Gloucester


huggles

Our wedding 3

Nope, this isn’t going to be a soppy, lovey dovey post. But there will be photos. We had a non traditional wedding, and I’m going to list the quirky bits, the me bits. First up we didn’t go all bridezilla and crazy, things were booked fast then not worried about until just before the big day. There is no point stressing and almost needing a divorce before you’re even hitched. Luckily neither of us are religious so that cut down on “rules” and traditions. We only informed family about a fortnight before the wedding, we invited just immediate family, a bridesmaid for me, a best man for him. One exception to the “family only” invites was our pal Kevin and his wife Lynn. I married him because I love him, because he’s a freak that makes me giggle, because he keeps me sane (mostly) and for lots of other little […]


When a person becomes invisible 5

Yesterday I was walking through town, minding my own business and a homeless guy said “can you spare some change please?” I hesitated and considered just saying “sorry but no” like I often do but he looked at me and smiled.I shake my purse and grab some silver coins, it’s not a lot but he genuinely seemed happy. I say “sorry it’s not much lovely” and he said something like “it all helps, and at least you didn’t ignore me.” It was a bit chilly, and I’m honestly nervous about giving homeless or other street people money as one local man always lies, so I say to the young chap on the floor “fancy a cuppa?” His face! “Yes please, a coffee with 4 sugars miss.”


Robot Wars Live is in Gloucester this weekend 17

Do you remember Robot Wars? Yeah, me too and I flipping loved it. Did you know they still have a live version of Robot Wars even though the TV show finished years back? No? Well I did, I went to the 2013 finals and had a right giggle, I might have been shouting louder than my kids. House robots like Sargent Bash and Matilda ripping apart roboteers pet robots was amazing tv, and I for one am very pleased it’s continued in its current format rather than nothing at all. These aren’t Teksta puppies or Robofish, they are big and often brutal machines made as a labour of love some of them being “cheap” at about £100 to make whilst others cost up to about £4000 to make. The show times are Sat 7th November 2015, 5:00pm Sun 8th November 2015, 12:00pm Sun 8th November 2015, 3:30pm At GL1 Leisure […]


Cafe Rene Gloucester

Another Birthday boy – #MySundayPhoto 11

In the last few days my older son, D became a teenager. Do you know how old that makes me feel? When we were at Rene D counted a section of the wine bottles that make up the ceiling and did some maths, muttering numbers to himself. He worked out the ceiling should be filled with 2688, but there are gaps. The odd missing bottle, and bits of woodwork preventing bottles being put in certain places. So D decided it was nearer 2600 bottles. Still my nerd.


Gloucester Victorian market 5

This weekend my family and I went to Gloucester Quays Victorian market. Gloucester quays does events like this at various times of the year, and they do it rather well. There were lots of stalls, food huts and a few fair rides. We didn’t go with the intention of buying lots of money, more like browsing for ideas.


Kaln

The owls need YOU! 5

Near me is the wonderful Barn Owl Centre and their feathered friends need your support. They are trying to raise £30k so they can buy the farm they are based on. They’ve been renting since 2008 from the council. If they can buy the farm the future will be more secure, they can do the improvements they need to do and not worry about whether the lease will be renewed or not.


The Barn Owl centre in Gloucester 6

Recently the boys and I visited the Barn Owl centre, it is very near home yet we had never been.  It is not like other bird of prey centres I’ve visited, this place is all for the birds and their welfare. It is a registered charity dedicated to conservation, education and bird welfare. It was a boiling hot day when we visited, and some of the birds were sulking a bit – but to be honest so were my sons so fair enough birds. I couldn’t fault how the birds were treated though, and they all had plenty of water and food. First we met Paddy, a sweet looking 11 year old female barn owl. We walked along a tunnel-like corridor towards the flying barn, which had old cinema chairs and a big screen they use for education. Paddy sat on a beam at one end of the barn, and was a […]


One of those days 4

Am I the only person in England that knew nothing about the Tour de France being in London today? Off I merrily went up the Northern line as I had been in central London this morning and afternoon. I had two hours to kill until my reserved train home. Camden the other half suggested, so off I went in search of shoes, something to fit these giant feet. On attempting to return to Paddington for my train home to Gloucester I got held up. Three selfish idiots holding the door open on the tube so their mates didn’t have to get the next tube. Then just mega busy trying to get past people in Paddington.


Food bank collections this weekend 1

Hello readers. Do you remember a little while back I wrote about Gloucester food bank? Well the lovely manager has emailed me to say that there will be big collections at the bigger Tesco stores in Gloucester and I want to share this info with you all. In fact since reading the email I have seen an advert on the telly saying that Tesco will add an extra 30% to whatever is donated in their stores this weekend 3rd 4th and 5th July, if its on the “shopping list”. If you are shopping please consider buying a couple of cartons of long life milk or a few nice tins, or an extra bottle of shower gel. Even one donation helps, it all adds up. Ok a tin of peas isn’t a meal but it does get packed in to meal kits and passed on to a person or family in […]


Bank holiday weekend as a #MorrisonsMum 8

Last weekend I was lucky enough to get sent some Morrisons shopping vouchers and asked for my opinions on Morrisons prices, quality and the experience as a whole. Morrisons were extremely generous and sent hundreds of blogging parents shopping vouchers, so we could all give them a go, and look out for the “I’m Cheaper” logos. To be honest we normally shop elsewhere, but with a new store open in Gloucester this was the perfect excuse to go to M instead.


An honest look at #FoodBanks 14

As you might have gathered, I am annoyed by the recent bad press related to the Trussell Trust and food banks after The Daily Fail wrote that article. So annoyed I visited my local food bank and not only donated some items, but spent some time talking to the staff at Gloucester food bank. The Fail is way off, these people are lovely, and kind, and well, brilliant. The first thing I want to say is that Gloucester food bank gets no government level help – it is a charity that relies on kind donations and volunteered time. It is a smallish building, but well used. Shelves were stacked with items that families in need would love. It was organised by type of product, and dates. Bulkier items had whole shelves to themselves, and smaller bits were in labelled cardboard boxes used like draws. I met lovely volunteers who I saw […]