Raising For Grayson : Snowdon

Last summer when I was enjoying a week at the awesome Coombe Mill a group of friends / bloggers formed a plan in support a family that many in the parent blogger community have grown to know and love. This plan was to become Raising For Grayson.

Here's why...

Our friend Kara is truly a superwoman, she won't have that said around her but her amazing son Grayson rolls with his own level of super hero powers and he had to get his fight from somewhere - right?

For young Grayson, ever day is a battle, his disability is so rare and complex that it's known as SWAN (syndrome without any name). The plight of Kara's family made us want to move mountains to support them and last month that's exactly what Kirsty and Clara did.

Climbing Snowdon For Grayson

Don't let their fresh complexion and broad smiles fool you, what My Two Mums were about to undertake was going to push them and challenge them, more than they ever imagined.

Kirsty tells the story of the climb much better than I could even attempt to but what I will say is that they raised over £1000 to buy some much needed equipment for Grayson as well as showing the world what amazing stuff they are made of.

Kirsty and Clara - you rock.

You can donate to Raising for Grayson here.

The Gallery : My Inspirational Women

When I first started blogging there was this huge misconception from my 'real world friends' that relationships formed online, through blogging and social media, were at best, sordid and at worst, down right bizarre.

I spent hours, in those early days, trying to explain, to those friends, that Twitter wasn't just about telling the world what you'd had for your tea, (though in an odd, totally out of character coincidence, I actually did tweet about fish fingers earlier) weird. 

Anyway. This isn't about me, it's about a group of  amazing Inspirational Women, that I'm celebrating for week 145 of The Gallery.

 Jay, Erica, Sarah, Tara, Lizzie and Claire. 

My friends, who support and abuse me in equal measure. 

They don't judge me.

They ALWAYS believe in me and my ability to pull a miracle out of the bag. 

But what I don't think they realise is just how much they inspire me, each and every day. 

I'm not sure #why? or how but they all rock.

C if for..... Candy Crush

For week 133 of The Gallery : The Letter C can only be for one thing... CANDY CRUSH!!!

An ode to the hours of my life lost over the last couple of weeks, that I will never see again. Addicted??

Browsing The Gallery on TheStickyFingersBlog is THE ONLY way to while away the time between Candy Crush life fills. It's official. 

Now what level are you on???

Silent Sunday

Our Disneyland Adventure

It's been a bit of a week to say the least. A press junket trip to Disneyland Paris, an out of date passport, a film premiere, a 40th birthday and all in the space of three days. That's hardcore even by my standards.

So Disneyland… my very first visit, our very first visit. I traveled with my girls, Biba and Betty and my good friend Rosie and her daughter LJ. We were there as guests of Disney for the premiere of their new movie Wreck-It Ralph and to spend the weekend enjoying ourselves in the park.

We travelled by train, direct to Disneyland which was as stress free as travelling with three tween girls  can be. We dropped our bags at the vast Disneyland Hotel and hit the ground running by heading straight to the park.

To say that the girls were excited would be an understatement but then to be fair, Rosie and I were pretty excited too. The Disney magic was in the air, bizarre as it sounds, you could actually feel it.

Due to the out of date passport induced trauma I'd suffered the day before, it soon became apparent that  I hadn't researched the park in any way, shape or form, so with map in hand we strolled down main street before being totally wowed by the iconic Disney Castle.

The sheer scale of it is difficult to take in but it's truly amazing and magical. After just half an hour in the park I'd morphed into a Disney Princess and I just couldn't get enough of the vibe.

We were on a pretty tight schedule as the Wreck-It Ralf screening was that evening but we managed to squeeze in a couple of light rides.

A storm in a teacup! Rosie hates having her photo taken!!

A quick change back at the hotel and we were off to see the movie. Wreck-It Ralf doesn't come to UK screens until February 15th next year but it's set to become a absolute classic. 

Set in the 'off duty' world of arcade game characters it cleverly mixes different animation genre's resulting in a film for the whole family to enjoy.

I loved it, we all loved it and after having the opportunity to grill the producer about the whole creative process I cannot wait to see it again with my new found behind the scenes knowledge.

A full review is coming soon but take a look at the trailer...

On Saturday we went over to Walt Disney Studios and enjoyed a few more tame rides, (Betty's not a thrill seeker so everything we went on had to be pre-approved by her).

Fast Track tickets are an absolute must if you want to skip the queue's and we totally took advantage of ours. They reduced our waiting times down from over an hour to around 25 mins and just 10 mins on a couple of rides.

Nightfall brought a fabulous dinner with friends and a fireworks display at the castle. It was magical. We all donned our illuminated Mickey ears as we watched the sky come alive.

Back at the hotel we managed to squeeze in a quick Google + birthday hangout with some of our blogger friends back home before I totally flaked out. The excitement of turning 40 was just too much for me!!

