Rapidly falling levels of customer service

Has anyone else noticed how much the standards of customer service have fallen? Recently I have been less than impressed with how I, as a customer, have been treated by a range of companies. I was under the impression that the customer is always right, obviously I was wrong! Or have standards and quality of customer service just fallen ... drastically?

A few years ago I worked as a Business Consultant and one of our clients was a successful online retailer. They put the customer first and stated: "Under promise, over deliver". This always worked ... tell a customer that they will receive their order in a week, it arrives three days later, you have a happy customer. If a package gets lost in the post, is that the customer's fault? No! It's up to the business to send the order again.

Earlier today, I was treated extremely poorly by a photography company. I overpaid (by almost £10) for my daughter's first school photos. I chose the cheapest option as I didn't want to spend too much on the photos, while also wanting a reminder of her first school photo. I was assured I would get change, otherwise I would just have ordered the more expensive photos. But when I phoned the company today (Profile Photography in Herne Bay, Kent), I was informed that there was no evidence that I had overpaid and therefore I would not be receiving any change. Indeed, my word, as the customer, was not good enough. Even though the school was aware that I was owed money. In fact, the man I spoke to was so rude that he put the phone down during the conversation. Is that good customer service? If there was an OFSTED for customer service, they would be in special measures!

This is not the only company which have fallen extremely short of my (high?!) expectations. Although I don't think expecting basic manners is asking too much!

When I returned from holiday last August and commenced the post-holiday washing, I was devastated when I discovered smoke rapidly escaping from the machine. A quick visit to Comet followed and I returned home confident that I would be the proud owner of a new washing machine a few days later. As anticipated, I was last on the list for the machine to be delivered that day. Nevertheless, I didn't mind, as long as I could start working my way through the massive pile of washing that evening, I was happy (not ecstatic though, as washing clothes is a necessity, not exciting!)

So you can imagine my extreme disappointment when the men refused to remove my machine as it could potentially damage the flooring in my kitchen. I stated that I just wanted a new washing machine but they totally refused to move it, even though I paid for my old machine to be collected as well as the new one to be connected. Unfortunately I was unable to persuade them to move the machine. Were they just being lazy and wanting to finish their shift? I had the choice to send the new machine back or have it delivered and some one else come the following day to fit it, if my husband removed the old one. After some consideration, I decided it would be better to have the machine delivered. The men did help clear a space. However, bearing in mind that they wouldn't remove the old machine just in case they damaged the floor, they pushed the new one under a counter, ripping the flooring in the process. Having closely observed this, I stated that as they had already damaged the floor, they might as well remove the old machine and connect the new one. They refused. When I phoned Comet the following day they were shocked that the men failed to take the old machine - were they just being lazy? Two men turned up to fit the machine, which was done quickly. Although Comet promised to look into it, I'm still waiting for a response!

Comet were not the only company to fail to deliver an acceptable level of customer service. A while ago I ordered a new washing line (I have 3 children, I'm allowed to order boring pieces of equipment!) I waited in, on what was one of the last days of the summer holidays, for the washing line. When I phoned Homebase to enquire where it was, I was told it was out of stock! So why was I allowed to order it?! That order was cancelled by me.

Books failed to arrive from WHSmith, I was told I would have to pay again for my order (almost £100). Fortunately, they listened to my argument and re-sent the order without me having to pay any more money.                     

                                   

I'm sure if I took time to think about it I could come up with a lot more examples of extremely poor customer service. "The customer is always right", clearly does not apply in many companies.

I love the "under promise, over deliver", motto as customers are usually impressed with the speedy delivery and will want to continue to use the company. Is that not the aim of many companies? In the current economic conditions, surely companies should be working hard to keep their customers?

Who has infuriated you? Do you want to name and shame those companies who have delivered poor customer service? I will probably not receive my refund from the photography company and I will never get back that wasted time I spent waiting for something that was never going to be delivered, but if this makes people think twice about using these companies, then I have achieved something. Unfortunately, I will not be ordering any school photos of my beautiful daughter, unless they change the company they use. But is it really a loss? Why do we waste money on mediocre school photos when we could have done better ourselves?

I want to be young again!!

Recently I've started feeling old, or rather started to feel my age! And I wonder when I should start lying about my age and what age I could get away with!

