Parkdean Holiday Parks inspires families to get active and discover top walks in stunning locations this half term

AWARD-WINNING holiday park operator Parkdean is celebrating the wonderful walks on offer round its parks by inviting families, couples, dog owners, and outdoor enthusiasts to get together, get active, and try a top walk as part of their half-term holiday.

Parkdean has gone the extra mile this year by highlighting key walking routes to help families get out exploring over the holidays, combining a bit of exercise with everything else they love doing on holiday, in the some of the most beautiful locations around the UK.

Scenic Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, South Wales

Durdle Door, Sandford, near Poole, Dorset

Parks will open in Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Wales for February half-term and Parkdean has found a walk that takes in areas of natural beauty in each of the different regions.

With a choice of woodland, coastline, or rolling countryside, and walks for every age and ability, Parkdean is encouraging visitors to wrap up and keep their healthy new year’s resolutions alive by following one of the recommended routes to view the vistas they love, or haven’t seen before.

Looe Bay, Looe, Cornwall

John Waterworth, chief executive at Parkdean Holidays, said: “There is so much to explore in the areas around our parks and walking is a great way of getting quality time together. 

Families can talk to each other without distractions and discuss the world around them - the wildlife and history in and around our parks is enchanting - you also feel better tucking into your favourite foods that evening if you’ve been physically active during the day.

“The New Year also brings new stage shows to Showtime parks, live shows at other parks, and exciting new activities at the free kids’ clubs available on all parks. 

We hope families are inspired to get outdoors and do some exploring on their holiday – even if it’s just a little every day.”

With six award-winning parks across England, Scotland and Wales and a host of fun activities on offer for adults and children in and around each park, visitors looking to cosy up after a blast of February fresh air will be spoilt for choice. 

Individual parks offer a variety of facilities, relax by the pool or warm up in the coffee shop, there is something to keep everyone happy.

Holidays start from as little as £99 for four people at Looe Bay Holiday Park commencing 20th February 2015. 

So dig out those walking boots, look at the choices below, and get ready to make memories in some of the UK’s most picturesque settings this February half-term.

Scotland:  Tummel Valley Holiday Park, Near Pitlochry, Perthshire

On the banks of the river Tummel, tucked away in the Tay forest, right in the heart of the Perthshire Highlands, Tummel Valley Holiday Park offers escapism at its best.  

This holiday destination is the perfect gateway to the outdoors with endless opportunities for beautiful cycles, walks and day trips in the nearby Cairngorms National Park or Tummel Valley – and the chance to see Scottish deer!

For history buffs, the famous gorge Killiecrankie, known for its battle history, is just around the corner, as well as Blair Athol Castle. 

Guests looking to taste Scotland’s best drink can head to Dewars World of Whisky and for souvenirs families should head to the pretty nearby villages of Pitlochry or Kenmore.

Park facilities include an indoor pool, Costa Coffee, restaurant and bar, so visitors can relax and refuel before their next day of adventure.

Prices start from £249 for a three-night break in a two-bedroom lodge (sleeping up to four), starting 20th February 2015, and seven night holidays are also available.

Tummel Valley, Scotland

Best Walk: Allean Forest, Loch Tummel

Description: Walk up through a forest of larch, Scots pines, spruce and grand firs to find breath taking views over Loch Tummel - a spot called Queen’s View – named after Queen Victoria’s visit to the viewing point in 1866. Allean Forest is also the home of red squirrels, pine martens, goldcrests, siskins and Scottish crossbills, so keep your eyes peeled!

Distance: 2 miles

Start & Finish: Pitlochry (20 minutes driving from Tummel Holiday Park)

England: Ruda Holiday Park, Croyde Bay, Devon

Saunton Sands, Devon

Set by the stunning surf spot Croyde Bay beach, Ruda Holiday Park has miles of rugged beautiful coastline to explore, with spectacular views of Lundy Island, quaint thatched roof cottages and traditional village pubs to stop off in.

Nearby attractions include Combe Martin Wildlife Park with over 250 species of animal, Exmoor Zoo with cheetahs, pumas and wolves, and Illfracombe Aquarium for those trying to find Nemo.

