When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief

On Friday of last week, fellow school Mum and good friend Cathy came over with her three lovely children Isabelle, Joshua and baby Emma. Whilst we sat downstairs with Emma, busily catching up over cups of tea and biscuits, the children ran upstairs to Joshua and Grace's rooms on the third floor. 

The intent in any child's mind of course when either attending or hosting a play date, is to empty as many toys as humanly possible onto the bedroom floor or next available space, hence creating a minefield of chaos for the poor mother in charge to clear up when the play date is over. The departing mother may sometimes give a polite and guilty offer of help which is often greeted with a breezy 'not to worry' by the host mother. This is usually because she knows only too well that it will be the departing mother's turn the next time, thereby providing an unspoken fair and harmonious relationship between friends!

This particular play date was one I am sure I will always remember. I guess I should have been suitably alarmed when Grace ran downstairs into the kitchen holding up her hands to complain about the Barbie hair that was stuck to them. I assumed this was the result of some vigorous brushing and diligently removed the said strands from her rather clammy fingers and palms. It was only when she merrily trotted back up the stairs that I noticed a six inch piece of her own hair laying in the middle of the kitchen floor. With alarm in our eyes Cathy and I raced up the stairs to find a scene straight out of the bad hairdressing guide handbook. My son Joshua, Isabelle and Grace had found a pair of children's blunt ended nail scissors that I had unwittingly left on top of the book case and decided to play 'hairdressers'.  

Barbie had taken a fairly big hit and had a resulting bald patch where the children had practised before attempting their live models. Although Isabelle had lost two, four inch strands, off each side of her beautiful long blonde locks and Joshua had had a little taken off top, it was Grace who had been the most experimented on customer.  She had happily and dutifully taken her seat on the bed whilst Joshua and Isabelle had got busy creating their masterpiece. The fringe that I had taken most of the year to grow out was now back, there was a nice bit of layering round the sides and at the back a less professional looking job with a large clipping taken from the crown of her head and a slightly more reserved longer piece that rested half way down the full length of her hair. The discarded hair was later found hidden under the bookcase. 

Cathy and I spent the ensuing twenty minutes exchanging gasps and a few restrained smirks whilst explaining to the children why we mustn't play with scissors. We reconciled ourselves with the fact that it could have been a lot worse and Grace could have ended up with a monstrous attempt at a bob or such like, before saying our goodbyes and operation hair clean up began. 

The Henry Fielding quote 'when children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief' has since sprung to mind. Looking back, it now seemed suspicious that they were all playing so quietly and well!! So the moral to this tale is, if you leave 'it' in reach, it may likely get used by small pairs of hands with devilish intentions! 

I have decided to place Grace's shorn locks mixed with a few strands of Barbie hair in a bag for safe keeping as a reminder of this lesson and so I can smile in the years to come when I look at them and remember that rather special play date! 

On Friday of last week, fellow school Mum and good friend Cathy came over with her three lovely children Isabelle, Joshua and baby Emma. Whilst we sat downstairs with Emma, busily catching up over cups of tea and biscuits, the children ran upstairs to Joshua and Grace's rooms on the third floor. 

The intent in any child's mind of course when either attending or hosting a play date, is to empty as many toys as humanly possible onto the bedroom floor or next available space, hence creating a minefield of chaos for the poor mother in charge to clear up when the play date is over. The departing mother may sometimes give a polite and guilty offer of help which is often greeted with a breezy 'not to worry' by the host mother. This is usually because she knows only too well that it will be the departing mother's turn the next time, thereby providing an unspoken fair and harmonious relationship between friends!

This particular play date was one I am sure I will always remember. I guess I should have been suitably alarmed when Grace ran downstairs into the kitchen holding up her hands to complain about the Barbie hair that was stuck to them. I assumed this was the result of some vigorous brushing and diligently removed the said strands from her rather clammy fingers and palms. It was only when she merrily trotted back up the stairs that I noticed a six inch piece of her own hair laying in the middle of the kitchen floor. With alarm in our eyes Cathy and I raced up the stairs to find a scene straight out of the bad hairdressing guide handbook. My son Joshua, Isabelle and Grace had found a pair of children's blunt ended nail scissors that I had unwittingly left on top of the book case and decided to play 'hairdressers'.  

Barbie had taken a fairly big hit and had a resulting bald patch where the children had practised before attempting their live models. Although Isabelle had lost two, four inch strands, off each side of her beautiful long blonde locks and Joshua had had a little taken off top, it was Grace who had been the most experimented on customer.  She had happily and dutifully taken her seat on the bed whilst Joshua and Isabelle had got busy creating their masterpiece. The fringe that I had taken most of the year to grow out was now back, there was a nice bit of layering round the sides and at the back a less professional looking job with a large clipping taken from the crown of her head and a slightly more reserved longer piece that rested half way down the full length of her hair. The discarded hair was later found hidden under the bookcase. 

Cathy and I spent the ensuing twenty minutes exchanging gasps and a few restrained smirks whilst explaining to the children why we mustn't play with scissors. We reconciled ourselves with the fact that it could have been a lot worse and Grace could have ended up with a monstrous attempt at a bob or such like, before saying our goodbyes and operation hair clean up began. 

The Henry Fielding quote 'when children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief' has since sprung to mind. Looking back, it now seemed suspicious that they were all playing so quietly and well!! So the moral to this tale is, if you leave 'it' in reach, it may likely get used by small pairs of hands with devilish intentions! 

I have decided to place Grace's shorn locks mixed with a few strands of Barbie hair in a bag for safe keeping as a reminder of this lesson and so I can smile in the years to come when I look at them and remember that rather special play date! 

Shaking my tail feathers!

It's week 23 and here's the thing... I have noticed that I am starting to get a bit of lower backache, mainly when I am sat at my Mac editing which also contributes to a numb bum too.  I am putting both down to being pregnant as I don't recall getting a numb bum or backache quite so readily when I wasn't 'carrying a watermelon'.

I decided to spend a few minutes studying my pregnant posture in the mirror this evening to see how I was naturally standing and I realised this...I was standing like a duck.  My belly was low and my butt (for want of a better word) was arched and stuck out like a super counter weight, all that was missing was some feathers.  No wonder my lower back was aching!

I did a little research on this and apparently as your pregnant belly grows, it throws your center of gravity out, so you end up shifting your weight to offset the added heft in front.  

The effect of pregnancy on your body's alignment

During pregnancy several things occur that work against maintaining correct alignment. For one, the weight of the baby causes your lower back to sway as your center of gravity moves forward.

