How does your garden grow?

Discovering the Red Hot Poker stems and seed pods covered in snails with stripey shells was an incredible sight the other day. They were everywhere! One had a brown shell so shiny it almost looked like a conker! It was pouring with rain but a great opportunity to test out the macro.

The Sunflowers in the garden are looking rather lovely this week. I hope they flower soon, it will be great to see them bloom given POD planted the seeds. The bed they’re in is now desperate for a weed but we haven’t quite found the energy yet. Grasshoppers adore it and I even spotted a ladybird in the shade whilst trying to photograph one of our jumping friends.

The Fuchsia is continuing to do well although many other flowers are dying off now. If you look around you can definitely see the change in the garden.

I can’t wait to kick the autumn leaves in the nearby forest though. POD fell over in the leaves for the first time last year and bounced. Then giggled. It was a superb moment.

The empty bed adjacent to the new patio has been filled with blue and pink Hydrangea, a Hosta and some little red, white and pink Cyclamen.

I fell in love with the beautiful yellow Canna when I saw it. I don’t know how long it will look like this for but it’s a great sight at the moment.

It’s wonderful to see the area that was previous decked look so welcoming.

We’re linking this post up with How Does Your Garden Grow? over at Mammasaurus. Click on the badge below to have a nose around some other fabulous gardens.

Handbags and gladrags

What a wonderful summer it’s been, jeans and boots seem a distant memory. Instead this staple attire has been replaced, for the most part, with beautifully cool maxi dresses. A superb choice if you’re lounging around perfecting the arm and triangle on the chest tan. Less so if you’re chasing a toddler whilst juggling all their clobber.

I hope over time seeing my dress sucked into an escalator is erased from my memory. I’m thankful to the stranger that rescued me from what could have been a memorable bra and pants moment. Not a good look at Marble Arch in rush hour. How we laughed about it afterwards.

With the time I have to shower, dress and apply make-up averaging around 13 minutes, maxi dresses have become my go to items this season. These can easily be dressed up with heels, jewellery and most importantly a decent handbag.

With the days of spending hours on the perfect outfit and hairstyle long gone, it’s about how quickly you can achieve the right look. With the minimum amount of effort. This whilst taking into account the bathroom is no longer a place of privacy and your toddler will empty your handbag as quickly as you fill it.

It can be remarkably tricky walking in heels whilst holding a two-year-old. I find having some kind of support nearby to be reassuring. As I discovered recently 4 inch heels and gravel really don’t mix. An across the body or shoulder bag is ideal in this situation so you have both arms free. I found a great selection of handbags here which are suitable for all scenarios.

It’s going to seem strange when we have to pack away our summer clothes and replace them with winter woollies. I like to think we can enjoy fun in the sun for just a little bit longer.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All views expressed here are my own.

What’s The Story? | 26th August 2013

Happy Bank Holiday everyone!

How lovely to have a three day weekend, it makes such a difference. Thank you again for sharing so many wonderful posts last week, I just love reading your stories.

If you’re not familiar with the What’s The Story? concept, it was created so you could share the story behind all your favourite photographs. To participate all you need to do is share a photograph and describe what the story is behind it. You can say as little or as much as you like.

You can select a photo taken at ANY time – there are no restrictions on when it must have been taken. You might choose a photo you took recently or an oldie. New posts are always the best but you can link up older ones should you wish. What’s The Story? is open from 6.30am every Monday until the following Sunday.

Please use the What’s The Story? badge below and do share some comment love on your fellow bloggers posts. Have a superb week everyone.




The rise of the bionic arm

This photograph of yours truly was taken on holiday c.2009. The Doves were at San Agostino in Greece – a Mark Warner resort at the time. We’re huge tennis fans so we played for hours, slugging it out in the heat. Stopping to take water and lolly breaks when we needed to.

The coaching we had was put into practice on court through the tennis socials. Playing different opponents, there was a need to not let your competitive streak show even though you really wanted to win. We met lots of great people there – fellow guests and staff. Incredible buffet-style meals at dinner meant we ate like kings. We then relaxed over cocktails until long after the sun had set.

When were weren’t playing tennis, we lazed around the pool soaking up the sunshine. Or we had a snack whilst taking in the wonderful beach below us. We had such a great time we booked Mark Warner’s Lakitira resort for our next trip abroad. It was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had and we vowed to return. Ideally as a family.

