Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 36

In Loving Memory of My Mum RIP 9th Sept 74 – #Book A Modern Military Mother #Free #Kindle #Download

On this day, 9th September 1974, my mum died, aged 26 years old. I was 2 years old. Her death taught me that life is short and that we should live each day to the full – carpe diem and it shaped the person I am today. It has given me great strength, taught me wild, strong survival instincts and as result I have a resilience that most people who know me find surprising. I have no recollection of her at all – her voice, her face, her touch, her smell but I know she loved me and I know I love her.

In honour of her life today, 9th Sept to the 13th Sept (the day of her funeral) my book  - A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline by Clare Macnaughton is free to download on Amazon Worldwide.

UK

A Modern Military Mother UK Paperback

A Modern Military Mother UK Kindle

USA

A Modern Military Mother USA Paperback

A Modern Military Mother USA Kindle

Canada

A Modern Military Mother Canada Paperback

A Modern Military Mother Canada Kindle

Also available on Amazon:

France, Germany, Japan, India, Brasil,

In loving memory of

Susan Margaret Smith

Rest in Peace

18th March 1948 – 9th September 1974

My mum and I in gran aka Betty’s garden at 49 Tennent Road, Acomb, York

The post In Loving Memory of My Mum RIP 9th Sept 74 – #Book A Modern Military Mother #Free #Kindle #Download appeared first on Modern Military Mother .

Sorry I Am Going To Use The C Word

For some of you the children have already gone back to school. Mine go back on Monday, and for the most part, by the end of the week, the majority of the little darlings will be fully ensconced in the new school year. I can’t actually believe that I am going to say it but I am already thinking about Christmas! It’s partly because we have a bumper crop of fruit this year and I am planning to give everyone a hamper of our homemade products. I am also getting ready to load up lots of vodka with freshly picked plump blackberries so that we can have some kicking vodka cocktails at Christmas time.

Of course, in the military Christmas is the silly season when comes to drinks parties and so I may be Hagar’s rent a date to stand around and listen to yellow chord wearing Ruperts talk endlessly about themselves and the military. I am lucky because I have a range of cocktail dresses in my wardrobe to ensure that eagle eye of the senior officer’s wives don’t spot me by my outfit. It is a big faux pas to turn up at drinky poos after drinky poos sporting the same dress. Of course, in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside if I am asked along to any Christmas drinks I need to pull out another Christmas cracker as well. It’s good to go for a dress staple and then dress it with gloves, jewelry, scarves, fascinator and wraps – a decade of marriage to the military and I know how to disguise an outfit and make it appear like it’s a new one every time but it also helps to have a couple of dresses in your wardrobe so you can have a bit of fun.

I am sorry I didn’t mean to freak you out with my blatant use of the word Christmas, when you have Harvest Festival, Halloween and Bonfire night still to get through.

 

 

 

 

 

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#Backtoschool – It’s That Time of Year Again

I can’t believe the holidays have whizzed past and it’s time to think about the new school year. This September both my children will be going to state school and so for me, believe it or not, the back to school purchases are not as painful as usual. Even more so because I managed to get so much for so little from George at Asda and they are great quality clothes to boot. For £40 I managed to get a pair of school shoes, three pairs of grey cargo pants, a pair of trainers, some swimming trunks and four polo shirts. This pretty much covers the uniform for my 10 year old son who is no longer at boarding school.

I didn’t even have to leave the house and battle the shops because ordering online is so easy and it’s delivered to your door with a very impressive free next day delivery. Last year, I bought a foot measurer for my children because I couldn’t bear the stress of parents and kids crammed in that last weekend of crazy shopping. The best thing of course is that back to school range runs all year around so I can top up the kit when I need to instead of having to buy it all at once. With one weekend to go before my kids go back I am planning to spend the weekend with them instead of stressing myself out at the shops with last minute back to school madness.

George from Asda

 

 

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Trunkisaurus-tastic

When the Grenade was 4 years old and the Menace wasn’t born we were holidaying in Greece, and we met a family whose 4 year old daughter had a Trunkisaurus. As it was a holiday, where you all transferred together we went with them to the airport and their little girl dragged this suitcase everywhere with affection and adoration. I had a boy – who didn’t have the same affinity to luggage.

