Pumpkin Carving

For the last few days Tilly has be begging me to help her carve her pumpkin but I have been
trying to put it off. Today I decided I couldn't put it off anymore and we went into town to buy a pumpkin carving kit from Poundland. All the way home Tilly was excited and thinking up designs for her pumpkin while I was wondering how she planned to do some of these designs with only a simple carving set and two people who have very little artistic skills!

Things you should not say to a Whovian!

I am a whovian through and through and a bit of a geek. Everyone who knows me is aware of this and they seek my advice and opinion if there is any major news or gossip announced. However there are many things that annoy me and many other whovians when people speak about Doctor Who. So I have decided to write a list of 5 common mistakes people make when they speak to me about Doctor Who.

Quick and Easy Halloween Craft

Every Halloween I always buy sweets for the children out trick or treating. I normally buy a multi pack of mini sweets or chocolate bars but they always look boring so this year I decided to make my trick or treat sweats a little more ghostly.

This didn't take me long to do as it is quite a simple idea but it is a fabulous idea to do with the children to keep them entertained (because we all know that about now we are starting to wish we could send them all back to school tomorrow!).

All you will need is some white card (paper will also work), a pair of scissors, a colouring pen (I have used black but there is no reason why you cant mix it up a bit and use lots of colours), glue and your chosen Halloween treats.

First thing to do is to draw a ghost onto a piece of the card. If you are like me and have absolutely appalling drawing stills, you can draw around a ghost shaped cookie cutter or trace a picture from a book (or better yet just get the kids to draw them, that way you can blame them if they are unusual looking ghosts!). Your ghost needs to be bigger then your chosen sweet, I used a mini packet of Haribo sweets and made a ghost using of ½ an A4 sheet of card.

Next you cut out the ghosts, they don't have to be perfect as all ghosts seem to be drawn differently anyway! Now you need to draw a face onto your ghost. This can be as scary or as friendly as you like as I said previously this can also be any colour you like and in as much detail as you like.

When your ghost is finished stick a tiny bit of glue onto the stomach of your ghost and then stick the treat onto him. If your ghost is a master piece or you have added colour or detail to the front, there is no reason why the treat can't be stuck to the back. Once they are dry they are ready for trick or treaters.

Although I have made ghosts, if you use orange paper you can make pumpkins or use black paper to make a haunted house, witch or black cat or if you have some extra time, why not make a variety of shapes.

Mums in Turkey so that means tea party!

During the first week that mum was in Turkey, we had so much fun in Butlins as there was so much to do that Tilly didn't have time to miss mum. However during the second week, Tilly started to get a little upset. One evening I could hear her crying in her room, I offered a cuddle but she didn't want one, she just wanted to be on her own. It broke my heart listening to her and I thought that she needed a distraction and something else to focus on. So I that we needed to have a tea party.

So together we decided on 2 of her friends (if Tilly had had her own way she would have invited half the school), and Tilly went to school the next day happy in the knowledge that she would have her friends coming home with us. I then came home and franticly tidied up, made sure all the washing was done, hoovered and hid my suitcase (I an staying at mums house to look after Tilly while she is in Turkey, so I am currently living out of a suitcase).

Butlins Day 5 - Going home

On the 5^th day we were sad to be heading home. After packing up and handing back our room key we where pleased to find out that there was somewhere we could leave our luggage for a few hours. We then watched Bonnie and Billy's wake up session where Tilly loved joining in with the dancing while I looked at buying some of the photos she has had during the week. I wasn't sure weather I would buy some as the photos where usually £10 each but they had a deal on where for £25 you could get 2 photos, 2 key rings, 2 magnets, 2 small pictures and 2 digital downloads so I decided on a picture of me and Tilly with Billy and Bonnie bear and one of Tilly with the Skyline gang.

We then spent a couple of hours where Tilly could just run around the play areas. She particularly liked the indoor soft play area. Because it was Friday there weren't many shows or events on but the play areas and fairground were still open.

Butlins day 4 - football and the Pantomime

On the 4^th day we decided that we would go to the football coaching as I knew Tilly has enjoyed it previously. This is a session run by an FA-qualified coach and helps to build stills in ball control, team tactics, passing and shooting.

Tilly was a little apprehensive at first because when we arrived she was 1 of only 2 girls in a group with almost a dozen boys (some of whom believed they were the next Rooney or Messi), but once the coach got them all participating in the different activities she loved it.

Billy bear joining in the fun

Butlins Day 3 - Splash Waterworld and the Fairground

On day 3 we decided to go swimming. After the chaos of trying to find Tilly's swimming costume when I was packing (click here to read about the chaos), I was happy to be able to tell Tilly that we were going swimming. So we packed our matching Disney princess towels and our swimming costumes and headed to the pool.

Me and Tilly in our matching towels

In the swimming pool there was a lot to do, there was a large pool that we where both very excited about when we realised there were waves. After the waves had finished Tilly put on her armbands and attempted to learn to swim. However she soon gave up and headed to the children's pool which was shallower and had a climbing frame and 3 small slides. She had fun going down the slides while I sat in a relaxing area and watched her.

