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 

Going to the Flicks

How many of you going to be pranked being April Fool's? I am off to Wimbledon. The Weekend was good completing 5KM doing parkrun and then went to the cinema with my son, to see Snow White. 

 

It was good and now we going to once a month go and see a film. It was reasonable getting pick n mix, you just pay for the size and can get refills of coke and my son had a hot chocolate and booked to see it in the IMAX studio and for premier seats. There was another child watching and just me and Henry. 

As a kid we went to the cinema a lot. My first film I ever saw was Annie in Clacton when we were on holiday and apparently I fell a sleep. We would go to the Hammersmith Odeon, before it was the Hammersmith Apollo and the Cinema in Kings Street in Hammersmith. 

Then at Secondary school it would be the cinema in Fulham Road or The Kings Road, Central London, or in Putney. 

It was 130 years ago when they started to create cinemas to watch film, back in 1895. You'd have silent movies, then they made films where you could hear speech, to then musicals and loved as a kid watching black and white films. I loved Laurel hardy, Doris Day, being Calamity Jane my favourite film with Doris Day. She was amazing actress and had a lovely voice and smile. The Wizard of Oz, Some like it hot and Westerns with John Wayne, followed by Clint Eastwood which was my dads and my husband's favourite. 

I left it for a while before I took Henry to see a film at the Cinema because he has ADHD and had a very low, attention span, but he was fine. I am trying to remember what film it was, but he enjoyed it and something I knew I wanted to do as one of the things I feel, if possible, kids should experience. 

Then you have theatre and I would say be second on the list of things to do with your kids. There is for children Polka Theatres. They do shows for different ages and really good fun. Then there is the The Rose Theatre in Kingston and went to see my sons favourite children's TV character, Blippi and took Henry to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea in Woking's big theatre and such a good fun.

Watching the trailers there are some new films for kids coming out, Minecraft, How to Train a Dragon and Lilo and Stitch and a new Spongebob film. 

So Happy April Everyone and have a great day. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

  

End of March, Planning for Easter

Boy it is going fast. Next week it is April and means that we need to start if you haven't already, begin to plan for Easter. I feel many of us are too worried to think about it because of the fact many will struggle even more financially. Please reach out. You can leave a comment below. 

Anyway there are some things you can do. Check The Works They have a lot of items for Easter like paint masks, make your own bunting, canvas and cards and I have molds that I got from Lakelands but can buy from Amazon too, to make homemade chocolates. All you need are:

- Molds

- Chocolate 

- Glass bowl 

- Saucepan 

Melt the chocolate in the glass bowl, putting the bowl on a saucepan, not touching the water, that will help melt the chocolate. 

Let the chocolate melted call down. 

Fill the molds and put in fridge or freezer and then once solid take them out of the molds into food bags. 

These will be great as a gift. 

Have your children paint eggs as decor using A3 paper and bunnies and my son at school made Paper chains. 

Checkout Charity shops. They often have some goodies and today I looked in the charity shops in Epsom and Oxfam had some lovely bits and crafts where you can paint a egg and if you have teenagers and they don't like chocolate then check out TKMaxx they had some beauty items and they do have chocolates and sweet on offer and why it is my favourite store.

We have a old fashioned sweet shop and don't go in there all of the time but I love to treat myself and why not do a little tuck shop so they have to give a penny to buy some chocolate and sweets or a lucky dip.

If you plan to go to a theme park expect it to busy, but it depends on the time you go.  Sometimes you have to book a slot, have discount tickets if you go later and do have fast track tickets and a pass to help those disabled. They often have a guest pass if the person is not able to queue and have priority to go on rides. If it rains some have rainy day discount or a Return Promise so if it rains the whole day you can return for free but their are terms and conditions. 

They are good fun. The food can be pricey so if you are able to bring in your own food then would advise you do, because it can make the trip extra expensive.

So I hope you have a good weekend. There will be more daily blogs to come. 

If you'd like to be notified when I post then please follow and if you have any tips then share. You can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Worried about the Wealth of the country

Who else is worried financially of the changes Labor want to make? Those that are already struggling is not going help and means that many more families will be relying on foodbanks. Why?

Are we all going to be worse off? I really feel worried for those who are disabled and relying PIP to get by. I just not confident that what the Chancellor is proposing. Has she even visited families who are struggling? 

