Silent Sunday

Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Christmas Gift Wrapping with John Lewis

As most of you probably know I'm lucky enough to have a lovely working relationship with John Lewis and so whenever they have fun stuff going on in store they tend to invite me. With Christmas being just around the corner they gave me an option of Christmas Master Classes and I decided to go with the wrapping one. In my head I know exactly how beautiful I want my presents to look but it never works out quite as I imagined!

  I actually didn't take that many pictures because I was too busy asking questions and being nosy!! The first tip for awkward shaped presents is to put them in a box and make life easier for yourself!

Tip 2 - Use sharp scissors to cut the paper

Tip 3 - Sellotape the paper to the box to keep it in place:

Tip 4 - Use double sided tape as it looks so much neater

Tip 5 - Cut off the excess paper which then leads to to tip number 6.....neat, straight edges:

(remember double sided tape!!)

Once neatly wrapped, cut the ribbon to six times the size of the side of the box and start it on the front on the present:

Tie the ribbon into a bow and cut the ends to make it look fancy. If you have any ribbon left over then tie another bow, take a piece of ribbon and tie under the bow to make neat and prominent. Your finished item should look something like this:

After all the excitement of the gift wrapping, I had a wander around the store to get some inspiration for our Christmas day. I only wish I had enough room for a lovely table like this:

I also got a chance to talk to the Marketing Manager for the shiny and lovely Leicester branch and she was telling me that at the end of the Christmas season they a lot of the in-store decorations away to local charities. Mainly baubles like these:

If you live in the Leicestershire area and work for a charity or know of a charity that could use some of these Christmas decorations then please e-mail me and I'll pass along the details you need :-)

Merry Christmas!

Anti-allergy bedding......the benefits!

This is a sponsored post but I do love a bit of John Lewis and I am an allergy sufferer so it fits perfectly with my life :-)

Around one in three people in the UK will be affected by allergies at some point in their lives. Worryingly, this number is on the rise, with more and more children in particular being affected by an allergy. One major culprit lies in the bedroom – dust mites are a common cause of allergic reactions and they seem to love a good mattress, suchas those available at John Lewis. With over 10,000 dust mites thought to be thriving in the average bed, it’s good news that there is a great range of products on the market that can help, including anti-allergy bedding, designed to help prevent or reduce the impact of allergies.

Choose an anti-allergy mattress protector to cover your mattress for the best protection against allergens. Available from cot right through to king-size, a good mattress protector will form an effective barrier against dust mites and other allergens.

Squeaky clean comfort

If you’re shopping for a new duvet and pillow, there is a range of anti-allergy options on the market to choose from. One product that has been recognised for its innovation is the Sleep Angel pillow, also available at John Lewis, which is billed by its makers as the first and only pillow to be impermeable to viruses, bacteria, common flu bug, water droplets, bed bugs and dust mites.

Only air can enter and leave the Sleep Angel pillow, making it incredibly hygienic – in fact it was originally designed for medical use, helping reduce the risk of patients picking up bugs. The case is can be wiped clean but – crucially – is still comfortable to lie on, so you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Love the one you’re with…

If you’re not due for total bedding overhaul at the moment, there are still products you can use with your existing duvet and pillows to provide you with a barrier from allergens like dust mites. You could opt for a polypropylene anti-allergy duvet protector, which zips up to fully enclose your duvet, and can be used inside your normal duvet cover.

Apart from buying anti-allergy bedding, there are some other steps you can take to minimise the impact of dust mites. Top tips include:

• Regularly washing clothes and bed linen at 60 degrees to kill dust mites
• Keeping your room tidy – dust mites can thrive on clothes left out on the floor
• Not making your bed straight away when changing the sheets – this will give a chance for moisture to be released from your mattress, which will help to prevent further dust mite growth

Silent Sunday

Sun, sea & siesta's

This is a sponsored post

As many thousands of holidaymakers can ascertain each and every summer, Spain is a popular destination for anyone seeking, sun, fun and good times. Its fascinating heritage and glorious climate has long held a fascination with British tourists as well as those from further afield, and for many, there is no place they would rather be.

When it comes to family holidays, Spain really comes into its own. Throughout the bubbly resorts that have grown around the coast over the past few decades, family accommodation comes in various different forms to suit many different tastes, ages and preferences. You could choose to stay in a modest self-catering apartment, and whip up Spanish-inspired meals such as tapas or fresh seafood paella using ingredients from the local market, and pack up a picnic for a day trip to the local attractions. Or you could opt for a more relaxing experience and book into a family hotel. Often, designated family hotels offer child-friendly facilities and rooms, and many will also offer kids' clubs and creche facilities – which allows Mum and Dad some free time while the little ones are kept busy draining their energy under the supervision of qualified carers.

