Save the children's tears - help UNICEF

How will you be celebrating Mother's Day this year - have you bought your mum a gift, a card, some flowers, taking her for a meal. As you all know my mum died several years ago now but being a mum myself I 'm sure that the girls will have something up their sleeves

I cannot imagine a life without my mother, the memories I have of her live on to this day and she is still spoken about even now with my friends and family. But can you imagine life without your mother since birth.

Unfortunately, in some countries this is the norm. There are nearly 1,000 women a day still dying during pregnancy or childbirth due to complications, lack of medical care and unsanitary dirty conditions. That means that between today (Wednesday) and Mother's Day(Sunday), nearly 5,000 women will die throughoout the world. 

There are many children out there living their life without their mother present, babies like this one below from Somalia, who is growing up without her mum by her side :

Somalia (a country 3 times the size of the UK) is  located in the horn of Africa (or if your geography is like mine the yellow one on the map below)

Since the outbreak fo the Civil War there in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory. Somalia has been characterised as a failed state and is one of the poorest and most violent states for women and children in the world. Its lack of heath infrastructure, the continued fighting and lack of basic medical care also means it has one of the highest maternal morality rates, with 1 in every 14 women at risk of dying during pregnancy or child birth.

Its shocking to think that even now, in 2011, mothers are dying whilst pregnant or in child birth. I was shocked when I read this, shocked to tears. I know that there are many countries throughout the world where conditions are not like ours, but to think that a 1,000 mothers a day are dying is still shocking.

Luckily, this is not going by unnoticed. UNICEF believes that this is wrong and are working in the country to try and help put this right.

Please help UNICEF this Mother's day to save '1,000 mums lives' and make sure no child is born without their mother by buying as a gift the 'Deliver a Baby' pack. The pack, which costs £23, contains all the medical equipment needed to safley deliver one baby and help keep a mum safe during the birth.

BNM

Dim Ffwrn

We are still sans oven (or dim ffwrn in Welsh)

The man who can (ie our landlords gas man) said when we rang him yesterday that he had a new one ready for us. He had told our landlord when he came and did the Gas check's that we needed a new oven. When Neb rang him yesterday he said he'd be round today (probably) with a new one. But he hasn't been round!

I am running out of ideas of things to feed the girls, Monday they had a fry up, today - they had tuna pasta (but without the Green Giant sweetcorn that Car loves as she's eaten it all!) and tomorrow, well they were meant to have fish bites (ie home made fish fingers) and chips. But without the oven what can I do, fish bites and mash don't go together, do they?

Any ideas welcome as to what I feed them , otherwise it will be pasta again!!!

BNM

Maxi Dresses

This post is bought to you in association with Very.co.uk

As you all know, I cannot be called a fashionista (in any way shape or form) but I was glad to read the other day that longer lengths are in for spring. Yeah, below the knee skirts, flared trousers and more importantly maxi dresses are in (again!). I am so happy about this as it means that a) noone has to see my white legs and c) being long legged I think I can actually carry off that look!
Have you seen the variety of maxi dresses on offer these days. They are everywhere this season and range from the formal :

( I love the bottom one and wonder if I could get away with it for a wedding or whether its too pale for me!)

to the casual, wear on hot day, wear to beach, wear to anywhere in:

Their lovely aren't they and others like them can be found on Very.co.uk
Prices range from £10 to £150 * and if you open a credit account (subject to status) you could even get 10% off. The website also has a star rating , where previous customers can recommend the dresses to you and leave reviews of the products.

BNM

* subject to availability
Images courtesy of Very.co.uk website

Sunday fail

So, I went to check the beef and veg just now, for our lovely roast dinner and we seem to have a major fail! The gas oven has died - it won't move from pilot to full!!

So it seems we won't be having this:

 but instead I am scouring the web to see if I can salvage any of it.

The beef may have to be cut and fried - steak wise, the roast veg may have to be pan fried slowly and the Yorkshire's... well the Yorkshire's will be missed.

I AM ANNOYED!!!

Lets hope that when Neb rings landlord tomorrow that we can have new oven!

BNM

Manners, they don't cost a thing....

