Decorating your childhood room

When I moved back to the parental home last year, it meant coming back to my childhood bedroom. A room with Pink walls, and when I say Pink. I mean hot Pink walls. I went backwards and forwards trying to make a decision on whether I should re-decorate or not, at then 25 I should have a room a little more grown up right? In the end I couldn't justify the cost, as after all I was only going to be here for a couple of months. 15 months later I still haven't gotten around to moving out again, but life has been anything but simple over those last 15 months, it has involved redundancy, change, loss of a job, they have seen Leo starting school. It has just been a busy old year, and moving out hasn't really been an option again right now.

Of course as I am now still at home, the decision of not decorating before I moved all of my worldly belongings back in is grating me. I wish I had taken the opportunity to give the room a complete over haul. The shocking pink paint job occurred when I was a mere 18 years of age, and to say that it is a little bit of an eyesore is an understatement in it's self. 

Still we live and we learn right?

Over the last couple of weeks I have been seriously thinking about giving the room a complete make over. I have been sourcing ideas from Homify, but I think the most I will be able to really get away with is a lick of fresh (Anything but pink) paint. In my head I think keeping it simple is the way to go, I have a gorgeous king size bed which is the main feature of the room, boasting a black leather headboard. Maybe even a feature wall with some darker boutique style wall paper behind the bed would make the room that extra little bit cosy. I would then be half tempted to just pick a creamy colour to cover up the glow of the pink paint. I am sure it would help me in actually feeling my age a little bit more, because as if being at home again isn't crazy enough, I actually still...at times...feel 18.

Maybe in the next few weeks, now I am actually working form my desk out of my bedroom (high five anyone!?) I may actually put these dreams into action. It would definitely make it a nicer place to spend a substantial amount of my time... 

In fact I may just pop into the store after I collect little man from school. I am suddenly feeling inspired and should probably action it before I change my mind again.

How are your days shaping up?

Shine Bright

Time has run away with me of late, the days and weeks have passed in the blink of an eye and life as I knew it has changed rather dramatically, rather amazingly. In the right here and now I am so excited for the weeks and months ahead, of learning and challenging myself in a field that I am passionate about. 

I have always said that everything happens for a reason, that when one door closes another is just waiting to open. When I was made redundant on the 27th April, I knew that one way or another everything was going to be ok. When I was called upon on first thing on that usual Monday morning I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, it was the usual run of the mill Monday morning. Only this Monday morning I was to be in a meeting with the managing director, and a number of my fellow co-workers. I made my way promptly and no one really knew what it was about, but not for one moment did I think that my time with the company I had spent the last 5 years with was coming to an end. 

It was however coming to an end. We all took our seats and awaited the arrival of the director, I don't think any of us really saw it coming. Within seconds of the director arriving our fate had been sealed. 'Your jobs are at risk of redundancy'....'We will be starting the consultation period...'. In those seconds following the news, I don't recall sadness, shock...anything? In fact I was surprisingly calm, collected even. I guess you never know how you will react until you are staring into the eye of the storm, but ultimately it depends on how YOU want to conduct yourself. I wanted to leave on good terms, and celebrate the 5 years that I had served with the company. 

I smiled as I went back to my desk, made a green tea and made my way to my first consultation meeting. I smiled as I walked in the door, and I made light of the situation in my way of trying to let my line manager and HR manager know that it was just one of those things It's not personal, it's business after all. They read from a script as my fate was further cemented into the hard reality that it was, I kept thinking that I should feel more, say more, but I just felt at ease with everything that was happening. Like it was somehow meant to be, that it was my time do actually do something. 

Only the week before all of this happened I had wrote a post about how I was going to spend those 2 days a week I was going to find myself with after Leo started school. I was going to fill them with blogging, putting 2 whole days into my hobby. I was going to take a look at college courses and see what took my fancy, I had ideas, but no set direction set in my mind. Suddenly that direction seemed cloudy and un-certain, but that was ok. It was time to pick myself up, dust myself off and get right back out there. I figured I had two options, I could sit at home and dwell on it, or I could start making changes right there and then. So that's what I did. 

If one thing has surprised me in the weeks that have followed, it's that this here blog, that has been my best kept secret for well over 3 years, is now no longer secret. It's out in the open to friend, family and everyone I once worked with. The reactions following the un-veiling have surprised me, and I guess surprised them in turn, and you know what? I am pleased that it's known. I have worked hard on my little corner of cyber space, had some bigger than life opportunities and met some fantastic people, it was a part of my life that has been kept under lock and key. It's time I shout it from the roof tops, because I am so proud of everything that is documented here. 

I had absolutely no idea that the twists and turns of the weeks that followed were going to put a big smile on my face. I have now officially left my old job, and I am embarking on a exciting new adventure that came along at that exact moment when one door closed. As that one door shut, another door crept open and set me on a new track, one that I firmly believe I am meant to be on.

Sometimes things have to fall apart before they can fall back together, keep smiling. 

Octonauts come to Birmingham SEA LIFE Centre

Birmingham National SEA LIFE Centre is a day out that I have always enjoyed, and since Leo’s arrival 3 years ago, it is an attraction that I have loved being able to take him along to and seeing how his experience changes with each visit. The great thing about a trip to the SEA LIFE Centre is that not one visit is the same, the aquatic life is always moving and providing a unique visit no matter how many times you go.

