The Weekend is coming

Oh I am tired it has been a long day but glad I got all I wanted to get done and that is important. I plan my life so I don't get overloaded by doing so much, and I feel such a buzz as I walked to my sons school again today which is a far distance and is such a nice walk, and yes it rained but wasn't bothered. 

Taken on walk yesterday to my sons school

It is another day I was so tired in the end yesterday, and so it is the next day. 

Now it is the end of the week and glad the weekend is near as it is good to not have to not worry about my son getting ready for school and means we can venture out and not necessarily, be anywhere. 

I like to be away from my laptop and so I use the weekend to spend more time with my son and this weekend we are going to do our monthly task of buying food for the local foodbank, and love doing this and helping others out. 

Then there is TV. I am will be watching Britain's Got Talent but next week and then there is football on so will watch Match of the day on Sunday morning and then my son has his swimming lesson on Saturday and rugby club on Sunday. 

It is good to have things to look forward to. I will be sorting out my bedroom in Wimbledon and going to have a potter of cleaning things out, and will film. 

So yes so going to take a shower and will be blogging next week.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Changing your habits and environment

Hi and I took a trip up to London and just got back as I have done some good walking and having a mooch around the shops vlogging in Victoria and saw some good bits I'd like to buy, I will be taking another trip next week.

I got on the bus just now in Epsom after travelling back by train from Victoria and the bus diverted to the high street again and terminated the journey so went around one big circle, how annoying. 

Anyway apart from that it was a good trip and had a nice lunch in a restaurant Itsu and had Thai noodles with chicken and green beans, and my mum had a Coconut Soup, and do nice tea there too. They are in Victoria Street and there are two along the high street, as you walk straight ahead out if the  big entrance from the overground station, where you got more shops, and restaurants and stalls. 

I did film so will be in a vlog coming. (vlog channel: (4) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube). It is good to have a break from the same environment and take a trip on the train and bus and looking forward to when the weather warms up here in the UK and have a picnic and work outdoors.

One of my favourite things is reading in the park and eating outdoors with the sunshine and blue sky. 

This morning I published a new vlog: https://youtu.be/c0euxNq6XM8 so please check it out. 

I have continued to get up early if you have read my other daily blogs and it really has been the best thing I have done. I am realising that just by changing one habit a day can do wonders to how you feel each day. Yes I know it isn't for everyone, getting up early, but it doesn't have to be that, it could be cutting down on drinking coffee in the morning. There are days where I will take a break from it. Too much of anything can take its toll. 

It is what makes you want to get up and enjoy the days ahead. Its is what suits your wellbeing and having self belief that you can make positive changes in your life, and that there is a whole world outside waiting for you, it just takes that one change that can divert your feelings and thoughts of your life, so lets grow our lives and on the 1st May 2024 my Life Coaching programme starts, Summer Project 2024 Check out my Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/summer-project-2024/ and is to help you have a better life to have a better year, and yesterday posted my work book for it, check out my blog: http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2024/04/23/my-life-coaching-programme-summer-project-2024-helping-you-have-a-better-year-and-a-better-life-is-coming-at-the-start-of-may-2024/

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Variety Act on TV

Hi there and happy Saint George's day, and I did wear the colours today and do it for my dad and in laws, who would celebrate it each year. The last couple of years I have forgotten and so wanted to make the effort as it only comes round once of year, and we should celebrate where we come from. 

Talking about being from England do acknowledge that I am British too and watched Britain's Got Talent and oh my word,

Sydney Christmas was brilliant and have not stopped watching it, and watched Sunday's episode and this years is good, and so will be watching more next weekend and really love that they have had some real surprises. Not going to say too much as many may still have not watched and hate spoilers. 

As a kid I loved the Variety show and never missed a year and it still going on and like the different acts you get like Attraction who did a Shadow act and it was so clever and gave me goosebumps. 

Then there was Jonathan and Charlotte that sang Let this be our prayer and so yes it been more serious now and a lot of the acts seen so far have raised the bar and will support Variety acts out there. 

As a child was more confident than I am now and loved doing ballet and tap and then Ballroom Dancing and love dancing acts, comedians and magic, and that lifts you off your seat. 

Let me know who has been your favourite act from when it started to now. You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Learning/Building your knowledge and skills

Yes another start to the week. It means getting stuff planned. It means planning dinners and my work on books, blogs and videos and training. I train myself all the time to listen and learn, on different topics I am interested in, that is going to help push me forward to my dreams and aspirations.

I like to learn everyday and so will spend time watching others on Youtube that are already doing the things I want to do and reading books. Seeing other people make a success of their lives is inspiring and that there is plenty of success going around, that I know I am able to also be happy successful in my life.

When it comes to life you have take on risks, and test the water I always say, to see what suits you and if it is what you want to do in your life and learning from experts in that industry, or already doing it, is the best to learn to build you knowledge and understanding.

Going out into working world suited me, as it helped support myself instead of relying on my mum and dad and making money of my own. It was something I could be in charge of and I made mistakes, but that is how you learn aswell in your life, and find your skills you have and it can take many jobs and life experiences that can lead you to do what you want. 

My son is doing swimming lessons and he is good at swimming on his front rather than going back, and not an easy skill, and he was scared at first but loves the water now as one point he wouldn't even sit in the bath and so learning everyday and learning new skills each day can do wonders. 

I encourage to do self learning if you don't want to do a course with the internet now and books available.

There is Youtube University and Ted Talks, and go to the Careers Service and if you are on benefits then there organizations that offer free courses and I have done a few and if you are under the mental team in the UK there is what is known as the Recovery College. 

So lets live and learn, as you be amazed at what you find out.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Investing in Sport

Happy Sunday! So going to plan my week, and their is some football on the TV today and FA cup match, Coventry City vs Manchester United. Watched Chelsea get beat yesterday by Manchester City and was disappointed, being a Chelsea fan, and they played well we just couldn't hold on. 

At AFC Wimbledon Ground watching the London Broncos 

I will understand if you aren't a football fan, to not be interested, but wanted to share, should some of you felt the same. How far away are Chelsea fans these days, now the Premier League is a popular league and how many players play in it all over the world now?

Football has changed so much, which is an understatement I know but it is very commercialised and feel that sponsorship and money get in the way, of the football now and not just what goes on, at the training grounds and on the pitch. I love Chelsea but visiting the Chelsea Shop at the ground, the prices are through the roof and I begrudge it. 

