I’m not a political campaigner, I don’t understand politics, never tried.  To be honest I have no interest.  I am a decent person, I do what I say I am going to, if I can’t I don’t say it and I am a mother, I like children to be warm, fed and safe.

The International aid from the UK has made some significant improvements in helping millions of children from a life sentence of hunger.  My Lil H is 5 years old, the number of children across the world not making it to that milestone has fallen from 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2011, but we can’t stop, we have to keep bringing this number down year on year on year.

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour have all committed to pledging 0.7% of our national income to international aid by 2013, this is a promise upheld in the current government’s coalition agreement.  Honouring this commitment to the poorest children will ensure progress continues.  I wrote to my MP, who happens to be George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer.  I sent it by post and emailed it too and guess what?  He replied!

2012 is tough year, a tough era for everyone, its not a reason to not do anything though and if you are reading this chances are you blog or are social active online in some way, you and your little mouse with a few clicks can help to spread the work and make a difference and keep children mortality rates falling. Take two minutes to watch the video below. During the two day G8 Summit that starts tomorrow, more than 14,000 children will die as a result of malnutrition.  Don’t know that and do nothing.

Please help end hunger and malnutrition. Share this message and encourage the government to name a day for a global hunger summit here

Help to break the chains of hunger, share this message and encourage the government to name a day for a global hunger summit here

I went to CybHer this weekend and it rocked!  Thank you Sian and the CybHer lovelies Claire, Erica and Ryan and the rest of the team on the day for making it an amazing event.

There was lots of fabulous people, interesting workshops, many drinks and lots of cackling!  I’m still working through my thinking and formulating what that means for me, for Cheshire Mum and what my plan of action is.  What I have at the moment are loads of “soundbites” from the day – things I heard, overheard and said … recalling these make me smile, giggle and howl so here you go…

Did you say them?  Come on ‘fess up!  Did I say them to you?  What can you recall?  Do share…

There are things I’d like to say.  I’m straight forward and say it how it is but I do choose my battles.  My mother always says to have a friend you have to close one eye, to have a good friend close both.  With this in my mind I have ended up stewing a bit.

I’m frustrated at the moment. Nothing massive, in fact I can’t put my finger on it probably because it’s loads of small “not really important” things individually but all together they are making me grumpy. I feel like I’m inwardly rolling my eyes, tutting or swearing constantly. I feel a bit let down, a bit unappreciated, a bit overlooked, a bit put upon, a bit like I’m tolerating more than I should have to.

It’s stifling me, my blogging, my involvement on Twitter and my enthusiasm overall. I feel a bit like a walking sigh wearing a “FFS are you having a laugh” T-shirt! Yeah exactly, who wants to hang out with her, not me that’s for sure. So with CybHer just two sleeps away I thought I’d do myself a favour, be honest and get it all off my chest. Then I can be reinspired at CybHer and if I’m not maybe my blogging days and / or Cheshire Mum has come to a natural end.

So here in less than 140 characters are the things I need to vent, in no particular order, to a whole myriad of people about a whole variety of “not really important” things …

• You’re a crap friend
• You never call me unless you want something
• You’ve hurt my feelings
• I don’t work for free, my mortgage company isn’t cool with IOU’s
• I’m sure you would like me to tell my readers, FB friends, Twitter followers. But why? Why should I?
• I’m a blogger I’m not short of PR contacts thanks for the offer of an intro to your friend in PR
• I don’t live in London (anymore)
• I’ve worked it marketing for over 15 years, I get it ok!
• Don’t email for something, ask how I am just to get what you want & when I say not great don’t reply
• I know I said its OK, the truth is that it is not OK or fine and it makes me angry
• I didn’t have to invite you, but I did go to the effort so the least you could do is acknowledge the invite
• I was being kind, ignoring me hurts my feelings
• I think your behaviour is rude
• If your children have a bug don’t invite us to play date we don’t want to share
• Sorry, committees are not for me thanks but not thanks
• Don’t ask for advice if you’re not going to listen I do not need to practice speaking
• No I don’t want to join your affiliate programme
• No I don’t have a PPI claim to make STOP CALLING ME!
• No I’ve not been injured in an accident STOP TEXTING ME!
• I don’t like you and don’t want to be friends
• You don’t get me or my life
• You don’t understand my pressures
• It’s not my fault you’re not pregnant
• I resent you making me feel guilty about being a working parent
• I’m sorry you don’t understand our commitments but it doesn’t change them
• You are not busier than me, I am not busier than you, the busy Olympics are in your head
• I would appreciate someone else organising something for once
• It would make my life easier if you did it yourself
• How about you book it this time?
• You make my life difficult so I am making my life without you in it
• You still owe me twenty quid
• I know it’s easier to ask me but google is free and the answer is there
• I need you to respect my other commitments
• I am pissed off that I’ve dropped of the dieting wagon
• I hate my body right now

Rant over! Phew! Feels better! Anyone else silently seething?! Don’t stay schtum come on pop your frustration in a comment …

You lucky readers of Cheshire Mum have the chance to win a £50 gift voucher, courtesy of Argos. With a range of children’s toys, children’s clothes, homewares and pretty much everything under the sun – you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Whether you have a birthday coming up, you’ve got your eye on something for the kids, or you just want to treat yourself for being such a fabulous mummy, there’s plenty to choose from – chad valley toys, jewellery and everything in-between.

You could even treat you and the children to something you can secretly enjoy, too. For example, do you remember having sylvanian families as a child? You’re in luck – Argos has plenty! This is a present that the whole family can enjoy – you can indulge in nostalgia and the kids will be kept entertained.

To enter just leave me a blog comment telling me what you’d buy if you won.  Me?  I have diary chocker full with 3 year old and 5 year old birthday parties I would stock up my present box.  There are additional entry options if you so wish.  The competition will close at midnight on 31st May 2012.

The winner will be selected at random from all entries received using Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified within 28 days of the closing date. The prize is as stated: no cash alternatives are available. This competition is open to UK entrants only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The introduction of the silver recycling bins in our area have made me very aware of how much milk, apple and orange juice my family, by family I mean almost exclusively my children, drink!

I blogged before about some of our recycling creations making milk bottles into fabulous Elmer Elephants

Fruit juice cartons can be easily turned into fab bird feeders like this one.

This is another inspired craft creation that Diva G has brought home from pre-school, its currently residing in our backgarden.

Here’s the “how to” if you fancy making your own bird feeder:

1. Cut out the front and back of the carton so you can see through it
2. Stick lolly sticks to the top to make a “roof”
3. Paint the carton
4. Cut an X or a small hole on the other side of the roof to the spout
5. String a fat ball underneath the carton through the spout and the X you cut in the roof.