Reasons to be Cheerful

I haven't joined in Michelle's reasons to be cheerful for ages and I've had this niggling feeling of needing to go back to basics with the blog. Reasons to be cheerful is the most wonderful link up I know and I really enjoy looking back over my old posts. Here are my reasons for this week.

Flowers

There have been so many lovely flowers popping up here there and everywhere. In our garden the cucumber, courgette and runner beans have started to flower, the roses and poppies in Martyns dads garden are blooming and I'm seeing so many wild flowers and weeds it is so nice to see them not strimmer down.

 

Kids

Blended famiky life really isn't easy. Mostly we are flying by the seat of out pants but then I think everyone would say that! In general the  children all get on but we have a few things to iron out and most of my prayer life these days is centred on our family coming together and bonding.

I am cheerful about Lily finally getting into school, James doing so well in school after his home schooling and Alfie starting beavers as well as school is something to be very happy about.

Quality Time

I got to spend some time with Lily this week which was lovely. We headed to town and bought the rest of her new uniform ready for Monday. She's so excited to start school again. We had a nice hot chocolate together before heading home to Will and Maddy (that's Mr K) 

 

Raising Awareness

Another year has seen another FSHD awareness month. June 20th was a day to spread more awareness and knowledge by charities, sufferers and their loved ones.

Mr K suffers from Facioscaplurohumeral muscular dystrophy, a muscle wasting disease affecting the face, arms and back but also other areas of the body, it's a disease that can rob you of your smile so the FSH Society each year asks people to post orange smile selfies and that's just what we did.

It's so lovely to write this post, I will try to write one this coming week too!

Book Review: Into the Summerland By Julian Cundy

About the Book:

The eternal question - what happens when we die? Is there a consequence from how we lived? Is there a reckoning?
Henry Ashton's turbulent life is at an end. As he moves on from this world, he discovers how elusive the final peace can be.

With a spirit companion by his side, Henry learns there can be no peace without reconciliation, no rest without acceptance. He must walk his own path to absolution.

"For some souls the transition from mortal life to eternal peace is an easy one, soon completed. For others, who have been troubled in their life or who cannot reconcile the events and their part in them, the journey is longer...and harder. But every soul will find its rest."

What Did I Think?

This is the first time I have read a book in the spiritual genre and I am so glad that I did; I really enjoyed it! I think Julian has taken us through the book as if we were actually there with Henry as he journeys through different rooms to look at his life with his spiritual companion, Chuttlewizz. 

Towards the end of the book a sentence really struck me (actually it was a paragraph but I don't want to give too much away) "We all have the opportunity to gain better understanding, achieve peace and reconciliation during our lifetimes." This is so true, but if we don't, maybe there is a Chuttlewizz waiting for us before the other side too.

Information about the Book

Title: Into the Summerland

Author: Julian Cundy

Release Date: 1st March 2018

Genre: Spiritual

Publisher: Little Bang Publishing

Format: Ebook

Goodreads Link    Amazon Link

About the Author

Living  in  Westcliff-on-Sea  Essex,  Julian  Cundy  is  a British  adventurer,  dedicated  day  dreamer,  wordsmith  and  observer  of  life  and  all  its  absurdities.  He  is  a  recognisable  character  in  his  home  town  thanks  to  his  eye-catching  outfits  comprising  fine  hats,  cravats,  tails  and  spats.

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram  Youtube

Blog Tour

This is a blog tour! Check out the rest of he bloggers who have reviewed this  book to see what they though.

The English Heritage Festival Kent 2018

We recently went to The English Heritage Festival in Kent and were blessed with lovely sunshine and 4 happy children to spend the day with. The festival is hosted every year and features stalls, homemade food, crafts, activities for all ages, singing, music, characters and so much more.

Book Review: The Adventures of Eric The Spider

About The Book

Eric may only be a little spider, but that doesn't stop him from having some big adventures! 

When a spider, with big, long, spider legs, is spotted behind a curtain he seems a little scary. Luckily, he is quickly caught in a box full of socks and named Eric. 

But when Eric steals the socks (and a bike!) and goes on the run it is up to a diligent policeman to find the right sock-footed spider, stop Eric and rescue the bike! 

Join Eric on his adventures as he escapes with some socks, flees from a birthday party, and goes camping on a very, very wet day in this beautifully illustrated rhyming book.

What Did we Think?

