Comic Book Art

When this dropped into my inbox I just knew I had to share, as a long term comic fan, (2000AD in the 80s and more recently Deadpool) I just loved these illustrations by Mark Hiblen.

Mark J Hiblen is a self-taught illustrator ( things like that just fill me with envy!) from a working-class background and a small, close knit family. His influences growing up were a love of 70's and 80's horror and pop culture.  Mark was given a boost when he was asked to create images of Vampires and Werewolves for an app on Facebook.

 Mark works mostly using an iPad and his finger. Previously his media had been pen and paper, watercolour, acrylics, and inks. However, two years ago, with the advancement in fluid design tech using touch screens, Mark decided to perfect freehand using just a finger and a screen.

Mark lives by the rule that no picture should take any longer than 2 hours! (amazing)

Mark’s childhood influences of horror films have remained with him throughout his artistic journey and he remains a fan.
Mark recounted that his dad would religiously buy him Spiderman and Planet of the Apes comics  every Sunday morning with his paper. This memory has stuck with him. Star Wars of course then appeared and like most young kids in the late 70's, Mark was hooked..

Mark has been lucky enough to have his work posted and shared by Slither/Super director James Gunn, who follows all of his latest projects and kindly used one of them to commemorate the first anniversary of the release of Guardians of the Galaxy.   The popularity of Mark’s work is growing, and it has also been shared by actors such as Zoe Saldana and Vin Diesel.

Most recently, success has come from Mark’s sketch which was created to say farewell to Star Wars actor Kenny Baker (R2-D2).

Another passion of Mark’s is a love of creating family cartoons and other illustrations upon request. Star Wars based commissions prove the most popular and when he isn’t drawing and creating, Mark enjoys spending time with his partner, daughter and crazy rescue dog Scout.

To find more out about Mark, check out his FB and Insta pages:

Thanks to Omni Search for sending me these images - https://omnisearch.uk/behind-illustrations-comic-book-artist/

Mark Hiblen Art on Facebook

Mark Hiblen on Instagram

Which Christmas tree is best, fake or real?

It's the time of year for tree wars. It's like the breastfeeding vs bottle wars but with more tinsel. (unless you are a really flamboyant breast feeder!)  So before everyone starts burning each others trees down in rage I thought I'd do a quick round up of real vs fake Christmas trees.

First The Real Tree:

• It smells of loveliness and the wild outdoors and Christmas
• You don't have to store it between Christmases (a big consideration if you like a largish tree and have little storage space, no loft, garage, shed etc)
• Trees are a renewable crop just like cabbages,(not exactly like cabbages, cabbages are difficult to decorate and trees are really hard to boil)  while they grow they do breathing and stuff that is good for the planet, and they are biodegradable.
• They are pricey though - this year the price of a tree (depending on where you live) varies from £4 a foot to an eye watering £20 a foot!
• They drop needles. Yep, even the non drop varieties, and even if you spray them with non droppy needle spray stuff. Those sharp little needles get everywhere, terrible if you have a crawling baby, merely annoying otherwise (unless you are having naked sex in the lounge under the tree then all bets are off).  Hoover daily, sometimes twice.
• Insects. You might bring them in with the tree or they might decide to live there later. Whatever, it's a party villa for creepy crawlies...but in your lounge.

And the Fake Tree:

• After the initial spend (which can be considerable but often comparable to a real tree, see above) they are reusable so will become cheaper per year with the passing of time. I have an 8 ft tree I bought in 2001 and it's still in use, it cost £50 ( so £50/15 years = £3.30 per year)
• You can get wild colours to match your decor. It's a bit 80s I admit, but you can get trees to match a chic white colour scheme, or a blue Elsa and Frozen themed one...or (probably) a pink Peppa pig themed tree. In the 80s Mr TM and I had a white tinsel tree with pink baubles ... we really are too classy :-/
• They don't drop needles (don't panic, I'm going to try not to just write two lists that contradict each other) They are less mess, you can skip the hoovering.
• You can put them up as early as you like because they will always look the same! They won't get browner or lose needles and look thinner as Christmas approaches, they are as bushy on January 6th as they were on December 1st
• You don't have to trek around to find the perfect tree, after the first year you are sorted, there is the perfect tree. In your loft! (so yeah, you need storage space)
• They need to be 'put together'. Most large trees are in pieces and need some erection, and fluffing (stop that!) to get them to their prime. (DD would like to point out this is great family bonding time...she does the fluffing)

Our 15 year old tree

So there we have it. Trees for Christmas can be real or fake, each have their merits and disadvantages and your personal situation and choice will come to bear on what you get. I honestly don't think there is a right or a wrong answer. We have a fake tree. What sort of tree do you have? I'd love to see it - tweet me a picture at Tattooed Mummy or share a photo on my Facebook page, or comment below. 

