Camp Bestival 2013: A-Z

I am sat here shivering.
Shivering?!? It is meant to be June in 7 days.
And June means Summer, yes?
And Summer for me equals camping and festivals.

As you may well know we are big fans of Camp Bestival here and have been going since 2010. One of the main reasons we keep going back is due to the amount of things going on.

Here is just a snippet of what is on the line-up this year...

For more information on all things Camp Bestival 2013 click the link here.

And here is what we thought of last year's festival.

x x x

 

Disclaimer: I received a family ticket in return for a review of this year's festival. As always I will give a fair and honest opinion. 

Family getaway

I've been having a little think about family holidays. That week or two that everybody gets all excited about. A time to get away from everyday life. An escape.
I've been thinking some more and racking my brains for a time that our family holiday didn't involve a tent. Hold on a moment.......nope. Not one.
Now don't get me wrong, I love camping and every year since Edith was 2 we have had a camping and/or festival trip. Sometimes though I crave a bit of comfort and a holiday where I do not have to blow up my bed every other night.
Soon that time will be here.
Soon I will undertake my mission as a Butlin's Ambassador to see for myself what makes this type of resort so popular. I am intrigued. This is all new to me. I either camp and let the children run free or leave the children behind - ha ha - and find a boutique hotel for a couple of nights.


So, a first for us, we will be staying for four nights in a Gold Apartment at Minehead, Somerset, where, amongst other things, we will have a dedicated host, daily housekeeping, exclusive reception and, get this, a dishwasher - that in itself is luxury for me. Having perused the website and flicked through the brochures I know we won't be short of things to do. I also know the children are going to love it and I cannot wait to see how the whole Butlin's experience will shape up for us as a whole.



x x x

 

Disclaimer: This upcoming holiday has been paid for by Butlin's as part of my role as a Butlin's Ambassador. As always my views and opinions are honest and are mine.



Happiness is....

Happiness is....

....losing another pound in the challenge to get to single figures on the dreaded scales.

....a perfectly soft, and chewy in all the right places, flapjack after a workout.

....the realisation that life is actually too short not to enjoy a slice of flapjack.

....the realisation that the number on the scales isn't the be all and end all.

....having a day off at the end of this week - like gold dust in my line of work.

....having a family holiday next week that doesn't involve a tent.

But sod all that.

These arrived in the post today so I'm on countdown until I get myself some me time with another Prosecco fuelled train trip to London!

 

x x x

 

Motivational Words

I haven't blogged about it in a while but I've still been plodding slowly away in the background trying to grind away those pesky pounds. I had that initial burst, a lull, and then slowly, but surely things started to change as posted about here.
It continues to be an up and down journey and I've never declared the words, "I'm on a diet", as that would guarantee failure.
I've watched with interest posts about the 5:2 diet but just know I would not cope on the fast days running around after 6 year olds at work.
Being at work is easier. Breakfast is a bowl of Granola, for lunch I take in a box of healthy crudités - cucumber, carrot, cherry tomatoes, celery, grapes - a small pot of hummus and a few breadsticks, I forgot the latter yesterday and still survived, then I eat at 5 with the children where I have significantly cut down my portion size and refuse to hoover up their leftovers!
Currently I am back in the zone of exercising, once the children are down for the night. It is this that often gives first and I continue to be an 'All or Nothing' type.
This morning I stepped onto the scales and am so close to crossing the two-digit number barrier - you work it out! - and this motivates me to carry on.

I also look on my Motivation - the words Pinterest board for some arse kicking words of advice when I feel I'm about to slip.

And when I look like that I will be posting a picture!

 

So, what's your motivation?

 

x x x

 

All the above images can be found here from where the original source of image can be located.

Ranty Friday - Size isn't everything

I drive an economical little car which is ideal for my work commute and pootling around in.

It is small. It is not the coolest car in the world - by a long shot.

But IT IS NOT INVISIBLE!

I am fed up with people pulling out in front of me at the last minute.

I am fed up with people in the local country lanes almost running me off the road.

I am fed up with people driving up my bumper as I stick to the village speed limits.

I am fed up with people like the woman this morning, unsurprisingly driving a BMW X5*, hurtling off the main road into the Lane on which I live, coming head to head with me forcing me to stop then just sitting there looking down at me waiting for me to reverse a good 40 metres back up the road.

Feeding the monkeys

So May has arrived and that heralds the start of birthday season in our household.

Alongside the birthdays come the parties and feeding the invited monkeys children that have been carefully selected invited.

Today it's the turn for my baby boy. Five years old?! When? How?!?

Alban has made his food requests and a recent arrival in the post has been added to the list.

So alongside the usual party rings, chocolate fingers and pizza slices - how predictable is my son?! - will be Walkers Baked Hoops and Crosses. These are a low-fat, wholegrain snack which will definitely be finding their way into their lunch boxes too. The kiddies enjoyed the Roast Beef packet and I'll be looking out for my favourite flavour of Walkers - Prawn Cocktail.

Oh, we have also acquired an extra monkey for the party today!