All the facilities at Ruda Holiday Park will be open for the first time this February half-term so children can enjoy Cascades Tropical Adventure Pool and the whole family can enjoy Showtime Entertainment in the evening.

Prices start from £339 (saving £50) for a seven-night break in a three-bedroom caravan (sleeping up to eight), starting 13th February 2015, short breaks are also available.

Best walk: Coast In Conflict, North Devon Walk

Description: An invigorating coastal walk that takes in cliff views and sandy beaches of the North Devon coastline, with glimpses of marine conservation and Beacon Point. 

Don’t miss out on the views that brought Victorian vacationers and smugglers to this part of the world and keep an eye out for surfers and seals down below, as well as rock climbers up above!

Distance: 1.5 miles

Start & Finish: Hillsborough car park (15 minutes driving from Ruda Holiday Park)

England: Looe Bay Holiday Park, Looe, Cornwall
Looe Bay Holiday Park is only a mile from the charming fishing town of East Looe, where families can explore narrow cobbled streets with shops and cafes, or take a coastal cruise to explore the sights at sea, this is the perfect holiday for those in search of peace in the rolling Cornish countryside.

Families can immerse themselves in nature and learning at the world famous Eden Project, which has the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning gardens, and first-class sculptures, or let your little ones meet other mischievous creatures at The Monkey Sanctuary.

With an indoor swimming pool, adventure play area and Showtime Entertainment there is plenty for all the family to do when they’re relaxing on the park too.

Prices start from £99 for a three-night break in a two-bedroom caravan (sleeping up to four), starting 20th February 2015, and seven night holidays are also available.

Adventure play at Looe

Best walk: Looe to Polperro

Description: The South West Coast Path is 630 miles of superb coastal walking around the South West peninsular from Minehead in the North to Poole Harbour in Dorset in the East. 

This coastal walk follows the SWCP and passes a sixth century monastery, rock pools, beaches, pretty seaside towns and villages, shipwrecks, Looe Island and lots of wildlife – birdwatchers should look out for finches, warblers, skua and terns.

Distance: 5 ½ miles

Start & Finish: Looe Station (3 minutes driving from Looe Holiday Park)

England: Warmwell Holiday Park, near Weymouth, Dorset

Lodges, lakes, trees and skis, Warmwell Holiday Park is set in a tranquil woodland with three fishing lakes and a few surprises, including an all-weather ski slope for hours of family fun, the park also has regular visits from wandering roe deer!

A fifteen minute drive brings you to the colourful seaside resort of Weymouth on the stunning Jurassic coast and historical market town of Dorchester. 

Other nearby attractions include The Tank Museum, Monkey World and Lulworth Cove.

Families will be spoilt for choice on the park which has a swimming pool featuring a wave machine and flume, the 110m ski slope at Warmwell Snowsports Centre, and Showtime Entertainment available in the evening.

Prices start from £219 for a three-night break in a one-bedroom lodge (sleeping up to four), starting 20th February 2015 and seven night holidays are also available.



Lulworth Cove, Dorset

Best walk: Nothe Gardens and Rodwell Trail

Description: Follow this walk for sea, forts, castles and old railway lines and a wide range of wildlife too. 

One of the joys of Weymouth and Portland is its diverse range of habitats, pop into the Discovery Centre to check out what wildlife is around the area or has been seen recently.

Distance: 4.7 miles

Start & Finish: Jubilee Clock tower, Weymouth

England: Sandford Holiday Park, Near Poole, Dorset
This leafy Dorset holiday park has everything for a family full of energy, with an indoor pool, an amazing tree house, adventure playground, crazy golf, tennis courts, lively kids’ clubs and it even has a pirate ship!

Families looking for a day out can head to nearby Bournemouth beach, Poole Harbour, or Wareham Forest.

Sandford is also a Showtime park so visiting families will be able to enjoy the exciting new shows for 2015. 

Prices start from £269 for a seven-night break in a two-bedroom caravan (sleeping up to four) starting 13th February 2015, and short breaks are also available.