Poor posture (occurs naturally)

Your abdominal muscles become stretched as the baby grows. These muscles are less able to contract and keep your lower back in proper alignment. Hormone levels increase during pregnancy and cause joints and ligaments to loosen.

Corrected posture (requires practice)

To counteract the increased low back curve, straighten your upper back so that your ear, shoulder and hip are aligned. Tuck your pelvis under using the pelvic tilt.

Now I am pleased to say I do not feel like the pregnant and very attractively labelled 'waddle' has hit me quite yet (I'll save that for my third trimester thank you very much) but it has made me think a little harder about my posture in pregnancy.  

It was interesting to see that by shifting my weight slightly, my bum tucked more neatly under and my bump rose up and felt more streamlined!  Whether or not this 'conscious' posture will be maintainable is another question but for now I think I'll try to give it some notice in an attempt to save my aching back at least!  Oh and ladies, if you see me 'shaking my tail feathers' when I'm walking, feel free to give them a little pat to remind me to put them away!!

source: http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/during/preg_posture.html

It's week 23 and here's the thing... I have noticed that I am starting to get a bit of lower backache, mainly when I am sat at my Mac editing which also contributes to a numb bum too.  I am putting both down to being pregnant as I don't recall getting a numb bum or backache quite so readily when I wasn't 'carrying a watermelon'.

I decided to spend a few minutes studying my pregnant posture in the mirror this evening to see how I was naturally standing and I realised this...I was standing like a duck.  My belly was low and my butt (for want of a better word) was arched and stuck out like a super counter weight, all that was missing was some feathers.  No wonder my lower back was aching!

I did a little research on this and apparently as your pregnant belly grows, it throws your center of gravity out, so you end up shifting your weight to offset the added heft in front.  

The effect of pregnancy on your body's alignment

During pregnancy several things occur that work against maintaining correct alignment. For one, the weight of the baby causes your lower back to sway as your center of gravity moves forward.

Poor posture (occurs naturally)

Your abdominal muscles become stretched as the baby grows. These muscles are less able to contract and keep your lower back in proper alignment. Hormone levels increase during pregnancy and cause joints and ligaments to loosen.

Corrected posture (requires practice)

To counteract the increased low back curve, straighten your upper back so that your ear, shoulder and hip are aligned. Tuck your pelvis under using the pelvic tilt.

Now I am pleased to say I do not feel like the pregnant and very attractively labelled 'waddle' has hit me quite yet (I'll save that for my third trimester thank you very much) but it has made me think a little harder about my posture in pregnancy.  

It was interesting to see that by shifting my weight slightly, my bum tucked more neatly under and my bump rose up and felt more streamlined!  Whether or not this 'conscious' posture will be maintainable is another question but for now I think I'll try to give it some notice in an attempt to save my aching back at least!  Oh and ladies, if you see me 'shaking my tail feathers' when I'm walking, feel free to give them a little pat to remind me to put them away!!

source: http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/during/preg_posture.html

Lovin Ted Baker right now!

Have you seen the latest season of Ted Baker clothes recently? They have some gorgeous stuff that I would love to get my hands on but will probably have to wait a few months for!  As you are probably aware, Ted Baker is more expensive than your usual high street retailer so it's an occasional treat for me to shop there.  That said, I couldn't resist picking up this little number as can be easily worn with bump and afterwards too.  It's not available in the Ted Baker concession at Fenwicks in Tunbridge Wells but you can order online.

Mayrie - knitted sweater - £89.00

Although I have a lot of colour in my wardrobe, I am naturally drawn to nudes, beiges and apricot tones.  I have been on the look out for a pair of fabulous nude heels for a while now when I stumbled across these on the Ted Baker website.

Although I doubt I'd get much wear out of 5 inch heels while pregnant, I still feel there may be room for them in my life!

On the wish list.... Svana - Peep Toe Platform in natural - £110.00

You can check out what else they have in this season at: www.tedbaker.com

Have you seen the latest season of Ted Baker clothes recently? They have some gorgeous stuff that I would love to get my hands on but will probably have to wait a few months for!  As you are probably aware, Ted Baker is more expensive than your usual high street retailer so it's an occasional treat for me to shop there.  That said, I couldn't resist picking up this little number as can be easily worn with bump and afterwards too.  It's not available in the Ted Baker concession at Fenwicks in Tunbridge Wells but you can order online.

Mayrie - knitted sweater - £89.00

Although I have a lot of colour in my wardrobe, I am naturally drawn to nudes, beiges and apricot tones.  I have been on the look out for a pair of fabulous nude heels for a while now when I stumbled across these on the Ted Baker website.

Although I doubt I'd get much wear out of 5 inch heels while pregnant, I still feel there may be room for them in my life!

On the wish list.... Svana - Peep Toe Platform in natural - £110.00

You can check out what else they have in this season at: www.tedbaker.com

My Clinique must haves...

7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula

I exfoliate once a week and having tried various products find Clinique's 7 day scrub to be a real winner. It polishes the skin with the aim of making it look translucent and brighter and is also meant to lessen fine lines.  It makes your skin feel wonderfully soft, without residue, after rinsing.

Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion

This is fab if you're feeling a little pasty and want a hint of colour to warm up your skin tones under make up or without.  It suits all skin types and the good thing is that it has a colour straight at the tube so you can see where it goes (meaning no white bits!).  When wearing, I put it on after cleansing at night in place of my normal moisturiser to give it time to develop. 

Super City Block 40 SPF

I use this all year round come rain or shine as helps protect the skin against the elements and offers high-level daily sun protection in a sheer, weightless formula. For all skin types, I wear mine over my normal moisturiser. It has a tint so you could wear it without foundation if you preferred.

Repairwear Laser Focus foundation

I LOVE this foundation.  It's easy to apply, is a creamy texture that gives good even coverage without looking caked on.  I would highly recommend it.  The only downside is that it doesn't have a pump dispenser which is slightly annoying (I recycled one off my previous foundation which fitted perfectly).  Apart from that it's a great buy and there are lots of shades to choose from to suit your skin type. 

Superbalm Moisturising Gloss

Anyone that knows me knows I'm rarely without my lip gloss on!  I am addicted to the stuff and love the way it feels when wearing it.  Having been a long term fan of the Lancome Juicy Tube, I switched a few years ago to the Clinique Superbalm range as found them to be more like a moisturising balm and less sticky than it's competitor.  I wear mine over my Revlon 'pink in the afternoon' lipstick to change the colour to suit what I'm wearing.  I also find them a little too sheer without.  My favourite colours are Raspberry, Apricot, Grapefruit and Mango.  