I wonder if she'd like to work in a foodbank and see the poverty in this country that there already is and that there are people like me volunteering and going out of their way to help families and people in need. Don't get me wrong I love working on radio. I find it so rewarding, but there should be more wealth. There are people doing two to three jobs to build up their income to support their family. 

There are lot of low wage jobs and people don't just want a job, but do a job they really passionate about and in my case it is the hours that I have been difficult because of caring for my son. Many families have struggling with managing both work and family life and not able to work as they can't afford to do both. 

Many high street stores are clothing because of financially they can't continue and so how do we grow employment with stores closing down? People unhappy with their job and doing so many hours only earning minimum pay?

I have worked in hospitality, finance and call centers and many of us struggling to cope with the demands of those jobs. 

Then there is NHS and they do a brilliant job and have to come up against a lot. When my son was sick the GP surgery receptionists kept saying when I described what was the matter with my sob said "If he is that bad go to A&E" but I pushed and got an appointment and found out that he had tonsilitis and last year when we got an appointment referred to the hospital because of his heart rate was a bit high and they was so thorough and don't get the thanks they need. 

So what are your thoughts? Are we going to be worse off? Please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Modern Technology is AI a good thing or bad

Wow! It is Tuesday. How are we in Tuesday? I am trekked over to Wimbledon to get my sons rugby ball and Mickey Mouse. Please don't ask. It is my sons favourite items and think he will be a sportsmen when he finishes school. He loves trains but enjoys playing football, cricket, tennis, table tennis and rugby. He will have a video playing on his tablet a football match. The only issue he will copy and had to tell him not to take his shirt off when he scores.  

He has so much energy and was waking both daddy and I up this morning, wanting his tablet. Is allowing my son his tablet a pain? It has caused tears and meltdowns. He doesn't watch it as much now and will take breaks from it. There was a time when we'd allow him to have it play at bed time but was a big no as none of us slept well. 

There was a time where we would use it to help him sleep playing lullaby music and it did work, but became reliant on it and so was a not a long term solution and he and I preferred reading a book to him and he enjoyed story time rather than his tablet. He found it more soothing and we would be laughing a lot as I would make up bits in the story. Nothing rude may I add and we'd both sleep and he does have it in the morning but not all the way through and in Spring we will often spend time playing outside. 

I try to stop being on my phone and laptop all of the time. I like popping out and it builds up my steps. I like travelling on bus and train listening to music and will decide what I will play whilst travelling but won't watch videos or on social media all of the time. 

It is good to have a cut off time. I like having a family meal and watching some TV. 

Tonight it is bath time for my son. I am going to have a shower rather than a bath and make sure I have a good nights sleep. 

Sundays I struggle to sleep. because my mind is active, working on radio, so stay in on Mondays and it is good to find the things that will boost my energy and I fear a AI. I am not sure if its going cause more scams, reduce jobs available and so cause financial problems, whereby it is all done my technology rather than man made. 

Our kids are going to be a lot more computer savvy, because they've born into the world where we can watch live videos on our phones of celebrities we love. I am loving the fact that Vinal is back. I loved my record player as a child and my portable CD Player. I bought one for my son and never used is going to find it and use it myself. I can play some CDS for the radio show if a song is not on the system we use, to choose songs to play.

We'll kids need to go to school in the future and learn at home. Will there be more jobs working from home? Will we no longer have a high street and not use cash? 

It makes me wonder and concerned at the same time.

Let me know your thoughts. You can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Starting the week on a fresh

A new week and have my week mapped out. I have some TV to watch and got to post my March Newsletter. Check them out on Everyone can build a castle blog site and my weekly cheat sheet. On Friday started uploading my Spring Vlogs. Click picture below. It will lead you to my Vlog Channel.

These are free to download. I feel good as the weekend was good. I am doing things differently this week. I am going to be doing a Reset and get some overdue tasks done. It means starting a fresh and getting ready for plans for Spring. It is good to have a clean slate. I like a lot more meals that are different to what we have in the winter. 

I had lovely Cold Vanilla Latte and on Tik Tok I am trying different coffees, so check it out: https://www.tiktok.com/@typicallondongal

This week I am doing a reset and having blank canvas and clearing out my lists and just having a bit of a reshape. Now the weather is changing it means that I can do bit of reading and work on laptop outside. Have a pub lunch, go for walks along the river and a lot of days out.

Winter has been good. I have been doing a bit of declutter, catching up on home tasks like cleaning the home and having a sort out and having my health checks and starting Parkrun and now feels good to now be in Spring and do a bit of organising and restructuring. 

