What I have loved this week! Week 26. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Mine has been a busy one with lots going on. I feel like I am definitely going to enjoy the weekend when I finally get some time to relax. I have plenty of little things which I have been loving and I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share.

Toy Story 5!

This was such a fun one and probably my favourite thing of the week! My girls and I went to see the new Toy Story film during the week and it was so good. I was so glad they didn't make Woody and Buzz the main characters again. I love them but we've already had so many stories about them. This time it was more about Jessie and it felt new and different. She has always been one of my favourite characters. The plot itself was heart warming and I had a little cry. The writers really know how to hit the parents right in the heart. hehehe

The World Cup!

I've watched so many matches and ended up staying way later on a night than I should but I keep telling myself it's only a few weeks every 4 years! England’s match on Tuesday wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, ending in a draw against Ghana but it was enough to get them through to the next stage. We have our last match of the group stage tomorrow. We went to the pub to watch it and it was such a good night. Sitting outside, watching the big screen, perfect weather and with a crowd watching along makes everything seem more exciting!

Hot weather!

It really feels like summer now! We've had a bit of a heatwave and today is supposed to reach 32C (90F) which is very hot for England. I know some people would laugh at me complaining about that temperature but our houses just aren't built for it and neither am I. lol. When I haven't had to do things, I have tried to move as little as possible. lol I am enjoying it because I know it won't last. Next week is supposed to be colder and wet.

The hosepipe!

This is such a simple thing but it’s been an absolute lifesaver this week. The garden is properly growing and everything needs watering, especially with the warmer weather we’ve had. Usually I just use a watering can and refill it over and over, so the hosepipe has been a great help. It is nice to go out there when it has cooled a little, turn the hosepipe on and have a few minutes peace.

Fizzy pop!

I don't usually drink much fizzy pop but this week I have been enjoying it with lots of ice. I have been drinking it by the pint and I am not even sorry. Pop always tastes good when it is hot out! It’s been one of those small treats that makes sitting down for five minutes feel like a proper break.

Sandals!

It's sandal weather and I have finally found a pair that are comfy and go with everything that I wear in the warmer months!

Pyjama Bottoms!

On Wednesday I went to put some leggings on, which I usually wear around the house but it was that hot and sticky. I thought not today! I reached for some pyjama bottoms and spent the day in them. I wasn't going anywhere and had no visitors coming, so why not? I was so comfortable and actually felt cooler than I would have in leggings. It won't become a regular thing but I came in yesterday afternoon and did the same thing so maybe it will. lol

My youngest has left college!

It was Ellie's last day in college on Wednesday and her last official day today as a student. I don't know how I feel about it at the moment. My baby is all grown up but I am excited about the next stage in her life. There was no graduation ceremony or anything like that but we will be celebrating over the weekend. There were many times over the years when I thought my girl wouldn't complete her education but here we are and she smashed it!

What have you loved over the past week?

British TV that shaped my childhood!

There are certain sounds that will forever live rent-free in my head. The thud thud thud of Contenders ready? Gladiators ready? The little trumpet jingle of Blue Peter and that eerie theme tune from Knightmare that made my living room feel like it had suddenly been transported to a haunted castle. Growing up in Britain, TV wasn’t just something we watched it raised us, entertained us and occasionally scarred us for life. These are some of the TV shows that shaped my childhood.

Blue Peter!

If you grew up in the UK, there’s a 99% chance you’ve tried and failed to make something with sticky back plastic because Blue Peter told you it was so easy. Blue Peter was like an after-school club on TV. You got crafts, pets (I loved the tortoises) and you got presenters who felt like your slightly cooler older brothers or sisters and let’s not forget the Blue Peter badge. That tiny piece of plastic was basically childhood royalty. If you had one, you could stroll into theme parks and museums for free, which in kid currency was priceless.

Knightmare!

