Rants and raves: An amazingly happy place

IN MY part-time role as community affairs manager at toys and games company Hasbro in Stockley Park, I've been working closely with the charity CLIC Sargent on the building of its new London Home from Home. Read

Rants and raves: A diet that doesn't leave you wanting to chew your arm off

YIPPEE! I've managed to avoid Alex's sweetie tin and polishing off his leftovers for another week, and coupled with a week on the fabulous Bodychef diet, the scales are showing I've dropped another 2lbs.Read

Rants and raves: losing weight with Bodychef

NOTHING beats that feeling of being able to do up your belt on a tighter notch. It's such a simple, but very satisfying thing to be able to do. I've written before about my struggle to drop a dress size, and after losing two stone a while back I've been despairing at seeing the needle on the scales slowly creeping up.Read

Rants and raves: Great day at the museum

HOW was your half-term last week? Alex was lucky enough to go up to The British Museum with his grandparents on one day.Read

Rants and raves: Where there's a will ...

AGREAT weight has been lifted from my mind this week. After eight years of thinking about it, and not getting off my bottom to actually get it organised, I have finally made my will.Read

Rants and raves: Book early for half term activities

AS PROMISED, I've scoured all the half-term events that are on and brought you my pick of what special events are available for families in and around Hillingdon this half-term.Read

Rants and raves: Treat your eyes to a makeover

LIKE a lot of my other mum-friends, my make-up routine is generally a slick of lipgloss - generally applied in the car on the school run - and the days of never leaving the house without a full face of make-up on are long gone for me.Read

Rants and raves: Managing a family skiing trip

AFAMILY skiing trip was something I didn't think I'd manage to afford this season, because of worries about money, jobs and the general economic climate.Read

Rants and raves: Cycling along the canal

AFTER writing about my plan to get off my behind and on my bike to go cycling with Alex, I had a lovely email from Andrew Simpson, who lives in Uxbridge.Read

Rants and raves: Keep fit and spend less

I LOVE Christmas, but I'm always pleased to take down the decorations for another year, and my start to the new year is always the same - I make a few resolutions. I'm sure I'm not alone with my main resolutions this year - to keep fit and spend less money. I've managed to combine them in one go as I've decided to relinquish my expensive gym membership and I've started to work out on the Wii Fit instead.Read

Rants and raves: Track Santa online to be sure the kids are tucked up in time

IN MY LAST column of the year I wanted to tell you about my favourite Christmas websites to share with your children.Read

Rants and raves: Has Christmas been cancelled?

CHRISTMAS appears to have been cancelled at my friend's little girl's school in Hillingdon. Read

Rants and raves: Santa's watching

ALEX'S advent calendar is up and giving him cause for outbursts of laughter most mornings.Read

Rants and raves: Poundland and Bugaboos

YOU may have spotted me walking around Uxbridge recently with a pram, but don't worry - there's not something I forgot to tell you. It's not actually my baby; it's Neve, my lovely one-month-old niece. I've been doing the good auntie thing and taking her off for a walk while her mum has a nap.Read

Rants and raves: Beyoncé dance threat the answer to a mum's prayers

I ALWAYS wonder if ours is the only house where it takes near warfare to get out in one piece on a school morning. Read

Rants and raves: 'Tis the season to be fibbing, tra la la la la ...

DID you see the recent report from the University of California about the lies we tell our children? Apparently 74 per cent of parents taught their children not to lie, but 78 per cent admitted doing it themselves.Read

Rants and raves: A family birth brings back memories

ALEX is an only child by choice, which some people think is weird. Read

Rants and raves: A valuable lesson

WE'VE had tears and upset at home this week as Alex was taught a valuable life lesson. Read

Rants and raves: The joys of Facebook

MY OTHER half is one of those anti-Facebook people - he can't see the point of connecting with people who you wouldn't normally see in real life. Read

Rants and raves: Alex enjoys life in the fast lane

HERE we are only a few weeks into the new term and I need inspiration for packed lunches already. Read

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