Whilst reflecting on why I have suddenly begun to feel ancient, I came across a 'lovely' article, which made me realise I'm not the only one to feel old ... Women feel old at 29! So I decided to compile a list of things that make me realise that I am no longer as young as I'd like to be:

1. It makes my day when I'm told I look too young to have an 11 year old, I wish I was!
2. I meet someone who I assume is about the same age as me to find out they're 10 years younger. Do they look really awful for their age or do I just have poor judgement?!
3. Then I meet someone who is the same age as me who looks way older and I begin to wonder if I look as old as them!!
4. The fact that I have actually started to think about my age, it never worried me before.
5. I enjoy clubbing but beginning to wonder if the underage teenagers think I should be at home  snuggled on the sofa rather than out having fun!
6. I realise that most people my age would rather be snuggled on the sofa than out clubbing!
7. I love bouncing on the trampoline but have to get off slowly.
8. When I'm at the park with the kids, I have to assess if I can get off the climbing frame, before I get on it!
9. Finally accepted that my mum is always right ... your metabolism starts to slow down as you get older, so eat less or you'll get fat!
10. Pretty sure I'm beginning to get wrinkles. Can I call them laughter lines?!

Please add your own!

Which pet shall we chose?

When we moved house last year, we told the children that we would eventually get a pet. Growing up I had a variety of pets - dogs, cats, hamsters, budgies. I used to love cuddling them, walking them (we had a cat who enjoyed walking to the shops) and playing hide and seek. Again our rather mischevious black cat would hide in the coal so we could only see her eyes peering through the darkness and when given the chance would run and get stuck behind the furniture. The only part about having a pet that I really didn't like was cleaning up, this job was my dad's!

There is so much to consider when trying to chose a pet: Where will it live? How much does it cost to buy? What food does it eat? Is it expensive? How much time do you need to commit to looking after it? Can you leave it alone during the day?

Initially we discussed getting a dog. We live near lots of parks, dogs are great companions, the children seemed keen and there are dog exercise and training classes nearby. However, a few months ago my four year old got knocked over by two huge dogs and one of them licked the baby in the face. So for a while the girls were scared of dogs and having one as a pet was completely out of the question.

Cute: How could you resist those gorgeous puppy dog eyes?!

Then we met Ben, a gorgeous and gentle dog who had just been bought by my friend Maria. I had invited Maria to stay with us but was rather unsure about having a dog in the house. After some consideration I thought it would help the girls get over their fear and of course, I didn't leave either of them alone with Ben. Abi, who had just turned one, took to Ben almost immediately. Eventually she was dangling her food from the high chair (apparently I did this too, at a similar age), and trying to encourage him to play with her by rolling a ball or toy to him. Since then she has been really confident around dogs, even ones bigger than herself. However, Sophie remains rather cautious around dogs. So we thought it was best to postpone our decision about getting a dog.

Walkies: Maria, Abi and Ben at the park

Even though I love walking and running and we have so many parks nearby, I'm not sure I have enough time to dedicate looking after a dog. I don't think it's really fair to leave a dog alone for a few hours during the day and as I will soon be working again (only part-time, fortunately), this is a major consideration. Holidays also would be an issue. I remember my parents putting one of our dogs in kennels, he seemed to enjoy it but I think it can be rather costly.

As a family we have discussed what other pets we like. Being a typical girl, Sophie wants a horse. Barbie has one, so why can't she?! Since moving house, my love of cats has dwindled. They can be such pests, always running through my garden and leaving little surprises in the flower beds. Apparently if we got a cat, other cats would not invade its territory, which would be useful. But my husband doesn't like cats, I think he views them as a pet for an old lady. It's definitely not a very manly pet, not like a dog.

Who's the Boss? Ben takes the driving seat!

So which pet should we get? Personally, I find hamsters and gerbils too small. Also I don't really want a pet that has to live inside. I can cope with the smell and the mess outside but not in the house! Budgies are beautiful and very funny when they start talking to themselves. But they aren't cuddly or as cute as many other pets.


