Row, row, row your boat

This week we've been sampling the delights of East Riding, Yorkshire staying at Sand le Mere Holiday Village - more on that shortly when I've had chance to draw breath!

I just wanted to quickly share one of our lovely days we had there.  It was totally unplanned, we were just pottering through the lanes and villages in the car when I spotted a sign in Hornsea for 'The Mere'.

We followed the sign down a bumpy dirt track, not quite knowing what to expect.

It opened out onto a beautiful lake, thousands of geese; ducks and swans and the offer of boat rides and ice creams.

The largest natural freshwater lake in Yorkshire, it's 2 miles long and 3/4 mile wide.

In a very peculiar display of machismo, the old man insisted we hired a rowing boat for a jaunt out.  Why is it assumed (by men mostly) that men can row boats?

Luckily life-jackets were included.  There were a few hairy moments in the beginning when I was having serious second thoughts - mainly when the oars kept slipping out of the holder-thingies (that's a technical, nautical term you may not be familiar with).

To be fair, he soon got into the swing of it - probably due to his enthusiastic and vocal cox - and before long it was like a scene from Swallows and Amazons.

Hundreds of beautiful swallows and swifts swooped and skimmed the lake all around us.  The gentle lap of the water against the boat was the only sound - it felt like we were the only three people in the world.

We went out to the island and saw a swan with her cygnets, a seagull nesting and a - erm, any ideas?

The tranquillity was broken when myself and Ruby launched into a hearty rendition of 'Row, row, row your boat'.  Singing at the tops of our voices, with nobody to hear but the swallows, it was pure bliss!

Linking up with Country Kids over at Coombe Mill.

Spill the beans - what do you think about kid's food?

I've been asked for my views on kid's food for some market research.  I'm relishing the opportunity (sorry, I promise there won't be too many food jokes).  Seriously, I think we should seize the chance whenever companies ask for our opinions.  If you have bugbears then this is the time to share them.

I'd really like to get your input as well to feed back, so if you have a burning issue, then please use the comments section to get it off your chest.

I'll give my thoughts here on the criteria they are interested in, so please feel free to add yours - get your voice heard.

How do you shop for kid's food?

We do all our food shopping about once a fortnight, with top-ups of perishable items in between.  Ruby comes with us on the main food shop and tends to give her input about what she wants!  That's not to say she always gets her own way.  The smaller shops I do on my own otherwise I suspect I'd come out with a basket full of treats.

What are your priorities?


I never bought manufactured baby foods, so try to resist the temptation of buying food aimed specifically at kids now.  We choose normal 'adult' food and ingredients for meals I can make from scratch that the whole family will enjoy together.  As we try to eat together every evening, I don't want to get into making several different dishes for different people.

The priorities for my daughter are the same as for us - good quality; nutritious; tasty food.

I'm a stay-at-home mum so in that respect am lucky I have the time to cook from scratch and don't tend to buy pre-prepared or ready made food.

What do you worry about?


I don't really.  As I make meals myself, I know what levels of salt and sugar etc they contain.  If I were buying pre-prepared foods, and with some processed foods like ham; cheese and bread I do check the levels of salt and sugar.  I try to avoid things (particularly treats) which contain high levels of E numbers, as I have noticed changes in behaviour when Ruby eats certain sweets and drinks certain drinks.

Due to a constant tummy ache, we've been trying Ruby on a diet with no cow's milk for the past month or so.  It has had a great effect, but it does mean I'm more conscious about checking labels for 'hidden' ingredients.  Hers is just probably a mild intolerance, so it's not the end of the world if she eats something with a little butter or milk in, but it has made me sympathise with how difficult it must be for parents of children with severe allergies.  I think clearer labelling all round would be a good thing.

What do you look for?


I prefer to give Ruby 'adult' food.  We eat out a fair amount so I don't really want her in the habit of only eating something if it's in the shape of a cartoon character.  I think this will only bring problems in the long-term.

