Britmums Live 2012 - Ultimate Meme

I am very happy that next month I will be attending my first ever 'Blogging Conference'.  This is the hotly anticipated 'Britmums Live 2012'.  For the first time since J2 was born I will be heading to London for two full days of pure and unadulterated 'Blog and Writing' talk.  Add to this a chance to actually meet some of the real life people behind some of my favourite blogs, and I am really rather counting down the days.

Whilst avidly reading a recent post by the fabulous Older Mum in a Muddle, I reached the end of it and found this statement :

'All the bloggers I know who are going to Brit Mums Live have already completed this meme apart from one, I think, so stand up and be counted Lynsey The Mother Duck. You're IT.'

So here I am.  Standing up to be counted on the Britmums Live 2012 Ultimate Meme...

The meme rules ask that you copy and paste the questions, answer them, then tag another two to four bloggers to do the same. Also don't forget to link your post back to A Boy With Aspergers linky.


Questions ...

Q: What’s your blog title/URL and how long have you been blogging?
My blog is called Lynsey The Mother Duck and can be found at www.lynseythemotherduck.blogspot.com.  I have been posting merrily away since August 2011, so not quite a whole year yet. 

Q: Will Brit Mums Live be your First blogging conference?

Yes, I am a total newbie.

Q: Did you bag yourself a sponsor?

No, just going as me.

Q: Are you attending both days?

I certainly am.  Travelling up early Friday.  Saturday night in the big City followed by day two and then home to the Hubby and Kiddies.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about the conference?

The whole idea that the entire thing is dedicated talking, learning, discussing, eating, sleeping and breathing - writing and blogging.  I will soon be forming BA (Bloggers Anoynomous...)

Q: Are you wearing Branded Clothing ( you’re sponsors brand)?

No.  Am going to carefully plan the two day wardrobe and very much enjoy doing so.

Q: What is your planned style for this event?

Smart casual.  Skinny jeans, bold tops and fabulous shoes (with flats in the handbag).  I like to take the Boy Scout moto when it comes to footwear, be prepared!

Q: Are you hoping to be nominated for a BiB award?

No, not this year.  Was a bit out of the loop on it until quite late this year.  I know, I know was obviously living under a rock.

Q: If so what category?

N/A

Q: Will you be looking to network with Brands?

Er...no actually not in particular, but then I really have no idea what type of brands will be around, so it should all be an eye opener for me.

Q: What do you hope to walk away having gained from the conference?

Information, information, information.  I want to be like a sponge.  I have my dictaphone ready and waiting ... if we are allowed them (my name badge will also read 'Geek'...)

Q: Will you be dressing up in the toilets for the Friday night BiBs?

Am hoping that I should be smart enough, may take a change of accessories and handbag make up kit, to freshen up.

Q: Are you speaking at the conference and if so when, where and how do you feel about doing so?
N/A

Q: Will you be joining in the early morning bloggercise on the Saturday?

Would love to if I can get there in time.  The prospect of a solid, non broken, no 'child's foot in back' nights sleep is too exciting to contemplate!

Q: What speakers are you most looking forward to listening to?

I am looking forward to all speakers, seeing Susanna and Jennifer kick it all off with the welcome, then of course, the Legend that is Ruby Wax.  I would love to see Allison Pearson too, but am torn between workshops sessions for that section!  Am also very much looking forward to meeting and listening to Kate, from Kate on Thin Ice and think Sarah Brown will be very interesting.


Q: What workshops will you be attending on the Friday (Day 1)

As I mentioned, I have a dilemma over which session I would like to attend; Bloggers Studio - Getting published (this was the clincher for purchasing the ticket after all!) or Discussion Den - Can you really have it all (where AP will be speaking).


Q: What Workshops being held on the Saturday (Day 2) have grabbed your attention?

I am thinking that I might opt for the following sessions on Saturday :

Advanced Blogging - Photography
Discussion Den - Blogging for the Greater Good
Advanced Blogging - How to create an E-Book
Discussion Den - Sod The Stats!  Blog for Happiness
Writing About Your Life


Q: Are you booked into a hotel for the Friday night, if yes which one?