Curious: Abi is fascinated by the speedy gerbils

Yesterday, the children got the opportunity to stroke and cuddle a few pets, a hen, rabbit and guinea pig. The hen was surprisingly soft but definitely not an option as a pet! The rabbit was really cute and fluffy. Although when I was younger, I remember being very keen to have a rabbit. But after the initial enthusiasm wore off, I lost interest. Apparently rabbits can be a bit tempermental and prone to nip. Therefore not a good idea for anyone with young children, especially toddlers who like to prod and poke!

Fluffy: are rabbits as cute as they look?

Finally, the children got to cuddle a guinea pig. As her older sister held the guinea pig, Abi rushed over and immediately poked it, narrowly missing an eye. But the guinea pig didn't jump, squeal, retaliate ... anything! Indeed, it appears that we have found the perfect pet for us. It's cute, cuddly, good natured, fantastic with children and is not too expensive. It won't get too lonely if we're out for a while and is a lot easier to look after than a dog. Perhaps one of this best things about this decision, is that we all agree!

The perfect pet: cute, cuddly and friendly

My new obsession!

Beautiful swirly icing!

Recently I have developed an obsession with making cupcakes (the kids love them, they are really easy to make and they enjoy making them). Although I have always feel slightly envious when I see beautifully decorated cupcakes with swirly icing. When I attempt to put icing on mine, it usually rolls off the sides and never tastes as delicious as it should.

Using my amazing new decorator pump

Until recently I thought I would never create cupcakes that looked too good to eat. Mine have always tasted yummy but need to improve their appearance! So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered that I could indeed aspire to make perfect cupcakes ...

A few weeks ago I went to a Pampered Chef party and one of the activities was decorating cupcakes using a special decorator pump. We got to try a range of nozzles but my favourite, of course, was the one that created swirls. As soon as I used it, I knew I had to buy it.

Today I used it for the first time and it was fantastic! It's so simple to use, even my one year old had a go. My cupcakes aren't perfect yet but I intend to practice as much as I can. I have just over a month until my daughter's fifth birthday and I am determined to bake the most delicious cake, decorated with swirls. I am going to enjoy all the practicing and I think the kids may do too!

Yummy cupcakes that taste as good as they look!

Am I expecting too much?

This evening I have tried several times to reply to all the lovely and much appreciated comments on my blog posts. But my I-phone is refusing to co-operate. I can post comments from other people but not my own, which I'm beginning to find rather frustrating.

Most of the time I love my I-phone and would far rather use it to browse the Internet and use facebook and Twitter. I take photos and videos with it, use it as my diary and record my shopping list on it. Even my children love watching the videos on YouTube. (There is a fantastic version of Twinkle, twinkle, which my girls love).

But it seems my favourite piece of technology has its restrictions. Recently some of my apps have been a little tempermental. Occasionally they'll work but quite often they will refuse to open. When I started running I relied on IMapMyRun to track my distance and speed and I found the voice feedback was great. But after downloading the updated version, I could no longer access it.

Maybe it's because my phone is almost two years old. Although I think a decent phone should maintain it's quality. Or maybe I just expect too much from a little piece of technology!

This is my first blog post that I've written on my I-phone so I've decided not to attempt to add any photos, maybe next time! I've no computer access for a couple of weeks. So if I don't reply to your comment, I'm not ignoring you or being rude! I really appreciate the comments and advice and love that so many people are reading my blog! :)

Sunshine = happiness!

The park this morning

As I woke up this morning, I realised something was different ... it wasn't raining, the sun was shining and the sky was blue! After leaving my four-year to pre-school, I set off on a run. It's amazing how much better everything looks in the sunshine. When I reached the park I realised that I had forgotten something very important in my last blog post (I hate the rain!). Sunshine and warm weather makes me feel extremely happy!! 

Life is just so much better in the sun ... the children and I can play in the garden, we don't need to wear layers of clothing and bring coats when we go out, just in case it starts raining, and the washing dries!! We can relax, have a barbecue, sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine after the children have gone to bed.

Even though it's now evening and dark outside, I am still in a positive, happy mood. Long may the sunshine continue ...











I hate the rain!

When is summer going to start?! Recently we have had the occasional day of beautiful weather followed by what seems like endless and constant rain. I am so fed up and bored of the rain! Not only does it cost more to entertain the children but my diet seems to deteriorate drastically during the miserable weather.

The girls and me relaxing in the garden and having fun!