The Disney experience was truly magical. I was enchanted from the moment I stood in front of the park gates. I'm not sure how they do it but I'm now totally sold on the need to visit Disneyland at least once in your lifetime.

Finally.... 

Can I please apologise to the non bloggers in carriage 4 of the 3.40pm Eurostar back to London? Rosie Scribble, Super Amazing Mum, Slummy Single Mummy and our seven rather boisterous, sugar fuelled children were rather loud... especially when they started singing happy birthday to me... everytime we hit a tunnel. There are quite a few tunnels...

Biba's written about her Disneyland Adventure too...

We spent two nights at the Disneyland Hotel with three days access to the park. Our accommodation, travel and expenses were kindly covered by Disney.

For information about Disneyland Paris please visit their official website. You can also follow the fun on the Disneyland Paris or Disney Mums Facebook pages.

This is me meme : The Revenge

As my blog ages I've almost stopped taking part in tagged memes. I'm not sure why, perhaps as I hurtle towards my 40th birthday I'm becoming craggier?!

However, Tara re tagged me in a meme that she ran back in 2009 and again in 2011 where artistic control was passed over to those who love us most, our children. 

The result, stunning artwork aka stick men and potato mums that had us chuckling at each other for weeks.

My original meme entry was an old pic that Betty drew when she started in 4+. Yes, I do look like Popeye.

Today, I've changed considerably in the arm department. From spending too much time typing I'm told but at least the old Jazz Hands are going strong.
No idea what she means by the slogan T-Shirt though *cough*.

Betty's portrait of me

Biba went for an adaptation of me on Cybher™ day this year in a dress lovingly created by Yan and a pair of trusty Dr Martens boots. My arms seem to have shrunk in her eyes too!

So I'm going to tag...

Bad-Fiction

Typecast who can cheat and get her grand kids to do it.

CheshireMum

Patch of Puddles

Big Fashionista

If you are desperado to join in you don't have to wait to be tagged, just pop the link to your post over on Tara's blog.

Wilderness Festival 2012

Last weekend I did something completely out of character. I closed down my email, switched off my computer, packed the car and I forgot about work. Really forgot about work and I never do that. My inability to switch off is quite possibly the trait I dislike the most about myself but I'm my own boss and the buck stops with me. I have a family to support and I do what I do to provide for them. That's what I tell myself at least.

I packed the girls into the car and off we went to the stunning Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire for the Wilderness Festival. 

This was to be my first festival experience with children but even more epic than that, this was to be my first camping experience with children.

Luckily we were spending the weekend in the company of a seasoned camper with a tent big enough to accommodate us all. (Us all equals, Biba, Betty and me and camping Jedi Claire with her mini me, LL thrown in for good measure.) 

What she failed to tell me was that she usually turns up after her strapping husband had dealt with the tent creating and the beer has hit the perfect temperature for consumption.

We didn't give up though (because we had no choice) and after battling with the tent for over three hot and sticky hours, victory was ours and the Wilderness called.

By Friday evening the site was already buzzing and we flitted around before settling with some friends outside the amazing Bubble Inc emporium, complete with a bubble master who could have easily given Johnny Depp's Willy Wonker a run for his money. The girls were hooked. All three of them and time flew past.

Biba playing bubbles

The big Friday night event was Secret Cinema's Bugsy Malone. Yes, we've already seen it twice but this promised to culminate in the biggest splurge fight ever. It's what attracted us to the festival in the first place but kicking off at 11pm was simply too late for families. We were disappointed to say the least.

On Saturday morning our first priority was to fill up with food. We planned to head straight over to the dedicated children's area so that the girls could unleash their creativity for a couple of hours whilst we showed minimal input and had a good old gas.

Sidetracked by a sign for THE VINTAGE FESTIVAL, we changed direction, took in the cool vintage market and chanced upon a tent dedicated to children's craft activities. Free children's craft activities and the girls were off in a flash.

Making stuff 

Betty and LL went off to make stitch-less tu-tu's but eagle eyed Biba spotted a Dr Marten's T-shirt that was about to be cut up and 'up-cycled' into a knitted, faceless, brand less, scarf. She swooped like a true fashionista, fluttered her eyelashes at the knitting circle and in under a minute the T-shirt, in its oversized glory was residing about her person.

It's interesting to see this brand love blossom in her. Earlier this year she sketched out a boot design idea, found Dr Martens address online, put her drawing in an envelope and posted it off to their head office. 

As a parent you presume that's that. But not only did she get a reply via email. She also received a handwritten letter from the head designer and a bag of Dr Marten's goodies. 

Because of that I really do believe that she will be brand loyal for life. I know that I would.

Saturday evening after an exhausted LL was tucked up and snuggly in her pushchair we headed back over to the Vintage area. The girls went to their first ever roller disco and we drank cocktails whilst nodding to 80's disco in the dark. Happy days...

When you are 2, the party only lasts as long as you do...