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Fiona Harrison

Today on Wordy Wednesday a delightful book about a delightful pug! Allow me to introduce. Percy the Pug and his writer, Fiona Harrison. A Pug like Percy is a super read and a fun book (there is a flicker book style pug on the pages so you can flick them and make him run about! You don't get that in an ebook!)

I read the back of the book and shed a tiny tear, I'm such a softy, and the first chapter made me cry a bit too, because it's about a really cute pug and he's sad...but chin up, reading and dog fans, all will be well keep reading this lovely book to its brilliant ending. It's a book that would also make an excellent gift for a dog lover for Christmas.

So I welcome Fiona to my page, and as tradition dictates there are questions... let us begin with the basics

Fiona, Tell me about yourself and your book(s)?
I’ve been a freelance journalist for the past 15 years and I live in Berkshire right by the River Thames. I’m also a keen runner, and regularly run along the Thames Path which helps me create plot ideas and solve writing problems. A Pug Like Percy is my first novel and is the story of a pug that is abandoned at a rescue centre. Thankfully, Percy soon finds a loving new home but realises his new family are the ones that need help. Can he be the one to rescue them?

Why did you write this book?
Like many authors, all I ever wanted to do as a child was write and naively, refused to consider another career path so I became a journalist. I was convinced I would know when the time was write (sorry!) to put fingers to keyboard and pen my first novel, and thankfully a trip to Battersea to adopt my lovely cat Pico four years ago gave me the inspiration I had spent years searching for. I was so inspired and amazed by what I saw I wondered what it would be like to write about the experience of being abandoned from the perspective of an animal. I will never forget that feeling of knowing, that A Pug Like Percy, was the book I was supposed to write.

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? If you do something else (stunt woman? Archaeologist?) what is it and do you like it?
I am a full-time author but I am also a journalist and that is still very much my day job.

When did you start writing stories?
As I kid I was always scribbling away. Weirdly I was inspired by Roland Rat who was very much a part of TVAM when I was a child and I routinely made up stories about Roland Rat running the country with Mrs Thatcher!

What is the saddest story you've ever read?
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, I adored it but my goodness, I couldn’t stop weeping. The poignancy contained in that story is wonderful.

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile?
A full glass of red wine
A cuddle with my cats Pico and Lola
The sight of my husband cooking dinner

Do you have any pets?
Yes I have two cats, Pico and Lola and they very much help my writing process. One or the other usually keeps me company as I write, either on my lap or curled up on my desk (it’s a big desk). They have been brilliantly inspirational too at helping me work out just what Percy and his pals, would think, feel or say as they are always so wonderfully expressive with me and each other.

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
I love Emily Barr. Her books are so clever, and I love the way she takes you on a journey that’s often in a far flung destination but always has the power to make you think. Emily’s books are extremely different to A Pug Like Percy, but I think that helps when you write as if you read the same sort of thing that you’re trying to create there’s a danger the voices in your own story will get muddled.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
There are so many on my to-be-read pile. I am currently reading Anna Freeman’s The Fair Fight, I love the old-school language she uses, it’s brilliant. After that I’ve promised myself to get started on Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels.

Where do you do most of your writing?
At my desk in my home office or at a little coffee shop around the corner from me. They serve the best cappuccinos, good and strong!

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
Obviously I have to say Percy. I had the best time writing from his perspective. Not only is he funny, kind, loyal and dependable, but he’s a charmer, enjoys a giggle and isn’t afraid to take a few risks for those he loves.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Homemade sugar-free digestives.

Tea or Coffee?
It very much depends on the time of day!

In the film of your life who would play you?
We look nothing alike but Cameron Diaz because she’s sassy, says what she thinks and has a brilliant sense of humour. Qualities I like to think I possess!!

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of a potato and a sloth...could you get a lazier creature? (my soul mate)
It would have to be a pug and carrot, just because I really like the idea of a ginger pug…brilliant.

A furry festive miracle who’s there for you with a helping paw. Percy definitely isn’t just for Christmas…

Debut novel, perfect for fans of A Street Cat Named Bob and Alfie the Doorstep Cat
– and all dog lovers

A Pug Like Percy by Fiona Harrison is out now (Hardback £10.99) (And currently only £4 via Amazon Prime! Bargain!)

Thanks to Fiona for taking part in this week's Wordy Wednesday

I have received a copy of the book so I can review it later and so far it's really good - DD has pinched it for a read first though! (A book for all the family)

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Five ways your teen is the same as a toddler

So maybe you are reading this as the parent of a teen, in which case I expect you will nod along with at least a couple of these. If you are reading this, still in the innocence of life as the parent of a toddler, happily expecting things to change as they get older...well we are sorry, really we are, but sadly somethings never change...