Or perhaps you're here to make the most of Spain's loud and lively nightlife, whether it's in the cheesy clubs and karaoke bars of neon-lit Benidorm, or in the plush restaurants and chic wine bars of Marbella. And for the adventurers among us, Spain is a non-stop haven of exploration. Discover the beautiful Old Town of Alicante, follow the criss-crossing paths and walking trails of the Sierra de la Pila Regional Park, or head to the bright lights of Valencia for a coastal city break.

Whatever you fancy, holidays in Spain are a force to be reckoned with. This glorious destination can tick virtually every box on the holiday wish-list, so it's no surprise it's top of the list for so many people seeking a sun-filled holiday with a difference.

The Ritz and Christmas Shopping in London

You probably don't remember but waaaay back on Valentines day my gorgeous boyfriend bought me a voucher for champagne and afternoon tea at The Ritz which we finally got around to using yesterday. It's been on my bucket list of things to do for years and I have to say that I wasn't disappointed!! The Ritz is completely amazing......understated, classy and all very civilised and I even managed to behave myself  and not drop anything or knock anything over ;-)

We only managed to get one picture of us together but it's a bit blurry (sack the camera man!!)

After The Ritz we headed off to Hyde Park to visit Winter Wonderland. It's basically a Christmas market with fair rides, a big wheel and a chance to wander around and feel all Christmassy! There is also this really cool sculpture exhibit called The Magic Ice Kingdom. At £8 each it's pretty pricey but it was so cool it was almost worth the money:

In this one The Man and I look like we're in some weird Sci-Fi movie:

Last night we went to see one of my favourite musicals which was as fab as ever:

Today we've been Christmas shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street where the lights are looking very festive:

What an amazing weekend and how very lucky I am!! What are you up to this weekend?

Festive Family Adventures: London City Breaks

This is a sponsored post but it fits in really well as we're off to London on Friday to do exactly this :-)

At Christmas London is, without a doubt, one of the most magical places in the UK to take the children. No longer are city breaks regarded merely as a ‘parent escape’ - there’s so much to do in and around the capital that it would almost be a crime not to discover the delights with youngsters.

When you’re hoping to attend events and explore attractions across London, choosing a central London hotel is a wise choice. During the festive season high end hotels can cost a small fortune, making family trips slightly unaffordable.

Holborn is a top location, close by to all the amenities of Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Book your Holborn hotel with Travelodge for the lowest price family rooms in the region.

As usual, the West End will be brimming with brilliant productions for families this winter. On-going shows include Shrek The Musical, Matilda The Musical and The Lion King, which are all situated close by to Holborn.

To get you into the festive mood however, book tickets for one of the many pantomimes scheduled throughout December and January in the capital. 2012’s central London panto is Beauty and the Beast at the Shaw Theatre, while Cinderella, Dick Whittington and Jack and The Beanstalk are also on stage in East London.

Away from the world of the West End, London has plenty lined up to keep the little ones – and their parents – entertained this Christmas.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland wows the crowds, young and old, every year, and 2012 is set to be no different. With the addition of the new Magical Ice Kingdom, this awe-inspiring attraction has everything every family needs to get the Christmas season off to a merry start.

As well as the famous outdoor ice rink, get ready for a day of Christmassy adventures and action. Hyde Park’s transformation in 2012 is set to include fairground rides, eateries, the Christmas markets, Santa Land and more.

This memorable day promises to be bigger and better than ever before, as The Magical Ice Kingdom transforms hundreds of tons of ice and snow into a literal wintry wonderland. Sculptures are said to include unicorn-pulled ice carriages and the throne of the Ice Queen.

Being so close by to Oxford Street, make sure you find the time to pop into Disney’s flagship store. Fans of the Disney Classics and contemporary Pixar animated films will be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending their pocket money. Expect lots of exciting in-store events.

While the joys of flagship Disney wonderment and the Hyde Park Santa Land are bound to impress, in the eyes of a child nothing can beat meeting the big guy himself at Hamleys Toy Shop.

Easily one of the best known and most loved toy retailers in the world, Hamleys really goes to town at Christmas. Officially the largest toy store in the world, children will be blown away by seven floors containing every child’s Christmas wish list.