Luggage love

 

Me and my Trunki

Trunki love

Unlocking the Trunkisaurus

The Menace my 5 year old daughter loves luggage, bags, handbags and there is nothing she would rather do then recreationally pack her luggage in preparation for some imaginary adventure. When the Trunkisaurus arrived with it’s green and purple Trunki designs she squealed with delight and fell in love with it immediately. It also had a little locking mechanism with easy to use plastic key which she is very territorial over and heaven help anyone who dares open her suitcase without her permission.

The timing couldn’t have been better as we had a trip planned to visit two sets of friends for two overnight stops. The trunkisaurus was the perfect size for a weekend away and fitted beautifully in the back of the car. It’s a great piece of luggage because it’s spacious, with two reasonably deep compartments, robust so that The Menace can sit on it and portable, as she drags it lovingly around by its long hand strap.

If you want to get one for your kids they are available online from Littlewoods

 

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First Interview with Prince William Since the Birth of his Son

First interview with CNN’s Max Foster after the birth of his son Prince George

CNN’s Max Foster sat down with Prince William in his first interview since he and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their first child, Prince George.  The Duke of Cambridge shared with Foster how things have changed for him since becoming a parent, saying “I think the last few weeks for me have been just a very different emotional experience.  Something I never thought I would feel myself.  And I find, again it’s only been a short period, but a lot of things affect me differently now. ” Prince William told Foster how he felt introducing Prince George to the world on the steps of Saint Mary’s Hospital “I think I was on such a high anyway, and so was Catherine about George that really we were happy to show him off to whoever wanted to see him.  As any new parent knows, you’re only too happy to show off your new child and, you know, proclaim that he is the best looking or the best everything.”   Asked if he was comfortable, Prince William said “it’s not somewhere I enjoy being, I know that the position I’m in that’s what’s required of me to do.” He went on to say  “it’s nice that people want to see George, so, you know – I’m just glad he wasn’t screaming his head off the whole way through.” The envy of every father for getting his son into a car seat so easily, the Prince told Foster “Believe me, it wasn’t my first time.  And I know there’s been speculation about that.  I had to practice, I really did.”  On choosing to drive his family home himself, Prince William said, “where I can be, I am as independent…as I want to be.” He added “I very much feel if I can do it myself, I want to do it myself.  And there are times where you can’t do it yourself and the system takes over or it’s appropriate to do things differently.  But, I think driving your son and your wife away from hospital was really important to me.” The interview that aired was a preview of a one-hour documentary Prince William’s Passion:  New Hope, New Father debuting on CNN International on 16 September at 4am, 7am, 1pm, and 9pm CET. The special chronicles the Prince’s passion for Africa and his dream to save the world’s most endangered species.  As a new father, Prince William discussed his hope that one day Prince George will experience the same Africa that he and Prince Harry did as young boys.  His own love for Africa was instilled in him by his father Prince Charles and his late mother Princess Diana.  Prince William tells Foster that he plans to start introducing Africa and its endangered species to his young son “I’ll have toy elephants and rhinos around the room.  We’ll cover it in sort of, you know, lots of bushes and things like that.  Make him grow up as if he’s in the bush.” 

Below is full video link and transcript of the interview that aired: VIDEO: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2013/08/19/prince-william-interview-george-catherine.cnn.html

PRINCE WILLIAM: Uh, I think more shock and dauntingness was the feeling I felt (laughing), but it was, the thing is it’s um, I think I was on such a high anyway, and so was Catherine about George that really we were happy to show him off to whoever wanted to see him.  As any new parent knows, you’re only too happy to show off your new child and, you know, proclaim that he is the best looking or the best everything.

MAX FOSTER: You were comfortable there?

PRINCE WILLIAM: Yeah, I felt, again it’s, it’s not somewhere I enjoy being, I know that the position I’m in that’s what’s required of me to do.  And I think it’s, you know, it’s one of those things, I’m, you know, it’s nice that people want to see George, so, you know – I’m just glad he wasn’t screaming his head off the whole way through (laughing).

MAX FOSTER: That moment when you came out with the car seat. I mean, we had some warning that you might be doing that.  Um, fathers around the planet will be cursing you for doing it so easily.

PRINCE WILLIAM: (laughing)  Believe me, it wasn’t my first time.  And I know there’s been speculation about that.  I had to practice, I really did.  I was terrified that I was going to do some, you know, it was going to fall off or it wasn’t going to close properly.  So, I had actually practiced with that seat, but only once before.