Sandford Beach

Best walk: Old Harry Rocks

Description: This chalky headland offers spectacular views across Poole harbour to Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. 

The easy walk takes you along the clifftop and through the chalk grassland of the surrounding area.

Distance: 3.5 miles

Start & Finish: South Beach car park

Wales: Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Porthcawl, Wales
Trecco Bay Holiday Park is only a stroll away from a striking Blue Flag beach and the bustling town of Porthcawl - perfect for family days out. 

Travel further afield and guests can explore the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline which offers great walking.

With a Splashland indoor pool, indoor adventure play, mini ten pin bowling, bingo and adventure golf at Trecco, families on this park will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which fun activity they will do next. 

Trecco is also a Showtime park so visitors can enjoy the exciting new stage shows in the evening.

Prices start from £149 for a three-night break in a two-bedroom caravan (sleeping up to six), starting 13th February 2015, and seven night holidays are also available.



Swimming pool at Trecco Bay

Best walk: All Wales Coastal Path, Porthcawl

Description: The All Wales Coastal Path is the world’s first uninterrupted route along a national coast, with 870 miles of coastal path to explore. 

The path shows off beaches, estuaries, cliffs, woodlands and hills, there are also city waterfronts, writers’ retreats, fun-parks and historic castles - follow this stunning stretch that is popular with walkers and watersport buffs for amazing sea views.

Distance: 5.5 miles

Start & Finish: Rest Bay Car Park

Don’t miss out and make sure you book early! All holidays are subject to availability.

For further information visit www.parkdean.com or call 0344 335 3348.

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Review: Glossybox February 2015 Reveal: The Love Edition

I first took out a subscription to Glossybox a couple of years ago when they launched in the UK.  

For those of you not aware of the concept, Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box containing 5 hand picked beauty samples wrapped in a signature pink box.  

Some of these samples may actually be full size products.

Glossybox February - The Love Edition

Lift the lid to reveal the cute pink ribbon and tissue paper

I think it's fair to say, that in the beginning, there were a few issues with the safe delivery of the samples and the perceived value of the items in the box.  

I cancelled when the HD Brows compact in my box arrived smashed, having covered the remaining box contents in black brow powder! 

February goodies

That said,  Glossybox  has certainly built its profile on social media, together with a faithful following and the company now offers an 'Beauty Unboxed' tutorial video which shows you how to use the products you have received and a website which highlights trends and features new products. 

The price has remained pretty constant too - depending on your subscription plan, boxes cost around £10 per month plus delivery around the £3.25 mark.

The other previous gripe I recall is that, despite entering details of hair colour, eye colour, etc, early customers felt that the boxes were not sufficiently tailored but, in fairness to Glossybox, doing this would be a logistical nightmare and I think they would be better off concentrating less on individualising the boxes.  

I'm also interested to see how appropriate the samples may be across the age ranges, or whether the products are firmly aimed at the 20-30 age group.

So I have taken out a six month subscription to see if I can 'feel the love' again for Glossybox as I like the concept of the beauty box.

It's a monthly treat at a relatively budget friendly price (speaking as someone who seems to be unable to leave Boots these days without having spent at least £30 just on basic toiletries).

So, what's in the box? 

The box contains 3 full sized products and 2 sample products

- a Wilkinson Sword Hydro Silk (full size - £9.99) razor which has a water-activated bar of moisturising serum infused with marine extracts and shea butter.

- a Marsk mineral eyeshadow (full size - £14.49) in "Fifty Shades" (no prizes for guessing which movie this refers to), a highly pigmented, mineral, powder-based eye shadow which is 100% natural.

- a Royal Apothic Tinties lip balm (full size - $14 for 3.4g) - this is a Los Angeles brand allegedly favoured by Victoria Beckham.  

The balm contains shea butter and a trio of oils (argan, grape seed and almond) to nourish lips.

- a So Susan Rose Quartet Lip & Cheek Palette (sample size) in pinks or crimson

- Vichy Liftactiv Plus (sample size) - a cream that works to banish the signs of ageing as they appear.

I estimate the value of the box to be at least £30 which is certainly good value given the £10 cost of the box.