It means going through my google calendar, my notepad, diary and Notion. 

The one thing I love is the early mornings, now it is lighter and feels like I have more time to get things done will be making the most of it. You have to. The one place I like to go is going to North Greenwich, visiting the O2 by UberBoat. I love the food market on the Southbank. I like to would like walk from Kingston to Richmond. It is a good walk and then there are April Showers. I know putting dampener on it but they did exist. I'd like a dry April and be good to do the Parkrun and less muddy. 

So I wish you a good week and will try do this daily and now it is Monday early evening and had a nice dinner, giving my a son a wash ready for tomorrow. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Off to the Cinema to see the new Bridget Jones Film

My son is away with his school and feel a little lost. It is strange and miss him a lot. He is such a live wire as he loves to be active and play sports. It appears that all the children including my son and he'll be spending time with are enjoying it. I wrote a new blog on my Wordpress site if you'd like to read it: https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com/2025/03/13/my-sons-last-residential-trip-with-his-primary-school/

Me the Author of this site

I am off soon to see the new Bridget Jones film, Mad About The Boy and read the book, which was a really good read and Renee Zellweger is a brilliant actor. Her English accent is amazing. I love Hugh Grant and is back as Daniel Clever. It is shame about Mark Darcy but she is a bit of a lost soul in some respects and someone who finds it tough being alone and one of the reasons why I love the films is because I can identify with her in many ways. 

I have struggled with my weight and never had boyfriends as a teenager and not until adulthood as such. In my twenties I just wanted to enjoy myself and not be tied down. I never had a childhood sweat heart, but at the same time always knew I wanted to get married, how ever much I'd detested at one point, being a bit of misery guts.

With Bridget I feel it empathises how much as women we put so much pressure on ourselves to be a lady that appeals to the opposite sex, by the way we look and size we are. I have a blog site called Building Self Confidence The Ugly Duckling, and talk about my struggles with the way I looked and my body. This stemmed from quite young. 

So I a looking forward to seeing the film. I will do a review once seen it but I feel it is going to be as good as the others and wonder if there will be further books. I am writing a few books at the moment myself. I am writing a comedy series and a serious type of book and it isn't easy but rewarding too and learn from books that have had great success. 

If you have recommendations on books to read then please share. I love recommendations. Please fill in comment section below and you can also subscribe on this site if you'd like to be notified when I post a book.

I also have three Youtube channels. A Vlog channel, Financial Living and Carries Educational Youtube channel.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

The week and celebrating being a woman

It has been a week planning and sorting out the home, getting ready for my son to go on a Residential trip with his school and I am nervous. It will be good for him and hope he enjoys it and has everything he needs and sorting out my rooms, working on my blogs, vlogs and books. 

The Pancakes we had

Then we had pancake day and I cheated yes, I bought a packet of pancakes from Waitrose but were nice and my son loved them so convenience won. It was International Women's Day on Saturday and it is good to celebrate being a woman as we have a lot of challenges and we take on a lot. Not saying that men have it easy. Absolutely not, but being able to carry and feed our children, having periods and Menopause it can be tough. 

I was a early developer and took a long time to adjust to these changes in my body. I was told about puberty but it felt it started out of the blue and it affected my emotions. 

Will we experience having another Queen? We have Camila but I mean born in the family and will we have another female prime minister?

There is a lot of criticism about Meghan and not sure what I think about it. Are the critics being unfair? I am confused by it all. However I am a Royalist and feel that William and Kate have got it right and not made a song and dance about things. I feel with Kate she seems a lot more sincere, compared to Meghan. 

Should we judge other women? Let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below.

I have been judged more by my height not really because I am a woman. I am petite and I have felt small and it really bugged me, for a long time. I felt that I haven't always been taken seriously and had men talking to my chest rather than my face but never really fazed by that, but being looked down upon because of my height. 

So much has been changed when it comes to women. Sport, we had the Spiced Girls, Beyonce and Madonna and they have all created such a impact on what women can do and their position in the world. 

I feel we as a women we have had to work a lot harder, to change peoples perception of women, that they are not all bread to have kids, be a housewife and be the Secretary, but who we wish to be and that it should be  down to choice and be the breadwinner rather than the man.

