Making Plans for the Sumner Holidays

I'm already getting requests for the summer holidays from my son. He loves trains and wants to go from London Waterloo to Dorking but means we are going back on ourselves if we do. Is that such a big deal? What harm would it do and glad he likes going out and not destroy his love of travelling and going up London and other places. 

I know this is a sign that I need to not allow this bother me, going back on ourselves, but it does. Is this OCD? 

My son waiting for the bus 

Would not be surprised. Any how. it means going through plans, as I'd like to go the seaside again, travel up London on UberBoat and I have booked a holiday in August to stay on a farm and really not sure what to expect but at the same time, looking forward to it. 

It also means getting ready for my son goes to Secondary school. We still don't know where he will be going to school. 

If we do not get a place in the schools we've chosen, could mean that I'd have to teach him myself but really school for him is essential. I think he will be very academic and can do so much more than what he will portray. He doesn't always share what he did at school and just likes to come home and forget about it. I put my hand up I did the same. I was not a lover of school at all.

Yet he has made so many friends now and want him to have friends from school and he is such a sociable boy. 

If he doesn't get a school allocated then I feel like he will miss out. He does go to clubs at the weekend, but for Henry he like stability, where he can be taught by someone else who is a qualified teacher. I have done coaching, worked in childcare and it is great for him not to be stuck with me all the time. He does better where he can just be taught by a different face.

If you are new to my blog site, then I share many things. different parts of my life and my feelings and thoughts and would like you to comment and if you've struggled to find schools. My son is at a LAN School because of  his learning difficulties and is doing so well. 

I am looking forward to the summer holidays but want his education to rise and pray that a school will be what we want and that he has a place, to help me and my son enjoy the summer holidays without the worry of him to not going to a school come September. 

Today my husband is getting his car fixed and Henry I think will drive one day. I want him to be as dependant as possible but I do like doing things for him and I finding it hard to step back, I want him to take his plate out in the kitchen when he is has finished a meal, rather than waiting for us to do it and get dressed by himself. Its for me, running his bath, making nice dinners that he enjoys and putting on his shoes, but yes I need to be a lot tougher with how much I help him now.

Any tips would be welcome or advice. I write a blog about parenting to share my knowledge but not a parenting expert but what and how I have done things to help that can help other parents too: Check this blog site: The parenting adventures | Easy Flexible Parenting

So going to get other bits done aswell as this blog and if you like reading my blogs on this site then please subscribe and like, as it really helps me to grow my online platforms. 

Many thanks for reading.

Carrie X 

Celebrating VE Day 80 years and miss my grandparents who live through the Wars in the 1940's and post did so much

It is Bank Holiday Monday! Yeah Woohoo and I shaved my legs and armpits got out my shorts out, but watching my son play rugby at his rugby club yesterday I was freezing and as luck would have it and today, it is super cloudy, feeling that it would be the case. 

Going out for a coffee it is chilly, but went for a walk and my son wanted to get the bus back from town to home and Henry spilt his milk in the coffee shop but never mind. 

On Saturday after he had been to football club and I did Parkrun, we went for a coffee then too and went to Battersea Power Station, but my son had a bit of a funny tummy so we went to toilet and jumped on the bus back and went for a bite to eat, he was feeling better.

My son's not so good with the heat, hence why we've not been abroad with him yet and better in the colder weather, but he was fine in the end, so we had a nice meal on Saturday and then went back home, to then stop in for the rest of the day, ready as he has Rugby club and won best player again, which was good and I then did my radio show.

I do a show on Epsom Hospital Radio on Sundays 4pm to 6pm. I am off next Sunday as we are off to a birthday party, so I will be back doing my show the following Sunday. https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/presenters/carrie-challoner

Today it is VE Day and not watching it and I do wish I still had grand parents. They have been gone from this world for a long time, but I do still miss them and I think about other people's grandparents and Norma and Jess, who do videos on Social Media, who are so sweet, if you ever watch their videos and I was lucky to have a good set of grandparents. I spent a lot of time with them and would see them most weekends. We would go on holiday with them and spend yearly celebrations, like Christmas and the first Christmas without them, my nanny Florrie Skinner, was hard. 

"It is the No Mores" that I feel. 

No longer going to have a cup of tea, go for pie and mash, to a market or go to the races, which we  did a lot when my grandparents were alive and were great days out. 

I'd see them most weekends and so will be thinking of them today, on how they lived through the world war and post war. Having to have rations and not having a TV, no cable or internet. They went through so much, way before I was born and in the world. Yet  my nan even when she retired still was active, would still put my grandads bets on, shop everyday and travel to visit family in Scotland and bought the family together.

My grandad on my mum side worked for London Transport up until he retired. He was a bus conductor and my nan used to work in Peter Jones in Sloane Square and then caretaker of Bolton  Gardens in London and then lived in Earls Court. Life for went in a circle, whereby, where she was born in Chelsea was where she had spent her last days until she died in 2000. 

