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You are here: Home / Archives for families

Happy Families – Does size matter?

January 18, 2014 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 4 Comments

Last night I became involved in a discussion on Twitter about large families. It was a fun conversation and reminded me of how lucky I am.

Lucky because I am from a large family ..abnormally large in this day and age. I’m one of ten children. I think I don’t chat about it too much as people find it weird – and why not? It is weird. If I wasn’t me I would find it strange. Sometimes people tell me they have 4 or 5 children and I think wow that’s a lot. Then I remember hmm yes I’m one of 10. There are 5 boys and 5 girls ( although not many of us are young enough to be called boys and girls anymore) and the age range is roughly from 17-40.

To me it’s a normal life. I have 5 older siblings so I have always been part of a large family. Another 4 followed after me just to put the icing on the cake.

People tend to think that parents with lots of children are either weirdos or sucking money from the government. It’s not always the case. Some people just love having children or they don’t really plan it and it just happens. Luckily for me that happened with my parents. They had 5 happy healthy children and chose to have more.. Then I arrived and for some crazy reason they decided to continue 🙂 Ok so maybe we are a little weird.

It’s not just the amount of us that makes us unusual it’s that we all get on pretty well. In fact growing up and even now at times we can sometimes exclude friends as our social circle is pretty large just with family alone. As a child I was never alone and as an adult I have incredible support. I’m well aware of just how lucky I am. Chloe is the 13th grandchild and there are still 4 of my siblings who are yet to have children. My extended family is enormous. Izzy and Chloe will always have playmates and babysitters 😉 Most months there are at least two birthdays and Christmas..well Christmas is expensive chaos. In a good way. We have a fake Christmas earlier in the year ( normally November) so we can all have the day together and again it’s chaos but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Growing up my friends were always envious of my family life and even though we didn’t have the latest computer games or the coolest clothes I think there was something about our home that made people want to be a part of it. My mum always made comforting food and everyone was welcome to stay for dinner even though really she was counting the pennies but they made it work (my parents that is) we may not have had holidays abroad or designer trainers but we were always warm and fed well and happy. Some of the best memories of my life are of holidays in a tiny caravan with children sprawled sleeping on every available surface. Of my mums pea and ham soup and corned beef pie. Of walking to the video rental shop with my Dad on the days when it was 50p rental and arguing over whose turn it was to pick. Of long days in the park with picnics including cucumber sandwiches. Of sharing a bedroom with three of my sisters. Of family weddings and parties. Of always having someone to turn to.

So why when I am so lucky and blessed with this family do I worry about the negative side. Because there is a negative side to having such a large family, there are more illnesses and worries and eventually ( sorry for being morbid) there will be more bereavements, more grief, more tears.

When these thoughts strike me – I think they have popped up in my head more this year as I have generally been more anxious and stressed but when they do I think of something my mum said a little while ago “I may get 10 times the worry but I get a hundred times the joy” it’s true. The happiness and love that my family share is a one in a million thing. We won’t always agree on everything and of course occasionally they annoy me but more often that not they make me happy and feel very loved.

Most people have a million questions for me when they find out I am one of ten so if you have any just ask and I will try to answer.. Just please don’t ask me if my parents had a TV – I may have heard that one a few times growing up 😉

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Filed Under: Family · Tagged: families, large families

Camp Bestival Update

April 8, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

I’ve been a little behind with writing my next Camp Bestival post which will be all about the very best of this years Camp Bestival and also lots of tips and general info about surviving and enjoying CB with toddler and/or babies. This will be up in the next fortnight but I thought while you were waiting I’d give you a little update on what is coming up this year.. And for a child of the 80’s it’s pretty exciting! Woop.

