Things I don’t want to forget #456

Posted on November 4, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Things I don’t want to forget…

1. A marriage proposal

W on the sofa with me yesterday afternoon.
“I love you Mummy. We can get married”
“Awww, thank you W, that’s lovely, I’m so pleased that you love me.”
“And you know what Mummy, that means we can have a Marriage Disco !!! Yippeeeee…”

Good to know that I’m useful for some things then. (For context, W wants everything to be a party / disco at the moment – even having breakfast in a morning. Lovely Bloke and I aren’t as keen on this as he is…)

2. W “taking pictures”

We got to the bonfire and fireworks last night. And W, age 4, has an empty tube of smarties. He is using it to “click, click” and take photos of all the fireworks. It was a lovely moment of innocence that I loved. Shame about the tiddler next to us who sobbed her way through it, whose Dad wouldn’t take her home because she “had to learn to like them” … hmmmm….

There’s so much more that I want to document but can’t remember now I’m sat down and writing this…

Lovely Bloke making them batman and wolverine masks from scratch this week.
Lovely Bloke spending hours carving out two HUGE pumpkins into a spider and a bat even though the boys got bored within 5 minutes.
The boys kissing Aunty L’s bump and saying hello to her baby in her tummy.
E going up another level in swimming as a result of his one to one lessons.
W having one to one lessons and a teacher getting him to agree to wear goggles – a miracle!

cambridge mummy on … holidays and life being too short

Posted on August 25, 2012 by cambridgemummy

We’ve had a great week with my mum and dad, at their static caravan near Lancaster. The boys have truly loved it. Lovely Bloke and I have a lovely time as well, it’s just been in a different way – seeing my mum and dad playing with them, tickling and giggling, and “doing jobs” together. And we got to have a curry out together yesterday evening and a couple of drinks which was much needed.

Highlights include:
Seeing Uncle S and Aunty J. Did you know that he is the funniest and most muscle ist person in our family? We all had dinner out with him and Aunty J, courtesy of Grumpy Grandad and Grandma and they all played pool together.
Grandma, me and the boys walking to Scorton and got soaked on the way home.
Blackpool circus – fabulous. Blackpool Sea Life Centre – distinctly average. Think it’s been shortened to make way for a crazy golf course, which was much better than the actual sea life centre.
Playing in puddles at the beach in Morecambe.
A second round of crazy golf.
Swimming at a huge pool in Morecambe where E made friends with Big Boys who were age 7 and 9.
Tea out, lunch out and afternoon teas with cake more times than we can count.

It’s funny, I feel like I haven’t stopped but can’t work out why until I think about everything that we’ve done. But at least I’ve managed to swim a couple of times and we’ve also been able to get my dad in a swimming pool for the first time in at least 40 years. I know, 40 years. He’s done so well – having a go at swimming, using a woggle and really making an effort. Life’s too short for him to not have a go, isn’t it? I hope he keeps it going even though we’re not there with him to provide social pressure to get in the pool! Maybe my mum will even buy a costume and then they could go swimming together? That would be so great if they did.

So all in all, it’s been a good week. I also kept work ticking over, but now it’s back to the usual for both myself and Lovely Bloke. With one week of the hols left, Lovely Bloke has got to sort lots of school uniform labels and shoes, and get them back into a bedtime routine. I think that latter is going to be the difficult bit as their bedtime’s have gotten later and later as the weeks have gone on!

Anyway, back to the washing pile. Some things never change, no matter how much fun you have on your holiday….

Cambridge Mummy … with an open letter

Posted on August 11, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Dear Older Lady at the swimming pool at our lovely private hotel that we pay to be members of…

Please do not tell my son that he cannot do a sitting dive from the side of the pool. Please do not complain about children being in swimming pools because they splash too much and make your hair wet. I think you’ve got more to worry about than wet hair – your bright blue, badly applied eyeshadow would be a better thing for you to focus on. You are lucky that neither E or W saw fit to comment on it like they usually would, because I would have died laughing.