The festive season starts here. Book your bargain family room and get ready for a magical city break that the whole brood will remember forever.

A Picture Catch Up

Hello my poor deserted blog readers. Life has been exceedingly busy around these parts so I thought I'd give you a quick pictorial catch up :-)

I managed to escape for a weekend away with one of my best friends which involved lots of lovely food, drink, giggles and walking in the Northamptonshire countryside:

I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween but Chick got to go Trick or Treating to a couple of houses and we put some decorations up:

Followed hot on the heels this year by Bonfire night. We had all three kids together this year so decided to do something different and went to the Santa Pod raceway. They have drag racing there  and jet powered cars and monster trucks! The jet powered cars are crazy loud and Mr. M wasn't a big fan either!! The fireworks were amazing though and certainly made up for the cold:

For our anniversary last month I bought the man tickets to see Evanescence so we had a date last week and went all Rock 'n' Roll:

Last weekend we had Chick's birthday party and she got an amazing cake made by my very talented boyfriend:

What have you been up to??

Sleepover hints and tips

As you are probably aware my darling little Chick is almost 10 *sob*! Her idea of a great evening is to have a sleepover with friends so when Calpol and their Second Chance Saturday competition asked me to give you some pointers as to my sleepover tips, I jumped at the chance.

Firstly I would say – Be Prepared! .........Prepared for the mess and the noise and the fact that they probably won’t fall asleep until much later than usual!

Ensure that the other children come prepared – with their own pillow, teddy, book or whatever makes them comfortable to stay away from home.

Have some snacks ready.....I try and give then homemade popcorn with treacle poured over the top. It’s healthier than shop bought stuff and they can help to make it. Also grapes and nachos are great to have around in bowls for snacking on or for Midnight feats!

Let them make noise/have pillow fights/giggle/have a midnight feast/paint each others’ nails.....it’s nights like these that my girl thinks I’m ‘the best Mum in the world’! Gotta be worth some parenting brownie points!!

If the weather is good then a sleepover in a tent is even more fun.....according to the 10 year olds!!!

I wouldn’t normally let Chick do it at any other time but I find when she’s having sleepovers, they seem to find it much easier to drift off to sleep watching a DVD, especially if they’ve come with you to choose it!!

Following the above tips sleepovers in our house tend to run pretty smoothly......apart from the occasional shhhhhhhhh shouted up the stairs to giggling girls ;-) What sleepover tips would you give?

Disclosure - Calpol are giving me a voucher of my choice for writing this post but all words, ideas and pictures are mine.

One Year

Goodness me, how much can change in just over a year. 

If you would have said to me a year ago that I would be ironing shirts for a man, I would have laughed you away.

If you would have told me that I would buy a new iron and maybe even find it therapeutic, I would've suggested that you pour me a vodka and pour yourself an even bigger one.

If you would have said that internet dating was a good idea, I would've told you that you were sorely mistaken!

If you'd have told me that I would turn into a soppy, romantic girl - I would smiled and said 'yeah, whatever'.

I would've stated that I didn't want any more children but it's amazing how much two small boys can add to your family.

If you would have suggested that I give away half of my shoe collection to make more room - I would have had you sectioned!

A year and a week ago I met the man of my dreams and can honestly say it's been one of the best years of my life :-)

Happy Anniversary Babe. I love you x

The end of Summer

Sponsored post but words and pictures are all mine :-)

With all of my recent ‘back to school’ posts I feel that Summer has ended before it even began!! As I’ve mentioned previously, I was ill for most of the Summer and felt like we hadn’t done very much at all, but then today I was looking back over my pictures trying to find something and actually we did get some stuff done. Chick learnt some new Circus skills and went ‘canoeing’:

We spent some time with the people that we love:

Did our annual jaunt down to Norfolk (remembering to renew our breakdown cover this year!!) and camped out under the stars:

Enjoyed some sunshine and blue skies:

Saw a gorgeous sunset with my man at the cabin:

Now the new term has started, I’m back at work and missing my family! How did you spend your Summer and what plans do you have for Autumn?? We have an anniversary to celebrate and a trip to The Ritz for Afternoon Tea!!

First day of school pictures

Many moons ago when my daughter was sweet and lovely, her first day of school picture was this cute:

Now she's older, beautiful, full of attitude and threatening to make this the last year that I can take a first day of school picture, she looks like this:

Welcome to Year 5 :-)

Back to school preparations: Getting the right shoes

Sponsored Post

September is just around the corner, and we all know what an expense and hassle it can be to get your kids back to school with everything they need. A lot of schools will have a standard uniform, so getting the clothes they need should be relatively straight forward – but getting the right shoes that fit your child can be trickier. On the one hand you don’t want to spend lots of money as the likelihood is your child will grow out of them very quickly. But on the other hand, you don’t want to buy too cheaply and end up with a child with sore feet. There are a few things you can do to make life easier when searching for new shoes for your child.