After a spot of vintage tea dancing we were ready to drop and once again missed out on the Secret Cinema show. We trundled back to our tent as eager party goers, dressed to impress passed us on their way to the secret masked ball by the lake.

No Cinders moment for us though. Back at the tent, we toasted marshmallows, giggled and flaked out for the night.

Sunday morning and we were off for a swim. We'd used diversion tactics for most of Saturday but there was no getting out of it. Tent packed, cars packed, off we went, following the woodland trail down to the stunning lake.

Wilderness Lake

The girls were in like a shot. I abstained, but then I know how cold and grim lake water is and I have no wish to put even a toe near it again - ever!

Wilderness swimming

If I'm honest, Wilderness Festival was over too soon. We had a really good time just chilling and chatting, with no agenda, no work, no phones and no worries and it really was just what we needed. We were so slack that the pictures here are THE ONLY ones we took and we always take photos, of everything. 

That said, there were things that weren't perfect like the emphasis on late night activity, the lack of toilets, advance schedule information, the fact we didn't see Bugsy Malone and... well that's it really.

It's quite something to witness a festival from the absolute, polar opposite, demographic than you are used to and as the late night party animals started to surface late on Sunday afternoon, I wouldn't have swapped places with them for the world.

Will I go back to Wilderness Festival next year? YES, absolutely and as it was sold out this year I suggest you think about getting your tickets now. You won't be sorry.

Read Claire's review over on Bambino Goodies.

Disclosure: I attended the festival on a family press pass. All words and views expressed are my own unless I stole them from Claire or the girls.

Coasting Along for Water Aid

On Saturday, accompanied by group of intrepid bloggers (and their children) I took to the South Downs as an ambassador for Water Aid's Coast Along project. 

Our five mile circular route around the stunningly beautiful coastline had it all.
Excitement, fresh air, drama, sunshine and a little light rain but we completed our task with vigour and pride despite the challenges we met on the way.

My team mates Rosie Scribble, Nixdminx, Bumpwear Claire and Mummy in Manolos and all of their beautiful children aged from 3 to 11 were pretty amazing. Lots of new friendships were made and no one wanted to say their goodbyes when it was time to leave.

A very big thank you to Premier Inn for our accommodation. The staff at the Eastbourne hotel were lovely (they even packed us off with a bag full of emergency Haribo to keep our energy up on the walk) and to the Rabbits, you guys rock.

It isn't too late to support us. Our Just Giving page will remain active for a while longer and every single pound donated makes a difference.

Here's a few pics from our adventure and some info on Water Aid and why they need your support.

Leaving home...

Team Bunny...

Eva, Claire & Biba with Lo in stroller...

The beautiful view...

A bit tired....

 But a weekend by the sea needs a bag of shells...

About Water Aid

Water is essential for life, yet one in eight of the world’s population do not have access to it and almost 40% of the world’s population do not have adequate sanitation.

WaterAid is a leading independent organisation which, with its partners, uses practical, sustainable solutions to enable the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.

We work in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region and campaign globally with our partners to realise our vision of a world where everyone has access to these basic human rights.

We believe that the provision of safe water and sanitation is an essential first step in the climb out of poverty

Women and children walk on average 6km to often unprotected water sources, such as rivers or muddy dugouts.

In urban areas people have no choice but to collect water from polluted waterways or pay sky high prices to buy it from vendors. The average weight of water carried is 20 kg.

Carrying the heavy water containers back home is an exhausting task, taking up valuable time and energy.

This lack of access to clean water and safe sanitation impacts severely upon health, education, and income:

• 4000 children die needlessly every single day – more than Malaria, AIDS and Measles combined.
• Over half the hospital beds in Africa are filled with people suffering from preventable diarrhoeal diseases.
• Women have less time for productive activities because of time spent collecting water or caring for sick family members.
• Illness and lack of sanitation facilities in the classroom mean children are unable to go to school and miss out on an education.

Inadequate sanitation and water keeps people living in poverty. You can change this by joining Coast Along for WaterAid and help transform lives:

• £50 could pay for a handpump in Nepal, providing a community with life – changing clean water
• £100 could supply a village in Madagascar with the tools needed to maintain its water point long-term
• £150 could provide people in Ethiopia with a safe and hygienic composting latrine

Silent Sunday: Friday..

Now go and see what everyone else has been up to this week over at Mocha Beanie Mummy's blog.

The Gallery..... friends.

Once again a big thank you to Tara at Sticky Fingers for bringing us The Gallery. It has become a focal point of my week and I love taking the time out to see what everyone else has come up with. This week's theme is friends.

For a family of sea lovers we really do live in the wrong place. We have had some of our best days out crabbing in the freezing cold in the depths of winter.

I love this pic - for once everyone is smiling and despite the biting wind, lack of crabs and my broken arm (roller skating accident.....).
Whilst we are on a friendly theme.... I would love it if you could pop by the Search for a Simple Star to vote for me..