But why are many people forgetting them these days.

I make sure that both my girls say please and thank you. They don't get what they want without it and yes sometimes a little prompting may be needed with Car but they will say it.

But do you thank people when you have had emails from them, do you? I spend most of my working day replying to emails and I always sign off Thanks. I think it is important to have manners to thank the person who you cannot see as well as those you do see.

Manners are according to one source, the unenforced laws of behaviour, the norm. But are they, still, have people forgotten their manners?

I have responded to two emails blog wise this week, to apologise for not taking them up on their offer and have I had a reply, a that's OK, thank you for responding. No but should I assume they would.

Any ideas?

BNM

Sun is shining...

Yeah  I think we have at last hit spring.

The weather here on the coast has been lovely for the last few days, so much so that I'm sat here typing this in short sleeves. I can see (if I stand up, obviously I'm not writing this in the office because I am tidying my desk!) the blueness of the sea and it seems that a plethora of people have gone outside to enjoy it.  Whilst eating my lunch on the promenade, I even saw some people taking a dip (mad people do they know its only been measured as 8.4C in there today!)


Maybe its because, British Summer Time is upon us with the clocks going forward (yes not back as I originally thought !) on Sunday.
Hopefully we will have plenty more days of sun ahead of us (and not the normal British summer weather of rain please) and then I will be one happy bunny.

BNM

Orange you glad I made this title up

When not making up bad jokes this week I have also been trying my luck to win some money.

No, I haven't been gambling away the family heirlooms - I've been shaking the tree.

Where's this tree that I'm on about I hear you say, well its this one:


I bet your wondering where I have found and Orange tree in West Wales - well folks this is no ordinary tree, this is an Innocent tree.

Yes, this week I have been trying to be the lucky bugger who will win £1000 from this tree - do you fancy a go? And if you don't win the money, you might be lucky enough to win some innocent hamper or just some free juice. You must have seen the new juice range that Innocent (yes the smoothie people!) have started making, its available to buy in most supermarkets and can I say that its delicious, fresh and smooth tasting. I know that with this damned forsaken cold (sorry I forgot that I shouldn't mention it)  I need to increase my Vitamin C levels and can I just say I think I have found the way to do it.












So go on have a shake *

BNM
* and if you do win the £1000 remember who told you about it!

I received vouchers from innocent as a thank you for promoting the Innocent tree, all comments on the juice in the above post are my own.

Frugal frivolities

Its nearly the end of the month, but as normal (well in this household anyway) we are bordering on the penniless..

So what have I been doing that makes this time a time of frivolities - well I have been baking.
Now as Bel normally has in her lunchbox a cereal bar, I have been making flapjacks.

Yesterday I made banana flapjacks which were so nice that they disappeared quickly ( and I only made a few due to lack of oats). These went down well with everyone - even Car. Last night at bed time she asked for another flap mummy, and then said in the same breath that bananas were yucky. I had to leave the room at this point as we hadn't told her that there were bananas in the mix and thought it was funny that she couldn't taste it.

The recipe I used is shown below:

• 40g/1 1/2oz butter
• 60g/2 1/2oz brown sugar
• 1tbsp golden syrup
• 225g/8oz porridge oats
• 2 small bananas

In a pan, melt butter, add sugar and golden syrup and stir well - or melt butter in a bowl in the microwave.
Mash bananas and mix into butter mix with  oats and spread into a greased baking tray approx 15cmx20cm/6"x8" . 
Flatten with the back of a spoon, bake at 200C/Gas 6 for 15-20 mins until slightly brown.

Cut into fingers and leave to cool.

Tonight I used a different recipe as we had run out of bananas!

The recipe I used was this one:

75g of butter or margarine
50 - 75g light brown sugar
1 tablespoon of golden syrup
175g of porridge oats.

I used the same principle as above but these cook at Gas 4 for 25 mins until evenly brown.

Now because I couldn't find the right size tin they came out a bit randomly:

They have been declared a success by Bel and as they were so easy to do- and possibly cheaper - I may make some next month to save buying the cereal bars.

