Getting the most out of life

We've all got blocked noses. I will be stocking on house tissues and perhaps some Vitamin C. I take a supplement. My son doesn't drink juices or eat fruit so bit tricky but he appears full of energy as usual so not to concerned right now. 

A picture of me 

I really feel for those that are fearful of putting their heating on because of the increase in the cost of electricity and gas. I watch Call The Midwife and shows people struggling with putting food on the table and thought we had learned and moved on from those times, but no, people are still struggling and it really is affecting me and I now each month donate money or food for the local foodbank.

Thinking of happier things my son has been doing so well now in terms of bedtime and not having accidents and getting up to go to the toilet. Please hope I am not jinxing it. He is a great kid though and watching him makes me feel blessed that I get to be his mum. He is very happy today as he has his sports club today after school and feel I need to write a knew blog post about him on my blog site The Parenting Adventures the Birth of my son. 

I love sharing my parenting experience and celebrate the transitions. This year my son finishes Primary school and feel a little nervous about it, when he goes to secondary school as not sure what school he will get a place and trying not to worry about that, but being my only child I feel like I'm being left behind.

It so sad to hear about Gene Hackman and his wife. So sad. He was a fantastic actor and why I was hooked on the Superman Films. He was icing on the cake and what ever happened I wish him and if they had other family, I want to send them love and my heart.

Why is there so many tragic deaths when it comes to those in show business? I was so sad about Whitney Houston, Duncan Norvelle, Bobby Ball, Tommy Cooper, Barbra Windsor, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Robin Williams. I so wish I could some how bring then back. 

Of course there are different circumstances but it feels so tragic. I am not someone who wants to live forever and reach 100 years old, I want to be gone by then, but look back and remember my life and yes still, I hope have some years to go, but it makes me embrace life even more and make the most of each day, and even though I may not feel like it, play with my son whilst he is still a child, and play football and rugby. His two favourites sports, whilst alive and remember the good and let the bad go.

Please if you like to have your say then please leave a comment below and subscribe if you'd like to know when I post on this site. No cost at all. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

End of another half term and weekend

What a half term. This morning my son has returned to school and thought he had swimming lesson, but no it is the next day, well as I am writing more of this blog, it is Tuesday and yes, but the details were confusing but never mind, I just hope he enjoys it. I am nervous about it but also excited about it too. I did my radio show. I do a show on Sundays 4pm to 6pm, for Epsom Hospital radio and it was singers and actors who have had songs in the charts. 

Had lovely slice of Lemon Drizzle Cake made by my Stepdad during half term

We didn't do park run as in the morning my son had a bit of a cough and I didn't want to be covered in mud but doing it next week but on my own as my sons not so keen, to continue.

He did well at his rugby. If you are new here, Henry goes to all inclusive rugby club in Wimbledon and its for kids like my son who have learning difficulties and have mobility issues.

Instead of Parkrun which  is free to do, we, my son and I, on Saturday popped out early and went on a few bus rides and then watched the rugby and got into to watching Motherland which I watched ages ago but there wasn't a full series on BBC iPlayer and now there I have bin watched and still got a few more episodes and series to go, but really is funny.

Then I will watch Amandaland and do have some TV to catch up on that I missed last week, but going to filmed a video for my Self Development training I have been doing and it is all about feeling good about yourself and your life. I watched the live episode of Eastenders. I watched like a behind he scenes and watched for inspiration for my book and like seeing behind he scenes of programmes and it is amazing how they put it altogether: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsOYVnB_gio

I do remember when Eastenders first began in 1986 and my brother and I were band from watching it because of it being so miserable. The story lines were pretty depressing but I liked the cast of  Angie and Den (Anita Dobson and Leslie Grantham) and it was intriguing and would watch when I got older watched it, each week but then stopped, but because it is 40 years and Grant Mitchel has come back felt I had to watch it, along with Shane Richie as I am a big fan of his, then Brian Conley and David Essex. 

When it comes to soaps I not really a watcher but seen glimpses and like I say I would watch Eastenders each week, but lost my way and I don't watch a lot of TV, just certain programmes. 

There are some good TV and got BGT to watch, Call the Midwife and Sort your life out with Stacey Solomon and still not watched the last of Kevin and Stacey. 

What TV do you watch? Any series you'd recommend. Please leave a comment below as I love recommendations and I read a lot and why I like writing too.

So going to get on with of bits I need to do and plan plan plan.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

Good to have a productive weekend

It is a new Monday and half term has begun. My son couldn't wait to go to his holiday club and was like at 7am going "Can we go now?" I am like doing all I can to stop him from kicking off. I am glad he enjoys it and potentially his last year. It was a nice for a dry weekend. Park run was hard but we did it. We did some running and felt the aid walkers were getting a little frustrated with us going so slow but so helped by one of the ladies who runs the club, to run and will pick it up again for next week, if all goes well.