I like investing in sport as I enjoy it so much but I also have boundaries on what I want to spend on supporting it and feel robbed when I have to pay over hundred pound on a jacket and just buy a blue one without the logo. My son wants a Chelsea shirt but the thing is he will grow out of it and may change his mind, which he does a lot, so would be a waste. See when it is his birthday then decide. 

When it came to sport I would buy the shirts, badges and programmes when I went to Chelsea ground, because they are collectable items, but I can't afford it now, and I am not going to spent money knowing that this could encourage clubs to increase their prices even more. 

If you want to buy sports merchandise then that is fine, it is up to you I just don't feel good about it and feel that clubs should lower their prices as there a lot of people struggling to put food on the table, and I have just as I write had a brainwave of if you have got old shirts that are in good condition, then donate them to a family, and wished I had done that, now thinking, and I did give my programmes away, and so if you do have sports gear and clothes, you can recycle and donate. That's if you want to. 

This is the reason why I support lower league clubs, as the prices are lower and still good matches, and not a fortune. 

I just like to go to see a match so, I will book tickets to AFC Wimbledon, which is just down the road from where I live, the food is still expensive, so we eat before or after, at home and feel we have had a good afternoon and support other sports, like Rugby League. When the London Broncos, who I used to follow a lot, play at AFC Wimbledon's ground gone and it is in warmer weather, and last time we went we got free tickets, and at my sons school were offering free tickets to go to see Leatherhead Football club, which I have take my son too. 

It is all about is it worth while? And do I feel ripped off?

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Trying to find a good school for my son

End of the week. I am feeling the tiredness of a busy week. Yesterday I shared my apprehension of my son going to an afterschool club and I did walk there. It was a fare distance but glad I did it and my son was happy and the teacher running the afterschool club said that he is very good at football and so feel relief and looking forward to the same next week. 

Picture on my walk I did to collect my son from school

I feel so thankful, that I can walk and that my son has now joined a new club that can cater for him as he has learning difficulties, and will help him make more friends and he still wasn't super tired and wanted to continue to play, so had to prompt him a lot to sit down and chill.

Today my mum and I are checking out a secondary school as we've been advised to choose one this year before he is in the sixth year at his Primary school, he goes to now. 

It can be daunting and being that I have only one child, because my son has changed primary school, three times because they couldn't cater for him and his needs. 

If you have tips, please share. You can leave a comment below. 

At his school now, they really do what they can for them to get so much more out school, like doing swimming lessons, he was awarded star moment on some sentences he did on World War 2, and religious studies and now an afterschool club. They really cater to the children's wellbeing. 

Teaching children is hard, because all children are different and require different needs, and have a lot of patience. My son not now at his school, was holding back and not showing what he can really do, and shied away from some of his teachers because he wasn't spending time with other children, when he would get 1 to 1. Now he is taught with other children in smaller size class, and its taken three schools for this to happen. 

It wasn't our choice, it was the schools and the local authority. His EHCP wasn't updated for his second school by his previous one and so when we read over it with my mum who works in education, they changed it and found out that his teacher at his second school hadn't sent it from his previous school. 

Now though he is progressing in the right direction and in a school that has matched his ability and feel somewhat better about his education. 

So will see, and if you have experienced the same and wouldn't like to share then please do. 

Have a good weekend. I will be blog again on Monday. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Apprehensive about my son Starting a new after school club

Sorry for not blogging yesterday, time and tiredness took over and so chilled for the rest of the day. I uploaded a new vlog for the week: https://youtu.be/yEv1YJHExW8

I filmed and uploaded a video on my other channel: https://youtu.be/5Y_QP95Cc7o

Most of my tasks are done I just got to collect my son from school today as he is starting an afterschool club and feel apprehensive about it, because it is not straight forward in getting there, so gonna leave early and walk there and get the bus back. 

He was very excited about it and will help with his communication and interaction with other children and pray that it goes well and he enjoys it. It is only for 5 sessions, but often that is enough as he also has swimming lesson at school today too, so he will be so tired tonight but he has so much energy so will help him to chill when we get home. 

Usually he wants to play on passed 7pm when I want to be winding down, and him not wanting to go to bed. When children have still got so much energy in the evening and hungry when he gets home from school, they can start to bounce off the walls and not sure what do with themselves so it is going to be good to do physical activity in the day to help with that.

Is it a boy thing? Please give me feedback. You can leave a comment below.

My son has ADHD and development delay, check out my parenting blog: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com and it is challenging. He likes it when he has a set routine, so he knows what to expect, and can get upset if something is different to his normal routine. 

Kids like fun and the school my son goes to, is a LAN School, as he wasn't coping when it came to large size classes, and so now he has changed to a more of a special school he can do group learning being in smaller classes and is his third school, and now we got to start looking for secondary schools. It will be another LAN school and been told that because of he is under SENCO he can go to private LAN school, so going to be finding this out. 

If you have any advice on this then please let me know, I welcome it.

So going to concentrate on drinking my cup of tea, being lunchtime and will blog tomorrow too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

The Cost of living lets work together

Hello Hello! Being up since 5:30am I have completed my daily tasks and this not to make anyone to feel bad, its been a long time to find a system for me to stick to and now going to retire and do a workout indoors and then chill until my son returns from school and I have got dinner almost sorted. 

I have a slow cooked meal today, Beef Casserole and just got to do the potatoes for it. 

It isn't as warm as you think and have been feeling cold and so got a few layers on today and hope we can have warmer weather. I find it hard to work in the cold and my husband not happy that I have put the heat back on, and do wish that I didn't need to but I was freezing.

I do feel for those that are having to be in the cold and feel afraid to put their heating on because of the cost of the heating and those sleeping in the streets, with no place to go. 

When I have gone up London Victoria, seen people laying on the streets and it is heart breaking. It does make me see that I am lucky and have a roof over my head, but limited too and I do respect those I live with who pay for the utilities, so I only put the heating on if I am super cold which I was and so it won't be on for long. 

Soon there will be an election and I not confident about it and hope that whoever is in charge of the country, England make a real difference in helping people who are having to rely on every penny they have because of the cost of living, and are homeless. They do have hostels now, but still the only thing they have is drink and that needs to change. 

Every month now I will buy food or donate money to the local Foodbank in Wimbledon and want to do more, because I want to play my part in looking and supporting others and feel to help us all, is to give to those less fortunate and stop people having to be cold and not affording food and personal products.

So lets work together in building peoples lives so they aren't struggling and have more to go round as everyone can live and be happy and not having to scrimp and scrive, and not having enough of what they need to get by. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Building my energy and making the most of each day

So here we are a new week and my son has gone to school and I went out and got soaked. I do like to go out early as I have the rest of the day to play around with and getting all tasks for the day done. I am listening and watching, Behind the Diary on Youtube and just got to do some reading and then that means I have completed all I had planned to do, today and so can chill out. 

