Are 24 exams too much for our teenagers ?

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Today my teenager completed his penultimate GCSE exam. Exam number 23 out of 24, with his final exam being taken next Wednesday. 24 exams between the 14th May and the 20th June, 24 exams to revise for, 24 exams to feel anxious over, 24 times to walk into the school hall under exam conditions, and to remember everything you have been taught over the past 3 years.

Are 24 Exams too much for our Teenagers

I remember looking at the exam timetable a few months ago. I naively thought that the 2 page document in my hand was every single GCSE, not just the ones my son would … Continue reading

Being made redundant

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I never thought I would be sat here, writing a post about being made redundant, and if truth be told that is probably quite naïve of me. Losing my part-time job, working as an administrator in a children’s nursery, was never at the forefront of my mind. But on the 12th March it became a reality for me. The job that I had loved doing for 6 years was being taken away from me.

Being made redundant

I am not going to lie, the past 3 months have been tough. I know that I am extremely lucky that we don’t rely on my … Continue reading

17 years of being married

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The country might be all getting excited about the forthcoming wedding of Meghan and Harry, but rewind 17 years and I was getting ready to marry my very own ginger prince.

17 years of being married

I know it’s a huge cliché, but the past 17 years have gone in the blink of an eye. I still remember our wedding day like it was yesterday, getting married in the hotel where Hywel had proposed to me 14 months before. We were surrounded by friends and family (and John McCardle who used to be in Brookside) , on one of the hottest days of the year. … Continue reading

Little Loves – Prom Suits, Zip Wires and GCSE Exams

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It is always my intention to get my Little Loves post out on a Friday, but I have spectacularly failed this week as it’s now Sunday evening. Looking back it has been a pretty ‘normal’ few weeks, and I can tell from the lack of pictures I have taken that life has been filled with school, work, and just the usual life stuff.

Little Loves

Read

I read a lovely message from one of the teen’s teachers, who said that Morgan was extremely lucky to have such a supportive family, and that it shone through in him. Parenting teens is HARD WORK, … Continue reading

Celebrate National Tea Day with Buyagift

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It seems only fitting that I write this blog post accompanied with a large cup of tea, as tomorrow we celebrate National Tea Day here in the UK. Whether you like yours brewed in a teapot, made using a tea strainer, or served to you in your favourite restaurant, Saturday the 21st April is the day to celebrate the good old cuppa.

National Tea Day with Buyagift

I switched from drinking coffee to tea a few years ago, due to suffering with migraines. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a cup of coffee, but you can’t beat the feeling of waking up to a … Continue reading

Got a friend who is a new mum ? Gifts they will love

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We all have friends or close family members in our lives that may become a mum at some point, and their journey into parenthood is of course an exciting one. As a mum myself I can just about remember those early days, and you know that your friend has exciting times to come. However, I also know how overwhelming those first few weeks and months can be, and sometimes you just want them to know that you are thinking of them. I thought I would share with you some of the best gifts you could consider giving them, to let … Continue reading

A summer of National Citizen Service (NCS) for Morgan

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If you had asked me what the National Citizen Service (NCS) was 6 months ago, I would have shrugged my shoulders and apologised for not knowing. But fast forward to now, and NCS is talked about almost daily in our house. Morgan is counting down the days until his NCS adventure begins at the end of June, 3 days after he finishes school.

NCS

The NCS programme is open to 15-17 year olds (you need to be turning 16 by the 31st August), and aims to bring together young people from different backgrounds and cultures. Morgan heard all about NCS after … Continue reading

Little Loves – New Bedroom, Easter Holidays and Gangsta Granny

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The Easter holidays are coming to an end, and this year it has been slightly different for us. We usually spend a week in Greece at our favourite hotel, but this year we stayed at home due to the impending GCSEs. The teen has been in school nearly every day over the holidays, and thankfully he doesn’t seem to mind. He has been balancing revision with hanging out with his mates, and time on his beloved PlayStation. We did manage a trip to Shrewsbury over the Easter weekend, and it was lovely to get away for a few days.… Continue reading

Little Loves – Seven Year Switch, The Wii and Easter

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I had all good intentions of joining in with Little Loves last week, but when it came to it I just couldn’t engage my brain and write. It has been a challenging few weeks for me, yet I know that everything will work out completely fine in the end. This is why I love Little Loves, focusing on the little things that have made me smile over the past few weeks.

Little Loves

Read

I have read not one, but two books over the past few weeks. I had all good intentions  of reading the Matt Haig book that everybody seems to … Continue reading

Scout Camp and 8 essential items you need

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Katie has just celebrated 6 years of being involved with Beavers, Cubs and now Scouts. Half of her life collecting badges, attending weekly meetings, wearing her uniform with pride, and camping. Camps are a huge part of Katie’s scouting journey, from the 1 night stays in comfortable lodges when she was a Beaver, to longer stays under canvas now she is a Scout.

Scout Camp

Camp has given her the freedom to grow, to do activities that she would never have the chance to do otherwise. To learn how to cook and be independent, how to be part of a team, and … Continue reading