for those of you that don't know is a speedboat ride that starts of quite leisurely as all the touristy bits are pointed out to you, then turns into something from the latest James Bond film!! Actually as you pass Tower Bridge the speed increases and the James Bond music is played as you are thrown around the Thames as though some terrorist is in hot pursuit!!!

My friend loving it and her friend (nearest) not!!

Being 'Ladies that lunch' we had gone fairly dressed for the restaurant and so took the easy option of huge coats to keep us from getting wet and preserve the hairdo's!

I'm taking the pic and being the shortest the coat looked like a dress on me!!

NOTE TO SELF: having long curly hair on a speedboat ride does not bode well. GHD's could not have done a better job straightening it!!!!

Anyway, moving on. Then we popped to Covent garden for a wander and a beer, stalling before we went to the restaurant. Then we went the Christopher's where we were treated to champer's ( lots of it) and had a table arranged for lunch.

That's where it got messy!!!!!
3 bottles of champers............................check
2 bottles of rose......................................check
something containing tequila.................check ( not sure what it was called but bloody lovely!!!)

After these...........

It  went from this.........

To this!!!!!

Food was yummy too.

So inevitably Sunday was spent in bed ( not hungover surprisingly - I think my Tramadol worked wonders) absolutely exhausted.

Then came Monday......................My Birthday!!!

My OH had arranged to go to Windsor for the day while the kids where at school- GENIUS!
A friend did the school run and we set off early and were able to get there for the changing of the Guards.

I'm ex RAF so love the pomp and ceremony!!

Then we popped outside for a lovely pub lunch before heading back in to wander around the chapel and the Dolls House and Staterooms.

It's truly a beautiful place to visit and wouldn't be complete before sneaking up to the Guard for a quick picture before we left!

And no they really don't talk to you!!!!

Returning home we indulged in pizza ( kids choice) and birthday cake and pressies!!

Pink festival wellies for Rewind in August- fab!
Dolly Parton cd....sad I know but secretly I love her and going to see her at the O2 in September!

Oh and did I mention..........A BLACKBERRY!!!!!!!!

This is a huge deal for me as my old phone surely has earned it's place in the Science Museum!!!!
Seriously, I am sooooo happy.............Internet at my fingertips. I feel as though I've just been invited into the 'popular gang'.

Moving on and Tuesday was spent mainly in bed recovering.

Wednesday evening I had a meal out with some friends at a local Italian restaurant. Food was lovely again, and the southern comfort and then the wine just seemed to slip down too easily! It was great to catch up although we hear more about their lives than what's happening in ours- but that's another post altogether!

Thursday was spent mostly in bed but I did manage a catch up and a cuppa with a friend before school pick up.

Friday was my youngest son's sports day! So went back to bed in the morning and the attended in the afternoon. Luckily the weather stayed quite nice and as a dutiful mum I cheered him on ( much to his embarrassment) and took lots of pictures too.

Now I feel as though no part of my body is connected to my brain.........or in fact if I have a brain as stringing words and sentences together has become a full time job!!! One I'm not doing very well at and will possibly be sacked at any given moment.


So tonight we are having a Harry Potter night watching the 1st installment of the Deathly Hallows to get into the mood for going to see part 2 tomorrow!!!

Hopefully I will manage to stay awake- although I cannot guarantee it.

Competition! 11+ Preparation Pack

I have a 10 year old son who, in September, will be sitting the 11+ test along with children of his age all around the country. It's a worrying time for both parents and children. If your primary school has indicated that your child may be capable of passing then it really could determine the rest of their school years. I have an older son who is at our local grammar school. It is a mixed school and my eldest son has settled in very well and made lots of new friends. He seems happy there and they are working them hard. My youngest really wants to go there, not just because his brother goes but he has been in and had a look and loves the drama department( regular followers will know he is a budding actor in the making!). We have also been told he has the potential to pass the 11+. There starts the worry, the will he/ won't he process. We want to prepare him without stressing him for the test. We helped our eldest progressively over the summer holidays to keep him in learning mode without pushing him to work everyday. Now we want to do the same for our youngest son. We wouldn't be normal parents if we didn't help our children fulfil their potential in whatever they do!!