7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula

I exfoliate once a week and having tried various products find Clinique's 7 day scrub to be a real winner. It polishes the skin with the aim of making it look translucent and brighter and is also meant to lessen fine lines.  It makes your skin feel wonderfully soft, without residue, after rinsing.

Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion

This is fab if you're feeling a little pasty and want a hint of colour to warm up your skin tones under make up or without.  It suits all skin types and the good thing is that it has a colour straight at the tube so you can see where it goes (meaning no white bits!).  When wearing, I put it on after cleansing at night in place of my normal moisturiser to give it time to develop. 

Super City Block 40 SPF

I use this all year round come rain or shine as helps protect the skin against the elements and offers high-level daily sun protection in a sheer, weightless formula. For all skin types, I wear mine over my normal moisturiser. It has a tint so you could wear it without foundation if you preferred.

Repairwear Laser Focus foundation

I LOVE this foundation.  It's easy to apply, is a creamy texture that gives good even coverage without looking caked on.  I would highly recommend it.  The only downside is that it doesn't have a pump dispenser which is slightly annoying (I recycled one off my previous foundation which fitted perfectly).  Apart from that it's a great buy and there are lots of shades to choose from to suit your skin type. 

Superbalm Moisturising Gloss

Anyone that knows me knows I'm rarely without my lip gloss on!  I am addicted to the stuff and love the way it feels when wearing it.  Having been a long term fan of the Lancome Juicy Tube, I switched a few years ago to the Clinique Superbalm range as found them to be more like a moisturising balm and less sticky than it's competitor.  I wear mine over my Revlon 'pink in the afternoon' lipstick to change the colour to suit what I'm wearing.  I also find them a little too sheer without.  My favourite colours are Raspberry, Apricot, Grapefruit and Mango.  

C-section baby!

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Last week I had to return back to the hospital for a chat with the obstetrician.  This, of course, is not normal practice but if you've had any complications in previous births as I had had with Grace then a referral is usually made.  I couldn't help but feel a little anxious as to what this all meant when the midwife first announced that due to my previous circumstances (I'll spare you the gory details!) I would require obstetric care this time around.  It sounded serious, I thought, but also reassuring that I was to be fully assessed for my forthcoming delivery.

Although my appointment was at a very reasonable 11.10 a.m, I still found myself running tight on time mainly due to some probable unnecessary faffing from myself and a last minute extended toilet visit from Grace!

I rushed the children into the car armed with books and the iPad to keep them amused and made it to the hospital with three minutes to spare.  Unfortunately the closest car park to the entrance (car park A) was completely full which could have meant parking a fair distance away (meaning I would have definitely been late).  I instead found an empty bay in a row outside the main car park. Each bay was marked PTA.  Unsure as to what this meant or if it would be okay to park there I called across to another lady standing by her car just across the way in car park A.  She had a rather official looking ID badge hung around her neck so thought she might work at the hospital.  

What followed was for me a rather amusing altercation! I politely asked if she knew if I could park there to which she replied "I don't know....why are you asking me?!"  I said I thought she might work here but not to worry.  She went quiet and said 'Well actually I'm not sure you can. You might get a ticket'.  "Oh I know", I replied in a quandary, "But I'm running late for my appointment."  She practically bellowed back "Well don't ask me then if you're not going to take my advice!!  I was going to offer you my space but I won't bother now!''  Slightly taken aback but somewhat amused I breezily commented that she was "a little chippy this morning" and "had she got out the wrong side of bed?!"  To which she shouted "I hope you get a ticket!!" and made a point of directing another car to her soon to be free space and slammed the car door shut.  I shook my head and smiled to myself, deciding to take the risk she was so hoping for and dashed inside to the clinic with the children.

We waited longer than we had needed to in the waiting room for my consultation as I hadn't realised that unlike your ultrasound appointments, your name doesn't get called and you have to wait instead for your name to flash up on the big flat screen on the wall, which directs you to the appropriate room. It's like being in the queue at Argos! Once I'd worked this out(!) and after some amount of apologising to the 'tut-tutting' midwife waiting to take my blood pressure, the children and I were escorted to meet the obstetrician.

I liked the obstetrician.  He was a very relaxed, confident chap, clearly a family man himself with an informal but professional air about him.  He guided me through my options and told me that I could have a normal delivery and be fine but there were also risks involved that could lead to long term problems.  He offered good, honest advice and said he personally thought a c-section was the way to go as would eliminate any other risks and would be quick and controlled.

To be honest, I practically jumped at the offer, as the alternative wasn't worth risking and also the planner in me felt this was a perfect solution.  Obviously, there is the downside of the extended recovery period of 4-6 weeks but as my due date is near Christmas it would be possibly the most practical time to have one as will have more support from family during the holidays.  Brett luckily has 14 days holiday left so will be able to take time off from the 10th December until 2nd January which works out brilliantly.

The obstetrician finished by telling me I'd need to come back at 36 weeks for another consultation and discussion but if I did go ahead, I would be booked in anytime between the 10th and 17th December, the 17th being my due date.  With that, he handed me the appointment booking form for the next appointment and we said our goodbyes.  The only embarrassing thing was that as I walked out, busily digesting all the information I had just been given, I forgot that on the blank side of the appointment form, he had been so kind as to draw me a very detailed and intimate diagram of a woman's lady bits which I then breezily wafted through the entire waiting room, turning what was a very private meeting into a somewhat public affair!  The receptionist and I had a good chuckle about it afterwards.

So, the good news is that the little man will be born in December BEFORE Christmas - hooray! I now feel like I have a real deadline to work towards.  If he decides to make an earlier appearance, I will still be allowed a c-section but it will just be treated as an emergency one.  I actually feel quite excited and also a bit nervous.  So if any of you lovely ladies have had c-sections and would like to give me the 'gentle' heads up, please comment away!  Click at the bottom of the post where it says 'no comments'...

Oh and by the way, nobody in the clinic knew what 'PTA' stood for in the car park either and I didn't get a ticket!!  :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Last week I had to return back to the hospital for a chat with the obstetrician.  This, of course, is not normal practice but if you've had any complications in previous births as I had had with Grace then a referral is usually made.  I couldn't help but feel a little anxious as to what this all meant when the midwife first announced that due to my previous circumstances (I'll spare you the gory details!) I would require obstetric care this time around.  It sounded serious, I thought, but also reassuring that I was to be fully assessed for my forthcoming delivery.

Although my appointment was at a very reasonable 11.10 a.m, I still found myself running tight on time mainly due to some probable unnecessary faffing from myself and a last minute extended toilet visit from Grace!