It is good to be productive and getting up early really helps me, and be on my laptop to edit a book I am working on and wrote down what food needs to be cooked and when by. It gives me such a good burst of energy and going out early can help too, Your body is made for you to move and think, and making the most of everyday. I think of my nan, on my mums side. She would always go out and sometimes twice, when she wasn't in the kitchen cooking or baking. 

I was caught out in the rain, and just posted on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typicallondongal/?hl=en

In Epsom there are some good places to go for a walk and looking forward when it doesn't rain to do a bit of work outside and read, after a walk and just explore.

Since this morning the sun has come out, typical. 

Not going to let it get me down and still enjoy the day. 

I am going to start on a new series of Race Across the Road on BBC and yesterday watched the last one of series 1 and so going to start on series 2 and really good. 

If you have recommendation on good TV to watch then please leave a comment below. 

So going to end it here but will be back on this site tomorrow.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Last of the Easter Holidays

It is another weekend and been up bright and early catching up on Youtube and wanted to watch a UK football programme on BBC 1 Match of the day and completing a blog for my site: Building Self Confidence- The Ugly Duckling (buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com)

I also edited a bit of my book that I am working on, and planning for the week ahead. I didn't want to travel anywhere so went to a farmers market and then took my son to a local park and went around it on his scooter, while I sat enjoying the sunshine. 

At the Wimbledon Rugby RFC 

This morning my son went to his rugby club, Wimbledon RFC which is a brilliant club and teaches children of all ages and abilities and learning disabilities and so inclusive that it is a joy to be there. I coached children football and it was tricky as it was just me coaching, with help from other coaches on some sessions, but you would be on your own most of the time. At the rugby Wimbledon rugby club youth training they have 3 or 4 coaches which makes a huge difference and there were a few players in my sons group that were moving onto being in an actual team. 

There is a clubhouse their which serves food and drink, toilets and benches to sit on and everyone is just so friendly and there was a new child who started today, called Ben who is Autistic and was shy at first but within 5 minutes of him starting, he really got into it, my son was a bit distracted because he saw a drome and so lost his concentration, but still will take him as there are others who also have learning difficulties. There is a girl named Matilda and every time she sees a dog, she wants to go over to them to stroke, but she is lovely she was holding hands with some of the smaller children and its just so enlightening. I would like to thank my mum because she is the one who found it, and my brother who plays rugby came, as he is doing a lot of work for the sport.

I followed a rugby league team called the London Broncos and I loved it. I still go to a few games, but at one point would go to every match, home and away and was a huge part of my life. I loved the banter and the atmosphere and at one point was helping with face painting and wrote supporters club newsletter with my friend who introduced me to it, called What ever happened to  Fulham, as they were initially the Fulham Rugby league team, and when I began following them they played at a ground called Barnet Copthall and were called the London Crusaders. 

I got to see them as a local side who had a small following to then becoming a Super League club, who moved to the Stoop in Twickenham, Charlton FC ground, Brentford and even as far as Crawley. 

Many of the people I knew from those days have passed and sad about that, as they were so welcoming and we would have sing offs, we, my friends from the club would go to a yearly dinner and dance in Blackpool and got to see then get to the Challenge Cup final and were beaten by Leeds. 

Rugby is a great sport, League and Union, and last year I managed to get free tickets to see the Broncos at Plough Lane, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium (AFC Wimbledon's ground) as they handing them out in Wimbledon and my son loved it. Sport like music can really bring people together in a positive way that it is good to invest in it by watching local teams especially rugby. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

Being on time when it is okay and when it is not

It is Friday. The end of the week and got up when my alarm went off at 6am. I would have liked to have woken up sooner so going to as of next week set my alarm to 5:30am, just that extra bit of time makes such a difference. 

When I would work in a call centre I would make sure I set myself enough time to grab a drink, set up my computer and my notebook and other tools I needed, way before my shift began and would walk to work living in Epsom and Wimbledon, which would grow my motivation to make sure I got things done and rarely late. If you are looking for work remember time keeping is so important, and that you are reliable. 

There are those that would turn up twenty minutes late and then get a coffee and it would really bother me because it meant I had to cover for them, and would take the mickey with their time and not thinking of their co-workers which for me is so important. 

With children it can be hard, but even if I hadn't slept well would still show up and get what I needed done and if there was a chance I'd be late make sure I called the relevant person to let them know I was running late and make up the time. 

It is on the flip side good to have people in your life who are always late if there is no specific plan as it is good to not have to rush and just have a round about time. Example meet between 1 to 2pm, and let those waiting for you know, that your gonna be late. If you are meeting outside a pub and they contact you to say, that they are running late, go in and find a table before they arrive with a drink for them for when they arrived, and enjoy the evening. 

I would make sure that I had food on me when working or meeting friends if not eating out and buying food out, all the time, it can get expensive, so would take a sandwich, a tinned fruit or crackers, because working on an empty stomach found that my concentration would be affected, and so would save me time so I wouldn't be late and do it the night before. 

Time is money and so remember that your being paid to be there and by customers who would call and it is not fair that you have taking call after call because of someone being late and it is unprofessional and you will be fired for it.

It is stressful on your part because your getting told off, when if you are on time you will be left alone to do the job you are there to do. With friends just keeping touch and if you need to make changes to the time and place, to keep them informed and more notice the better. 

What is your view? Leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Getting to the end of the Easter Holidays

It is Thursday and up at 5am, and having my first cup of tea of the day. and feeling a little tired and thinking it was only, quarter to 6 it is quarter to 7 and so meant I had less time to get ready and make my son a packed lunch as he is off to a holiday club again. 

My son playing Basket ball Yesterday

The Easter Holiday's are coming to the end. 

How many Easter eggs have you still got? My son has quite a few and so will need to use these up so perhaps he can have a bit of one tonight. I was going to put a bit into his packed lunch today but forgot so tomorrow I am going to make sure I remember. 

I like to take it easy as it gets nearer to the weekend and end of a holiday and congratulate myself that I got through it. I love my son to bits and we have a lot of fun and tonight also. He's got so much energy that I can't always keep up, with him.

Later after my son has finished at the holiday club we're going to get a McDonalds and see if we can go back through South Park gardens before we head on back, which is a local park and my son and I spent some time there yesterday. 

It is so nice to have the days lighter now and feel you can do so much more. 

I have been watching Race Across the road, and watching first series and watched the celebrity one they did and so watching the non celebrity one and it is really good.   