MAX FOSTER: And your decision to drive off, I remember that moment as well.  That was the most nerve-wracking thing for me, having my family in the car.  But that was something that you were clearly determined to do.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Well, it’s, I, where I can be I am as independent as, as I want to be.  And same as Catherine and Harry.  We’ve all grown up, um, differently to other generations.  And I very much feel if I can do it myself I want to do it myself.  And there are times where you can’t do it yourself and the system takes over or it’s appropriate to do things differently.  But, I think driving your son and your wife away from, from hospital was really important to me.  And I don’t like fuss so it’s much easier to just do it your self.

MAX FOSTER: And you didn’t stall.

PRINCE WILLIAM: I didn’t stall, well it’s an automatic so it’s alright

MAX FOSTER The interpretation of the imagery we saw there, which went around the world was that this was a modern monarchy and a new way of monarchy, but was it that?  We reading too much into it?  Is it just you doing it your way?  You and your wife doing it your own way?

PRINCE WILLIAM: I think so, and I’m just doing it the way I know this, you know, if it’s the right way then brilliant, if it’s not, if it’s the wrong way then I’ll try to do it better , but…no I just, I’m quite…I’m reasonably headstrong about what I believe in, and what I go for, and I’ve got fantastic people around me who give me great support and advice //

VO MAX FOSTER THE PRINCE SAYS BABY GEORGE IS ALREADY QUITE A CHARACTER.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Well, yeah – he’s a little bit of a rascal, put it that way.  So he either reminds me of my brother or me when I was younger.  I’m not sure.  But, um he’s uh, no, he’s uh, he’s doing very well at the moment.  He’s, he does like to keep having his nappy changed, and–

MAX FOSTER: Did you do the first nappy?

PRINCE WILLIAM: I did the first nappy, yeah.  Exactly.

MAX FOSTER: A badge of honour.

PRINCE WILLIAM: A badge of honour, exactly.  I wasn’t allowed to get away with that.  I had every midwife staring at me, “You do it.  You do it”. // But, uh, no, he’s, he’s a little, he’s growing quite quickly actually.  But he’s a little fighter.  He kind of, he wriggles around quite a lot.  And he doesn’t want to go to sleep that much, which is a little bit of a problem.  But he’s-

MAX FOSTER: So you’re up a little bit at night.

PRINCE WILLIAM: A little bit.  Not as much as Catherine.  But, um, you know, she’s doing a fantastic job.

MAX FOSTER: How is she?  Okay?

PRINCE WILLIAM: Yes, very well, yeah.

PRINCE WILLIAM: For me, Catherine, and now little George are my priorities.  And Lupo.  Um, and so-

MAX FOSTER: I was going to ask you about Lupo.  How’s Lupo coping?

PRINCE WILLIAM: He’s coping all right, actually.  As a lot of people know who have got dogs and bringing newborn back, they take a little bit of time to adapt, but, no he’s been all right so far.  He’s been slobbering sort of around the house a bit, so he’s perfectly happy.

MAX FOSTER: And how are you about going back to work? //

PRINCE WILLIAM: Well, as a few fathers might know, I’m actually quite looking forward to going back to work (laughs).

MAX FOSTER: Get some sleep.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Get some sleep.  Exactly, yeah.  So I’m just hoping the first few shifts I go back I don’t have any night jobs –

VO MAX FOSTER ONE OF PRINCE WILLIAM’S GREAT PASSIONS IS SAVING ENDANGERED SPECIES IN AFRICA.  HE WANTS HIS SON TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME AFRICA HE SAW AS A BOY AND AS A YOUNG MAN … TO SPARK IN HIS SON A PASSION FOR PRESERVING THE RAREST WILD ANIMALS, MUCH AS HIS FATHER DID WITH HIM.

MAX FOSTER: You talked about your father possibly whispering quietly in your ear as he –

PRINCE WILLIAM: Sweet nothings   MAX FOSTER: — as a young boy.  Are you going to do the same for Prince George because it’s such, it’s a cause that you care so deeply about.  Would you like him to pick up on it?

PRINCE WILLIAM: Probably.  At this rate I’ll probably whisper sweet nothings in his ear.  I’ll have toy elephants and rhinos around the room.  We’ll cover it in sort of, you know, lots of bushes and things like that.  Make him grow up as if he’s in the bush.

VO MAX FOSTER HE SAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF HIS SON CARRYING ON THE ROYAL FAMILY’S LEGACY IN AFRICA ISN’T HIS IMMEDIATE CONCERN.