I rushed the children into the car armed with books and the iPad to keep them amused and made it to the hospital with three minutes to spare.  Unfortunately the closest car park to the entrance (car park A) was completely full which could have meant parking a fair distance away (meaning I would have definitely been late).  I instead found an empty bay in a row outside the main car park. Each bay was marked PTA.  Unsure as to what this meant or if it would be okay to park there I called across to another lady standing by her car just across the way in car park A.  She had a rather official looking ID badge hung around her neck so thought she might work at the hospital.  

What followed was for me a rather amusing altercation! I politely asked if she knew if I could park there to which she replied "I don't know....why are you asking me?!"  I said I thought she might work here but not to worry.  She went quiet and said 'Well actually I'm not sure you can. You might get a ticket'.  "Oh I know", I replied in a quandary, "But I'm running late for my appointment."  She practically bellowed back "Well don't ask me then if you're not going to take my advice!!  I was going to offer you my space but I won't bother now!''  Slightly taken aback but somewhat amused I breezily commented that she was "a little chippy this morning" and "had she got out the wrong side of bed?!"  To which she shouted "I hope you get a ticket!!" and made a point of directing another car to her soon to be free space and slammed the car door shut.  I shook my head and smiled to myself, deciding to take the risk she was so hoping for and dashed inside to the clinic with the children.

We waited longer than we had needed to in the waiting room for my consultation as I hadn't realised that unlike your ultrasound appointments, your name doesn't get called and you have to wait instead for your name to flash up on the big flat screen on the wall, which directs you to the appropriate room. It's like being in the queue at Argos! Once I'd worked this out(!) and after some amount of apologising to the 'tut-tutting' midwife waiting to take my blood pressure, the children and I were escorted to meet the obstetrician.

I liked the obstetrician.  He was a very relaxed, confident chap, clearly a family man himself with an informal but professional air about him.  He guided me through my options and told me that I could have a normal delivery and be fine but there were also risks involved that could lead to long term problems.  He offered good, honest advice and said he personally thought a c-section was the way to go as would eliminate any other risks and would be quick and controlled.

To be honest, I practically jumped at the offer, as the alternative wasn't worth risking and also the planner in me felt this was a perfect solution.  Obviously, there is the downside of the extended recovery period of 4-6 weeks but as my due date is near Christmas it would be possibly the most practical time to have one as will have more support from family during the holidays.  Brett luckily has 14 days holiday left so will be able to take time off from the 10th December until 2nd January which works out brilliantly.

The obstetrician finished by telling me I'd need to come back at 36 weeks for another consultation and discussion but if I did go ahead, I would be booked in anytime between the 10th and 17th December, the 17th being my due date.  With that, he handed me the appointment booking form for the next appointment and we said our goodbyes.  The only embarrassing thing was that as I walked out, busily digesting all the information I had just been given, I forgot that on the blank side of the appointment form, he had been so kind as to draw me a very detailed and intimate diagram of a woman's lady bits which I then breezily wafted through the entire waiting room, turning what was a very private meeting into a somewhat public affair!  The receptionist and I had a good chuckle about it afterwards.

So, the good news is that the little man will be born in December BEFORE Christmas - hooray! I now feel like I have a real deadline to work towards.  If he decides to make an earlier appearance, I will still be allowed a c-section but it will just be treated as an emergency one.  I actually feel quite excited and also a bit nervous.  So if any of you lovely ladies have had c-sections and would like to give me the 'gentle' heads up, please comment away!  Click at the bottom of the post where it says 'no comments'...

Oh and by the way, nobody in the clinic knew what 'PTA' stood for in the car park either and I didn't get a ticket!!  :)

Jojo Maman Bebe denim skirt

I picked up this great little denim skirt at JoJo Maman Bebe last week.  It's perfect for the summer with bare legs and sandals or with tights/leggings and boots when it starts to get chilly.  It has a detachable over the bump support band to keep everything in place and costs £26.00.

I picked up this great little denim skirt at JoJo Maman Bebe last week.  It's perfect for the summer with bare legs and sandals or with tights/leggings and boots when it starts to get chilly.  It has a detachable over the bump support band to keep everything in place and costs £26.00.

Warehouse Horse Print Scarf

I was in Fenwicks last week perusing the rails of Warehouse when I came across this gorgeous mink horse print scarf which I've fallen in love with.  

I'm not normally a big scarf wearer but this is great for accessorising with neutral colours and is extremely lightweight so also makes a really good wrap if you want something to take the edge off a cool breeze in the summer evening.  

There is also a generous amount of material to play around with so perfect if you're having a 'does my bump look big in this?' day!  It's in store now and costs £18.00.

I was in Fenwicks last week perusing the rails of Warehouse when I came across this gorgeous mink horse print scarf which I've fallen in love with.  

I'm not normally a big scarf wearer but this is great for accessorising with neutral colours and is extremely lightweight so also makes a really good wrap if you want something to take the edge off a cool breeze in the summer evening.  

There is also a generous amount of material to play around with so perfect if you're having a 'does my bump look big in this?' day!  It's in store now and costs £18.00.

SkinCeuticals skincare range

Having had a couple of facials over the last year (a rare indulgence for me) I have discovered SkinCeuticals (advanced professional skincare range). You won't find their products in your local chemists as is sold either directly online or through stockists and beauticians.  Seen as I'm about to hit the big 40 (!) I thought it was time to start investing in something a little more robust than the usual high street products.  

As part of my daily routine I use the luxurious eye balm which has really helped reduce fine lines. It is apparently specifically formulated to counter the three prime signs of aging – moisture loss, collagen breakdown, and free radical damage. A natural anti-inflammatory is added to reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness, while a soothing agent derived from the chamomile plant calms irritated skin.  I love it!  

I use the Serum 10 and Hydrating B5 in a morning under my moisturiser. Serum 10 neutralises free radicals, defends against environmental damage, and helps prevent premature signs of ageing. The serum also combines ferulic acid with 10% pure vitamin C to enhance antioxidant performance.

Hydrating B5 is enriched with vitamin B5, which is known to help with tissue repair, Hydrating B5 replenishes nutrients the skin needs to feel smooth and appear younger. This moisture-enhancing gel contains hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural hydrator, to bind moisture to the skin.

Finally at night I use the Retexturing Activator. The serum harnesses two polar mechanisms — exfoliation and hydration — to activate skin’s regeneration response, visibly diminishing surface lines and transforming skin’s fabric into a smoother, softer texture.

The products are understandably not cheap (the eye balm alone was £64.00) but they do last about four months and I have noticed an overall improvement in my skin's appearance, so for me it's worth the investment!  

Check out their website: www.skinceuticals.co.uk for more information.