My mum has always worked and never ever unemployed and it amazes me because she has had to deal with a lot, work wise and now is retiring and always on the go, that she makes me feel tired and could never take on so much compared to what she has had to. My nan worked and took care of all the family. My Aunt has run her own business and one of my mums cousins was a teacher and so had a lot of women to look up to and be proud of being a woman.

We can give ourselves such a hard time and feel we need to take on the world not having a break, but I like being the one to book the holidays, trips and visiting places with my son. I like cooking and planning meals for the week and writing the shopping list, and now I do voluntary work along with building my blogs, write books and create videos as a mum, writer, coach and radio DJ.

I am glad I have been able to spend time helping and watching my son grow, taking him to clubs, to nursery and school and gone on school trips with him and on Sundays watch him play rugby at the weekend, playing football and rugby with him and I love a bus and train ride like he does. 

So lets stop us ladies on giving ourselves a hard time and celebrate what we can do and achieve being a woman and how much as women, we have all grown.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

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 

A bit of sick weekend

Not been the best weekend as I have been sick and still feel groggy even today. I am not someone who gets sick all of the time, so when I do it knocks me off my feet. 

My Honey and Lemon tea 

It has been nice to do nothing and Mel Robbins says it is good to do nothing and so been watching the football and the rugby and catching up on The Mask Singer. 

I am going to be doing things where I can be off my laptop. I just need a bit of a break. I didn't even do my radio show this week, which I had planned but being that the studio is in the hospital. Wouldn't have been a good idea, because of the spread of germs, but hopefully do my show next week instead. 

You have to think logically sometimes and health has to be top of the list of priorities and felt good to just chill and feel a lot better but still not going to do much today. I tidied my sons socks. I am going to create my writing journal and plan for a new book I have started to write and create my sheet cheat for the start of the week and do more tidying up.

I like to do one minute tasks and going to be making mash potato, use the beef my husband roasted, with vegetables and going to attempt making Yorkshires again, as they were okay but not great so see how we get on. 

My appetite has not been good so I didn't eat the spuds or much of the beef, but some of the vegetables, so yes its been really turbulent. I been drinking juice which I don't drink all of the time and eating fruit. So in one respect probably not too bad and want to change my eating habits.

One drink I do like to have when not well is Honey and Lemon Tea. A must when I am unwell. I think once I have my coffee going to have a herbal tea. 

Keep hydrated, is a must in my book and as long as I am drinking not going to worry about my appetite and listen to my body. I have been achy so not done any weight training or my usual Pilates type of exercise. I know if I did it would not benefit but be counter productive. 

I hope to be back on the mend by end of the week and getting back to film for my Self Development training please see my Educational Youtube channel. Be creating my Cheat Sheet and just take it day by day. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

All Inclusive Sports club

Today it is a new day. A new start to the week and I feel so good about today. As a kid I dreaded Monday's, because I didn't like going to school. I would wish for the weekend to be longer and could return to Friday evening and felt I needed an extra day. 

I get now why my son doesn't always want to go because it is tiring, but the good thing about his school is because they do different activities rather than sit down classes all of the time and his development has climbed mountains from when he began school, to now. 

I write a blog about my son if you'd like to check it out: https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com

We had a good weekend, doing Parkrun, then had a coffee, played out in the playground, watched the six nations, Ireland VS England and then Sunday took my son to his Rugby club and I did my radio show.

I do radio show on Epsom Hospital radio on Sunday's 4pm to 6pm and I really enjoy it. 

Doing Voluntary work is such good fun and at the Rugby club on Sundays, the coaches are all volunteers. 

There are young guys who help the coaches and so rewarding, knowing you are making a difference and I did football coaching and underestimated how much work is required. Playing with your own kids is different to teaching other peoples children. The team my son does sessions with is the all inclusive group. So kids with learning difficulties and is challenging, but these coaches at the club really know what they are doing.

I talk a lot about it because it has made a real difference to my son as he is learning to share and not get upset if he doesn't get a medal at the end of each session and they are very good in how the reward the children and great for them to let off some steam. 

It is good for me also as I get to socialise and at my sons school do a afterschool club and they do different sports. This not been forced upon him, he loves playing sports and the kids are always smiling when it finishes. When I worked at a holiday club it so badly organised. There were two brothers  fighting all of the time, but when I played tennis with the younger one he was fine had to split then up ad I didn't enjoy it because depending on upon the age and number of children you have. 