Am I happy?  

So far so good.  

Everything arrived in pristine condition and nicely packaged.  

I'm looking forward to this month's tutorial video to give me some more information about these products.  

And the March box will contain a full sized Naobay moisturizing peeling, a facial milk which is said to gently peel skin with the natural properties of Acai and Gotu Kola (a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine).

My feelings towards Glossybox have certainly warmed up.

Glossybox can be contacted at www.glossybox.co.uk, on Twitter at @glossyboxuk and on Facebook as www.facebook.com/GlossyBox.co.uk.

*This is a completely independent review;  The Glossybox subscription is my own purchase.

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Can You Spot The Signs Of A Stroke? Get Your Blood Pressure Checked!

Can you spot the signs of a stroke? All you need to know is HERE at Stroke.org.uk/fastforward. 

This is a new campaign to raise awareness of the FAST test which highlights the importance of treating stroke and mini stroke symptoms as a medical emergency and calling 999. They want as many people as possible across the UK to know how to spot the signs and to act swiftly to ensure that patients arrive at a specialist stroke unit as quickly as possible.




Every 3 1/2 minutes stroke strikes in the UK but since the FAST campaign began, there has been a 66% increase in stroke and mini-stroke related calls to 999.

So how do we prevent a stroke? Factors which can increase your risk of stroke include things such as your genes, age and diet, the amount of alcohol you drink, whether you smoke, how fit you are and any other medical conditions you may have.

It makes sense, therefore, to take good care of yourself and get a medical check-up if you are concerned.



Free blood pressure check at Cardiff Radisson Blu Hotel

If you are worried, why not come along to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cardiff on Thursday 12th February between 9 am and 1 pm to talk to someone from the Stroke Association and for a free blood pressure check? High blood pressure is one of the major causes of strokes so it makes sense to know whether your blood pressure is normal.

You may be glad you did.

Further information: Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff, Meridian Gate, Bute Terrace, CF10 2FL
Phone + 44 (29) 20454777

Stroke Association Tel: 0303 3033 100 www.stroke.org.uk

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PDSA - Take The Big Pet Survey & Win Prizes

The PDSA are carrying out the UK's largest pet survey in partnership with leading research agency, YouGov.  The survey takes just minutes to complete but it could make an immense difference to the animals we share our daily lives with. The results will be used in the PDSA Animal Welfare Report 2015 and you can download last year's report here.  The report is full of facts and figures about the nation's pets' health and wellbeing.  In it, you'll find lots of top tips an expert advice on pet care.

Plus if you spare a few minutes to take The Big Pet Survey, by leaving your details you have the opportunity to win prizes worth over £450 including:-

*  £150 of Vetstore.co.uk vouchers
*  6 months' supply of pet food
*  6 months' supply of joint supplements
*  SureFlap microchip pet door
*  SureFlap pet feeder 

This year, the PDSA celebrates 98 years of caring for the sick and injured animals of people in need.  They are the UK's leading veterinary charity.  They provide more than 2.7 million treatments to sick and injured pets each year and they are funded entirely by public support.

Find out more at www.pdsa.org.uk. Twitter @PDSA_HQ, Facebook www.facebook.com/pdsa.

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Review: ClaireaBella Jute Bags - Handmade With Love

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, I'm sure you will have seen these lovely personalised jute bags made by ClaireaBella. 

These are loved by celebs and have been featured on ITV's This Morning. 

I managed to get one from their stockist Toxic Fox at a marvellous £20 discount, but there are frequent offers to look out for.

My Claireabella Jute Bag

How are the bags personalised? Simply go to the Toxic Fox website, click on ClaireaBella and then select the most appropriate dress design, hair style, hair colour, eye colour, skin tone and name (up to 12 characters) for you, then sit back and wait for your unique bag to arrive. 

You can design your own 'aBella' character in about a minute and it is really easy to do. 

My only quibble is that a few extra variations of hair colour would be good.

Claireabella Jute Bag - Detail

In terms of quality, the bags are very well made and the jute is of a sturdy quality. 