PRINCE WILLIAM At the moment, the only legacy I want to pass on to him is to sleep more and maybe not have to change his nappy so many times.

VO MAX FOSTER LIKE ANY NEW MOTHER OR FATHER, PARENTHOOD HAS SURPRISED AND AMAZED PRINCE WILLIAM.

PRINCE WILLIAM I think the last few weeks for me have been just a very different emotional experience.  Something I never thought I would feel myself.  And I find, again it’s only been a short period, but a lot of things affect me differently now.

Credit: CNN’s Max Foster

First interview with CNN’s Max Foster

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Diet Chef – Week 1 weight loss 4 lbs

There is never a good time to diet and the summer holidays is notorious for adding unwanted pounds to the waistlines of stay at home parents as school holidaying children devour your cupboard stocks like a plague of locusts.

Weight is one of those battles, which on some levels is genderless. For me, it’s been on my mind since I was about 11 years old. In my younger years, I was very active. I didn’t drive until I was 24 years old and this forced me to walk and cycle more just to get from A to B. Marriage, pregnancy and children have by default have made me more sedentry and over the years the weight has piled on. I am not at my heaviest but I am definitely a couple of stone heavier then I would prefer.

I saw the adverts on the tv for Diet Chef and thought that it was a diet I would like to try. My problem is very simple. I eat too much and I don’t do enough but trying to make a significant change to this status quo is proving harder in reality when temptation is everywhere. When I was getting rid of my pregnancy weight I joined Slimming World and that did work for me but I am not interested in paying to attend weekly group sessions and paying to be weighed in. I was looking for a diet that I could incorporate into my daily life, which didn’t require much thought.

Diet Chef sends you your daily food in 28 day batches. You simply select the meals from their very easy to use menu and with 48 hours they dispatch to you a box of food with everything you need. In addition there is a list of fruit and vegetables that you can add in, plus with your dinner you can add in a handful of carbs, such as rice, pasta or noodles.

I am now on day 7 of the diet and I have lost 4 lbs.

I have to say that I am hungry but then I definitely eat too much and one of the components of the diet is that it significantly reduces your calorie intake and so on some level I have to accept their is no gain without pain. It has shown me how significantly I eat too much and also, that I am eating the wrong foods. I am lucky in that I feed my children separately at the moment so I am not cooking up large family dinners from which I am excluded. On the few occasions that we have all eaten together I have been able to tailor the meals to reflect what I am eating.

The Diet Chef food is delicious and it doesn’t taste at all like packet food. I like the fact that it’s so simple – I just go into the box and choose what I am having for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I feel like an astronaut and because I like to cook from scratch it removes the complication of cooking. I am being very strict with myself and sticking rigidly to the diet. One thing I have noticed is that I am a picker and on a few occasions I have stopped myself eating a chicken goujon, or a meatball from the children’s meals. I chant to myself -  ‘Little pickers leads to bigger knickers’.

I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since I started the diet and I have been for a 7 mile cycle and a 2.5 mile run. But I do feel weird like I am in a strange detox to which my body isn’t accustomed. I am determined to stick to it. Watch this space.

For more information please check out: https://www.dietchef.co.uk/

Please note I was sent these products for review purposes.

 

 

 

 

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Feature Post: Cunning with Credit Cards

Credit cards if used wisely can bring you many rewards. The way to know for sure, which will aid you, is to compare credit cards and see what’s on offer. There are hundreds of credit cards issued by dozens of banks, supermarkets and lenders. Some credit cards have low annual fees, while others offer a variety of rewards and still others provide compelling deals for those that are looking to transfer an existing credit card balance. It’s a credit card jungle out there.

The best credit card with rewards are one’s for me that enable me to treat myself on the benefits that they offer. When the kids are back at school, I am going to use the points from my reward credit card to treat myself to a spa day.

I am in the thick of the school holidays and covered in kids whilst trying to juggle work and home. I love the school holidays but having the kids at home increases the workload two fold – they snack all the time, plus devour their three meals, trash the house and make so much noise that it’s impossible to find any peace. But I love the lie-ins. My children love to lie in and it’s great not having to get them up early and ready for school. It’s great to spend time with them and cherish their quirky, funny little ways and expressions.