After cooking these and putting the girls to bed, I am also making some cheese and bacon squares (for Bel's lunch) and am going to try and make some Danish type pastries (recipe of which was in this months Good Food magazine and can be found online here).

What do you think? Is my baking going to sustain us through until next Thursday? Who knows but at least I'll have some fun!


BNM

Back and not forgotten (hopefully!)

Well hello there me hearties (no I haven't turned into a pirate!*) I am back

I will try not to regale you with any cold or ill stories but suffice to say that I'm only a little bit better but having been ill for so long, I am out of energy. I hope to wake up soon and bounce around the place (this might not happen unless I can have some alcohol and actually taste it!).


So what's happened chez BNM, well the mollycoddling mum is still here. We have tried the no nappy in bed rule and we were successful for three nights on the trot and then Car got ill. That meant that she would fall asleep at the drop of the hat and being so poorly she wouldn't realise that she was going! So back to nappies, we went.
After her temperature came down, we thought we'd start again and what did we get - dryness, um no, we got six (yes six nights) of accidents, and not just little accidents either! And to make it worse, twice we had to go and wake her, because we would check on her and she would be lying in it and not realising.

So after following the gospel according to Leach I decided to put her back in her nappies. She seems not to know that she is going at night, and so far this week both nappies have been full.

So anyone got any suggestions, anyone have any ideas what to do?

BNM

 * PS Talking about pirates, Bel won second place in her school 's talent show last Friday with her Pirate impressions. The headteacher was being Simon Cowell and made her repeat her performance twice as they were laughing so much the first time.

The revolution!

♪♪ all hail the leaders of the revolution♪♪
Do you know that the Rochdale Pioneers started their own revolution in 1844 by starting the first successful cooperative and its still going strong today. That is:

 The Cooperative Group, its six million members and 5,000 outlets across its family of businesses including food, financial services, travel, pharmacy and funerals, there are thousands of other co-operators who share the same heritage.
Have you seen the new advertisement campaign, it tells their story starting from the beginning and highlighting The Co-operative’s ethical credentials and features real life people and groups that have been empowered to bring their own revolutions to life.
You think, by doing that, they would be doing enough but no every year The Co-operative supports thousands of initiatives both in the UK and in the developing world. They help people change their lives, by joining the revolution.
I was happy to see that the advertisement showed a revolution happening close to me:
A community group offering even more ways to play to local children

Play Montgomeryshire provides families with free or low cost activities that give children greater opportunity to learn through play.
One of their services, the Machynlleth Toy Library, came under threat of closure when its existing funding was cancelled. The library is a well-loved part of the local community, and Mieke and the Play Montgomeryshire team were determined to save it. The group approached The Co-operative and secured a donation of £2,000 from our Community Fund. As a result, they are now confident that the library will continue to serve local children.

The Co-operative Community Fund is funded by the money that our members agree to donate from their share of the profits. In 2010 their generosity allowed Play Montgomery to make 1319 awards to local community projects.

So do you fancy joining the revolution, fancy finding out more, then why not look at the Co-operatives Facebook page or follow the link to their homepage and get involved.


The Co-operative

Join the revolution

Get involved







Sponsored Post
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Sigg bottle - REVIEW

Recentlly (OK a while ago, sorry!!!) I was sent a Sigg bottle to review.

It is fab - it has been a godsend - especially with all the coughing that has been happening here. It also makes me drink more water (something I'm not very good at).

The bottle itself is a 1L bottle of funky design from PureKit. It sits amongst the papers on my desk, ensuring that I use it.

According to Pure Kit, the Sigg bottles are one the most durable bottles on the market and are nearly unbreakable. As this bottle has thrown itself off my desk many times (I may have pushed it!) I can declare that by my testing (ahem) it has not broken! Even my husband has commented on it and I may need to go and buy another one before it gets snaffled.

The bottle is light and will be great for summer excursions and camping!

BNM

I was sent this bottle to review, and all views given about this product are mine

I'm going to eat my hat

You know I said last week that I was back, I was well and not full of germs - well apparently I may have been lying.

This damned cold that I've had has not gone away - it is still lingering - so much so that I missed Bel's prelims on Thursday, (Neb videoed them though)  and had to spend most of Friday in bed.