Mine is a large bag which measures 40 cm wide x 33 cm high with a 17.5 cm gusset. 

The handles are nicely rounded so that the bag is comfortable to carry.

The Hand Made With Love silver charm

The bag also features Swarovski elements, a cute rosette bow, a 'hand made with love' silver charm, 2 painted hearts and some sparkle and glitter.  

Because there are so many ClaireaBella impersonators out there, each bag also says "yes it's a ClaireaBella" on the reverse.

Proof of authenticity!

Large Jute Bags can take up to 15 Working Days to produce as they are hand-made with love. 

Because each bag is hand painted by a fully trained ClaireaBella artist there may be some slight colour variations, but this makes every bag unique.

It's all mine!

The large jute bag is currently priced between £39.99 to £44.99 but Toxic Fox are offering a £5 discount at the moment and, for orders over £40, delivery is free. 

The medium jute bag measures 30cm wide by 27cm high with a 17cm gusset and is priced at £34.99 with the smaller Polo Fashion bag measures 21cm wide by 15cm high with a 10cm gusset and is priced at £24.99. 

There is a range of other types of bags too, including canvas, satchel and occasion. 

Better still, there is a whole range of merchandise bearing the ClaireaBella name, from suitcases to wine glasses, mobile phone cases, stationery and cushions.

If you want to treat yourself, or find a unique gift, I recommend that you visit ClaireaBella at Toxic Fox. ClaireaBella can also be contacted at @ClaireaBellaLtd on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClaireaBella.Designs.

And, you might want to draw your loved one's attention to the fact that there are only 20 or so left of ClaireaBella's 2015 Limited Edition Valentines Jute Bag featuring two gorgeous feathered angel wings.

*This is an independent review based on my own ClaireaBella purchase.

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My Son Is A Hamster And Other Suspicions

Right.  I've blummin' well had enough now. The husband has legged it to his annual jolly (or 'sales conference' as he refers to it) and, whilst he is building camaraderie by walking up snowy mountains in Canada, I am going quietly mad trying to feed his offspring.

This is how every mother is in the kitchen, isn't it?

I had hoped that, by now, both Caitlin and Ieuan would be vacuuming up food to nourish their ever increasing frames. To be fair, Caitlin will try most foods and is pretty good at eating - as long as you have about 90 minutes to spare for each meal. Ieuan is STILL vegetable averse, although he claims to eat carrots and broccoli in school and has developed the trick of hiding pieces of food in his cheeks to make it look like he is eating. Last week, I presented him with a plate which had a microdot of cucumber and a slither of greenery and he promptly burst into tears. Hamster-boy will eat fruit till it comes out of his ears but we have got into the bad habit of designing meals around what he may, or may not consume. This makes meal planning nigh on impossible unless we eat pizza or curly pasta on rotation.

A temporary lull in tea time hostilities

Caitlin has a fear of peas but will eat olives. Ieuan's food of choice would be Quavers. Now I know you are all probably tsk tsk-ing at this point, but short of sitting on them and feeding them intravenously, I am a woman short of a strategy. Some would make them sit there until they eat and reserve the hated dish for each subsequent meal. Some would just remove the uneaten food but offer nothing else. I find myself worrying that they may starve or wake up hungry, ignoring the fact that they are both already so tall they reach my chest.

I watched the BBC's Eat Well For Less programme recently which featured various families and looks at how they can reduce their shopping bills whilst not compromising on the taste and quality of their food. I was transfixed not by the advice being handed out (although I recognise I have a weakness for a BOGOF and yellow stickers call to me from miles away), but by how the children ATE ALL THEIR FOOD. Not only did the kids eat but they managed to do so in about 30 minutes - not the hourly endurance test the Husband and I have to sit through.

The Husband finds it equally hard to deal with and after half an hour of cajoling, threatening and pleading, resorts to shouting "eat, eat" like a malfunctioning robot.  I caught the kids shouting "eat, eat" at one another behind our backs the other day which adds fuel to the Husband's suspicion that, as usual, we are being "royally played".

