NAUGHTY FORTY

The weekend was one of celebrations. I had my 'Full Length & Fabulous' 40th birthday party on Saturday, (ball gowns and Tuxedos) held at Nantwich Football club. It was a night I will always remember.

Mark & I had a dance lesson with Caroline Coles from 'My Wedding Dance' and we performed it on the night to a surprised audience. He did me proud and soon relaxed into it half way through.

It was wonderful to see all my family and friends together again and just made me realise how lucky I am to have these people around me. My own little pride and joy wasn't around on the night, with starting school we thought it would be too much for him to have such a late night. However, he had a fab time with Alison Bowett, Nantwich Childminder and slept fantastically well.

I have been totally pampered and spoilt, I've had over 10 bottles of champagne, beauty treatments, money and gorgeous gifts.

All in all, turning 40 hasn't been too bad....YET!

BYE BYE BABY, HELLO SCHOOLBOY!

It only seems like yesterday when I took this photo of Luke when he was a day old, that was 4 and a half years ago. My big boy is starting school full time tomorrow, its the day I've been dreading for ages. My baby is grown up and going to big school. I purposely put off taking any party bookings this weekend so Mark, Luke and I could spend some quality time together. Yesterday we went to Chester Zoo and today we spent time playing at home and getting organised for the big week ahead.

Mondays have always been 'Luke and Mummy days' and we have spent them together at the library, at the park, swimming, playdates, at playbarns, with Grandparents or just having lazy days at home. Tomorrow I'm going to be at a loose end and I will feel lost without my sidekick.

On my radio show each week, I end with Bay City Rollers 'Bye Bye Baby', I will be singing this tune in my head tomorrow. I will definitely be taking the tissues with me for the journey home from the school run.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY REDSHIFT RADIO

I'm so proud to be a part of the Redshift Radio team, as a sole trader it can be pretty lonely so its nice to be a part of a big family again.

Who'd have thought that a year ago I would be presenting my own radio show? I certainly didn't, and after a year, I still find it difficult to call myself a radio presenter.

Over the past year I've networked with some fantastic businesses and joined forces with the award winning photographer, Simon J. Newbury on our Pregnancy Bump Paint & Portrait Project. This led to us appearing on Granada Reports as well as all 3 of the local newspapers.

I feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have my own show on the radio and here's to another year!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REDSHIFT!!!

FIRST DAY AT BIG SCHOOL

This time last year I was applying for school places for Luke, and ever since then we have been telling him that he will be going to big school soon, not sure if I was preparing him for school or myself! Well, that day was today. Sob sob!

Most of his friends started yesterday but today was Luke's first day. I felt nervous and had butterflies all morning, I was careful not to be too over enthusiastic and careful not to show him I was petrified for him too! My bottom lip was quivering on the short walk to the Weaver school which was made worse when I bumped into a friend who asked 'How are you feeling?'.

Luke's friend, Lewis was already at in the classroom, so I told him to look for Lewis and in he trotted, he turned round, waved and shouted 'See you later!' without a backward glance. Luckily, Lewis's mummy, Heather was with me so we walked away from the school and didn't shed a tear at all!

When I picked him up he was full of it but when I asked what he had been doing he told me 'I can't tell you, its a secret'.

I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that the rest of his taster days will be as smooth. I think the real tears will come on 19th September when he goes full time 9am till 3pm, and I don't mean from Luke!

JUST SO FESTIVAL

A few months ago, Sarah Bird, one of the organisers of the 'Just So Festival' was a guest on 'Toddler Talk', my radio show on Redshift Radio. She came on to promote this years festival on 19-21 August. Sarah and Rowan organised the first one last year, their vision was to organise a family friendly festival offering music, theatre, workshops within a wonderous and beautiful landscape near Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire.

I had never been to a festival before and decided to visit for a day rather than the whole weekend camping. We made our packed lunch and set off bright and early yesterday to sunny Leek, in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Our first delight of the day was seeing the Gruffalo, I was more excited than Luke! There were various workshops taking place, Pirate workshops, lantern making, painting and other craft activities. Many children were dressed up as fairies, pirates and superheroes, including our own little batman donning his knights sword. For those with small babies, there was a sensory area and a feeding tent too. We had our picnic at a man-made beach where there was also Punch & Judy, Ice creams and puppet shows.

The highlight of our day was the Clown workshop, we spent an hour playing games as a family, we had great fun and was great to see Luke running around and mixing with complete strangers.

Just walking round the forest, being in the outdoors and joining in with the spirit of things will stay in memory forever. I can't wait for next year and from all the comments friends made about my photos on Facebook, I'm sure they will be joining me too.

Well done Sarah and Rowan, I hope you managed to enjoy the weekend, you did an amazing job!

CHESHIRE PONY PARTY

I've been on a bit of a mission to get Luke to take up a hobby and just recently we've tried swimming lessons, gym sessions and football, all of which have been unsuccessful. I was stressing myself out by his lack of enthusiasm for everything and worrying that he would never settle into anything.

Alison Bowett, who runs Nantwich Baby Group organised an outing today to Cheshire Pony Parties, I booked Luke onto it but did not anticipate him taking part. He loves animals in general but recently in Majorca he refused the opportunity to ride a pony so I didn't expect too much.

Luke was adamant he wasn't going to ride one, and just wanted to look at them. When we first arrived, each child was handed a brush to groom Poppy the pony. Luke was very tentative at first but by the time we were introduced to the second pony, Maisie he was getting into it a bit more. Luke loves being a little helper so was thrilled when he was invited to help find the ribbons and clips to decorate Maisie's mane. Then he held the lead and walked round with Maisie, but still absolutely adamant he wasn't going to ride one.

We queued up to just have a photo sitting on Poppy and still he kept saying 'I'm just having a sit, not a ride' but as children always prove you wrong, he sat and then was led round. I was thrilled to bits, not only because I was getting my monies worth but because I knew he would love it. Last year, he'd ridden on a donkey and loved it. It's not as cheap as football or swimming lessons but I may have found something that Luke enjoys!

For more details on Cheshire Pony Parties, go to http://www.cheshireponyparties.co.uk/index.php

COUNTDOWN TO SCHOOL

Luke finished pre-school the day before we jetted off to not so sunny Majorca, I had been feeling emotional all day as I hate saying Goodbye and knew I would shed a tear. It was very sad saying goodbye to the staff especially as Luke has been there since he was 9 months old.

Since returning from holiday, it has suddenly hit me that Luke will not be going to pre-school anymore and he is going to 'Big school' in September. I am making the most of my time with him during August and have put big crosses in my diary on Mondays and Thursdays to enjoy days out and 'Mummy Days'.

Today, was one of our so-called 'Mummy Days', we started the day by baking a Honey Tea Loaf, then we headed over to Nantwich Lake with the picnic bag and a ball for Fizz, (the dog) and then fed the ducks. We had a lovely couple of hours and even taught Luke how to play Pooh Sticks, which he was totally obsessed with and has collected a number of sticks to play another day.

I'm going to miss him like crazy when he goes to school, I'm filling up now just thinking about it!