And apparently you’d already started on the other 3 and a half year old swimming there with his mummy. Seriously love, get a life, and a hair cap if you’re that worried about your hair. And if I had seen you in the changing rooms, and so much as dared to give me another piece of unsolicited opinion and input, I would have told you exactly where to shove it, and it would not be pretty. (The boys were changing with daddy today, so I could have used the wording I reserve for idiots like you, without their little ears being shocked….)

God willing, you’re also a member of the hotel, so we can splash and have fun at your expense next weekend, because you need to get the message. Children doing activity is fun and good. And if Rory McGrath can swim in that pool, being 10 times the size that my son is, and splash his way up and down the pool, then my son should be able to as well. So shove it.

Cambridge Mummy on … hating dieting

Posted on August 9, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I have just embarassed myself at Weight Watchers. I bounded into the weigh in. I talked happily in teh queue. I go to be weighed in jeans and thin top like last week. She asks how my week has been. I say “briliant – I’ve swum four times, made lots of homemade soup, eaten really well and feel great.”

Pride before a naffing fall. I can’t swear, in writing, because my mum reads this. But I’m pretty upset. To put it politely.

I’ve gained half a pound. Funny how we don’t count half points and we round up when I’m eating, but when it comes to weight gain, it firking counts.
In fact, I’m angry.

The suggestion from the weight watchers leader is that perhaps my exercise is making my body hold on to my weight and so I need to give it another two or three weeks, and I’ve to track everything. But that’s what I’ve done this week. I told her that. She said to do it again and take it down there with me.

I am so done with this. People go in and loose 3lbs in their first week or two, there’s me. So pleased to be going in, expecting 3lbs of weight loss, and I’ve gained.

I’ve come home and eaten a mini twirl. 5 points. Didn’t even like it. I just want to rebel against something. I’m so upset and I want to carry on but can’t see the point, to be honest. Maybe I’m just destined to be a chubber forever?

I am well and truly fucked off right now. (Sorry mum, but when you’ve tried as hard as I have this week, I think it’s worth swearing)

Cambridge Mummy on … loving my swimming

Posted on August 8, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I’m going to look like this in my costume soon ;)

I have been swimming twice today. Yes twice. I am so proud of myself. I’m managing approximately 35 – 40 lengths in 30 minutes. I’m really pleased with it and am getting my stroke back. Well actually, I’m not getting my stroke back – I’m getting my stamina back. I’m getting better at getting more lengths in the 30 minutes that I’m allocating myself in the pool. My stroke is shocking!

Things I’ve discovered this week:
It’s a good idea to carry a spare pair of pants in my changing bag.
I can use the freebie towels that you get when you have a new baby, from Persil et al, as great ways to dry your hair post swim.
That it’s a good idea to use a swim cap but I shouldn’t put my hair in a hair tie as it will break it…
When my hair is wet, I must not put it in a hair tie as it will stretch it and then when it’s dry, it will break when I brush it.
It’s good to have change in a special purse and buy swimming sessions in bulk so that I can just take the card, and don’t need to move bank cards around.

Next week, I’m going to look into getting a couple of private lessons at the pool, to make my stroke better. Though I don’t know how, unless there’s a harness involved, I’m going to manage to put my bum up more, as I know that’s the route to better stroke… I’ll keep you posted on that one!

PS. This is not a sponsored post but I was gifted a speedo swimming costume by Simply Swim 6 weeks ago and it’s really helped me get my but back into the pool – I’m no longer having wardrobe malfunctions and having to put my boobs back in my costume each time I’ve completed a length!

Cambridge Mummy on … loving swimming

Posted on August 6, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Yes, I went swimming this morning. It was great to be in the pool. I was out of breath and pooped by the time my 30 minutes was done with, but I definitely did more than 22 lengths. I didn’t keep count in the end. I just kept going as best I could. And I am still LOVING my swimming costume. Thank you Simply Swim, for your email of divine intervention a month ago. It got me into the pool, and is keeping everything in the right place whilst I’m doing my thing.

