Worries of Starting Secondary School

My eldest son is in his final term at Primary school.

And it hardly seems 5 minutes ago that he started school.

I remember thinking how strange it would be him going off to school, how I wondered how he would get on, what the future would hold for him.

Then the years passed so very quickly, I almost can't recall them, and now he is in his final weeks of Primary education. It almost doesn't seem possible, I have such strong memories of my own time at senior school, I remember the last days at primary school, the first induction days at senior school and I know these will be the years Jake will always remember too.

I would be lying if I said I was 100% confident that the next 5 years of his school life will be plain sailing, I hope, of course I do, that he manages well and fits straight into the new life at senior school.

But the reality of the next chapter is massive.

If I'mhonest, I  have been rather a slack parent for the primary school years, I don't force the issue of chanting times tables or stress over spelling mistakes. I don't worry when test results come back just about average, I don't make them read school books every night before bed, and  I wonder if this will there fore be a huge shock to the system when the lessons up a notch and homework is more of a must.

I hope the next years of learning are good ones for Jake, I really hope with all my heart it is the turning point for him, to find something that really grabs his interest, to truly find something he enjoys and becomes good at, for him to make new friends, new relationships and gain confidence in so many aspects as he doesn't really have many hobbies right now, I hope he takes advantage of any after school activities available and finds something that he wants to join in with, tries new activities he hasn't even thought about yet, I want him to try new things, and find his place in the world. It is scary to know it is the next years that all this will happen, and it is the things that happen over the following  years that will mould the adult he becomes.

With the next few weeks important ones, so many open days, visis to the new school, parents evening and final goodbyes,  I have been thinking about all the changes to come over the next few years, and trying to come to terms with the fact that my children are indeed growing up.

I'm not sure if right now anyone is ready, least of all me, I feel like life as a parent has to change, adapt, grow up, and that means improving and organising the little things - properly organising things. Being on top of the game so much more. For years I have always thought there was time ahead of us, that it didn't really matter  if homework was missed because 'they are only young' but the years have crept up on me surprisingly fast, and I am no longer a parent of toddlers, no, now really Jake isn't even a child.. I know he is, but he is certainly not that little boy who needed me for everything,  now he is finding his own way, and I can only stand, watch and hopefully guide him a little.

It really is a funny feeling, I know I am a parent, yet I find it so much more difficult now than when they were younger, it seemed so much easier then, easy to make them smile, make things fun and make sure they were doing something useful.

Now the parenting has to change, no longer are brightly coloured numbered blocks going to help, or big crayons and scribbles on paper helping them learn something new. No, now I need to think like a parent of older children and find what it is that will help them now.

The first thing I want to do is sort out the boys bedroom, as at the moment it is a bit of a tip in there and there is simply no storage space and far far too many toys, I have visions of lovely clean sideboards and space for Jake to organise his school things, but the reality might not come out like that!

I want to get myself a memo board for downstairs too, I am probably more disorganised than the children, and I need to make sure I am helping Jake with getting things done on time, not being the parent who always forgets!

I want a stack of draws either by the front door downstairs, or in Jake's bedroom, which he can organise with the days of the week with the homework in, in my mind it will be perfect he will place the homework in the draw on the day he gets it, then complete it and move it over to the draw of the day it needs handing in, but I am just not sure how effective this will be, but I can at least give it ago.

I will blog about anything I find that seems to work, and what we are doing to try and make the next year a happy one, if anyone has any tips however I would be most grateful!

Appreciating music again

It's funny isn't it how through life you go through various spells, and different things become popular at different times.

When I was a teenager I loved Music, always listening to the radio, buying the latest CD with the newest release from my favourite bands.

Through my teenage years I went to several music concerts, listened to all sorts of music, a firm feature was the radio, always listening to the charts on a Sunday, and enjoying finding out about new releases before I could afford to buy the CD for myself.

But then things changed, I'm not sure why or when exactly, but slowly over time I stopped listening to new music, I guess it was having children and the room filled with their noise and there was no period of time which could be filled the radio.