• Your day still revolves around them

It used to be that you had a schedule based on feeding, naps and potty times. You ran them to music groups, mum and baby groups (or dad and baby groups). You organised play dates and marked craft time on the calendar. Now however, while the things you are organising have changed, you are still running your day according to the teen. You are nagging about homework, telling them to get up out of bed, to remember to put their washing in the laundry (or if you have them better trained than I do - nagging them to actually do some washing). You resist drinking alcohol in the evening in case you need to be a taxi later. And you are up late worrying and trying not to text too much when they are late home...which brings us nicely to:

• Sleep (or lack of it)

Once you used to find getting them to bed a chore, the never ending rounds of stories and drinks of water. The checking for monsters under the bed and the 'one more kiss'. And then, always just after you yourself had nodded off, the cry of 'MUM' or 'DAD' and a tiny crying body who had a nightmare, or wet the bed (I knew that last glass of water was a mistake), or just needed a cuddle, appears at the side of the bed, you either make room are get up and carry them back to their room, but both options usually result in not much more sleep. Now you would imagine that having a teen would put paid to all that, they can do it themselves, you'd think, but no. Now you have the constant getting them to bed battle but with added backchat of "I don't need to, I'm a grown-up" and once they are in bed, the eerie glow of a mobile as they check snapchat into the wee small hours, despite you calling to tell them to turn it off, only for them to complain they are too tired to get up for breakfast. And this is with out the perils of the teen 'going out' and not coming home and your own bedtime creeping by with no text or word from them..should you go to bed? should you stay up? Are they coming home at all? How can you sleep even if you do go to bed? and then...they are home! at 2am and they need a snack and a chat and dear lord will parents ever sleep again

• Fussy Eaters

This post was actually triggered by a real life event (not that the others aren't real - they just didn't trigger this post) on Saturday. One of DD's favourite meals is a chicken dish in tomato sauce served with rice. (remind me to post the recipe sometime) any way, the ingredients vary a bit depending on my mood and store cupboard, last time I made it I bunged in a few olives, which she diligently picked out, "I don't like the olives in it" she opined. So this time when I slung the olives in (because, dear reader, I like olives) I was prepared for the teenage moans..what I was not prepared for was "It's yummy, shame there aren't more olives in it though". So yes, you have a fussy 2 year old that happily eats a breadstick on Sunday only to cast it to the floor in furious displeasure on Monday, and you are hoping for this to settle down...well DD is 17 and there is, as yet, little sign of it.

• Clearing up after them

I assume you've heard about messy teen bedrooms? It's not a myth. Things grow in there. Green things in bowls and the base of coffee mugs, socks go there to die. Picking up a few stickle bricks is nothing, nothing I tell you, to the horror of a teenager's bedroom...let's move on...

• Adoring them

I know, I'm a slushy mum, but you know how you look at your angelic toddler sometimes (when they are being angelic or are asleep usually) and you just sigh with the perfect beauty and love of them? Yeah well that. When you teen emerges out of their pit room and is all dressed up looking gorgeous and young and vital, and they smile and say "I'm off out, back later" and you love them and feel that familiar warm glow of being a parent...which lasts right until you peek into their room...or are still up at 3am wondering where the hell they are...

Do you have a toddler or a teen? Or both (I'm praying for you) Do you recognise any of these scenarios? are are there any I've missed?

What I wanted most as a child

Written for the Post40Bloggers blog prompt Number 82

Something you desperately wanted when you were a child

When I was younger I was terrible at PE. I mean terrible. I had no balance, I was slow; running seemed so easy for everyone else, they made it look simple and fun, they didn't get left behind or fall over and graze their knees. But from about the age that 'Sports' Day' became a huge memory in  my childhood (aged about 9 maybe?) PE day became a day of horror.

I would try all manner of feeble excuses to not take part, faking coughs, sprained ankles, headaches. I would take an age to get changed, volunteer for anything that needed doing that didn't involve actual sport. Fetching the basket balls, handing out and collecting the tabards, setting out the cones...

But Sports' Day itself was a nightmare. Even back in the 70s schools tried to be inclusive, but I didn't qualify to be in any 'proper' races, mine was the ignominy of the 'special' races, full of fat children, wheezing breathless asthma sufferers, and wobbly weak kids, kids like me. And even in these races I did not surge to victory, we stumbled and gasped our way down the 100 yard track like unenthusiastic hamsters, passing the finishing line with the simple joy that it was all over for another year. Nearby the rest of the school waited watching, I imagined them hating us all for being so pathetic.