Having had a couple of facials over the last year (a rare indulgence for me) I have discovered SkinCeuticals (advanced professional skincare range). You won't find their products in your local chemists as is sold either directly online or through stockists and beauticians.  Seen as I'm about to hit the big 40 (!) I thought it was time to start investing in something a little more robust than the usual high street products.  

As part of my daily routine I use the luxurious eye balm which has really helped reduce fine lines. It is apparently specifically formulated to counter the three prime signs of aging – moisture loss, collagen breakdown, and free radical damage. A natural anti-inflammatory is added to reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness, while a soothing agent derived from the chamomile plant calms irritated skin.  I love it!  

I use the Serum 10 and Hydrating B5 in a morning under my moisturiser. Serum 10 neutralises free radicals, defends against environmental damage, and helps prevent premature signs of ageing. The serum also combines ferulic acid with 10% pure vitamin C to enhance antioxidant performance.

Hydrating B5 is enriched with vitamin B5, which is known to help with tissue repair, Hydrating B5 replenishes nutrients the skin needs to feel smooth and appear younger. This moisture-enhancing gel contains hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural hydrator, to bind moisture to the skin.

Finally at night I use the Retexturing Activator. The serum harnesses two polar mechanisms — exfoliation and hydration — to activate skin’s regeneration response, visibly diminishing surface lines and transforming skin’s fabric into a smoother, softer texture.

The products are understandably not cheap (the eye balm alone was £64.00) but they do last about four months and I have noticed an overall improvement in my skin's appearance, so for me it's worth the investment!  

Check out their website: www.skinceuticals.co.uk for more information.

Summer nail colours

As well as my usual posts I thought I'd start writing about my beauty finds and the things I love!

I very rarely have time to paint my fingernails (although toenails are always painted!).  However, there are so many gorgeous summer colours out there at the moment that I couldn't resist having a little splurge!  I normally stick to pinks, reds, corals and nudes if I do paint them but this time thought I'd go wild with a few pastel shades a little different from my normal choices....

I found these colours all at Boots.  I really like 'Lemon Meringue' by Models Own which co-ordinates well in particular with white, cream, beige and tan clothing. I'm currently wearing the '415 Instyle Coral' but have yet to try out the pale blue '704 Sweet as Sugar'.  

As well as my usual posts I thought I'd start writing about my beauty finds and the things I love!

I very rarely have time to paint my fingernails (although toenails are always painted!).  However, there are so many gorgeous summer colours out there at the moment that I couldn't resist having a little splurge!  I normally stick to pinks, reds, corals and nudes if I do paint them but this time thought I'd go wild with a few pastel shades a little different from my normal choices....

I found these colours all at Boots.  I really like 'Lemon Meringue' by Models Own which co-ordinates well in particular with white, cream, beige and tan clothing. I'm currently wearing the '415 Instyle Coral' but have yet to try out the pale blue '704 Sweet as Sugar'.  

The 20 week reveal!

On Tuesday 1st August, we had our 20 week scan. I felt much more relaxed and excited about this scan than I had about the one at 12 weeks. Mainly due to the reassuring wriggling and kicking from the baby that let me know all seemed well.

I was also excited as this was the first time that Joshua and Grace would get to see their little brother or sister 'live' on screen and also the day that we hoped to find out the sex of the baby. I would have been happy whether it turned out to be a boy or a girl but Joshua had made no secret of his desire to have a brother and so I guess for him I had hoped he might get his wish.

The scan appointment was at 8.40 a.m. so I got up early to get myself ready whilst letting the children sleep. They were still sleeping at 7.45 a.m. so I quietly crept up to their rooms, got their clothes out of their drawers and slowly started to wake them up. I tried Grace first by picking her up and cuddling her on my knee whilst babbling about the excitement that was to come. She responded, eyes closed, with 'put....me...down' in a low and threatening whisper that suggested Joshua might be a better starting point!

With everyone finally up, we rushed out the door, no time for cereal but armed with warm toasted teacakes to eat on the journey there. We arrived at the hospital with ten minutes to spare. The smell of warm sunshine on the tarmac and diesel from the buses that busily passed through the drop off area, all set to the impressive backdrop of the new Pembury hospital, made me feel more like we were about to enter an airport on a journey to somewhere exotic. Even Joshua excitedly asked if we were going on holiday.

Although I have no experience of the maternity ward yet, I couldn't help but marvel once more, at how incredibly glossy and modern the new hospital was. It really doesn't feel like a hospital but more like an airport with its polished floors, big glass windows and various shops and cafes. From what I have seen so far, I'm impressed. Let's hope the level of care will be as good as the environment.

We checked in at the ante-natal clinic and had barely had time to sit down before my name was called.  I whispered to the sonographer as we walked in that we would like to try and find out the sex of the baby but wondered if she could write down the result. As planned, we wanted to tell the children separately. We were led into one of the familiar darkened rooms and the children sat on their Daddy's knee whilst the sonographer squirted cold jelly onto my tummy - the only drawback of being the first appointment of the day is that the jelly hasn't had time to warm up yet!

She pressed the wand onto my tummy and up popped the black and white image of our third little bean, curled up in a ball, legs and chin to chest in the perfect fetal position. The children asked a stream of excited questions whilst Brett did his best to hush them so the lady could concentrate. The baby seemed to wake and stretch out and I was reassured and pleased that as the scan progressed, all looked very good.

'Just one more job...!' said the sonographer which made me break out into a knowing grin. I was asked to 'jiggle about a bit' so stood up, jumped on the spot and gave my tummy a good poke.  She found the area we needed and pointed out that we were now at baby's bottom (although to be honest I found it hard to distinguish what we were looking at).  One thing was fairly obvious though! She pointed to a little protrusion (or if my husband is reading this - a HUGE protrusion!) and quietly asked if I could guess what we were looking at? I whispered 'Is it a boy?' to which she nodded.  I felt a flood of excitement, mainly for my son, who looked like he was going to get his wish after all!

As we left the ante-natal clinic, I made an impulsive change from plan.  Instead of waiting to tell Brett and the children until we got home that we were having a little boy, I decided it would be nice for us to enjoy the reveal over a cappuccino in the Costa Coffee just outside the clinic area.  We got the children settled and whilst at the counter, amidst choosing muffins and coffee, I told Brett that he was to have another son.  He gave me a big and happy hug and beamed with delight. I think he fancied the increased odds it would give him of a future rugby star!

I sat down next to the children and told them that they were going to have a baby brother. Joshua grinned from ear to ear and gave a little triumphant 'Yey'.  Grace, being three, looked fairly unfazed and disinterested, turning only the very corners of her mouth into a smile before jumping down and announcing she wanted a drink!