I stopped knowing who was in the charts, who was releasing new tracks and certainly couldn't tell you about any bands who were touring.

But now the children are older and I have started to notice over the past few months music is creeping back into the house, obviously music has always been a feature, with Darren who loves to sing and play guitar so there has always been a music presence but its not music that I've notice making a increase into our daily lives but the radio.

This pleases me, because there is such a good variety on the radio, listening to new songs I haven't heard before and being reminded of old favourites too,  all the music reminds me of the concerts I attended in my teens.

I loved the thrill of being in the arena filled with other fans and the loud music ringing out. I think there is nothing better than enjoying a concert, the electric atmosphere that builds from being in a huge crowd all enjoying the same thing.

So when I got an email asking if I would write a post featuring bands performing at the 02 arena it was perfectly timed.

The 02 arena is the second largest arena in the UK (second to the Manchester Arena) and one of the largest  arenas in Europe making it the busiest arena in the country and one that lots of top performers tour at.

With a capacity of 20,000 the atmosphere at an 02 concert must be amazing and I hope to get to go and see someone perform there one day,  there is such a variety of events at the 02 All sorts of bands have tour dates there, from current bands like JLS to bands who have been around since the 80's like Depeche Mode, who are touring in November 2013 celebrating 30 years in the music business you can book Depeche Mode tickets online on the 02 website along with all the other event tickets and find out tour dates and information.

It  won't be long before I get to take my three children along to a real concert, and enjoy the thrill of seeing their idols live on stage and I can't wait!

This is a sponsored post

Last Minute Fathers Day Gifts From Poundland

Tomorrow is Fathers Day. The day where we can say a big thank you to dads everywhere and let them know they are important.

However I am abit slack with these sort of things! And always leave my gift buying to the very last minute.

The children love to make homemade cards and pictures which I think are always the nicest true thought included, but sometimes a brought gift is nice too.

Poundland sent me some of their Fathers Day gift range to have a look at, and I am very impressed, they have a great selection of products which are perfect extras to add to the handmade gifts and cards, which means you can show you care without having to break the bank.

Included in the range of gifts from Poundland, are fun FamilyGuy themed items which are great for anyone who is a Family Guy fan. The fun Beer glass would make a great gift.

Poundland also have a great selection of gift bags, cards and wrapping paper, the quality has really improved over recent years of the cards and paper you can now purchase from pooundland.

There is also a great range of gifts 'for him' these included all sorts of little gadgets from wooden puzzles to grow your own football pitch sets.

And of course the very cute dog cuddle toys.

If you haven't yet brought a little something for Dad, there is still time to get to Poundland and pick up something fun.

Digital Cameras - what are the best batteries?

I brought myself a new camera a couple of months ago, a lovely Nixon CoolPix L810

It really is a lovely bridge camera, reasonably priced and takes a great photo.

The only thing I was a little unsure of when I purchased it was the batteries. it takes 4 AA batteries and the ones it comes with in the box lasted all of about 30 minutes. I've had so many digital cameras in the passed and it is always the battery life that frustrates me, so many cameras use AA batteries but normal batteries just simply do not last very long, and batteries are expensive if you have to keep buying new ones each time you want to use your camera.

So I was slightly disappointed that my new camera was once again hungry on batteries,  I  replaced the test batteries that came in the box, with my old rechargeable batteries which have been faithfully working for the passed few years in various electronic devices, I have used so many of the big brand batteries, but the ones I have now have been charged and used so many times they just aren't holding the charge anymore, so I was once again disappointed that before the day was over I was having to charge them before I could use my new camera, and it is always when your camera is out of charge that you see the best photo opportunity.

I started to think about getting some new batteries which promised to give me more hours camera life, and hopefully mean I never missed a photo opportunity again.

Then by sheer coincidence I received an email asking if I would like to review some batteries from Rechargeablebatteries.co.uk and of course I jumped at the chance.

I will admit I don't know alot about batteries, but was pleased to accept their offer of the high capacity Sanyo batteries and the Ansmann 4 Speed charger.

