ENGLISH MUM

And so it came to pass that we were packed and ready for the off. God alone knows why, but we’d decided that I’d take the car on the ferry, accompanied by one of de brevren, while Hubby flew over with the other one. This was a bit complicated, but we’d already booked our flights and then realised we’d need to take a car. Dammit. A quick check of the ferry booking showed that in a spectacularly proud...

Loving… Holiday Extras’ new Travelling with a Baby guide.   I’m already a huge fan of Holiday Extras after their fantastic effort during the Icelandic volcanic ash disruptions.  Their CEO was posting travel updates every day on their website – a service that was invaluable to loads of people (including me) stranded all over the globe.   If you’ve ever travelled with a baby (or...

I never made a secret of the fact that I didn’t want to leave Ireland.  In fact, when I wrote this, I was probably the lowest I’d ever been. So we’ve made a decision.  Probably the biggest decision we’ll ever make.  And we’re going home.  Back to Ireland. Back to lovely English Towers.  Back to the Boat Road.  Back to fields of cows, home made bramble jelly and finding sheep...

No, don’t be silly, of course I didn’t go teetotal. It just made for a nice title.  You know me better than that. Firstly, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: me.  Let’s be honest, I’ve kind of chubbed.  I’ve podged up.  Filled out.  I’m ‘looking well’ as the ol’ eupemism for ‘shit, you got fat’ goes. Okay, so I’m not wallowing...

So what do you do if Xbox call you up and ask if you’re busy next week? You pack up your kids and your Hubby and arrive at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted with absolutely no idea what you’re letting yourself in for, that’s what. Arriving confused at Cologne airport, all was revealed. Turned out, we were to be the ‘Xbox Kinect Family’ at the Cologne gaming convention, Gamescom...

So it’s been a pretty mixed summer.  We had plenty of sunshine early on (in fact, nearly melting in my conservatory/oven became such a regular feature that I abandoned it for good for a while), but lately it’s been rainy and a bit miserable. Typical British weather. Still, I managed to take this snap of #1 bowling at a cricket match (note his Grandad, my Disreputable Dad, complete with ancient...

I”m absolutely delighted to see that English Mum has been included on Have a Lovely Time’s list of family and activity sites ‘packed with summer fun’. If you’re having trouble entertaining the kids over the holidays, or you’re looking for inspiration for days out, do check out this fabulous website (and no I’m not just saying that because they’re nice about me...

De Brevren made this video together. #2 did the skating and the editing (with help from his big bro), #1 did the filming and because he’s The Mad Professor, somehow knows tricks to get over the YouTube audio copyright restrictions too (shhh).  I might be biased but I think it’s quite good.  Although mothers of small boys everywhere will be buttock clenchingly aware that the child is moments away...

Moneysupermarket.com recently sent me these great tips for eating out.  There are some great ideas here (although the greedier amongst us won’t be sharing desserts any time soon *cough*).   Worth a look, I think: Eating out is a favourite pastime for many families – it’s an opportunity to spend some quality time together, eat nice food, and mum or dad doesn’t have to wash up! Unfortunately,...

I’d hazard a guess that Tim Mead isn’t your average company director. As our little gang of assorted journalists and food bloggers wanders wearily into Yeo Valley Organic’s head office, The Mendip Centre, he rushes to greet us, all smiles and firm handshakes. He chuckles at our civvy moans about being up at 5am (‘that’s normal for a farmer’) and takes us out onto the balcony for tea and...