I got much enjoyment from telling my mum in particular.  We waited till lunchtime and set up a Skype call so the children could tell her the news.  Mum who has been pretty intuitive about all of my pregnancies so far, has 'known' from the first few weeks I was having a boy this time and was delighted but not surprised by the outcome.

So here we are with a little boy on the way.  The good news is I can start getting rid of the backlog of girls clothes that sat tucked away in bags, outgrown by Grace.  I can even start to think about how I will eventually decorate the nursery.  All this I will leave for a while though as have a busy couple of months to get through first, including two weddings to photograph, editing to do, the summer holidays to survive through and Brett and my joint 40th birthday's to finish planning and celebrating. With so much to think about I have a feeling the lead up to the baby's arrival will be over before we know it!

On Tuesday 1st August, we had our 20 week scan. I felt much more relaxed and excited about this scan than I had about the one at 12 weeks. Mainly due to the reassuring wriggling and kicking from the baby that let me know all seemed well.

I was also excited as this was the first time that Joshua and Grace would get to see their little brother or sister 'live' on screen and also the day that we hoped to find out the sex of the baby. I would have been happy whether it turned out to be a boy or a girl but Joshua had made no secret of his desire to have a brother and so I guess for him I had hoped he might get his wish.

The scan appointment was at 8.40 a.m. so I got up early to get myself ready whilst letting the children sleep. They were still sleeping at 7.45 a.m. so I quietly crept up to their rooms, got their clothes out of their drawers and slowly started to wake them up. I tried Grace first by picking her up and cuddling her on my knee whilst babbling about the excitement that was to come. She responded, eyes closed, with 'put....me...down' in a low and threatening whisper that suggested Joshua might be a better starting point!

With everyone finally up, we rushed out the door, no time for cereal but armed with warm toasted teacakes to eat on the journey there. We arrived at the hospital with ten minutes to spare. The smell of warm sunshine on the tarmac and diesel from the buses that busily passed through the drop off area, all set to the impressive backdrop of the new Pembury hospital, made me feel more like we were about to enter an airport on a journey to somewhere exotic. Even Joshua excitedly asked if we were going on holiday.

Although I have no experience of the maternity ward yet, I couldn't help but marvel once more, at how incredibly glossy and modern the new hospital was. It really doesn't feel like a hospital but more like an airport with its polished floors, big glass windows and various shops and cafes. From what I have seen so far, I'm impressed. Let's hope the level of care will be as good as the environment.

We checked in at the ante-natal clinic and had barely had time to sit down before my name was called.  I whispered to the sonographer as we walked in that we would like to try and find out the sex of the baby but wondered if she could write down the result. As planned, we wanted to tell the children separately. We were led into one of the familiar darkened rooms and the children sat on their Daddy's knee whilst the sonographer squirted cold jelly onto my tummy - the only drawback of being the first appointment of the day is that the jelly hasn't had time to warm up yet!

She pressed the wand onto my tummy and up popped the black and white image of our third little bean, curled up in a ball, legs and chin to chest in the perfect fetal position. The children asked a stream of excited questions whilst Brett did his best to hush them so the lady could concentrate. The baby seemed to wake and stretch out and I was reassured and pleased that as the scan progressed, all looked very good.

'Just one more job...!' said the sonographer which made me break out into a knowing grin. I was asked to 'jiggle about a bit' so stood up, jumped on the spot and gave my tummy a good poke.  She found the area we needed and pointed out that we were now at baby's bottom (although to be honest I found it hard to distinguish what we were looking at).  One thing was fairly obvious though! She pointed to a little protrusion (or if my husband is reading this - a HUGE protrusion!) and quietly asked if I could guess what we were looking at? I whispered 'Is it a boy?' to which she nodded.  I felt a flood of excitement, mainly for my son, who looked like he was going to get his wish after all!

As we left the ante-natal clinic, I made an impulsive change from plan.  Instead of waiting to tell Brett and the children until we got home that we were having a little boy, I decided it would be nice for us to enjoy the reveal over a cappuccino in the Costa Coffee just outside the clinic area.  We got the children settled and whilst at the counter, amidst choosing muffins and coffee, I told Brett that he was to have another son.  He gave me a big and happy hug and beamed with delight. I think he fancied the increased odds it would give him of a future rugby star!

I sat down next to the children and told them that they were going to have a baby brother. Joshua grinned from ear to ear and gave a little triumphant 'Yey'.  Grace, being three, looked fairly unfazed and disinterested, turning only the very corners of her mouth into a smile before jumping down and announcing she wanted a drink!

I got much enjoyment from telling my mum in particular.  We waited till lunchtime and set up a Skype call so the children could tell her the news.  Mum who has been pretty intuitive about all of my pregnancies so far, has 'known' from the first few weeks I was having a boy this time and was delighted but not surprised by the outcome.

So here we are with a little boy on the way.  The good news is I can start getting rid of the backlog of girls clothes that sat tucked away in bags, outgrown by Grace.  I can even start to think about how I will eventually decorate the nursery.  All this I will leave for a while though as have a busy couple of months to get through first, including two weddings to photograph, editing to do, the summer holidays to survive through and Brett and my joint 40th birthday's to finish planning and celebrating. With so much to think about I have a feeling the lead up to the baby's arrival will be over before we know it!

Festival camping while pregnant - A survival guide!

Last weekend our long awaited trip to Camp Bestival finally arrived.  Joshua in particular had been very excited about the trip as he got to spend a whole weekend camping with his beloved Uncle Gaz and Aunty Jenna.  That and the fact that Mr Tumble, Dick and Dom and Rolf Harris were all live on stage in 'real life' only served to heighten his and Grace's excitement further.

Now, I admit my experiences of camping have been limited.  When I was a child we did some camping but it was in a campervan or a caravan.  I don't have any real recollection of 'roughing it' in a tent whilst toasting marshmallows over a camp fire.  Maybe we did but I don't remember.

My first family experience of camping was last summer.  I felt Joshua was the right age to experience it although was apprehensive about taking Grace then aged two but thought we'd give it a go.  We 'glamped' on a site close to home and had electric hook up so could watch movies in the evening on the iPad.  The weather was awful, we set up in the rain and I barely slept the first night as the wind and rain shook our tent like a wind sock and I thought at one point we might take off.  I had an undignified wee in Grace's potty in the middle of the night rather than face a soaking rushing across a muddy field. That combined with Grace's 5 a.m. wake up and subsequent melt down that left Brett no choice but to bundle her into the car and leave the campsite for a drive (mainly to avoid an army of disgruntled fellow campers from hurling missiles at our tent) should surely have been enough to put me off for life.