Picture of my son playing in the playground 

A lot of it was super muddy from the rain we have had last week, but we still did it and then we played in the playground. I did my radio show on Sunday and was really good. I was doing mixed groups and so now going to start to plan for next weeks show.

Henry my son did well at his rugby club. He goes every Sunday and got an award for his passing and was really trying so hard. He is very placid when he goes. A few times he has gotten upset because of not receiving an award but now he is fine and understands that he's not going to get an award each week and they have to make it fare. 

It is good to have a productive weekend and next week the six nations will return and thinking of my show for the radio and perhaps do a sporty theme. You can listen to it on Epsom Hospital radio, Sunday's 4pm to 6pm, https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/listen-live

It has been a real eye opener and you have to take on opportunities and it is surprising how things turn out. I had wanted to work on radio since a kid as I love music and love celebrating music. 

I played songs like Black Eye Peas and Eurythmics and it went so well.

I prayed before hand that it would go well as I do get nervous and the critters in my mind begin, "Oh I don't want to do this anymore" " What if I don't get it right?" and it can really be agitating and really give myself a hard time, but it means and I tell myself this because it is true, I care. I care about it so much. It has really given me self belief and doing Park run too. It is good to doing things that are challenging and its excitement really, rather than anxiety. 

If you suffer with anxiety then ask yourself is it really? I now differentiate the two. 

When Mel Robbins talked about the body doesn't know the difference between excitement and anxiety its the same thing, but now see it that I want to start straight away as I get to the studio early and not dreading but looking forward to it. I am doing a job where I get to play music for two hours and its me and the board. Well really the listeners. 

I don't plan too far ahead and plan each show as they come. 

If you have recommendations of songs then please do. You can leave a comment below. You  can listen via the Epsom Hospital website if you are in St Helier or Epsom hospital and if you are in the UK.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Finding clubs that cater for all abilities and children

It is Saturday night and boy it has been full on with Parkrun, playing rugby, football and a game where you have a cone and when you press it the ball is then caught by another person with a cone and had a nice dinner but feels good to be in bed. 

This s rare for me to be writing a blog on a Saturday night but thankfully my son is downstairs with my mum and step dad. 

Rugby club that caters for children with learning difficulties 

Tomorrow we have rugby club, then my radio show and then got to get back to my mum and steps dads home where I live too, as my son has his holiday club on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and I am decluttering this week, which I will be vlogging and be good to disown some bits and have more space and going for walks and do some writing in a coffee shop. 

Half term can be challenging especially if you have more than one child. The one thing we enjoy is going on train and bus rides, going up London, but it can hurt your purse strings as it is nice to the go to the London Aquarium for example. but we have done that so many times and so I plan to take a trip but places we don't always go. I liked taking trips my UberBoat and going to places like Hampton Court and Kingston as they often have a little funfair for kids and in Wimbledon Park too. 

It is good to have a bit of space so he can make more friendships, play sports and do drawing and they often do story time, too. 

Not all holiday clubs cater for children with learning difficulties and when he went to one in Epsom I had to pick him up because they couldn't meet his needs and was so disappointed and all clubs should cater for all abilities when it comes to children. 

It didn't teach him a good lesson. I felt so bad for him because he loves being around other children and thankful that we found a club in the holidays and feel that the others missed out and didn't give me any faith in those clubs and felt discriminated against.

I did Football coaching and there was one little boy who would get upset every session and match. It was because he felt pressured in playing football and he was a good player but he would kick off every game. In the end though he was fine and it taught me when it comes to my son to let him find what he interested in. My son did Rugby Tots for a bit but would run off out of the school with another child and in the end we stop going as he wanted to do what he wanted. Yet now, now it in a inclusive rugby club he loves it and I talk about them in my blogs because the coaches are fantastic and cater to the kids, not shouting but talking to them and giving them space and the other parents are lovely and that inclusive rugby and all sports club that have inclusive teams, are doing wonderful thing as sports and music is something that brings all different people and no one feels left out.

So I am going to drink my tea and read and get ready for tomorrow.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Looking Forward to the Weekend

End of another week and it is time to look forward to the weekend and today it is Valentines day so I would imagine many of you will be going out and given each other gifts, whilst I enjoy my sausage and mash, along with doing the Parkrun spending time with my son and playing some rugby and listening to final score and then Sunday watch Match of the day. 

Where we do Parkrun in Wimbledon and one of things we enjoy doing at the weekend 

I hope that my sons Rugby club is back on Sunday. I am doing my Sunday radio show on Epsom Hospital Radio 4pm to 6pm if you are in the UK and want to listen to it. 

https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/listen-live

It is good to have something that gets you excited. That is how I feel about the weekend and not be on my laptop, not having to get up super early and being in a change of environment and my son gets to interact with other kids at his holiday club and he loves it. If the weather is okay may be able to read in the local gardens, whilst my son can play with other kids and he gets to see the trains go by and let off some steam.