I didn't join in running games in the playground, I was dreadful at catching a ball. When I turned 12 I briefly enjoyed cross country running, mainly as we all departed at various times, spaced out, there was no way to see how badly you were doing (until arriving back last after the showers were finished and everyone was already in Maths) and you could jog/stumble along the paths in the woodland as slowly as you liked, with no one judging you.(except the aforementioned maths teacher!)

I dabbled with throwing the javelin at age 13 and no one was killed, so I'll take that as a success, but despite my height and long arms I didn't seem to have the strength to fling the javelin very far.

As soon as I was in the sixth form I eschewed sport altogether. Finally I had the power to control my own free time at school and I chose chess. Again I was with the nerds and the geeks, but I was used to it by now, they were my people.

So where is this post going? with its whining and self pity? Well at age 34 I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy) and suddenly it all made sense! The weakness, the bad balance, the stumble, the tripping due to foot drop. I wasn't dreadful at sport! I was not bad at all considering I was disabled!

So this post is a reminder to myself. What I desperately wanted as a child was to fit in, to be sporty, to be one of the runners, to be a winner on sports day. But I'd have settled for knowing why, knowing why I was last.

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Andy Gibney

A controversial book today I expect, but never let it be said I'm into censorship. Today's offering for Wordy Wednesday is the suggestively titled How to Seduce Your wife by Andy Gibney.

For twelve years Andy Gibney was a therapist. His first clients wanted help with phobias, stopping smoking and losing weight, but gradually more and more people came to see him with depression and anxiety. Andy realised that the cause of many of their problems could be traced back to the quality of their relationships. Coming out of a long term relationship himself, Andy found himself on the dating scene, a scene in which the internet had changed everything. Andy found many new experiences were now available to him and as such much of this book comes from the experiences of his old clients and his own interesting adventures in the new era of social media and dating.

As usual I threw some random questions at Andy so we could all find out a little bit more about how he 'ticks'.

Do you have any pets? 
I don’t at the moment, but I like cats and dogs. I had a rabbit a few years ago. It escaped and ran away. And I looked after it really well!

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
It changes all the time. At the moment, I’m loving the experience of finding Agatha Christie for the first time. I like her thought process so that has helped. Also, the same thing with Roald Dahl.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
4. Storyteller – Roald Dahl’s biography. Phil Collins’ autobiography and I’ve just finished ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie which is one of the best books I’ve ever read. (ooh last weeks author, Malcolm Parnell is a big Agatha Christie fan too, as am I!)

Where do you do most of your writing?
At my office on my computer. Nearly always early before anyone else comes in. Editing I can do if someone else is around. Most of my planning for a book is done in my small office at home.

Tell us about a bit of this book that you like the most - no spoilers!
I really loved writing many of the women’s stories in ‘Seduce’. Some were inspiring and some were hilarious.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Half chocolate Viennese shortbread or in a pinch, a chocolate Hobnob.

Tea or Coffee?
Neither. Haven’t touched caffeine for a dozen years. I am partial to hot chocolate though. (If authors are grouped by beverage choice, I'd have to put you in the group with Kate Harrad)

In the film of your life who would play you?
David Duchovney. If you’ve seen ‘Californication’ I think he already did. Some of it anyway.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of a water melon sheep dog, just for the 'Melon Collie' pun.
You win the prize for oddest question ever. A cat with a cucumber. A catcumber. (Hmmm would it make itself jump?)

Andy's book How to Seduce Your Wife is published by 3P Publishing Ltd , and they tell me that
"It’s a book every man can learn from and every woman will want to read. "

You can get your own copy from Amazon and read a sample too.

Let me know what you think, are guides to relationships useful? or is the whole dating game so varied they can't help? And do all relationships take work, or should they happen naturally?

Thanks to Andy for taking part in Wordy Wednesday, follow the rest of the blog tour starting here ...

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Malcolm Parnell

Welcome to Wordy Wednesday, it's been a while. This week I have a new writer  and a new book to introduce as part of a blog tour. For many years Malcolm Parnell was a paramedic going out on calls and saving lives. He is now a first aid trainer for Brown’s Health & Safety, but it is his passion for painting that led him to write his first novel ‘A Brush With Death!’ He is married to Marion with two grown up children. He now divides his time between the family, writing, painting,
teaching painting and he is still in the glow of Leicester City winning the Premiership. (I don't know what this means - I suspect it's football related, we shall move on)

It's always good to know your author so let's find out a little bit about Malcolm...

What is the first book you remember reading or having read to you?
The Island of Adventure – Enid Blyton

Which book have you always meant to get around to reading, but still not read?
1984 (if you read it now you may be confused as to whether it's fiction...)

