Last week was half term and we spent the week in a beautiful location at Lake Garda, in northern Italy. The sun was shining and every morning when I looked out across the lake I would imagine what it would be like to wake up to that stunning view everyday. I couldn't help comparing it to dreary old ... READ the POST
Encouraging Children to Read
My eldest daughter has recently turned into a bit of a book worm. What’s surprising about this is she has struggled so much with her reading that it hasn’t interested her much up to now. She has always loved stories though, but enjoyed being read to more than learning to read alone. When my ... READ the POST
Nicholas Sparks
I am currently on a Nicholas Sparks book-reading and movie-watching marathon. I always do this. If I read a book I like, then I look for other books by the same author and will usually carry on reading them until I either finish everything they've written or feel its time for a change. I came ... READ the POST
The children are learning another language. . .or so they think!
My children think they live in a bi-lingual household. I constantly tell them that they only speak English but they are insistent. 'But mummy we do speak two languages, English and 'up north'.' I remind them that I am from Leeds, which is not in another country and we speak English up there ... READ the POST
Mumblings Column – May 2013
The Mumblings column appears every month in Vine Magazine, a publication which is distributed in the Sevenoaks area. Vine May13 ... READ the POST
Childrens’ first moments are memorable – but not always for the right reasons
When I was pregnant with my first child I remember feeling excited about all the wonderful ‘first’ moments I was going to experience. In my fantasy I would teach my child new skills as she grew - passing on my knowledge and experience to her – and it would be a wonderful bonding experience for both ... READ the POST