Not sure if I'd ever do that, but would be good to do, as I have this fear of being stranded. Perhaps it would help get rid of this fear.

I was a bit annoyed with myself for going back to bed this morning as I felt worse for it so going to keep on getting up early as I do feel so much better when I do. 

Anyway enjoy your Thursday and will blog again tomorrow. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Spending time in London

It is now Wednesday and it is early but I have had a good nights sleep and got up to have my first cup of tea of the day. I have always been a tea girl, until I reached my 30's and moved onto drinking coffee.

Inside the Natural History Museum

Visiting the Natural History museum I was desperate for a coffee so after visiting the museum, went to Pret a Manger which is opposite South Kensington station, and there was a guy near to us, that was talking to himself and got up dancing, but doing no harm, but the Police turned up, which was disturbing. 

I do feel for those who have mental health issues, like I have had and have nowhere to go. He was not shouting or swearing, he was cheerful and I was a bit offish at first but then felt for the guy as some are just lonely and he seems to have a see through bag of belongings and why I donate to the food bank each month as a lot of people are struggling and do need to support people like him. 

Of course I didn't know his story, but he wasn't swearing or shouting. 

My son and I then went on a bus ride back home to Wimbledon and going passed places where I spent my childhood as it goes through Earls Court, Fulham and Hammersmith, where I was bought up. 

That is the one thing I love about London you can jump on a bus to a lot of places, like yesterday we got on the 74 that starts from Marble Arch and ends in Putney, and then we got the 93 bus from Putney bridge to Wimbledon, and then bus home, which was the 200 from Raynes park to Mitcham.

I find travelling by bus you get to see so much more than a train and there are tour buses which you can get on and off, and we did that a couple of years ago, or travel by Uber Boat. This was so much fun last year so on my bucket list of things to do again this year. 

So today we have a few plans. I am vlogging this week out TypicalLondonGal, so will be up soon. 

Anyway happy Wednesday and more blogs coming. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What we have been doing so far this Easter Holidays 2024

Sorry if I haven't blogged for the last two days, it has been the Easter holidays and been a busy couple of days. Friday I did some training for a voluntary job. I will say what it is, once the training is done. Let me just say it is something I have wanted to do since a kid and very excited about it. 

I took my son to have his hair cut and then, on Sunday I took my son to see the new Ghostbusters film. It was okay but a bit too silly in parts I thought and I feel we have missed a film, and it was on BBC 1 and so feel we should have watched that one first. 

See picture above my son went to his rugby club which I'd recommend. It is at Wimbledon Rugby club. 

Its been a long time since I've seen a ghostbusters film, the last time was years ago and so couldn't wait to see this new rendition of the ghostbusters film, and glad we did and was good to see the original cast, from the first films back in the 80's.

Then there is TV, and I watched The Dropout on BBC iPlayer and it was very good. Not saying that I liked films where someone has committed fraud, but of the way it was played out and was good. The actress playing Elizabeth Holmes was fantastic and would recommend. 

I have been watching The Apprentice, even though each year I say I am not going to do so. It is okay but feel it is getting a bit repetitive, but still I like watching it, but not bothered of who wins, and like to see what tasks they have and this week it is the interviews and not sure how I feel about it. I will watch it but I do get if you run a business or want to, then you need to workout realistically if it is going to be good or bad, but then part of me feels uncomfortable when watching the interviews they have to do to get through to the next stage. I wonder how many other people feel the same. If you'd like to share you can by leaving a comment below. 

Stacy Solomon does a programme called Sort your life out is good and she is doing another show on Channel 4 so going to see if I can register and watch it. Yesterday I watched some shows on BBC 2 which were interesting, and Tom Kerridge has a new show where he with a group of people get fit and healthy again. I never always been a lover of BBC 2 but I enjoyed watching those programmes and will watch again. 

If you have any TV programmes that you'd recommend watching then please share below, or even films. I would like to go the new Garfield Film. I know for kids but I like children films. So may pay another visit to the cinema, so more daily blogs to come, and hope you are having a good week so far.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Walking around Surrey and London

Hello and welcome to my daily blog. So yesterday I was up early again as my son had an accident and so had my cup of tea in the morning and wrote notes for my new video on my Youtube Channel My Way Of Living  then had a shower, then started a blog, which I have completed and  posted: http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2024/04/04/being-lazy-does-it-have-a-purpose/

Epsom Downs, Racecourse

I had a productive morning. I love being productive and did a long distant walk which I am super happy about and part of me were tempted to get the bus, but the sun was out, and wasn't cold and really helped stop fatigue, that I can get in the afternoon. I was feeling hungry and so got something to eat and a coffee and was on my way.

Walking helps me save money on travel, and I know I have said that you should not wear earphones, but I take that back as it can help. Everytime I approached a road I took my earphones out and listened to an audiobook. I am currently listening to: This girl is on fire by Andrea McLean. 

If you like audiobooks and have any recommendations then please share. You an leave a comment below.

I will be doing more, and hopefully if it doesn't rain do some more walking today, as will be spending the day with my son. He's was having fun at a holiday club yesterday, but will be keeping him entertained and don't have to be anywhere until the evening, so I am doing some training, and if it works out I will be sharing what it was for. 

Walking is my medicine and I love it, building my steps and paying attention of my surroundings, and in London and in Surrey there are some nice places to walk. Check out the Epsom Downs, such a lovely spot and in London, love walking along the river and check out places where I haven't be too for a long time and love being in the city. 

It can do wonders and there are London Walks you can do and charity walking events, like the Moon Walk, which raises money for Breast Cancer Research and Thames Path Challenge, and would like to do these again as they are such great events to do. 

So I hope you like this blog and will be writing more and have a wonderful Easter Holiday.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

Having a good routine that boosts your energy

So I am loving my new routine, in that I am up by 4am in the morning and I edited a vlog this morning whilst my son was in bed and got a vlog edited, check it out here: https://youtu.be/nEt0X33sGB0

I watched Youtube of videos saying getting up early around 4 or 5am is what many successful people do, and thought I was a night owl, but no and I am amazed by this change and many use it to exercise or meditate. 

For me I like to use this time to work on my content and getting other things done, take a shower and get ready for the day. I will have a cup of tea and now finding I am so much more productive.