The low point, is that I put my costume on before I went to the pool, and forgot to take any underwear with me. You’ll know that I’m not worried by the bra issue, because I regularly don’t have the where with all to put one on after I’ve been swimming. But pants? I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t do commando. It’s for boys. Not girls. My damp bum, in denim, in the car was not a nice experience.

You won’t tell anyone, will you?

Cambridge Mummy on … 2 steps forward and 1 step back

Posted on August 5, 2012 by cambridgemummy

So, week one of Weight Watchers was good in some ways – I was much more aware of my food. But I cheated. And guess what? I gained 1lb. Cheating doesn’t work, so this week I am now on it – like a woman on a mission on it. I have made soup, dinners and am really going for it – weighing and measuring and getting myself in hand. We’ll see how I’ve done when we get to next Thursday. I do not reccomend anyone’s ready dinners – seriously, I don’t. Because you don’t get much food, it is usually over spiced and it’s pants. But I do recommend the Weight Watchers chocolate mousse things. They are lush. And feel like a treat. Which is, I suppose, what they are.

And the activity level is going to be better this week – I did 22 lengths in my new swimming costume this morning, in 25 minutes, whilst the boys had their swimming lesson. And I’m so setting my alarm to go again tomorrow morning. Because I want to sustain it. Only problem with it is that I am so shattered, and sweating from the activity that I can’t even manage to get my bra on, so I shuffle out afterwards with my arms folded, trying to not look too much like Meatloaf, with the boys and Lovely Bloke bouncing around full of life. All I want to do it sleep – for hours on end. But I’ve got to get over that bit.

If it takes 21 days to make news habits, then I’m going to do this. I’ve taken myself in hand. And I’m doing it. Because life is too short to not do it. I don’t want to have this tummy forever. I want to be more confident. And I want to be able to shop in normal clothes shops, for size 14 clothes. That’s my goal. To get from size 18 clothes, to size 14. Anyway, I don’t want to sound too preachy or like I’m on an Oprah esque mission, so I’ll go and do some housework before an early night to pysch myself up for exercise tomorrow!

What have you done that’s helped you with changing your mindset and approach to food? I could do with hearing of what’s worked for others…

Cambridge Mummy on … not having a wardrobe malfunction

Posted on July 22, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I should have taken a photo. But you wouldn’t have believed me. Behold, a swimming costume where I can report that my ample bosom did NOT fall out whilst swimming. I know it’s a miracle. Go and buy a lottery ticket. I’ve agreed to review it, but I don’t know what I can say about it other than that I didn’t know I was wearing it. OK, I did. I did know I was wearing it – because I did not feel like my wobbly bits were on show to the entire world. I know I was wearing it because my boobs were in relatively, the right place for the duration of my swimming session. And I didn’t have to keep re arranging it to pick it out of my bum. I don’t think I can ask for much more than that. Can you?

Is all this too much info? I’m sorry if it is, but I’m well chuffed with this costume. It’s a speedo from simply swim. They let me choose whatever I wanted. That was a blog post in itself! I wanted to get something that looked a bit more, well, girly, but Lovely Bloke advised that I went for substance over style. That’s not to say that it’s not ok on. It is. To be fair, I’m happy with this, for a twice a week, swimming at full pelt for 30 minutes whilst they boys are having their lessons, type of swim. It’s not me lounging around a pool trying to look attractive kind of thing. But I don’t do that anyway – I’m always hunched over my iphone reading an ibook, or negotiating with the twinkies over something that I probably shouldn’t be bothering about or pretending to not be watching other families to see how their holidays are working out – ie: how much they are arguing.

Anyway, enough about that. I’ve got a dog to attend to. Yes, we have part ownership of a springer. She’s lovely. But feral. And that’s another blog post altogether. And I’ve got to get the swimming kit ready for tomorrow. Because they’ve asked to go again :)

Cambridge Mummy on… getting my swim stroke back

Posted on July 2, 2012 by cambridgemummy

To cut a long story short, I got an email from Simply Swim, asking if I’d like to try and review one of their swimming costumes. And to go back in the depths of time, I actually used to be quite a good swimmer. So this is my sport of choice when it comes to exercise. Anyway, back to the swimming costume.