Knightmare was a fever dream of a TV show and I still can’t believe it actually existed. You’d get this poor kid shoved in a giant horned helmet so they couldn’t see a thing, then their mates had to guide them through a medieval dungeon full of dodgy CGI monsters. The graphics were not good when you look back now but it was terrifying at the time. I was always shouting at the screen because the kid was about to walk straight into a pit of fire! It was basically the 80s and 90s version of a video game but on the TV and way more stressful.

Byker Grove!

This was meant to be a cool, gritty show for teens but most of us were watching it years before we were anywhere near the age of the characters. It felt grown up. The storylines were heavy with bullying, relationships, even drugs but the one that made everyone gasp was the infamous paintball incident. Poor PJ getting blinded!

Gladiators!

Saturday nights were never boring when Gladiators was on. Forget Marvel superheroes, we had Jet, Hunter and of course, Wolf, the pantomime villain who made kids either terrified or obsessed. The whole thing was way over the top. The giant cotton bud battles or Duel if we’re being proper, were everyone’s favourite. Two grown adults smacking each other while balanced on a podium. That’s quality television right there and the Eliminator course which I always wanted a go at!

Fun House!

No childhood TV list is complete without Fun House. The slime, the games, the mullet were iconic but the real dream was the go-karts. Every kid watching just wanted a go on them. The Fun House itself was basically every child’s fantasy playground, filled with ball pits, foam and prizes that were usually a Walkman or a mountain bike.

Animals of Farthing Wood!

If you know, you know. This animated show was supposedly for kids but it was more like a crash course in heartbreak. The series followed woodland animals trying to survive and reach a new home and along the way, well, let’s just say things happened. Disturbing, emotional, hide behind the cushion things. Whole generations were left sobbing over foxes and hedgehogs.

The Generation Game!

This was family TV at its finest. Bruce Forsyth was the master of cheesy jokes and audience banter and the games were always chaotic. Watching people try to make pottery in 60 seconds or dance with complete strangers was pure comedy and let’s not forget the conveyor belt finale, always with a cuddly toy!

Saturday Morning Chaos - Live & Kicking, SMTV: Live and Going Live!

Saturday mornings were something special. Forget sleeping in you had to be up early for Live & Kicking, Going Live or SMTV: Live. Between phone in competitions, celebrity interviews and sketches that were organised chaos, it was the perfect start to the weekend! Ant & Dec on SMTV: Live was comedy gold. “Wonky Donkey” still lives in my brain rent-free.

Nowadays, kids have all the streaming services where everything is on demand but there was something magical about sitting down as a family or rushing home from school to catch a show before tea.

What did you used to love watching on TV as a child?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #61

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

It is the sunshine which I love the most! Seeing it bright outside when I wake up makes everything feel easier and it really boosts my mood. There are the longer days too, it feels like there's more time to enjoy life instead of rushing through it. When the sun is shining, it's an excuse to enjoy ice cream, ice lollies, cold drinks, long cold showers and easy meals because I can't be bothered to cook!

My biggest pet peeve is trying to sleep when it's too hot. During the day I'll think the weather is lovely but when bedtime arrives and I'm lying there sticking to the sheets, flipping my pillow over every five minutes and I will start Googling how much air conditioning would cost! I usually just shower in the evening but I find myself having to shower in the morning too because I feel sweaty and stinky, it feels like such a chore.

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

At the moment it has to be Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) by The Lightning Seeds with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. Every two years here there is a big football tournament, whether it’s the World Cup or The Euros and this song just ends up everywhere! It instantly reminds me of summer in England because it’s always on in the background of everything. I think I have heard it or thought about it every day since just before the World Cup started.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate.

The freedom!! I'd leave the house in the morning with a few pounds in my pocket to buy something to eat and with no real plan. I'd meet up with friends and we'd see where the day took us. We'd always end up back at someone's house because we'd be thirsty or wanted a snack, then off we'd go off again. The big rule was we had to be back home as it was coming in dark. There were no phones, no checking in and no tracking apps. All we had was the trust our parents gave us. They didn't seem to worry where we were.

