So Lady B has just had her birthday only a week ago and as usual with our kids, was spoilt by everyone we know. She and Sunny D ran rampage round our house with a lawnmower, a shopping trolley, a tent, a makeup counter and all sorts of weird and wonderful things.
However, a week later, what do you think the kids are playing with the most?.....
Thursday, 27 June 2013
So, what's going on these days....
So I have taken a quick break from Sage and my monthly bookkeeping to refresh myself on here and take stock of what I've been up to and where I left things. I've got my husband making me a brew in the kitchen and a massive Whoopie cake in front of me from the local deli. Feels like a good set-up for blog writing.
So an update: we are now a 4 person family (plus bunny). Dylan is 3 1/2 and I ca'nt believe I haven't been back to write about him on here before. He is beautiful! He was born November 2009. As you know it took a long time for Dilb to make an appearance after years of trying and years of fertility tests and years of being told 'no'. A few hundred pounds of pregnancy tests later, I was armed with a bag of Clomid and told to wait 'til day 2 of my cycle to start taking it. When day 2 never arrived for weeks and weeks and I was done with convincing myself that I was just putting the pressure on myself, I did a final pregnancy test and there was the tiniest, greyest, faintest line that I thought I was imagining. I showed Al who said he thought he could possibly see a tiny little line too but not to get my hopes up.
We ran to the chemist and bought a double pack of proper tests which were inconclusive. We then had a night out planned so we bought a digital test on the way, and it was in the grotty toilets of the Jacaranda on Slater Street in Liverpool at 8pm that I was told that I was 2 weeks pregnant!!
After a text-book pregnancy, albeit with no symptoms at all,I went into labour with Dylan on his due date and he was born 4 days later. I was so exhausted after 15 hours of final stage labour that I had a ventouse delivery, and up til now, that's the most trouble he has been really!
What an amazing baby. I just adored him from the off-set. Only two weeks ago, at the ripe old age of 3 1/2, did he stick a lego piece up his nose whilst I had the kids on my own for a weekend and I had to bundle him in the car and drive him to A&E, but other than that, he's a gem!
Betty is a bit of another story. We started trying for Betty when Dyl was nine months old. We had one miscarriage New Years Eve 2010/11 and then fell pregnant September 2011, to give birth to Betty June 2012. She was thirteen days late and had to be induced.
She was a bit of a shock as, from the offset, she bellowed for whatever she wanted!! We were always keen with Dyl to never take things from him but to persuade him to give things back to us. And it worked. But with Betty, if she gets hold of something, you literally have to prise each individual finger off until she lets go. She is a monkey!! On the whole, another fantastic baby and would smile for England and be held by anybody. She is beautiful. But she comes with an attitude. An attitude which, ideally, we would like to nip right in the bud as soon as possible!
Little Sunny D and Lady B adore each other though and we just look forward to their lives so much, watching them grow up together. They already fight, as all good siblings should, but they have a fondness for each other which is just amazing to look at.
So, as I was saying in my previous post - my life really does seem to be exactly what I want it to be right now and the future is looking pretty wonderful too. I am rejoicing every minute of it and hope to share a little teeny weeny bit of it on here!
It's Been Ages!!!
Oh my goodness, so several years later, here I am - a mother of two gorgeous gorgeous unbelievable little kids - Dylan and Betty; an Office Manager for my husbands' web design company Pixel Air, and quite a few wrinkles older!!!
I have never felt so great!!!
Life is amazing - I am so very lucky. I have all I have ever wanted. I can't believe how lucky I truly am and I going to dedicate this blog to that - an amazingly lucky and wonderful life.
Watch this space for updates!!!!
Monday, 16 February 2009
Do You Really Need a Website?
Web sites can require a big investment in terms of money and time, and creating one can be a big decision for any company to make.
When employing the use of a web design agency, it is essential that there is someone from your team who knows everything about the site and the budget and your requirements and who can be on hand throughout the working day to assist the designer. This can place quite a strain on the already stressful workload of an individual.
However, when implemented correctly, a web site can also prove to be a fantastic marketing tool for your business and one that can put you way ahead of your competitors.
It is not for everyone though, and we quite often get quote requests from people who don’t really know what they want and where the web site will be of no more value to the client than a free listing on a relevant directory. There are also those who require a website to act as a service, without realising that the market is already saturated with web sites already very successfully offering the same service. A new website offering this same service would require a huge investment just to make it noticed.
There are others who approach us with a fantastic ‘Google’ type idea and expect to pay next to nothing.
When thinking of setting up a website, you have to be realistic. You have to look at what is already available online – is there somebody already doing what you want to do, and if not, why not?
Another thing people should think about when considering a website is, will the site do more harm than good? If you do not put the time, effort and money in, a cheap, inefficient site can easily put off potential customers.
