Life on the Other Side

Somebody just said to me that in a few days, it will be under a hundred days until Christmas. Firstly, how?! Last week, it was July and we were debating whether or not to get the big paddling pool out and the week before that, it was April and I was contemplating how long I could make the final year of my thirties last. Well, clearly that last thought didn't go according to plan! Secondly; who does that? I mean children do, obviously, but it does perplex me when adults can't contain their excitement for Christmas from September onwards. Retailers can't either. The manager of my local supermarket is really over excited, he's already got his Christmas displays up, I think he is reliving his childhood.

Bogs Footwear Review and Giveaway - Amazing Wellies!

I'm not saying that my son is fussy, but he is a little bit obsessed with comfort. If it isn't comfortable he does not see any need to wear it and I am inclined to agree with him. There's plenty of time for sensible shoes and collars and ties when he starts caring about girls. In the meantime, his shoe of choice is always the welly. He loves a welly. Plenty of room to wriggle your toes and easy to pull on and off when you need to rush out and do something important at a moment's notice. L lost his favourite wellies, in a distressing experience at the beach, and after hearing about this, Bogs Footwear sent him some new ones to review, and as you can see, he loves them already!

My Sunday Photo: Voyage on The Matthew

A Voyage on The Matthew - Review

This is the last week of the school holidays for us, so we thought it would be nice to have a couple of last days out, before we have to start being all sensible and going to bed on time. We were lucky enough to be able to review Bristol Zoo Gardens this week and we were also invited to attend a cruise of Bristol Harbour on board The Matthew. We have sailed on The Matthew once before, but it was a very short trip, due to bad weather, so we were really excited to find it was a beautiful day, when we were due on board. We've been so lucky this summer with the weather, I can't remember ever having so many consecutive sunny days and it has really meant we could make the most of the holidays. 

Balancing Disability with Family Life

Having struggled with aspects of daily life, after being diagnosed with SPD in 2006 and then herniated discs a few years later, I know how hard it can be when things that used to be second nature suddenly become trickier. There are various aspects to consider, beyond the obvious physical challenges presented by such basic processes as bathing and dressing. For example, it's exhausting negotiating barriers from the second you wake up in the morning. It's also humiliating. No self-respecting adult is going to enjoy discussing their difficulties with getting dressed or washing, let alone having to get help with it. So, if you are the partner of someone who is struggling with a disability, or are a sufferer yourself, how can you make things easier? 

Bristol Zoo Review; A Summer Send Off

The husband and I had our first date at Bristol Zoo, so it holds a special meaning to us. I've watched it grow and change over many years and seen it develop its habitats and enclosures to meet the growing needs of an increasingly endangered population. It's a really special place. Wedged into a beautiful, but heavily populated, part of Clifton, space is at a premium and it's a balancing act to give all the animals the best environment for their needs, whilst also accommodating a vast number of visitors 364 days of the year. In recent years, there have been many changes and developments within the zoo and if you haven't been in a while, you may be surprised by how different it is now. It was the perfect place to begin our last week of the school holidays!

Growing Old Gracefully with Bathing Solutions

How old is too old? I've often wondered about this. At what age does a person become 'old'. You know, the sort of old where you stop being considered 'wise' and start to illicite eye rolls everytime you share the wisdom of your years. Think Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses, or, of course, good old Victor Meldrew. They can't always have been old, so where does the dividing line sit? Is there a day when you suddenly find that nothing you say is truly listened to and you find yourself unable to begin a sentence without starting with; 'In my day...' Or is it more gradual and, most importantly of all, will you see it coming? I'm a little concerned about this whole subject, in all honesty. I'm approaching *cough* 40 *cough* much quicker than I would like and I can distinctly remember an age when I thought 40 was positively ancient.