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PLUS
SAM LEE & FRIENDS / MOLOTOV JUKEBOX / ADY SULEIMAN /
HUDSON TAYLOR / LLOYD YATES / ISAIAH DREADS

AND DJ SETS FROM
CRAIG CHARLES / SUNDAY BEST FORUM ALL STARS / DJ DAPPER DAN

Pac-man, deely boppers, odd coloured fluorescent socks, Knight Rider, break dancing, Sloane rangers, it really was an ace time, so for one weekend only we’re bringing 80s mania back. Turning Lulworth Castle into our own little time machine, we’re going to be celebrating one of the greatest decades in human history from August 1st-4th, with a glorious triumvirate of newly announced legends of the age and some proper down the disco type action from inimitable rogues The Cuban Brothers. And that’s not all as we have added even more mighty fine cutting edge live acts and DJs all for your delectation.

Contemplating the merits of the mullet, Rob da Bank says: “As a child of the 80s I love that era. One hit wonders sit happily alongside some of the most visionary pop and electronic records ever made in my record collection. Heaven 17 fall into that latter category and still kill it wherever they go so I can’t wait to see and more importantly hear them at Camp Besti. The Proclaimers are an incredible festival act for a good old sing-along and Nik Kershaw is a boyhood idol too. Wrap it all up with Barry Peters and his Cuban Brother friends hosting an 80s night and it’s time for some serious leg warmers, rah rah skirts and fingerless lace glove action…well that’s what I’ll be wearing anyway!”

Kicking off with a band that was the personification of the 80s on their debut album ‘Penthouse and Pavement’, we are extremely pleased to be welcoming the fantastic Heaven 17 to Lulworth Castle. Stalwarts of new wave synthpop, Heaven 17 lit up the charts with a string of Top 40 hits and quickly became one of the 80s biggest bands, so we can wait to take a trip down memory lane and catch their unmissable live set.

The greatest twins of the 80s were unquestionably The Proclaimers. Purveyors of some of the decade’s most memorable and enduring anthems, we’re mega-excited that Charlie and Craig Reid’s raucously infectious live show is coming to Camp Bestival. Utterly irresistible, you know you’re going to find yourself bellowing every single word of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ and ‘Letter To America’ at the top of your voice along with absolutely everyone else and we can’t wait!

Camp Bestival loves the 80s so much in fact that we’ve got our resident retro heroes The Cuban Brothers to present some special themed spectaculars hosted by their alter ego characters Barry Peters featuring Special Guests for that truly big night out feel. 80s throwback Barry will unleash his many years of wisdom as long-term resident for Zany’s Niteclub, Skipton and as the undisputed number 1 DJ at Halifax Hospital Radio to create the ultimate party experience. Aided by his son, Kevin Peters and Derek Japan, AKA Double Penetration, the trio will take you to the dizziest heights of proper entertainment and guarantee you a night to remember dancing around your handbags without a care in the world. Expect a mash up of all the mega-hits from the era of joy, special guests and, of course, their uniquely riotous stage presence. And just to help you really feel you’ve gone back in time, 80s cocktails will be served! Dig out your leg warmers and bring your Rah-Rah skirts, its 80s mania all the way!

And don’t forget that there’s plenty more sublime 80s action going on at Camp Bestival with previously announced legends Musical Youth, who will be passing the dutchie like only they can and Kid Creole And the Coconuts, whose live set is the very definition of booty shaking.

As much as we love the 80s, it’s not all about reliving the heady heights of our youth at Camp Bestival, we’ve also got some bang up to date musical treats to keep you on your toes. We’re thrilled to announce that Mercury Prize nominated folk singer Sam Lee & Friends will be showcasing their unconventional take on traditional folk and Molotov Jukebox (whose singer Natalia Tena will be familiar to the Camp B crowd as Nymphadora Tonks in Harry Potter), will also be on hand with their gypsy, samba, ska, dubstep and swing-blending ways. Ady Suleiman is also set to wow the crowds with his strikingly soulful voice, there will be folk-infused melodic pop from Hudson Taylor, epic acoustic delights from Lloyd Yates and slick flows from rap wunderkind Isaiah Dreads.