During April and early May this year, I enjoyed a number of barbecues and days in the sun with friends and the children. We thought summer had started early and that it was going to get better! But just as I thought it was going to last, it got cold, wet and overcast.

Every so often I wake up to a blue sky and the sun. After leaving my elder daughter at pre-school, I walk to the park with my toddler where she loves climbing and running about. When the sun is shining, I love walking and so does Abigail. Who doesn't love that feeling of the warmth of the sun wrapping round you like a cosy blanket?

Last Friday we had a fun family barbecue, the girls played in the garden and we relaxed in the warm weather. But the following day, it was as if autumn had started. It rained, and rained, and rained ...

Entertaining the children in the sunshine is easy and cheap. It doesn't cost anything to go to the park and run about. But it costs a small fortune to bring three children to a softplay centre and you need a second mortgage to go to the cinema! It's not just the cost of the tickets, it's the overpriced but too appealing treats as well. 

I am convinced that if I lived in a hot climate, I would be very slim! When it's warm, I eat sensibly and find it relatively easy to eat healthily ... salads and fruit are in, while chocolate, scones and croissants are out. Unfortunately, I became a different person as regards my diet in the cold, wet weather. I constantly crave fattening, comforting foods. This is all very well in the winter but not in the "summer" when the weather occasionally improves and I have to wear shorts! 

So not only does this miserable weather cost more money to entertain the children but it also turns me into a comfort-food craving lunatic! Is there anything I can do to change this? Well, I can't control the weather. Emigration is an option but as we are settled where we are, it is very unlikely. And to emigrate just for a warmer climate, is a little extreme. Regarding my diet, I think I just to exercise more self-control, although easier said than done! Unfortunately I think indoor entertainment for the children will always be expensive and therefore an occasional treat.

I am still holding out hope that summer will properly arrive and remain, until at least September ... it's good to be an optimist!

I can't eat potatoes!!

Recently I took a food intolerence test and was shocked at the findings. My main intolerence is potatoes ... I'm Irish, I should be able to eat potatoes in huge quantities! In a normal week, at least three of my meals will contain potatoes - baked potatoes smothered in beans and cheese; sweet potato, tuna and sweetcorn and chips with either fish or sausages. So it has been quite a challenge trying to think of alternatives. Oh, and I'm also completely addicted to crisps so have had to abstain from them too!

The first week was quite easy, I just ate more vegetables. Unsurprisingly I have started to eat more healthily, replacing chips with salad. But it's amazing how tempting something becomes when you can't have it. After resisting the temptation to eat chips when out for dinner on Father's Day, I gave in a few days later at Nando's. They tasted gorgeous! However, a few hours later I was in complete agony. Proof that potatoes just don't 'agree' with me.

Amazingly, I have completely resisted the temptation to eat crisps. Though I have missed them. Instead I have found myself snacking on raisins, grapes and strawberries - again, much healthier options.

So I should be feeling better, after all I've stopped eating potatoes. If only it was that easy. Unfortunately, potatoes were not the only food that I had to either avoid or reduce. Milk, eggs, wheat, nuts ... I could go on. It seemed simple at first but when you consider how many recipes and sauces have these ingredients, it's virtually impossible! I don't drink milk anyway but I love chocolate and ice cream. Unfortunately these are treats that I don't think I could give up. But my main issue has been with wheat ... it seems to be in everything - cereals, bread, flour, wraps. Is it possible to have a wheat-free diet? Well, if you have the money to spend on wheat-free products and the time to cook separate meals, then it might be possible. Any suggestions regarding this are very welcome!

So at the moment, I think the best possible solution for me is to eat as healthily as possible. No potatoes, limited dairy products, very little bread and plenty of fruit and vegetables. I'm hoping that I'll eventually feel less bloated and be full of energy, no longer craving the foods that make me feel so ill. Simple!? Any advice and tips are most welcome!

Can woman have it all?

As I sit cuddling my beautiful baby daughter, I feel so happy to have three wonderful children. I always knew I wanted children and didn't want to be too old starting a family. My mum was 28 when she had me, which I thought was positively ancient!

But I also wanted a career. When I returned to work after my first child I was convinced a woman could have both. Even after my second child I was still keen to pursue my career. Now I'm not so sure. Can a woman with 3 or more children succeed in work as well as maintaining a happy family life?