What are the most important things to you when it comes to kids and nutrition?


Through what we've taught at home and what Ruby's learning at nursery, she is aware of the importance of nutrition and what various things do for the body.  This helps lots if I'm able to say 'this has lots of calcium in so your bones and your teeth will grow healthy and strong' for example.  I think the earlier your children understand and begin to take some responsibility for their own diet, the better.

Which brands get it right?


I like Organix because I know they get the taste of their food spot on.  There's nothing more annoying than being coerced into buying a kiddie brand by your child in the supermarket, only for them to take one bite and declare 'I don't like that!'

They are also a brand I trust, have clear labelling and quality ingredients.  We are also fans of Innocent drinks for the same reasons.  I'm not big on gimmicks or promotions, but at least the ones that Innocent do are engaging and educational - like the alphabet magnets and the recent seeds giveaways.


What do brands do/say that annoy you?


It annoys me when a perfectly fine product gets 'rebranded' to appeal to children.  I'm thinking of apples which are packaged up in bags emblazoned with Disney characters, or cheese which is packed into individual child-sized portions with excessive packaging and gimmicky labels.

I can see how this might be helpful for parents of fussy eaters, but it annoys the hell out of me personally - an apple is an apple!  Why pay more for smaller things??

Where do treats/puddings fit in?  What are the challenges there?


Puddings where not something we generally had, but since Ruby has started eating meals at nursery a couple of times a week, she's been conditioned into thinking that every meal is rounded off by dessert - she sometimes asks for pudding after breakfast!  I'm not a strict parent, I'm quite happy to give puddings as long as the main meal has been eaten.  Sometimes it will be fruit; sometimes yoghurt or ice cream or sometimes something naughtier!  All things in moderation I say!

And...what do your kids say/think?  Do they comment on their diet?  Do they ask for certain things?  Do they know about nutrition?


She does sometimes surprise me.  We were making food for a little Jubilee party recently and she looked in horror at all the cakes: "but mummy, we need some fruit - we can't just eat cake!!"  That made me giggle.  Generally Ruby is quite good.  She does have a sweet tooth and often asks for sweets or chocolate, but she does know it's not good for her and that she should only have a little.  With the cow's milk free diet, she's taken a much keener interest in what ingredients are in certain products and she's having to try new things like goat and buffalo milk, new cheeses and soya products.

She is heavily influenced by advertising though, and we do sometimes have supermarket battles when she demands a certain type of sugar-laden cereal just because it has a crappy plastic toy in.  Let me add that to the 'what do companies do that annoy you' section...

So, those are my personal opinions, but we're all different and have different priorities.  What are your views?  Please leave them in the comments box and I'll be sure to pass them on.

Disclaimer:  I will receive a small financial reward for my involvement in this project.  Thanks for your time and input.

A forager in the making?

So, yesterday we were supposed to be shopping for clothes for our hols, but I couldn't resist popping into the bookshop.  I came out with an armful of shiny new books including a host of new foraging books which I'm devouring.

I also picked up this little book for Ruby.  I thought it would be fun to take on our walks.  There's a point scoring system depending on the rarity of the flowers you spot.

As soon as we got home, we dumped off our bags, pulled on our wellies and hit the woods.  The book is simple for even young children to use - the pages are divided by the colours of the flowers and colour coded at the top of each page.  She wasted no time.

Hmmm what's this I spy?

Let me just refer to my little book...

Is it? Could it be?

We had a great time.  Ruby spotting the flowers, then she'd flick through the book and try to match it to a picture.  I'd then read out the description, characteristics and habitat and together we'd decide if this was the right identification.

Amongst others, we found and identified poppies; cow parsley; herb robert; dog rose; daisies and wild garlic.

She did get a little frustrated when flowers she found weren't in the book - maybe we need a more comprehensive one already!  Instead we took photos and agreed to look them up at home.

This one was on the edge of the woodland. Very beautiful - any ideas?