Back in London we continued to play tennis several times a week. Come rain or shine we’d be on court playing until our tennis balls looked like they’d had an electric shock. Tennis was a big part of our lives so it was hard when I had to stop playing in 2010. However, despite a rocky start to my pregnancy POD was born on Christmas Day that year. I’d been told I could play tennis again a few weeks after the birth but it wasn’t to be. Complications in my 47-hour labour led to my coccyx and pelvis taking a battering. All exercise was out although I’d found pilates a help.

Then a freak accident in November 2011 saw me break my wrist on our decking. I was putting the recycling out. It was raining heavily and my left leg just went from underneath me. With no time to save myself my left wrist took the weight of my entire body when I fell, breaking both bones at the point of rotation. Although I was thankful I was right-handed I knew it would be a while before I’d be playing tennis.

It was a spectacular wrist break which led to a second operation in April this year. My surgeons added three screws to the existing metal plate in my wrist to stablise it. They then performed a procedure called Sauve-Kapanji. This is where a centimetre of the ulna bone is removed from below the wrist joint. Although they effectively broke my arm, the gap rather cleverly forms a new rotation point over a period of time.

After two plaster casts, a splint and much physio, the movement in my wrist is just as good as it was before surgery. The muscles are becoming stronger as each month passes – helped by owning a toddler. I hope in the not too distant future I can play tennis again. I’m sure my bionic arm will be brilliant one day. At which point I expect to beat my husband, ideally in straight sets!

We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? which takes place here on PODcast.


The wonderful world of a toddler

After following The Scarecrow Trail at Wisley, this time we’re visiting Sittinghurst in Kent. The setting is a beautiful cottage and the glorious weather meant POD could really make the most of the outdoors. Just as well given we’re potty training!

First she discovered a little house to play in, complete with kitchen, spades and buckets. POD adores the playhouse she has at home so she was straight through the door washing her hands and preparing some invisible food.

Not long after she spotted a slide with a little tower at the top of it. After scaling the rungs like a spider, with a spade, she spent a good few minutes taking in her surroundings before venturing down the slide. Once an ant had been removed from her path.

Attached to the slide and tower were two types of swing and a single monkey bar. After testing both swings, POD insisted on being pushed whilst she held onto the monkey bar. Her love for climbing has led to her being incredibly strong so she did brilliantly.

After her first alfresco pee break, POD wanted to test out an old wooden seesaw. She wasn’t very sure about it at first but enjoyed being ‘up in the sky’. Whilst there she spotted a trampoline on the other side of the garden. Within seconds she was off the seesaw running across the lawn towards it. Realising she couldn’t get on it herself, there was much jumping and excited requests for Mummy to pick ‘my’ up.

Words cannot describe how excited POD was to be on a trampoline. She found it the most hilarious experience. Even more so if she ran round in circles or squashed her face up against the safety net. Amusing to watch her jumping too given she hasn’t mastered keeping her feet together!

The zip on the net was almost as exciting as the trampoline itself, as was lying down. A stark reminder of how tall our nappy-less toddler has become recently.

Once that was over POD played in a plastic car, using blades of grass as her petrol, before trying on Daddy’s flip flops and pretending to fly. It was inevitable the stick and a leaf she found would be used to turn me into a blue frog.

We’re linking this visit to Country Kids over at Coombe Mill, you can join in by clicking on the badge below.

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Walkers Mighty Lights review

We all enjoy crisps but there’s something about the ridged ones that makes them so much more interesting. They’re definitely my favourite. More often than not ridged crisps are left on the shelf though in preference for the varieties that typically contain less fat.

I was delighted to hear about Walkers Mighty Lights – ridged crisps that contain 30% less fat. They’re available in three flavours – Roast Chicken, Cheese and Onion and Lightly Salted.

So what did the Doves think of them?

First off Mighty Lights have the same strong branding we’ve come to expect from Walkers. We found the packaging appealing even with the 30% less fat flag. I say this because I usually find products with a lower fat content compromise on taste and texture.

The crisps are a great pack size, perfect for lunch boxes and family days out. It’s not to say they cant be eaten out of the bag too! Our toddler (POD) likes crisps, she calls them “cripps”. Requests for more are often accompanied with a pincer movement as if she’s putting her hand in a bag to take some!

Walkers Mighty Lights smell as they should – like regular crisps. They also look good, ridged with sprinkles of flavour on each crisp. They are tasty, rather moreish in fact, and crunchy when you bite them.

We were pleasantly surprised with how good they were. Lots of “Mmmm” noises were followed by “Mmmm…they’re really good” once we’d finished our mouthful.