Now it's completely different. I’ve got daughters who are 18 and 23 and even though they’re adults, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable not knowing where they are for a whole day like that. It’s not even about not trusting them, the world has changed and it feels like there is more danger out there. I do think kids today miss out on the freedom that I had as a child/teenager.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

A few people said after I shared my post on Friday about my dad that I look so much like him, I have to agree! The older I get, the more I notice it in little things like my face shape, my smile, even just certain expressions I catch myself doing without thinking but temperament, that’s a different story! We couldn’t be more different if we tried. My dad is calm, doesn’t really get rattled by much and takes life as it comes. I overthink and stress about everything. If something’s happening, he’ll be like it will be fine while I am the one panicking.

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals - Sandals! I hate flip flops and that bit that goes between your toes.

beach or pool - Beach! Outdoor pools are not a big thing here in England so if the sun is shining I'd rather be at a beach.

watermelon or peaches - Peaches! I can take or leave watermelon, it's not my favourite summer fruit but peaches! Yum!

shorts or sundress - Sundresses! I very rarely wear shorts.

iced coffee or ice cold lemonade - This is a hard choice. Right now I would say an ice-cold lemonade.

amusement park or water park - Amusement park but I am not keen on either.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is where things start to get busy for my family. We have lots on the calendar for the next 2 and a bit months and almost everything is fun things! It started yesterday with us going to see Toy Story 5 and we have days/nights out planned, we have plenty of local events to go to and then my fellas and girls birthdays. This year it is going to be hard to buy my girls birthday presents as there is nothing they really need. Eek!

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day!

International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated every year on 23rd June, which is today. It is all about celebrating women who are working in engineering and encouraging more girls to get into it.

If I’m being honest, I used to fall into that old way of thinking where engineering looked like a man's job. When I heard the word engineer, I’d picture hard hats, big machinery, all of that stuff and usually men doing it. I never really pictured women in those roles. It’s funny how your thinking changes over time. Things changed when my youngest Ellie started showing an interest in engineering. That’s when it clicked that those old ideas didn’t really match reality any more. Things are changing, slowly but surely. The problem before was just that women weren’t really visible in those jobs, so a lot of girls probably never even thought it was something they could do. That’s exactly why days like this matter.

As a mam, it's a day that has become quite special to me because my youngest daughter is on her own engineering journey. Ellie is just finishing three years studying engineering at college. She did two years of City & Guilds Electrical Installation, which was tough going at times and she’s just finishing up an NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations. The latest course has been a bit easier for her, especially without the big end of year exam being a thing. Ellie's course finishes on Friday and she’s already been told she’s passed, which I’m so proud of.

Ellie has never once acted like engineering is just for boys. She has spent the last few years proving that thinking belongs in the past. When she started Electrical Engineering at college, she was the only girl in her class. Sixteen years old, walking into a room full of lads would’ve been my worst nightmare but she just got on with it like it was nothing and focused on what she was there to do. A couple of weeks later, another girl joined but by then Ellie had already settled in and made her mark. There was the odd supply teacher who’d walk in and assume she couldn’t do the same as the boys, like she wouldn’t be strong enough or be able to handle the tools and she’d prove them wrong without making a big deal of it but deep down she loved showing them anything a boy can do she could too and sometimes even better!

It has been fantastic to see more girls joining engineering courses over the last few years. When Ellie first started, there were only a handful but that number is slowly growing. It feels like things are finally shifting in the right direction, where girls are actually seeing engineering as something they can choose for themselves.

Today I’ll be celebrating all the women already doing amazing things in engineering, the girls studying it now, and the ones just starting out and of course, I’m a bit extra proud of Ellie today too. She’s worked so hard, stuck with it when things were not easy and never let anything put her off. I don’t know exactly where her engineering will take her next but I do know she’ll give it everything she’s got!

Happy International Women in Engineering Day to all the brilliant women and girls shaping the future!