So, being a “curvy” bird, I’ve chosen the costume below. Why?
Because as Lovely Bloke has so subtly put it, if don’t have something with some support around the boobs, I won’t have any shape at all. I know. He’s fabulous. And has a career in politics ahead of him, doesn’t he?

So, this is it, and it’s what I’m going to look like, when I wear it :)

According to the sales blurb on the Simply Swim website, “the flattering Finesse U Back swimsuit is from the Speedo Sculpture range which gives shape and support to your body and has increased resistance to chlorine, making it ideal for frequent pool use. With bust support, U -back and low leg.”

I’m about to send the email off, asking for it in my size. I promise to post a photo of what I actually look like in it, not least because I need a “before” photo for my Weight Watchers project for the next 6 months.

What swimming costume do you wear? What do you look for? Can you fasten the clasp on the back of a costume yourself? If you can, go for this swimming costume. I loved it but am not great at doing clasps behind my back (yes, I put my bra on and wriggle it around…)

This is not a sponsored post. I have not received payment for this post.
It’s a post where I’ve been offered the opportunity to choose a swimming costume to review. I’ve not been asked to even write a blog. I just feel like it, so that I’m more accountable to my swimming activities.

The Cambridge Mummy blog on: ways to spend your weekend

Posted on August 27, 2011 by cambridgemummy

I was thinking today, that I’m actually a very lucky bird. This weekend and last I have taken the boys swimming in the morning, with a different family each time and then we’ve gone out for lunch. Whilst Lovely Bloke has been at home with either the ironing or the kitchen/dining room project for company. And next weekend, our boys will be with Grandma and Grumpy, whilst I do some filming for at The Baby Show for UKBabyShows.co.uk

Somewhere in the midst of all that, W has finally acquiesced a little, and allow us to start toilet training. This means that we’ve gone through so much chocolate that it’s a wonder he’s managing to sit still at all, there’s that much sugar carousing through his little body. I’m going to find it difficult to film at The Baby Show, because I get a) broody when I see the babies and b) miss my own boys. But I’ve got more of my head around this kind of thing – that by doing it, it’s going to allow me to be there in the first week when E starts school, at drop off and pick up – I know lots of women who won’t be able to do that so it’s something worth noting.I will also be there with W for extra cuddles and snuggles when he realises that E isn’t at pre school with him.

It’s another one of those days where I think we might be getting a bit more balance in our lives, aside from the chaos that’s happening in the parts of the house that are being carved up as I type…

Of course, I’ve now got renewed purpose for my weekend evenings – they are filled with the twilight films. I’m Team Edward, before you even ask, and anything else would be just plain wrong. Watching the films has taken me back to feeling like a teenager – that love can and does conquer everything else. That love can be something all consuming and that you don’t care – that you crave it like “your own personal brand of heroin”. That makes so much sense to me. I remember how I felt about Nick, my boyfriend from 15-19 years of age. He was my first true love and the loss of our relationship was like a bereavement. A proper bereavement, even though we both instigated its demise in different ways. Even now, I look back on it and remember the times fondly, and hope that our boys have those experiences themselves, because they are so special.

I was emailing with someone who isn’t into the whole romantic cliches thing the other night and she asked about my newfound love and why it was affecting me so much. I said it’s because “I have a hitherto previously undiscovered passion for handsome young male vampires who spout the love lines that I think we women should be on the receiving end of every single day without fail”.

Twilight is even making me make more of an effort to be lovely to Lovely Bloke, who is grafting away right now, acquiring another new skill, of plastering. I’m hoping that if I keep telling him how well he is doing, how proud I am of him doing this project, making him cups of tea and bringing him pizza, he’ll reciprocate with statements of love and worship and adoration that would be amiss from the lips of Edward Cullen himself. It’s a project, but then I like a challenge.

So that’s all sorts of different ways I’m spending my weekends at the moment. What are you doing?