Research

If your child doesn’t deal well with shopping, it might be best to go to a retailer who specialise in children’s shoes – and do some research first by picking out some shoes online with your child. Take the list of shoes you’ve found online into the shop and have your child try them on – this is much easier than trailing round the shop trying to find something suitable without knowing what there is available. The benefit of going to a childrenswear retailer is that the staff will be experienced with children being a little difficult, and they will be able to give great advice on the best shoes available.

Get feet measured

Another benefit of visiting a retailer who specialise in children’s shoes is that they can measure your child’s feet. A lot of shops now let you book a fitting appointment, so you’re not waiting round on a busy Saturday afternoon. Getting feet measured is essential when buying new shoes, in order to ensure your child isn’t uncomfortable in their new footwear. Ill fitting shoes worn over a long period of time can actually cause future problems with walking and posture – so getting it right is vital. It’s best to try on shoes in the afternoon as feet swell during the day – so this will ensure the shoes still fit your child comfortably after a busy day.

Styles of shoes

Many different shoe brands for girls and boys will have a variety of styles to choose from.  But for the best support, it’s better to go for shoes that fasten up with laces, Velcro or buckles in comparison to a slip on shoe. Also check the soles of the shoes to make sure they have enough grip for when kids will be running around – this will help prevent them from slipping over. There are many cute shoe styles that your child will be able to wear in and out of school – versatility is important, especially if you’re buying a quality pair of shoes.

These tips might make life easier in the back to school rush that always happens around the beginning of September!

Back to School with Tesco

As I'm sure you know, this blogging lark definitely has it perks. We've been to places and done things that just would never have been possible without this blog but actually what really helps is some of the day to day stuff that we get sent to review.

For the third year in a row we've been lucky enough to be sent a school uniform bundle from the lovely people at Tesco. As I've mentioned before, Chick is a massive fan of shopping for anything school wear and/or stationery! She starts before she has even broken up for Summer by going through the new season school wear and circling everything that she might like before we then come to some agreement about how much money I'll actually spend. Tesco sent us this gorgeous bundle:

I generally buy Chick's uniform from Tesco as not only is it reasonable but everything washes well and if I buy the correct sizes then it tends to last for the whole school year. The only thing that Chick is really hard on is shoes and it doesn't matter where we buy them from she manages to ruin every pair!!

As Chick is quite tall for her age we struggle to find skirts and trousers that fit her in the length and in the waist but this year they've definitely come up trumps with this jersey number:

Tesco also sent us this beautiful coat which I absolutely love and is something that I would definitely spend good money on. It's very heavy and looks and feels much more expensive than it is:

They even sent some bits to keep her amused during the holidays:

I'll keep you posted with a picture of Chick on her first day back at school :-)

A huge thank you to Tesco for sending us another great bundle. 

Silent Sunday

Sport in Schools and the Olympic Legacy

You know it's funny but before the Olympics this last couple of weeks, I'd never realised quite how little Sport is played in school. Obviously I'd read in the Daily Fail Mail about the playing fields being sold off and that it's low down the pecking order on the curriculum but the fact that it's only suggested as part of the curriculum for 2 hours a week is a little odd......although I'm not sure how they'd fit more hours in!!

I've never been particularly sporty and sports for me once I'd reached secondary school was all kinds of hell (I still think we should separate boys and girls PE but that's a whole 'nother post!!) but I still think it should be encouraged. We got to try a whole range of sports and although for me the only thing that I ever did well in was Cross Country running, it gave my brothers a whole different aspect to life, especially one of them who has made Sport his career.

This last couple of weeks I've read lots of things on Twitter and in the press about the lack of sports in school that surprises me. I bring this up as I'd never realised quite how lucky Chick is with our choice of school and holiday club. Her school does the mandatory 2 hours of PE each week but they also have extra curricular activities every lunchtime and 4 afternoons a week. You do have to pay for them but they're about £2 a week! Also her Teacher is amazing and last year introduced something that she calls 'Jumpstart'. It basically involves getting all the kids for 15 minutes in a morning and completing a mini-aerobics routine. The kids get to choose the music and come up with some of the moves so are very involved in making it fun.