Or this? Looks like broom but on a very short plant

Of course, there was time for some obligatory wood balancing...

Then onto the serious business of collecting elderflowers for our cordial.

This was a great trip out.  Not only did we come home with a basket laden with edible goodies, but I feel Ruby was much more in tune with her surroundings and having the book helped to open her eyes to beauty she would otherwise have missed.

She loves to come foraging, so hopefully teaching her how to identify some wild flowers will be a good step to her learning the ropes!

Linking up with Country Kids over at Coombe Mill.

Magpie Monday - Garden Party

We had planned to have our little jubilee celebrations in the garden last weekend but the British weather did what it does best so we reverted to plan b.

Ruby was promised her garden party so we simply brought it indoors, parasol and all.

If I'm honest it was mainly because I'd worked so damn hard refurbishing it ready for the weekend, I didn't want it to go to waste!

The wooden table and chairs were rubbed down and painted with Cuprinol garden shades.  A pig of a job because of the slats, it took me three days.

The table and chairs, along with another parasol and cast iron base came via eBay and cost me about £40. The Old Man reckons I paid too much, moaning that we could have got a new one for that price.  Not sure what planet he's on, because I've been looking for new at garden centres and just a pukka parasol like this one will set you back about £70.

Here's what they looked like before.

A few weeks back I'd spotted a pink parasol at a car boot.  I've always wanted one of those beaded parasols and thought this would make a great project for me.  With the words "NO WAY" coming from somewhere vaguely familiar, I dashed off and asked the seller how much she wanted.  To my glee she only wanted a quid for it, so I asked her to take the cash quick before my partner saw.  This she did, then pointed out the fatal flaw in my plan - how was I going to hide a full size parasol from him??  Hmm, too late, the deed was done.

As I said, I'd planned to sew beaded trim on, but when I saw the price I had a quick change of heart.  The circumference of this thing is about 6 metres.  Inspired by Molly's lovely scarf, I bought myself some hot pink bobble trim, and stayed up into the wee hours sewing it on.

Here's the finished result:

It will look much better with my other parasol base which was left in our shed by our previous owners, but I think Him Indoors was worried the kids would knock it over in the living room!

The pink union jack cushion covers were from Shelter charity shop at £2 each and the pink tray?  Well, another makeover.  It started out like this, £1 in the Sally Army shop.

It was alright, but a bit twee for me.  Besides I was almost literally dying to try out the homemade chalkboard paint from Lulastic's blog.  This post was like an epiphany.  It has changed my world.  You MUST try it.

Bye bye George, hello Gorgeous!

What this? This?  Oh that's just a sneaky preview of what's coming next on the blog. *cheeky wink*

Have you found anything second-hand ripe for a makeover, or perfect just as it is?  What do you think of my buys?

Please grab the badge and link up x

I'm off on my hols so RTs would be appreciated and if I don't get to your post straight away, I will do as soon as I have wi-fi.

Oh, and also, if you follow my blog and ever wondered what I look/sound like (not sure why you would, but these things always interest me about other bloggers), check out my dog's first vlog.  Yes, you read that right.


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Monster Pet Supplies with a human touch

Being a blogger allows for some brilliant opportunities for myself and my family. Now even the dog is getting in on the act!

The lovely people at Monster Pet Supplies sent her a parcel full of treats to test out.  Beautifully packaged, it even came with a personalised letter.

Don't know about you, but I'D be happy with a parcel wrapped like this!

This was a very timely gift for Ella.  She's currently experiencing another phantom pregnancy and is feeling a bit blue and sorry for herself (check out the mopey puppy dog eyes!).  Myself and Ruby helped her open the package and read the letter, then it was up to her to put the products through their paces.

So, here's what she thought:

Baker's Joint Delicious Treats

These were by far her favourite.  That's said, she is a Labrador so by definition will eat ANYTHING.  She found them super tasty and was keen to review these often - but I'm a mean mummy and rationed her.