I received an email as soon as the batteries had been dispatched letting me know my order was on its way, and they arrived the next day packed well with a little token thank you chocolate too - great service all round from rechargeablebatteries.co.uk

The Sanyo Eneloop XX NiMH 2400 mAh batteries are quite simply amazing, and I think they are the best rechargeable AA batteries I have ever used, they come pre charged so you can use them straight out of the pack, (pre charged using solar energy making them ultra environmentally friendly) 

I put them straight into my camera and they lasted far longer than any other AA batteries I have ever used. I took them on our day out in the fields, and I took about 400 photos that day, and recorded almost an hours video footage.. and they still were working when I got home, they then lasted and lasted and lasted!! I have charged them once in the last month and used my camera with them in so so many times, if you are thinking of purchasing a digital camera which uses AA batteries then definitely think of getting some of these to go with it. 

Another great feature of the Sanya AA XX Eneloop  batteries, is that they are said to still hold 75% of their charge even after a years use.. thats pretty amazing, and I will update you in a years time to see if it is true.  Priced at  just £12.98 these are a must have and far more affordable than buying standard batteries which need replacing regularly.

Of course if you are using rechargeable batteries then you need a way to charge them, The Ansmann Charger is a brilliant size, it has a speed charge option which is great if you need a fast charge, and the light indicators let you know when your batteries are ready to use. 

This handy little charger can charge upto  4 AA batteries or 4 AAA batteries and comes with a three year guarantee, so you can be assured this works well.

When I plugged in the charger the first thing I noticed was that it has a fan which blows to keep the batteries cool, this is a great idea and helps preserve the life of the batteries.

Another great feature is that the recharger comes with a 12v in car  lead, so this is a great charger to take with you if you are travelling. 

Although upto this point, I had not heard of Ansmann batteries, I am pleased to have found them now, this charger also comes with 4 x AA rechargeable NiMH batteries and these are really great they hold the charge well. Unlike the Sanyo batteries these ones do not come precharged, so you do have to charge them before the first use.

The 4 batteries took about 2 hours to charge and I have been testing them along with the Sanyo batteries this passed month, they have lasted such a long time and certainly enable you to not worry about missing that great photo due to no battery life.

 I took them with me to my sisters where we camped for the weekend, in fact I took all 8 batteries and the charger in case I needed it, but I didn't need to swop the batteries at all for the whole weekend.

I really am pleased with the batteries and if like me, you have recently purchased a Digital camera and are looking at a way to power it, then do take a look at www.rechargeablebatteries.co.uk they have some fantastic offers and low prices for all your battery needs.

I'm racing - are you?

Race for life - everyones heard of it, right?

Every year I see the posts asking for sponsors, I donate.

I see the pictures of people taking part, and I feel  inspired to join in and kick myself that I didn't make more of an effort.

So this year I am not going to just sit and wish I had joined in, I am actually going to get up and go along and join, thanks to the nudge from AquaPura, who are the official sponsors this year.

Race for life helps support Cancer research, which is such a wonderful Charity, as cancer really is a unrelentless disease, it doesn't stop to think of the lives it destroys as it sweeps through. Cancer effects so many of us, each person has a story. A story that should never have to be told.

And this is mine.

As a child, even as a teenager, I was lucky, no one I had ever known had been struck by illness, no one had even grew old and passed away, still to this day I have all my extended family including all my 4 grandparents.


However life is not always as kind, some people do not grow to see their grandchildren or watch their great grandchildren grow up, some people don't even get to relish in their own childrens futures.

With my sheltered from grief, childhood, I unfortunately got to see the reality of life and death when I moved in with Darren, aged just 18.

We moved into his mother- Glendas house, and rented it off her, as she moved away to set up a coffee shop business, a larger than life personality with her whole future ahead of her, Glenda was a bubbly big lady who made her presences felt and she quickly welcomed me into her family. Sending us gifts and coming over to visit us often.

It was on one of these visit when our whole lives turned upside down.