I found now that I am less lazy and did get that voice telling me I should get the bus,, because I had to go to a appointment at my GP clinic but I just naturally walked. The "Inner Critic" will try to stop me, Check out this blog: http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2020/05/04/dealing-with-the-inner-critic/ It was raining but I had a baseball cap on and a hood, so didn't allow it to stop me in my tracks and enjoyed it. I like walking and like to do a bit each day. This helps with my mind and be present, living in the moment and now feel I am more aware of what is around me, and not daydreaming all the time. There has been times where I have daydreamed, all day and all night, which would make my mind so active I would not sleep. 

It is good to have a good routine that builds your energy rather than talking yourself out of doing different tasks and putting them off and just wanting to be back in bed. There is nothing against who do that, because everyone is different and there are people who love napping. I am not that sort of person and where I can get depressed and so like to be getting on with something. 

My mum never stops and rarely rests and goes to bed around ten to still get up at 5am to get ready to go to work. I no longer on my laptop in the evening and read. I sleep at the same time as my son and again feel so good about that.

On the Tuesday he went back to sleep and got an extra 45 minutes of sleep as he did have a long day on Monday, because we had family and friends over, and it was a good Easter and today he is at a Holiday club.

I hope you all are having a good half term so far. My son has a lot of easter eggs to get through, and am limiting chocolate, as this can affect sleep and also want him to eat healthy foods and that he finishes his meals.

I do have a parenting blog site, well two actually if you’d like to check them out please do. Check out these links here: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com

https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X 

Are you a quiz master?

It is another Easter Weekend over and it has been good just to chill and play outside, thanks to the weather. It is good to spend time with family and it was a good Easter Egg hunt, but I found the questions hard, one of the reasons that I feel relieve that Henry has no longer has homework because my knowledge is not always good. I am bad at quizzes. Sometimes I get a question right, when I watch The Chase, Tipping Point or Pointless. I can see why when it comes to University Challenge, that it is bright University students because I have trouble with pub quizzes. 

My son's writing saying Happy Easter 

Noone would ever want me to be on their team. Sport yes, dancing yes and TV, depends. 

There are people who for a living like the chasers, are professional quiz masters and study a lot of subjects. 

I was good at the Wheel of Fortune, Family Fortunes and so a game show I am a lot better at, but anything where you have to think fast like The Chase I struggle. I would be alright with the second round as I am better with multiple choice. Quick fire questions, no. 

One of my friends has actually been on The Chase and didn't win, but someone who is super confident, she says she was nervous wreck and I would be. I can't do catchphrase, I never get it, and I remember as a kid there was a lady knew who got to a letter to say that she got a place to be on Catchphrase. I am not sure if she actually got to be on the show, as often with quizzes and game shows there is a selection process as so many people apply to go on them, but I think it is inspiring when someone you know does go on a quiz or game show. I would be a nightmare. 

I remember their used to be a quiz called Blockbusters and were students and targeted a young and old audience and I would be amazed at these youngsters on there because I was not academic and would say to myself "How do they know that?"

Are you good a quizzes? and have you been a quiz show on TV? Please share, I love hearing these stories. You can leave a comment below.

My son is off to a holiday club, but still a sleep which is rare and so will need to wake him up soon, but it was a really busy day yesterday so glad he is getting more sleep which is not often.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Summer is upon us

Happy Easter to you all! My son with his dad went to get their haircut but wasn't open but I was glad I had some time for myself, and wrote this blog about it:  http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2024/03/31/putting-yourself-first/ 

Putney one of the towns I like to spend some time and where the Boat Race starts 

I got up early as I do now, check out my previous posts where I have written about this habit I have started and went through my diary and wrote some tasks down and updating my google calendar and had a nice bath, sorted out the closet in the guest bedroom, and played football with my son in the garden, and edited another chapter of my book, called When Mothers are Real and got two chapters to do and that will be the 4th edit done. 

It has been a good productive day and gave Henry his Easter Egg from me, which he was happy about, and tomorrow we will be going over to my Wimbledon and doing an Easter Egg hunt. It is a good time to get together and it is nice to play out in the garden and glad it is lighter now. 

Oh and instead of doing a shopping haul this month for the Food Bank, I made a donation instead. If you'd like to do this too, check out this link: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/

I hope this means having to put on layers of clothing as it has been nice. When it comes to the summer it is good to go for morning walks, go to a splash park. They often have one in Wimbledon Park. Sadly the cafe they had their is no longer there, so pack a picnic, but there is still the playgrounds, tennis courts and you can even play volleyball, and they often have events there too. Last year we went to Pub in the Park, please check this vlog on my Youtube channel, Typical London Gal: https://youtu.be/YkDOauaiJBY

It is good to get out and enjoy the sunshine and didn't realise yesterday it was the Boat Race. This Race has been going on for years and is top event between Oxford and Cambridge. I love watching it, but didn't think it would on so soon. 

Then there is going to a pub and having a pub lunch outside or a coffee. I may do this whilst my son is at his holiday club do that and go to Wimbledon Village, as they have some nice coffee shops and sit outside. It is good to have a BBQ and have a gathering of friends. If you have a birthday this time of year when it is warm, have it in a park or in the garden. My nieces did this last year and was were really good days, and was lucky with the weather, living in the UK. 

Anyway I am going to enjoy the rest of the day and will be back with a blog tomorrow. Please remember to subscribe and this will help to write things that you'd like for me to write about and can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

A Super Productive Day

So I hope you have all, had a good, Good Friday. I was up early again, check out my previous blogs, where I have written about my new morning habit.

The Kebabs I made last night, which I wrote about in yesterdays blog, were okay but forgot to season and put some oil over them, because they were a little dry. I will learn next time I make them, and that is one thing I would always advise, is never give up and keep trying, and it is a natural human living thing, to make mistakes, that is the only way we learn. 

I was doing a lot of planning today for various projects. When it comes to planning projects the one thing I advise is to brainstorm, create a vision board and read books like Atomic Habits, and doing 2 minute habits which following this method, has really helped get things done, and I have started like with getting up early, started to use my Google Calendar again, aswell as using OneNote, my diary and always have my journal and a notepad. 

It is so rewarding to be able to tick things off and completing my tasks I set out for the day. I have never been so productive in my life. Yesterday after I took part in doing LinkedIn training updated and changed my details and my profile, and today was planning for my Life Coaching Programme I do each year now, which is the Summer Project 2024, and will be blogs and videos with free resources, to help you have a better life and better year. I will talk about this more as we get near to the start, which is from 1st May to the 31st of August. 

If you like to see my previous blogs for my Life Coaching project then you can, they are all on my site: Everyone can build a castle

I also did some Life Coaching training, and worked on my book When Mothers are real which I am editing now and will be published soon, and popped out and got a few bits, my did some home learning with my son, to help reach his targets set out by his teacher at school and made dinner, gave my son a bath and now writing this blog, and will watch a bit of Youtube and then some TV. 