We have a little bit of a spider phobia in this house so I was unsure if the children would even want to settle down with me and give Eric the Spider a go. Lily and Alfie in particular are not fans of our 8 legged friends...I of course was all wrong and The Adventures of Eric the Spider has been welcomed into our reading pile with giggles and smiles. We all loved Eric's adventures and the mischief he gets up to. Alfie and James really loved the illustrations and I found the book was most suited to their age group (7) as opposed to their 10 and 9 year old siblings.

We give The Adventures of Eric the Spider 5/5 and plan to add the rest of the collection to our reading pile one day too!

Information about the Book

Author: Elaine Madle

Illustrator: Shaun Madle

Release Date: 22nd May 2018

Genre: Picture Book

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Format: Paperback

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33144778-book-one  

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Eric-Spider-Elaine-Madle/dp/1912562294/ 

About The Author

Living  in  Essex,  Elaine  Madle  works  as  a  support  worker  for  adults  with  learning  difficulties.  In  her  spare  time  she  loves  creating  stories  especially  since  becoming  a  grandmother  for  the  first  time.  Her  brother  and  illustrator  Shaun  Madle  who  has  always  been  supportive  of  her  writing,  has  provided  a  series  of  unique  watercolour  illustrations  in  order  to  bring  her  characters  to  life.  

This is a Blog Tour!

Please check out the other bloggers who have also reviewed The Adventures of Eric The Spider and see what they all thought of this fab new children's book!

Mr Snuffles Birthday: Children's Book Review

About the Book

Title: Mr Snuffles’ Birthday

Author: David Greaves

Illustrator: Emily Wallis

Release Date: 1st May 2018

Genre: Picture Book

 mPublisher: Clink Street Publishing

Format: Paperback

Goodreads

Amazon

What Did We Think?

Goodbye Cornwall

Today I leave Cornwall.

If you had said to me several years ago that I would be leaving this part of the world, I would've laughed in your face and shook my head (and probably apologise for being rude because you know, it's me). The point is, I would never have believed anyone. I always believed I would grow old here and I certainly didn't think I could leave my parents, my aunt and my Gran down here without me.

Our Easter

The Easter holidays are now over and whilst we have been away in Kent we have been doing some home school bits as well as taking advantage of a more lax routine.

From 2 to 4...

Children. 

It's never going to be easy raising children. Just when I think with my 2 that I've sussed a load of stuff out they chuck something new at me.

Our Plans to Home School

On the 29th March it's the last day of school for many children up and down the country as they all break up for the Easter holidays. For L and A it's also the last day but with a bit of a difference: they won't be going back...

Alfie Turns 7 and a Sketchers Shoes Review!

It's hard enough to believe that just 2 months ago I wrote that my Midge had turned 10. Now I am writing a post all about A's birthday which was last month; he turned 7! It's madness. 

Rare Disease Day 2018 with The FSH Society

Today is Rare Disease Day.

A day to raise more awareness and hopefully more money to fund research into finding cures for all those who are affected by rare diseases. The European union has so far recorded that there are approximately 7,000 rare diseases.

Adidas Sport Performance trainers from Footway ~ Review

Like most parents, I like to get my children to write me a list of gift ideas for their birthdays so I have some idea of what I can buy them and a few ideas to float around to family who ask me "Please tell me what I can get them I have no idea!"

Turning 10 (Both Mother and Daughter!)

My beautiful girl turned 10 on the 17th January and as far as birthdays go this was indeed a milestone. Not only did Midge turn 10 but it marked 10 years for me as a mother to this gorgeous girl. As she was born into this world as was I, as a mother. What a journey it has been. 

Book Review: I Swapped My Brother by Jo Simmons

The Blurb:

'I can get a new brother? On the internet?' Jonny muttered. 'Oh sweet mangoes of heaven!'

Everyone has dreamed of being able to get rid of their brother or sister at one time or another - but for Jonny, the dream is about to become a reality with SiblingSwap.com! What could be better than someone awesome to replace Ted, Jonny's obnoxious older brother.

But finding the perfect brother isn't easy, as Jonny discovers when Sibling Swap sends him a line of increasingly bizarre replacements: first a merboy, then a brother raised by meerkats, and then the ghost of Henry the Eighth! What's coming next?! Suddenly old Ted isn't looking so bad. But can Jonny ever get him back?

What we thought:

Our Year: 2017 A Look Back

Hello! Happy New Year to all my lovely readers, I hope January is treating you well. It's well known for being the toughest month in the year so if you're having a rough time; I do hope the future is looking brighter.

I wanted to share a little re-cap of my families year.