What are you currently reading?
The Various Haunts of Men – Susan Hill

Who would be at your dream dinner party (alive, dead or fictional)?
Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie - Wow what a great evening that would be.

Where are you happiest?
In a restaurant surrounded by family and friends.

Who would you like to star in the film of your life?
Bill Nighy

Describe your best ever holiday.
Mediterranean cruise

What do you think is the best thing about social media?
People sharing good ideas and offering support.
And the worst...?!
People sharing drivel (I have to say one man's drivel is another man's interesting tiny fact though, I think mindless hate is the absolute worst)
Follow Malcolm on twitter here.

Is it best to always tell the truth or is it sometimes better to tell a little white lie?
Sometimes tell a little white lie (I'll remember this if you say you like this blog post Malcolm!)

Why did you choose your genre?
I love mysteries and I love humour so I tried to combine the two

If you had to write in a different genre, which would you choose?
Children’s adventure

And now more about...A Brush with Death (I always read that in the video voice over guy's voice, with scary music in the background)

Malcolm writes in a similar way to Agatha Christie, sharing her gentle approach to setting out a story of mystery, the book is set in the south of England on the Dorset coast. With the feeling of salt air as you turn the pages you will try and fathom exactly who is trying to kill Harry Chase – and just as
importantly, why?  So the book is not a whodunnit so much as a whowilldoit and a whywillthrydoit.

Harry is a nobody. A nice guy with an interest in the ladies even if sometimes the ladies don’t have any interest in him. It’s certainly not a jealous husband after him, but someone is definitely trying to
cause Harry some harm. On a week long painting holiday with a group of fellow artists the question is will Harry find out who is trying to cause him harm before they get to him for good?

Who is trying to kill artist Harry Chase and why?

Harry Chase, a semi-professional artist and full-time nobody, has recently been dumped by his girlfriend. Bewildered by the end of his relationship he withdraws into his paintings.

An attempt is then made on his life. Dismissing it as a freak accident he organises a weeks painting holiday with a group of amateur painters. During the holiday several members of the group al-
so have close encounters with death and further attempts are made on Harry.

He has no idea why anyone should wish him harm but as the holiday progresses he begins to take a closer look at his fellow artists and wonders if they are all that they seem.

Maybe one of them is a killer.

Sounds like a perfect fireside read and a great Christmas gift.

Grab your own copy in ebook form from Amazon

And join in the discussion at Goodreads

Follow this book on its blog tour.

A Brush with death is published by 3P Publishing Ltd - follow them on twitter for other new releases.

Thank You Letters

The last time I put pen to paper and wrote a thank you letter....hmm let me think...I thanked my best friend for the gift she sent for my 50th but that was a text, I thanked my daughter for my mothers' day gift but I thanked her in person. I thanked my American mate for something she sent but that was an email...no I think the last time I put pen to paper was when I was about 16.

When was the last time you wrote a thank you letter? And do you make your children write them? We have always made DD write cards and letters of thanks (drawing pictures when she was too small to write) and my friends all ensure that I receive a thank you card if I send their child a gift too. But are they really still necessary in today's busy electronic world?

A thank you I received in a recent Amazon delivery!

First things first, I don't usually expect a thank you letter or card if I give the present direct to the recipient. After all, I know they received it and they can say thank you there and then. I do however like a thank you letter if I have posted a gift, and if I receive a gift via the post I ensure I send some sort of thank you as a way of not only showing gratitude, but of letting the sender know that their gift arrived. And when DD was small and had large birthday parties, we ensured every child received a thank you card for coming, and for the gifts they brought.

Lately though I've realised that actually writing the letter may be a bit old fashioned. I'm not a Victorian. I can text, email, tweet, Facebook, Skype ... well you know the drill. So should I still be asking DD to write thank you letters? And should I be doing it too? Or not? I asked a few parenting bloggers if their kids wrote thank you letters:

Katy says "I've never received a thank you card for Christmas, only for a wedding or a new baby. That is fine with me too. I'll get my daughter to say thank you to people when she receives gifts." http://katykicker.com

Stevie says "I always used to mean to do it and bought cards every year just for that purpose, but we've gone 'modern' instead. The boys either text people, email them or give them a quick phone call to say thank you on the day." www.acornishmum.com

Milla says "I always mean to send them. Most years I even handmake thank you cards with my kids before Christmas (my logic being that the writing inside doesn't need to be as fulsome if the card is handmade ) but I hardly ever get round to actually sending the wretched things. Post-Christmas is such a mad time with family birthdays and back to school and calming down hyped-up kids." liveoxfordshire.com