At my sons rugby club there are at least 5 or so coaches, it not a small group so you do need more coaches for health and safety for them to coach the children. They have such a good set up. Yes some of the kids do get upset as many of the children have autism and it is how you communicate. It has taught me a lot from how they teach these children as there is no shouting or screaming or the coaches arguing, there's no conflict at all and so they just get on with it. 

They even do walking rugby at the club and one of the other presenters does walking football, It so inclusive and a great way to wind down and think about something else not being stuck indoors. 

http://wmrfc.co.uk/inclusiverugby

Have a good week everyone and will be posting again. I am doing some Self Development training this month February and it is free to do and will include blogs and videos. There will be three videos covering three different sections if you'd like to check it out: 

https://youtu.be/t4EPJ_e18k8

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

How could I forget

I can't believe it. I thought I had it all sorted out this week, then my son returns from school and I realise I forgot to order his lunches for the week and so annoyed with myself. He still had lunch just annoyed because I have been so organised and remembered each week so not sure how I forgot. 

Me and my son

However it has been sorted out and I can breath again, as just as I was watching some Youtube I checked my email and received an email from his teacher that he can still have a school lunch. I have ordered today to make sure I order for next week and so used it learn and order his lunch for the week ahead on Mondays, so it is done. 

When you forget the universe has a way of making sure you learn and set a plan to make sure I remember and life is full of lessons. 

So to make sure I remember I write it down and why it is worth having a paper diary still because if I loose my phone I am stuck and technology breaks down and so making sure it is in a place where I know I am going to see is the key to remembering and stop the stress in forgetting. 

I sent out my cheat sheet today check out blog site: Everyone can build a castle | Creating goals, habits and being empowered aiming for success

Check out a parenting post I wrote today: The parenting adventures | Easy Flexible Parenting so check these out. 

So a part from that hiccup it has been a good day and good to get things done and completed. I hope tonight or tomorrow morning I finish another book. 

Check out my Instagram as I do post the books I have read once finished: Typical London Gal (@typicallondongal) • Instagram photos and videos

I write books reviews on my site: My Books & Stories – Reading is the food for our writing

So lots to read and catch up on. If you'd like to be kept updated of posts on this site then please subscribe. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Weekend of Sports and games

It has been such a good Saturday. Parkrun was challenging but really enjoyed it. I was talking to one of volunteers who assisted you around the course. They often assist the junior runs too and do the course three to four times to make sure the route is sign posted and that okay to do the run but you can walk it too which is what I am doing at the moment to build up to running again.

Bushy Park

 Then I went to see my brother play rugby and played cricket with my son and watched some TV. 

Bushy Park is huge and where my brother was playing and saw some dear, they had a club house and would love to walk around there again. 

It is good to have days out and being in a different environment. I love living near London and Surrey, but there is West Sussex too. Arundel Castle is a great place to visit and was planning to get married there but was very expensive so chose to marry in Southampton in a Tudor Hall. 

In the evening we, my son and I, tried to do build a Domino Rally. A gift he got for Christmas and takes me back to my childhood. It used to be a regular thing to have. Almost everyone I knew had a set of Dominoes and a pack of playing cards. Whenever I went to my grandparents we'd play. I like Rummy, 8's and 2's and patience which is now called Solitaire and my son plays it on his tablet. 

Classic games always last and drafts. I am going to get a set for my son to play as we did have set but not sure at to where it is but did play drafts with my son when he was younger and connect four.

At Christmas time the adults would play crib and pontoon. I always dreamed of being old enough to play as my parents and relatives would play for money and play with their loose change, whilst having a drink of some, along with the TV on and would end the evenings we had. 

When I went to my brothers we played a card game. It was good fun. My son has Lingo on his tablet along with crosswords and tipping point. He watches an episode on his tablet playing whilst using his tipping point machine pretending to be the host. I loved as a kid making up games. There are games that are still popular. My son got out his skittles, a magnetic dartboard and my husband bought the real one and play many sports at the weekends. 

He goes to a rugby club on Sundays and did today. They have a inclusive team which my son is part of and it is children who have learning difficulties and disabilities and the coaches are brilliant. They have nice club house to get a drink or food and then I go and do a radio show which is a charity. Epsom and St Helier Hospital radio stations and I do a show on Sunday 4pm to 6pm. Its so enjoyable. 

Tomorrow I am stopping in. It is good when I have nowhere to go. I do like walking but I will use the treadmill and do a workout with my weights. I am building the strength in my legs and help prepare me for when I walk to my sons school in the week and Parkrun. 