They contain Glucoasamine and vitamins E and C to help give flexibility to joints.  It's too early to say whether they are having any effect yet, but I hope they will help her old lady stiffness in the mornings.

Kong Squeezz Toy

We had a Kong for her when she was a puppy and I swear these saved my sanity - certainly they saved my furniture.  With her needle sharp puppy teeth she would gleefully gnaw through bookcases; shoes; dining tables; walls...

I don't really understand why Kong make these look so dubiously like 'adult toys' but there we go.

Gi'us a go!

She loves to gnaw on this and pop a treat inside and it will keep her occupied and out of mischief for hours.

Good Boy Beef Flavour Mighty Girder

I'm afraid to say she was fairly unmoved by this one.  She paid little attention to it besides taking it off to her bed and sticking it under her blanket.  I suspect that has more to do with her 'nesting' habits at the moment.  She's much more interested in soft toys than rubber ones (unless it has food inside like the Kong!).

We persevered though and found it made quite a good stick for her to chase and retrieve, and much safer too - no danger of splintering in her mouth.

All in all Ella was very happy with her tester mission and would like to say a huge thank you and sloppy lick to Monster Pet Supplies.

She says even if you're crazy enough to have a different kind of pet like a cat; a bird; a reptile or a small fluffy thing, go check out the website - there's something for everyone.

Disclosure: We were sent the goodies outlined above free of charge for the purpose of this review.  No financial reward was given and all views expressed are our own.

Magpie Monday - Loverly jubberlie

Happy Jubilees!!  Ruby has been so excited, waking up every morning for the past fortnight asking if it's 'jubilees' yet.  I'd promised her a garden party for yesterday, but predictably it peed it down all day.

So, we brought the party and all the decorations inside and had a garden party indoors.

Most of the decorations were thrifted, and here's what we used:

Our local weekly market has a second-hand charity stall and I picked up a huge bag of flags the other week.  The Old Man draped them everywhere - hmmm, yes everywhere.

On the same stall I found some patriotic candles - gotta love the naffness of those Union Jack sphere candles.  I got a pair of red Hobbycraft enamel mini buckets at the 50p sale last week, and they were put to use too.

I also bought these floating candles from the same market stall.  But look!  Totally independently, I found this glass dish in a charity shop later in the week.  Perfect match or what?

I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend, if you've found any second-hand bargains, please grab the badge and link up x


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Oxfam Birth Rights Campaign

From the moment I told my GP about those two little blue lines on the stick, I was looked after by health care professionals.  My pregnancy was monitored, I paid regular visits to the midwife, I was given advice and support.  When the time came, I was relaxed to know that the maternity ward was a 10 minute drive from my house.  The care didn't stop there - post birth I was given support and help with breast-feeding, and my physical and emotional health was closely checked too.

My birth experience wasn't great and I've had a few moans about it, but when push came to shove - if you'll pardon the pun - there was ALWAYS a qualified, experienced, competent midwife the push of a buzzer away.

When things didn't go to plan, there was a small army of consultants, nurses, anaesthetists and surgeons on stand-by to perform my emergency c-section.

At no time did I EVER feel anything other than safe in their hands.

It's not like this everywhere and Oxfam are fighting hard to ensure that mothers stay safe while they give birth.

In Ghana, all women are now entitled to free health care during pregnancy.  This is a massive step forward, but it's not the end of the story.  Many areas are so remote and have so few trained midwives, that women are still at risk.

“It’s a joy to bring a child into the world, why should you die?” Cecilia Addah, midwife, Ghana.

If you are a woman in Ghana, your chances of dying during childbirth are 1 in 66.  Compare that to the UK where the chances of mortality during labour are 1 in 4,700.

Our government made a commitment to give 0.7% of national income to overseas aid starting in 2013.  It has taken 40 years to get this kind of commitment - don't let them back out now.  Show the politicians that you feel strongly about this issue and that this money pledged should go to prevent deaths during labour and other important projects.