Mary says " I'm old school. If someone had taken the time to send my son a present or give him money then he is writing them a thank you note. I think it's really rude when people don't acknowledge the fact we've given them a present. It doesn't need to be War and Peace, but he does need to make a little effort" http://Over40andamumtoone.com

Naomi says "I send them - usually a postcard of a recent photo of the kids. Mine are 4 and a baby, so at the moment I have "Thank you for my Christmas presents" and then write their names. When they are older they can write them themselves. I think it's polite - - if someone has gone to the effort of getting a gift for them, it's just a thank you. I should add, lots of our friends and family live some distance away, so we don't see them very often." Http://lifebynaomi.com

Louise says "We do thank you cards for birthdays and with Christmas I usually send a photo of the child with the present or a video of them saying thank you as the presents are mostly from family." Http://pinkpearbear.com

Beth says "I've never sent or received a thank you card for Christmas. We do for birthdays but not for Christmas. We are lucky though as usually see all the family who buy gifts so they can say thank you there & then. My Dad always says seeing their reaction is priceless so this means more than a thank you card I guess" http://Twinderelmo.co.uk

Dave (slightly shocked) say "I didn't even know this was a thing! Growing up, I always said thanks to people by ringing them or face to face when I next saw them. I kind of like the sentiment of spending the time to write a letter with / on behalf of Toddler L, but the truth is that we're never going to get around to doing that!" www.thedadventurer.com

Kate agrees with Dave and says "I didn't even know people did this. I was always taught to call or thank people in person, and then later my mum would send a picture of me playing/wearing said present. A lot of our friends live quite a distance away so this is probably going to be an option, however with modern technology you can Skype/FaceTime." Http://Lesbemums.com

Abi says "I always send them. We always sent them as kids so have just continued doing so. Even if we see the person to thank in person, I always follow up with a note. Might take me 6 months to post it, but it goes eventually! I may take a more modern approach of text/email as the kids get older/ we have more!" Www.somethingaboutbaby.co.uk

Sophie says "Writing thank you letters and cards after receiving birthday or Christmas presents was drummed into me at an early age. We HAD to send them, even if we had sent 'thank you' in person or when we had opened the present in front of them. As I got older I got nagged as I tried to explain that saying 'thank you' in person or on the phone should be enough. I can't imagine what the postage costs were! When I talked to friends or my husband about their etiquette most were quite surprised about the letter writing. These days the relatives who used to send a card for any occasion have started barely sending any, probably due to cost of postage and I'm happy to email." http://www.sophieandlily.co.uk

Cat say "I do it for older relatives and distant relations who are 'that type' but now I usually send a quick picture message or short video with a bit of text saying 'thanks for your pressie'" rockandrollpussycat.co.uk

Jayne says "I'm useless at thank you cards. I try and take nice pictures of the kids and the gifts and attach a message saying thank you." http://kidskicksandcloth.com/

Steph says "I always make sure we send thank you cards. I write them and the children sign them (as they are too young to write a whole card). I always find it really rude when I don't get a thank you from others. I'd be more than happy with a text / email/ call but it amazes me that some people don't acknowledge the pressie at all." http://www.hellobabyblog.co.uk

Laura says "With four children and countless gifts, it really isn't feasible for me to get them to write out thank you cards (more so as three are unable to write!). I tend to do a group text or share a post on facebook tagging everyone to say thank you, or if it's an elderly relative we phone them up to say thank you as they seem to expect a more personal thank you." www.fivelittledoves.com

Lucinda says "Once children can write they HAVE to write their own thank you letter whether they have opened it In front of the giver or not. I think they have to think about the thought and action that went into choosing a present for them, and thank accordingly. Old school maybe but we don't want the next generation to lose the art of being able to write a hand written letter!" www.thelondonmummy.com

Claire says "I myself have never sent thank you letters for anything or received, I've rung or texted the person to say thank you and wish them merry Christmas etc as it is important to take a few minutes to show gratitude for the people who've spent their time and money on gifting something thoughtful. I'll definitely be encouraging my little boy to do the same, at the moment while he is so young my partner and I will send a picture of him using the gift and whatsapp it or email it to the person who gifted it or we will say thanks ourselves over the phone but we will definitely be encouraging our little one to do the same. Letters & cards etc takes so much time!" www.dearmummybear.wordpress.com

Lara says "Hmm, maybe I'm old school then! We always send them and making them doubles as a fun wet weather activity! I think it's really important to teach them to thank people for their gifts. However we never receive them from other family members, only from friends Which is a shame. I totally get that modern life is busy and I expect once the boys are older it will be more likely to be a digital thank you but for now it's important we do it in physical form. It also means we take the time to remember whom each gift has come from." www.adventuresofamum.com