I have still not been sleeping, even taking Night Nurse hasn't helped, I can sleep until 4.30 -5 and then will be wide awake, if this carries on I may have to delve into the world of Nightol....

I'm going back to work tomorrow, though still not better, I dread to think of the work piled up on my desk!

Anyway hope to catch up soon - with everything!

BNM

Coed

Coed is the Welsh word for Trees - and even though I'm only half way through my google reader,I'm glad to see that the new Gallery post is based on Trees.

I too love trees, many of the pictures I take are of trees - luckily when we went out on Sunday to blow away the cobwebs, I took plenty of them, so here to share with you are my favourite ones:

BNM

Is mother nature sat there screaming

I am still in shock after seeing the pictures of not only the Christchurch earthquake but now the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

I wonder what have we done, for this to happen?




Has Mother Nature just had enough? Have we overpopulated the world, broken it, and is she fighting back?

My heart goes out to all the people who have been affected by this, the uncountable number (I did try looking for it but numbers vary) who have lost either their lives, their homes, their family. If I prayed, I would send out my prayers to you all.

BNM

Doh moments I've had this week

Hello I am back - still coughing, sniffing but here....

As my brain is obviously befuddled by this damn stinking cold I have had many D'OH moments. (I was going to put a picture of Homer (Simpson not the ancient Greek) but realised it would be probably copyrighted).

D'oh Moment 1

Listening to new Glee Rocky Horror Show on IPod and decided that the lyrics went :"Opportunity, bless my soul" when they're actually "Hot Patootie, bless my soul." I guess that's what happens when I've never seen the original Rocky Film - but its OK - we have it on DVD so I may get round to watching it soon



D'oh moment 2

Leaving the oven on and then getting up to get my supper - and realising I hadn't put it in!

(actually that just happened!!!... must be the over the counter drugs!)

D'oh moment 3

Not being able to get a sentence together that actually makes sense, my brain has turned to mush - my cold has taken over. I need to blog more but I'm sorry my brain has died.......

See you later

BNM

Helllooooo.......

Well I'm back , I have rested (apparently) and I'm back.

How have you all been - here its been a bit manic as you guess especially with one ill Car.
She had caught my cough so I thought but when her temperature spiked Friday night, her breathing quickened and her heart was racing we rang NHS direct. They just wanted to check it wasn't meningitis and Neb had to wake Car (poor thing.)  Eventually her temperature came down and I was left with the number of the On Call centre.

Yesterday came and her temperature started to go back up again. Her food intake has been nil and when we did get her to drink it came back up!! Neb had gone to help out J and so I rang the centre - only to be rung back and told to go to A&E!!!! RA, anyway after dropping Bel off at J's Mrs house -with Morg and Ems - I got a taxi up to the hospital. Now, if anyone can tell me what it is about hospitals/doctors that make children perk up and not appear ill then I will be happy but there we were with Car going, what 's this, what's that ...! (bloody child!!). Anyway after a small wait we got seen and after being poked and pressed we came out with antibiotics for a chest infection. Off we went to get the medicine which is great but banana flavour and you know what Car HATES banana.... you can imagine the fun we had getting that down her!!

When I went over to pick up Bel, Car chirped up and went off to play while I drank endless cups of coffee........


So, I am up. they are both up... they are happily annoying each other again and you know what I'm knackered......

Anyway I will see you all next week - have many interesting stories to tell you ( the one about the nappy at bed, the one about the pizza, the one about the shouting!!)

BNM

Dear So and So.. the ill version

Dear Cold and cough and know apparently ear ache,

I have had enough. Do you hear me ENOUGH. I am so tired of this damned feeling that you have given me.

PLEASE GO AWAY AND DON'T COME BACK UNTIL THE WINTER!

I will pay you....

BNM


Dear Car,

Yes you have caught this damned cold (see above too) but you don't have too:
a) use it as an excuse to moan at everybody all the damned time
b) use it as an excuse to go back to babyhood and demand me to get things for you all the damned time
c) sleep in anyone else's bed apart from your own - this is not a house of bed swaps!!