So I hope VE Day goes well and get to see the fly passed and the celebrations. 

I plan to write my daily blog, in the week and hope you have a good Bank Holiday Monday. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Living for Thursday

It Thursday almost the end of the week. This is where start to go through my lists on Notion and written in my notebook. I uploaded a vlog about, Getting on top of things. https://youtu.be/_r7LgBl9IuE

Thursdays is when I start to plan for the following week. 

My local park I like to walk through. Rosbery Park Epsom

It is good to have things planned and look forward to. It is good to have time to sit down and go through what has been done and going through of what has to be done and what I want to do. 

I like being productive and have plenty to do. I have planned meals for next week. My husband goes shopping on Saturdays and I will pick up bits in the week depending on what we are going to have.

Thursdays are usually my day where I will do some walking and did that today and looked in charity shops and found some jewelry. I have some birthdays coming up and brand new items, so not worn. 

My son has his afterschool club and my husband cooks, we have something simple like Pasta for dinner and wind down ready for Friday and go to Wimbledon, and ready for the weekend. 

When it comes to TV I will be catching up on Grace and going to do my new Floor workout I have developed and getting its stretching, bit of yoga and Pilates and exercise my whole body. It just helps me to breath and take my time. I like just let my body do the talking and do what I want to do. I am still working on my eating. Some days I don't always have lunch but have breakfast and dinner.

Today we are in the start of the a new month. It is May the 1st 2025 and have set my goals and plans. 

It one month away from me starting my Life Coaching programme, Summer Project 2025 and there is a lot to be confirmed and getting my book republished Mum&Me and is going to be a series, in Kindle and Paperback. 

This weekend it is another bank holiday. So get extra day to sleep in at the weekend. 

A good time to get out the BBQ and chairs if you have a garden or in a park, or seaside and just enjoy. 

So going to go and get the rest of my to-do's done and will be back with another blog. So see you then. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

End of Another Tuesday

Hello! It is midweek already. Lastnight watched The Assembly on ITV X and it was so moving. I did shed a tear. It was people, adults and teenagers, asking celebrities questions and nothing was off the cards and boy did it pull at my heart strings. 

I think because, that could be my son one day as he got ADHD and Development. His complex needs isn't so severe as many children, but he is now asking me and his dad questions and he will ask personal questions if someone is ill or got an injury and in the show, The Assembly, they sing at the end and oh boy so eye opening.

https://www.itv.com/watch/the-assembly/10a6350

So far it has been Danny Dyer and David Tennant. 

Danny Dyer was in Eastenders and I first watched him in Football Factory and David Tennant was Doctor Who and been in Harry Potter films and now he is doing a new show, Genius on ITV.

The area we are having difficulty with, is waiting to find out if Henry has a place at a Secondary School. We were told that we'd be finding out by now, but still waiting to hear and sent emails and didn't realise how difficult this would be. The schools that were recommended for my son, were not suitable as they were children with severe complex needs, where Henry is in the middle. Henry has to be a LAN School as he is under SEN and it has been tricky.

I didn't this would be so challenging, like many things when it has come to life as a parent. Henry has gone to three schools. Three Primary schools. His first school said that they can help Henry with his needs, finding out that they couldn't because he was behind in his learning and I found their expectations very high and what they expected for the children. He got on with the children but he was finding hard to concentrate, then his second school was good, he had Horse riding lessons and he went on his first Residential Trip, but they said that he was still struggling because of the size of the classroom and now after all that, finally is now since last year, been attending at a school that are spot on and what a mission. They need to make it easier and say who the school would be suitable for and felt that his first school was making up the numbers for the classes and it was a shame because he had made some great friendships and went about it, in my eyes, wrong. 

Please let me know if you've had issues with schools and your children if you've had similar issues. You can leave a comment below. It's not just Henry who is waiting for a place and feel a little worried about it, and its unnecessary stress and should be easier to know and find out.  

My son is a Sports fan and finds it hard to read and write but is getting better. He won a trophy at the weekend (check out my last blog) and so we do a little bit. It is important for him to read, along with cooking, cleaning, money and being active. 

I wrote a blog about What We Can learn from Sport: What can you learn from Sport? | Sports and Fitness Coaching 

I write two parenting blogs: The parenting adventures | Easy Flexible Parenting and theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com

I cover many topics. So now it is Wednesday I am going to pop out and will blog more as we go through the week. Have a good day.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What a Weekend

It was so good. Sooo good and want more like it and I love the weekends. I did Parkrun, went to see the England Ladies Rugby Team play in the sixth Nations and on Sunday my son won a trophy of best player at his rugby club and I did my radio show and felt that it was one of the best shows I have done. 

I am a radio DJ/Presenter for Epsom Hospital Radio: 

https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/presenters/carrie-challoner

Photo I took of being at Twickenham Rugby Stadium The home for England Rugby 

The Weekends have changed so much. There was a time that we'd just stayed indoors in my adult life, but now the weekends are often busier than in the week. Sundays would always be socialising and as a kid spent the Saturday with my grandparents or spend time with friends, whom we never saw in the week. 