Yet only a few months on there I was like an overly eager beaver planning an 'exciting' fun packed festival camping trip with the family and my brother and his girlfriend. I am nothing if not defiant.  I have bought a large tent and camping equipment, I WILL enjoy camping.  Quitting is for losers...man.

Of course at the time of planning I hadn't anticipated that I would be pregnant but at the time of booking I knew I was but was still keen none the less.  Brett took the day off on the Thursday so we could get organised and packed up for the journey down to Dorset on the Friday and my brother and his girlfriend travelled down and stayed with us on the Thursday night.  I thought we were organised, in fact for anyone that knows us, we really were.  It did however take us till 1.30 p.m. to leave the house!  The journey there was fairly painless thankfully...little did we realise the pain was waiting for us at the festival itself.

Gary and Jenna had set off earlier and arrived an hour and a half before us so were able to give us the dismal heads up on what was to greet us when we arrived.  We had booked the 'Camping Plus' for what we were expecting to be the VIP area of Bestival camping.  It did guarantee us a specific pitch and it did have 'posh' loos which flushed and even had wooden toilet seats and the odd oil painting hanging above the washbasins but you still couldn't disguise the pongy stench of a porta loo which got gradually more pungent as the weekend drew on.  This was a minor detail though.

We realised very quickly that arriving on the Friday as opposed to the Thursday was probably our biggest mistake.  The more seasoned campers and festival goers had smugly arrived the day before, parked close to the site and booked pitches close to the car park.  They had probably also cleverly booked their trolleys to transport all their camping gear (of which there is much) to their pitch.

Oh how different our experience was to be on that first stress packed day of doom. Firstly, we were in the overflow car park about ooh let's see at least a mile from our pitch.  We had no trolley and the trip to the site was, to add to our woes, UP HILL. My brother was already on his 4th trip to the car to hand carry as much as he could to the pitch. There was a tractor that took you and your belongings up the first leg of the hill but that did not include the long arduous walk to the pitch itself, close to the 'boom boom' of the festival.  Let's throw in the fact that I am 20 weeks pregnant and had two almost uncontrollably excitable and utterly oblivious to the stress of it all small children to deal with and you're starting to get the picture.

We grabbed what we could from the car - mainly essential stuff like the tent. It took us hours to set up (including all the walking) but finally managed to get the tent up so at least we had shelter.  We had shelter but alas the blow up beds were still at the car and we had unwittingly forgotten that we needed a manual pump to blow them up. Fear not, we thought, we have the electric pump that charged at the car (haha!) but fear we did as it didn't work with the valves of the beds, so Brett was left to blow them up manually which took him all his manly strength, a near passing out and a lot of gusto to get them finished.

By 9 p.m. the children running riot, no food in our bellies and no sign of being ship shape, I eventually crumbled into a teary, pregnant, hormonal heap. It was officially the worst day of the year so far.  Camp Bestival was my Camp Worstival.

BUT suddenly and late into the evening the beds were delivered, the essentials were unpacked and the beer was opened. WE HAD MADE IT!  Woohoo.  A little music, a little British resolve and burgers on the BBQ and the day from hell was behind us.

The rest of the weekend turned out to be much more enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous, the atmosphere fantastic and the acts were good value.  The children had siestas in the day and stayed up later into the evening. We boogied the night away to Cool and The Gang and Joshua showed us his disco moves like a gyrating teddy boy whilst Grace stood on the spot, hands on hips moving them in big wide circles like she was spinning an imaginary hula-hoop.  Fun times.  The only downside was listening to the nightly hacking coughing ritual of the woman in the tent next to us followed by gorilla like snoring, that if there had been an Olympic event for, she would surely have won gold.

On the Sunday morning I queued and waited an hour for a trolley.  Getting hold of one felt like getting a windfall on the lottery. The trollies are big enough to sleep two small children so we lined ours with blankets, pillows and sleeping bags and spent the day carting Joshua and Grace round the festival in it. They slept in it in the evening whilst we watched some of the late night acts and we used it for packing up - thankfully a much less painful experience than our arrival!

My top tips for surviving festival camping:

The first option of course is not to go at all!  Okay, but seriously here we go:

1)   Arrive on the first day the campsite opens if you can. You will be guaranteed a better space in the
      car park and will be closer to your pitch.
2)   Book a trolley for hire in advance or buy one - this will save you a lot of time and hard work. Mr
      Trolley were the guys at Bestival. It cost £25.00 for two nights.

3)   Book your pitch closer to the car park than the festival. Although you might have further to walk
      into the festival itself, it will also be quieter and easier for setting up and leaving.

4)   Even if it's hot in the day, take plenty of warm clothes for night time. It gets amazingly cold in the 

      middle of the night.

5)   Take as much of your own food and drink as you can that will keep. Festival food is very

      expensive.

6)   If you've room, take a wind breaker and a gazebo. Great for extra shelter and blocking out any 

      wind whilst still enjoying an 'outdoor' experience. 

7)   Take ear plugs. You never know who will be your neighbour or how noisy they might be. 

8)   Take a powerful LED light that you can hang in your tent at night and torches.

9)   My life saver was our very own portable camping toilet. The toilets were a good walk away and so 

      this was perfect for a middle of the night emergency or for the kids on waking. We stuck to 

      emergency wees only(!) and it didn't cause any nasty pongs (unlike the posh portaloos!).   

10) Take a good sized golf umbrella and wellies.  You never know which way the weather will go!

11)  If you have to work, book the day after you get back from the festival off, so you can unpack and  

      mainly recover.  You will do a lot of walking at the festival as well as lugging stuff about and even  

      if you're fit it may surprise you how tired you get.

12)  Blow up beds are essential - especially if you have kids and are pregnant!

Needless to say, we are not planning a 'festival' camping trip anytime again soon! It was great fun but not without its stresses and I simply don't think we'd be brave enough to attempt it with a third child in tow until they are at least three!  We are, however, potentially planning a more sedate camping experience in August.  I must be bonkers!! 

Last weekend our long awaited trip to Camp Bestival finally arrived.  Joshua in particular had been very excited about the trip as he got to spend a whole weekend camping with his beloved Uncle Gaz and Aunty Jenna.  That and the fact that Mr Tumble, Dick and Dom and Rolf Harris were all live on stage in 'real life' only served to heighten his and Grace's excitement further.

Now, I admit my experiences of camping have been limited.  When I was a child we did some camping but it was in a campervan or a caravan.  I don't have any real recollection of 'roughing it' in a tent whilst toasting marshmallows over a camp fire.  Maybe we did but I don't remember.