The kids LOVE it! They see it as a fun activity and something that gets them going for the day. What they don't realise is that it helps them to concentrate, gets their hearts pumping and helps them with rhythm and routine. I think it's the number 1 reason that Chick is thrilled to be moving up with her Teacher!! They even *shock horror* still have an element of competitive sport!!

I'm hoping that between this and Chick spending her weekends watching me/her uncles & aunties competing in Marathons and Triathlons that she will consider being active a part of normal life and not a chore and that she will enjoy being active and healthy.

Chick's after school & holiday club is lucky enough to have links with Loughborough University College so they often have athletes or trainee sportspeople/coaches getting involved in their sessions. Yesterday they had an Olympic themed day and Chick was on 'Team Bradley Wiggins' (much to her disappointment as she wanted to be on 'Team Jessica Ennis'!!! lol). They made banners & t-shirts and completed a mini-heptathlon. Guess who won the Gold medal????

As I'm still recovering from my Op and only able to do stuff in 10 minute blocks we haven't been able to get out and about much but in an attempt to keep Chick inspired about the Olympics we've bought a sticker book and are collecting the stickers.....not sure who's most excited about this but it's informative and fun (yes, I do need to get out more!!):

I really hope that schools and the government capitalise on these games and help more youngsters get active and enjoy sports. Chick has decided that she want to be an Olympian at Gymnastic Trampolining so we'll be at lessons every Saturday afternoon for the next 8 years in preparation :-)

Think Like a Kid to Keep Your Toddler Entertained During Summer Break

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Young children love having time with their grown-ups. The key to keeping the time pleasant and productive is to stay engaged with the kid. Pick some activities you both can enjoy to make the most of this time. Use the child’s natural curiosity and high energy to propel both you and the child through each day’s adventures. This is amazingly easy with ten steps to help you think like a kid.

1. Go someplace special, like your own back yard. This doesn’t require an investment in expensive tickets. Simply explore the possibilities in front of you. Look for three pretty stones together, or try to find four funny sticks. See how many different kinds of leaves or flowers you can gather. This is a great math readiness lesson and a lot of fun.
2. 
   See who is creeping through the grass or wiggling around under the ground. Look for ants, worms and other friendly creepy-crawlies. Poke holes in the top of a jar and put a specimen or two inside for a closer look. Don’t forget to release the reluctant guest after an hour or two.

Do you have grass? If the child is awake when the stars come out, lie down in the grass and look at the sky together. Try this first thing in the morning, before the sun climbs too high and hot.

2. Use the sticks, flowers, leaves and stones for a creativity session. Children are born creative and need to have this side of their personalities encouraged and nurtured. Use a piece of cardboard or paper and some nontoxic craft glue to create a collage of found treasures. Or dip the finds in nontoxic paint and use them for stamps. Let the child explore his own ideas of what to do with his finds.

Young children like to engage in parallel play with their grown-ups. Encourage the child’s efforts by sitting next to him and making your own creation. The most important thing is to enjoy the activity together without trying to over-direct. The point to a young child’s art activity is the doing, not the product.

3. Talk about what you are doing and what the child is doing. Don’t ask what his efforts represent. Instead, talk about the colors and shapes. “Oh, you used red in your picture” or “I see the circle you made” will invite his own comments. Avoid value judgments such as “This is pretty,” and don’t try to guess what the picture represents. Let the child tell you if he chooses.

Talking about what you see, hear and feel is an important component of the way a parent relates with a child. Even a trip to the grocery store can become a learning and play activity when the adult talks about the experience. Ask open-ended questions or say “I wonder...” to pique curiosity. “Why are these apples red?” “I wonder how the beans got in the can.”

4. Keep sessions short. Most little kids have brief attention spans and will soon need to move on to another activity. Have a wide variety of possibilities ready to explore with the child.

5. Keep moving. Toddlers have a lot of energy and like to be active. Play games like “Let’s walk like inchworms” or “How could you walk like a duck?” to spark creative movement.
   Practice physical challenges on the local playground, making sure the equipment is safe and sturdy first. Try walking on a balance beam close to the ground. Challenge the child to cross the monkey bars or climb the ladder for a low slide. See how fast he can run from point A to point B.

6. Wind down with quieter activities. Make play dough together from a simple recipe found on the Internet. This presents a good opportunity for a simple and quick lesson on measuring. See what happens if you mix two kinds of food color, such as blue and yellow or blue and red.