So have a good week and I will be posting more blogs on this site and so, If you'd like to notified when I post on this site then please subscribe.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

How Friday nights have changed

End of the week. Friday, was a day when working in London, I'd go out. It was the time I'd meet up with my friends who also worked in London and wouldn't get home until the early hours of the next morning.

Bringing my son back to Wimbledon, my husband today saw my son off to school and back and it was good to have a break and when we got back to Wimbledon we all sat there, my mum and stepdad watching Bowls on BBC 2. I hadn't watched Bowls for a long time. 

I would often watch if it was on and has been good to stop have my phone on me all of the time and taking breaks from my laptop. 

My son is now in bed and I am going to listen to Epsom Hospital radio as my colleague Ian Daggett does a show 8pm to 10pm and helps me learn and gear myself up for when I do my show on Sunday's 4pm to 6pm. Check it out here: https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/listen-live

He has a guy named Steve doing his show as he is in training and soon will be hosting his own show.

I have a cup of tea, some Dairy milk and I'm in bed and I am so glad I no longer go out on a Friday. I like to be in bed and chill. 

I will be joining a live with a lady called Sarra Cannon. She is a successful Self Published author and has two sites Heartbreathings and Sarra Cannon and does a coffee and chat on Fridays 9pm to 10pm. https://sarracannon.com/ https://heartbreathings.com/

Today I visited Home Bargains and boy is that shop busy. It has been a long time since going there but some real nice bits and filmed. I will be include the shop with me in a vlog and show afterwards what I bought. Check out my channel: (337) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

They do have a good selection of goods but I am changing my view on spending on items. I want to stop buying plastic. They had a makeup organiser and it was really popular but looking for wooden or cloth and more substantiable storage solution.

It is good to be picky because it helps me in making the right choices and what is going to be a long time investment and why I buy many items online and buy second hand. I also like TK Maxx and stores like Dunelm because I want value for money. 

I have Youtube channel where I talk about money and finance, if you'd like to check it out: Financial Living - YouTube

So going to go now but if you'd like to be notified when I post a blog on this site, then please subscribe. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie x 

I Got lost in Ely's

A different type of day. I am having some time to unwind and switch off. My husband is going to be making sure he is there for when my son comes home from school and tomorrow to for when he gets picked up. 

It is good to have this time. Yes I love my son but taking a break is a must and just watched Back to Black, Film about Amy Winehouse and really good. I watched it on Netflix.

I will be seeing my son tomorrow after when he finishes for school and take him back to Wimbledon where I am now and it is good to be in a different environment. So important for my wellbeing. 

This morning did bit of writing, working on my book series Mum&Me and working on some training I am putting together. It will be about Self Development and help you feel happy with yourself and your life. 

I went shopping with my mum, whilst my step dad went to the doctors and then had a coffee is Ely's and got lost in finding the toilets and the cafe they have in Wimbledon. It is a big store and would like looking around there and you can have Afternoon Tea upstairs. 

Today has been good. Being away from my phone has helped and recommend as it really helps to properly relax. My husband knows how to reach me and has my mums number should Henry become unwell and spending time away from my laptop. 

I get to sleep in tomorrow if I want to, but no doubt I will still wake up early so  if I do I am going out and may go into Home Bargains. Been a while and a favourite shop to visit and check out their offers. I may take a trip to Curry's in Colliers Wood. Not always helpful in there, but I am after a memory stick so I can keep a recording of my radio show. 

If you'd like to listen to my show check out Epsom Hospital radio. My show is 4pm to 6pm on a Sunday and is free to listen and can listen to it if you live in the UK and have internet access. 

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

It is amazing how we can keep in touch now, when as a kid there were no mobiles and you'd use a telephone box if you wanted to call someone outdoors. Now we can do facetime and hold meetings without needing to be in the same room and in doctors surgeries they have a tablet for you to check in and out.

How would the new generations deal with no internet or not have a mobile. They'd be stuck and now not many have landline phones anymore and now there is AI.

The next thing should be having satnavs around big stores and thank the lord for google maps.

I hope you have a good rest of the week. If you want to be notified when I post on this site then you can by subscribing and helps grow this site along with my others.

Check out m Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/thetypicalLondongal/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

When your kids have so much energy

What a day. What a day. What a day and I could go on but What a day. 

My son returned to school after being unwell at the weekend. I been up since 3am due to son having an accident, he had a cramp at the start of the night. I now worrying in case he gets one again tonight. 