Butlins Day 1&2 - Arrival and the Shows

Upon our arrival at Butlins, an hour later then we planned due to our hectic trip here (click here to read my blog post about our trip). We were directed to our check in point and quickly found a trolley for all our luggage (and for Tilly as her legs ached!). Our check in we really easy and quick and we were soon on our way to our apartment. Although the receptionist had given me a map and explained where to go we still got lost, we tried to get into someone else's apartment and walked around in a complete circle before realising our apartment is right opposite the check in office!

Me and my new friend Bonnie bear

Once we finally reached our apartment we were pleasantly surprised that because the book was originally for 4 people, we had been given two apartments and the joining door had been unlocked, as a result we both had our own rooms and our own bathrooms. The rooms were clean and came with a tv, kettle and sachets of tea and coffee.

cooking at the Chequers

I was recently invited to the Chequers kitchen cookery school to take part in a series of cookery classes. Although when I am at home I can follow a simple recipe, I don't really have the confidence to cook something from scratch so I hope that by attending I be more confident cooking at home as I will know I can do it. We have made a variety of items including mini quiche and potato koftas.

Traveling to Butlins

On Monday me and Tilly woke bright and early to get the train to Butlins, we knew it would be a long journey with multiple trains as by avoiding the direct route thought London, we were able to save about £30. However neither of us expected what a palaver it would be.

waiting patiently for our train.

When we left the house pulling our over packed suitcases, me and Tilly looked at each other, looked at a lady waiting at the bus stop, looked at each other again and both said lets get the bus. Tilly then decided that everyone who got on the bus needed to know she was going to Butlins and she had fun laughing at her friends when the bus went past her school!

Attemping to pack for Butlins

By the time this goes live hopefully me and Tilly would have made the train and are on are way to Butlins. I decided that I would try and be good and pack our suitcases about a week in advance otherwise I know I will be running round like a headless chicken on Sunday night trying to find everything (I know that whenever I pack I will unpack on Sunday night because I am paranoid I have forgotten something!).

Packing for Butlins has been one of the most stressful things I have done, I thought if I included Tilly in the process it would make life easier as well as give her a sense of excitement. I was wrong! If something could go wrong it did!

My Struggle with Dyslexia

Throughout my primary education I struggled. My brain new the answers and could work very quickly but I couldn't express myself on paper. My primary school suggested that I may have dyslexia but I was never tested. It wasn't until I started at the local grammar school and they suspected I have dyslexia that I was actually tested.

Brownies

Another big part of my life is volunteering at my local brownie group. When I was 17 I wanted something to add to my personal statement to help me get into university and since I had had so much fun being a brownie as a young girl, I contacted my old brown owl who said that I was more then welcome to come and volunteer. I thought that I would stay for a few months maybe a year and it would look good not only on my personal statement but on my CV. That was 7 years ago and I still absolutely love it.

Our Day Out in Legoland

me and Tilly enjoying ourselves on a ride

During the summer, me mum and Tilly took a trip to Legoland. We decided to stay in a hotel so that we didnt have to get up early and travel down there that day. We found a lovely Travelodge in Feltham, about 20 minuets out of Windsor. We were able to get a bus from Windsor town right up to the gates of Legoland and we arrived just before opening.

As soon as we entered Legoland, we headed for the rides. The first ride we came across was a water ride called Vikings River Splash. We thought that as it looked like it was going to be a really warm day, it didn't matter if we started the day wet, we would soon dry off. Mum insisted that she was going to wear her plastic bin bag type water proof. Me and Tilly were very embarrassed and considered telling the ride operator that she wasn't will us and that we wanted our own boat!

Tower Bridge made out of Lego. there were many famous landmarks from around the world.

As we arrived for opening, we were able to get onto the first few rides really quickly and therefore we were able to go on so many of the rides. As the day progressed the weather continued to be in our favour.

International Day of older people

Today is international day of older people, an annual celebration since 1991 that celebrates the lives of older people and highlighters their importance and contributions to society. So I thought I would use this opportunity to talk about the things that I have realised while working with older people.

I am a support worker at a care company in my home town. I assist the elderly with dressing, preparing meals and help with general independent living within their own homes. I only started this job because I was unemployed and needed a job, however once I stated I found that I really enjoyed it.

There are many things that I have learnt while in this job and many of my preconception about the elderly have been proved wrong.

The main thing that I have realised is that age is just a number. Before I started I thought that this job would have me meeting people who are unable to do much for themselves, however I have realised that many of the people I visit are capable of independent living just need a little assistance with some tasks.

Many of the elderly people I visit are also very interesting people to talk to. They have lived through different decades and I love listening to their stories about the past. When there is a major event such as remembrance day, many of my clients will talk about where they where and what they where doing. It is amazing to hear these stories first hand.

Recently me and my mum popped into the travel agents to enquire about something in regards to her upcoming holiday to Turkey, the travel agent pulled up the booking and told us there where 2 adults on the booking. We queried this as there was meant to be 3 adults going, when she looked further into the booking she realised that a family friend that is going has now been classed as an OAP. We all found this hilarious as although this friend has recently had a significant birthday, she is not what I would consider as 'old'. On this holiday they will be relaxing on the beach, enjoying the sun and drinking alcohol. Its not the kind of holiday you would think of as an OAPs holiday. This just shows that although a computer system had decided she is an OAP, she is still enjoying life and she is not 'old'.

Overall I believe that my views of the elderly have completely changed over the last few years and if more people spent just a little time with older people they may also find that old in age doesn't necessarily mean old in personality.