So, I won't be posting tomorrow as I don't on Saturdays but will on Sunday, maybe Monday but if not from next Tuesday onwards. So have a good rest of Good Friday, and have a great weekend. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Making good food

Hello, so as of now as my son has finished school for the day, the Easter Holidays have begun and so means planning lots of fun. Tonight for dinner we are having picky bits for dinner, which I haven't done for a while and really looking forward to it. 

It is a good way to use up the food you have and making kebabs tonight, Chicken and beef, along with Nacho's, dips, carrot sticks, breadsticks, pitta breads and got dessert too. 

I made homemade chicken nuggets yesterday and was a great success and feels good to cook again and want to make more. 

If you want the chicken nugget recipe then check out this link here: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-nuggets

The one thing you can do, which I have done is have a folder of the recipes, and tweak them, so use spices and instead of chips we has mash potato, and my son and husband had beans and I had salad. Oh and don't by the cheap lettuce from Waitrose as I wrapped it up but being day 3 it started to be inedible, and so won' be buying again. 

I bought Easter eggs and if you want some tips then check my video here:  Planning and budgeting for the Easter Holidays (youtube.com)

We went to ASDA's and there wasn't many to choose from and was going to go to Home Bargains but my mum said that there wasn't any cheaper unlike last year so have to make do with what I got. The price of everything is really going up and I think next year will be going homemade again. 

If you have any recipes of meals you'd think I would like to make then please do. You can leave a comment below. 

So going to go and make dinner ready and will be blogging again tomorrow, so have a good rest of the day. 

Carrie X 

New Sleeping habits I have started and how it has made a difference to me

Hello! If you are new to this blog site then welcome. Today has been super productive, and if you haven't read my previous blogs then I have started to get up really early. This just happened and in doing so I have found that my energy has improved. 

I also now at the end of each day write in my journal of all things that has made me happy each day. I have become more organized. We did got to bed a bit too early lastnight and we all woke up at around 1am and struggled to go back to sleep so going to go to bed a bit later tonight, so I don't over sleep. 

Sleep is so important and everyone's body clock is different and Steven Bartlett for example sleeps late in the morning and go to sleep later. What I have found that has helped is to listen to your body and mind, and what it needs. 

What we eat can have an influence our sleep, like chocolate, which can keep you awake and eating late at night. I was making dinner around 4:30pm but I found that I'd be hungry again come the evening so now we eat between 5 and 6pm. 

There was a time when I would sleep only 4 to 5 hours a night and that was never enough, but I have always woken up early. I remember as a kid at the weekends, when my dad would be up early and I'd be desperate for the toilet but I knew if I got up my dad would hear me and then ask if I'd like a bacon sandwich and knew not to say no, and then that would be it in terms of sleep and be up. 

Friends thought I was a morning person, but that was never the case and would be grumpy. Now I have started to get up around 4:30am to 5:30am and do feel happy and not deprived of sleep. 

So going to now watch a bit of Youtube, read my book and then relax before it is time for bed and will blog again tomorrow. Have a good Wednesday evening.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Changing how I live and doing more positive habits

So today was good, and getting up early Around 4;30am to 5:30am, has made me more productive. I edited one of my books, and edited the chapters I wanted to edit, went out to do some walking and pick up some shopping, did an indoor workout and posted a blog on my site Everyone can build a castle, listened to another section of my online course I am doing, which is Life Coaching and watched a bit of a TV programme I have gotten into called Dropout on BBC iPlayer and made a decision about building my life and growing, and feel that my life is changing, and feel super positive about my life now. 

I was always someone who worried a lot. Since getting up early I no longer feel anxious, so going to keep getting up early, as it really is making a difference to my life. 

Soon it will be time for dinner and have started writing a list of food that we need to eat going on the expiry dates and that it all gets eaten and reduce waste. 

I do feel we all have to do our bit for the environment and lower our waste to protect our planet and lives. 

There was a time I wasn't taking this seriously, and feel bad about that, and now am taking action. 

I feel it is our duty as a human beings to help respect our homes and the air in which we breath, as who else is responsible. 

Reducing waste can have a good impact in stopping global warming and protect the solar system. 

It is important for me to set a good example for my son and not be wasteful. I like the fact that many people are growing their own vegetables and wanting to help us all be healthy and happy. 

So I hope you have a great evening and I will blog tomorrow too, so see you then. Oh and remember to subscribe, its completely free, and you will be alerted of when I have posted a blog. It is helpful to me and like feedback so if there are topics you'd like me to cover, then please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Getting up early has boosted my energy and helped my sleep

Wow today went so fast and got up about 5am and feel alright. I since getting up at around this time, that I have a lot more energy and get a lot done. I posted my weekly cheat sheets I create each week, check out blog sites Everyone can build a castle and The Parenting Adventures tips and tricks, and did a walk on the treadmill and worked on the books, planned for the week and so will keep reporting on how it's been affecting me since this has started, because it naturally happened.

I used to hate the mornings and would take me ages to get to sleep and then wake up the next day and have suffered insomnia all my life, and would wake up between 3 and 4am and when I would try to go back to sleep would have a terrible nightmare. As you get older your body and your sleep can change and get your sleep under control can really make a difference to your daily habits and how you feel when you wake up, and your feelings.

I hated alarms and as a kid it was my mum would sing to us, to wake us up (we my brother and I) and neither my brother nor I wanted to get up and I often would go further down the bed under the sheets hoping she'd forget and could stay in bed and wanted it to be possible to hibernate through the winter. 

It would amaze me how people can sleep through out the day as I was never able to unless I was unwell and when I began working it changed, and of course when you have a job and not school, it can change your sleep pattern, because like school you couldn't be late, as you can lose your job, as it is important to turn up on time and often found it hard to switch off, to get a good night sleep, when it was bed time again. I would dream of work and feel I hadn't been asleep at all. 

I would think in the morning as I was super tired still think "Tonight I will go to bed early" but that never happened and would play out on the housing estate where I lived, and food, TV and now android devices it can affect sleep and reactivate your mind, and still be fully awake come bed time. 

When I worked at a holiday camp, and would work split shifts I would then sleep in the afternoon, but I would get disorientated and would wake up startled thinking I was late for work and only to see that it is the morning especially in the summer when it light early morning and the afternoon. 

So now I am going to get on as soon it will be dinner time and get ready for evening so will blog again tomorrow. 