My son from when we did parkrun

He was fine. It is hard when kids get ill or who are hurt to know of the what is the best course of action. I found sometimes you act on impulse and make sure I have Calpol in the cupboard as this time around he got well a lot quicker as just before Christmas he had a chest infection and had to have antibiotics. 

Kids keep you on your toes. Not one day is the same even though it may feel that way. 

It takes a few times to have Henry put on his school uniform, he is getting a bit upset about tomorrow as I a having some time to myself tomorrow and my husband is off but will see me on Friday.

I do write a parenting blog so check these out, The parenting adventures tips and tricks. 

The parenting adventures the birth of my son.

I am going to be doing some training in February. It is on self development and will be doing it via my blog Carries Educational Youtube Channel, and writing blogs on my site: Everyone can build a castle. 

My Winter Wellness programme I did this month January 2025 will be coming to an end and posted blogs for it on Everyone can build a castle. 

It is good to doing these little programmes as it is a good way for me to reach out to you my viewers and love my subscribers and the feedback I receive. 

My son is at the moment jumping about and it is just about to reach 7am. He has so much energy and today he has after school club. It is a great way for him to use up his energy. He likes to copy Justin in Justin's House and so means socks everywhere and not sitting on the sofa with cuppa as I could end up wearing it. 

If you can resonate please comment below if you too have a children with extreme amount of energy. You can leave a comment below.

Many thank for reading,

Carrie  X 

Chatting with my son

It is Thursday and just given my son a bath and he didn't want to come out. That is good sign, because I can sit by him on toilet (with the toilet lid down) and have a chat. We talked whilst he was in the bath whilst I sat on the toilet about his Grandad and what happens when you die. For kids it can be puzzling when people who were in their life have gone. 

Death is a personal thing. I want to send my condolences to Linda Nolan's family and friends. I saw her in Blackpool with Duncan Norvelle who also died before Christmas 2024 and was really upsetting. 

My son was saying how he misses his Grandad (my husbands father) and I said that I do too. 

I remember as a child struggling to understand, because I knew a couple of children who lost their lives. It was a shock and hard to take in. 

On a happier note I met with my mum for a coffee and had a nice dinner of picky bits before my son had his bath and looking back on the day it was a good one. I didn't realise thought was that I had my fleece leggins for B&M inside out. I am glad noone had noticed and put them on the right way when I got back indoors. 

I got 500 likes on my blog site The Parenting Adventures  and feel so good and if you want to start a blog then try out Wordpress and no this isn't an advert but I have used this platform for a long time and love it. 

It has taken a long time and I do it because I enjoy it and sharing parts of my life and never hide behind challenging times. Noones life is perfect and there will times where things happen, which you have no control over, but having a better mindset and not allowing it to stop you from living a life you enjoy. 

I am developing a Self Development Programme for February and will posting videos for it on my Youtube channel Carries Educational Youtube Channel and will be posting on my blog site Everyone Can Build a Castle. 

So more to be shared as I set it up and wanted to do it for a long time and feel there is no time like the present. 

If you'd like to be kept in formed of when I post a blog on this site then please subscribe.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Take on Challenges and my 2025 Routine

So I just finished my radio show. Check out Epsom Hospital Radio my show is on Sundays 4pm to 6pm and can't believe it is another weekend almost gone, but has been a good weekend. We tried out the Parkrun and really enjoyed it. There were parts that were challenging and my son and I seemed to be the only two walking it, but it was good and got encouragement from other members and the volunteers who helped on the sidelines and will be doing it again next Saturday, we went for a meal out in Wimbledon and then chilled indoors. 

Sadly my sons rugby club session was cancelled due to frost and he didn't want to go to his football club as my husband bought a Dartboard and is obsessed with playing darts and is still playing since we returned from Wimbledon and Epsom and since I left to do my radio show. 

It is good for kids to have activities that uses up their energy as they can become restless and start to play up and my son got a hair cut whilst I got bits as I bought a box file to carry bits to do my radio show and doing No Spend January been buying items that will help me to help stay organised and keep my radio notes and song lists together.

The one thing I like to do is to spend time organising and going through my Notion planner, setting up my calendars and projects and creating different programmes. I was going to do a Walking event at the end of this month but pulled out due to other commitments and clashes with my radio show, but will plan to do another one later on in the year. 