We’ll also have Craig Charles supplying an irresistible array of funk and soul sounds from his famous trunk of funk, the very welcome return of the Sunday Best Forum Allstars who will be rocking the ones and twos and the esteemed DJ Dapper Dan who will be getting the crowds skanking to his conscious riddims!

There will be blogs and competitions on our Facebook and Twitter pages plus the continuing in-depth look at our line-up with the A-Z of Camp Bestival in the coming week’s some make sure you check them out. And please visit www.campbestival.net for more announcements coming soon.

LIVE:

RICHARD HAWLEY / LEVELLERS / LABRINTH / DJ FRESH LIVE / ASH / HEAVEN 17 / TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS / THE POLYPHONIC SPREE / GABRIELLE APLIN / KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS / I AM KLOOT / BILLY BRAGG / NIK KERSHAW / DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP / THE CUBAN BROTHERS / DJ YODA (LIVE AV SHOW ( FEAT THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS) / JOHN COOPER CLARKE / LISSIE / THE FARM / MUSICAL YOUTH / BEARDYMAN / SAM LEE & FRIENDS / THE CORRESPONDENTS / THE WURZELS / MAD PROFESSOR / SKINNY LISTER / CLEAN BANDIT / LONDON GRAMMAR / MIKILL PANE / THE 1975 / FLEETWOOD BAC / INTRODUCING RECREATE ‘DISCOVERY’ LIVE – A DAFT UNDERTAKING / HOWARD MARKS / LUCKY ELEPHANT / ADY SULEIMAN / LLOYD YATES / FOLK IDOL / MOLOTOV JUKEBOX / SEXY SUSHI / BEN WATERS / MOULETTES / FILTHY BOY / FAKE BUSH / HUDSON TAYLOR / ISAIAH DREADS / MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER / LEWIS WATSON / JAWS / JAIPUR BRASS BAND / J-CATS

DJs – ROB DA BANK AND FRIENDS:

GRANDMASTER FLASH / SASHA / DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM / A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE (ANDREW WEATHERALL AND SEAN JOHNSTON) / FABIO + GROOVERIDER / CRAIG CHARLES (DJ SET) / JON MORE (COLDCUT) / DICK N DOM RIP IT UP (DJ SET) / BARRY ASHWORTH / JOHN KENNEDY / SUNDAY BEST FORUM ALL STARS / BALEARIC BROTHERS / FEELING GLOOMY / TYTHE / COLEY FROM LUV*JAM / SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM / MIX IT UP KRU / DJ DAPPER DAN

ENTERTAINMENT:

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN (FESTIVAL PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE) / ALAN DAVIES / MR TUMBLE / ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO / DICK N DOM / LET IT BE / BRIT SCHOOL / BLACK EAGLES CIRCUS / ROYAL ALBERT HALL GINORMOUS PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA / SHLOMO’S BEAT BOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS / CANDO2 / GLORIA AND THE EXPLORERS / LITTLE SUNSHINE, LITTLE RAINFALL / ALICE IN WONDERLAND PANTO / LONDON LUCUMI CHOIR / INSECT CIRCUS / MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES / TRINITY LABAN / CANDOCO / MECHANICAL MENAGERIE / GIDEON REELING / SHADOW PUPPETRY & STORYTELLING / CRAFT AND NATURE WORKSHOPS / YOUNG BRITISH FOODIES / TATE WORKSHOPS / BFI FILM CLUB / THE FOUR CORNERS TREASURE TRAIL / LOST & FOUND / MORRIS DANCING / JOUSTING / FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK / KIDS BIG ART VILLAGE / MAYPOLE DANCING / BIGTOPMANIA KIDS THEATRE AND CIRCUS

TICKETS:

Camp Bestival 2013 Ticket Info:

Ticketline / 0844 888 4410

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Filed Under: Festivals and Camping, Parenting/baby, Travel · Tagged: Camp Bestival 2013, families, Festivals and Camping

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