Please get better soon, I have had enough

BNM


Dear Neb,

So I tidied and you have managed to do the washing up but why can't you move your crap from the floor.
This magic house tidying fairy may just go on strike!

BNM (chief house tidying fairy!)

Dear Bel,

You need to stay away from me and Car or you will have a cold for next week. You need to be healthy and well so you can kick ass at the prelims (for the Eisteddfod). I know you'll be fine.

BNM (with pompoms!)


Dear PR people

I am so sorry that I am behind on my reviews. Once I find some energy to write something which hasn't got damn, crap or fuck in it I will write them. I promise....

BNM


If you wanna see some more cheerful Dear So and So's try there, I am off to sink deeper in my self misery.......

Still here

Before you think I've dropped off the face of the earth - I am still here.

Unfortunately so is the lergy, and it has spread, poor Car slept in our bed last night with a fever! She has the same cough as I do and she rattles bless her.

Hopefully normal progress should resume soon.....

BNM

Cough....

cough, cough, too hot can't breathe, feel sick,

hello everyone from the sofa where I have relegated myself too due to this damned cold.

Every time I get a cold with a cough, I can't lie down and get too hot, because when I get too hot, I start to cough and cough and nearly sick up (sorry tmi !)

So here I am on the sofa, trying desperately to get some sleep - I have slept off and on but I've just woken myself up again!!

Going to try again now.....

BNM

Today we have come of age

No, I haven't turned 40 yet (although Neb is an Old Git in November!!HAHAHA!)

Yesterday, Wales and its people, voted for more powers for the assembly in a referendum (Yes or No) so off we went to boat as Car calls it (or vote to you and me).

I had no idea what to vote, even though I had read the one leaflet that had come through the post and tried to follow the political programmes on TV (no, didn't understand them either!). Due to me being a political hippopotamus ignoramus I asked my Dad what a Yes or No would mean. He wasn't at all biased (cough, cough) and told me that giving a Yes would allow the assembly to have direct law making powers. After checking with him (fountain of all knowledge as he is!) whether this would mean we'd end up paying more (always thinking about money or the lack of it me) - he said it wouldn't, it would take less time for laws to be made ..i.e laws that were approved in the assembly and then at Westminster and then came back to the assembly for the last OK would miss out the Westminster step which would save time and money.

Anyway, today the vote was counted and even though there was a low turnout  ( I blame the lack of publicity or the lack of simple publicity!) we did it:

The leaders of the assembly had this to say:

First Minister Carwyn Jones "Today an old nation came of age."

Deputy First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said it marked "the beginning of a new era of Welsh devolution - the decade to deliver for Wales".To demand respect, you must first display self respect.Today we have done just that, and the rest of the world can now sit up and take notice of the fact that our small nation, here on the western edge of the continent of Europe, has demonstrated pride in who we are, and what we all stand for."

I am very happy that this has happened and think that maybe one day we can have dissolution from Westminster like Scotland have law wise.

BNM

Note: I am in no way a political expert so if anything of the above doesn't make sense then please forgive me, I wanted to share my pride in the nation with you. If you want more information, check out the BBC website

Dear So and So

Hello all, yes so joining in with Dear So and So again this week....

Dear Wi and Wa

I love you both, thank you for a great evening last night.
We will do it more often (I promise!)
You make me smile (and cry) knowing that I have you both there for me. I will get through this!!

Friends always
BNM

Dear Car

I have a cold, and I feel pretty shitty. Can you please :

a) stop opening and closing the door and letting a draft in!!
b) stop turning on annoying cheap mobile phone toy thing that has annoying LOUD music, we know you can dance prettily but not again OK

Your ever loving but poorly
BNM

Dear Bel,

If I have to say "fingers out of mouth/nose" again this week, I swear I will chop them off

Your mother with the blunt spoon
BNM

Dear Neb,

You seem to have understood (I think) that I'm not getting you a mobile phone but can you stop being an arse. Seriously, I went out last night had a lovely time and had 2 pints. That was it. I was not drunk. I was ill.

Your suffering wife

BNM

Dear Work desk / paper mountain

Is there any chance you can self combust at all over the weekend.