Here are some points to consider when deciding whether or not to create your website:
• Does my business need a website?
• What will my website do for my Company?
• Do I have the budget for a successful website?
• Who is my customer and will they have access to the website?
• Do I have the time to put into working with a designer now and do I have the time to update my website later?
Generally, you should consider creating a website for your Company if:
• An online presence will attract new customers and create new contacts;
• Your Company will benefit from a national / international audience;
• You sell products which can be sent directly to the consumer;
• You provide a service which will benefit a wider audience;
• Your customers will have access to your site and will benefit from the information you are sharing;
• Your customers will find it easier to access the site for their information than to contact you directly.
When done correctly and for the right reasons, there is no argument that the internet is a fantastic resource for businesses and the best way to establish new clients and contacts. Very rarely does a good business not warrant a good website.
When employing the use of a web design agency, it is essential that there is someone from your team who knows everything about the site and the budget and your requirements and who can be on hand throughout the working day to assist the designer. This can place quite a strain on the already stressful workload of an individual.
However, when implemented correctly, a web site can also prove to be a fantastic marketing tool for your business and one that can put you way ahead of your competitors.
It is not for everyone though, and we quite often get quote requests from people who don’t really know what they want and where the web site will be of no more value to the client than a free listing on a relevant directory. There are also those who require a website to act as a service, without realising that the market is already saturated with web sites already very successfully offering the same service. A new website offering this same service would require a huge investment just to make it noticed.
There are others who approach us with a fantastic ‘Google’ type idea and expect to pay next to nothing.
When thinking of setting up a website, you have to be realistic. You have to look at what is already available online – is there somebody already doing what you want to do, and if not, why not?
Another thing people should think about when considering a website is, will the site do more harm than good? If you do not put the time, effort and money in, a cheap, inefficient site can easily put off potential customers.
Here are some points to consider when deciding whether or not to create your website:
• Does my business need a website?
• What will my website do for my Company?
• Do I have the budget for a successful website?
• Who is my customer and will they have access to the website?
• Do I have the time to put into working with a designer now and do I have the time to update my website later?
Generally, you should consider creating a website for your Company if:
• An online presence will attract new customers and create new contacts;
• Your Company will benefit from a national / international audience;
• You sell products which can be sent directly to the consumer;
• You provide a service which will benefit a wider audience;
• Your customers will have access to your site and will benefit from the information you are sharing;
• Your customers will find it easier to access the site for their information than to contact you directly.
When done correctly and for the right reasons, there is no argument that the internet is a fantastic resource for businesses and the best way to establish new clients and contacts. Very rarely does a good business not warrant a good website.
5 Tips To Being a Great Client
When having had the opportunity to work on a huge variety of different websites, it is certainly apparent that there are just some projects that run a lot more smoothly than others. It seems that those projects are usually the most enjoyable for both parties and the ones that will generally be the most successful and efficient.
Those projects that do work best, are usually those where everyone is aware of what work is required from both parties and where everyone respects the need for flexibility.
To give your website the very best start, here are a few key points to take into consideration:
# You may not be the most creative of clients but as long as you know what you want from your site, you’re halfway there. A web designer needs as much information from you as possible, starting with what you need your website to do and what is the reason for the site in the first place.
# Researching your competitors’ sites and what you feel is good or bad about them is a great help. Remember, your web designer is an expert in web design and will probably not know much about your industry.
# Send your web designer links to sites that you love. Sending as much information as possible will put the designer on your wavelength and will provide clear goals to aim towards.
# Have all the information required for the site prepared. There is nothing worse than having a site that is ready to be launched with no content. Get your text and images ready.
# Make sure you can afford to pay. A client who pays on time is always appreciated and makes for a much stronger working relationship. Website work can be long-term and a reliable client will always get a more dedicated service.
The successful implementation of a website really comes down to both the designer and the client and can only really work with good communication.
Those projects that do work best, are usually those where everyone is aware of what work is required from both parties and where everyone respects the need for flexibility.
To give your website the very best start, here are a few key points to take into consideration:
# You may not be the most creative of clients but as long as you know what you want from your site, you’re halfway there. A web designer needs as much information from you as possible, starting with what you need your website to do and what is the reason for the site in the first place.
# Researching your competitors’ sites and what you feel is good or bad about them is a great help. Remember, your web designer is an expert in web design and will probably not know much about your industry.
# Send your web designer links to sites that you love. Sending as much information as possible will put the designer on your wavelength and will provide clear goals to aim towards.
# Have all the information required for the site prepared. There is nothing worse than having a site that is ready to be launched with no content. Get your text and images ready.
# Make sure you can afford to pay. A client who pays on time is always appreciated and makes for a much stronger working relationship. Website work can be long-term and a reliable client will always get a more dedicated service.