All three variants are flavoursome. As Cheese and Onion fans, these were our favourite although they were closely followed by Roast Chicken. I’ve not had salted crisps for some time but the Lightly Salted variant was surprisingly good too. You didn’t feel cheated as can be the case with plainer crisps.

As well as containing 30% less fat, Walkers Mighty Lights are made from real potatoes so they’re a good source of fibre. They contain no artificial colours, preservatives or MSG. They’re also suitable for vegetarians.

POD’s response to trying Walkers Mighty Lights was an outstretched hand and a request for “more cripps please Mummy”. She then ran off with the packet and hid behind a curtain!

Walkers Mighty Lights are available in shops nationwide which is just as well given we’ve devoured most of ours!

Disclaimer: We received three multi-packs of Walkers Mighty Lights in all three flavours for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own. 

How does your garden grow?

You may remember we recently had a patio laid to replace the decking I broke my wrist on. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than to see the wooden ice-rink demolished and be replaced with a nice safe area for POD. It looks fantastic even though the beds around it need sprucing up a little.

Other exciting changes include having an outside toilet installed in a brick shed that’s attached to the house. Our beautiful Willow tree had caused it to subside so it’s taken time to make it stable again. It already had water and electricity though so it’s an easy job to make it functional.

We had some wood flooring left over from when we moved in so JD has been busily laying it. We’ll then have to replace the door once the loo and sink are in. The current half door isn’t very private!

Around the garden we have much weeding to do before POD’s christening in September. We have very few flowers in bloom at the moment but it’s great to see my Fuchsia’s coming back to life.

The Red Hot Pokers have finished but the seeds are still a wonderful sight. The Sunflowers I planted with POD are doing brilliantly and are now over a foot tall. No flowers yet. I also spotted some apples and blackberries which was a nice surprise.

Last weekend I received a macro lens for my birthday. I’ve had limited time to practice this week but I did manage to capture a ladybird and a grasshopper. The other photos I took were a blurry white mess so I have a lot to learn!

We’re linking this post up with How Does Your Garden Grow? over at Mammasaurus. If you’d like to join in, or have a nose around some other gardens, click on the badge below.

What’s The Story? | 19th August 2013

We’ve reached the second month of What’s The Story? already. How time flies!

Over 150 stories have been shared so far which is amazing, thank you very much. I love reading the stories behind your photographs and there are so many wonderful posts each week. If you miss any, you’ll find previous What’s The Story? posts here.

What’s The Story? was created so you can share the story behind your favourite photographs. To participate all you need to do is share a photograph and describe what the story is behind it. You can say as little or as much as you like.

You can select a photo taken at ANY time – there are no restrictions on when it must have been taken. You might choose a photo you took recently or an oldie. New posts would be best but you can link up older ones should you wish. What’s The Story? is open from 6.30am every Monday until the following Sunday.

Please use the What’s The Story? badge below and do share some comment love on your fellow bloggers posts. Have a fabulous week.




Big girl pants

This photograph of POD was taken less than two weeks ago. It’s one of a few that represent a new pant wearing era.

Until recently POD’s potty was mainly a chair for her dollies, a Frisbee or a hat. On occasions it was used as it was intended once lined like a nest. Other times we’ve just sat and sung.

The transition from nappy to pants hasn’t been made any easier by nursery. Flippant ‘stinky’ and ‘smelly’ remarks left POD, and others, reluctant to do number two’s there. With the right encouragement however her confidence has returned. So we decided to take the plunge and buy her some knickers.

In Mothercare, I stood next to a woman doing the same thing I was. Staring at pants. There didn’t seem to be any ‘first’ pants so we went with Peppa Pig and Minnie Mouse. In another part of the shop we did find some trainer pants so we purchased those too.

The first day saw POD in her training pants, albeit not for long, she had three accidents. One of which could have been prevented. Day two saw us give up with the thick training pants, too much like a nappy. She had two accidents but the first wasn’t until 4.20pm. The third and fourth days saw her remain dry the entire day if you exclude one little accident before nursery.

A two hour car journey that weekend was an added complication but only one accident outside. She remained dry the following day. Christening her potty with a number two on day seven led to her doing the same at nursery on day eight. Rewarded with a lion stamp on each hand.

So it seems POD has cracked potty training in eight days – during the day at home and nursery at least. This photograph represents big girl pants and many magic moments!

We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? on this blog and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.