The Husband assurred me that he was going to sort this out.  He hasn't yet.  This is a reminder that I need to start nagging.


Q: Will you be looking for after party drinks?

Depends how long the original party lasts - see answer to the early morning bloggercise! I do not do hangovers and lack of sleep well and really do not want to spoil day two. 

Q: Are you worried about not knowing anyone or being confident and socialising on the day?

I am a little apprehensive, but having read comments from most first time attendees, everyone is feeling the same and that is perfectly natural.  I am not nervous, more excited.  I am quite a chatty, smiley person and it seems that it is going to be a friendly event so think everyone will be fine.  I am super pleased to find out that some people that I have been following blogs of are attending (yes Older Mum in a Muddle, you!) and am hoping that friendships will be forged over the course of two days.  As always the thing that I get most nervous about is navigating my way the venue - I have ZERO sense of direction (and not a great deal of common sense when it comes to finding a route).

Q: What are you most likely to be found doing while attending Britmums Live?

Studiously taking notes through sessions and smiling and laughing (and sometimes being a bit loud) out of them.

One Hundred Word Challenge : Spooky Ruby Part 4

This weeks One Hundred Word Challenge #43 from Julia's Place is to include the prompt :

...The flame flickered before...

Please read on for Spooky Ruby Part 4. 

For links to part one click here, two here and three here.

**********************

The flame flickered before her eyes on top of the coffin.

She focused on it, unblinking.  The only thing she could look at, as she held her swelling ball of grief within. 

She couldn’t look at his photo on the stand.  The flowers:  F.A.T.H.E.R.  H.U.S.B.A.N.D. 

She couldn’t look at his Mother on her right, or Ruby on her left. 

But she could feel their presence.  Sense their pain.

She drifted into a daze and was transported back to her bad dream of watching a flickering light.

Flames. 

Licking at the night sky.

The caravan spread around the ground, in a hundred, million pieces.

*******************

For other 100 Word Challenge entries go to :

The Garden Project - 2012

Once upon a time I used to grumble and moan when the 'Gardeners World' music came on the television set.  My parents used to tell me to go and find something else to do if I didn't like it (rightly so), but I wondered how anyone could find it interesting.  I mean it was about trees and plants - could it get anymore BORING?

Fast-forward 20 or so years.  With the wonder of Sky-Plus, I do not have to subject my children (or husband for that matter) to my  guilty pleasure of tv - ie - gardening; home restoration; or cookery programmes.  What happened to me?  Oh I know - I hit my 30's!
I was warned that this would happen.  I did not foresee it coming.  I thought I had avoided it in actual fact.  But since the birth of baby boy number 2, getting married and having that lust after and, for some people, elusive 'content' feeling in life - the desire to make our home beautiful and pretty caught up with me.

We have found an amazing home, with a lovely garden that requires a little work to bring it back to full beauty.  This is inspiring -it needs just the right amount of work that I think we will have the time to give it. 

I have also recently found an inspiring blog called 'Making It As Mum' who runs a 'Making it Home' feature.  This is a link up that asks all bloggers to link up posts outlining work they are doing to improve their home and gardens.  So I thought I would be able to join in with this and track my progress.

There are several 'mini-projects' within the overall Garden Plan.  These are :

1. Tidying up the front of house - we have a gravel front, so not too much work here : 

* The sides do have some overgrown weeds, which need some attention. 

* There is a brick built unit at the front of the drive, which is already full of wonderful roses and plants, again this just needs to be tidied up. 

* The third area is a small bedding area - right at the front of the house - which is completely overgrown.  I plan to clear this area and plant it up full of bright and beautiful summer bedding plants.

 (All reasonably priced bedding plants from The Range & Wilkinsons)

2. Back Garden - we have a good size, established back garden. 

It has obviously has had a lot of time and effort spent on it in the past.  It requires a few weekends work clearing the weeds from what should be there.  

The lawn is a useful rectangular shape and we have been able to fit the childrens trampolining and swing in with ease (phew). 

 (The boys toys)

I would like to add a small slide to the childrens area, as this is J2's favourite piece of apparatus at the park.  I also just recently saw a fantastic childrens matching patio set (table and two chairs with Parasol) and covered swing seat (in Monkey theme) at The Range which would be a very cool addition, but it is only on the 'wish list' for now.