I going to find a nice cosy Coffee Shop to work in and check out the Charity shops. 

There are many in Wimbledon and am spoilt for choice and I don't go into them just on a whim but do writing down what I am looking for and love Wimbledon Village so plan to go up there and explore and do a long blissful walk. 

There was a time when I would avoid Wimbledon because during rush hour it can be a nightmare to travel and so prefer the weekends and when the schools are on holiday. It is great place to travel to different places like places outside London. You have trains that go to Guildford, St Albans and London Bridge and you have the district line, but always check before you travel. 

The other places in London to go and see is Borough Market and they often have acts on at the Southbank and you have the festival hall and you can nice fish 'n' chip. There us a good book market underneath Waterloo bridge and there are coffee shops and when the weather is good travel by UberBoat. 

My son loves a bus and train ride and with Wimbledon there are many buses that travel to Mitcham. to Richmond and Kingston and my loves getting the 164 to Sutton Station then get the Thames |Link back to Wimbledon. 

So going to end this blog but I hope you have a good weekend and half term. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Happy Valentines Day: One day away

It is another day and when it gets to the end of the week feel I need to chill more and wind down. I am a weekend girl and like to make sure I do something different to what I would do in the week, like doing Parkrun, walking to Colliers Wood for a hot chocolate and checking out the shops and properly switch off. 

This is the last week of the Winter Term and going into Spring and feel I need delayer now. I am ready to shave my legs ready to wear less and travel lighter. 

I do like the frosty days when I have no where to go, but been a bit unwell and a lot of people I know have got sick and so is doing the rounds but then last week watching the football and rugby was fun and that is what I am focusing on and feel with the day stay a lighter makes a good a difference to how you feel. 

One day away and it is Valentines day. I am not doing much and not really something I celebrate but I acknowledge it and I hope you have a good Valentines and just a nice homely cooked meal can be help save the pennies but be a lot more personal. 

My mum used to send me and my brother cards and wasn't always appreciative and I think I will be getting card for my son and give him a little gift. 

I have been playing love songs for my radio show. Check Epsom Hospital radio. I do a show on Sundays 4pm to 6pm and this week it is mixed groups so if you are in the UK then you can listen to it: https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/listen-live

There is a song that is a good song to play for Valentines Day and it is a song written by John Lennon and this is the Mary Chapin version: 

Why not have a cosy night in with a glass of wine. There are supermarkets that do meal deals and we've done that before and you can get a bag of Chinese dishes or a Indian selection.  

So happy Valentines everyone.

Treat each other with a tea  and breakfast in bed. Oh wouldn't that be nice. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Should we be supporting the high street

What is happening in the world? I can't but feel that things are going to change drastically seeing more stores on the high street closing. Trespass stores have practically all gone, same with Mountain Warehouse and now Whsmiths may be going. 

Check out this old footage of London in the 60's.

How many more stores are going to go? I feel a lot of us are uncertain as to what is going to happen in terms of the high street and Epsom now seem to have a lot more coffee shops. They were having a market in my step dads school and it was okay but kept getting fewer stalls and not enough people coming in. My step dad is a school Caretaker and it is a shame. I had purchased items but they mainly things you wouldn't buy all the time and they did food stalls but wasn't too keen. I love markets and as a kid we often at the weekend would go to one. 

We'd go to Wandsworth and afterwards have a Pie n mash, but now very far and few between. 

I feel charity shopping is becoming extremely popular and yesterday I took a trip to check out a few charity shops in Morden and managed to find some books and they had some nice pieces and the black cardigan I have on was a Charity Shop buy that I bought from a Charity shop there a few years ago and  and I love it and has been a great investment and this type of shopping is taking over. 

I am taking a break from buying items from Amazon because my last order went missing as they said it had been delivered but nothing turned up. I am getting a refund, but now think I need to take a break and be it for a while. 

The one thing I am not happy about when it comes to amazon is that the delivery people don't wait for you to open the door and dump and go. It is a good for the amount of items they sell but it just seems that there's no real delivery service anymore. 

Have you had the same problems? 

My mum was saying that too. It doesn't feel like we getting full security and is off putting. I will look at alterative sites or stores like B&M and Home Bargains. 

It also makes me think that I should buy items from the high street to help keep the High Street alive. I bought gloves from H&M for example and got two pairs as they had two sets for £4.99 and a pair from Mountain Warehouse for £8.00 and they both valuable and perfect fit and good to have spares as I have not always been good with gloves. I have lost a few. 

So yes so what is the right way to shop now? And will the high street be revived?

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X