I think that women, but especially mum’s lose sight of their own needs, and it’s hard to find the time or the spare cash to treat yourself to something nice when everybody else is your priority. Ironically, many women often don’t realise how much spending power we have and using our credit cards wisely can earn us rewards which we can use for the shiny stuff that we have definitely earned by running around like crazy people trying to keep everybody happy. When I am hoovering for the umpteenth time, or I am unloading the dishwasher for the gazillionth time, or maybe putting on the fourth load of washing in one day in my head I am Zen.

I am thinking about the soothing music, lying on the lounger, reading my magazine completely uninterrupted. Maybe I’ll have an Aromatherapy Massage – a gentle massage using aromatherapy oils to enhance the mood and relax your body or perhaps, a Neck and Shoulder Massage – a massage to increase blood and lymphatic flow, which helps promote a sense of wellbeing and relaxation and can improve muscle tone and skin texture. Perhaps, I’d go for a facial to take away some of the signs of aging that seems to rapidly accelerating beyond my control. Maybe a radiance facial to counteract the advanced signs of skin ageing such as lines, slackened skin, tone and pigmentation. A treatment that includes cleansing, exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and a relaxing face, neck and shoulder massage. Sounds great – yes, book me in.

I am thinking about how I am going to reap the rewards of smart credit card usage that has meant that I am able to give myself a relaxing little treat and this eases the roller coaster of living with, and loving,  my crazy, turbulent, demanding but adorable children.

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One’s Trash is Another’s Treasure

Mrs Sparkle pointed out to me, as we were clearing out my office, that I ‘may’ have hoarding tendencies. She was being polite because I absolutely ‘do’ have hoarding tendencies. I realised after she said this that I hoard to give me security and holding onto stuff makes me feel safe. However, it’s a false security and really I am just burdening myself with possession that have passed their sell by date and it’s time to get rid. If you haven’t touched it for years it’s a sign that it’s time for ‘out with the old and in with the new.’ So I have been dedicated to clearing out the clutter and the CDs  that I haven’t even looked at in over 2 years were definitely on the list to go!

A few months back I wrote a post called It’s A Jumble Out There  for Music Magpie talking about how I was planning to recycle my CDs, DVDs and Video Games through this great site. Within minutes of the post going live on Facebook I received a message from a friend enquiring about my CDs for sale. It turns out that CDs are his guilty pleasure. He loves the disc, the covers, the packaging. CDs to him are like the vinyl LPs of old. There is something wonderful about a tactile relationship with music, DVDs and games that downloading from a device cannot give you. My friend a few hours later arrived at my house to pour over my CD collection and chose his bounty. To him my old CDs, for which we don’t even have a CD player, were a rich treasure that was going to bring him many hours of future happiness.

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Great Reasons to Stay in the UK

Bournemouth Beach

As your family grows, so does the cost of going on holiday. In your childless days you may have been used to an annual holiday abroad, but since having children money is tighter and this simply isn’t an option anymore. More and more families are choosing short UK breaks over big budget holidays, and with so much to do right on your doorstep you can have just as much fun without the travel.

Often the desire to go on holiday eclipses the reality that you still have the rest of the year to get through once you get back. Don’t blow all your money on an expensive family holiday if you then can’t afford basic things on your return, Christmas is fast approaching remember! This isn’t to say you shouldn’t go on holiday at all, everyone deserves a break, and family holidays are one of the best places to make memories. This summer try holidaying in the UK to save money. You could even go away for free, as Cushelle are giving away a trip to Butlins to their competition winner. Staying in Britain also takes some of the travel stress out holidaying with kids, at least in a car you don’t have to worry about bothering other passengers, thousands of feet in the air.

Another reason to stay in Britain is the wealth of things there are to see and do. Many people dream of travelling the world, yet only see a very small percentage of what their home country has to offer. The UK has everything, mountains to climb, a fabulous coastline and historic cities. There is something for everyone, and tourists travel from far and wide to explore the UK, whilst those who reside here take it for granted. Show the kids some of what makes Britain great, and get to know your own country a little better.

Whether you are looking for a beach break, an adrenaline theme park adventure or somewhere with plenty to keep kids occupied, there is something in the UK to suit. Make the most of the good weather and discover that there’s more to Britain than the parts you see on a day-to-day basis.

 

 

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Every Thursday Read Me in The Salisbury Journal

I have been writing for the Salisbury Journal for exactly three months – hurrah!!

My weekly column in The Salisbury Journal

You can read my columns here:

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sj_opinion/modern_military_mother/

Please check them out, share on Facebook and Twitter and also comment.

It would be fab to hear from you.

Big love xxx

 

 

 

 

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