Still, I'm not giving in. I have just bought Nadia Sawalha's "Fabulous Family Food" and will be trying out old fashioned cottage pie (Ieuan hates mashed potato - go figure) and other family favourites because our current family menu plan is duller than a rainy bank holiday Monday.  

I'm not expecting them to turn into foodies overnight but, since Ieuan is given a pot of strawberry jam for his chicken nuggets when we go to Cafe Rouge (as bribery so he'll eat them), something needs to be done.

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Primark SS15 - Favourite Pieces

Primark SS15 - Favourite Pieces by linda-hobbis on Polyvore

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Water Way To Spend A Day With Brecon Carreg

To celebrate the launch of their new kids pack, we had a fun time yesterday with the lovely team from Wales' favourite mineral water, Brecon Carreg, learning how to be eco-friendly and crafty with our used water bottles. 

Brecon Carreg are doing their bit by making slimmer, lighter bottles which use 24% less plastic and are reducing our carbon footprint by 450 tonnes per year.

Since restocking the kids' craft supplies is currently costing me enough to refinance a small nation, the chance to be creative with something that is generally just thrown out into our council's delightful recycling bags was welcome.

Ensconced in the warmth and culinary happiness that is Waterloo Tea, we were fed and, erm, watered and then it was over to Caitlin and Ieuan and the lovely Amy from @ScienceBurp to unleash our inner Mr Maker.  

My own inner Mr Maker has sadly transmogrified into Anne Teak from Gigglebiz but still, I gave it a whirl.

The suggested brief, which was of course swiftly overridden by the male contingent of the party, was to make an animal.  

True to form, Caitlin chose to make a puppy.  

Ieuan, egged on by The Husband (whose birthday it was, and who was clearly remembering a childhood now in particularly dusty and far off hills), decided to make a robot.

Here's what they both used:-

- two water bottle ends (just cut the bottoms off carefully, and under supervision)

- sticky tape

- double sided tape

- coloured paints

- googly eyes

- coloured card

So you need to:-

1. cut the end off two same sized bottles

2. create a hinge between the two bottles using sticky tape so that one end will sit on top of the other

3. stick on your googly eyes (we used double sided sticky tape for this)

4. cut a tongue shape from red card and, using double sided sticky tape again, attach it to the inside of the lower lid by creating a fold so that the tongue sticks out.

5. paint the inside of the bottles and leave to dry.

Let the creation begin...

Assembling the body

Making a puppy

Not entirely sure of the breed though...

The fearsome Stewart

And, voila, introducing Lucy the Puppy and Stewart the Robot.  

Ieuan had a lovely time racing Stewart around with his fellow crafters' creations and The Husband was particularly proud of the antennae he'd fashioned out of green card. 

Caitlin was just happy to be 'doing crafts'.  

Puppy Lucy and Caitlin

It was a great way to spend the afternoon.  

Big thanks to Brecon Carreg, Waterloo Tea, Science Burp and Brighter Comms (who I suspect had more than a hand in the mayhem).  

The finished creations

Like what you've read?  Why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

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Silent Sunday - 25/01/2015

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Date Night With Christian Grey & Bonprix

Now a date night with Christian Grey is highly unlikely to arise (cough) on the grounds that I'm not sure Mr Hobbis would be too happy about it, but if I were to embrace my inner ingénue / floozy, and being a budget conscious gal, I'd definitely visit Bonprix for inspiration for my date night with Mr Grey.





The faux leather shift dress  £49.99 features a nipped in waist and flattering cap sleeves whilst the Metallic Glitter Party Sandals are a bargain £19.99.  

Add in a stylish metal link watch at £29.99 in case you get unavoidably tied up and a simple but elegant clutch £19.99 and you'll be good to, er, go. 

The total value of this lovely outfit is just under £120 and I like to think it combines just the right mix of sophistication and naughtiness.  

Bit like me really.

So there you have it.  50 shades of wa-hey!

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Tit-ter Ye Not Page 3 Haters - No Nudes Ain't Necessarily Good News

Much has been written today about whether The Sun newspaper has finally put the vest back on its dubious tribute to the female form and scrapped its page 3 glamour photography.  Feminists have been celebrating.  Glamour girls have been decrying this slur on their profession.  