3. The Greenhouse - Yes, at last I have inherited a Greenhouse within our rental - much happiness has been created for my mum and I with this addition.  At the moment it is in a bit of a sorry state - however - a good days work and I think it can be brought back to glory.  A good clean, soil replenish and a work bench or two and it will be a gardeners' delight once again.

4. Pots and Hanging Baskets - I love to see a house with lots of colourful and happy pots and hanging baskets adorning it.  At the moment mine looks like this :

Enough said.  I will be planting up several pots and hanging baskets over the next few weeks to pretty up the patio area (front and back).  I love that you can get a rotation system going with pots, so that when the current ones have lived their life, they can be whipped away and replenished with healthy ones.

I am also going to change this :

...into a fresh Herb trough.

5. Furniture - This house came with several wooden benches, tables and a small (J2) size chair.  They need a good rub down and paint treatment, but I think they are certainly worth saving (and will hopefully save us money too).  These are how they are at the moment :

So herein lies our Summer Challenge.  Lets hope we are soon to get a run of fine weather so that we can put the hours into it.  Garden work is always good for the children too. They are much happier to play in the garden if you are out pottering too and a good dose of sea air always helps everyone sleep better at night!
I am going to The Chelsea Flower Show on Friday so will be looking to be inspired by all the wonderful work on display.  We are also lucky enough to live close by to Beth Chatto Gardens, also a fantastic day out (sans children).
May the (Ground) Force be with us!

One Hundred Word Challenge : Spooky Ruby Part 3

I am once again linking up with Julia's Place for the

100 Word Challenge Week #42

Our prompt for this week was the following :

You are to write a piece with these words in it:

LIBERTY EMPIRE APPLE YELLOW ENORMOUS

*********************



Spooky Ruby Part 3

(if you need this to make more sense you could read part 1 (here) and 2 (here)

She was toying with a yellow apple at the kitchen table when heard Ruby’s Grandmother let herself in.  She thought it was a liberty, that she came and went as she pleased.  But it was his Mother.

‘Matriarch of the Henshaw Family Empire’ she thought bitterly. 

She wasn’t sure when she had become such an enormous annoyance.  After all, Ruby was so very attached to her.

It didn’t help, that although spending so much time at the house with Ruby, she didn’t speak to her. Hadn’t done so since the accident.  She’d tried, but was always met with silence. 

She shifted angrily.  Met with blame...


To read other fantastic entries please click on the links above.

What Has Made Me Cheerful This Week?

Having struggled a little this week with motivation, I am pleased that I indulge in this link up.  I like to bullet point anything and everything that could possibly make it on to the final list of What Has Made Me Cheerful this week - that in itself cheers me up - before composing my post.

So here are my top choices for this weeks Reasons to be Cheerful :

* Settling into the new home.  We truly love this house and it feels like home already.  Of course it helps that boxes are slowly disappearing from sight, although the task of sorting the over stuffed garage is a little daunting...

* This weekend we are having a big family gathering for my parents Ruby Wedding Anniversary.  Final preparations are gathering speed now (I do love organising a 'do').  My outfit has arrived (the theme is that all guests must be wearing at least one red item - otherwise I have suitable forfeit items...) and we will get to see some family members that I haven't seen for, I would say 15 years! 

* Although things are still busy at the house, now we are in I have had a few minutes to really appreciate the lovely birthday gifts I received.  One of which was a Kindle Touch.  I admit, I was not keen on the idea when Hubby first presented it (old fashioned book lover here - I love the smell of a new book) but now it is up and running I am loving the ease of it.  This also coincides with another reason to be cheerful and that is the discovery of some great new authors (via other blog recommendations) of which their books now sit downloaded on, said Kindle.

* This week has graced us with a few hours of blue sky and sunshine.  A welcome break from the grey gloom and drizzle we have been suffering for the last couple of weeks.  Always a good mood 'pick me up'.

* Joining in Julia's Place 100 Word Challenge has really got the creative mind racing this week - I encourage everyone to check it out and give it a go.

If you would like more inspiration head over to Mummy from The Heart for more cheery posts.