So, if your in the same position this is definitely for you. A pack that contains all you need to help you as a parent understand the tests and also help to prepare your child.

This is a very easy competition to enter:

* Just leave a comment about your own 11+ dilemmas including the answer to the question at the bottom of the information.


For additional entries: Follow me, Like my Facebook page and Tweet I want to #win 11+ preparation pack @muminmeltdown #competition

COMPETITION CLOSES FRIDAY  22ND JULY AT 12 NOON!

 

Give your children a head start when it comes to the 11+

Over the next few months, thousands of children across the country will be preparing to sit their 11+ exams.

To give your children that head start, GL Assessment, the company behind the official 11+ test papers that the majority of candidates will take, has a comprehensive pack of practice materials to support you and your children through the 11+ process.

The developers of the 11+ tests are offering children the chance to practise at home for the secondary school selection tests with their range of preparation materials that cover Maths, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. The pack also includes the new Official Parents Guide to 11+ and the 11+ Explained series for Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, which provide step-by-step guidance on how to tackle every question type successfully, advice on test technique, and tips and fun activities to ensure that children understand what is required of them in the real 11+ tests.

We are giving you the opportunity to win a comprehensive 11+ exam preparation pack which includes:

• Official Parents’ Guide to the 11+
• 11+ Explained – Non-Verbal Reasoning
• 11+ Explained – Verbal Reasoning
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers English Pack 2
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Maths Pack 2
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 2
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Verbal Reasoning Pack 2
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Variety Pack 1
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Variety Pack 2
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Variety Pack 3
• The Official 11+ Practice Papers Variety Pack 4

.....Just answer this simple question

Suggested question:

Which of these subjects is not part of the standard 11 + exams?

-       Maths

-       English

-       Art

Also available in WHSmith, Waterstones and all good bookshops

For more information visit http://www.officialelevenplus.co.uk

 Winner will be chosen at random and will receive the pack up to 28 days after their details have been passed on.

Silent Sunday

Horrid Henry Screening

We had the chance to go to the screening of Horrid Henry 3D in Haymarket London on Sunday. I had arranged for myself and my 2 boys to go. Unfortunately my youngest had a short notice audition and couldn't make it, so my eldest took a friend instead.

So here's what it's all about:

Synopsis

The first ever British kid’s movie to be filmed in 3D, Horrid Henry: The Movie stars Anjelica Huston as Henry’s terrifying teacher Miss Battle-Axe, alongside, Rebecca Front as Henry’s headmistress Ms Oddbod and Richard E Grant as rival headmaster Vic Van Wrinkle, with Parminder Nagra as Miss Lovely, Noel Fielding makes an appearance as Killer Boy Rats’ frontman Ed Banger, joining Jo Brand as the Demon Dinner Lady, Matthew Horne as Henry’s Dad and Prunella Scales as Great Aunt Greta. And introducing new young stars, including Scarlett Stitt as Moody Margaret, Ross Marron as Perfect Peter and Theo Stevenson leads in the title role as Horrid Henry. Horrid Henry: The Movie in 3D is released in cinemas on 29th July 2011. Take a look at the trailer to get an idea of what your going to see. CLICK TO VIEW TRAILER[26.9MB] The boys enjoyed it although it seemed a bit young for  them ( they are both 13 years old) however they were chuckling throughout! My youngest though would have loved it! It would have captured his sense of humour. As a parent I thought that Anjelica Huston was brilliant as the infamous Miss Battle-Axe! And watch out for the hilarious Jo Brand as the most disgusting dinner lady you will ever come across!! If your child is a Horrid Henry fan, either from the books or the cartoon, they will enjoy this. It is a classic Horrid Henry adventure!

FFS.....How much more??

Today I have just about had enough!

Today is not a good day!

I do not work because of illness. We have 2 weeks until my OH gets paid. To say that money is tight is an understatement of grand proportions!!!

In the last month alone we have had.........

Fathers day ( for both my OH and father in law)
Birthdays for........my mum
                           my brother
                           2 x nephews
                           Father in Law  ( yes his b'day is a week after Fathers day!!!)
                           A good friends 40th birthday

Scouts Water Weekend x 2 at £35 each
Travel cost for Above weekend x 2 £10 each.