As a woman there are so many decisions to be made, questions to be addressed. Do I want children? When is the right age to have children? Who will look after them if I go back to work? Can I afford to pay childcare? Will I ever get my figure back?! I could go on ...

For me the first two questions were easy - yes, I did want children and I didn't want to be too old when I started a family. Fortunately I met my husband when I was young. But I know many woman who haven't met 'Mr Right' and are starting to question whether they'll ever have children or if they really want children. There are many woman in their 30s and 40s who have spent the last 10-15 years building a successful career who are questioning if they really do want children at all. They have got used to a certain level of earnings and for many their lives have revolved around their careers and that next promotion. I don't envy them.

As I mentioned, I spent a few years fooling myself that I really could have it all. I juggled working full-time with tennis and swimming lessons, gym, social life and housework (as little as possible!). But after a while I was exhausted. I was trying to fit too much in to my week. I was getting up early for work, dropping the children to childcare and zooming around in the evenings to bring them to a variety of activities. It was when I became pregnant with baby number three that I realised that I could no longer maintain this lifestyle. It wasn't healthy for the kids or for me.

During the past year we have all slowed down. There is no mad morning rush out of the house before the sun is up and our after-school activities have reduced, slightly. Consequently we have a happier family.

Many woman, like me, feel that we are not succeeding in life unless we are attempting to do it all. But eventually something has to give - it is virtually impossible to work full-time while trying to bring up a young family. So to return to my original question, for me the answer is no. My children are the most important thing in my life and have to come first. Childhood is so short and I don't want to regret missing them grow up.

My best year ever!!



Spot the baby!



My beautiful baby girl has just turned one, her first big milestone. So recently I have found myself reminiscing and reflecting over the last year. Our lives have changed so much – we moved to a new area; I became a stay-at-home mum and most importantly, we became a family of five!

I love the energy, enthusiasm and interest Abigail has in everything. Once a helpless baby, she is now a fearless, adventurous little monkey! Her confidence is developing and she is beginning to master walking.

Like her brother and sister, Abigail is very sociable and loves meeting new people. Fortunately both Sophie and Luke settled well into pre-school and school and have made lots of new friends. I love meeting new people too and hope that the friendships I have made will last a long time.

I have adapted well to becoming a stay-at-home-mum, which I love. It is fantastic to spend time with my children, meet other mums, arrange play-dates and have the freedom to decide how we will spend the day. But of course, it is difficult when you are trying to survive on a reduced family income. So my days as a stay-at-home-mum are numbered as I will start working again in September.

Since I was four and dreamed of playing tennis at Wimbledon, I have been very sporty. I used to be extremely passionate about athletics and have recently reignited my passion for running. It’s fantastic for losing baby weight (all four stone of it!) and I often got up at 6am to fit in a run before my husband left for work. I’m finally back into my size 8 dresses and in July I’m doing the Race for Life 10k. A few months ago, I joined a gym and love trying out new classes – Zumba, Body Jam, Body Combat and Body Pump are all fantastic ways to exercise.


As an ex-professional rugby player, my husband is also very active. He’s still playing 1^st team rugby and my son has inherited his love of the game. Luke settled very quickly into our local rugby club and I was very proud when he was awarded the Player's Player last month.



Abigail enjoying a dance with her brother



A talented all-rounder, Luke too expressed a desire to play at Wimbledon at the tender age of three. After spending a small fortune on lessons, he has become a good player but unfortunately doesn’t still aspire to be a professional tennis player. Last year Sophie seemed very keen to start playing tennis, although we later found out that she really only wanted a pink tennis racquet! After a brief spell at tennis lessons, we decided that dance might be a better option, partly as she expressed an interest in it and also because she added dances and twirls into her tennis! After finding a dance school, Sophie started pre-school ballet and loves performing her moves for us. Abigail also loves to dance with a big smile on her face!

I’m sure I have missed out lots of important things which have happened over the last year. But without a doubt, it has been the best year of my life so far!











Sophie and me off for her first run



I have been so impressed with my four-year old recently and her enthusiasm for exercise. We're an active family so it shouldn't really have been a surprise that she has being requesting to join me on my runs.