Here's hoping

BNM

I think that's it - here's hoping for a nice weekend and that this cold buggers off.  If you want to see more go visit the link on the top.
PS - I've made it this week and feature in the  Top 10 Mummy Bloggers of the week!! YEAH, look go see

Why is it...

... that the man you love can make you feel shit.....

Sorry this post is going to be a bit sad and depressing, and angry and all about me so if you want to ignore it and come back tomorrow I understand.

Today was a nice day, sun is shining, my desk is getting tidier (ish) but all of a sudden I feel blue, I feel crap because I said no!
Neb has just rung and asked if he could get a contract mobile phone. Two things you need to know here is that a) he has a phone on pay as you go and b) he doesn't have a job (still!! because I think he doesn't try!).  So he wanted to know if I'd get him  a phone. As you can understand I am fuming, instead of asking me at home he has made me feel embarrassed as I'm sat in work explaining to him why he can't have one.

Bloody Hell, what is wrong with the man, I am so angry now....

Not only does he want me to get him a phone on contract (and for me to pay the bill) he then said that he would pay me back with money J gave him every month for work he does. I, pointed out that he doesn't know that J will want him every month and honestly I can't justify or afford to give him money each month from my wages for something for him. Please understand that currently I pay for everything, right down to the money he uses to go out to play pool with - every week. The last time I went out would be ..let me think.. oh yeah pre Christmas.

He then passed the phone to Car, when I wanted to tell him that he was a jerk, and then when I got him back he asked how my day was going and couldn't understand why I was being flat with him.

Please tell me this doesn't just happen to me...

BNM

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

Sorry for that really need to scream /cry

 

Ben and Holly Website ... RELAUNCHED

I know that some of you out there like me have a Ben and Holly obsessed child. If I hear the Nanny Plum change me into a frog spell any more I may pop.
But, did you know that they've relaunched the Ben and Holly Website.. it's cool...

The website has bespoke animation and when you enter you can choose to be either Ben Elf or Princess Holly:

From there you can enjoy games, stories, activities, videos, shop or even sign up. If you sign up to the website you could even win a visit from Ben and Holly to your child's nursery!

So, don't forget pop over to the little kingdom to see the fun and games you can enjoy.

BNM

This is a review and press release about the relaunched Ben and Holly website. I have not been paid in anyway for this review.

 

Mollycoddling mummy

I realise tonight, as I put Car's nappy on and give her the dummy that yes I am mollycoddling her. She is 3, she should be going to bed nappy free and that dummy needs to be gone, but I can't. My little girl, my baby and I can't do it. I can't seem to break that link. Car lost points on her developmental check last month because she didn't dress herself. She can, its just easier most of the time for me to get it done, like in the morning to get us out of the house on time.

Bel went through the night dry long before her 3rd birthday. I know I shouldn't compare them but why can't I get Car to do the same. She still has a drink to go to bed with her so am I going to have to bite the bullet and take that away. Or just take her nappy away and hope that she doesn't wet the bed too many times. I don't even know if she knows that she's going in the night! I'm so crap. Work is very busy at the moment and I know that if you asked me and I answered honestly I'd tell you that I don't want to be woken late at night to check for wetness or to change the bed.

But am I harming her by keeping her as my baby girl, not letting her grow up. I did try really hard to rid the dummy but I am struggling with the screams when we have a tired child and the demanding puppy dog eyes that we get "Dummy mummy, please....."


If anyone has any ideas how I can let her grow up, remind me how I get her dry at night (because obviously I've forgotten...), remind me how I can be strong for her, how I can let my baby girl grow up....

BNM

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus

Daffodil - check - um no  I haven't got any in so you can't wear one!

Leek - check - um no not one of them either, no you can't wear a spring onion










The Cawl has not been made, there is no bara brith or Welsh Cakes but today I will remember him, celebrate the life and works of our patron saint. Bel will attend the school Eisteddfod and today St David will be remembered. To all Welsh people throughout this world, remember if like me you forget your leek or daffodil that you can just wear your Welshness on your sleeve, say Diolch instead of thank you today. Be proud to be Welsh!


BNM