Is it? Isn't it?

For the past few weeks we have been on spot watch.

Chicken Pox is doing the rounds at Tabithas nursery and I am on convinced she is due to catch it any day. I have lost count of the number of times I have said ' could be chicken pox '.

So far we have had a viral infection two weeks ago which carried a small spotty rash which I was of course convinced was the pox and was only corrected after a visit to the doctor. It is a tough gig getting a doctor to even see you when you mention 'it might be chicken pox' most would rather misdiagnose you than actually let you into the surgery it seems.

Right now she has a chest infection which I of course decided was 'The Pox' brewing up until we saw the doctor and got given the wonderful Banana medicine.

This morning she is sporting a fetching spot on her cheek which again I'm suspicious of...

I think for everyones sanity I need the pox to come before I become obsessed with bath time inspections and misdiagnosis. In Boots the other day I nearly got some Calamine incase it came so I'd be prepared, I have lost my mind haven't I?

Silent Sunday

Restaurant review: Satori Gyoza, Kingston.

Last weekend I fell on my blogging feet butter side up if that makes any sense to anyone else?

I was child free for the weekend and given two great review opportunities to experience.

Our first was lunch at Satori Gyoza, a Japanese restaurant located in Bentalls Department Store, Kingston.

I love Japanese food and thought this was too good to miss.

The restaurant is situated within the department store so this is not your 'date night' kind of place but for good food whilst out shopping I was really impressed. The staff were very friendly and helpful, willing to help you select from the menu if it was all too confusing for you. The conveyor belt seating is a must for those with older children, the plates are all colour coded by price so as they pass by you know what you are spending. The prices were very reasonable and as we were child free we even indulged in a tasty Japanese beer or two.

There is also a open kitchen hot plate so you can see the food being cooked by the chefs which makes for great visual entertainment too. 

We had a lovely lunch. I would always suggest getting a Bento box as a great option if you have no idea what you are ordering and the sushi we chose was beautifully presented.

It has been a few years since I grabbed lunch in a shopping center and I can honestly say this beat the hell out of a burger from a fast food outlet!

We will be back for more, besides I saw some nice shoes there for Tabitha too!

Silent Sunday

The Gallery - Black and White

It seems like ages since I last joined in with The Gallery, work always makes me miss the Wednesday link up and then it slips my mind. 

So this week I'm late but who cares? I love Black and White photos and this is my most recent favourite I've edited.

Look at me Mum! One handed on the seesaw, too cool for school.

And the winner is.....

The winner of tickets to In The Night Garden is......

Adam Hughes

Drop me an email via the site email link and the e-tickets will be sent over to you.

Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone for entering.

Silent Sunday

Cybermummy 2011 The aftermath...

I wanted to write about this subject so long after the event for two main reasons:

1.To thank Maclaren properly for my sponsorship to attend the event. I would never have been able to attend otherwise and it was a fantastic networking opportunity for Mumra. I was especially proud to be there representing a company whose products I actually use everyday, not just a random brand who were willing to pay for my ticket, a brand I use because it is the best product available and THAT is what sponsorship is all about.

Follow them on Facebook here..

Cybermummy itself was a scary prospect, meeting all the thumbnail images from twitter full size and conversing face to face with women who frankly know far too much about me already! The day itself was not a scary as I thought some of the bloggers were actually normal people!

I will never forget the great memories of the Eden Fantasy Party organised by Jay. (never a doubt about it, of course I won the prize!)

I was in awe of meeting some very special ladies who inspired my blogging and who just generally crack me up. I was not let down little diamonds every one! H, Tara, Josie, Jay, Amy, Rachel, and so many more.

What I found very weird was people being excited to meet me. I never thought anyone would be heading there with the intention of seeking me out but it was lovely and I felt a bit emotional with comments like ' I feel like I'm meeting somebody famous! ' I should have worn shades!

What did crack me up was peoples assumptions about what I would be like, apparently I'm much nicer and less scary in real life. Does that mean I seem horrible and frightening online? I won't dwell on it.

Anyway this is reason 2.

With the organisers of Cybermummy going their separate ways next year I am wondering what is in store for 2012 on the event front? We have BritmumsLive and CybHer12 being lined up  so far and I'm excited to see what each have to offer. I felt that at Cybermummy there were a real mixture of attendees and I'm sure having two events probably varying in styles will reflect on the attendees at each. That said lets make this clear on my highlights from the last event being continued at event 2012:

I'm buying a ticket for the one with the most booze and a smoking area.

Image courtesy of Pelican Pear Cards.

In The Night Garden Live Review.

We headed off to Richmond Park last Monday to see In The Night Garden Live and I thought you would like to see what a fabulous time we had.


I can honestly say we ALL really enjoyed the show even Daddy, but here is a little run down of the best points of our day out.


Firstly I would fully recommend the premium tickets, they were well worth the extra money if only for the no queuing on entry and the ease of getting out of the seating areas as soon as possible when it ended. This is especially useful if you intend to queue for the individual photos with the stars of the show afterwards. 


The premium tickets also meant we were this close to the stage had excellent views of the characters throughout the show.

The show itself was fantastic, the puppets were amazing, the puppeteers did a great job and did not distract from the characters at all.

The only negative thing I have to say is don't buy a Pinky Ponk helium balloon, if the shock of paying £8 for it doesn't kill you, the meltdown when it comes off its string in the middle of Richmond will....

That evening after we arrived home we found Tabitha in her room getting her special friends ready for bed so we figure the whole thing left a lasting impression.

Night, Night, Makka Pakka.

You can win your own tickets to see In The Night Garden Live here.....

http://mumrara.blogspot.com/2011/07/win-tickets-to-in-night-garden-live.html

We were given our tickets in return for an honest review and also given tickets to giveaway to a lucky readers family. I wrote this review because I liked the show not because I was paid to.

Silent Sunday

I'm back!

After 3 months of mild mayhem and disorientation I can finally say we have landed. Moving back to London and starting back at work full time has been a mission, but finally we have it all. Internet is on, the flat feels like home and work/nursery has become the norm.

So, was it worth it? Did I make the right move?

Currently I am knackered, working full time is hard especially when you are doing it with an 18 month old in tow everyday! I do however feel truly blessed to have her by my side everyday and she has astounded me in her ability to settle into the routine. (If you'd asked me this 3 weeks in I *may* have said something different) Tabitha is now a fully functioning nursery member, she does not bat an eyelid when I leave her and if she sees me while I am working she simply waves or requires a quick 'cuggle' then goes on with her play. I am immensely proud.

Pretty proud of myself too, I am loving the challenge of my new job and although I return home some nights feeling much like a wrung out cloth  I am now contributing to our family, giving us all a better future and this feels great.

As a family we are spending more time together, bedtime is no longer the chore it had become, no more sitting bitterly beside the bath tub dreading the pyjama battle and repetitive book reading session. I know this may sound melodramatic and selfish but now it has become so much more. Daddy now reads the books, then I get the cuddles and Tabitha relishes in the family time each evening. 

We have begun to enjoy London, weekend adventures in Hyde Park, trips to shows and Japanese lunches all becoming part of our now more treasured family time. It does occur to me how crazy it is to have to reduce my mummy time to enjoy it more but it has. I look forward to weekends so much and feel that the balance of us all doing our own thing Monday to Friday has brought us all closer.

Yes I do miss lazy mornings, yes I do miss Cbeebies on loop all day, yes I do miss strolling about with my Bugaboo and supping tea with my friends but by cutting up my time I have learned how to cherish my beautiful girl more and to find something I had misplaced, me.