A Modern Mother

More about that dress

I'm not under any illusions. I don't have the perfect bod. I like to think I'm not fat, but I am a bit *AHEM* thick in places. I'm 45. I had three children in quick secession. I like food. I can't be bothered with dieting.

So when I went on this Three Mobile Mums photo shoot at OK Magazine, and the stylist pulled out this, I said I had to have it. It's a John Lewis Hobbs Limited Edition corsage dress. 100% silk, empire line, long sleeve, mid-length. It hides all the fat bits, and emphasizes my small waist.

I didn't say I wanted it in a Veruca Salt Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sort of way, it was more of a how did you do that sort of way. When I showed the OK Photos to my friends, they looked in awe and said I looked thin. I think they were being complimentary.

Hubby was sweet and got me the dress for Christmas. Yay! He didn't even flinch at the price (he's Scottish).

What did you get for Christmas? 

Thames Valley drinks and the digital story of the nativity

Last night we had Christmas drinks at a neighbours. Actually it was with the neighborhood, as the whole town was there, drinking mulled wine and chatting about the symptoms of swine flu and Evernote, a cool app that syncs your notes from all devices. We also took a quick peak at this viral video (on an Android smart phone) of how the nativity would have played out ala digital style. Can you tell I live in the middle of Silicon the Thames Valley? Happy Christmas everyone!

  

 

 

 

Please, leave your sick kid at home!

 To all mums,

If your child threw up last night’s dinner or had the loo permanently stuck to their bottom last night, PLEASE DO NOT SEND HIM TO SCHOOL.

I don’t care if you asked him if he wanted to stay home and he said no. I would want to get out of the house too if I was faced with the choice of helping a grumpy mummy with the growing mountain of laundry the size of Everest or playing with my friends.

The thing is, when you send your sick child to school, they spread their germs. They don’t do it intentionally – they cough or sneeze and the virus suspends itself in mid air, non discriminate on where, or on whom, it lands.

Then other children get the sick bug, and they in turn get their siblings sick, and their parents. Soon the whole town is sick is and throwing up in unison and there is a run on paracetamol at Tesco .

Shopping carts -- does it need to be this hard?

I've been living in the UK on and off since 1990. I have a British passport. My children were born here. I can make a roast that can compete with the best of them.

Why the heck can't I steer a British shopping cart?

I am resigned to the fact that "things are harder here". When I first opened a bank account 20 years ago, I went to the branch where I lived. Bad move. On a lunch break one day, when I needed to withdraw more money than allowed by the ATM, I had to travel 40 minutes from my work place in order to complete the transaction. The systems were not "connected".

Love Story on Stage Review

Sponsored post

Where shall I begin? I first saw Love Story when I was about 10. It flickered on our 12-inch black and white Sony TV, while I snuggled warmly into our worn honey-coloured sofa. I felt very grown up. My parents let me stay up to 11 pm to watch the end, having previously debated whether or not I was too young for the content (plot spoiler: the main character dies of leukaemia). By the end of the evening, I remember hiding my face behind a cushion, trying very hard not to let my older brothers see my tears. I think that was the first time I had such a strong emotional reaction to a film.

Toyologist donations

 
As part of the Toys R Us Toyologist programme, we have been given quite a few toys over the past months. We have more than any family could possibly use (or store), so we've started donating them to good causes. Here's the first batch to go: Strawberry Shortcake, Toy Story Three, Barbie and others will end up in the hands of some well-deserved children. Thank you Toys R Us.

My fifteen minutes of fame

 

OK, actually it's only about a minute, but this is as close to being a celebrity that I will ever get ...

PS -- I bought the dress!!