The first time we went running she was so excited! She rushed to get changed and was so happy that we were going for a run together. I was so proud of her and impressed that she wanted to run. Amazingly she managed to run most of the way, only stopping briefly to state she was "out of power". But each time, after a very brief break, she started running again with a smile on her face. In total we ran about 1km, not far for me but pretty impressive for a four-year old.

Although she had a busy day at pre-school on Wednesday, she was still keen to go running. So off we went with her 11-year old brother and his friend. This time Sophie found it tougher as she was already tired and enjoyed running part of the way holding either mine or her brother's hand. But she did it. Again she ran most of the way.

Indeed most of the children where I live seem to be quite active. The boys are often out on their bikes or playing football. Fortunately we live in a fairly safe cul-de-sac, so the older children can play in the street. And with a number of lovely parks close by there's plenty of opportunity for exercise.

In my opinion, children need lots of exercise, for the sake of their health and also to burn off some energy! I love running about with my children, bouncing on the trampoline and watching them participate in sport. I remember as a child cycling in the park with my parents, climbing trees and playing tennis as a family.

But it seems that active families like mine could soon be in the minority. Almost a quarter of 6-15 year olds cannot run even 400 metres, according to a survey that was published this week. A Generation of kids turn their back on sport That's only once around an athletics track! A shocking statistic.

Even worse, out of the 1,500 children interviewed, 225 had NEVER played a sport with their parents! In this glorious weather, what excuse is there? It's not expensive to buy a ball or a rounders kit and head to the park for some family fun.

A significant number of children questioned were also unable to swim or ride a bike. But more than three quarters had a games console and almost the same amount had a mobile phone. So it doesn't appear to be lack of money that is preventing children from learning these vital skills.

What kind of future can these kids expect?  

One final bid ...

I committed the ultimate crime today . . . I exposed my midriff when leaving my elder daughter at pre-school. It wasn't that much but it was enough. And after having three children, my third almost a year ago, my tummy is not as flat as it once was.

I have really started to mourn the loss of my flat stomach and am determined to get it back! My husband thinks I should just accept my 'mummy tummy'. Apparently it's a sign of age ... I'm 36, not 56! And he's not the only one who thinks I can't do it ...

"It's the third one that did it!" is a common complaint amongst my mummy friends in relation to the loss of their toned (or not so toned) stomachs.

"Your skin is more stretchy after three ... It's harder to lose weight when you're older ... Your body fat percentage increases as you get older."

I try not to listen. Although I wished I hadn't piled on the pounds during this pregnancy. Each time I've been pregnant, I've put on approximately 4 stone and gone up about four dress sizes (I'm usually a 8/10). Last time I was back in a skimpy bikini within 7 months, following a few months of strict calorie counting and constant visits to the gym. This time I managed to get back into most of my clothes by the time my beautiful daughter was 9 months. I rekindled my passion for running and cut out juice! There most be a lot of hidden calories in juice because the pounds fell off when I stopped drinking it!

To be honest, unless mistakenly exposed, it's not really that obvious that I have a 'mummy tummy' when I have clothes on. But I know it's there. And more importantly, I have 3 or 4 gorgeous dresses hanging in my wardrobe that either 'grab' me unflatteringly at the stomach or even worse the zip won't go all the way up. Ok, the last one was bought in Topshop and was for a 'Sex in the City' night when I dressed as Carrie. It is incredibly short, in fact I really don't know what possessed me to buy a dress so short. I think it looked good on me at the time! But it looks awful on me now and I really don't want to give it to my much slimmer sister who would look fantastic in it!

So I've got two reasons to lose my 'mummy tummy' - to feel better about myself and to look fabulous in my beautiful dresses. The latter reason is purely self-indulgent and vain, according to my husband.

Since my 6 week check I have been walking and running quite frequently and am training for the Race for Life 10k in July. Recently I joined the gym and love Zumba. I also have started doing weights to tone up and going to Body Pump, which I don't love so much, but think it's making some impact on my muscle tone.

Every so often I cut out chocolate, crisps, bread and eat more fruit and veg. I've started a food diary a few times, which is great but requires time and dedication. But over the last month or so I feel like I've been stuffing myself with food - my biggest vices are crisps (Kettle Chips and Tyrells, in particular); chips at the rugby club (very tasty) and chocolate (I've even eaten baking chocolate!) Oh, and bread, which makes my stomach bloat like an overpumped helium balloon.