Rebecca says "We always thank when the present is received but maybe not after opening it. Oh I am so hopeless at sending thank you cards. I always buy cards to send but keep forgetting!" Http://becster.com

Jennifer says "When my children were tiny I'd make sure thank you cards were sent for every gift, I'd do a crafty afternoon with them get out the glitter and decorate some cards, then I'd write and send them. As they got older and could write themselves this turned into something much more time consuming. Now we'll make and send cards to a few people, such as elderly relatives but if it's someone who's on social media we're more likely to take a photo with the gift and send that to say thank you." Http://www.mymummyspennies.com

Laura says "I love getting thank yous so always make sure we say thank you to people. I write notes for older people that have posted things but younger relatives I'll send a video of the kids saying thank you or type a message or email. I'm not ever so organised though so it is sometimes a while after the event." Www.wafflemama.uk

So it seems we agree that some sort of thank you is in order, we mostly agree that cards and letters are nice (especially for older relatives that may not be as tech savvy) but that it maybe we are moving into a digital era where a 'Thank you Youtube clip' might soon take the place of a card - what a shame Vine is closing down, all those thank yous, sorted in 6 seconds each!

What do your family do? Do you write thank you letters?

Ranting about Delivery Companies

Today I feel the need for a rant, grab popcorn and take a seat.

Why are delivery companies all so terrible?

Copyright: ragnarocks / 123RF Stock Photo

I'm not going to single one out because every one I have ever had contact with has at some point done something stupid.

• I've had a laptop left on the doorstep in plain view of the street (in a box clearly identified as a new laptop!). 
• I've had a box thrown over a wall, a box containing 12 glass bottles of traditional beers, a box that then lay, smashed and sad in the rain for a WEEK because no card was left and so no one know the parcel was there. 
• I've had parcels left under car wheels. 
• Boxes left in empty recycling bins, again with no note. 
• Numerous parcels undelivered or left with neighbours but no note left to tell me.
• I once rang to chase the delivery of a new mobile phone to be told it had been signed for the previous day and that then mysteriously was delivered one day later...no signature required.

And that brings me to today's rant. DD ordered some presents for her friends from a well known online retailer, but from a seller there, not the well known online retailer itself, 4 days after the latest delivery date she emailed to ask where the gifts were, to be told they had been delivered and signed for, two weeks earlier!

No one in the house had seen this parcel, we checked with neighbours, we searched around the house, (no point in checking the bins as they had been emptied twice since the delivery date!) nothing. I contacted the company. 'Nothing to do with us' they said 'it's been delivered, we have signed delivery proof'. I asked to see the signature. The signature is barely even a line, it's a stroke of a pen and bears no resemblance at all to any of the signatures of the occupants of the house, in fact even the dog would make a clearer signature. I told the seller this. They replied that the driver had also filled int he name of the signer (my surname) and 'he couldn't have known that unless the signatory told him' ... erm...surely the name is ON THE PARCEL! Of course the driver can know the name to fill in!
Maybe he was busy and planned to come back later, maybe he got home and realised he missed the parcel and meant to do it the next day and forgot, maybe he called at the wrong house and some weird stranger claimed our gift? I don't know, but the parcel is not here and someone somewhere is lying.

I spoke to the delivery company in this case and they were helpful but said that it is up to the seller to query deliveries, not me, and that if there is a problem the seller needs to claim from them. So I am stuck in the middle, DD has paid, we have received nothing, the seller claims it's delivered, the delivery company can't help.

What is the point of a signature if it's not a signature that matches yours? I think it's about time that the delivery world caught up - what about a digital PIN, a number generated by the delivery company and not known to the driver, but emailed to the recipient so that they can key it in on delivery?

Currently I'm still fuming, arguing with a seller on a well known online retailer website and threatening to open a claim with the well known online retailer to get our money back.

Update : Well know online retailer have a good claims procedure and have refunded DD. So Yay! for them.

Do tell me about your delivery nightmares. I know you must have some....

I'm so sure you have a tale to tell - I've switched blog comments back on!

Bloggers' Christmas Gift Guide

It's November and time to think about Christmas. Already many blogs are featuring gift ideas from brands that they like, I thought I'd take a different tack and go with a list of gifts bloggers would like to see wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning.

Copyright: kryzhov / 123RF Stock Photo

So I asked some bloggers about their dream gifts, what would they be asking Santa for? I set them a budget of £50 and this is what they said:

Angela at Cosmic Kick feels that the holiday season is a good time to sort out the ravages of the year and so she will be hoping for some Clarins Eye Revive Serum this year. I use Clarins products too and they are rather lovely, so it's nice when someone buys you something from the range (hint).