The successful implementation of a website really comes down to both the designer and the client and can only really work with good communication.
When a £99 Web Site is Too Good To Be True
So you want a site that doesn’t break the bank? You’ve heard that you can pay just £99 for your own web site? And you’ve also heard that your own web site can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds? What do you do?
It’s true – there are websites that can cost £99 and, really, if all you need is a page or two with some information and contact details on, then this may be the way for you.
However, there is a reason that not all sites can cost this much. For a start, if you think about the fact that the average web designers’ hourly rate is anything from £30 upwards, you have to wonder about how much work can possibly go into creating a site that costs £99.
What you really have to do is work out exactly what you want from your website and then weigh up the costs. If you want your website to stand out and out-perform your competitors’ site, it is going to require a bigger investment from you both financially and in terms of your time and dedication.
A £99 website is usually too good to be true when:
# You require a fully bespoke design;
# You would like a content management system with fully updateable pages;
# You require control of search engine optimisation;
# You require a site with e-commerce functionality;
# You would like video or music playing capabilities;
# You require help in promoting your site and making it easy to find on the web;
# You want to host your own site and not be tied into someone else’s system;
# You want to develop the site in the future and add new features;
As with anything, you do get what you pay for and it is important to consider your own priorities and whether the website you are opting for now is likely to be a long-term investment or something more disposable.
If you are on a budget, most web design agencies will try to accommodate your needs and come to a realistic price, often offering payments in installments. It is usually worth discussing this before you decide they are too expensive.
Your first quote is always up for negotiation. When clients use our own online quote form, we encourage them to provide as much information as possible so that there are no surprises later!
Whatever you decide, the price you pay should be a good reflection of the product you are buying and the service that you will be offered.
It’s true – there are websites that can cost £99 and, really, if all you need is a page or two with some information and contact details on, then this may be the way for you.
However, there is a reason that not all sites can cost this much. For a start, if you think about the fact that the average web designers’ hourly rate is anything from £30 upwards, you have to wonder about how much work can possibly go into creating a site that costs £99.
What you really have to do is work out exactly what you want from your website and then weigh up the costs. If you want your website to stand out and out-perform your competitors’ site, it is going to require a bigger investment from you both financially and in terms of your time and dedication.
A £99 website is usually too good to be true when:
# You require a fully bespoke design;
# You would like a content management system with fully updateable pages;
# You require control of search engine optimisation;
# You require a site with e-commerce functionality;
# You would like video or music playing capabilities;
# You require help in promoting your site and making it easy to find on the web;
# You want to host your own site and not be tied into someone else’s system;
# You want to develop the site in the future and add new features;
As with anything, you do get what you pay for and it is important to consider your own priorities and whether the website you are opting for now is likely to be a long-term investment or something more disposable.
If you are on a budget, most web design agencies will try to accommodate your needs and come to a realistic price, often offering payments in installments. It is usually worth discussing this before you decide they are too expensive.
Your first quote is always up for negotiation. When clients use our own online quote form, we encourage them to provide as much information as possible so that there are no surprises later!
Whatever you decide, the price you pay should be a good reflection of the product you are buying and the service that you will be offered.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Marmalade Butties
I was just talking about the fact that I very rarely laugh during a film, regardless of how funny it is. I did laugh in Slumdog Millionaire a few times, especially when the little boy fell down the toilet, but generally, despite finding something really funny, I make no outward gesture that I have been tickled by it. I don't know why.
I remember going to the cinema on a first date to see 'The Fully Monty' and on leaving the cinema, Mike turned to me and said 'Is everything ok? You never laughed once during that whole film.'
That was the first time I realised that I don't laugh.
Mike really thought I was pretty humourless and that relationship didn't last long at all.
But when I mentioned it again the other day, my aunty said, 'yes, when I took you to see Paddington bear when you were very small, you remained completely dead-pan throughout all the funny bits when the other children were laughing.'
I was devestated. I must look so miserable!
'Yes,' she continued, 'but then you surprised us all. When everyone else was quiet, all of a sudden you jumped up and shouted across the audience 'My daddy eats marmalade butties too!'
I remember going to the cinema on a first date to see 'The Fully Monty' and on leaving the cinema, Mike turned to me and said 'Is everything ok? You never laughed once during that whole film.'
That was the first time I realised that I don't laugh.
Mike really thought I was pretty humourless and that relationship didn't last long at all.
But when I mentioned it again the other day, my aunty said, 'yes, when I took you to see Paddington bear when you were very small, you remained completely dead-pan throughout all the funny bits when the other children were laughing.'
I was devestated. I must look so miserable!
'Yes,' she continued, 'but then you surprised us all. When everyone else was quiet, all of a sudden you jumped up and shouted across the audience 'My daddy eats marmalade butties too!'
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