So I've decided to make a final bid to regain my fondly missed flat stomach This means no crisps or bread, limited chocolate and chips. Although with the number of birthday parties and rugby matches I have over the next month, I am allowing myself one naughty day a week!

I'm going to review my progress at the end of the month. My beautiful daughter turns 1 at the end of May and I want to look fabulous. I haven't started to contemplate what I'll do if my 'mummy tummy' is still here. Keep going with the 'diet'? Cry? Accept defeat?

In the meantime, I'm going to really try hard to watch what I'm eating and keep up with the exercise. And I won't make the mistake of not looking closely in the mirror before I leave the house again.

Is rugby a sport for girls?

At the tender age of four, my daughter has been convinced by my husband that she should play rugby. I'm not impressed! Although I agree that she probably would be great at it - she's very fast, has lots of energy and stamina and is pretty fearless. But that's not the point. She's a girl, with a cute, pretty face. What if she gets cuts and bruises? Or even worse, a broken nose? Or cauliflowever ears? I'm not alone in my fear. Most mums I've spoken to feel exactly the same way.
My son frequently returns from rugby with tales of how someone stood on his head and often has bumps and bruises. Fortunately he's never been seriously injured. Although even at his age there have been some serious injuries. One boy was airlifted off the pitch at a recent mini rugby festival, after landing awkwardly on the hard ground. But even though there is a risk of serious injury, and I occasionally worry that it is him lying on the ground, not moving, I am fine with my son playing rugby. It is something that boys do. A sport for 'real' boys and men.
Perhaps that's were my objections really lie. It's a masculine sport, not very ladylike. Maybe I'm just trying to encourage my little girl to be a princess for the rest of her life, focusing on ballet and gymnastics. But steering clear of sports viewed as masculine.
I shouldn't really be surprised that my daughter wants to play rugby. My husband (an ex-professional) and son are rugby-mad. They are constantly practicing in the garden and it is frequently on the television.
I, too, am not free of blame. As a youngster I was very sporty and when I went to university I was keen to continue my main passion, athletics. Unfortunately there wasn't the opportunity for me to do so. Despite my attempts to train, following a personalised programme written by my dedicated athletics coach, it wasn't much fun training by myself. Gradually I let it slide and my fitness levels fell too. So I looked for another sport which I could do. I never liked netball - I didn't like the restrictions imposed. Hockey wasn't for me either. I had played at school but found I was constantly injuring my ankles.
One day I found myself pondering whether to try out rugby. Rugby was an important sport at my university and I found myself signing up to it. In hindsight, I must have been mad. I didn't consider the possibility of injury at all. To be honest, I'm a bit of a girlie girl when it comes to pain and injury. And after a number of hard tackles and finger sprains, I lost interest. Indeed the only part I really enjoyed was the fitness - I loved both the long run at the beginning and the sprint training. Mostly as I like winning and found that I was fitter than the rest of the girls!
I think my daughter is a lot braver than me. But maybe I should share my injuries with her as a warning ...

Royal Wedding excitement

I think I'll start my blog on a happy note ... I'm so excited about the Royal Wedding tomorrow! And why not?!

Many little girls dream of marrying a Prince, my 4-year old has already aspirations to do so! Over the last few weeks, she has being eagerly looking forward to a Prince and Princess party at pre-school. Initially she was going to be Kate Middleton although decided she didn't want her Prince to be called William, as she doesn't like the name! So she opted to go as Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), which was handy as we already had the dress, tiara and shoes! As we walked home from pre-school yesterday after the party, she was bubbling with excitment about the Royal Wedding, demanding to know when she could watch it.

So we will be watching the Wedding of the Year on TV with friends. With three young children, I am not mad enough to venture into London, think I'll leave that to the tourists! But I think it's fantastic that so many places have organised street parties. It shows a real sense of community.

Given the amount of publicity the Royal Wedding has been given, I can understand why some people are fed up hearing about it. Although do they need to go on about it and how they're not interested?! Considering the usual doom and gloom we have become so used to listening to, isn't it great to have something positive and happy to celebrate? It is such a welcome distraction from the 'normal' news and I will love watching it and getting into the community spirit!