7. Puzzle it out. Choose a simple puzzle to work with the child. Let him place all the pieces, but provide a little verbal help when required.

8. Never argue with a tired child. It’s usually easy to tell when the child becomes tired or over-stimulated. If this happens, just take some time to cuddle. Look at a picture book together. Give him his favorite lovey toy for some down time.

Making summer vacation a special time to spend with the child will provide memories for the years to come. Keep it simple and fun, and the child will enjoy learning and playing with you. The time will pass too quickly. Enjoy it while you can by planning simple activities to enjoy together.

About the Author: Brianna Kelly has over 5 years experience publishing articles on childcare education and parenting. She writes on a regular basis for Giraffe Childcare Dublin, who has 18 locations based in Dublin, Ireland.

The Man's Birthday & Relaxation

Last weekend it was my lovely man's birthday. Originally we had a hot date with Champagne & Afternoon Tea at The Ritz but I didn't want to go to The Ritz with a half shaved head and being (more) unbalanced!! Instead we were very lucky to be offered the use of a friend's cabin. As you probably know from previous posts the cabin is one of my favourite places. It's only about 4 miles away from where we live but it's so relaxing that it feels just like being on holiday:

On Friday night we had a meal at the pub down the road and then came back and watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony, which for the main part was fab!! Saturday we mainly relaxed all day, had afternoon naps, watched the river go by and then 'the man' got the Bar-B-Q going:

As it was his birthday we thought that we'd better celebrate and bought him presents and a Spiderman cake:

For his main present, I'm taking him here for the weekend in September:

Eeeeek! How very exciting and yes I do get brownie points for being an amazing girlfriend ;-) Let's hope this weekend is just as relaxing!

Ear Operations (Revisited)

Some of you may remember that back in November I had long term grommets in each ear to try and cure partly my hearing but also constant recurring ear infections. It worked in so much as I haven't had an actual infection since but my hearing hasn't improved and I've had constant ear ache in my left ear for the past 7 months!

Having been backwards and forwards to the Doc, in April I was referred back to my lovely Consultant who suggested that the following were my options:

1) To have my ear drum removed and a hearing aid inserted

2) To have a hole drilled in my head (actually called a Mastoidectomoy) to allow air to circulate through my ENT passages

3) To leave it, do nothing and hope that the pain disappears!!

After an afternoon of having major meltdown and much consultation I decided that number 2 would be my option of choice. I couldn't bear to leave it and do nothing and having my ear drum removed seemed more drastic than having a hole in the head (just!!).

I thought that having made my choice I would be ok with going into hospital but when they sprang the operation on me with just under 2 weeks notice I went into complete panic again! Cue much writing of e-mails to my nearest and dearest who understand my crazy, to tell them exactly what they should do in the event of my demise. I even planned my funeral just in case and then sent it to my BFF......

Once I'd done that I felt even more like a woman on the edge but I managed to keep it together until about 5 minutes before the Op when they left me in a room on my own while they did last minute prep!! I was almost rocking back and forth by the time they came to get me!!

As you've probably guessed by now, I survived!!! Hurrah! Funnily enough the most pain that I suffered when I came round was from my poor back where I'd been laid flat for 2 hours whilst they operated!! I was looking really hot when I first came round:

I wish I could say that hospital was the best place for me but I think that I managed to sleep for about 2 hours in total between people being sick, coughing, talking and being monitored constantly. Thankfully the next day I was allowed to go home....again looking very hot:

God bless the staff of the NHS. They couldn't have been more friendly but there just aren't enough of them to go around. Yes, they provide basic care but the poor old lady opposite me who had been there for weeks only saw any staff at med time or if she was being monitored. I don't know what the answer is to the NHS problems but I'm still grateful to them!

My friends, family and especially 'The Man' have been awesome. Especially during the first week I was very spoiled with chocolates, flowers and magazines. Extra brownie points go to my lovely Mum who came to visit and then ended up washing all the blood out of my tangled and matted hair (yuck!!)

I've been home for about 10 days now and have improved massively. I'm still off work and struggle in busy and/or noisy places as everything in my right ear seems extremely loud and as it's only in one ear, I feel off balance and disoriented quite a lot of the time. I'm not sure what's happening with my left ear as it feels like someone is sticking a hot poker in it tonight. On the plus side the stitches have healed pretty neatly and I have a bit of a funky hair do:

In November when I had my last operation I was bored out of my brain at being stuck at home the whole time. This time I'm like, Olympics - hell yeah!! Goooooo Team GB :-)