Last month we were invited along to experience the new Octonauts Mission that is launching from Saturday 11^th October, and both Leo and I were really excited to be one of the first families through the door. Leo enjoys watching the Octonauts over on CBeebies, so the mere thought of actually getting to meet some of the characters was a really big deal to my over excited 3 year old.

We decided to train it over on this occasion, and we took an entire day for just Leo and I to have a special day together exploring the wonders of the deep (even if he did get more excited about the train journey!). Upon arriving at the SEA LIFE Centre, we were handed an activity sheet with a series of questions for you to answer as you move around the attraction. I liked this as it gave us an additional something to do together as we explored, and at the end got Leo a sticker reward!

It had been a while since we last visited the SEA LIFE Centre with Leo, and in that time frame they had added in the rather amazing Penguin tank. This was the first point we came to, and this is where Leo and I spent our first half hour. I was really impressed with this one part of the attraction, and it was magical to see the Penguins swimming and diving around under the water.  It was here that Leo decided he would like to swim with the Penguins.. I pointed out a child in another view point that was situated under the water level, it took me everything to keep him dressed because my boy was adamant he was going to go swimming with them!

We saw many different sea creatures that day, Sharks, Rays, Turtles, Jelly Fish and Clown Fish, each captivating in their own way. Big hits for both Leo and I were the Sea Horses and the Jelly Fish!

Throughout the day there are a number of character experiences, and you can find the full list of appearances on the website. We had a great time walking around the building and Leo was in his element when we ran into our first Octonaut. They allowed us to pose for photographs and a helpful employee even took a few snaps of both Leo and I together.

Leo and I had a great day exploring the wonders of the SEA LIFE Centre, and Leo even got to experience his very first 4D Cinema… Now each time I ask him if he would like to go to the cinema he replies ‘No water this cinema!’. Apparently he was caught a little off guard when it came to the splashes of water that flew at him, but for the most part he seemed rather impressed with the concept!

We followed our exciting visit to the SEA LIFE Centre with a trip to Pizza Express, where Leo and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch before hopping on the train back home.

The Octonauts Mission is running from Saturday 11^th October through to Sunday 30^th November 2014, so if you are wanting to visit it is advisable to book early!

Disclaimer: We were invited along and provided with complimentary entrance to the SEA LIFE Centre. All views and opinions are completely honest and my own. 

40 Months Old

40 months have come and gone since your arrival, 3 whole years and 5 months that have brought smiles, adventure and mischief. In 40 months you have transformed from a small helpless baby into an independent, happy little boy. A boy who is determined, wise, stubborn, charismatic and cheeky, a clever little man who wants to know more about the big old world around him. A boy who loves trains without a shadow of a doubt, and will chat to no end about anything and everything to do with them.

This month we submitted your application to school, and this action alone seems absolutely bonkers. I cannot get my head around the fact that come September you will be starting school, in my mind this milestone should still be years away and not a mere 10 months. I wonder how you will feel at such a big change? I know that when you do start you are just going to seem even more grown up, and life really will never be the same. Starting school means you will become more independent than I have ever known, you will have new friends and activities. Where has the last 40 months gone!?

October saw a rather large milestone for you, and you finally (deliberately) did a number 2 on the toilet! Yes I had to bribe you, yes it involved purchasing another train and yes you haven’t done it again since… But you tried and succeeded! It was all your decision as well little man, you decided to days after we had a conversation about the treat you would get if you used the toilet. You got up and told me you needed to go, we held hands as you lead me to the bath room and then you just got on with it. I couldn't quite believe it and I was so proud of you, you may have noticed the round of applause and the excited cheers you received!

As soon as you had done your business though you wanted your prize for being so grown up, and I promised that we would go later that day to pick it up. Time ran away with us and for one reason or another I didn’t make it to Tesco with you. That evening I put you to bed and told you I would pick it up on the way home so that you could have it first thing the next day. Only my mind went completely blank, and when I arrived home to find that you were still awake I felt so incredibly guilty. So at 9:30pm I put on your warmest PJ’s and slippers, strapped you into the car and took you to get your just desserts. You were so excited and the adventure was so totally worth it, you went to bed one happy little man, and couldn’t wait to wake up to play trains the next day! And I of course kept my promise!

You have been coming out with more sentences and been making a real effort, even your nursery key worker has commented on how chatty you have been. What made me giggle was when you brushed past me the other day and said ‘scuse me Mummy, I need a wee’ and took yourself off to the bath room.  You spent half term week telling me ‘school closed’ and I think you really enjoyed the weeks rest. Yet when it was time to go back you were so excited, I seem to remember lots of excited ‘YAY YAY YAY’ filling my ears.

You have been chatting lots about Christmas and have firmly decided that you would like a Nintendo DS as your main present. Now whenever Christmas does come up in conversation you tell me that Santa will be bringing you one down the chimney. Not to mention your comments about just how many presents you will have under the tree, somewhere in the region of ‘Lots and lots and lots!’ if I recall correctly.

It’s hard to believe that 40 months ago back in June 2011 you had only just graced us with your presence, and now 40 months on it is hard to in vision a time before you, a life before you. A life without you. This time of year always puts me in a reflective mood, and it was on the 5^th November 2010, that I first discovered you were coming along. It was scary, unexpected and amazing all at the same time… And now here we are about to take on a new month and many new challenges.