Lucy at Lucy Loves is keen to try the Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse Eyeshadow Palette and even  though I'm the sort of woman that rarely wears makeup I can see why! Such gorgeous golds, perfect for the party season and beyond. Autumn and winter sparkle, just lovely.

Rebecca at Queen Bee Becca and Isla at Isla Roses are both hoping for some makeup brushes this Christmas, and no doubt many other women will be after the same, it's one of those things you forget to replace, or you just buy a cheap one, so wouldn't it be lovely to get a nice set like the Makeup Revolution Collection or the Spectrum Selections set.

Kitty at Kitty Rambles a Lot would like some Curlformers, heat free stylers for amazing hair curls. (they do sound quite amazing,I'm tempted to get some for DD)

Lauren at Belle Du Brighton made me laugh by suggesting that 50 packets of Oreo cookies would be her dream! But she also said that Lush bath products would be welcome so I guess she's fairly easy to buy for. Chocolate and relaxing in the tub.

Copyright: poznyakov / 123RF Stock Photo

Louise at Louise Rose Railton is also all about the relaxing scents, and would like Santa to treat her to some classic Yankee Candle Melts, a lovely set including the melt warmer to scent a home with three holiday themed melts.

Laura at Mummy Lala is a woman after my own heart and would love some exotic perfume for her Christmas present, specifically the lovely scent of Dior, a 30ml bottle of Miss Dior fits the budget.

Steph at Hello Baby Blog is in love with most items on the SWYC website, but she went with this lovely personalised seagrass beach basket. Something so pretty and so practical.

Lucy at Hello Beautiful Bear would opt for more sparkles but in the form of this delightful Irregular Choice Owl purse. Fun and useful it's a great gift. A purse you'd enjoy pulling out in public to rummage for that odd 5p.

Samantha at Coco Butter Blog would hope Father Christmas would be slipping a Michael Kors card case in metallic leather into her stocking on Christmas eve, a bit of glittery glamour each time you opened your bag.

Chermaine at Chammy in Real Life would choose the swishy sophistication of an over-sized cardigan, great for the cold winter evenings and this one from thirteen clothing looks like the sort of thing that would easily fit the day into night fashion criteria, looking good with jeans or a more fancy evening outfit.

Anna at Anna International is also after something of a more practical nature, and is yearning for warmth and softness while she blogs, in the form of a gorgeous luxury faux fur hot water bottle. (she lives in Yorkshire in an old miners cottage...I'm guessing that's chilly!)

Emma at the Cheshire Wife would like the comfort and style of a Mother sweatshirt, and not only stylish and perfect to relax in, but the sale of every sweatshirt supports women's charity works too. The FMLY philosophy is that style should not only look good, but help others, too. £10 from the sale of the Mother sweatshirt design goes to WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL, who help women in 8 war-torn regions rebuild their lives through training programmes. They give women the skills, resources and knowledge to create positive sustainable change for herself, her family and community.

Jenni at Chilling with Lucas is hoping to unwrap some beautiful silver earrings. I feel a real theme of sparkly Christmas gifts in this list - are bloggers actually magpies?

Lucy at The Parent Game may be a magpie, but she is also planning where to store her sparkles, she chose a multi-drawed jewellery box for her perfect Santa gift. Something I need as my jewellery is currently spilling across my en suite!

Copyright: tunedin123 / 123RF Stock Photo

Sophia at Tattooed Tealady and Lucy at The Two Saving Sisters are both after the helpful and beautiful Lifeplanner from Erin Condren, (I suspect that many of the bloggers that click through that link will want one too now)

Evija at From Evija with Love would like a delicate and pretty tea set for one, perfect for snacking while blogging and still looking lovely on Instagram, Make every sandwich special with this Royal Albert 3 piece set.

Anca at Anca's Lifestyle would like a cocktail set and maybe some drinks to get her started. She wasn't sure where to start so I had a quick look around using our £50 budget and came up with this fun set from Amazon for only £15 leaving plenty of cash for an addition of a couple of bottles of something tasty.

Kate at LesBeMums would like a heap of comic reading from her favourite comic store, I hope Father Christmas knows her favourites.

Not all of the bloggers I asked were looking purely at fun and frolics though, a couple saw Christmas a chance to get some extras they needed for blogging,

Sam at Testing Time Blog was after some better lighting for her blog photos and so Emma (a Cheshire wife) suggested this Pop up Lightcase. While Ami at Ami Rose was after a tripod like this compact one from Currys.

Thanks to all the bloggers who told me what they lusted after this Christmas. Feel free to come and tell me what you would like to see under your tree this year over at Facebook.