Source:  beforethedot.co.uk

On the face of it, the removal of the embarrassment of having to explain to junior why Titania has been photographed in just her pants, and the risk of shocking the more puritanical amongst us on the train in the morning by forgetting to turn straight from the front page to page 5, can only be a good thing.  I make no comment here about the quality of the paper's journalism, nor its prurient enjoyment of all things knobs, knockers and salaciousness because, sadly, most of the British Press is happily cantering that well worn path these days.  The Daily Mail is rapidly becoming the Daily Kardashian and its website's side column is a paeon to a bunch of American celebrities that I have neither heard, nor care about.

Isn't the truth here simply that Page 3 has lost its ability to shock?  That the amount of exposure breasts get is so great that interest in them has faded to a certain extent.  Are we more, thanks to the Kardashian clan, more interested in bottoms now?  Is The Sun about to launch "Arse of the Day" instead? Here's the lovely Stephanie aged 23 from Staines showing us how to park a bike?  Mind you, I can think of a much better use for a column named thus - particularly in the run up to the General Election.

In a more disturbing vein,  the increased availability and consumption of pornography thanks to the internet is a more probably cause of Page 3's possible demise.  There are thousands of sites offering far more disturbing and exploitative pictures of women, all easily accessible via mobile technology.  I am not suggesting that those who enjoy glamour photography are teetering on the edge of subterranean perversion.  I am suggesting that there seems to have been a sea-change in our views about sex and nudity which seems to be removing us farther and farther from the bedrock of culture and morality we used to have.

In comparison to some of the material which passes as daily newspaper fodder, the page 3 photograph has almost an innocence about it.  And that, as a mother to a 7 year old daughter, does concern me.    

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Caring For Poorly Little Ones - This Nurse is Terse and Worse....

We have not got back into the New Year groove.  

No sign of the smooth running routine we usually carry out on autopilot, hindered only by my odd peri-menopausal brain farts where my memory is blanker than Perez Hilton's fan book. 

Cuteness abounds - but not at 3 am

And, of course, we have "the bug" - a random collection of germs, possibly viral, probably bacterial and symptoms that would challenge Florence Nightingale who Caitlin is currently learning about in school.

Almost every night at 3 am since the new term started, I have been woken by shouting and muttering (Ieuan), wailing due to a bad dream (Caitlin), sore ears, sore tums, and a gushing toilet flush which the Husband has finally agreed to mend after approximately a month of asking nicely (obviously this has been interpreted as nagging). 

There are bottles of Calpol and Nurofen littering most surfaces.  

We have no less than 3 digital thermometers - none of which I can hear due to my reluctance to wear my hearing aids.  

In fact I now have more plastic syringes than cutlery.  

Ieuan has been running a fever and Caitlin, after we applied Hello Kitty eyeshadow yesterday to which she had an allergic reaction, now looks like she's about to attend a Venetian masked ball. 

When I haul myself yet again into the early morning darkness, I know I should be as I imagine Florence Nightingale would have been - crisply efficient and able to administer comfort and loving calmness.  

In reality,  I find myself a charmless harridan in a blue dressing-gown on the look out for acting up and attention seeking.  

For the first few times I am able to smooth brows and rearrange bedding, to offer water and, if needed, brandish the plastic syringe.  

By the fifth or sixth disturbance I am like a mad, sleep deprived woman who would probably tell you my bank details and sort code if you asked and likely to tell the children to "just ruddy well go back to sleep". 

In the morning 'mummy guilt' strikes and I wish I could have been more Florence.  

The Husband does not do illness.  

He is of the staunch 'no pain, no gain' crew who, deciding they won't be ill, just aren't.  

He also says that the kids play me royally which doesn't help when I'm trying to assess what kind of mother I'm supposed to be and how deep the well of sympathy should be.  

For those parents dealing daily with serious childhood illnesses, I can only stand and marvel in admiration at their fortitude. I wish I had more of their strength and courage.

Everything seems clearer in the morning, doesn't it? 

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