My first family experience of camping was last summer.  I felt Joshua was the right age to experience it although was apprehensive about taking Grace then aged two but thought we'd give it a go.  We 'glamped' on a site close to home and had electric hook up so could watch movies in the evening on the iPad.  The weather was awful, we set up in the rain and I barely slept the first night as the wind and rain shook our tent like a wind sock and I thought at one point we might take off.  I had an undignified wee in Grace's potty in the middle of the night rather than face a soaking rushing across a muddy field. That combined with Grace's 5 a.m. wake up and subsequent melt down that left Brett no choice but to bundle her into the car and leave the campsite for a drive (mainly to avoid an army of disgruntled fellow campers from hurling missiles at our tent) should surely have been enough to put me off for life.

Yet only a few months on there I was like an overly eager beaver planning an 'exciting' fun packed festival camping trip with the family and my brother and his girlfriend. I am nothing if not defiant.  I have bought a large tent and camping equipment, I WILL enjoy camping.  Quitting is for losers...man.

Of course at the time of planning I hadn't anticipated that I would be pregnant but at the time of booking I knew I was but was still keen none the less.  Brett took the day off on the Thursday so we could get organised and packed up for the journey down to Dorset on the Friday and my brother and his girlfriend travelled down and stayed with us on the Thursday night.  I thought we were organised, in fact for anyone that knows us, we really were.  It did however take us till 1.30 p.m. to leave the house!  The journey there was fairly painless thankfully...little did we realise the pain was waiting for us at the festival itself.

Gary and Jenna had set off earlier and arrived an hour and a half before us so were able to give us the dismal heads up on what was to greet us when we arrived.  We had booked the 'Camping Plus' for what we were expecting to be the VIP area of Bestival camping.  It did guarantee us a specific pitch and it did have 'posh' loos which flushed and even had wooden toilet seats and the odd oil painting hanging above the washbasins but you still couldn't disguise the pongy stench of a porta loo which got gradually more pungent as the weekend drew on.  This was a minor detail though.

We realised very quickly that arriving on the Friday as opposed to the Thursday was probably our biggest mistake.  The more seasoned campers and festival goers had smugly arrived the day before, parked close to the site and booked pitches close to the car park.  They had probably also cleverly booked their trolleys to transport all their camping gear (of which there is much) to their pitch.

Oh how different our experience was to be on that first stress packed day of doom. Firstly, we were in the overflow car park about ooh let's see at least a mile from our pitch.  We had no trolley and the trip to the site was, to add to our woes, UP HILL. My brother was already on his 4th trip to the car to hand carry as much as he could to the pitch. There was a tractor that took you and your belongings up the first leg of the hill but that did not include the long arduous walk to the pitch itself, close to the 'boom boom' of the festival.  Let's throw in the fact that I am 20 weeks pregnant and had two almost uncontrollably excitable and utterly oblivious to the stress of it all small children to deal with and you're starting to get the picture.

We grabbed what we could from the car - mainly essential stuff like the tent. It took us hours to set up (including all the walking) but finally managed to get the tent up so at least we had shelter.  We had shelter but alas the blow up beds were still at the car and we had unwittingly forgotten that we needed a manual pump to blow them up. Fear not, we thought, we have the electric pump that charged at the car (haha!) but fear we did as it didn't work with the valves of the beds, so Brett was left to blow them up manually which took him all his manly strength, a near passing out and a lot of gusto to get them finished.

By 9 p.m. the children running riot, no food in our bellies and no sign of being ship shape, I eventually crumbled into a teary, pregnant, hormonal heap. It was officially the worst day of the year so far.  Camp Bestival was my Camp Worstival.

BUT suddenly and late into the evening the beds were delivered, the essentials were unpacked and the beer was opened. WE HAD MADE IT!  Woohoo.  A little music, a little British resolve and burgers on the BBQ and the day from hell was behind us.

The rest of the weekend turned out to be much more enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous, the atmosphere fantastic and the acts were good value.  The children had siestas in the day and stayed up later into the evening. We boogied the night away to Cool and The Gang and Joshua showed us his disco moves like a gyrating teddy boy whilst Grace stood on the spot, hands on hips moving them in big wide circles like she was spinning an imaginary hula-hoop.  Fun times.  The only downside was listening to the nightly hacking coughing ritual of the woman in the tent next to us followed by gorilla like snoring, that if there had been an Olympic event for, she would surely have won gold.

On the Sunday morning I queued and waited an hour for a trolley.  Getting hold of one felt like getting a windfall on the lottery. The trollies are big enough to sleep two small children so we lined ours with blankets, pillows and sleeping bags and spent the day carting Joshua and Grace round the festival in it. They slept in it in the evening whilst we watched some of the late night acts and we used it for packing up - thankfully a much less painful experience than our arrival!

My top tips for surviving festival camping:

The first option of course is not to go at all!  Okay, but seriously here we go:

1)   Arrive on the first day the campsite opens if you can. You will be guaranteed a better space in the
      car park and will be closer to your pitch.
2)   Book a trolley for hire in advance or buy one - this will save you a lot of time and hard work. Mr
      Trolley were the guys at Bestival. It cost £25.00 for two nights.

3)   Book your pitch closer to the car park than the festival. Although you might have further to walk
      into the festival itself, it will also be quieter and easier for setting up and leaving.

4)   Even if it's hot in the day, take plenty of warm clothes for night time. It gets amazingly cold in the 

      middle of the night.

5)   Take as much of your own food and drink as you can that will keep. Festival food is very

      expensive.

6)   If you've room, take a wind breaker and a gazebo. Great for extra shelter and blocking out any 

      wind whilst still enjoying an 'outdoor' experience. 

7)   Take ear plugs. You never know who will be your neighbour or how noisy they might be. 

8)   Take a powerful LED light that you can hang in your tent at night and torches.

9)   My life saver was our very own portable camping toilet. The toilets were a good walk away and so 

      this was perfect for a middle of the night emergency or for the kids on waking. We stuck to 

      emergency wees only(!) and it didn't cause any nasty pongs (unlike the posh portaloos!).   

10) Take a good sized golf umbrella and wellies.  You never know which way the weather will go!

11)  If you have to work, book the day after you get back from the festival off, so you can unpack and  

      mainly recover.  You will do a lot of walking at the festival as well as lugging stuff about and even  

      if you're fit it may surprise you how tired you get.

12)  Blow up beds are essential - especially if you have kids and are pregnant!

Needless to say, we are not planning a 'festival' camping trip anytime again soon! It was great fun but not without its stresses and I simply don't think we'd be brave enough to attempt it with a third child in tow until they are at least three!  We are, however, potentially planning a more sedate camping experience in August.  I must be bonkers!!