Category Archives: Beta Mum’s Blog

The ramblings of a trapeze artist turned journalist who ran away from the circus to join the BBC… and then ran away from the BBC too.

Beachwatch 2008 – almost

What a great weekend activity, I think, still labouring under the delusion that my children are happy to go along with my idea of a good, family day out. So I suggest it, without thinking carefully how to lead them … Continue reading

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Screen Capture

Of course we limit their screen time, and of course they do everything they can to get around the rules. “Dad, Mum says I can watch telly,” they whine, when I’ve said they can’t but am still at work so … Continue reading

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Aim, Method, Results, Conclusion

Science kits – don’t you just hate them. Ben was given one for Christmas/Birthday at least 8 months ago, and I thought I’d managed to hide it somewhere he’d never find it. But I’d forgotten that this is the child … Continue reading

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Is it Worth it?

My little boy – well, he’s 9 now – asked me a question at bedtime tonight. “Mu-um.” “Ye-es.” “Can you change your job?” Uncertain silence from me. Then the question to which I do not want to hear the answer. … Continue reading

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A Life in Bullet Points

From Dawn Till Rusk has tagged me with a nightmare task that has taxed my memory, my sense of decorum and my rusty editorial skills. I have been asked to summarise the last 15 years of my life in 10 … Continue reading

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Suddenly child-free

So what did I do – in those pre-child days – when time after work was mine for the taking? When tea-time was spent in the gym and bed-time was a vague concept adhered to only on the eve of … Continue reading

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Model Child

Ben has a new career path in mind. He’s been through policeman, spy and footballer already. But now he has another plan. It was prompted by some news I told him today. One of his friends has landed a lead … Continue reading

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Hearts and Flowers

It’s been Activities Week at the children’s school all this week. For “Activities Week” – read “Tax payers’ money spent on days on the beach” week. They’ve been to Sark (Ben), St Ouens Beach (Ben), Greve de Lecq beach (Hannah), … Continue reading

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Young Love

Well, it’s happened. Young love is blooming and Ben is wearing his “Charlotte Harvey” face. Charlotte Harvey was a little girl at Ben’s nursery whose hair he fell in love with first, followed by the entire girl. If he talked … Continue reading

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The B Word

It’s hard to tell whether this is a Jersey thing, or an age thing – the children’s age, not mine. The other day, Hannah, who’s just 7, was telling me what she’d been doing while playing outside with her friends. … Continue reading

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