I have to remind myself that I not on this planet to do so many things at once and today when writing in my journal wrote down what I wanted to focus on. Whenever I do that it helps me to stop going full steam ahead and just take my time in thinking about what is important right now. So as I continue this blog as it is now the next day I am having some breakfast in a new dressing gown I bought and am doing No Spend January but had to find something that would keep me warm because it has been really cold and is a long term investment (not something I am going to wear once) and lower the cost on heating because the gas and electric rates are increasing and so doing my bit to save money and hope that the increase on gas and electric lowers, because my heart goes out to the elderly and families living in freezing cold temperatures, because they can't afford to pay for their gas and electric. 

I have made changes to my schedule and like to mix it up a bit. I have started using the mornings to tidy up and do a two minute clean can do wonders and gives me a good amount of energy. I read my book as I always do in the mornings and seeing the wildfires makes me feel bad in writing this content but grateful at the same time that I am safe and well. 

So if you read this and you've been affected and live in LA I have and will continue to pray for you and my heart is with you.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Getting my life back on track

I am thinking about my life and today I did a new video for my Financial Living Youtube channel and reflecting on 2024 has given me so much pride. I love helping others and making a difference and I felt I led a boring life, but no in fact its been an eye opener. 

As a kid I loved getting involved in the Estate I lived yearly fete and people would donate clothes for the jumble sale and included my clothes and I really enjoyed them. When we had bonfire night it would bring excitement to the families living there and bingo nights that were held in the portacabin and adults bingo too. 

If you'd like to watch my new Video where I talk about this, as I talk about Planning and Budgeting for 2025: https://youtu.be/m6QqI2qf_Lc

Last year I was in debt and paid it off and now completely free from debt and it taught me a valuable lesson, "Don't spend what you can't pay off" and a massive lesson, because it hasn't been the first credit card debt I have had crossed a line that was dangerous because I couldn't pay for my phone and had to keep borrowing money and I felt ashamed. 

I got help when I was in mental health hospital and made me see if you want to get help you can and my mum helped me with my mobile because I have paid off the contract and now on SIM only, I have money to pay for my son and put money into his savings and can pay for his school clothes and activities and want to build my income to support my son and myself. Last year I became a radio DJ and work for the local hospital radio station and hope will lead to other opportunities and want to do more volunteering, fundraising and supporting charities aswell as build my income. 

It took time to get my life back and for the first time since 2014 I am doing a Winter Walk in London raising money for the British Heart Foundation, please check out my fundraising page if you'd like to donate by sponsoring me: https://www.justgiving.com/page/typicallondongal

This told not to give up and keep going. There will always challenges and there some we can't control like our kids falling over at school, someone close to you dying or the weather has caused your home to be flooded. Seeing the devastation helps me to see how lucky I am. Last month my home in Wimbledon where I live with my mum and stepdad had a leak which caused the ceiling to fall down, but they got someone out and was fixed. I now I think what can I do, rather than thinking there is nothing I can do. Sometimes we need help to lift us up to get support and help.

My heart goes out to US in LA where there has been Bushfires that has caused damaged to their homes and death. I will be praying for them and hope they can stop the fires so it doesn't increase and people can find shelter and stay with family and friends. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Christmas and New Years.

I am still adjusting to the fact that once again Christmas is over and all the decor for the festive season has been put away for the next Christmas. It was good though and did the tradition I like, go to a panto, went to see a few films, went for our Christmas walk and took a trip to Covent Garden and Kingston. Going to Covent Garden the train was packed and there was a funfair in Kingston and it all was gone, However I had some Mulled Wine, which I like to have at Christmas time and went for a coffee in Kingston in John Lewis and sat by the window in the cafe and had a lovely view of the River. 

Today my son returned to school and it felt weird but he had a good day and it can feel a bit strange when you've spent a lot of time with your kids to them not being there and off back to school. However means I do get a bit of time to myself and adjusting to the new year and looking forward to having another good and successful year and as I think that I hear the optimist say "what if it is not am I tempting fate. 

Christmas is a time to spend doing what you enjoy and for me reading, listening to Christmas songs and a time to binge watch programmes on the TV and we watched Polar Express and The Grinch my son's favourite and I like watching Jools Holland New Years Show on BBC 2 and I watch it every year and watched Love Actually and Call The Midwife Christmas Special. 

So going to try and post daily and please check out Youtube channel, Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes and vlog each week and going to uploaded a vlog every Friday. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X