2 x new water shoes for above weekend!!
Scout summer camp £215
Deposit for Cubs panto tickets
Yearly 'Jabs' for cat!
Day up London for above mentioned friends 40th birthday- Rib ride on Thames booked and expensive posh lunch ( I do not begrudge it in any way but it has come at a bad time)

That's over and above our normal living expenses which are already severely budgeted for........

We do not eat out
We do not buy clothes unless necessary ( my outfit- dress for friends 40th came from good old Asda!!)
We do not have take aways


It will be my birthday on Monday and have told my OH not to buy anything and that I would be happy to have the above mentioned dress as a pressie from the kids! And I mean it.....but I'm not sure he has stuck to it!!!! Which is lovely but will make me mad as we cannot spare a penny!

Now that is depressing enough, wouldn't you say? But I'm quite sure I am not the only person at the moment in that position!! I do not believe in having a credit card either as you actually have to pay it back......so whats the point!!!!

 BUT TO TOP IT ALL I GOT A F**KING FLAT TYRE TODAY!!!

When I tried to phone my OH to let him know I had trouble getting through so had to phone his work number, which I never call. The reason I couldn't contact him??? HIS F**KING PHONE HAS BROKEN!!!

So please let me know I am not the only one in dire straits!!!
I am spitting feathers, with steam coming from my ears and in need of wine.....which I do not have and haven't got the money for anyway!!!!!! No chance of becoming an alcoholic anytime soon.

On the plus side I can totally vouch for the ' bowl of cereal and beans on toast' diet!! It works wonders LOL

Mums Web TV: Mums half Hour- PLease tune in!

I don't know if anyone has caught this show but I managed to see it on You Tube. It's a new live and interactive web TV show that discusses everyday parenting issues. You can submit your own question relating to the topic and therefore allows you to become involved.

Below are the details of the 2nd episode including a link to view the 1st episode and also to submit a question to the panel for the show on Friday 8th July @ 13.30

Mums Half Hour Episode Two: Join Us Live

The panel discuss Summer holidays, competitive parenting and buying your child’s first shoes

Show date: 8^th July 2011

Show time: 13:30

Our children may look forward to them, but for parents, Summer holidays require careful planning. Whether you want to take the family abroad or stay in the UK, figuring out how to keep them entertained while not breaking the bank is not always easy.

Following on from the success of the first show which covered the pressures of modern parenting, episode two in the Mums Half Hour series will see the panel discuss and give their top tips on what to do with your children during the holidays, from charity farms to nature trails, to encouraging them to use their imagination to create their own fun games.

It’s also important that you don’t burn out during the holidays as well, so the mums will talk about how best to maximise your own ‘mum time’. They’ll also look at how to steer clear of competitive parenting and the best way to buy your child’s first shoes.

In this live and interactive webTV show, our panel will also be taking your questions and thoughts so if you have something to say, they want to hear it!

Our panel join us live online at www.youtube.com/startriteshoes on 8^th July at 13.30 to discuss Summer holiday dilemmas.

For another chance to win a year’s supply of Start-rite shoes, log onto www.youtube.com/startriteshoes and submit a question along with your contact details

For more information visit www.youtube.com/startriteshoes

 THE LINK BELOW WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE SITE THAT THE PROGRAMME WILL AIR LIVE ON FRIDAY 8TH JULY @13.30 AND WILL ALSO ALLOW YOU TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR THE PANEL.

PLEASE tune in!

http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/mums-half-hour-episode-two-join-us-live

Fame at last????

That's right he made it...........into the new Argos advert due to be on telly!!!


Ok, I will put it into perspective. An overnight stay and a days filming on the beach at sunny Clacton in May. Then nothing until now. We knew he would be featured but didn't know in what way.

Firstly, we are very proud..........I'm gushing again!
Secondly, DON'T BLINK OR YOU WILL MISS HIM!!!!!  LOL

My son is the one bouching on the space hopper at the beach. Then he is the one in the backround at the beach........getting hit with a big orange ball!!!!! Oh the price of fame eh???

Like I say.....don't blink or you will miss him!!!