We were young, at the beginning of our lives, me and Darren had just set up our computer shop, we were giddy with excitement and future prospects, we had secured ourselves a start up loan and arranged for tenancy on a shop, we had planned, planned and planned some more then put everything into action, and were proud of ourselves. On top of this we had some exciting news, I was 3 months pregnant, yet we had not told anyone yet.

We had agreed to break the news on Glendas next visit, so when Glenda came over we took her to visit the shop, she came over looked around, we talked, she stopped at our house for a few days, each day she seemed to be feeling a little more unwell. The moment to break our news never felt right so we kept quiet. Un be known to us, she had been diagnosed with cancer in the weeks prior to her visit.

On the day she was due to return home, she took a drastic turn for the worst, when we arrived home from work, expecting to wave her off home, we were greeted with ambulances and commotion, confused we did not know what was happening, we followed and visited her in hospital, where Glenda appeared to be ok. The next few days passed in abit of a blur, we went about our daily business not really sure of what was happening but convinced all would be well.

That was, until we were took to one side, and told the shocking truth, that Glenda was suffering with cancer, she was in the late stages and there was nothing more that could be done.

The next few days became once again  abit of a blur, Glenda came home, to ours, then returned to the hospital.

This time in the hospital Glenda was not ok at all, she seemed so very unwell. That night we stayed, Darren, his brother and me along with Glendas Partner. We all stayed, numb, confused and concerned.

I will never forget those days, the drastic contrast of life and death. The pleading look in Glendas eyes as the machines and buzzers and bleeps rang around her.

That night Glenda passed away.

We never got to tell her she would become a Granny.

The events that happened following her death made such an impact on everyones world, Darren and his brother never managed to grieve for their mum in a way they maybe should, but then grief is such a funny thing. The ripples of the after effect when someone so alive, so full of life is taken far too soon, made more of an impact than anyone could ever imagine.

Glenda was only 50.  her life snatched, taken far before her time.

The hole in our lives where she should be is huge. The struggles Darren and his brother have been through trying to come to terms with their mothers sudden death, both in the immediate years after and still to this day, is overwhelming.

The huge gap in our childrens lives, never having the option to know their Grandmother, who would have doted on them all, is too sad to even comprehend.

Over the following 12 years cancer has effected so many of my friends lives too, and my sheltered childhood now seems like such a long long time ago.

Cancer -  Destroys lives.

But Research is destroying cancer, making it a real possibility for more people effected by this desease to overcome it.

We all can help.

 Cancer research is about fighting back, its about not letting cancer win. And by joining in with race for life its like you are standing up and saying cancer - we're coming to get you!

And that is why I will proudly Race for Life this July.

If you want to join in a race near you then take a look at The race for life website and find your local event.

If you want to add a donation to my page, then that would be most appreciated my just giving page is : https://www.justgiving.com/sarahchloe

I have just over a month to get ready for the race, me and Chloe will be participating together.

I have been sponsored by Aqua Pura - official race for life sponsors, who have kindly sponsored me £100 on my just giving page and paid for my entrance fee, giving me the boost I needed to join in this year, and join in I will, I will race for Glenda, for Carole and for everyone else who has been effected by cancer. I will race and hope that one day, one day we really will kick cancer completely.

Silent Sunday

Time goes by

Today I had a review meeting with my Homestart supervisor.

The meetings are a great informal catch up to go over things, the first conversation was 'how are things with you?' and we soon got onto talking about how my eldest will be starting senior school in September, as we caught upto date with the family I have just finished supporting and we discussed the new family I will start visiting soon, it really made me realise how very quickly this year is flying by.

It is now June, which is just crazy, I know time seems to speed up the older you get but this year seems to be going by at an alarmingly quick pace.

Every week seems to leap into the next month, half of the year has passed already, we will soon be thinking of Christmas again!

When I briefly think of this year I think its been quite uneventful, that I actually haven't got round to doing things which I want to do, but really if I take a moment I can actually see that so much has indeed happened this year.

I want to ensure that the remaining 6 months are full of fun things, I really want to ensure that some things change, improve. Then there are some things that I just want to stay the same as they are right now.