Please subscribe if you'd like be notified of my daily blogs as soon as they are posted and hoped you have a good rest of the Monday. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Things to do at the weekend for you and your kids

Hello on a Sunday. I got up again at 04:30 this morning and like Friday, have a lot of energy and working on my Life Coaching programme I do each  year,  called the Summer Project which I have done now for two years and is to help you to have a better life and better year. Check out my blog site: Everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

Image I took of the show we saw at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon

My son went to his rugby club and they help with coaching, like my son, that have special needs and got so much patience and have plenty of coaches to teach them and it has taken a long time to find a club like that, thanks to my mums persistence, found it and have matches being played aswell different clubs. It is Wimbledon RFC , and has a brilliant club house where you can have a coffee and food, and plenty of space inside and outside to sit down and watch them training and are all volunteers. 

On now as I back in Epsom, is a women's rugby beginning, one BBC 2.

We also went to the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon to see a play called Tiny and it is about a Badger who likes to be tidy and it was only for 45 minutes and great for kids and there is a cafe and a shop to buy toys and books and again run my Volunteers. You do have to book to see the shows, and get in early because they can sell out. 

I love the weekends and always have. Me and my brother always had hobbies and went to different clubs and would visit my grandparents and watch horse racing, as my grandad (my mums dad) loved horse racing and a programme which is no longer on, called Grandstand and showed many different sports on BBC and was a must watch and programme on Channel 4 called, Transworld Sport. 

I would worked for Fulham football club as a Steward at the weekends and sometimes in the week and then later on coaching a football team. I did my coaching qualification a Richmond Upon Thames college and it was good. A lot of work involved and thankfully my mum drove, so she would take me to the away games, for the matches and they are many clubs that have kids clubs and academies. Check out the FA website: https://www.thefa.com/

So great for kids when not at school to still have social interaction and see different faces and other children for their skills and development and build good relationships with other children. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and please follow me if you like to be notified about my daily blogs and never miss one.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Joining the 4am club

I feel so good today as I almost got all my tasks done for the day, being up since 4:30am and not feel tired at all and it took me ages to go to sleep and usually I will sleep on, but often when I have done that I feel sluggish and groggy, so was up and having that time in the morning was what I needed and didn't rush. Usually I get up and get dressed right away but fancied getting, still made my bed and fancied a cup of tea. I set my alarm for 6:25am, and just that extra time has made a real difference. 

Picture of #Epsom Racecourse one of my favourite places 

                                

I have posted a blog aswell as this one, see link: https://mybooksandstories.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/five-habits-i-do-that-help-me-write/ 

It is now 6:25pm and starting to feel tired now and see if it will help me drift off quicker tonight and see if I wake up at the same time and feel the same as I do today. I have watched many videos where they wake up around 4am and go to the gym and then get ready for the day, and didn't think I'd be that person as I not a morning person at all, and usually takes me ages to get up, but wonder if it better than staying in the evening and getting up later in the morning, because when I have done that not slept well and then lack energy, so going to see if I continue to get up around 4 and if I feel the same. 

Are you a early riser and do you wake up really early? Please leave a comment below and how it makes you feel. I am interested in sleep and today not had my doctor pepper I usually have so see if this makes a difference too. 

I like it when I have had a productive day and once my son went off to school, I went with my husband to ASDA to buy food for the week ahead and he went to do some work for a work friend, whilst I got on with my day and feel so good and ready for the weekend.

So I hope you have a good one and be back posting my daily blog on Sunday. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Remembering the places I love that give me so many wonderful memories.

Today after meeting my mum for lunch today, which I enjoy and wrote a blog to today about this morning and feeling anxious about today like I do when I go somewhere. https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2024/03/21/i-just-needed-my-coffee/

I took the bus back, the 211 from Victoria to Fulham Broadway and to travel back to Epsom, and I love going down these roads, as I spent a lot of time there as a child, and was bought up around Chelsea, Fulham and Hammersmith. It brings me so many brilliant memories. My mum and dad are from Chelsea and knew other people who lived and was bought up in Chelsea and would get together most weekends and were such good fun, as we would go on holiday with them and looked forward to them. 

When I went to Secondary school in Westminster would meet up around there to the cinema on Fulham Road that is close by and would have McDonalds down the kings road, look into the shops and there used to be a restaurant called the Chelsea Pot, and travel back from school by bus, and would do a sight seeing tour with my friend Laura, and wish I had been more thankful for those days. 

I thought back then, that this would be my life forever and imagined still travelling with those group of friends, but that wasn't the case, but you don't know always what is going to happen and why it is important to live for each moment. 

So much has changed as many of the people who lived around Chelsea now have moved and so lost contact, and thanks to social media I am now contact with some of them and liked to thank them for those fantastic holidays and days out we had. We would go camping with them and to Rye in Hastings, as my dad played in the pub team where we would meet up with those friends from Chelsea and Chertsey and I love where I come from. London does have it poverty like other cities, and so I hope this can change and build better communities and support for people to keep the cities alive and living, and stop local businesses shutting down and build them up, to keep them clean and help the homeless and families struggling, aswell as other places out of London. 

If you would like to be kept up to date with these blogs I write daily, then you can by following me. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What I feel about the news today about Kate Middleton

Today has been all about Kate Middleton. Yes sorry discussing the news, listening to some chill out music and so good that it is lighter in the evening. So yes, so Princess of Wales has been spotted out for the first time since her operation, and someone trying to get to her hospital files, and I am like, Leave her alone and allow her some privacy and people making up conspiracy theories, of that not it really being Kate spotted with her husband the Prince of Wales.

My Own Picture of Buckingham Palace 

She is allowed a life, so what's the problem? Her blood is still red and she still got a heart, mind and lungs, so let her pop out if she wants to. I bet even she is like, "What so yes I am allowed outdoors after having surgery other people do you know". 

There was a time I wanted to be in the royal family, as I was obsessed with the royal family as a kid, and bought the video tape of when Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew wedding, and travel to Westminster Abbey in a horse drawn carriage and have a long train attached to my wedding dress and was blown away by it. 

Now though not sure I would now. You are always targeted by the press and seems the only privacy she is allowed is the use of the toilet, but if the tabloids could take photo of that, they would. 

My Aunty when she was young worked at a stables and groomed the Queens horses and my mum would visit there, I can't remember where, and would ride the horses, and so was bought up to respect the Royal Family and got to stand in the gates of Buckingham Palace to watch the Trouping of the colour, and so have a connection with them and being in it was a fairy tale. Of course I now realize its not and they have had bad times too and have health issues. After all they are human and I think many forget that and use them to make headlines and just can't blow wind without it being hot topic. 