I watched some of the London Marathon. I would really like be part it, being such a historical event an the boat race and feel a bit, like I am missing out and so going to make plans next year to go to see the boat race and with the London Marathon, either be a spectator, a participate or volunteer. 

Let me know if you took part. There is a comments section below.

Whitten was a nice place. We went there before the rugby match on Saturday, to my step dads nephews pub and met up with my brother, his wife and kids and friends from my brothers rugby club and then went to the ground. 

I want to do this yearly, as last year was good too. I love seeing sporting events. Also concerts. I got tickets to see Billy Idol in June and I am going to be doing Race for life in June too. I need to find my gear for it and keep doing parkrun as it is 5KM and going to doing on the Epsom Downs. 

If you'd like to donate towards helping me raise money for Cancer Research, here is my JustGiving page: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/carries-sponsorship-for-race-for-life

I also love dinner. We ate at the ground on Saturday and was pricey on what you got, but we were hungry and fed us for the day and had a few drinks. When I would followed a rugby league team, the London Broncos I would drink all day, but glad that I don't do that now. 

This was home and away games, and I would make food, for the day or buy something at he service stations and it was so much fun, but now I do take easier and actually remember the game and not waking up with a raging hangover. 

It is a good way to meet people and it was so much fun and want to have these experiences as its a break from the week and could let my hair down and eat out for a change. 

So have a good week and will try and post more on this blog site this week and see what the week brings.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie  X 

Enjoying the Sights of London

Oh boy yes it is Friday and so far it has been a great week and it was so good yesterday visiting the London Aquarium, had fish and chips and did some walking and so glad to have gone to the early time of 11am as we were on of the first in the queue and I always feel so chilled and at peace.

Your can't beat nature and why I love walking in parks and commons. I love a zoo or a farm and have booked in August a trip to a farm and really looking forward to it.

It does get busy on the Southbank, because there is always someone singing, ice cream vans which we took advantage of after having fish n chips and there seemed to be a festival going on and would like to find out more.

We tried a new coffee shop as we arrived early at London Waterloo and went to the toilet. It was called Black Sheep, the coffee shop and you choose on their self service check outs and was so nice. 

Check out my Instagram and TikTok: 

Typical London Gal (@typicallondongal) • Instagram photos and videos

typicallondongal (@typicallondongal) | TikTok

I bought a book from Foyles which had a great range of books and would go back to to buy another book or two. 

It is a good place to see sights like Houses of Parliament, then further on from there you have St James's Park and Buckingham Palace and it is good to do a sight seeing bus. We did this and you can hop on and off. 

Then if you are able to walk further on down the Southbank, can walk to the tower of London and over the bridge to St Paul's Cathedral. I never get bored with it. I now accept myself as a Londoner and feel proud. 

Am I allowed to say that?

I think you should never forget your routes and it has taken a long time to accept myself and seeing my own qualities and yes have hand mental health battles but now I'm on the other side of that now and so feel that everything fitting into place and not so anxious and thankful for the things that make me feel so good and that my life is growing towards a much better place. 

Check out my blog sites: 

Building Self Confidence- The Ugly Duckling

Everyone can build a castle | Creating goals, habits and being empowered aiming for success

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

The Wonders of Parenting

It is early and my son is being his defiant self. He is my critic and loves to personate me when I am typing on my laptop. He is at the moment pretending to type. 

A photo I took of my son and I at the cinema 

When kids personate you do have to be careful. I do have to be make sure I don't use bad language, that I am respectful when chatting to others and how I respond to him that will help avoid a tantrum, not encourage negative behaviour and set a good example. 

Good communication is a valuable skill. I have had to work on my responses when Henry has done something wrong and give praise when he has done something right. Kids like to test you and that you set some boundaries. He is not to have chocolate all the time. That he has to do things for himself and I have to stand back and not intervene. He has to be able to dress himself, go to the toilet and other good hygiene practices. 

Henry has many needs. He can suffer with Hayfever and so make sure he has tissues available to him and that we have antihistamine. Make sure he is not too hot as he is not always good when it is hot and that he skin is protected. 

One tip. Cover them in sunscreen before they get dressed and through out the day and have some water available to hydrate. 

When it is hot I will make sure he is dressed in cool clothing that allows his skin to breath and has good footwear. 

He loves sports and so likes to be active. He plays rugby and will be doing Football training too and likes cricket and tennis. 

It is good that he is full of energy but means that we have to be active too.

The one thing he has grown up seeing with me and his dad is when we exercise. I do parkrun and do weights and he will join in. He will help water the flowers when we stay in Wimbledon, sort the bins out with his Grandpa and tidy up. 

Being a parent has it's challenges and you do have to improvise and if you want to read more blogs about parenting then check out parenting blog: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.com

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X