Please, sign the petition here.  It will take seconds.

Oxfam have put together a gallery of pictures - they say a picture paints a thousand words, so I'll shut up for a bit now.

Selina's Story

Selina Fletcher, 30, prepares to go to the labour ward of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana's premier health care facility. In Ghana, Selina is one of the lucky ones - many pregnant women here still do not get the quality, free health care they are entitled to.

Selina is taken to the labour war through the busy waiting area of Kerle Bu Hospital, Accra.

Selina's overnight bag. In Ghana, many patients are required to bring their own disinfectant, bed sheet, hair net and cloths. Selina didn't bring these items with her, and told to buy them as soon as she arrived. The policy of free health care for pregnant women in Ghana was a big step forward, but these extra costs are still unaffordable for many.

As Selina's contractions intensify, the midwife examines her using the basic equipment available. Further investment is needed to train more health workers and provide modern equipment and medicines, so more women can survive childbirth.

After five hours in labour, Selina gives birth to a girl. A midwife is there throughout delivery and helps to clean the baby. Across Ghana, nearly half of all women give birth without assistance from a qualified health worker.

Savina, named after her Grandmother, opens her eyes for the first time.

Selina and her baby girl, Savina, rest in a lying-in ward.

Around 35 hours after giving birth, Selina (far right) leaves the hospital with her friends and family.

Selina's friend Sarah (left) helps her to settle in at home after the taxi ride from the city.

Selina's two sons meet their baby sister for the first time. Selina is fortunate to have benefited from Ghana's free health care policy, but not all women are as lucky. Not all women here are aware of their right to free care, a situation made worse by low levels of literacy and limited education on health-related issues.




Adumporka's Story

Adumporka Abotiyure gives birth in Sumbrungu Health Centre in Bolgatanga, north east Ghana. In rural areas like this, access to skilled, free health care is much lower than the national average, due to a critical shortage of trained health workers and clinics. Some health centres even lack electricity and clean water. 

Adumporka has brought her own soap, mug, disinfectant, bed sheet and cloths, as required by many health centres in Ghana. The extra cost of these items means some women are not able to take advantage of free health care. 

Adumporka’s new-born baby boy. 

Adumporka (right) was brought to the health centre by a traditional birthing attendant, 72-year-old Atulepoka (left), who remains by her side throughout. In rural areas like this, many women don’t seek hospital care because they prefer to use these traditional birthing attendants. But these health workers are often unqualified, and don’t have the skills to save lives when complications arise. 

Baby and mother take a moment’s rest. After just a couple of hours, they are asked to leave as there is limited space. It’s a reminder that more investment is needed in health centres, medicines and equipment, so more pregnant women can rreceive free health care. 

 Adumporka and her baby boy prepare for the trip home. This is another example of free health care protecting new mums and their babies – but much more needs to be done. Many women in remote, northern areas of Ghana are still not getting the health care they desperately need. 

Adumporka travels the 4km journey home on the back of her husband’s motorbike, carrying her new-born son in her arms. In northern Ghana, less than half the population live within an hour’s travel of a hospital or health clinic. This is preventing many women getting the free health care they deserve. 

Adumporka’s mother-in-law holds her new grandson. He will be named as part of a traditional ceremony, where family members decide if he is a reincarnated relative. 

Adumporka’s relatives and the traditional birthing attendant bury the placenta and umbilical cord. Tradition requires a burial so that the woman remains fertile. 

Adumporka stays indoors for three days after the birth, according to the local tradition. During this time, her mother-in-law washes her regularly in shea butter. 

All photos: credit Abbie Trayler-Smith / Oxfam

What can you do to help:

Sign the petition and send a message to your MP

Read more about the issues and the Birth Rights Campaign

Spread the word on social media #birthrights and with friends and family

If you'd like to host the gallery and a post on your blog, get in touch and I can put you in contact or tweet 

@OxfamLondonSE