There are wars taking place, and seems to gone quiet and that Kate Middleton popping out is now hot topic, over that. 

So yes not going to watch the news today, but in the morning and see if it still hot topic. 

I'd like your views. Please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for watching,

Carrie X

Looking after my health and wellbeing when travelling

Today I have been for my yearly blood test to test my blood sugar levels and didn't know that it said on my form that I needed to fast, and the woman who did my blood test told me, I wouldn't have been told and have to read the form. Well what if I was blind I wouldn't know would I so should have been told, but still got it done, and it is also to check my cholesterol, and didn't have liver problems.

I hope when they come back are okay. It is always nerve racking, because you never know, but I have cut down on snacks and had a lovely lunch, Salmon and pasta. My eyes were bigger than my mouth but should fill me up until dinner time.

Soon my son will be home from school, and from when he goes to school and comes back the time goes so fast and so, separate my days. I don't like to be on my laptop for too long, but in different intervals. 

It feels so good to not be looking at a screen all day and will make my sons dinner. It will be bath night and then before I know it, it will be bed time again. 

I gave myself time to listen to some music whilst travelling today and like travelling by bus. I like to sit at the back and just look out the window and take in the journey. Travelling can be stressful, so having some music and watched a video coming back, made it stress free. 

The one asset I have is good time keeping. I hate being late and so avoid it. I preplan, by checking what I need to carry with me, bus and train times, and the weather. 

I plan like I did to day, to pick up bits I need for the day on route, and rather then wait until after my blood test, as I had to wait a while to get my blood test beforehand and then went straight back to Epsom to be in for when my son returns from school. 

I do feel sorry for those working in the NHS as it was just two people taking bloods today and you can't just turn up now because it would get so busy, so prebooked but it was still busy and do need funding to make less stress for the staff and the patients. 

Noone really wants to be there, but you have to go to look after yourself, and when I was a kid and had to go to Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith as it was near to where I lived and every time they'd lost my notes. There was a lady who arrived, was complaining about it and said how things were back when she was young, but watching call he midwife, they staff would still be off their feet, working to keep people well and didn't have the resources and so it needs help and hope it happens.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

How life can be a mixed bag of emotions

 In thinking about life, it is a mixed bag of emotions. It can be tricky so what I do to help my feelings is I play out the day in my head, write it down and think to myself what do I really want to do today, that will help me feel good. 

Today I posted my cheat sheets which I post every Monday check out blog site: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

I have just now been planning in my diary and going to carry on building my steps, and to get my tasks done for the week, and when I do that, it really helps me stay on track with my feelings, and what I know I can do and not feel overwhelm and planning on days out. 

Walking is an important to me, and staying in can help me to wind down but not all week, as I get restless so been planning to do a bit of work outside, and not indoors, really important, and that is what you have to do, by doing things that are important in a different place and feeling content with your life and growing inside and out. 

Not doing so much at once. Investing in your wellbeing can do wonders. Like swimming, cleaning and decluttering and writing. 

On my phone I didn't realise I have a journal app and been writing in this everyday and using my physical journal to help get things done, and not burning out and taking my time. 

One of the things I have begun to do write down is what I feel good about the day, and what I have done and got to do next. This is really helping me reflect on how I am doing that is helping me feel good and not worrying or stressing.

You have to look after yourself as noones going to do that for you. You can sit down with a cup of tea with a book, you can have a TV binge day of a series you like, have that glass of wine in the evening or a hot chocolate, and have others who can do the house work for you. Take life by the hands and think "This is what I can do today" and do it, to help make you feel good, "I can walk for an extra 5 minutes or so, or to that station" and write down how you are going to go about it and do it.

I have been guilty of holding myself back, and can hear the question in my head "What if it goes wrong?", but like Mel Robbins has said, "What if it does work out?". 

Its your life and your world too and turn your feelings to happy ones.

Take action and start to working through your emotions, and feelings. It can make a difference when you journal and face your fears.

Life can be the best it has ever been by not allowing the inner critic take over, but use it to fight against it and listen to it, and prove it wrong. Get as much out of life as you can, and lets get our lives together.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

A Strange but relaxing weekend

The weekend has been a strange one. My son wasn't feeling to well. He went to his swimming lesson, but then he developed a temperature and so gave him some medicine, and then relaxed watching the football, as it was FA cup weekend and going to watch some of the matches today too. 

I can't believe that our trip to Bognor Regis was a week ago, and still got a buzz from that weekend, and would like to do more weekend trips away. If you have a place you'd recommend then please do. You can leave a comment below. 

It is hard when your kids are poorly, and there is a lot of bugs going around at the moment. I was breaking out in rashes and bad stomach. Thankfully using E45 products and a cream my step dad has, which I not sure of the name, has really worked. 

This is why you need to make sure we all wash our hands before touching food, after being a toilet and using cleaning products, and clothes are cleaned and clean the areas of the home, and have a good deep clean. 

Working in a holiday camp you'd pick up viruses and colds, and head lice, because of people not doing anything about it and so they just spread. I enjoyed my time there, and met some wonderful people, but many staff had bad hygiene, and so however how much you tried to not to, you'd pick up something. It was hard, but it is different now, and things have changed, and good, because if it gets passed to customers, then they won't come back and not enjoy their holiday. 

I look back now and do smile, because there were many characters. There was a guy called JC and we would argue over little sachets of butter in the fridge in the morning, and he would come out with bags of food as he left the camp, and outside we'd get on, and then there was a guy called Pat Malley and we worked together in the staff canteen, and was such a laugh. I could add more, but then, this would be a huge blog, but it was the one of the best things I did, just make sure you know you'd be sharing with others in the staff chalets, and you were responsible for the cleaning of them. I admit I wasn't always good and cleaned my room, yet when it came to the work, which was in the restaurants, would really would clean up leaving areas were shining, and also take personal belongings as there was stealing going on, and so protect your belongings and look your room door when you leave the staff accommodation. 

Rooms would be checked, and one of the members I lived with put a fork in the kettle, and thought it was funny, and were woken up by them, because there had been a boxing match that played, a famous one, can't fully remember but was woken up with banging on the windows, and you didn't know of who you'd be sharing the accommodation with, and was there for 5 years and will be grateful for the time I had there. 

When we get sick, it is important to take it easy, and if your child doesn't want to eat or your appetite goes that is okay. Make sure they or you hydrate drinking water and touch their head, their chest, cheeks and back if they are clammy. It can mean they have a temperature, along with a thermometer.

So, I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and lets get ourselves ready for a new week.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X